OcTOBER 12, 2006

THE CADRE @ 13

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Several communist and third world countries regulate their televisions nd even have their own television etworks where they can exploit

eit propaganda with biased, lanted media. This exists in present- ay Russia, Cuba and... Canada. his biased, propaganda machine is alled the Canadian Broadcasting orporation or the CBC, a so-called ‘crown corporation. It poisons our ats through national radio and elevision broadcasting.

This “crown” corporation is perated and regulated at arm’s

ength from the government in its day-to-day business. It is run by our hard-earned money (our tax dollars, of course) and does not accurately represent the Canadian population’s wants and needs. We are forced to pay for its operations and expenses, even though most of us do not use it. In fact, it is estimated that less than three percent of the Canadian opulation watches the CBC on a egular basis. The government should not steal our money to oper- te such a slanted, inefficient broad- asting corporation.

The CBC often launches setvices within areas where privately ector. ’- broadcasters are already in, r wish to be. With the help of the anadian Radio-television and elecommunications Commission, e CBC able to monopolize the

edia sector and not allow the

tivate sectors to develop to their full potential and efficiency.

Critics, often led by private edia, sometimes accuse the net- ork of cultural elitism, liberal bias, t bias in favor of the Liberal or ew Democratic parties of Canada. he CBC is also sometimes thought o have an unfair economic advan- age in the Canadian television arketplace, because it competes ith private broadcasters for adver- ising dollars, while simultaneously eceiving the subsidy of a govern- ent grant. Think tanks such as the ‘taser Institute have frequently titicized this arrangement, and say t results in journalism that favors he political party willing to allocate t the most funds.

If you ever decide to watch BC, you will quite quickly be able © realize the existing liberal bias on

the network, in favor of the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. Much of this is largely due to the large donations given by the Liberal and New Democratic Party, whom allocate the great majority of the funds to the network. —

In conclusion, the Communist Broadcasting Corporation must be privatized and no longer receive public funding, as this results in government intervention in our birth-given right to free press.

Omar Abduhadi

It’s been almost one year since the UPE.I. Turf Field was officially opened as a multi-purpose sports field venue. I believe it’s time for the University to name the field.

I brought this matter’to the attention of the Charlottetown City Council at our regular monthly meeting on September 11, 2006. It

was my suggestion that the U.P.E.I.

Turf Field carry on the legacy of A. J. MacAdam who passed away in April, 1969. MacAdam Field was inaugurated in the fall of 1969 to recognize the athletic contribution made by A. J. MacAdam at St. Dunstan’s University (one of the two founding post-secondary institutions of UPEI).

MacAdam was truly one of the greatest all-round athletes in the history of St. Dunstan’s University. He was the only four-letter athlete in St. Dunstan’s history to receive the “Gold D” for his accomplishments in rugby, basketball, track & field and hockey, as he performed for the “Red & White” from 1940-1945.

MacAdam joined the University as a teacher in 1947 and coached rugby and hockey from 1948-1963. St. Dunstan’s University won Maritime senior and intercollegiate rugby championships in 1952 and 1954 and were Maritime intercollegiate champions in American football from 1957 to 1959. These accomplishments led to his appointment as the University’s Athletic Director in 1960, a post he held until 1966.

MacAdam Field has been relocated three times since 1969; first to make land available for the Atlantic Veterinary College and most

recently, to allow for the construction of the CARI Athletic Facility. The development and construction of the new U.P.E.I. Turf Field can be seen as the third relocation of MacAdam Field.

I believe the City of Charlottetown is in a position to recommend that the U.P.E.I. Turf Field continue the legacy of A,J. MacAdam by naming it MacAdam Field. Firstly, the City of Charlottetown has a substantial investment in the CARI Athletic Facility with our partners - U.P.E.I. and the Town of Stratford. Secondly, the City of Charlottetown has invested approximately $400,000 in the U.P.E.I. Turf Field. Furthermore, out Department of Parks, Recreation & Leisure is responsible

- for all programming and fee

collection for the turf field. The City then forwards the revenue on to the University to assist them in paying down their capital debt on this facility.

Given the open and sound business relationship that exists between the City and U.P.E.L., I believe it is not unreasonable to recommend naming the U.P.E.I. Turf Field, MacAdam Field.

In closing, my recommendation is based on recognizing the legacy of AJ. MacAdam and what that represents for one of U.P.E.1’s founding institutions. Heritage and tradition are important parts of our community and I believe when you're in a position to accommodate these values one must seize the moment and make it happen.

Respectfully submitted, Mr. Philip Brown

U.PE.I. Class of ‘81 & ‘88

New political tools for a new century.

There are other political systems that are more democratic and more effective that can replace our 19 century autocratic political management system. We need new political tools for this new 21“ century. Our society has made amazing strides forward in other fields in the past 50 years. But our political management system

remains archaically paternalistic and inept. In Atlantica this parliamentary system is now over 150 years old!

The Atlantica Party advocates parliamentary and electoral reform, finding new pathways toward a superior democratic alternative to the existing out-dated inefficient partisan system. One need only spend some time in the viewing gallery of the House while ‘debate’ occurs to see the visible flaws of the system, but what is not so easy to see ate the fundamental flaws in the system that allow, for instance, taxation without representation to occur.

We see and hear the same election promises broken over and over, the ceaseless “information- content-challenged” rhetoric, the inability to have high quality decision making, the unending role of patronage, the lack of vision. The voters are increasingly turning away from the system as a whole. The actors are not necessarily to blame, the play’s the thing. And the play

needs a new script.

Suggested reforms such as Proportional Representation are simply too limited since the nature of the system stays the same. Elections become slightly more democratic but the machinery of government remains flawed. What is needed is comprehensive electoral AND political reform.

Who’s to blame? You are, and I. We citizens are the problem. We knowingly accept a poor political system, undemocratic, unaccountable, unable.

r there are other political systems that are more democratic and more effective ...

Mike Cox ‘Treasurer

The Atlantica Party

Musquodoboit Harbour