The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 12

I LeaderPost PageA12 Printed and pubfished Monday to Saturday by Storing Newspaper Gnxp, a (Jvtswn of Hoinger tot, al 1964 ParkSt.Regre Posted address. Bck 2020, Regra, Sask S4P 3G4 Canada Past Canadten Pubhcabons Mai Sales Product Agreement Na 454435 Bob Calvert, Publisher Bob Hughes, Editor Govt on right track with midwifery policy funding, saying it means only wealthy women will be able to afford a midwife. Cline said the province may set up pilot projects, but individual health districts will have to decide whether they want to cover the service under their operating budgets, in the same way they now do with physiotherapy. Some districts fund physiotherapy, others do not. Early indications from the two largest boards are that no decision will be made quickly.

Midwives argue that savings from home delivery are considerable, and with health-care costs a concern for all governments, alternatives to present services should be considered. But it is also appropriate that training, regulation and licensing be among the issues studied by the implementation committee. If alternative services are to become the wave of the future, it is imperative they be closely scrutinized and regulated to ensure they are as safe as the services they replace. ears of lobbying on behalf of midwives has resulted l(n the provincial government tiie age-old profession legal standing, but no funding. Health Minister Eric Cline this week the government will set up a committee to work with all involved jparties so legalization of midwifery can take place in 1998.

But Cline stopped short of providing funds, saying instead the government would open the door to make midwifery services a option for individuals pnd health boards for the future. Women will continue to pay anywhere from $500 to $2,0000 because it wont be an insured service. And in that, the government is quite correct. Not all medical treatments can be covered and the decision to allow local health boards to make their own funding decisions is fair. While Friends of Midwives welcomed the announcement as the culmination of a lengthy struggle, it is concerned about iwrsGonMtuRT.

in city can be stopped Net ban unenforceable complete. We seem to have changed the focus to especially look after the rights of the accused, while disregarding those of the victim. The judges in our court system have been far too lenient. We need to legislate new laws. If a youth commits a crime, heshe should be made to face the consequences of their actions.

Our young criminals do know right from wrong; however, at present, the penalty for illegal action is not a deterrent. Young offenders do not respect the law, or fear its reprisals. Why cant young offenders be forced to pay restitution for all the physical damage they have done to vehicles? In the province of Manitoba, parents can be held responsible for up to $5,000 in damage that their children have done in acts of vandalism. In the event of non-payment, wages and salaries can be garnished. Is this too bold a step for our provincial government to implement? Young offenders who steal cars should have their drivers licences revoked, if they indeed have one.

Particular surcharges should be levied, for several years, when a young offender wishes to renew a drivers licence, acquire a drivers licence for the first time, or own and register a vehicle. These funds could be automatically sent to SGI. We need to acknowledge that the Young Offenders Act was a noble experiment that failed. In spite of a national outcry, federal Justice Minister Allan Rock has made only minimal revisions in the Young Offenders Act. A political party with enough resolve to scrap or drastically overhaul the Young Offenders Act would gain thousands of votes.

If enough people shout, it might become an issue in the federal election campaign. Is there a politician out there listening? Dont hold your breath. Boehnert is a Regina resident In itself, a law prohibiting the premature release of federal election results is reasonable. Widespread reporting of results in one part of the country before the polls close in another region could skew the final yjutcome. Voters in B.C., for instance, might decide to stay home or jvote differently, if they knew jearly enough on election day the likely order of finish of the parties, based on Results from Ontario eastward.

"But, just as sensibly, there should be limits on the ban. A reasonable prohibition would be to prevent radio and television stations from broadcasting results in any province before polls in that province close. But it is less reasonable, not to mention impossible, to prohibit all pontact between residents of different provinces on election day. It would be nonsensical, for instance, to try to prevent Someone in P.E.I. from phoning friend in B.C.

and informing him of the up-to-date vote count in Eastern Canada. What Election Canada officials are now struggling with is I I Associate Editor, John Swan. Car thefts By Ernest Boehnert Of late, car thefts in Regina have generated a great deal of discussion in our community. Within a week, 100 cars were stolen, a youth was accidently shot, a police officer narrowly missed being run over, and thousands of dollars of damage had been done to vehicles. The chief of police and his officers exhibited remarkable poise and restraint in spite of their increasing frustration with car thieves and the arrestwrist-slap release approach our justice system has exhibited of late.

In many other countries by now, there likely would be several dead car thieves, because the police would shoot first and ask questions later. The minister of justice would have us park our cars in a safe place perhaps Uranium City would be appropriate! The parents of young car thieves make excuses for them. The youths are mad at society and have to vent their anger or frustration and it seems appropriate to destroy someone elses property in the process. The only people laughing in this ludicrous scenario are the car thieves who are getting more kicks than indoor soccer provides auto body personnel, tow truck drivers, and the lawyers making their bank deposits. The Young Offenders Act is the biggest joke in the judicial system.

What, then, are the repercussions of the high number of car thefts? To be sure, the general public is extremely frustrated. A great deal of damage has been done to many vehicles. Within the last year, SGI rates have increased and the possibility of a major car insurance increase is looming. Law-abiding citizens are forced to pay increasing amounts tacover the cost of youth drive-and-damage sprees. To date, we are fortunate taking an Easter break, indulging in the summer sport of golf.

But, as usual, the locale of his few days away is a state secret. Chretiens office has consistently refused to disclose his vacation sites. We dont disclose the locations of his holidays, press aide Leslie Swartman said, again. She wouldnt even hint whether Chretien went outside Canada for his trip. When a reporter noted the PM would have to leave the country to take part in his leisure passion, Swartman correctly pointed out golf courses are open in B.C.

But she wouldnt say if he went there. Recent news leaks about plans top Liberal aides are making for the future say much about Liberal confidence, or the lack thereof, of surviving into a third term. Theres little doubt, as things stand now, the government will likely be reelected this spring. But backroomers who were instrumental in the 1993 Liberal victory and held top government jobs are now planning on moving on. News stories, written by people with good contacts in government, say such backroom stars as Peter Donolo, Opinion Guest column that no one has died, but the possibility exists that this might be the case in the future if drivers lose control of vehicles, crash into other cars, or hit innocent bystanders.

We as citizens must also take it upon ourselves to be part of the solution. We must ensure that cars are never left unlocked, keys are never left in the ignition, or cars are not Dealing with car thieves left with motors running. More people should purchase car clubs, anti-theft devices or car disabling mechanisms for automobiles. Members of the general public should not hesitate to report suspicious activity to the police. Our court system needs a change in perspective as well.

The administration of justice has to be more than the revolving door action of arrest, very brief detention, and release. How many arrests does it take before repeat offenders are incarcerated? It seems the answer is many. After an arrest, it appears that the objective of the court system is to work as quickly as possible to release a young offender, often before a case history, or the compilation of information about the individual, is Prime Minister Jean Chretiens communications director, and Terri OLeary, Finance Minister Paul Martins top aide, intend to shift to the private sector following the election. Thats another way of saying they want to become lobbyists and make 10 times their current salaries, while the making is good. Their buddies from the campaign trail have been rolling in that kind of cash since the party took office.

Newfoundland Premier Brian Tobin Tobin was one of Chretiens closest confidantes in cabinet, and remains so, even though he and Chretien might claim otherwise. Tobin was in Ottawa recently, so he and Chretien could jointly announce a deal on job training, when he joked about Election timing. Im as curious as all of you ar I know, to wonder when the election how to deal with the Internet. Their response is to treat the Internet as another form of electronic media, making early dissemination of voting results on the Net contrary to the Canada Elections Act. (Granted, this will not be a major problem on election night, because the election act was changed in December to stagger voting times so polls close at approximately the same time across the country.

The one exception will be that the vote count in Atlantic Canada will be known before the polls close in B.C.) Still, the decision to lump the Internet together with media outlets such as the CBC is misguided and unenforceable, unless Elections Canada is prepared to monitor every computer terminal in the country. As well, at what point does the law differentiate between the widespread broadcasting of information and a personal exchange between friends, through the use of e-mail? Laws that are unenforceable or unreasonable are bad laws. Such is the case with this one. Phone 565-8244, Fax 565-2588 CapitaLbusiness Boudria learned early how to elbow for his share. He began his career as a bus boy in the House of Commons dining room, became a municipal politician, then a member of the Ontario legislature before becoming an MP in 1984.

Hes come a long way, and it looks like hes got a long way to go. Predictions are his next stop is Asia. While Boudria was in Africa, Health Minister David Dingwall was taking care of business in China. Since theres little reason for a federal health minister to do much in the way of foreign travel, Dingwall announced a funding project on behalf of Boudria in the form of binding for midwives and village health care. Prime Minister Jean Chretien is Junkets around the world keep former Rat Packer busy By Tim Naumetz OTTAWA Former Rat Packer Don Boudria is tasting the good life, great big gobs of the good life, as he junkets around the world in his hew role as minister for international do-operation.

Boudria was a zealot when he attacked the spending and travel habits of the old Conservative government of Brian Mulroney. But now that he has located the gravy train, he wont get off. 1 For the Easter Break, the minister a 10-day tour of Africa, heres a stop in Kigali to hand out rponey for refugee housing. During the earlier mid-winter parliamentary break, Boudrias record-breaking string of junkets included a tour of South America, where he Handed out money for mudslide victims. i One Commons watcher noted ijoudria is throwing caution to the wind, perhaps from his airplane windows, by daring to spend so much ttme outside the country at this rfioment.

An election is coming and life might secure his future more wisely by pending time at home in his rural constituency just east of Ottawa. will be held," Tobin said to reporters as the news conference wrapped up. Quite soon, interjected Chretien, but I dont have to consult you anymore. Thats unlikely, say insiders, considering how much Chretien once depended on Tobin for strategic media advice. Tobin voluntarily launched into a five-minute diatribe against Conservative Leader Jean Charests election platform.

He coincidentally used the same numbers dont add up argument Finance Minister Paul Martin used to attack the Tory plan. The federal New Democratic Party is trying for a new look as the campaign nears. The NDPs national office hired public image gurus to get rid of their previous brown and orange colors. Now, the official NDP color is just orange. The new style is showing up on party news releases.

The NDP logo, with a limp version of the Canadian flag between French and English lettering, looks like it, came might have come from an autoworkers local. Naumetz is an Ottawa freelance columnist.