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PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEM BER 16, 198 1, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby_ U Published every Wed nesdav F~~x ' N bM.B.M. Publishing S 15 $~ and Photography Ime. Volce of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher - Managing Editor The only Whltby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. 'Ile F ree Press Bilding. 131 Brock StrIpet North, P.(>. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. MICHAEL J. KNELL Communlty EdItor MARJORIE A. BURGESS Advertlsiflg Manager Mailing Permit No. 460 Member of the Whltby Chamber of Commerce As step inthe right direction Many diverse opinions have been aired in Queen's Park over the last few days on the provin- cial government's controversiai Bill 7 - a piece of legislation thaàt deals with human rights. The opinions have generaily fallen Into two camps, one of which says that the bill goes too far, and the other that says the bill doesn't go far enough. Seasoned observers of the provincial politicai season have said that, privately, many of the members of Premier Bill Davis' Progressive Con- servative have reservations about the legislatian. Last week, a representative of the Association of Chiefs of Police appeared before the legisla- ture's commlttee looking into the bill said that it should be rejected because it takes away some of the authority police have In dealing with suspec- ted criminai offenders. The spokesman appeared to take specific issue with a clause in the bill that would prevent police afficers from questioning a suspect unless his legal counsel Is present. While this publication has always been suppor- tive of the police and their efforts ta combat crime We tend to get pretty cynical about politicians in the news business, but there are few of us who would be cynical about Tommy Douglas. 1 covered the Douglas campaign for a bit in 1965 and 1 came to have a great deal of respect for him. In those days, as 1 recail them, the NDP leader travelled economy on scheduled flights and spent a great deal of time in church basements. After an American presidential campaign - where reporters get VIP treatment ail the way - it was unpretentious and very refreshing; although I doubt I had the maturity to make that judge- ment at the time. Life has always been tough for a socialist politician in this essentially Large "L" Liberal country, but Tommy Douglas always shouldered the burden with wit and grace. My father recalîs hearing him at a public meeting in Winnipeg during the late forties when he was stili the CCF Premier of Saskatchewan. Douglas admitted that people sometimes criticized him because they imag- ined there was less freedom in socialist Saskatchewan. In answer to that, he said, he would just like to say that a man in Saskatchewan was just as free as a man anywhere else to do what bis wife told him. Homespun, a littie corny perhaps, but relentlessly cheerful. Tommy Douglas was on my mmnd because I'd just read a story about the Douglas-. Coldwell foundation. When he retired froin the NDP leadership in 1971, the party wanted to buy him a house or a car. No one would have thought less of him if he'd accepted, but that was not the Douglas way. Instead, be suggested the foundation, whose purpose is to stimulate socialist thought in this country, and as Douglas puts it, "to keep the party on the threshold of progress". Its funds have been raised privately, and it now bas assets worth about a quarter of a million dollars. It sponsors scbolar- ships and publications, and is currently planning an inter- national conference on the third world. Willy Brandt and Olaf Palme will be invited to participate and- the confer- ence will definitely flot be held in a cburcb basement, although l'm sure that wouldn't worry Douglas a.ny. Ideas, convictions and keeping the faitb have always been more important to him than trappings, for him, or the NDP. The man has always practiced wbat he's preached. Tbat's flot news but that too is reality. we must disagree with them on this point. No one shouîd be questioned, whether In- nocent or gullty, without the right of having legal counsel present and no one shauld be forced ta give evidence against themselves. The concept of "Innocent until proven guilty" must be strengthened and preserved If this nation is ta survive as a demacratic society. It should be pointed'out that police 0f ficers already have a great deal of authority under the Police Act, the Criminal Code 0f Canada and a wide variety of ather pieces 0f legisiation of bath a federal and a provincial nature. Under the legal concept 0f "reasanable and probable cause" a poi ce off icer can go practically anywhere, question practically anyane provided he can prove that these reasonable and probable causes existed. 0 One the other, a group of people want the governiment ta enshrine Into law the rights of such groups as homosexuals. They want the government ta give these people unlimited right of vocation - even ta, being teachers in the public school system. Whlie this publication can understand and sympathize with the case beirg presented we must again disagree. This disagreement cames f rom the fact that this group states that these rights should be pre- served so long as they do not try ta Influence others to take up a homosexual lifestyle. Kniowing that a person has these tendencies is generally more than enough influence and this publication is not sure that hamasexuals should be exposed ta, children as teachers. Being a homosexual la a matter of choice, just as it Is one's choice to be a fundaîmentalist Christian. But these are choices that should be made by mature, seif-responsible aduits and nat the produot of childhoad Influence. The Introduction of this legisiation, however f Iawed, is a step in the rlght direction. Any bill that is introduced by a level of government that at- tempts to preserve and strengthen the rights of its individuai citizens must be welcomed with open arms and then ail citizens should work towards removing its f laws. A piece of human rights legisiation should preserve the rights of the maJority whiie recognizing and protectlng the rights of the mlnority - whether that minority be ethic, religiaus or cultural. Every effort shouid aiso be made ta protect the rights of children including the right to a home, to an education, ta freedom from fear and ta live their lives In peace.d This legislation shauld also preserve the rights 0f aur saciety. It should provide that those who break the law are duly and justly punished and that justice should be the same for the rich, the poar, or whether the af fender be male or female or black or white. This publication -recognizes that legisiation such as Bill 7 will create many different opinions and wiil cause many divisions bath within and withaut 0f the political arena. However, it Is aur behief that ail Canadians shouîd enjoy basic rights and freedoms because these rights and freedoms constitute the base 0f a democratic soclety. There are already tao many pieces of legisiation that inhibit aur rights and freedoms. Two prime examples are the Officiai Secrets Act and the War Measures Act that are part of the federal government'sstatutes. It may be fîawed, but It la a step In the right direction as were the Freedom 0f Information Bills that were introduced by both levels of govern- ments over the past few years. It is refreshing ta see government attempting to preserve the rights of its citizens instead of telling them that they must pay more taxes or submit to new ru les and regulations. )O /'A y Der7-C4 0/TOPc-A /<4/O C/<