Whitehorse Daily Star from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada • 9

The Whitehorse STAR Friday 23 1994 9 -W Tr iee- vrrrw wtaw i OPINION Survival will take everything the address is do 707 Imperial Way SW Calgary Alta T2S 1N6 Finally to all my dear friends: worry If this can be beaten I will find a way to do it And if it I have had a wonderful time and a beautiful full life I will be back with the wild swans in the springtime with a little help from my friends Layla Bevan Mad Hermit Whitehorse over in the petunia patch when 96 But it looks like I could use one more helping hand from all you kind folks who kept me going a while longer by helping me get to that US clinic last year! Please send me your healing thoughts! I have great faith in the power of the mind and even greater faith in the power of many minds I will be in Calgary with my family by the time you read this For those who would like to write letters (and I love to receive them) My children as high school and University students detasselled com for summer jobs They and their employers had to pay unemployment insurance (UJ) premiums for that Letters V-- 'V Everyone knows you find a com detasselling job anywhere in Canada in mid-winter and as a student going back to regular school you collect UI either Is that fair? Ms Sheila Copps who probably know if the tassel is the Ms or Mr part of a corn plant collect UI payments in the winter of her political career either But then as an MP she have to pay UI premiums like my children (and the rest of us) did Why not? Yet she is adamant that since she pays approximately 1 1 per cent of her salary toward a pension darned well entitled to her fat pension probably long before the winter or autumn of her life However if you subtract the amount of UI premiums she should be paying not paying the 1 1 per cent she says she is towards her pension more like nine or 10 per cent With a double standard like that who needs any standards at all? Forget the tequila Sheila just pass the gravy boat (295 MPs plus 104 senators) $124540 (maximum annual UI premium) equals $4699 15 that the UI fund is losing each year We must not exclude the Governor-General (who also pays no income tax on his salary) and the Speaker of the House How many other hangers-on and bagmen in Ottawa paying UI premiums on their salaries? How about their provincial counterparts? Sojak Ridgetown Ont for all the tribute to our society and economy However our services were not reduced and our client base is laiger than ever before Our membership has more than doubled We owe much of our recent success to friends and supporters like you Please accept our gratitude and thanks for your help during the past Well folks it looks like the battle is on again! After three years of fighting lymphoma (a cancer of the immune system) I have now been diagnosed with a type of chemotherapy-induced leukemia plus a few other complications Never a dull moment! (Though one could use one sometimes) I have always enjoyed a good challenge but it looks like surviving this one will take everything got and then some I have beaten all the odds so far and still have every intention of keeling Thanks The directors and staff of the Learning Disabilities of Yukon commenced 1994 facing severe budget cuts We were genuinely concerned that the 12 per cent of Yukoners with learning disabilities would yet again be deprived of opportunities and services to reach their full potential and gainfully con How ironic that at the same time as millions of public dollars are spent in supporting the arms business our peacekeeping capability is reduced by cutbacks as is our aid to the Third World Ottawa: Audrey McLaughlin The excuse however is that many jobs rely on this trade This is true but we are also getting a lot of competition from other countries As that increases success in the arms export market will mean a greater demand for government funds Many experts do not dispute the fact that the arms trade supports the economy They cite the hidden government support through public funds hidden subsidies in the forms of loans for sales tax breaks and loan forgiveness How often have we heard the cry that rather than sending funds to help underdeveloped countries Peace on earth goodwill to arms sellers? support year We sincerely appreciate your contribution May 1995 be your most successful year ever Have a happy Christmas Barb Bergsma Association president Whitehorse exports to governments which violate human rights halt the sales of all components used in nuclear weapons and their delivery systems assist Canadian industries to convert production from military to civilian goods (we are actually assisting Russian and Ukranian conversion but not Canadian) and halt all testing of foreign weapons and low-level flights over the WT and Labrador Christmas is also a time of sharing How wonderful it would be if this year we worked toward sharing our peace with those less fortunate We really can make a difference if we care enough to take action to peace a And may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very joyous and peaceful holiday season Your Opinion Readers opinions are welcome please limit letters to one doublespaced typewritten page and include your name address and daytime phone number Letters can be dropped off at the front office of the STAR or mail tot 2149 2nd Avenue Whitehorse YukonYlAlC5 we should take care of our own? At the same time we are gravely told about how Canada has to compete in the global world we isolate ourselves And the debt It is estimated that at least one fifth of Third World debt is incurred by buying weapons How much of our debt goes to support that debt? Canada does have the the opportunity to be a leader of world peace Our peacekeepers are respected we are not a superpower we have had at least in the past a good record in terms of useful foreign aid and as an advocate for human rights As we pray this week for peace on earth perhaps 'we could also encourage our government to take some action to reach that end Just a few suggestions from The Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade: immediately halt all military This is the time of year when most of us turn our thoughts to the well-being of others It is a joyous time for those of us fortunate enough to live in Canada because we have one of the greatest gifts freedom from the ravages of war This week I heard an interview with one of the peacekeepers in Croatia Yukoner Cort Flumerfelt When asked what he felt about Canada he said he had developed a much greater appreciation for Canada after seeing the devastation in Croatia We are quite rightly proud of our country and of Canadian peacekeepers like Cort and I am sure that our prayers are with all of the blue berets everywhere who bring real meaning to the word And while here at home we debate the issue of gun control it would be a lasting tribute to peace on earth if we could have the same emotional debate about arms control throughout the world During the Gulf War Joe Clark then Minister of Foreign Affairs said when it became clear that most of the arms used in that conflict were indeed sold to Iraq by the very countries who were now fighting against that country that Canada would lead the way in arms control So happened? Well Canada continues to be a leading arms seller We are the seventh-largest military exporter in the world Through your tax dollar we have spent almost $200 million in grants to industries through the Defence Industry Productivity Program But millions of public dollars also go to other public departments and Crown corporations in direct support of the Canadian military industry The current trade minister continues to flog with great enthusiasm the sale of arms in countries with very dubious human rights and democratic records ANlXPlOSKJNOFVtSHCS' BmxwcmttMVAw aMRMUTMYMta- AtSEttTNATtALANCt iHAnHBUHoummor pummnNsiauw SOT MUOY FROM.