Our Constitution Needs to Assure Government Accountability Reflecting on failures in the Fisheries, Forests, Health Care, Fast-Ferries, First Nation’s land claims, and with Human Resource Development Canada, etc. – there appears to be a need for more government accountability. Perhaps we need an amendment to our constitution? BC and Canada are not central planned autocratic ruled economies. Both are democratic parliamentary governed, mixed economic systems. In such systems, quality of life and social satisfaction entirely depend on two interrelated fundamentals: 1) a competitive private business and industrial sector that combines resources into economic production – – distributing wealth and securing the tax base and social satisfaction through (better paid) employment, 2) a government sector that monitors and detects issues in

British Columbia’s forest policies – a failing of democracy? Will US countervailing duties restore democracy? An OISD commentary; inviting discussion and participation to build a better community. Canada is not a planned economic system such as the former Soviet Union. Canada is a democratic governed mixed economy. In our system, quality of life and political stability depends on private investment from within and abroad into economic production in businesses that distribute real income and tax in the community via employment. The government’s task in this system is to provide such products and services the private sector fails, or is unable, to provide. One such fundamental government responsibility is to monitor the allocation mechanism that distributes wealth in the community and

Misunderstanding continues over Prime Minister Chretien’s comments on who is at fault for the actions of bullies and terrorists and whether the US and its allies should encroach upon Iraq without UN sanctions. With comments connecting the affluence of Western nations to terrorism, P.M. Chretien triggered a flood of debate over what he actually meant. Thank goodness there are those who, rather than political grandstanding and personally attacking the PM, are more interested in debating and addressing the causes of terrorism. The PM has been criticized for a CBC interview in which he linked the cause of terrorism to adverse socioeconomic and political conditions, and for blaming the developed countries such as US and Canada for failing to do something

If a personal mistake should not disqualify the BC’s Premier – what should? While on holiday in Hawaii, British Columbia’s Premier was stopped for speeding and subsequently charged with impaired driving by the police in Maui. Remorseful, the Premier recognizes that he showed poor judgment and will not contest the charge. The question is should the Premier resign? Voters elect people to office, and people – human beings – are not perfect. At this time, the Premier faces an alleged impaired driving charge. Most people that are not “teetotallers”, have been in the situation, where the question is: should I drive or not? When in doubt, there is of course only one rule — don’t drive and conduct your self