The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 22

B2 THE OTTAWA CITIZEN THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2004 1 1 1 Everest: 'What would you do, DENLEY: STINKY POLITICAL MESS A SEASON ON EVEREST the deals for board members under "delegated authority." The decisions to hand unten-dered contracts to board members must have been easy, because they are a big, happy family at Hydro Ottawa. Stewart browned his nose by giving a great little speech on what a magnificent job his board chairman is doing. Chiarelli was just as effusive in his praise for Shortliffe. Shortliffe must like Chiarelli too. He donated $500 to his last election campaign.

The other big-billing advisory board member, communications consultant John Gorman, is the top public affairs guy in Ottawa, Shortliffe said. Among the tasks Gorman undertook at a cost of $184,000 over two years was lobbying city councillors on Hydro Ottawa issues. Why in the world would Hydro Ottawa need a consultant to talk to councillors, when it has the mayor on its board? Chiarelli's attempts to demonstrate that the Shortliffe pay issue is small potatoes compared to the numerous triumphs at Hydro didn't persuade his colleagues. They are Continued from PAGE Bl Under the expert Shortliffe leadership, the company has also increased substantially in value, and is now worth a minimum of $650 million. If so, $2.6 million is an as-toundingly low return on investment, less than half of one per cent.

The city could put its money in a savings account and generate more. Not that any of these points was actually relevant to the real issue at hand. Councillors publicly agreed to a $12,000 salary for Shortliffe, plus $400 for each board and committee meeting. As far as they, and we knew, that's what he was earning. Only Chiarelli was aware the veteran consultant was billing $1,500 a day.

If he were paid a full-time salary at this rate, he'd have been earning $390,000 a year. Still trying to evade responsibility, Chiarelli has made a point of saying that he didn't vote on consulting contracts for board members, but it sounds as if no one else did either. Until the conference board told them how to do it right, Stewart simply approved felt it more prudent to save limited resources for those who could actually be helped. In the end, one climber a Japanese woman named Yasuko Namba died where she had presumably been abandoned. The other, U.S.

climber Beck Weathers, awoke from a 12-hour coma, and staggered back to Camp Four unassisted. By then, he was partially blind, grotesquely frostbitten, and barely coherent. In the aftermath of that calamity, climbers who were in a position to organize a rescue effort were denounced for not doing enough to save their teammates. Among those singled out for criticism was Jon Krakauer, whose eyewitness account of the disaster became the bestselling book Into Thin Air. While acknowledging regret, Mr.

Krakauer has defended the actions of those on the mountain. He argues so many people went missing that day that risk assessments had to be made. Attempting to rescue all the climbers would have needlessly jeopardized the lives of many others. What's more, the climbers attempting rescues were themselves fighting severe fatigue and the effects of high altitude. In such situations, blunders are made and judgment is clouded, said Mr.

Krakauer. Yesterday, when asked about the wisdom of leaving a sick climber on the summit ridge, Mr. Webster speaking from Camp Two, at 6,500 metres bristled. "Let me put you at 8,500 metres, and you haven't slept in three or four days, and you know that if you don't descend Continued from PAGE Bl "Nobody had the resources or the energy to go back up and look for this guy so the understanding is after two nights at 8,500 metres, the prospects are very dim," said Mr. Webster.

If the fatality is confirmed, it will be the first on Everest this year. To date, 179 people have died on the world's tallest mountain. According to Mr. Webster, an Argentine climber and a Nepalese Sherpa working for another expedition were nearby when the climber showed symptoms of high-altitude cerebral edema a swelling of the brain caused by lack of oxygen. Early signs of cerebral edema include headaches and nausea; in advanced stages, it can cause vertigo, vomiting, hallucinations and delirium.

Climbers who don't descend swiftly can die from the illness. It's unclear whether the climber had access to bottled oxygen or was attempting to descend when he collapsed. It's also not known if the climbers nearby were equipped with first-aid packs to treat the sick man. The controversial decision to leave a climber in distress is a dilemma that haunts survivors of mountaineering disasters. It also raises questions about the responsibility of fellow climbers on the mountain.

In the 1996 tragedy that killed nine climbers on Everest, two members of a commercial expedition were left for dead after a freak snowstorm wreaked havoc near the summit ridge. The climbers who discovered the pair in hypothermic shock I. Maitland Smith Bernhardt American Drew Ferguson Copeland Stanley Furnishings Accessories Lighting Bedding Interior Design Services 2 Inspiring Showrooms 1 Easy Location WORTH A VISIT! AMBIENTI DESIGN 5950 Jean Talon East St. Leonard, Quebec (514) 259-4444 DRIVING DIRECTIONS: m-y Highway 40 East "1- Lacordaire South Li A. CHRIS MIKULA, THE 0 fTAWA CITIZEN Shortliffe: Numerous triumphs.

clearly not happy at having to wear this stinky political mess. They want a study of the board, and a limit on Shortliffe's billings. These actions are fine, as far as they go, but we still need a straight answer from the mayor. The bottom line is that Bob Chiarelli hasn't been honest with his colleagues or the public; and he has neither explained nor apologized for his actions. How does he expect us to trust him? Contact RANDALL DENLEY at or by e-mail, rdenleythecitizen.canwestcom Jean: Fundraiser for favourite charities WEATHER AT BASE CAMP Current conditions: partly cloudy; high 8, low -7 Tomorrow: showers; high 12, low -3 Saturday: rain; high 11, low-1 Ottawa Citizen On the web for seven-day subscribers: Read previous stories about A Season on Everest.

www.ottawacrUzen.com fie GREAT fj Everest Challenge at ALGONQUIN COLLEGE Keep up with the expedition, see new photos daily, leam more about the mountain and play The Great Everest Challenge at: www.algonquln college.com everest within an hour, you're dead. Now tell me what you do, buddy?" community," said Ms. Torontow. "And we're both feminists and take-charge kind of women." Guy Laflamme, the NCC's vice-president of marketing and communication, announced that a plaque will be erected June 4 at the corner of Sussex Drive and St. Patrick Street, where a commemorative tulip bed will be planted to honour Ms.

Pigott The birthday bash was also a fundraising event for three of Ms. Pigott's favourite charities, the Christmas Exchange, Christie Lake Kids and Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa. SERVICES 7 Continued from PAGE Bl Ms. Pigott said she was touched by the love and generosity shown by the many people who had gathered for her birthday bash, adding she felt very comfortable in her "second home" inside the Congress Centre. She was the centre's chairwoman from 1993-1998.

Mr. Chiarelli praised Ms. Pigott for her contribution to the city and her tireless boosterism of Canada's capital as a good place to visit. The presentation of the key to the city is a celebration of a life that has been filled with great achievements in business, politics and philanthropy, he said. "I am certain that I speak for all when I say that our debt of gratitude to you is immense and we are truly grateful for all that you have done for Ottawa," he said.

Stella Torontow, a longtime friend, said she speaks to Ms. Pigott regularly about a variety of issues, both personal and professional. "We talk about our families and our husbands because the four of us are friends. We talk about health and we share information because Jean and I have had involvement in the Mi Jean Talon East fcjj Canadian I Tulip Festival fl Fest'va' canadien des tulipes vex Altamira Global SmaU Company Fund 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years since inception 55.8 2.5 9.9 na 11.5 1 If you don't stay In touch with your investments over er MAJPR'S The Festival's main May 14 MiLL PARK activity and celebration site. 24 10 a.m.

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Mutual funds are no! guaranteed, tar vakjes change frequently and past pertamance may not be repeated the Park open daily 10 a.m. 9:30 p.m. and designers will delight you with Canada's very best handmade the spectacular 15,000 square foot tent of Artisans in the Park. FREE Delivery to Ottawa wgway MFTnnetxrtjuN hkav iMOJEAN 1M.0N EASI Wine Bar Gatineau 1 1 It TIU pok vG I- ROGERS" television' ROGERS Art Garden with giant tulips Suites The Outaouais Come out and that showcase like Poffertjes. Artisans in Artisans, artists products under International The International and friendship.

Dutch Pavilion Come and enjoy pavilion and BROKERAGE Tulip Friendship Village presented by Accu-Rate fl Tulip Friendship Village at Major's Hill Park introduces a mosaic of tulip art, music, food This year we've added the Friendship Stage where there will be ongoing performances. In this extraordinary summer straw hat af this extraordinary price. Available in Natural or Black with Brown leather trim, Presented by Bostonian Executive yourselves in the cozy enjoy warm Dutch food Japanese Pavilion Presented by Zenteriors Japanese Pavillion presents the Tonami Tulip Fair and the Japanese floral art of Ikebana. atiSTCiSISRS I Si JNTON1AN Churchill Cellars Tutored Wine Tastings -a. Al MM mm Turkish Pavilion You will find Turkish delights in handcrafted ceramic bowls and Turkish Baklava, a true delicacy mi-.

Earl of Sussex British Pub op Sunhc p.16 Tulip Encounter May 14 to 24 Horticultural and gardening experts in a series of demonstrations and presentations Authentic British fare and a variety of oubwbon imported draft beers with nightly entertainment. jpill, Medium, Large $58 rp 1 DRIVING t- Ottam Ontario 1 -mmwm 11 p-'iblijs'J' Online at canada.com and every Friday in the Ottawa Citizen Al.