A4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 30, 1996

STANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988

ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C. « V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (604) 638-7283 * FAX: (604) 638-8432 MODEM: (604) 638-7247

Not guilty

IT’S RARE for something to happen to peel back the layers of one of the most secretive and ill-understood parts of our society — the legal system.

So it was an intriguing thing recently when word came through that a senior B.C. Supreme Court judge administered a smack on the wrists

to local] lawyers who, it seems, have heartily con-

tributed to plugging up the local court system. Things were so bad that Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm apologized to the citizens of Ter-

race for lengthy delays in court proceedings. |

Most disturbing was the revelation that some criminal cases were dismissed simply because they were taking so long to process.

Not all of this can be laid at the feet of our local lawyers. Anybody who has sat through a typical day at the courts comes away frustrated in hear- ing story after story of how somebody can’t be in court — despite knowing weeks in advance of their obligation — for some lame brain reason or another. The result is delay after delay at sig- nificant cost to the taxpayer.

What is fascinating is the revelation that in criminal cases where a person can choose be- tween a judge or a jury, 75 per cent choose the latter. That’s tied to a tidbit floating out there that Terrace juries tend to be more lenient on the issue of guilt or innocence.

Defence lawyers quite rightly have the obliga- tion to defend their clients to the utmost of their ability. But let’s hope that Terrace juries don’t deserve a reputation for leniency. Otherwise we could be in for a growth industry we can’t afford.

Fe Rear)

“itl do

IT WAS a Canadian who came up with the idea of time zones. And it’s that all-Canadian innova- tion which is driving some Canadians, the west- erm variety, crazy.

It concerns voting during a federal election. More often then not, those who drive to the polls in British Columbia after 5 p.m. or so know that the final outcome has already been decided be- cause voting has ended in eastern and central Canada, Even more frustrating is that modern communications means we can find out who is winning before we cast our ballots.

This week Parliament is being asked to rectify this through a private member’s bill. Vancouver Liberal MP Anna Terrana wants to do away with the traditional 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. voting time. In- stead, she wants to stagger voting hours across the country so that opening and closing periods roughly match up. If the bill is accepted New- foundland polls, for example, will open at 11:30 a.m. and close at 10:30 p.m, Central Canada will begin voting at 11 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. In B.C., polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. While not perfect, it is better than what happens now and deserves the support of Parliament.

Just as welcome is a piece of new government legislation to reduce the voting period from seven wecks to five. That’s two fewer weeks of being inundated with electoral machinations, a most welcome initiative.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link — ADVERTISING MANAGER: Rick Passmore [(@ PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard Credgeurr NEWS Jeff Nagel * NEWS SPORTS: Dave Taylor COMMUNITY: Cris Leykaut OFFICE MANAGER: Kathleen Quigley ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS: . Sam Collier, Janet Viveiros, Karen Dietrich . ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Emma Law, Kelly Jean, Shannon Cooper “TYPESETTING: Sylyana Broman : DARKROOM: Susan Credgeur CIRCULATION MANAGER: Karen Brunette MEMBER OF B.C. PRESS COUNCIL Serving the Terséce and Thorniiill area, Published on Wednesday of each week by Cariboo Press (1969) Ltd, af9210 Clinton Street, Terraca, Brilish Calumbia, Y8G 5R2, ae an ‘

Stories, pholograpts, illustrations, designs and typastyles in the Tarrace Standard ara ihe proparly of the copyright holders, including Cariboo Press (1969) Ltd, its illustration repro sarvicas and advertising

Tomnvestr Mewsesrms

Abbe tiation Artevsk Cotewrny oof Tear

Reproduction in whole or in part, without written permission, is specifically prohibited. Authorized a8 sexond-class mall pending (he Post Offica Department, for payment of pastags in cash. Special thanks to all our contributors and correspondents for their time arid talents -

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- Glen Clark bUt Ae Says

my nose isnt lo enough

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Golden requires gov't help

VICTORIA — While Golden is burning, Premier Glen Clark is fiddling on TV.

The town of Golden is in trouble, in serious trouble. The town’s largest = employer, Evans Forest Products has shut down, throwing hundreds of people out of work,

The reasons for the closure are numerous, mismanagement among them. But whatever the reasons, the result is a town on the verge of collapse. And the government doesn’t seem to pive a damn,

When I arrived at the press gallery last Monday morning, a number of letters, faxed to me by people in Golden, were waiting. Copies of the letters had also been faxed to the premier. Since he’s unlikely to .. make them public, allow me to ;

“share some of their: content‘

with you.

Mickey Balas: ‘‘I am writing to voice my concem about the painful tragedy which is slow- ly unfolding in the community of Golden.

“My family has been direct- ly affected by the closure of Evans Forest Products. My husband has been an employee of this company for 32 years. We are facing the very real possibility of losing everything we have worked for, My hus-

FROM THE CAPITAL HUBERT BEYER band is 50 years old. He doesn’t have the time left to

carve out a second career.” Janice Musaph: ‘‘How do I

continue to send money to my

sister who has four young chil-

dren?.-How.do I care for my . parents? How do I- buy my...

friends a cup of coffee, and what financial institution wants to give me a mortgage?

**] ery for Golden, and now I am finally crying out to the government for help so we can all enjoy that lifestyle in a manner we were taught — to give, to take, to help, to be happy, to survive, and that means working, I am holding out my hand. Please take it.”

Tracey Balas: ‘‘I stand to Jose everything I have worked for in building my small home-

based business over the past six years. I operate a family daycare in ‘my home. I have sunk every cent have into this business, All of my efforts will be for nothing if we don’t get the moms and dads back to work,”

Stacy Feuz: “It took me two years to find this job, and if something doesn’! happen soon, [ will probably be job- hunting for another two years. My father is a local contractor, one of many who is caught up in the financial difficulties of Evans Forest Products,

“In my immediate family, there are nine employees of Evans, nine men who are the main breadwinners for their families, nine men who will be

forced to relocate, nine men — who have wives, children and

grandparents who are all de- pendent on them.”

As I said at the outset, poor management of Evans Forest Products was one of the rea- sons that has led this com- munity to the edge of the abyss. But it wasn’t the only one. Others include the high cost of logging in the area, high stumpage fees and a big reduction in the annual ajlow- able cut in the region.

If the Clark govenumnent uses the mismanagement factor as

an excuse not to get involved, it will be shirking.its responsi- bility.

solution: Allow a $15 reduc- tion in stumpage and install an auditor in Evans Forest Pro- ducts to get the company back on its feet. McKnight says he didn’t vote for the NDP but figures the premier for a smart man, Well, here’s his chance to prove it.

The government is poised to steal $400 million from the Forest Renewal fund to reduce a looming $1 billion deficit. I advise the premier, one more time, to think carefully before taking that money.

Instead, Forest Renewal should provide funds - for

whatever solution is best to™

guide the town.of Golden

through its present difficulties. :

That’s what the Forest Renewal fund was created for, not to get you out of your budget mess. You will be judged by your actions, premier, nol your TV. appearances. Do the right thing. We can always get our-

selves a new premier, but by —

that time, it may be too late for Golden, , Beyer can be reached at Tel: 920-9300; Fax: 385-6783; E- Mail: hubert@coolcom.com —

Electoral zoo affects us all

FIFTY-SEVEN candidates are competing against the mayor of Vancouver for his job.

OF those 57, some are serious, qualifies contenders. But almost half of them will be on the ballot because a local pub guaranteed candidates all the free beer they could swill,

Victoria also allowed the bal- lot name to be a candidate’s everyday name — Andy in- stead of Ambrose, if that’s how friends know him — rath- er than a birth certificate name. This has spawned 16 goofy aliases such as Zippo the Dog and Barb B, Doll. Another 10 names are suspicious.

The quality of candidates reflects Victoria’s dropping of the $300 filing fee and the number of supporting signa- tures from 25 to two. Now anyone with moxy and two friends, eligible voters, can run for mayor.

‘The smart alecks in Van- couver’s race may be pub crawlers wha confused the

ANP NoW OUR. NEW NoRTHERN CANDIDATE 4 VIC CONIBEAR |.

“THROUGH BIFOCALS: CLAUDETTE SANDECKI

mayoralty race with an audi- tion for a Fringe Festival mob scene. That’s what an all- candidates’ meeting will resemble. Anyone denied the right to participate in a debate for lack of time or space should call the SPCA, not a lawyer and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

With so many candidates, a debate is bound to be a zoo, with the intellectual substance

REMEMBER |

Folks! BASED ON THE PROGRESS PARTY'S STAND ON ENVIRONMENTAL.

of an overcrowded cocktail party. The venue would have to be GM Place. The micro- phone system would have more wires that Kitimat’s Aluminum City Telethon. And each candidate would be asked only one question with 30 sec- onds to reply.

Voters can weed ont trivial candidates with three tests: Cross off anyone whose plat- farm advocates actions illegal under current Canadian law. Screen out those whose war- drobes are recycled from MGM epic movies, And tear up the name of anyone who goes on air using language that triggers the ten-second delay switch. That will leave less than half the contestants.

Ballot printing costs alone will make this Vancouver mayorally race one-of-a-kind, Whole mountains will be deforested to supply ballot paper for ballots that will have more folds than a road map Jike those in Nicaragua last

week where CBC reporters

Merle McKnight offers a =~

spoke of ballots ‘‘by the bale’.

Larger polling stations will be needed for the industrial sized ballot boxes equipped with ladders. Pingpong tables will be needed for vote counters to spread out the bal- lots. And stockpiling of ballots after the election until they can be legally destroyed will call for forklifts, semitruck trailers, and security staff patrolling on bicycles,

Superficial candidates highlight the flippant attitude of some citizens toward the privilege of voling. While they snigger at the precious free- dom they have inherited, in other countries people are losing their lives in the search for democracy. ,

Only 70 years ago Canadian women won the right to be considered persons, with voling privileges equal to men.

Vancouver’s mayor demcan all Canadians.

[Z.-To VOTE FoR MARTEN FISHES!

PROTECTION I URGE YOU...

Lo YOU CAN ALWAYS f TELL A NORTHERNER

RATS

BUT ‘You CAN'T TELL HIM miuce |!

clowns-for- |