6 • Friday, June 13, 2014 • Burnaby NOW
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Supporting discrimination is simply wrong Thousands of B.C. lawyers have voted not be discriminated against on the basis to reverse the B.C. Law Society’s decision of your sexual orientation. TWU’s controversial covenant forbids to accredit Trinity Western University’s sex outside marriage and defines marnew Christian law school. riage as a sacred relationship between While the final decision still rests man and woman. The covenant covers with the Law Society’s board of goverstaff and students at the private nors, known as benchers, the institution. 3,210 to 968 vote can hardly be Burnaby NOW After the Law Society of ignored. Upper Canada in Ontario voted The arguments for and against TWU’s accreditation, essentially against TWU’s law school’s accreditation barring grads from practising in Ontario, pits the red herring of “religious freethe school shot back. dom” against the hard-fought right to
OUR VIEW
Representatives argued that highly qualified graduates would be excluded – simply for holding religious values. TWU’s supporters have also trumpeted the importance of pluralism, accepting a multitude of views. This rings false. Would TWU’s concept of pluralism include sharia law, despite its encroachment on women’s rights? TWU may be able to determine who can attend its private school – however, the B.C. Law Society does not have to
support its discriminatory position by accrediting it. Religious freedom is an important value, but it’s not our only value, particularly when it infringes on the rights of others. We believe love between consenting adults is more important than the right to restrict love between consenting adults. We hope Law Society benchers make an ethical choice, because there are two things this province doesn’t need more of: lawyers and intolerance.
Democracy is made by voters A
s much as Paul Bjarnason and “Burnaby-what-we-labelprobably defutes (Where ourselves-this-time”) since the is democracy?, Burnaby Burnaby Voters Association preNOW, Letters to the editor, June sented very credible candidates, 6) the existence of democracy, it one of whom led the B.C. School does exist. Trustees Association at one time There is the correct obserand later became a councilvance of a ruling party receiving lor. What might be new is that 24 per cent of the finally maybe the forces electorate to govern. opposing the longPaul Keenleyside It is quite less at the standing NDP-affilicivic level, where a ated Burnaby Citizens mayor can win governing the Association can actually succeed city with less than 15 per cent this time so that the BCA majorof the electoral vote. With more ity on both council and school than 145,000 registered voters, board s finally diluted. But given Mayor Derek Corrigan receives the history of the opposing forcjust over 24,000 votes. Such is es, there isn’t much to hope for the case here in Burnaby. at this stage. In 1996, the NDP received Consider that for far too the majority of the popular long the opposing interests to vote, but the B.C. Liberals won the BCA that have successfully the majority of seats. Is that evolved in one label or another democracy? Was it democracy have been plagued with manwhen the NDP won in 1991? agement fights, ego building, Was it democracy when the inability to work together as a federal Liberals won in 2000? cohesive team, some poor-qualNow then, it is interesting that ity candidates, and a few just “democracy does not exist!” is plain dumb moves (such as heard when the B.C. Liberals or an opposing mayor candidate the Conservatives win via this going after Corrigan in which convention, but when the NDP the opposition mayor candidate wins (as was the case in 1991, almost ended up being sued), and 1996) or when the federal sloppy research, and just plain Liberals won (2000 and prior) poor presentations of stating there is this silence. sound workable policies and The entrance of Burnaby programs that the voters would First Coalition to present school like to see. trustee candidates is hardly Plus, since I would admit new. There has been school Burnaby is in sound fiscal shape trustee candidates from every (save for a few potholes and incarnation (BVNPA, Team Democracy Page 7 Burnaby, Independent Voices
IN MY OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Rallying against smart meters Dear Editor:
This Saturday, June 14, will be a day of protest and learning for everyone opposed to B.C. Hydro’s smart meter program. Rallies will be held in Victoria, Kelowna and right here in Burnaby at Hydro’s smart meter headquarters.This is located at 9265 Glenlyon Parkway, just off Marine Drive. The Burnaby Foreshore Park, located just across the street, will be the rally location. Events get underway just before noon, rain or shine. If it rains, that will only show the dedication of those involved. So far our local politicians seem to be too busy to attend. That would be rather hypocritical for Mayor Derek Corrigan not to attend after he and
his council expressed opposition to smart meters in a recent letter to myself. And the ever-elusive Jane Shin, MLA, has also been invited but seems to have a full calendar. Kennedy Stewart, our MP, has been notified but hasn’t responded as of this writing. Too bad for them if these politicians miss an excellent chance to look good on election day. This rally will be a chance for all those interested to speak but especially those who have been bullied, threatened with cutoffs and hit with Hydro’s extortion fees for keeping their analog meters to express their views and fears about the dangers of these meters. Hydro has already failed in converting enough people in order to turn on the radiation-producing ZigBee chip in the new meters. Jim Ervin, Burnaby
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