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Maxed In! As a regular reader of Maxed Out , last week’s column disturbed me. I am not an American and I’m still struggling to achieve ski bum status, otherwise I had no idea that Max’s life paralleled mine so closely.

Maxed In!

As a regular reader of Maxed Out , last week’s column disturbed me. I am not an American and I’m still struggling to achieve ski bum status, otherwise I had no idea that Max’s life paralleled mine so closely. Now that’s scary.

Regardless, I thank Max for putting the other bits about war and politics into print. Readers that rely only on mainstream media are not likely to believe the real, rather than stated, objectives for the war in Iraq. I dare say that if the top 25 real objectives for this war were publicly identified, eliminating WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) and freeing the Iraqi people wouldn’t even make the list.

Two weeks prior to the war, I heard an international economist on CBC radio explain that the underlying reason for the Iraqi war was a battle for currency dominance between the US dollar and the Euro. That made perfect sense to me. Using information from a difference source, Max came to the same conclusion in his article.

I also concur with Max that the few guys leading the US government are very smart and extremely scary. In early 1993, then Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, submitted a document to President George Bush Sr. entitled, Defense Strategies for the 1990s ( http://64.176.94.191/article1544.hmt ). Donald Rumsfeld became the new Secretary of Defense and in June 1993 he reworked and re-titled the document: Defense Planning Guidance .

The document is a plan for the United States to rule the world. The overt theme is unilateralism, but it is ultimately a story of domination. It calls for the US to maintain its overwhelming military superiority and prevent new rivals from rising up to challenge it on the world stage. It calls for domination over enemies and friends alike.

I understand their strategies and they do not distress me because in the grand flow of human history, it’s of little consequence. However, I am concerned on how this whole matter might affect Whistler and ultimately – my ski bum ambitions.

If I were as smart and as scary as the people running the US government, I’d allow an incident to occur that resulted in the closure of the US/Canadian border. If only for a few days, but image the consequences. Crashing Canadian stock markets, a sinking Canadian dollar, resource sector stocks (energy, timber, water?) snapped up by foreign investors, and Whistler’s US regional business grinding to a halt. Even if such dramatic measures are not invoked, activities with similar consequences are currently in play.

We can live in hope and fear that all this will soon go away and things will be as before. As competitors, we can fight each other for a piece of a shrinking market. We can pack up and leave for perceived greener pastures. Or, we can share this experience of a changing world and empower ourselves by working together in collective actions that attempt to mitigate the impacts to the entire community. Our choices will reflect Whistler’s underlying character.

The RMOW, all Whistler businesses and community groups should develop financial and operating contingency plans. It’s better to be over prepared than not prepared. Personally, we each need to eliminate our fears and re-examine what we value most and then find the courage to act accordingly. And to Max: See you in pow bro’.

Mitch Rhodes

Whistler

 

Re: Gladys Phares letter to the editor.

Our Prime Minister Jean Chretien, made the right decision, by not supporting the war against Iraq without UN resolution. Two-thirds of the Canadian population agreed with him on that. The military action against Iraq, by the U.S., Britain, and Australia is a contemptuous breach of the basic norm of international law. This war, or more precisely massacre, is illegal, unjust and unjustified, and violates the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, and international law.

What we have here is a classic case of bullying, by a narrow minded, trigger-happy video-games-mentality trio, which makes up the so called leadership of the US. Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld, they represent the Oil Cartel and the Military, what a coincidence.

As for the decision of France, Germany, and Russia by opposing this massacre, these three nations only know too well what misery, hopelessness and devastation military conflict creates.

All three of these nations as well as Canada should be congratulated for in the end making decisions based on the principles of law, something our friends down south have not been able to grasp.

Jim Gruetzke

Whistler

 

The "better you than me" attitude displayed by Vancouver business leaders is disgraceful. If they want it so badly, maybe they should invite the WEF (and all the protesters and police that come with it) to their living room in downtown Vancouver, instead of their backyard in Whistler. It’s not quite NIMBYism, but a twisted perversion of it.

Peace.

Alex Nikolic

Whistler

 

To The Honorable Gordon Campbell, Premier; Honorable Gary Collins, Minister of Finance; and Honorable Ted Nebbeling, MLA

As a 29-year resident homeowner in Whistler, I wish to add my voice to those who are seeking to resolve the issue of inequitable school taxation. Let it be clear that paying taxes, even if they are high, is not the issue.

Although I am not in jeopardy of having to leave Whistler as a result of inequitable taxation I fear greatly for the future of both the resort and community. It is not "easy" to make a living anywhere and I am not asking for anything more than consideration for the unique problems that face this community, both as an economic generator and a place to foster safe, healthy community growth that every neighbourhood, town and city deserves.

As a resort community there is the tendency to think that life here has more advantage than anywhere else simply by the nature of the surroundings and the fact that those who come here are primarily in the pursuit of pleasure. This tendency lumps the image of the residents in with the tourists and wealthy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Though the cost of living is generally considered higher in B.C. than anywhere else in the country it is not nearly as ‘dear’ as the costs of living in Whistler. The family incomes (according to the 1996 census) show that Whistler families earn, on average, less than their Squamish counterparts. This combination of extremely high cost of living with only average or below average incomes, coupled with the inequity of school taxation, creates a ‘stress’ on community development that has no parallel in the province.

Furthermore, the municipal government’s limited ability to tax property is greatly attributable to the overburdening school tax that is disproportionately high compared to virtually any other municipality in B.C.

What is at issue is the twofold effect of the cap on the Home Owner Grant (HOG) combined with the calculation of school taxes in a biased manner due to the extreme disparities of residential assessed values within a school district. As such, they create a gross inequity of tax burden that we can no more afford than any other taxpayer in British Columbia. There is a HOG problem and there is also a structural tax problem.

I believe I am quoting directly from government policy regarding the 2001 budget amendment that created relief for Tofino. "This amendment allows the province to set different provincial residential school property tax rates for different parts of the same School District. This authority will only be used in limited situations where disparities in average values among communities in the same school district become extreme." Whistler’s disparity is higher than Tofino’s and is the highest disparity in B.C.

It seems that, if statements attributed to government representatives are correct, the government feels that Whistler only has a HOG problem. This is simply not true. Please remember that Tofino’s relief was granted primarily due to their spike in assessed values compared to the rest of the School District. The majority of resident homeowners in Tofino are eligible for the HOG. As such, Tofino was not granted relief due to "a HOG problem" but rather due primarily to a tax problem.

Our mayor, municipal staff and concerned citizens have made a number of representations to the Premier, Minister of Finance and MLA starting back as early as 1990 and as recently as October-November 2002. We understand the issue is complex and requires careful consideration. We understand that there are solutions that would target specifically those who are unjustly taxed and that they are available for this taxation year. They have been presented to Treasury several times and are well documented. We also understand that another municipality has received relief based on a similar situation.

I respectfully ask that relief be provided as early as this taxation year.

I would like to be kept informed about this matter and request a reply from you regarding policy on this issue.

Respectfully Yours,

Paul O’Mara

Whistler

 

Congratulations to the Blackcomb Ski Patrol. After all these years you have finally come to the table on April 1st!

From Patrol on the lighter side of the valley

 

The Blackcomb Freestyle Ski Club would like to thank Whistler-Blackcomb, Canadian Snowmobile Adventures, SnowCovers, Smart Mogul Skiing ( SMS), Wild Willies, Amos and Andes, The Mogul Corner (TMC), McCoos, Affinity, Can-Ski, Inside Out Boutique, New Jerseys, Nesters, Golden Dreams B&B, FirstMate Pet Foods, Coit Carpet Cleaning, Douglas Louth and Theatre Under The Stars, Marcy Glanzberg, Sylvia Krainer, Thomas Skinner and Sons, The Piersanti's, Kathy Porter and Cary Cambell Lopes for their generous support of our fundraiser for team travel and coaching expenses. Your contributions help make it possible for our athletes to compete at both provincial and national freestyle competitions. The Blackcomb Freestyle Ski Club is proud to represent the community of Whistler and Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain. Great people make great places and Whistler is the greatest. Thank you.

Ann Britton

Blackcomb Freestyle Ski Club

 

On Oct. 16, 2002, I was in a debilitating motor vehicle accident between Alpine and Emerald by Green Lake look out. Most Pemberton and Emerald people are likely to remember the night because they waited in a three-hour car lineup on their way home from work.

Wow, how one’s life can change in an instant yet still have the threads held together through community support.

I want to thank the following:

The heroic bystanders who attended the accident site and helped each of the injured. Thank you.

Dr. Kendall, for riding his bike past the accident site and stopping to help. Thank you.

The Whistler Fire Department, police department and ambulance attendants for working extremely hard on freeing me from my vehicle alive and in one piece. Thank you.

The Advanced Life Support crew for showing up to the accident scene with Morphine. Thank you.

The Whistler Health Care Centre: Dr. Wallman, the incredible nurses, Janet, Ingrid and Anne, the lab, x-ray and front desk staff for caring for me. Thank you.

Vancouver General Hospital; emergency, trauma, ICU and West 9 staff. Thank you.

Dr. O’Brien, Dr. Guy and the operating room staff at VGH for putting my legs back together. Thank you.

Erik Vu a medical student, for oddly enough showing up in the right place at the right time. Thank you.

Squamish General Hospital Staff, especially all my mother hens. Thank you.

Linda Wood and Nancy Haffey, two nurses with hearts of gold. Thank you.

Stephanie Whitely, a nurse who values the little things in life. Thank you.

Lions Gate Hospital Staff even though I didn’t work there long. Thank you.

Andrew Mitchell from Pique Newsmagazine for running an article to help me find a place to live. Thank you.

All the real estate people in town for helping me look for a wheelchair accessible home. Thank you.

Fiona Dercole for trying very hard to rent me her place, even though it didn’t work out. Thank you.

The Westin Resort and Spa staff in Whistler, who demonstrated five-star quality service for a month to a grumpy girl in her early days of being injured. Thank you.

Nicole McKay for renting me her ever so perfect suite while she is away at school. Thank you.

My Dad who tirelessly put up a good fight to stay and help me. Thank you.

My Mom who got her chance to have me home for Christmas and fill me full of cookies. Thank you.

My brother Chris, who loves to do things for me right when I ask him to. Good job Gloria, we all know you aced Vicki’s whipping class. Both of you, thank you for being there.

My sisters for washing my hair while I was in hospital. Thank you.

My girlfriends for painting my toenails and helping me feel human while I was in hospital. Thank you.

Vicki Powell from Peak Performance for going above the role of my physiotherapist and for being there for me as a friend. Thank you.

Charles, Vicki’s whipped husband for playing "catcher" on my first day of walking. Thank you.

Donna McMurtry and Cathy McQuaid from Peak Performance for their "therapeutic" NOT pain free massages. Thank you.

The staff at Peak Performance for their positive energy. Thank you.

Tracey from Peak Performance who always seems to need a break right when I need a hand out to the taxi. Thank you.

Laurie Nelson, the funky Occupational Therapist from Squamish who organizes my life. Thank you.

Gill Hamilton, the stellar Home Care Nurse who was there for me in my early days. Thank you.

Steve Milstein, the genuine psychologist with strange but extremely effective techniques. Thank you.

Creekside Medical Clinic for always being available when I need an appointment. Thank you.

Whistler Taxi for carting me to and from my appointments with prompt service and to dispatch for always being friendly and saying good morning. Thank you.

Nesters Market for offering to do my grocery shopping. Thank you.

Meadow Park Sports Centre staff for always greeting me with a smile, calling my taxis and helping me swing off the rope. Thank you.

Cog and all the Blackcomb patrol for offering to get me up into the alpine one day soon and for offering to pick me up in a limousine for the Christmas staff party. Thank you. (Tutley you better not have been lying).

Kim Devries from the rehabilitation department in ICBC. Thank you.

Kevin Jarvis and staff for being so confident. Thank you.

Cathy Sulyk, the crazy home support worker who I depend on weekly for assistance. Thank you.

PW Garden Care for help with snow removal even though there hasn’t been a lot of snow this year. Thank you.

Everyone who’s told me this winter hasn’t been that great for skiing. Thank you.

Joe Nunane from Access Sea to Sky Adventures for renting me a wheelchair and a walker. Thank you.

Jim Martinello, for lending me his backrest and seat cushion and for being a listening ear. Thank you.

All the individuals in the Whistler community who helped me look for a place to live and who sent all their positive energy, good healing vibes and prayers my way and the way of the two others who were injured in the car accident. Thank you.

And especially all my family and friends here in B.C. and in Ontario who supported me, came to the hospital, sat beside me, cooked meals for me, played scrabble with me, sent cards, flowers, teddy bears, thoughts and prayers to me. There are too many people to name individually but I hope you all know who you are. Life would be impossible without friends. Thank you.

I am now walking with crutches and am on my way to a fast recovery. "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." Confucius It is with help from others that we are able to rise again.

Jamie Addario