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Re: Maxed Out, Sheepish Ontario voters have one final chance (Pique June 11) I'm not completely sure how having his head shoved up his ass makes G.D.

Re: Maxed Out, Sheepish Ontario voters have one final chance (Pique June 11)

I'm not completely sure how having his head shoved up his ass makes G.D. Maxwell think himself a fit political commentator on the upcoming federal elections and Ontario's place in it. He states at the beginning of a typically self-righteous, self important rant, that he lived in Ontario for nine years which, he seems to believe, eminently qualifies him as someone "who knows."

Despite being confused by the irrelevance of his trite, space filling, rambling on the relationship of love and lust used for no apparent reason as the introduction into a piece on Ontario bashing, I was able to gather that he felt Ontario was somewhere that could sway an election and that it was somehow an ovine place because the vast majority of its citizens thought the Liberals would be the most fit party to govern the country.

To back whatever vague point he was making, Maxwell gloatingly spits out a few paragraphs covering 20 years of provincial political history, gleefully and arrogantly pointing out some (among others he missed) faults of the politicians in power during those times. These faults, he seems to be implying, are the faults of Ontarians, or the fault of Ontarians.

While it's plain that he harbours some grudge against Ontarians for past election results, Maxwell (and by extension, everybody) might have been better served if he'd written something intelligent or thoughtful rather than attempting a mediocre history of provincial politics coloured only by childishly acid comments. We all might have been better served if rather than trying to make himself appear clever by systematically bashing every person he refers to in his article (including B.C.), he'd presented us with some context to the choices faced by Ontarians in those elections, if he'd taken a little less time ranting and a little more time trying to dig up an insight or two. Looking hard between the lines I couldn't find anything any more enlightening than the realization that this column is a complete waste of my time. Really, we'd have been best served if, in a single line, he'd just come out and said, "I have an infantile dislike for the way Ontarians have voted in the past."

As a native Ontarian I'd like to say just one more thing: all of the leaders Ontario elected in the last 20-odd years have managed to avoid falling into police custody. We could have done a lot worse.

Jesse Rivers

Whistler

I am directing this letter to the citizens of Squamish. As Squamish resident John Ritchie so aptly put it at the Squamish Test of Metal Mountain Bike Festival's volunteer party this past Sunday evening, "with a group like this I am proud to be a citizen of Squamish." Once again the local residents showed exactly what the true meaning of community is.

Whether it was putting a sprinkler out in the front yard and enjoying the show to being one of the 45 organizing Test Pilots and putting in way too many free hours to being one of the more than 200 volunteers, everyone pulled together to make the 2004 Squamish Test of Metal Mountain Bike Festival the biggest and best ever. I am sure that you could ask any one of the 800 riders for a story about the community and you would probably get at least two or three.

The Test of Metal is a not-for-profit entity dedicated to enhancing the mountain bike community in Squamish. Any extra funds raised will be donated back to the local community in some way, shape or form. One of the things that Test of Metal will be supporting this year is the B.C. provincial marathon cross-country mountain bike championship race, known as GearJammer.

The festival's presenting sponsor, North Shore Credit Union, and the local sponsors, businesses and the District of Squamish were once again out of this world. Any issues that arose and that we needed help with were dealt with extremely fast and with a can-do attitude. The spirit of seeing this group pull together and help to work to make this weekend a reality certainly gives me great hope for the future of Squamish. We definitely have laid a good foundation to back up our claim that we are the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.

At the end of Rockstar Freeride Invitational, I was walking back to the car and bumped into Ray Keyes and his wife. Ray has been one of the key organizers of Squamish Days Loggers Sports and has played a big part in the Merritt Mountain Music Festival. Ray and his wife were glowing at the fact that their son had made it through his run at Rockstar, but also at the fact that Squamish now has two international sporting events. Thanks for all your help over the years, Ray and the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Committee.

Finally I would like to add a special thanks to the local print media for going above and beyond the call of duty in providing community-based information in regards to the Squamish Test of Metal Mountain Bike Festival. The supplement in last week's Chief was a great piece of work. The Pique Newsmagazine in Whistler has also done a great job of letting the people of Sea to Sky Country know all about the festival. I would also like to thank the radio media from Vancouver and Victoria for providing coverage from Vancouver Island all the way out to Hope. Rock 101 and 100.3 The Q, you guys put Squamish on the provincial mountain bike map.

So in closing, THANKS again to everybody who worked so hard to make this year's Squamish Test of Metal Mountain Bike Festival the best ever.

Cliff Miller

Race Director, Test of Metal

Squamish, B.C.

Gee I love it when all you guys jump when the Mayor of Whistler rides a handcycle for Rick Hansen for all us poor disabled people. Hugh O'Reilly’s now a hero with a fancy pic and all... but when something as simple as the right to vote in this town we call Whistler can’t be done ’cause there are two flights of stairs into the Telus Conference Centre with zero signage it’s bull****.

Jon Maycock

Whistler

Re: Whistler/Blackcomb Flute Expansion

"We thought the environmentally sensitive approach made a lot of

sense," Doug Forseth stated. Well, it does, but it is unfortunate that the approach being taken by Whistler-Blackcomb over their boundary expansions has a hard time qualifying as environmentally sensitive. If they were truly environmentally sensitive, they would have made a "no lift" commitment, in particular in the sensitive alpine area of Flute Basin. But, as with the "mapping error" discovered in 2002 that preceded the land swap to allow W-B to have control over the land for the base station area of the lift, they are not saying what their intention is now. However, after customer pressure, or feedback, from area users.…

How environmentally sensitive is the number of hours of snowmobile time for the patrollers who are patrolling the 700 acre area of Flute Bowl? How about the snowmobile access track that is being created, or the chance that the hike out is going to be groomed?

"The only impact is the removal of 50 small trees..." This will be done in the summer, with resulting disruption of wildlife and habitat from the trees’ removal let alone the road access that will have to be built into the area (there isn't any currently). And for what? Anyone who has hiked out of the bottom of Flute Basin in the winter can tell you that the trail is fine as it is and does the job – without any environmental disturbance. Has W-B even done any unbiased third-party environmental impact studies?

As for the other reason of responding to a demand for backcountry passes and experience, moving Flute inbounds is taking away backcountry. It is also removing the ability to move in and out of the backcountry easily on a day trip basis. There is more demand for backcountry passes and experience partly because of diminishing enjoyment in the in bounds experience, as well as its cost. With the $14.2 million dollar expansion and the commensurate increase in operating costs for patrolling these new areas, are we seeing a reason for yet another hike in ticket prices?

James MacKay

Whistler

The Whistler Section of the Alpine Club of Canada (WSACC) has serious concerns regarding the new Flute Bowl expansion. As Whistler-Blackcomb controls most of the major access routes to backcountry skiing in the Whistler region of Garibaldi Provincial Park, the WSACC is concerned that the Flute Bowl expansion will further limit access to these prime areas of the park. While the WSACC strongly supports Whistler-Blackcomb’s decision to maintain Flute Bowl as a liftless area, it is very concerned that this liftless expansion is only a stepping stone to a lift being installed on Flute. The WSACC is very disappointed that Whistler-Blackcomb will not commit to saving Flute Bowl as a liftless area forever. The WSACC is vehemently opposed to the installation of a lift on Flute for the following reasons:

1. Flute is one of the most beautiful summer alpine areas in Garibaldi Provincial Park and its fragile ecosystem cannot withstand the negative environmental impact that a lift installation would bring.

2. As the summit of Flute is immediately next to the park boundary the expansion of the disruptive footprint of the Whistler Mountain ski area would negatively impact the adjacent areas of the park diminishing both the summer and winter backcountry recreation experiences for the increasing numbers of people who use this area.

3. As almost every area outside Garibaldi Provincial Park is being over-run with motorized users (despite the valiant efforts of the Winter Backcountry Sharing Accord) it is vital to maintain every area of Garibaldi Provincial Park as an area where it is possible to enjoy an undisturbed natural environment.

The WSACC recognizes the benefit of patrolling and avalanche control in Flute Bowl as it reduces one of the inherent risks in an area that is receiving an increasing number of users.

The Whistler Alpine Club promotes non-motorized ecologically friendly use of environment with its main activities being backcountry skiing and hiking.

Bryce Leigh,

Access and Environment Director

Whistler Section, Alpine Club of Canada

How would you describe yourself? Conservative? If you wouldn’t, then you had better run to the polls on Monday.

The Conservatives currently hold 25 seats in B.C. (6 Liberal and 2 NDP), and are poised to win just as much this upcoming election. I have a hard time believing that this can be an accurate reflection of the values of the majority of B.C. people.

Not enough people are voting. Only 25 per cent of Canadians between 18 and 24 years old voted in the last federal election. From talking to friends and acquaintances (aged 20-35), it appears as though this trend is set to continue, despite the fact that none of them agree with the policies and values of the new Conservatives. So, this is a plea to my Whistler and Pemberton peers to vote.

Steven Harper and the new Conservative Party are currently leading in the polls, and the consequences could be devastating. Harper’s Conservatives could meddle with a woman’s right to choose, and same sex marriage. This isn’t in the platform, but enough regional candidates have demonstrated the extremist views of the party by speaking out against both issues.

They will axe the Kyoto accord, the international plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They will pump up our military fighting power, so we can join Bush on any future escapades, and put missiles in the sky. They have promised tax cuts to entice people, but then say goodbye to most public services, social programs and funding. Everything could be handed over to the private sector – child care, health care, the arts etc. How do you feel about American companies moving in and taking over these services? It could happen.

Michael Moore ( Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11 ), has called Harper "a Bush toady intent on slashing the social safety net." Many of us couldn’t believe it when Bush was elected. How could the Americans have let that happen? Well, we might be going down that same road should Harper get elected; he is Canada’s George Bush.

So, this election, the younger population needs to speak up for what we stand for, or don’t stand for. I don’t stand for Harper.

Want to know what party best reflects your values? Check out the site www.politicswatch.com/voteselectorquiz2004.html, and fill out the quiz. A great site to give you the quick basics, and get you started. Then, head down to the polls on Monday, June 28th. Bring ID and proof of address to insure you can be registered, and then vote.

Trish Jamieson

Pemberton

Congratulations to John French for uncovering Liberal candidate Blair Wilson's finagelling of the June 12 Ipsos-Reid poll. I am afraid this is not unexpected of a Paul Martin Liberal.

I do have another challenge for your intrepid reporters. At each all-candidates meeting that I have attended, Andrea Goldsmith of the Green Party refers to an Ipsos-Reid poll that shows they have a chance of winning in two ridings, including ours. I have asked two of her campaign workers, including Adriane Carr, the Green provincial leader, to refer me to the specific poll to which Andrea refers. Neither were able to give me an answer.

The same Ipsos-Reid poll that Blair Wilson fudged, shows the Greens in solid fourth place in every Riding in B.C., and being an inveterate news junkie, I am sure I would have noticed if there was any Ipsos-Reid poll that had the Greens any better than fourth.

Andrea Goldsmith needs to be held to the same standard as Blair Wilson. I will be happy to apologize if anyone can find an Ipsos-Reid poll that shows the Greens at any better than fourth place.

Bill Forst, President,

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast Federal NDP Riding Assn.

Last week my wife and I were driving over Blueberry Hill. As we approached the top we spotted a small 50-60 lb. little cinnamon bear walking down the road. He didn't look too great. It was very wonderful and memorable to see him, but it was also very sad due to his or her obvious poor health and a very vivid nervous sense of fear and despair that was written all over this little guy.

After about 10 minutes we continued on home, really not knowing what to do but to do nothing and hope he can figure it all out for himself.

This week we heard that our little friend had been shot and killed, guilty of entering a home looking for food. A little 50 lb. bear with two eyes, a mouth, a nose and a heart, just like us, hungry and afraid, shot dead, guilty of trying to find something to eat.

Over at Muni Hall our powers to be, busy spending millions of our tax dollars creating new muni jobs in the bureaucratic feeding frenzy they're on, justifying this and justifying that, day after day, could only find enough time and cash for a bullet to look after this little 50 lb. bear.

China – you know, the place with all the abysmal human rights issues – has a small track of bamboo forest that is now a bear sanctuary. The bears are not only fed and housed, but are nursed back to health as most of them have been rescued from Bear bile farms. Check it out at www.asiaanimals.org

With a little will there is a way.

In beautiful Whistler, British Columbia there is a place for such a sanctuary and there is a way for a rehabilitation program. There is a kinder solution to so-called problem 50 lb. bears than to just shoot them with a gun.

This was their valley first. And it was us who destroyed their springtime wetland valley bottom feeding grounds and replaced it with the scents from our kitchens. It should be us who should stop shooting baby bears with bullets and find a better way.

Last I heard we just paid $950,000 to buy the rights to our rightful Web site name. That’s nine-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars of your tax money just to buy the name: www.whistler.com

Albert Schweitzer advised "until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man himself will not find peace."

Scott Fennell

Whistler

Re: Canada’s Prime-time Ministers By Andrew Mitchell (Pique June 18)

I expect from the subject line that Andrew is talking about the leaders. In effect, this article tars all the participants in this campaign with the same brush.

There is already a high level of undirected anger in the electorate. A reaction driven by a sense of betrayal and supported by sections of the media.

This type of comment, however, fails to recognize the efforts of those candidates who put the interests of their electors first.

As Bob Besner’s campaign manager, in the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding, I worked with Bob to ensure a positive campaign from the outset.

For this riding the campaign has been distinguished by all of the major candidates taking a positive focus.

This is a campaign I am proud to be part of. I would ask voters to recognize that their local candidates don't necessarily reflect the wider picture.

Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon has some excellent choices and should follow the lead of these candidates to make a positive difference.

Dennis Cartledge

Chilliwack

So the newspapers and other media tell us the Conservatives will, most likely, form the next federal government. Perhaps the Canadian voter should give some serious thought as to who will be entrusted to rule this country.

Stephen Harper:

Previously in charge of The National Citizens Coalition, an extreme right-wing organization. (As Heather Mallick wrote in The Globe and Mail "This should make 90 per cent of Canadians, especially women, run for cover.")

Stockwell Day:

He who stated "The earth is 6,000 years old."

Peter MacKay:

He who shook hands and promised David Orchard and signed an agreement that the Reform/Alliance would never join with the Progressive Conservatives.

John Reynolds:

Yes, this is the same person who held up the House of Commons while filibustering in promoting capital punishment (hang by the neck until you are dead). Also recently, we are informed that Reynolds (whose salary is approximately $150,000) charged the taxpayers $370,000 over the past two years for travel expenses.

Belinda Stronach:

No political experience at all, but has as her advisers Brian Mulroney and ex-Premier Mike Harris.

Eric Butt

Whistler

Re: The Canadian health care solution: more money, May 28 Opening Remarks by Bob Barnett

Back in the ’60s we as a society decided to have a universally accessible, publicly funded and administered health-care system. We could easily afford it in a high-wage economy and it worked very well. According to a Globe and Mail editorial (April 30 th ) 61 per cent of Canadians surveyed rated the system excellent or very good in 1991. In 2000, that was down to 29 per cent.

Today, proponents of private medicine want to introduce private health care options as the solution. I have to disagree. Clearly, waiting times for diagnostic and surgical procedures indicate underfunding – not systemic rot. Even in theory, the notion that privatization could fix the problem seems unrealistic. How private medicine – that pays more for personnel and facilities, and still expects 10-15 per cent profit – could possibly be cheaper remains a mystery. Besides, just as I don't want government to make my car, I don't want corporations to deliver my health care. I shudder at the thought of having to go under the knife of the lowest bidder.

In practice, the U.S. health-care system – with a very substantial private component – offers a cautionary tale. Several recent surveys found that the U.S. health care system is about a third more expensive than ours is. Nor are Americans getting value for money. Forty million of them aren't even covered, health emergencies bankrupt many, hospital and insurance company bureaucrats can override decisions by health-care professionals and Health Management Organizations (HMOs) have been the butt of Jay Leno jokes.

The Romanow commission recommended spending $15 billion over three years to fix our health-care system. That's $5 billion annually – hardly extravagant in a trillion-dollar economy. What would we as a society rather spend that money on? Another 500 TV channels?

The long waiting periods for procedures can be traced back to the mid-90s when then Finance Minister Paul Martin cut health-care funding drastically to eliminate budget deficits and reduce the national debt. Worthy objectives to be sure. Ironically, we acquired those deficits and debt through former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's policies that the Liberals failed to reverse: globalization and increased immigration. Under free trade, disappearing import barriers and the Internet have enabled Canadian corporations to downsize at home, move production to lower-cost countries and import goods and services back into Canada. The result has been higher unemployment and government debt, and lower personal income and government revenue. What's more, the trend is likely to continue. A global economy means global living standards. We will keep getting poorer under free trade until production costs have equalized throughout the world. Unfortunately, that will be at wage levels, substantially below current Canadian wages. Since about 80 per cent of government revenues come from personal income tax, paying for health care from taxes in a low-wage economy will be increasingly difficult.

Second, immigration – once an indispensable instrument of nation building – now gives us what keeps developing countries poor: rapid population growth. Brian Mulroney doubled immigration rates in 1991 although technology and free trade have already made gainfully absorbing more people problematic. Rapid population growth has been contributing to unemployment, depressing wages, and increasing the demand for social services.

The next government needs to review these two policies. They have resulted in a steady outflow of wealth and a steady influx of people. That's an economic double whammy by which no country can long absorb without deteriorating living standards. Surely, the long-term solution to health-care funding would be a high-tech, high-skill, high-wage economy. If that takes less free trade and less immigration, so be it.

Joe Bako

Vancouver