March 1, 1994, carnegie newsletter

NEWSLETTER

MARCH 1, 1 9 9 4 .

401 Main S t . . Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604)665-2289

g e t h e r t o d i s c u s s t h e i s s u e o f Ginseng Brandy and t h e e f f e c t t h i s subst a n c e h a s on t h e community. Most o f t h e p e o p l e a t t h e meeting were Carne g i e u s e r s and r e s i d e n t s o f t h e n e i ghbourhood. There were a l s o r e p r e s e n t i v e s from t h e Liquor Licensing Branch, Ambulance s e r v i c e , and ~ i c o h o l G Drug Programs. The meeting- was c h a i r e d by ~ u ~ Sgi gsu r g e i r s o n .

The minutes o f t h e meeting w i l l t r y and r e p r e s e n t t h e v a r i e t y o f opi n i o n s e x p r e s s e d by t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s .

Following a r e some o f t h e comments t h a t people had:

* Ginseng Brandy should b e s o l d i n returnable bottles.

* The government should r e g u l a t e t h e s a l e o f t h i s p r o d u c t because it h a s v e r y s e r i o u s n e g a t i v e e f f e c t s on t h e Native community. I t i s supposed t o b e ne but something with 40% alcot o o much t o be s o l d i n c o r n e r sLvrt;s.

A major problem with Ginseng Brandy i s bootlegging. I t i s a p o l i t i c a l i s s u e , not a h e a l t h i s s u e . I t g i v e s one c u l t u r e an advantage o v e r another. The Native community s u f f e r s from t h e way i t i s r e g u l a t e d .

*

The problem w i t h t h i s Ginseng Brandy i s t h a t i t i s cheap t o buy y e t t h e c o s t s of t r e a t i n g someone who h a s consumed a l o t o f i t a r e v e r y h i g h . Much rnoney i s s p e n t on ambulances, h o s p i t a l s t a f f , e t c . T h i s i s a l l t a x p a y e r s ' money. I t should b e o f f o f t h e s h e l v e s .

* The s t r o n g e s t argument f o r r e g u l a t i n g t h i s s u b s t a n c e i s t h a t t h e peopl e s e l l i n g it,f a v e n o o s o c i a l .conscience.

8

* One problem i s t h a t t h e merchants i n t h e a r e a a r e p r o f i t i n g o f f of t h e abuse of Ginseng Brandy by people.

Ilowever i f t h e s u b s t a n c e i s t a k e n o f f t h e s h e l f then people w i l l t u r n t o o t h e r more harmful s u b s t a n c e s such a s Lysol, a f t e r shave, e t c . There should be a c l e a n form o f medicinal a l c o h o l a v a i l a b l e a t low p r i c e s .

* In V i c t o r i a t h e y g o t r i d o f t h e 3 Snakes cooking wine. Why n o t g e t r i d of Ginseng Brandy t o o .

* Ginseng Brandy i s h i g h l y a d d i c t i v e

E k i l l s i n a v e r y slow p a i n f u l way.

There must be more enforcement s o t h a t merchants won't s e l l t o p e o p l e who a r e intoxicated. * There w i l l always b e problems w i t h a l c o h o l s o we must develop o t h e r p l a c e s f o r p e o p l e t o go, o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s f o r people t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n .

*

40% a l c o h o l p u t s Ginseng Brandy i n a d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r y t h a n cooking w i n e I t should be t a k e n o f f of t h e s h e l v e s .

* We a r e n a i v e t o t h i n k t h a t i f Ginseng Brandy i s t a k e n o f f t h e s h e l v e s t h e problem w i l l go away. People w i l l f i n d o t h e r ways t o become i n t o x i c a t e d .

*

The q u e s t i o n of p e o p l e going back t o Lysol and s h a v i n g l o t i o n i s a good one b u t I s u s p e c t t h a t most p e o p l e w i l l not t u r n t o those substances. I f Ginseng Brandy i s p u t i n t h e l i q u o r s t o r e s no one w i l l buy i t because it w i l l be t o o expensive.

* I n Oppenheimer Park t h e r e a r e 10-20 b o t t l e s a day found. The b o o t l e g g e r s o n l y g e t a $50 f i n e i f t h e y g e t caught.

Change t h e way i t i s s o l d such a s p u t t i n g i t i n p l a s t i c b o t t l e s s o people d o n ' t end up u s i n g t h e b o t t l e s a s weapons. The o l d t i m e r s i n t h e p a r k s a y t h e y won't go back t o Lysol because they a r e t o o o l d .

"

Banning i s n o t t h e s o l u t i o n . People are addicted t o things f o r a l o t of d i f f e r e n t r e a s o n s . I t might be w e l l int e n t i o n e d t o ban i t b u t p e o p l e w i l l - 2 do worse t h i n g s t o g e t t h e s e s u b s t a n ces. Crime w i l l i n c r e a s e . C o n d i t i o n s of l i f e make t h e problem n o t simply a d d i c t i o n b u t a d d i c t i o n i s one o f t h e nany problems t h a t p e o p l e a r e f a c i n g .

Deal w i t h t h e r o o t of t h e problems.

* People b r i n g i t i n from o u t s i d e t h e neighbourhood.

* If t h i s s t u f f was s o l d i n t h e b e t t e r neighbourhoods t h e n you would see a b i g hue and c r y . Kids can g e t s hold of t h i s s t u f f .

I t i s h a r d t o buy Ginseng Brandy i f you a r e c l e a n and p r e s e n t a b l e b u t

I ,

if you look l i k e )rod a r e down and o u t and t h a t you abuse t h e s t u f f you w i l l be s o l d b o t t l e s v e r y q u i c k l y .

* If i t i s a medicine t h e n i t should b e s o l d i n t h e drug s t o r e .

*

How does s o much a l c o h o l come i n t o t h e c o u n t r y and go r i g h t p a s t t h e liquor stores?

* Perhaps t h e amount o f a l c o h o l permi t t e d i n Ginseng Brandy should be lowered t o 10-15%.

* There was much i n t e r e s t i n t h e r e s e a r c h t h e P o l i c e Department h a s been doing on Ginseng Brandy. The r e -

3. s u l t s of t h i s r e s e a r c h w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e soon.

*

I t i s v e r y important f o r t h e commun i t y t o come t o a consensus on what should b e done t o d e a l with t h e problem of Ginseng i f we a r e t o b r i n g about change.

The meeting ended w i t h a promise t o have a n o t h e r p u b l i c meeting when t h e r e s u l t s of t h e Police research a r e a v a i l a b l e and more i n f o r m a t i o n i s obt a i n e d regarding t h e position of t h e C i t y on t h i s i s s u e . I t was obvious by t h e number o f p e o p l e who spoke t h a t t h i s i s a v e r y important i s s u e t o a I g r e a t many people,

CARNEGIE'S VOTING SYSTEM !There w i l l be a meeting o f a l l Learners, T u t o r s and S t a f f i n C l a s s room # 2 . The r e a s o n i s t o v o t e f o r people t o b e on a committee. ..I1 Many Learners i n C a r n e g i e ' s ESL, d r o p - i n and o t h e r c l a s s e s had n e v e r voted b e f o r e . They had no i d e a about t h e importance of t h e i r v o i c e i n a democratic meeting t o choose a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e from among them. The proce s s had t o be e x p l a i n e d .

S e v e r a l young s t u d e n t s i n t h e v a r i ous c l a s s e s understood almost immedia t e l y . They were interested t o l e a r n t h e y could make speeches, v o i c e t h e i r q u e s t i o n s about nominations and nomin a t e someone. They could a l s o a c c e p t a nomination and t a l k about t h e i r own p o s i t i o n s - Others a t t e n d i n g watched t h e way i t happened and l e a r n e d t h a t t h e i r v o i c e a l s o m a t t e r e d ; t h e y ' d be heard through a c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e .

Lex Baas h a s been t h e Co-ordinator o f t h e Learning C e n t r e f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s . Ile i s l e a v i n g b u t t h e p o s i t i o n remains. The meeting was t o d i s c u s s t h e i d e a t h a t Learners, T u t o r s and S t a f f were going t o choose p e o p l e from among t h e n t o s i t on a h i r i n g committee - t o h i r e a new Co-ordinat o r f o r t h e Learning C e n t r e .

A f t e r s p l i t t i n g i n t o 3 groups, a l l people reassembled i n classroom # 2 .

There were 6 p e r s o n s nominated, two .

.

from each group, and t h e y each made speeches. People t h e n d i s p e r s e d .

On Thursday 6 Friday, t h e l O t h / l l t h o f February, a b a l l o t box, b a l l o t s 6 p e n c i l s were p l a c e d on a t a b l e i n t h e space between classrooms # 1 6 # 2 .

Several p e o p l e , one a t a time, f o r . about 2 hours each, s a t by t h e box t o watch and t r y t o e x p l a i n t h e way v o t i n g i s done. Several ESL and o t h e r new s t u d e n t s had t o have t h e system e x p l a i n e d by an i n t e r p r e t o r and t h e n

were s t i l l unsure how t o make t h e i r marks. Voting was complete a t 5:00 on F r i d a y .

One s t a f f member, 1 l e a r n e r , i t u t o r and 1 r e p o f Carnegie counted t h e b a l l o t s . The winners were: - FLOYD WONG - S t a f f - MARTIN LAU - T u t o r s - STEVE LENTINELIO - Learners These people a r e pn t h e h i r i n g comm i t t e e and w i l l be allowed one q u e s t i o n each p e r a p p l i c a n t . They a r e a d e d i c a t e d l o t and w i l l be l i s t e n i n g t o i n p u t from t h e i r groups. The whole committee i n c l u d e s Dona1 d MacPherson a s t h e Acting D i r e c t o r and 3 r e p s o f t h e Vancouver School Board.

Much d i s c u s s i o n and e x c i t e m e n t have been g e n e r a t e d by a l l t h a t ' s happened.

We a r e looking forward t o t h e upcomi n g h i r i n g p r o c e s s and r e p o r t i n g on t h e end r e s u l t .

By DORA SANDERS

on a narrow road

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This self elevator :incl walks to a balcony from which you have a wide, wide view of the city and beautiful Lake Michigan; an

Newfoundland p r o p o s a l designed f o r cheap l a b o u r Premier Clyde Wells of Newfoundl a n d i s proposing major changes t o t h e s o c i a l s a f e t y n e t i n h i s provinc e . He wants t o ask t h e f e d e r a l government i f Newfoundland can change i t s system t o r e f l e c t t h i s new model. The media and g o v ' t o f f i c i a l s i n o t h e r p r o v i n c e s a r e a l s o checking o u t t h e Newfoundland model t o s e e i f it could be a p p l i e d t o t h e r e s t o f Canada. What i s t h e Newfoundland model and do we want i t ?

What . . . . . .i. s. . t. h. .e. .Newfoundland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .model? .

The new i t e m i n t h e Newfoundland model i s t h e Basic Income Supplement where e v e r y a d u l t would have a minimum annual income o f $3000 and e v e r y c h i l d $1500. T h i s money would come from t a k i n g about $688 m i l l i o n o u t o f t h e p o c k e t s i f Newfoundland r e s i d e n t s who now r e c e i v e Unemployment Insurance, and from r e d u c t i o n s t o people who a r e on w e l f a r e . For examp l e , a s i n g l e lfemployableffperson on w e l f a r e would n o t g e t w e l f a r e , o n l y t h e Basic Income Supplement o f $3000 T h i s would be a $3000 r e d u c t i o n from what t h a t p e r s o n would g e t on welfa r e . I t ' s n o t c l e a r y e t whether o r n o t o t h e r p e o p l e on w e l f a r e would have t h e i r r a t e s reduced. The Supplement would be reduced as a f a m i l y ' s income i n c r e a s e d and d i s a p p e a r a l t o g e t h e r when f a m i l y income r e a c h e s $42,500.

Doug House, a u t h o r o f t h e r e p o r t 7 , which recommends t h e changes, t o l d a CBC c r o s s c o u n t r y check-up program on Dec. 1 9 t h t h a t t h e purpose o f t h e recommendations i s t o "give p e o p l e a chance t o t a k e advantage o f t h e oppo r t u n i t i e s t h a t a r e t h e r e . " Globe E Mail (Dec.20) s a y s t h a t t h e "big difference i s t h a t t h e new system would encourage (people) t o f i n d a job--even a p a r t - t i m e o r low paying job." Lloyd Axworthy, f e d e r a l minist e r of Human Resources, h a s s a i d t h a t t h e Newfoundland p r o p o s a l i s "a p r e t t y i n n o v a t i v e approach" and t h a t h i s government might " b u i l d upon" i t The Newfoundland p r o p o s a l i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l goodies t h a t a r e l u r i n g low income groups t o s u p p o r t i t . People w i l l b e a b l e t o keep what t h e u e a r n .

They can keep t h e i r drug c a r d i f t h e y ' v e been on w e l f a r e . Some of them w i l l be a b l e t o go t o s c h o o l .

And a committee t h a t i n c l u d e s low income groups w i l l h e l p monitor t h e program.

D o we want i t ?

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...

NO! The Newfoundland p r o p o s a l would be a d i s a s t e r i f shipped t o t h e r e s t o f Canada. Here's why:

1) The p r o p o s a l i s based on t h e t h e o r y t h a t people a r e n ' t working because w e l f a r e .and U I a r e t o o cushy In f a c t , people a r e n ' t working because j o b s a r e n ' t t h e r e and when t h e y a r e , wages a r e t o o low.

2) The p r o p o s a l w i l l f o r c e p e o p l e t o a c c e p t jobs t h a t pay v e r y low wages. Desperation w i l l f o r c e people on w e l f a r e whose income has been c u t back t o a mere $3000 a y e a r t o s c r a mble f o r j o b s j u s t t o s u r v i v e . Peopl e c u t o f f UI w i l l be f o r c e d t o scramble f o r low wage jobs t o o . UI pays o n l y 57% o f your p r e v i o u s wage.

Rumours a r e f l o a t i n g now t h a t t h e

f e d e r a l g o v ' t wants t o change t h a t t o 50%. Unemployment i n Newfoundland i s o f f i c i a l l y a t 22%. In t h e r e s t o f Canada it i s o v e r 11%.C u t t i n g back on U I and w e l f a r e , and g i v i n g p e o p l e money t o work a s t h e BIS does, subsi d i z e s low wage employers, and c o n t r i b u t e s t o making Canada a low wage work zone. T h i s scheme f i t s i n w i t h f r e e t r a d e which f o r c e s u s t o compe t e w i t h Mexican workers making $5 a day i n o r d e r t o be c o m p e t i t i v e .

3) The p r o p o s a l d o e s n ' t i n v o l v e any i n c r e a s e t o t h e minimum wage. Inc r e a s i n g minimum wage t o $10 o r $11 an hour would end any s o - c a l l e d i n c e n t i v e o f p e o p l e t o s t a y on w e l f a r e according t o a r e c e n t r e p o r t by t h e National Council on Welfare. R a i s i n g t h e minimum wage d o e s n ' t c o s t t a x p a y e r s a c e n t . And it g i v e s employe r s an i n c e n t i v e t o c r e a t e h i g h e r s k i l l , higher p r o d u c t i v i t y jobs. It would a l s o do a l o t t o reduce poverty.

4) The p r o p o s a l p u t s a l o t of emphas i s on r e - t r a i n i n g as though t h a t would c r e a t e j o b s . A r e c e n t s u r v e y found t h a t t h e r e were 15% fewer vaca n t jobs t h a n i n 1991 i n Canada. According t o t h e head o f t h e Canadian Labour Market P r o d u c t i v i t y Board, most o f t h e s e were low wage j o b s .

With o v e r a m i l l i o n p e o p l e o u t o f work, t r a i n i n g w i l l o n l y i n v o l v e more people i n t h e musical c h a i r s game o f who g e t s t h e jobs t h a t e x i s t T r a i n i n g without employment c r e a t i o n i s a n o t h e r way t o i n c r e a s e t h e suppl y o f s u r p l u s l a b o u r and push wages down.

5) The money f o r t h e Basic Income Supplement i n t h e Newfoundland p r o p o s a l w i l l come from c u t t i n g welf a r e and $688 m i l l i o n from U I . This works o u t t o an average U I c u t o f o v e r $9000 a y e a r f o r each Newfound-

l a n d r e s i d e n t who c o l l e c t s i t . Government reforms of s o c i a l programs should n o t t a k e money from U I and w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t s . These reforms should r e d i s t r i b u t e money from t h e r i c h who can a f f o r d it.

6 ) What w i l l happen t o t h e r i g h t s t h a t poor p e o p l e have i n t h e Canada A s s i s t a n c e Plan i f t h e Newfoundl a n d p r o p o s a l i s p u t i n t o p l a c e . CAP g u a r a n t e e s t h a t income s h o u l d "meet b a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t s , I' t h a t t h e r e . i s an a p p e a l system i f p e o p l e a r e d e n i ed what t h e y need, t h a t p e o p l e do n o t have t o work f o r w e l f a r e . If p e o p l e on w e l f a r e a r e f o r c e d t o subs i s t on $3000 a y e a r , t h e s e r i g h t s w i l l be v i o l a t e d and low income peop l e w i l l be even more v u l n e r a b l e t h a n t h e y a r e now.

7 ) The good t h i n g s i n t h e Newfoundl a n d p r o p o s a l ( t r a i n i n g , keeping a drug c a r d , a l l o w i n g p e o p l e w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s t o keep what t h e y e a r n could be done without r e d u c i n g U I o r welfare.

What do we need i n s t e a d ? .......................

We need j o b s , h i g h e r minimum wage - , pay e q u i t y , h i g h e r t a x e s f o r t h e r i c h . Poor p e o p l e need more r i g h t s t h a n a r e i n CAP, n o t l e s s . And welfa r e r a t e s should be i n c r e a s e d t o t h e poverty l i n e .

SWANSON

INFO INSIGHT I thought i t was about time someone provided some i n f o on o u r i n f o r mation and s e c u r i t y crew h e r e a t t h e Carnegie. Since I d i d t h a t s e r v i c e f o r t h e second f l o o r , through t h e "Kitcken Korner" a r t i c l e s l a s t y e a r , I f i g u r e d 'why n o t ? ! ' So, h e r e i s : 1 1 ~ t h e f i r s t o f what w i l l be a sporadic a l l y r e g u l a r column i n o u r paper.

F i r s t , l e t me say t h a t I t h i n k I , t h a t o u r oft-maligned 1st Floor s t a f f have a v e r y t r y i n g E d i f f i c u l t t a s k i n what t h e i r job r e q u i r e s o f them. I belkeve t h a t t h e y a l l do exc e l l e n t work f o r t h e p a t r o n s h e r e .

I ' l l g e t more e x p l i c i t about our pol i c i e s and way o f d e a l i n g with issues and people i n f u t u r e weeks. For now l e t me i n t r o d u c e you t o s t a f f .

The Info persons a r e : The l o v e l y E t a l e n t e d Butch Lame. He i s t h e only f u l l time Info 1st. K i m Dugray ( I ' d say even more l o v e l y b u t Butch would g e t jealous) i s our regular parttime Info c l e r k . K i m has been h e r e f o r 1 0 y e a r s and a c t u a l l y works more hours than most of o u r f u l l time s t a f f .

Why s h e ' s considered a p a r t - t i m e worker only t h e C i t y (our employer) knows.

Others you w i l l f i n d d e d i c a t i n g one o r more days p e r week answering t h e phone and doing a myriad of o t h e r r e l a t e d jobs i n t h e course o f a

s h i f t a r e : P h y l l i s MacEachen, Steve Rose, Donna Zinkowski, who has e s caped from t h e k i t c h e n , and Lisa, who has j u s t escaped. G i l l e s , Fred, Richard, Ken and Moe a l l g e t t h e c a l l t o f i l l i n , sometimes (often?) a t t h e l a s t moment.

I t has been estimated t h a t we g e t somewhere i n t h e neighbourhood of 1500 c a l l s p e r day. On t o p o f handli n g t h e phone t h e Info c l e r k must process memberships, t a k e i n cash, d i r e c t people t o t h e d i f f e r e n t agenc i e s , t a k e and g i v e messages, handle t h e mail a s it a r r i v e s . . w h i c h i s a l ways a fun t h i n g around GST 6 Income Tax time. They must know where t h e s e n i o r s t a f f people a r e . They f i l l t h e chalkboard with a l l t h e informat i o n a v a i l a b l e regarding programs E s p e c i a l e v e n t s happening i n our very busy b u i l d i n g each day. There i s no more too! Besides t h a t , t h e y must be courteous and h e l p f u l and bel i e v e me, sometimes t h a t i s extremebut t h e y do it! l y difficult Well, I'm t o t a l l y exhausted. Next time I ' l l g i v e you a look a t t h e do door persons and what t h e y have t o p u t up with i n t h e course o f a day o r week.

Until then...thanks f o r listening! {-.;I

...

...

By JOHN FERGUSON

"CASINO FR3NT LAWN" (formerly - - - - - - - - -Crab - - - - - Park) ---Would Casino Front Lawn be a good name f o r what h a s been Crab Park?

Perhaps "Piggy Bank Park" would be a n o t h e r choice f o r ' P o r t s i d e P a r k ' .

A 125,000 s q - f t . c a s i n o has been a s e c r e t p a r t of g l a n s f o r a proposed S e a p o r t t o u r i s t megaproject b e s i d e Crab Park.

25,000 2eoi)le would v i s i t t h e c a s i no each day. The p r o f i t s would be about $300 m i l l i o n a y e a r .

We would l o s e l o c a l u s e o f Crab Park because of t h e l a r g e numbers o f t o u r i s t s and o u t - o f - a r e a people who would b e going t o t h e c a s i n o and t h e pkoposed 10,000-person Trade and Convention c e n t r e . C r u i s e s h i p s , wars h i s s , h i g h r i s e luxury condos and a 1000-room l u x u r y h o t e l a r e a l s o p a r t of t h e pro2osal. \;e would l o s e about 1000 e x i s t i n g , lowrent rooins nearby. These would be converted t o t o u r i s t b e d - & - b r e a k f a s t .

Car t r a f f i c would have a l a r g e and n e g a t i v e e f f e c t on t h e neighbourhood.

One of t h e p o s s i b l e d e v e l o p e r s i s Mirage R e s o r t s o f Los Vegas, working I with t h e Vancouver Land C o r p o r a t i o n . i The p r o v i n c i a l govt. i s an i n v e s t o r ' i n t h e VLC w i t h $16 m i l l i o n . VLC i s t h e spawn o f L i b e r a l l e a d e r Gordon Campbell & h i s buddy Jack Poole.

Crab Park should be f o r l o c a l Down town E a s t s i d e c h i l d r e n , and n o t f o r gamblers.

The s o c i a l problems from t h e proposed Seagort megaproject could d e s t roy t h e Downtown East s i d e .

CONGRATULATIONSt o t h e ~ e n i o i ' s \ E x e c u t i v e e l e c t e d a t o u r meeting on Feb. 15, 1994.

P r e s i d e n t - NORhIAN MARK V i c e - p r e s i d e n t - LORELEI IIAWKINS S e c r e t a r y - IRENE SCHMIDT T r e a s u r e r - DAVE McKELLAR Members-at-1 a r g e - TONY, BHARB Coffee Concession Rep - RAY LAUGON The Executive meets on t h e second Tuesday o f t h e monbh, with t h e gene r a l meeting on t h e t h i r d Tuesday o f t h e month---both meetings a t 2:OOpm. A l l S e n i o r s members may b r i n g t h e i r i d e a s , i s s u e s , concerns t o t h e e x e c u t i v e a t any t i m e . S p e c i a l items f o r t h e meeting agenda can Be bbought t o t h e Executive meeting.

S p e c i a l t h a n k s goes t o t h e Executi v e of 1993 and a l l o f o o u r v o l u n t e e r c o f f e e s e l l e r s , who h e l p e d make 1993 a y e a r o f memorable a c t i v i t i e s !

Federal Budget Blues Well, i t looks a s i f we r e - a r r a n g e d t h e deck c h a i r s on t h e T i t a n i c by v o t i n g t h e L i b e r a l s i n . They s p e n t too much t i m e l l c o n s u l t i n g l l and n o t enough on a t t e m p t i n g t o s o l v e b a s i c problems.

Throughout Canadian h i s t o r y we keep e l e c t i n g t h e white c a t s , then t h e black c a t s . The mice (people) n e v e r r e c e i v e j u s t i c e because what can you expect from f a t c a t s ? The e n t i r e p o l i t i c a l system i s a c a t E mouse game.

J u s t look a t o u r Governor General t r a v e l l i n g a l l o v e r on a government j e t and s t a y i n k a t e x t r a v a g a n t h o t e l s while thousands o f Canadians a r e homeless and hungry. Where i s t h e e q u a l i t y o u r c i t i z e n s a r e supposed t o have? I f e e l t h a t we a r e back i n t h e 1930's and Willis S h a p a r l a i s l o o k i n g o v e r o u r s h o u l d e r s and t e l l i n g u s t o f i g h t back.

I j u s t bought my son a p a i r o f shoes. They a r e n ' t work b o o t s l i k e t h e f i n a n c e m i n i s t e r ' s because t h e r e a r e n ' t any j o b s o u t t h e r e . I know a s I have gone t o t h e employment c e n t r e s w i t h Wayne f o r f i r s t hand information.

I h e a r some s e n i o r s condemning t h e youth f o r being l a z y because t h e y a r e n ' t working. We1 1 t i m e s have c h a n ~ ed d r a s t i c a l l y s i n c e we l e f t school.

Jobs were p l e n t i f u l t h e n ( I had a c h o i c e of f i c e when I l e f t s c h o o l ) and you d i d n ' t have t o worry about your work being t e r m i n a t e d . We should be s u p p o r t i n g o u r youth and g i v e them a great deal of c r e d i t f o r surviving a s well a s t h e y do.

Our S o c i a l S a f e t y Net i s being t h r e a t e n e d and my f r i e n d s and I doubt whether t h e r e w i l l be f u n d s f o r o u r p e n s i o n s when we r e a c h 65. Also, t h e s e n i o r s who p i o n e e r e d t h i s c o u n t r y d e s e r v e more s e c u r i t y i n t h e i r l a t e r years.

By IRENE SCHMIDT

NOBODY'S MONEY: Our governments f u n c t i o n a s i f i. t h e y b e l i e v e d e v e r y s o c i a l problem i s caused by an economic problem. ~ u it f t h e economic problem, f o r example h i g h p r i c e s , i s t r a c e d back t o government t a x a t i o n , t h e y s a y - Oh no, i t ' s n o t an economic problem, it i s n o t a problem of human n a t u r e . . . t h a t is, i f t h e people don't l i k e o u r laws - t h e r e must b e something wrong w i t h t h e people. Smuggling, f o r i n s t a n c e , i s e x p l a i n e d away by sayi n g , Oh, w e l l , t h e r e ' l l always b e "bad" people (once t h e y ' r e c a l l e d "criminals" t h e y ' r e no l o n g e r c o n s i d e r e d human) E "bad" p e o p l e w i l l a l ways "take advantage o f t h e systemn.

F i r s t , l e t ' s a s k o u r s e l v e s - what does a l a r g e E i n c r e d i b l y l e g a l c o r p o r a t i o n do when it throws i t s w e i g h t it around i n t h e marketplace? " t a k e s advantage o f t h e system" doesn't i t ?

G we a l l t a k e advantage o f it, one way o r a n o t h e r - some o f t h o s e ways have been made l e g a l , o t h e r s , i l l e g a l , b u t most o f o u r act i o n s i n " t a k i n g advantage o f t h e system" f a l l i n t o a g r a y a r e a c a l l e d " p e t t y crime". " P e t t y crime ," o r " q u e s t i o n a b l e a c t i v i t i e s " represent a l a r g e p a r t of t h e l i f e t i m e s o f o r d i n a r y Canadian c i t i z e n s . Smuggling i s one o f t h o s e "petty" crimes. The p e o p l e , i n an o r g a n i s e d f a s h i o n , r e b e l a g a i n s t exo r b i t a n t s a l e s t a x e s , and suddenly l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of goods s t a r t moving across t h e border i l l e g a l l y , E what' s c a l l e d an %nderground economy" r e s u l t s . . . a c t u a l l y , i t ' s j u s t economic p r e s s u r e from "Free Trade" E "New World Order" p o l i c y s c r e a t i n g i t s shadow which of c o u r s e t u r n s o u t t o be t h e r e a l "free1t t r a d e . .

Why?-because i t ' s c r e a t e d by t h e p e o p l e , for t h e people.

...

...

...

.

But t h e Government o f Canada now sends i t s s e c r e t mounted p o l i c e , w i t h h i g h t e c h k i l l i n g machines, against its c i t i z e n s t o protect E you s a y "Free Trade i n i t i a t i v e s " . y o u ' r e proud o f t h i s s t u p i d c o u n t r y ?

..

TORA Strange H i s t o r i c a l S t a t i s t i c s : During t h e l a t e r p a r t o f t h e 20th centuny most c h i l d r e n ' s games were based on t h e concept o f pushing a b u t t o n on a machine t o k i l l someone o r d e s t r o y an expensive p i e c e o f property.

So, is there a c r m or not!

Many p o l i t i c i a n s , b u s i n e s s p e o p l e , newspaper c o l u m n i s t s and TV p e r s o n a l i t i e s a r e unanimous: t h e debt i s reaching a c r i t i c a l l e v e l . They s a y t h e d e b t i s t h e most important problem we f a c e - f a r more important t h a n o t h e r problems l i k e p o v e r t y , unemploy ment o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e e n v i r onmen t Nhat s o r t o f q u e s t i o n s would working p e o p l e ask i f t h e y were allowed i n t o t h e d e b a t e ? What kind o f answers would t h e y come up with? The Canadian Auto Workers Union h a s p u t t o g e t h e r t h i s pamphlet on t h e d e b t and t h e def i c i t i n t h e hope it w i l l be u s e f u l f o r t h o s e concerned about t h e f u t u r e o f o u r c o u n t r y . We hope you can be p a r t of t h e discussion a d solution.

.

Let's listen in on Fred a ?zd Martha..

It seems this debt "CRISIS"

13.

came on all of a sudden. What happened?

We've had d e f i c i t s f o r y e a r s 6 t h e d e b t has been growing a l l along. The " c r i s i s " has more t o do w i t h t h e Tory agenda t h a n i t does w i t h t h e a c t u a l d e f i c i t . The T o r i e s have exaggerated t h i s t ' c r i s i s ' l i n o r d e r t o e n f o r c e bhe n e o - c o n s e r v a t i v e agenda. which i n c l u d e s c u t t i n g s o c i a l programs and government

Do you me& the debt "CRISIS" is just a convenient excuse to cut programs?

You g o t i t . You have t o remember where t h e s e programs came from and why. Before o l d age p e n s i o n s , unemployment i n s u r a n c e and medicare, l i f e was v e r y d i f f e r e n t f o r working p e o p l e People t o o o l d t o work became a burde n on t h e i r f a m i l i e s . I f you were out o f a job i t was a s h o r t s t e p t o being hungry m d homeless. Medical t r e a t ment was a l u x u r y many f a m i l i e s j u s t could not a f f a r d - o r a burden p a i d o f f o v e r many y e a r s . Not t h a t long ago f a m i l i e s l o s t homes and farms t r y i n g t o pay h o s p i t a l c o s t s . That i s why p e o p l e o r g a n i s e d and demanded government i n t e r v e n t i o n .

So the debt is just the difference between what we have spent and what we have taken in?

I I~IIOW all that. but t'Vcr~Ollc wpl)orts thesr programs now ... don't they?

Cone on! S i n c e when do you b e l i e v e e v e r y t h i n g p o l i t i c i a n s t e l l you. I t i s t r u e we got t h e s e . s o c i a l programs because some o f t h e most i m p o r t a n t mainstream p o l i t i c i a n s and b u s i n e s s people decided t o go along. Some thought i t was e a s i e r t o compromise with t h e m a j o r i t y and g i v e u s a t l e a s t some o f what we wanted. They had seen t o o much t r o u b l e , t o o many s t r i k e s and p r o t e s t s i n t h e 1930's.

Others were even smart enough t o r e a l i s e government could p l a y a u s e f u l r o l e p r o v i d i n g economic and s o c i a l s t a b i l i t y - a bigger public sector c o u l d a c t u a l l y be good f o r b u s i n e s s .

But t h e r e was always a m i n o r i t y who d i d n ' t a g r e e with any o f t h i s . Who h a t e d t h e i d e a o f s o c i a l and communit y values replacing f r e e enterprise i n many a r e a s . Who b e l i e v e d t h a t everyone should t a k e c a r e of themselves o r f a c e t h e consequences--dog e a t dog ..survival of t h e f i t t e s t .

.

But deficits and the debt are real aren't they?

They're r e a l a l l r i g h t , but l e t ' s examine what each i s and what each one means. A d e f i c i t i s simply t h e r e s u l t o f government spending more money t h a n it t a k e s i n through t a x e s .

To make up t h e d i f f e r e n c e it borrows money. When you add ui> a l l t h e money governments have borrowed o v e r t h e y e a r s , minus what has been p a i d back, you g e t "the d e b t f 1 - o r t h e accumulat e d d e f i c i t a s it i l s . a l s o known.

Not q u i t e . Governments have t o pay i n t e r e s t on t h e money t h e y borrow j u s t l i k e t h e r e s t o f us. A v e r y b i g p a r t of t h e n a t i o n a l d e b t - o v e r 4 0 % i s i n t e r e s t c h a r g e s . T h a t ' s because t h e f e d e r a l government, through t h e Bank o f Canada, h a s k e p t i n t e r e s t r a t e s v e r y h i g h f o r y e a r s , making o u r d e b t much worse t h a n it should've been

Does it make any differencewhose fault it is?

I've heard the debt is so big, if we don't take drastic measures soon no one will lend us any money.

Canada will be seen as a bad risk.

Isn't that kind of scary?

I t ' s meant t o be s c a r y . The government wants p e o p l e t o p a n i c . Fortunate+ l y t h e people who a c t u a l l y judge t h e s e t h i n g s f a r omvestors d o n ' t buy t h i s a t a l l . Here's what t h e New York company, bloody' s I n v e s t o r s S e r v i c e s , s a i d on June 10, 1993: "We s e e no s i g n i f i c a n t n e g a t i v e t r e n d i n Canada's d e b t burden t o j u s t i f y a change i n t h e T r i p l e A r a t i n g s ( t h e t o p c a t e g o r y ) of t h e n a t i o n 1 s Canadian d o l l a r fj fioreign c u r r e n c y d e b t . Canada' s an extremel y low r i s k . T h a t ' s t h e message."

Is there a problem with Canada borrowing from other countries?

Yes! I t i s even more of a concern when a growing p o r t i o n o f t h e Canadian i n t e r e s t payments a r e g o i n g t o f o r e i g n f i n a n c i e r s and t h e r e f o r e a r e n o t even r e t u r n e d t o t h e Canadian economy i n any way.

On t o p o f t h a t t h e f e d e r a l government r e c e n t l y doubled t h e amount o f money Canadian pension funds a l o n g w i t h RRSPf s which can be i n v e s t e d o u t s i d e t h e c o u n t r y . I n 1990 t h e s e funds were worth around 625 b i l l i o n - y e s b i l l i o n - d o l l a r s . That i s more than 5 0 p e r c e n t b i g g e r than t h e t o t a l . f e d e r a l d e b t . So you can s e e t h a t r a i s i n g t h e amount allowed t o l e a v e Canada t o 20 p e r c e n t can o n l y make o u r problem o f f i n a n c i n g government programs even worse.

I still don't understand where the debt came from. Why didn't we keep our spending in line with income?

It sure feels like I'm paying a lot more in taxes and getting less and less in return.

Good question.

The answer can be found by l o o k i n g a t t h e s o - c a l l e d "debt c r i s i s " f o r what i t r e a l l y i s : a deep r e c e s s i o n i n Canada.

Over 1.6 m i l l i o n Canadians a r e on U . I . and thousands have been f o r c e d o n t o w e l f a r e a s job p r o s p e c t s d r y up.

This h a s had a n e g a t i v e e f f e c t on t h e t a x b a s e i n Canada.

But, we c a n ' t j u s t blame t h i s "debt c r i s i s " on t h e t a x s h o r t f a l l s o r on the " c r i s i s of globalization .If It i s obvious t h e c a p i t a l i s t system i s una b l e t o p r o v i d e jobs f o r people who want j o b s . Remember what Prime Minist e r K i m Campbell t o l d Canadians about jobs, t h e day s h e c a l l e d t h e e l e c t i o n .

"I would like to see certainly

by the turn of the century a country where unemployment is down?'

But w h i l e s h e s e t a t a r g e t f o r e l i m i n a t i n g t h e d e f i c i t , she d e c l i n e d t o s e t a t a r g e t f o r lowering unemployment, s a y i n g it would be " f u t i l e f f .

So taxes are dwindling!

Aren't we overspending and therefore overtaxed?

Any o p i n i o n p o l l a s k i n g Canadians i f t h e y want t o c u t back on t h e government's spending g e t s a s t r o n g Yes. But when t h e q u e s t i o n g e t s t o - do you want your garbage s e r v i c e s reduced, o r l a r g e r classrooms w i t h fewer t e a c h e r s , l e s s s t u d e n t l o a n s , o r buses t h a t run l e s s f r e q u e n t l y , ow lower p e n s i o n s , o r fewer h o s p i t a l beds and cutbacks i n s t a f f i n g and hours o f emergency wards - t h e answer changes.

The answer i s NO.

k e s... So, how can there be a revenue crisis?

Not everyone i s being t a x e d more.

Taxes on t h e w e a l t h i e s t Canadians and t h e v e r y l a r g e s t c o r p o r a t i o n s have gone down s t e a d i l y s i n c e 1975. I n 1991 a S t a t i s t i c s Canada s t u d y revealed t h a t 50% of o u r n a t i o n a l d e b t was due t o t a x b r e a k s and l o o p h o l e s f o r wealthy i n d i v i d u a l s and c o r p o r a t i o n s .

F o r t y - f o u r p e r c e n t was c r e a t e d by h i g h i n t e r e s t payments. J u s t 6 p e r c e n t came from i n c r e a s e s i n government spending s i n c e 1975.

Every y e a r t h e F r a s e r I n s t i t u t e has 'Tax Freedom Day", a d a t e i n t h e sum-

mer when t h e y c l a i m t h e o r d i n a r y peop l e s t o p paying t a x e s and keep what t h e y e a r n . Using a method:similar t o t h e i r s , i t ' s c l e a r t h a t corporations t h a t a c t u a l l y pay t a x e s a r e ' f r e e of t a x e s ' on about January 27th.

"At a t i m e when Canada h a s more than 12%unemploylnent and hundreds o f tho* sands dependent.upon s e r v i c e s which a r e being c u t t o t h e bone because o f a d e f i c i t " c r i s i s 1 ' , Canada c o n t i n u e s t o have t h e lowest c o r p o r a t e t a x r a t e of t h e G-7 c o u n t r i e s o r t h a t o f any i n d u s t r i a l i s e d c o u n t r y i n t h e world."

- Mary Anne OIConnor, C h a i r Ontario Coalition f o r Social J u s t i c e

F a c t s and F i m r e s : Corporation

.

Angus Corp Cascades Inc. Chevron Canada Resources E-L F i n a n c i a l Corp.

Fording Coal Gaz M e t r o p o l i t a n GW U t i l i t i e s l!onda Canada Inco Manufacturers L i f e C a p i t a l Midland Melwyn Mobil Marine T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Morgan F i n a n c i a l Mutual T r u s t Pagurian Corp.

Pioneer Metals P r o c t e r 6 Gamble Renaissance Energy Royal Bank Transmountain P i p e l i n e Zurich Canada

Year

Pre-Tax P r o f i t

Paid

Credit 0 $ 2,372,000 2,752,000 1,754,000 5,049,000 0 10,000,000 13,076,000 69,7OO,OOO 64,751 0 0 1,592,000 532,000 0 0 3,690,000 0 65,000,000 940,000 0

(Note t h e word "examples" - t h e r e a r e o v e r 93,000 p r o f i t - m a k i n g companies which p a i d n o t h i n g i n income t a x e s . I know of one s e n i o r - meaning t h e r e a r e hundreds of t h o u s a n d s l i k e h e r - who h a s t o pay $621 i n t a x e s on a n income of $12,612. The Royal Bank had $63 m i l l i o n owing and was g i v e n PAULR TAYLOR $65 m i l l i o n . - b a r f b a g s a r e a v a i l a b l e -

7

CORPORATIONS OWING $100,000,000 OR MORE IN DEFERRED TAXES' Abitibi-Price $212,500,000 A l b e r t a Energy Co. 438,600,000 ALcan Aluminum US$955,000,000 Amoco Canada Petroleum CO. 453,000,000 Anglo-Canadian Telephone 338,693,000 BCE Inc. 2,377,000,000 BC T e l 302,400,000 Bell Canada 1,898,700,000 Bow V a l l e y Energy 133,100,000 Cambridge Shopping C e n t r e s 156,832,000 Canadian Hunter E x p l o r a t i o n 114,972,000 Cdn. O c c i d e n t a l Petroleum 159,303,000 Cdn. P a c i f i c F o r e s t P r o d u c t s 196,800,000 Canadian P a c i f i c 1,930,600,000 Chevron Canada Resources 216,526,000 C h r y s l e r Canada 620,600,000 244,985,000 Cominco C r e s t a r Energy 245,196,000 Domt a r 118,000,000 Encot I n c .

133,000,000 Falconbridge I n c .

313,726,000 F l e t c h e r C h a l l e n g e Canada 117,100,000 F o o t h i l l s Pipe Lines 117,874,000 General Motors o f Canada 621,154,000 George Weston 161,000,000 Gulf Canada Resources 138 000,000 Hemlo Gold Mines 112,248,000 Home o i l Co. 438,600,000 Husky O i l 780,292,000 IBM Canada 2 5 9 9 0 0 0 yOoO Imasco E n t e r p r i s e s 128,100,000 Imasco F i n a n c i a l 116,200, OoO Imas co 136 OoO Imperial O i l 1,577,000,000 Imperial O i l Resources Prod. $205,229,000 Inco US$480,500,000 I n t e r p r o v . P i p e Line System 373,500,000 John L a b a t t 90,000,000 Kruger 129,822,124 LAC M i n e r a l s S J ~ $ 2 0 8 6999000 ;

The Other Side of the Ledger *

1 . 3 m i l l i o n on w e l f a r e i n O n t a r i o l i v e on i n c o m e s 15%-40%b e l o w t h e poverty l i n e

London I n s u r a n c e Group London L i f e I n s u r a n c e Maclean Hunter MacMillan Bloedel Marathon R e a l t y blaritime Tel $ Tel Company Mobil O i l Canada Mobil Resources Moore C o r p o r a t i o n Noranda F o r e s t Noranda Inc. Noran& M i n e r a l s Norcen Energy Resources Northern Telecom PanCanadian Petroleum Petro-Canada P l a c e r Dome Quebecor Quebecor P r i n t i n g Ranger O i l Ria ~ l g o m Rogers Communication Scurry-Rainbow O i l Seagram Company She1 1 Canada Stone-Consolidated Corp.

Stone-Consolidated suncor

148,000,000 132,000,000 119,400,000 252,000,000 258,211,000 148,079,000 291,671,000 123,325,000 US$123,022,000 241,000,000 706,000,000 360,800,000 490,476,000 US$347,900, 000 813,900,000 467,000,000 US$115 ,000,000 273,060,000 US$129,707,000 86,458,000 216,319,000 277,369,000 121,816,000 US$167,000,000 846,000,000 111,080, 000 116,961,000 286,000,000

Sun L i f e Assurance o f Canada Teck T e l e s a t Canada Thomson C o r p o r a t i o n Union Energy Union Gas Weldwood o f Canada West c o a s t Energy West F r a s e r Timber Co Xerox Canada Finance Xerox Canada

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127,853,000 183,828,000 132, Q94,OOO US$275, 000,000 314,504,000 253,100,000 l44,O86,OOO 569,197,000 101,915,000 230,463,000 349,943,000

1 6 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e i n M e t r o p o l i t a n Toro n t o use f o o d b a n k s e v e r y month. I t is estimated t h a t at l e a s t another 1 6 0 , 0 0 0 r e l y on t h e h e l p o f f a m i l y E f r i e n d s o r simply go hungry.

* Throughout O n t a r i o , s c h o o l breakf a s t programs f o r hungry k i d s have become t h e norm.

* It i s estimated t h a t t h e r e a r e 20,000 homeless people i n Metropoli t a n Toronto a l o n e .

* M u n i c i p a l i t i e s a c r o s s Ontaribf,have c u t d i s c r e t i o n a r y w e l f a r e programs.

For example Metro Toronto no l o n g e r provides r e n t a l d e p o s i t s f o r people needing acconodation and Northumberland County has e l i m i n a t e d emergency d e n t a l programs. This has prompted l o c a l w e l f a r e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t o warn t h a t human l i f e i s being p u t a t r i s k .

* Local governments a r e promoting welf a r e abuse h o t l i n e s t o weed o u t "cheaters". I n S a r n i a , t h e l o c a l p o l i c e ' c r i m e s t o p p e r s ' program has newspaper ads o f f e r i n g rewards o f up t o $1000 f o r information l e a d i n g t o t h e a r r e s t of w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t s who do "under t h e t a b l e " work.

Are you saying that spending more,on social programs, Medicare and other services is not the cause of the deficit?

That's r i g h t ! In f a c t , o f t h a t 6% i n c r e a s e i n spending, j u s t one t h i r d was due t o s o c i a l spending. I n o t h e r words j u s t 2 % of o u r n a t i o n a l d e b t was s p e n t on s o c i a l programs and most o f t h a t came i n 1981 and 1982 when we were i n a deep r e c e s s i o n d e l i b e r a t e l y c r e a t e d t o "wrestle i n f l a t i o n t o t h e ground . I f That added up t o around $8 b i l l i o n , a l o t o f money t o you and me but small change compared t o annual f e d e r a l government e x p e n d i t u r e s o f o v e r $100 b i l l i o n i n a n a t i o n a l economy producing o v e r a t r i l l i o n d o l l a r s worth o f goods and s e r v i c e s each y e a c

But all we hear about these days is we have to slash spending on social programs, or accept user fees on Medicare - that we are living beyond our means, that Canadians are demanding more from government than we can afford to pay for.

* Lambton County Council has p a s s e d a motion a u t h o r i s i n g t h e County Warden t o i n s p e c t t h e normally c o n f i d e n t i a l l i s t o f p e o p l e on w e l f a r e .

* Cash s t r a p p e d s o c i a l a g e n c i e s i n Metro Toronto w i l l be o f f e r e d welfa r e " t r a i n e e s " who w i l l work f o r t h e i r w e l f a r e cheques, p l u s a s m a l l allowance t o c o v e r c o s t s . The Canadian Union of P u b l i c Employees(CUPE) has warned t h a t t h e s e people may be performing j o b s p e v i o u s l y h e l d by decent l y - p a i d union workers.

* Important medical items r e q u i r e d by s e n i o r s and people on w e l f a r e have been d e - L i s t e d from t h e O n t a r i o Drug Plan.

(Numbers i n B.C. a r e lower but s i m i l a r a s a p e r c e n t a g e of p o p u l a t i o n . )

T h a t ' s what I meant when I s a i d t h e government and i t s c o r p o r a t e b a c k e r s have a n o t h e r agenda. They a r e n ' t r e a l l y concerned about t h e d e b t and d e f i c i t s - i f t h e y were t h e y wouldn't have supported and implemented p o l i c i e s d e s i g n e d t o d r i v e up t h e d e b t .

They a r e u s i n g t h e d e b t a s an excuse t o c u t back o r e l i m i n a t e s o c i a l prog-I rams - c u t b a c k s Canadians would n o t a c c e p t if i t were n o t f o r t h e b i g s c a r e around t h e ' d e b t c r i s i s ' .

But corporations also say their taxes are too high. \l.liat's the real story?

Draw your own c o n c l u s i o n s . In t h e 1950's t a x revenue r a i s e d from i n d i v i d u a l s and c o r p o r a t i o n s were e q u a l .

Today i n d i v k d u a l s pay o v e r 80% of t h e t o t a l money c o l l e d e d , while corporat i o n s pay l e s s t h a n 20% The b i g g e s t c u l g r i t i n t h i s huge s h i f t o f t h e t a x burden i s t h e s ~ e c i a lt a x r u l e s f o r corporations created over t h e years.

These r u l e s a l l o w thousands of p r o f i t a b l e c o r p o r a t i o n s t o pay no t a x e s a t a l l . I n 1987, 93,000 p r o f i t a b l e c o r p o r a t i o n s e a r n i n g $27 b i l l i o n p a i d

no income t a x e s . The Conservative government's own t a s k f o r a e headed by E r i c Nielsen found t h e g o v l t was l o s i n g $25 b i l l i o n a y e a r through t a x b r e a k s t o l a r g e c o r p o r a t i o n s and wealthy i n d i v i d u a l s .

CAW

Debt clock tolls-. h h gnew$ about Canada ,

L

,

"The p r e s e n t system h a s f a i l e d t o provide t i m e l y and r e l i a b l e informat i o n t o i n v e s t o r s . T h i s i s one o f t h e most t r o u b l i n g s y s t e m i c problems."

- James Matkin's r e p o r t on t h e Vancouver Stock Exchange 0 VANCOUVER, C i t y o f S h y s t e r s , C i t y of G u l l s . T h e r e ' s n e v e r a con j o b s o simple t h a t o u r g r e e d won't push u s t o t a k e t h e b a i t . Consider t h a t o f f e r ing from t h e Vancouver Board o f Trade .. . t h e d e b t c l o c k .

Debt i s t h e d i r t y word o f t h e day.

But o n l y f o r p u b l i c investment i n human r e s o u r c e s , of c o u r s e . There is s c a r c e l y a p r i v a t e c i t i z e n o r a major corporation t h a t is n o t - a8.ithis very moment - e i t h e r s e r v i c i n g o r a c q u i r ing new d e b t .

Yes, d e b t i s an e s s e n t i a l l u b r i c a n t of c a p i t a l i s m . I t i s t h e i n s t r u m e n t by which we employ f u t u r e w e a l t h t o b u i l d a s s e t s t o d a y which w i l l i n c r e a s e wealth tomorrow. Buying homes,.:for example. Our monied c l a s s , having a c quired its education, s t a t u s E-wealta from t h e p u b l i c s u b s i d i e s o f an e a r l i e r g e n e r a t i o n , having exhausted i t s own c a p i t a l p a i n s exemntions. n2wimi -

zed i t s t a x d e f e r r a l s and deducted $357 m i l l i o n worth o f l u n c h e s i n 1993 s t a n d s t o b e n e f i t most by s e l l i n g u s t h e i d e a we c a n ' t a f f o r d t o i n v e s t i n t h e next generation.

Enter t h e debt clock, b r i l l i a n t f ear-mongering propaganda. Tlie "c10ck'~ p u r p o r t s t o r e v e a l a Canada p l u n g i n g headlong down t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t t o bankruptcy. I t f e a t u r e s a mesmerizing f l o o d o f numbers. Minute by minute i t h e d e b t s w e l l s and t h e argument f o r s l a s h i n g p u b l i c spending becomes more frenzied.

P u n d i t s wail. P o l i t i c i a n s launch w i t c h h u n t s a g a i n s t w e l f a r e f r a u d - as though by same magic formula t h e budg e t might be b a l a n c e d on t h e backs of t h e 20 p e r c e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n which commands l e s s t h a n one p e r c e n t o f t h e wealth.

Suddenly it becomes f a s h i o n a b l e t o a s k : Can we a f f o r d o u r poor? Can we a f f o r d o u r f a r m e r s ? Can we a f f o r d t o e d u c a t e o u r c h i l d r e n ? Can we a f f o r d t h e e l d e r l y ? Can we a f f o r d t o s h e l t e r t h e h e l p l e s s ? Can we a f f o r d t o n u r s e t h e s i c k ? And everywhere we eye t h e p u b l i c s e r v i c e and c r y , l i k e t h e Red O I I P P ~ to A l i c c v f f w i t h i t <h ~ n d l "

Business i t s e l f a d m i t s t h a t of 531 l a r g e c o r p o r a t i o n s which s l a s h e d payr o l l s t o b o o s t p r o f i t s , most found t h e s t r a t e g y c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e . Shocked by t h e r e a l c o s t o f d i s i n t e g r a t i n g morale, w i t h i n a y e a r more t h a n h a l f had r e h i r e d what t h e y c u t .

A s information, t h e debt clock i s dramatic but worthless.

Good b u s i n e s s o p e r a t e s on ahe s t r i c t p r i n c i p l e o f t h e b a l a n c e s h e e t : One column f o r d e b i t s , a n o t h e r s f o r c r e d i t s . A s s e t s balanced by l i a b i l i t i e s .

The d e b t o f f e r s a n a t i o n a l p r o s p e c t u s which l i s t s o n l y l i a b i l i t i e s .

Imagine being asked t o a s s e s s a company on t h e b a s i s o f a r e p o r t list i n g o n l y long term d e b t s , o p e r a t i n g expenses, spending on s t a f f t r a i n i n g , t h e c o s t o f i t s h e a l t h b e n e f i t s package and pension p l a n and o u t s t a n d i n g bills.

For t h e d e b t c l o c k t o mean a n y t h i n g , it must b e viewed n e x t t o a wealth clock, which shows r e l a t i v e growth i n the value of t h e n a t i o n ' s a s s e t s against i t s l i a b i l i t i e s .

Canada's wealth clock is a b s e n t because it would prove even more mesmeri z i n g t h a n t h e d e b t c l o c k . Even i n t h e midst o f t h i s r e c e s s i o n , t h e w e a l t h clock r o l l s up $51,592 e v e r y minute.

Every y e a r f o r t h e l a s t 60 y e a r s t h e growth o f n a t i o n a l wealth h a s o u t s t r i p ped government d e b t . A f t e r s i x decades t h e debt s t a n d s a t $500 b i l l i o n .

But t h e cumulative w e a l t h r e p r e s e n t ed by t h e g r o s s n a t i o n a l p r o d u c t o v e r t h e 20 y e a r s s i n c e 1974, f o r example, has a t o t a l v a l u e of $8,690,366,000000

You r e a d c o r r e c t l y : $8 TRILLION. Our d e b t i s a s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e of o u r a s s e t b a s e . And t h a t r a t i o h a s n o t changed much. T h i s i s why Moody's Investors Service, t h e ultra-conservati v e b e n c h m a r k * r a t e r o f economic p e r f o p mance, s a y s Canada i s n o t on t h e verge of a d e b t c r i s i s .

Most o f u s have mortgages t h a t exceed o u r annual incomes. Would it make s e n s e t o i n s i s t t h a t we a l l pay them down i n f i v e y e a r s ? Could you? Would you want t o ?

Is t h e d e b t troublesome? Yes. What s e n s i b l e b u s i n e s s manager d o e s n ' t keep a c a r e f u l eye on t h e l i a b i l i t i e s s i d e of t h e b a l a n c e s h e e t ? Should t h e debt be reduced? Yes. Canada h a s t o o much d e b t . But a d r a c o n i a n b l o o d l e t t i n g i s n e i t h e r n e c e s s a r y n o r - g i v e n t h e exp e r i e n c e o f t h e Fortune 500 - p a r t i c u l a r l y wise. I f government spending i s f o r c e d t o l a g behind t h e growth o f t h e n a t i o n ' s economy, t h e d e b t can be g r a d u a l l y reduced o v e r time.

What k i n d o f b u s i n e s s manager goes t o t h e board o f d i r e c t o r s , l i s t o n l y t h e l i a b i l i t i e s , then argues f o r t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t r a i n i n g , employee bene f i t s , p e n s i o n s and new s t a f f r e c r u i t ment? When you look a t t h e whizzing numbers o f t h e d e b t c l o c k , t r y t o imag i n e t h e o t h e r c l o c k t h a t should be b e s i d e i t , w i t h t h e numbers whizzing even f a s t e r i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n .

Now a s k y o u r s e l f why y o u ' r e o n l y getting half the story.

By STEPHEN HUME

PRESTON MANNING G The ,Reform P a r t y Thousands o f Canadians j o i n e d t h e Reform P a r t y because they were f r u s t r a t e d with t h e o l d p o l i t i c a l p a r t i es. Murray Dobbin's book, "Preston Manning And The Reform Party;ll publ i s h e d by Formac Publishing, 1992, warns t h e s e people (and t h e r e s t o f u s a s w e l l ) t h a t t h e Reform P a r t y i s d r i v e n by an u l t r a - c o n s e r v a t i v e busi n e s s ideology and t h a t i t i s contr o l l e d by Preston Manning and a small group around him.

Murray Dobbin t e l l s u s i n h i s book t h a t Preston Manning was born i n 1942 a s t h e son o f Ernest Manning who was t h e S o c i a l C r e d i t Premier of A l b e r t a f o r 25 y e a r s . The C h r i s t i a n fundament d l i s t t r a d i t i o n Preston was born i n t o was r i g i d i n i t s extreme individualism and b i b l i c a l l i t e r a l i s m . Wealth was equated w i t h t h e b l e s s i n g o f God, poverty was r e l a t e d t o s i n , women were s u b o r d i n a t e t o men and homosexua l i t y was condemned.

In 1947 Imperial O i l h i t i t s f i r s t well a t Leduc, and t h e h i s t o r y of A l b e r t a changed. Under Ernest Manning t h e Social Credit Party aligned i t s e e l f with t h e o i l i n d u s t r y and o t h e r bin business i n t e r e s t s . Social Credit

l e f t behind i t s p o p u l i s t money p o l i c i e s and adopted t h e trickle-down t h e o r y of wealth c r e a t i o n . This t h e o r y s t a t e d t h a t t h e more wealth t h e r i c h were allowed t o accumulate, t h e more crumbs t h e r e would be f o r t h e r e s t o f US.

Preston Manning s t u d i e d physics a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Edmonton, and event u a l l y s e t t l e d i n h i s f a t h e r ' s busin e s s r e s e a r c h company i n 1968. He would remain t h e r e u n t i l he became l e a d e r of t h e Reform P a r t y i n 1987.

The i d e a o f an u l t r a c o n s e r v a t i v e f r e e e n t e r p r i s e p a r t y has been expres s e d i n Ernest Manning's book, "Polit i c a l Realignment - A Challenge t o Thoughtful Canadians," published i n t h e 1960's. Preston supported t h i s i d e a , along w i t h h i s f a t h e r ' s b e l i e f t h a t an e l i t e o f like-minded men was needed t o run t h e country. I t was Preston's i n t e n t i o n t o harness t h e power of popular d i s c o n t e n t i n o r d e r t o build h i s ideologically consistent conservative party.

There was no l a c k o f d i s c o n t e n t i n t h e 1980's with its s e v e r e depression and growing unemployment & poverty.

I n 1984 t h e Mulroney T o r i e s were e l & e c t e d i n Ottawa, and t h e unpopularity Of Mulroney was a g r e a t h e l p t o t h e Reform Party.

Western b u s i n e s s a l i e n a t i o n was s o s t r o n g by 1986 t h a t Preston Manning knew t h e time was r i g h t t o b r i n g popu l a r d i s c o n t e n t and b i g b u s i n e s s money ( e s p e c i a l l y o i l money) t o g e t h e r i n o r d e r t o form a new p o l i t i c a l p a r t y .

In May, 1987, i n Vancouver, powerful businessmen from Edmonton, Calgary & Vancouver formed t h e Reform Associat i o n o f Canada under t h e d i r e c t i o n o f Preston Manning of A l b e r t a and Stan Roberts o f B r i t i s h Columbia.

A Reform P a r t y convention was h e l d i n Winnipeg i n t h e f a l l o f 1987 and

P r e s t o n Manning won t h e l e a d e r s h i p .

S t a n Roberts, however, t h e second most important person i n t h e p a r t y , withdrew from t h e l e a d e r s h i p r a c e and t h e convention. He denounced P r e s t o n Manning and h i s c l o s e s u p p o r t e r s a s wright-wing C h r i s t i a n f a n a t i c s . ' ' The fanatacism t h a t S t a n Roberts was t a l k i n g about emerged a t t h e con-

v e n t i o n when June Lenihan, a Vancouve r delegate, s t a t e d f o r the press t o h e a r , "I a m an e v a n g e l i c a l , right-wing, a n t i - a b o r t i o n i s t redneck, a n t i - s o c i a l i s t , u l t r a - c o n s e r v a t i v e , fundamentali s t C h r i s t i a n . " ( P r e s t o n Manning And The Reform P a r t y , by Murray Dobbin, page 98) t o be c o n t i n u e d

...

...

By SANDY CAMERON

Number One Nation

9

Smoke hugs t h e a i r above t h e c e n t r e s t a g e w h i l e a wino hugs h i s second l i f e A few t a b l e w down two half-snapped salesmen share a w a i t r e s s with t h e b e s t o f a l l times The d r i n k s a r e sweetened h e r e t h e n watered down and t h e evening g i r l s look haggard and o l d But t h e p a t r o n s keep on soming back because t h e r e a i n ' t no b e t t e r p l a c e t o go Down on t h e c o r n e r a p o l i t i c a l f a c e s t a r e s o u t from a TV s c r e e n Behind t h e g l a s s i n a drug s t o r e window t e l l i n g u s how t h i n g s have been S i t u a t i o n i s s t r a i n i n g somewhere tdeologies a r e clashing again Who t a k e s t h e t i m e t o s a y a p r a y e r f o r Poland when o v e r h e r e w e ' r e f e e l i n g t h e s t r a i n Back on t h e road I saw a c a r p u l l e d o v e r a s t h e s t r e e t p a t r o l moved i n f o r i n s p e c t i o n The d r i v e r ' s f a c e was o f an A f r i c a n mould so they both feigned smiles t o hide t h e suspicion We g o t o l d p e o p l e f i g h t i n g o f f a home i n t h e s t r e e t s and now I c a n ' t a f f o r d t o t a k e my v a c a t i o n What's t h e world coming t o t h e s e days i f we've been l i v i n g i n t h e number one n a t i o n

~~

I heard a man a t t h e checkout s t a n d t e l l t h a t t o t h e checkout d a r l i n g What ' s t h e world coming t o t h e s e days i f we've been l i v i n g i n t h e number one nation--

* @ - -

Roddy ElacDonald

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NOT SAME OLD STORY Reuter

JEANNE CALMENT long memory

PARIS -Jeanne Calment, who's in the Cuinness Book of Records a s the world's oldest woman, celebrated her 119th b~rthdayyesterday saying she's nothing special.

Calment lives in a retirement home near Arles in southern France. Doctors say she is in good health, but has become slightly deaf and has cataracts.

The woman, born in Arles on Feb. 21, 1875, didn't welcome the publicity surroundmg her birthday.

"I'm not a phenomenon," she said. "I'm an ordinary woman."

In 1889,Calment met Vincent Van Gogh, who came t o her father's shop to buy canvasses. She remembers the painter a s "ugly a s sin bad-tempered, a grumbler smelling of alcohol."

Interviewed on radio, she was asked if she'd celebrate her birthday.

"Oh, probably," s h e said. With sweets and cakes? "Yes, chocolate cakes."

She gave up a t w ~ i g a r e t t e - a d a yhabit two years ago, but eats chocolate every evening before bed.

Asked why the woman has lived s o long, doctors said her best asset is her sense of humor.

"I know 1'11 die laughing," said Calment.

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To Whom I t May Concern: I am sending you t h i s n e w s l e t t e r from t h e (United S u r v i v o r s ' ) Support Centre. My name i s Ted Hammond and I used t o be a p a r t o f your C e n t r e i n B.C. I am hoping f o r some correspondence w i t h b o t h o u r n e w s l e t t e r s . I am very i n t e r e s t e d i n h e a r i n g from you.

The members h e r e a r e v e r y much IQ~J?SY i n g forward t o b e i n g a b l e t o i n t e r a c t with many o t h e r C e n t r e s a l l a c r o s s Canada. A s l o n g a s I a m w r i t i n g t o f o r Nikki you now I would l i k e t o s a y h e l l o t o some p e o p l e I used t o know o u t t h e r e : i n t h i s v a l l e y of s t o n e , which might be Wayne Johnson, Ann Leahyl Norm M i t bottomless, r o o t s may d e l v e c h e l l , Dave S t a n l e y , B e t t y I-Iurd, a thousand g e n e r a t i o n s Mardy Joyce, W i l l i Monroe, Don Macwith music t h e c o l o u r o f October Pherson, Paul T a y l o r , C o l i n Lanyon, Butch, S t a n , Bob Woods, and many blood on wood i n yellow l i g h t g l i t t e r s ~ t h e r swhose names have escaped me a s a r e d echo o f g e s t u r e s it h a s been s o long s i n c e I have s e e n soon l o s t them. ( P l e a s e make s u r e t h a t t h e s e i n t h e r a v e n - h a i r e d d e l u g e of n i g h t people a r e t o l d o f t h i s l e t t e r s o where a p a i r o f s i l e n c e s watch they know I s t i l l t h i n k o f them.) t i m b e r c o l l a p s i n g i n i t s embraces The n e w s l e t t e r I had from some y e a r seeds f a l l e n from your hands have blown ? a s t impressed members h e r e .

Hope t o t o t h e f o u r worlds o f t h e dance l e a r from you 6 t h a n k s i n advance. i n t h e s e h i l l s where monuments bend Ted Hammond l i k e d e s i r e s , swollen 6 empty Vice-Chairperson, Board. the b l i n d e d a c r e s s t i l l l i s t e n i n g 167 Simcoe St.S., Oshawa, Ont. LlH4G8 Dan Feeney

On Ecolozy i n t e r e s t , have been n e g l e c t i n g e c o l o gy a t e v e r y s t e p . We should remember t h a t t h e sky G a i r , t h e h i l l s & mount a i n s , t h e r i v e r s E f o r e s t s , t h e wild mammals G r e p t i l e s , t h e b i r d s & f i s h 6 a q u a t i c c r e a t u r e s and p l a n t s a r e a l l i n s e p a r a b l y r e l a t e d t o one anothe r . Human beings a r e an i n t e g r a l p a r t of t h a t v a s t common s o c i e t y . No one can s u r v i v e t o t h e e x c l u s i o n o f o t h e r s . . n o t even human beings.

Ruman beings, due t o t h e i r utmost f o l l y , have a n n i h i l a t e d numerous o b j e c t s and t h u s p r e p a r e d t h e i r own fune r a l p y r e . Such f o l l y on t h e p a r t o f human beings i s u n b e a r a b l e . Human bei n g s must be c a u t i o u s from now on.

They must r e s t r u c t u r e t h e i r t h o u g h t s , p l a n s and a c t i v i t i e s i n accordance with t h e d i c t a t e s o f ecology.

There -i s no a l t e r n a t i v e .

J u s t as my l i f e i s i m p o r t a n t t o me, i n t h e same way o t h e r s ' l i v e s a r e e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t t o them, and if we do n o t g i v e p r o p e r v a l u e t o t h e l i v e s o f a l l creaturesm then t h e development o f t h e e n t i r e humanity becomes i m p o s s i b l e . I f p e o p l e n e g l e c t t h e e n t i r e l i v i n g world--the p l a n t world, t h e animal world--is t h i s n o t indeed harmful?

Non-human c r e a t u r e s have t h e same e x i s t e n t i a l v a l u e t o themselves a s human b e i n g s have t o themselves. Perhaps human b e i n g s can u n d e r s t a n d t h e v a l u e of t h e i r e x i s t e n c e , while o t h e r l i v i n g beings c a n n o t . . t h a t i s t h e only d i f f e r e n c e .

On D e f o r e s t a t i o n

To meet t h e i r growi n g needs f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d s , f o r i n d u s t r i e s , e t c . p e o p l e b r i n g about l a r g e - s c a l e d e f o r e s t a t i o n . But n o t one b o t h e r s t o t h i n k about t h e c r e a t u r e s t h a t l i v e i n t h o s e f o r e s t s . We have r e c k l e s s l y d e s t r o y e d l a r g e a r e a s ~f f o r e s t s without c a r i n g t o t h i n k t h a t t h e r e b y we a r e d e s t r o y i n g t h e ~ c o l o g i c a lbalande between t h e human, vliinal and p l a n t worlds. And we never r e a l i s e d - - a n d s t i l l do n o t - - t h a t t h i s mnton d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e animal and ? l a n t worlds w i l l be o f no b e n e f i t t o mman b e i n g s . Rather, i t w i l l be a p e a t l o s s f o r human s o c i e t y .

In Vegetarianism

On P o l l u t i o n

Human b e i n g s must e n s u r e t h a t t h e i r w a t e r and a i r remain p u r e .

The p u r i t y o f t h e E a r t h should n e v e r be n e g l e c t e d . If t h e d e g r e e o f p o l l u t i o n continues t o increase a t t h e same speed a s today, a day i s s u r e t o come when t h e p o l l u t e d e a r t h , w a t e r and a i r w i l l be t h e cause o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e d e a t h o f humanity.

The e x i s t e n c e of Life i m p l i e s d e s t r u c t i o n of c e r t a i n Lower forms. L i f e depends on o t h e r Forms o f l i f e f o r i t s v e r y e x i s t e n c e . lowever, a s f a r as p o s s i b l e , a r t i c l e s )f food a r e t o be s e l e c t e d from amon:st t h e s e t s o f i t e m s where developlent o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s comparitive.y l i t t l e . i:e. i f v e g e t a b l e s a r e av~ i l a b l e , animals should n o t be ilaughtered.

Conservation

DO n o t a l l o w any wealth o f t h e world t o go t o waste; take e s p e c i a l l y a c t i v e s t e p s t o p r e vent t h e waste o f food, f u e l & w a t e r .

To p r o t e c t t h e inanimate world you should conserve and p r o p e r l y u t i l i s e a1 1 n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s .

On Organic A g r i c u l t u r e Whenever them i c a l f e r t i l i s e r s a r e used i n t e n s i v e l y , t h e land becomes i n f e r t i l e and u s e l e s s a f t e r some time. T h i s i s because chemical f e r t i l i s e r s d e s t r o y t h e v i t a l energy of t h e l a n d s o t h a t i t becomes l i f e l e s s , j u s t l i k e cement Harmful i n s e c t i c i d e s o r p e s t i c i d e s should n o t be used because t h e y w i l l k i l l f i s h and p o l l u t e t h e w a t e r s y s tem. A l t e r n a t i v e p e s t i c i d e s l i k e neem p a s t e p e s t i c i d e should b e used.

Following i s a l i f e s t y l e q u e s t i o n naire; give yourself a point f o r a ' y e s ' and n o t h i n g f o r a ' n o t . ' 1 0 1.

iecycle newspapers g l a s s j a r s and b o t t l e s p l a s t i c containers cans bond p a p e r - junk m a i l 6 magazines - changed o i l - c l e a n g r e e n y a r d waste - food s c r p a s ( i . e . compost p i l e ) - other ( l i s t ) D~"&IU

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2 . Do you p r e v e n t environmental p o l l u t i o n through - p r o p e r d i s p o s a l o f boxic houseA h o l d waste - u s e o f b i o - d e g r a d a b l e , non-phosphate detergents - a v o i d i n g u s e o f t o x i c household cleaners - maintaining auto p o l l u t i o n contr o l system - riot having a p e r s o n a l v e h i c l e - other (list)

3 . Do you reduce water consumption through - b a l l a s t i n t o i l e t tank - a e r a t o r f a c e t t attachment - w a t e r conserving shower head - d r i p w a t e r i n g system i n yand - w a t e r - e f f i c i e n t d i s h washer and/ o r c l o t h e s washer - other ( l i s t ) 4. Do you s a v e on energy consumption through - s e t t i n g h o t w a t e r t a n k temperat u r e a t 125 d e g r e e s o r l e s s - u s e o f e n e r g y - e f f i c i e n t cooking appliances - energy-efficient refridgerator - energy-efficient clothes dryer - compact f l o u r e s c e n t b u l b s - use o f c l o t h e s l i n e o r wrack - other ( l i s t )

5. Do you save on h e a r u s e through - keeping t h e r m o s t a t a t l e s s t h a n 68 d e g r e e s - t u r n i n g down t h e r m o s t a t t o 55 o r l e s s a t night - weathering o f windows and e n t r y doors - insulating ceiling, floor, walls - double pane windows; b l i n d s - other ( l i s t )

6. Do you m a i n t a i n c r u e l t y - f r e e consumpt i o n t h r o u g h - n o t u s i n g soaps and c o s m e t i c s t h a t have been t e s t e d on animals - vegetarian d i e t - a v o i d i n g commercial d a i r y fwods - avoiding l e a t h e r c l o t h i n g - e a t i n g o r g a n i c produce - other ( l i s t )

7 . Do you s e r v e o t h e r l i v i n g t h i n g s through - c a r i n g f o r a companion animal - keeping house p l a n t s - having a v e g e t a b l e garden - growing f l o w e r s o r p e r e n n i a l s - having a b i r d f e e d e r o r b i r d b a t h - other ( l i s t ) 8. Do you reduse use o f hydrocarbon f u e l s through - u s i n g a b i c y c l e o r walking when possible - keeping v e h i c l e well t u n e d and t i r e s properly i n f l a t e d - c a r p o o l i n g o r r i d i n g bus - having f u e l e f f i c i e n t compact vehicle - other ( l i s t )

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9. Do you s u p p o r t p r o g r e s s i v e change through - p r e f e r r i n g p u r c h a s e of l o c a l l y grown o r g a n i c food - s u p p o r t i n g consumer watches and boycotts - i n v e s t i n g i n s o c i a l l y responsibl e investment programs - subscribing t o progressive periodicals - p u r c h a s i n g food a t c o o p e r a t i v e s o r through buying c l u b s - bank i n a c r e d i t union - petition/lobby/demonstrate/lette r writing f o r progressive causes - other ( l i s t )

10 Do you m a i n t a i n p e r s o n a l h e a l t h through - e a t i n g p r i m a r i l y o r g a n i c , whole foods..vegetarian d i e t - preferring use o f a l t e r n a t i v e medical t r e a t m e n t when a p p r o p r i a t - regular exercise - asanas - a v o i d i n g junk f o o d s Shyam - other ( l i s t ) Sundara You b e your own judge..

Smoke Signals Enterprises* is invitingJACXNl

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bm., Singer, Dancer,

and Artist from South Dakota.

JACRtE'S traditional performance has enlightened people's hearts tllrougli out United States as well .as France, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Germany. 9AtXlR has accepted the Smoke Signal's invitation to come and perform at a tentatively scheduled date in August in wm mB~m m-d Vancouver, B.C. Inquires: 255 - 2094. m

The proceeds are to start up an Entertainment Centre known as Aboriginal Talents in Vancouver, B.C. '

Kenneth Peltier has r e c o g n i z e d J A ~ ~talents ~ ' ~ in shdwing First Nations People a positive way of life and its rewards.

Carnegie's Income Tax Schedule -

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

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Friday

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Learning Centre (3rd floor)

Learning Centre (3rd floor)

Learning Centre (3rd floor)

Learning Centre (3rd floor)

Learning Centre (3rd floor)

Learning Centre (3rd floor)

Seniors1 Centre (lane level)

PLEASE NOTE: W e can only do your income tax form for you if you are ON INCOME ASSISTANCE and DO NOT COLLECT A PENSION. Other people require calculations on their forms which our volunteers are unable to do. The volunteers will do their best to fill in your form correctly, but we can't be held liable for any mistakes we may make.

Other places you can get your taxes done in the neighbourhood:

DERA, 9. East Hastings, 682-0931. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. They will do any forms for 1993, and if you need your forms done for previous years, they can help you in a couple of months. DERA's office has a lot of stairs, so disabled access is a problem. ARRIVE EARLY. First United Church, 320 E. Nastings, 681-8365. Does taxes on Tuesday afternoons. They are booked for weeks ahead, so phone or drop by to make an appointment in advance. Will do any forms.

V a l e n t i n e Sock Hop The S e n i o r s sponsored a dance with an o l d - f a s h i o n e d w u r l i t z e r and music from t h e f i f t i e s & s i x t i e s . I t was e x c i t i n g because we could choose o u r own t u n e s .

There wasn't any g e n e r a t i o n gap a s s e n i o r s danced with c h i l d r e n and t e e s a g e r s . I t was wonderful t o s e e everyone g e t along and have a r e a l communi t y centre s p i r i t .

I t was n i c e t o have such an e v e n t j u s t b e f o r e cheque day, when even a cup of c o f f e e i s g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e d .

People i n p o v e r t y a g p r e c i a t e t h e l i t t l e things i n l i f e .

The socks were g r e a t p r i z e s a s we never seem t o have enough w i t h s o much wet weather. The L i ? Sing c o n t e s t was h i l a r i o u s . . t h a n k s t o everyone who took ? a r t .

Thanks t o t h o s e who d e c o r a t e d t h e t h e a t r e so b e a u t i f u l l y . . a l s o t o Alici a , who i s always open t o new i d e a s .

Our r e s i d e n t photogra?her, Dan Feeney, k e p t busy snapping p i c t u r e s . S p e c i a l thanks t o Vickie Dutbher f o r o r g a n i z i n g and keeping t h e t u n e s r o l l i n g .

By IRENE SCHMIDT

Today I ' m going t o w r i t e on t h e subj e c t of hugs. Some people l i k e t o hug t r e e s and some p e o p l e l i k e t o hug o t h e r people.

There may be some p e o p l e who l i k e t o hug dump t r u c k s . I h a v e n ' t s e e n any y e t , b u t i f it happens I ' d l i k e t o be t h e r e because I ' l l b e t i t ' s hilarious.

The problem I have with hugging o t k e r people i s t h a t someone h a s t o dec i d e when t o unclench. I f t h e person on t h e r e c e i v i n g end of t h e energy t r a n s f e r f e e l s they haven't received enough energy t h e y may f e e l s l i g h t e d .

To my t h i n k i n g t h a t would make t h e hug a waste of time. This l i n e o f thought i s how I a r r i v e d a t t h e s o l u t i o n ; a t i m e r , a simple egg t i m e r o r t h e t i m e r on t h e s t o v e o r u n t i l t h e k i d s q u i t f i g h t i n g . You t h i n k o f something.

Perhaps you could i n v o l v e a t h i r d p a r t y a s a mediator. I'O. K . , t i m e ' s up break i t up f o l k s " .

By C.P. Beeson

'Littleyfolks slam council

Waterfront plans rankle

By Stuart Hunter Staff Reporter

Vancouver east-side activists slammed city council yesterday for not asking "the little people" about a planned waterfront development that might include a casino.

"The public benefits won't be for the downtown residents," said Kathie Leroux, president of the Downtown Eastside Residents Ass@ ciation. "All we'll be able to do is choose the paint."

Said Don Larson of Create A Real Available Beach: "You are destroying the community. . . there's no place for people to go any more."

Despite the protests, council voted overwhelmingly in favor of a number of proposed public amenities -the first step toward choosing one of four consortiums shortlisted by the Vancouver Port Corp. to develop the 42hectare (lokcre) site east of Canada Place.

The amenities included earmarking about $5.3 million for low-rent housing, $2.5 million for daycare, a new maritime museum and the allocation of an undetermined amount of park space.

While many councillors defended the amenities, Ellen Woodsworth of the Vancouver Second Mile Society seniors aid group called for more affordable housing and parks.

"We need amenities for the p e e ple who built this province," she said. "But this development is practically a foregone conclusion."

Although council stressed no decision has been made, seteral activists criticized a much-hyped $75@millionplan by VLC Properties Ltd. which would include a convention centre, cruise-ship terminal, hotel and a for-profit casino.

Council said a decision on a final plan is up to 18 months away.

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

STD C l i n i c

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Monday through Friday, 9am 5pm.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC Mon, Wed, Friday, 5:30-7 :30 pm.

NEEDLE EXCRANGE 221 Main; every day. 9am 5pm.

Needle Exchange Van on the s t r e e t evenings, Mon-Sat. N.A. meets every Monday night a t 223 Main S t r e e t .

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- 2:30pm.

out-To-Lunch Bunch meets d a i l y a t 59 Powell, loam

1993 DONATIONS S t u a r t M.-$50 K e t t l e F.S.-$16 E t i e n n e s.-$50 Lisa E.-$10 Matt -$20 Keith C.-$20 Abby K.-$20 Anonymous -$75

Eleanor K.-$25 Adbusters -$SO J o y T.-$20 Legal Aid -$SO Marianne C.-$25 Paula R.-$20 S t e v e T.-$15 E r i c E.-$16

Wayne H.-$4.50 Colleen E.-$20 William F. -$SO Adult ~ d . - $ 1 6 Roberts ALC -$30 CEEDS -$SO E m i l E.-$20 Mike H. -$I00

Tllll NI;WSI.I.:TTI'R I S A PURI.1CATlON OF TllF. CARNEGII. (:OMNIINI'TY CENTRE ASSOCIATloN. Artirles'reprcarnt

t l ~ eview3 of i n d l v i d u n l

c o n t r l h t ~ t o r a and uot of t h e i \ a s o c i a t i o n .

Help i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e (funding) S o c i a l S e r v i c e s $1000 Vancouver Health Dept. - $ I 1 Employment E Immigration -$800 P.L.U.R.A. -$I000

0 Submission Deadline NEXT ISSUE

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NEED HELP

10 M a r c h e Thursdayq

The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association can help you with:

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any welfare problem information on legal rights disputes with landlords unsafe living conditions income tax UIC problem finding housing opening a bank account

Come into the DERA office at 9 East Hastings St. or phone us at 682-0931.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 20 YEARS.

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AS PECTS OF Shamanism ( carry G U S ~ A 1:en year old child who tends to Daydrc?am excessively will experience an a1ltered state of consciousness that ha:s no limits or impossibilities.

Bu1:, if you've been a chronic Daydreamer â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x2122;01 r a number of years, a fine sense of pr:ictical reality is developed that en:~blesthe imagination to experience an actualization of any impossible sitxation.

Fo1r instance, if as a ten year old you Da){dream of going back in time to stop thc? Holocaust, you would simply imagine YOL~rselfbeing in Germany in 1 9 3 6 and telling people that Adolph Hitler will have 6 million J,ews killed, so he must be removed from power.

However, if as a mature adult you have the same Daydream, your well-developed imagination takes with it a number of undeniable realities that make the fantasy more difficult to deal with: * There you are, an english speaking Canadian in 1 9 3 6 Germany. you go to the town square in Berlin and try stopping people so you can warn them of the horror to come. But nobody can understand your strange words.

Finally an english speaking German stops to listen to your story..A faint smile comes to his face as you tell him of the cattle cars and gas chambers.

He thanks you for imforming him then walks away.

You then go to a Jewish area of Berlin and eventually find a Jewish baker who speaks good english. After telling him the story, he looks at you sadly and says, "Mister, I know things are getting bad, but what you are suggesting is something God would never allow to happen. " You now realize that you can't make anyone believe you; but you mustn't give up.

You steal a gun. you know what must be done, and you know you can conscien~ tiously justify your action.

Hitler will appear in public the next day at a sporting event, and you must be there.

You pass the night in Berlin's finest bordello; not making love, but quietly rambling on in your foreign tongue to the pretty woman lying in your arms who strokes your hair and occassionally laughs in her soft feminine way until you fall asleep.

Tomorrow comes. It's 2 pm. You are in the stadium where the 1 9 3 6 summer Olympic games are taking place. At the center of the stadium, 5 rows above the field, you see the unmistakable figure of Adolph Hitler.

You walk slowly down the aisle stairs clutching the revolver in your jacket pocket.

Out on the field Jesse Owens is about to cross the finishing line to win a gold medal for the Americans. As he slows down, Owens Looks up toward liitler and gives a magnanimous friendly wave.

Hitler rises, straightens the cuffs of his jacket, then moves toward the aisle where you now stand. You look directly into his eyes as he moves toward you.

You raise your gun and point straight at that face that has haunted the decades of you life... * As forementioned, the 10 year old and adult Daydreamer possess different values when it comes to actualizing a natural altered state of consciousness.

The greatest difference is: a well defined sense of social conscience that is acquired by allowing a progressive stream of corrective imagination to flow freely within the mind.

The end result of this practiced proceedure is the skill to delve into history with the personal sensuality of an active observer; unable to alter past events, but able to magnify priorly acquired knowledge to a far greater degree of understanding.

The prolonged practice of the Daydream proceedure can also produce glimpsing insights into the future, but its worthiest use is.to bring a notable balance to the present.

T i r e d of Welfare-Bashing?

The media has been on a f e e d i n g f r e n z y about welfare f r a u d . Many o f u s a g r e e t h a t one o f t h e worst TV s t a t i o n s i s UTV i n Vancouver. They have a s o - c a l l e d news paogram c a l l e d "2330" t h a t has r e g u l a r l y t a r g e t e d people on w e l f a r e . UTV i s owned by CanWest Global System.

One way t o g e t t h e media t o l i s t e n i s t o complain t o t h e p e o p l e who sponsor t h e i r programs. Some of t h e sponsors o f ~ l ? i n c l u d e Great Canadian Casinos, C h e e r i o s , Sugar C r i s p E Mohawk.

IIere i s a sample l e t t e r t o UTV's sponsors : Dear UTV Sponsor: I have purchased your p r o d u c t s i n the past.

I am v e r y concerned t h a t your company i s sponsoring programs l i k e 2330 on UTV. This program i s b a s h i n g t h e poor E people on w e l f a r e .

The community I l i v e i n i s g e t t i n g v e r y n e g a t i v e messages about t h e poor a s a r e s u l t o f t h i s i r r e s p o n s i b l e r e p o r t i n g . A s a r e s u l t , i n good conscience, I cannot c o n t i n u e t o buy your p r o d u c t .

P l e a s e respond t o t h i s l e t t e r by withdrawing your a d v e r t i s i n g on UTV. Sincerely, UTV i g n o r e s s t o r i e s about t h o s e c o n v i c t e d of t a x f r a u d , s t e a l i n g m i l l i o n s , 6 d e v o t e s program a f t e r program t o t r a s h i n g s o c i a l programs: i . e . 'Everyone on w e l f a r e i s a c h e a t '

Struggle is the essence of life. Yours should be a pauseless struggle against corruption, hypocrisy and animality.

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After millions of animal lives, a 'created being attains the human form.

That is why all the sacred books speak of the rarity of human life. The wise properly utilize all objects and this utilization alone makes the existence of the object worthy. .

You have achieved the human frame. 'you must make it meaningful by your sa'dhana', service and sacrifice. Engage yourself in such useful pursuits that even your worst enemies have hardly any chance to despise you. Utilize yourself in such a manner so as to saiisfy yourself mentally, that you never wasted your time uselessly on this earth. .. .

P.S.:

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i n v i t e s you t o meet t h e Premier M I K E HARCOURT Monday, March 7, 1994 @ 7pm Jenny P e n t l a n d P l a c e , 5 4 0 E.~asting,

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Encourage every one to build theif career in a nice way. Let none get the opportunity to think that their life has become useless.

Peace is the result of fight. Peace-lovers of the universe must not keep themselves away from fight.

A'nanda Pu'mima'