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WIJflBY FPREEPRE$SS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1990, PAGE 13 Stevenso n chairman of special comnittee, DMFJNÀNG DEMOCIiACY In recent months, .Messrs Mulroney, Wilson and'their cabinet cohorts have repeatedly proclaimed that they won't back down on the GST simply because it is unpopular - that they refuse to govern according to the opinion polis. Unfortunately, those statements contain two shocking denials of the funýdamnental principies of democracy. The word unpopular means "against the wishes of the people". To proceed with such a piece of legisiation is a denial of aur democratic rights. And refusing to govern according toopinion polis may be appropriate at times, but, since those polis confirm that every rIegion, every sector, every age group and every income level is opposed to the GST, refusing to accept the public wiii is a denial that governiments are supposed to be representing us. A lot bas been said about the role of the Senate vis-a-vis the House of Gommons and how undemocratic it would be for an appointed body like the Sonate te overrule. the democratically elected' House of Gom mons. The argument is valid. Thie Senate hma no more right tao oerrule thý House of Commona than the Hause lias to overrule t/e peaple. Democracy can not be taken for ganted. In this country, as in others,, democracy has a history ,which includes rebellion and bioodshed. An elected assembly has been part of Our political. traditions since the late 1700'9 but until the rebellions of 1837 that assemblyhad very littie power - al major decisions were made exclusively by the governor and his appointed advisors. It took an armed insurrection te win the priclethat tepwer had te be in the handa of the l representatives. Thates what democracy is all about. Ordisiilusionment with ail politicians (moot recently evident in the Ontario election) is due to, their failure to represent us. Both Liberals and Conservatives, and possibly New Democrats too, feel that five or six weeks every four years is ail that counts. To moot politicians, elections are about power, not about representation. That cymicism lhas te change. Our MPs and MPPs have got to, feel compelled te accept and endarse-the will of their constituents throughou*t/aheir terms of office. M.P.'s like Rene Soetens know very well that their constituents are opposed to the GST. They should feel far more pressure fromn their ridings than from their party whip. Normal democratie ethics would require them te vote againgt it. 1VI disturbs me profoudly that government politicians regard their constituents as an inconvenience, whule opposi- tion politicians regard us as pawns. Neither accepte us as their masters, merely a source of power. Most of this country's best governments have,. been minorities, simply because the governing party had te, listen te the people. The argument that governments have ta, have the power- te do unpopular things is the same argument that the goverziments of Eastern Europe used te justify their existence for forty years. The argument that taxes are always unpopular is simply self-Justifying trmythéogoy - what people want is a sense - fair taxation and value for their money. In spite of wha Mulroney soas, the GST was flot an issue in the last federal election - there were oniy vague references te the second p hase of tax reform. That is noV a mandate. If Mr. Muroney believes in democracy - and lie says lie does - lielias an obligation te persuade us that the GST is riglit. So far lie's faiied. The government has few choices ieft: witlidraw the GST, put it te a referendum, or cali an election te test their mandate. Proceeding witli the GST is a deniai of the fundamental principies of democracy. Period. VIITOE F IU SORSORC*IFO Durham riding MP Ross Ste- venson lias been appointed chair- man of a speciai committee stu- dying a new federal environmen- tai assessment process. Bill C-78 was introduced inte, the House of Gommons in June. The bill, in combination with a,- related package of other reforms ' will overiaul the existing system for environmental assessments. The proposed'legisiation wil give Canada's environmental assessment process a more powerful impact on the planning J and impiemèntation process of projects involving federal fund- in rrglations. *reb seta out federal res- ponsibihities' and ýprocedures for environmental asseasmenta of Proects. rIVt establishes a new, indepen- dent Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency which 'wili oversee and co-ordînate the pro- cess. Aiso included is a proposai for government funding te ailow the public to participate in, environ- ENROLL mental assessment hearings. «It is a tremendous honor and opportunity to bea appointed chairman of this -committee,» said Stevenson in a prepared statement.' ,,The committee is- a bencli- mark in- the continuing develop- ment of environmental legisha- tioni in Canada." .Public hearings relating te the biil's <proosgls ,Wiil begm in eariy October. Public imput w ill result in any necessary clar ifica'- tion or amendments te, the bill. TODAY!. a healthy ltfestyle In Ajax/Pickering Cali (416) 427-4777, Cooking Shop & Sohool 100 Westney Rd. S. SAVE!! SAVE!! SAVE!! e Heats up to 1,9000 sq. ft. *Selt-cleaning glass door " Up to18"l10,gs " Full firebrick Iining ' " Cast-iron spin draft control *Airtight door e Floor and rear guard heat shi eld *Pyroceram glass G lass Doors tram $5995' from $6 95from $ 19900 *On Approved Credit - Delivery and Installations Available - The ~13Tunton Rd. 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