The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 4

JShe Progress A4 Wednesday, August 22, 1990 Slowly, plank by plank, Premier Vander Zalm is putting together his election platform. Vander Zalm's long search for an election issue was rew arded when the Indians cranked up their land claims machine. In a market not exactly flooded with issues, he grabbed the land claims and ran with it. iBOUHDED FORCED TO 1 flMMl CONFINED TDAT1NY A A 1RA0 tTD sf guess mi Victoria 7 Notebook The inmates of a prison Off lZ the Cuff Shameful disregard It is a week of shame for humanity in B.C., and its shameful disregard for wild creatures. In Vancouver, captured beluga whales are triumphantly delivered to a tiny pool where they will spend the rest of their pitiful lives.

And in one of the grossest examples of total human disregard for wildlife, we report this week of new regulations governing the sale of bear parts in B.C. Now hunters must take the hide, or at least one quarter of the meat of each bear they shoot. It is incredible that this needs to be legislated in the first place, yet it is so because of a market for bear parts. The slaughter of black bears is financially lucrative, with no connection to the sport of hunting whatsoever. Now, due to changes in the B.C.

Wildlife Act regulations, only licenced 'fur dealers' can buy and sell bear parts gall bladders and paws being the 'pieces' most commonly sought. In the name of modern civilization, why, when these amendments to the Wildlife Act were being enacted, was any form of trade in wildlife parts allowed? Simply because some Orientals believe that powdered animal parts have powerful aphrodisiac qualities, among other 'medicinal' uses, is enough reason to condone the slaughter of a B.C. wildlife species? Perhaps this society is beyond the hocus-pocus stage, but it certainly doesn't seem to have developed much further in terms of protective legislation for its wildlife. These amendments were a step in the right direction which fell brutally short. Less garbage One of the most encouraging examples of environmental awareness on an almost 'industrial' level is the announced commitment of Chilliwack General Hospital to reduce its trash volume.

The facility generates close to 21 tonnes of garbage per month. Ninety-five per cent of that is trucked to the Bailey landfill site. Even if the hospital administration achieves a 10 per cent reduction in its volume of trash, that's a staggering 25 tonnes of garbage which won't be buried on a mountainside in Chilliwack. CGH director of housekeeping, Murray Hutchison, is discovering that it is a difficult and sometimes costly venture to recycle, however, for what it's worth, we offer moral encouragement. It is only through an increasingly loud demand for better recycling methods, and more flexible and lucrative markets for recycled products, that change will take place to fill those present gaps.

The effort on the part of Hutchson and the hospital is an example for other facilities and businesses in Chilliwack to observe and imitate. It would indeed be good news for this newspaper to be able to report each week on the progress made by individuals and businesses towards a community which truly pursues the three R's reduce, recycle and reuse. Editor's Quotebook We thank with brief thanksgiving whatever gods may be, that no man lives forever, and dead men rise up never; that even the weariest river winds somewhere safe to sea. Algernon Charles Swinburne The sun and the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands. Havelock Ellis In skating over thin ice, our safety is our speed.

Ralph Walder Emerson To get into the best society nowdays, one has either to feed people, amuse people, or shock people. Wilde inmates of which must suffer from their loss of freedom for our entertainment and enlightenment. Incredible advances in technology allows us to view via film, creatures in their natural habitat, undisturbed and unalarmed. Surely that is more educational than watching a bored mammal circle around and around in an enclosure that represents a laughably tiny fraction of its real home. There are books, videotapes, television and finally, nature itself to explore, to increase one's education.

After we've finished justifying and rationalizing, the fact remains the belugas, the lions, tigers, otters and elephants are imprisoned for our own purposes. Human freedom is sacrosanct. Yet the freedom of natural creatures is subject to the whim of man. The human race suffers from a superiority complex, and most unfortunately, possesses intelligence disproportionate to responsibility. through the media.

Worse still, Vander Zalm fails to recognize that all MLAs have a duty to report any wrongdoing by the Attorney General to the Legislature. The laws of Parliament demand that an Attorney General not tamper with the administration of justice. I can understand why the premier would prefer not to hear of a wrongdoing by one of his ministers, but surely the public should be informed of such improprieties. Bud Smith not only violated the ethical standards we demand of our Attorney General, he did something much worse by violating the public's trust in an impartial judicial system. It's high time the premier publicly stated that such actions are unacceptable, and demonstrated for once that he is able to distinguish between right and wrong.

Moe Sihota. MU, Esquimatl-Port Renfrew HUBERT BEYER But one issue does not an election campaign make, at least not this one, so the premier remained on the lookout for further fodder. Would you believe he found it in Winnipeg? "The status quo is dead and we can't continue on as we are," he told his counterparts, minus Robert Bourassa, on the opening day of the national premiers' conference. The death of Meech Lake, the Vander Zalm indicated, also rang in the demise of Canada's traditional constitutional framework. If Quebec was looking for a new relationship with the rest of Canada, so could every other province, particularly British Columbia.

So now, Vander Zalm has got two issues around which to build an election campaign Indian land claims and fed-bashing. Neither of these can be relied upon to assure the government's re-election, but they are probably the best issues that will present themselves between now and the fall of 1991, when his mandate runs out. Both issues have potential. The question is whether Vander Zalm will be able to deploy them effectively. Let's face it, his experience in fighting an election on issues is very limited.

Four years ago, he bluffed his way into the premier's office with a big smile and little else. When his opponent, Bob Skelly, accused him of campaigning on style rather than substance, Vander Zalm didn't bother denying it. On the contrary, style, he said, was as important as substance and anyway, it was working for him. It wouldn't work again and Vander Zalm knows it. That's why he has been looking so desperately for an election issue.

Now he thinks he's got not just one but two. And for better or worse, he's going to fight a fall election on those two issues. The Indian land claims issue is the trickier of the two. It could blow up in Vander Zalm's face. Whether or not it does, depends on the advice he gets and whether he takes that advice.

Ever since Elijah Harper single-handedly sank the Meech Lake Accord, Indian issues have dominated the news in Canada. Harper's stand, which earned him admiration and respect from Indians and non-Indians alike, inspired his people to fight for their rights as never before. The response was varied. Quebec bungled things by not defusing a ticking bomb when there was still time, thereby allowing the situation at Oka to get out of hand. British Columbia acted more intelligently.

Reversing a long and intractable position, the government announced last week it was prepared to negotiate Indian land claims. It was a good first step, but the Indians want more. They demand recognition of their aboriginal title to the land, and that has white society worried stiff, because nobody knows just how much land the Indians are laying claim to. Vander Zalm may be able to use the issue to his advantage in two ways. By pointing to his government's willingness to sit dow and negotiate land claims, he strikes a statesman-like pose; by refusing to recognize aboriginal title, he can show himself as the responsible politician who isnt about to give away the store.

The second issue is the future of confederation. Canada's misery is Vander Zalm's delight. His speech at the first ministers' conierence in Winnipeg left no doubt here he stands. It isn't on the side of federalism. Vander Zalm is trying to divide the spoils of this country even before Quebec actually removes itself from Canada.

He says federalism is dead and it's time to find a new formula. As a start, he proposes a transfer of federal services to the provincial government. By reducing or even shutting down the federal bureaucracy in British Columbia and letting the province deliver the services, the taxpayers would save a lot of money, according to Vander Zalm. In fact, he says the province could do the job for one-third of the price. I think he may well be able to sell that concept, if not to Ottawa then to a lot of B.C.

voters. Never mind that it's just a bill of goods. In the wake of Meech Lake and Quebec's determination to go it alone, fed-bashing is in style again. They were relentlessly chased, cornered and finally caught. Men surrounded them, lashed them with ropes, loaded them into crates, and hauled them away from their home.

You can go see them now three beluga whales imprisoned for life in the Vancouver Aquarium. Their crime was being objects of human curiousity. Take your children. Show them the pretty whales. See how they are grinning and laughing? Silly whales.

Funny whales. Look at the big, big pool that man gave them. See the clean water, and the nice fish they get each day? Happy, happy whales. Happy, thoughtless people. If you do take your kids to the Vancouver Aquarium to see the whales, please explain that these mammals were once free.

Describe as best you can how they used to swim with wild purpose in an environment so large, so unencumbered, that we as human beings can't understand. Cutting into our future Editor, The Progress: Some starting statistics from Ministry of Forests Annual Reports reveal that: From 1911 to 1989, we have logged 24 billion cubic metres of wood in this province. That is enough lumber, (if we stacked it waist high and axe-handle in width), to circle the globe at the equator 63 times! Even more frightening is that it took from 1911 to 1972, sixty-two years, to cut the first 50 of this volume. We have cut the second 50 in the last 17 years! The contrast is even more striking in the Interior, where it has only taken from 1977 to cut the second 50 of all that we have ever cut in the Interior. The heroic perception of loggers topping spar trees and burling logs on raft booms has been unsurped by mechanized harvesting, corporate greed and government acquiescence.

There is a green goldrush taking place in British Columbia and it is time that we woke up before we have been strip-minded of our future. Jim Pine, Victoria Friends of CFB Chilliwack Editor, 77ie Progress: As I take leave of my appointment as base commander of Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack, I would like to express my appreciation, through the pages of the Chilliwack Progress, to all citizens of this community for the splendid support and friendship which they have provided to this base. I don't know if they are fully aware of just how good the relationship is between this base and the local com LETTERS ANDY HOLOTA Now they are mere trinkets -visual curiousities in a place where people can eat popcorn and be awed and entertained by nature's creatures. Yes arguably, aquariums and zoos have educational value. I remember the few times my parents took me to these places, and what a wonder it was to see the wild animals shuffle to and fro behind glass and bars.

Perhaps that is the greatest travesty about putting nature on display the young minds which are being 'educated' may not yet comprehend that they are viewing a prison the munity but I can assure everyone that it has no equal anywhere else. Quite clearly tfie existence of the base has a profound and beneficial impact on the local economy but we believe that our "citizenship" extends beyond financial aspects and, despite the occasional disruption and annoyance that some of our more noisome activities cause to our neighbors, that we are welcomed as full partners in this district. This welcome is due in no small way to the positive attitude of all members of this community. On behalf of all members of the base, but most particularly from my wife, Liz, and myself, thank you all. S.C.

Dunbar, Colonel, Base Chilliwack Difference of right and wrong Editor, The Progress: To date Bill Vander Zalm has refused to apologize to the people of B.C. for the actions of his disgraced former Attorney General, Bud Smith. Why can't the premier admit Bud Smith was wrong to meddle in the prosecution of his friend and Socred colleague Bill Reid? Does the premier not appreciate the unique role of the Attorney General a role that requires him to be independent and impartial? Does Vander Zalm not believe that our judicial system must be free of political interference? Rather than criticize Smith, the premier chose to focus on the way the tapes were released and their consequential effect on Smith's family. In so doing, Vander Zalm conveniently ignores two facts. First, contrary to his assertions, the tapes were turned over to the RCMP.

In fact, I contacted the Deputy Attorney General before rising in the Legislature. Second, the premier ignores the fact that New Democrats did not release any of the tapes dealing with Smith's apparent involvement with a reporter. That material was released by an unidentified source She Clhilttumck Progre Business is good Editor, The Progress: The fact that the Downtown Merchants Association is relatively inactive as lamented in your 'Sad demise' editorial 77ie Progress, Aug 15), may not be altogether It could mean the opposite, namely, that because downtown business is good (and it isi, there isn't the need for vigorous activity by the Association. In a town where business is failing, you will see the Merchants Association spring to life to do something about it. Necessity is the mother of invention! I'm not suggesting that longer term concern and planning to keep up the aesthetic appeal of the downtown is unnecessary, and I think that this is what your editorial had in mind.

I merely want to counteract any impression that the public may have gotten from your editorial that business is bad downtown. It is not. Rod Cooper, Auld Phillips Ltd. Established 1891 Published at 45860 Spadina Avenue, Chilliwack, B.C., Canada, V2P 6H9, phone 792-1931, every Wednesday by The Chilliwack Progress Ltd. for Can west Publishers Limited.

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Phone 792-1931 Jim Robertson, Publisher Bruce Kolb Barbara Mulherin Advertising Manager Circulation Manager Andrew Holota Editor.