BC Politics with Hubert Beyer

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Hubert Beyer, Biography

Hubert Beyer was widely known as one of Canada's most read journalists. His columns were published regularly in most BC Community Newspapers, and his perspective sought on the Federal level as well as by NORAD in the US, Beyer lived up to his reputation as the "Fairest of them All."

Born in a small village in West Germany, Beyer immigrated to Canada in his 20s where he married and had 4 children.

A German Language publication in Winnipeg was Beyer's first foray into writing in Canada, it was soon followed with work at the Winnipeg Free Press as a Reporter covering many different beats. more

Click to read the Eulogy for Hubert Beyer

Top Search: Forestry

Find out what Beyer had to say about Forestry in BC through the years. With the forestry industry supporting a large segment of employment and opportunity in British Columbia, it's no surprise that it's a top search.

Top Search: Elections

Election are always a hot topic. Anytime the faintest hint of a provincial or federal election announcement draws near, the search for quotes and history on past British Columbia elections starts to climb.

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When is the Budget not a hot search. Provincial Bugets are introduced with fanfare and fraught with talk from pundits, experts and critics. Take a few minutes to see how BC Budgets of the past were often projections of the future. 

CHEMAINUS IS ABOUT TO DO IT AGAIN

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CHAMAINUS -- Karl Schutz has been described as a visionary and a futurist. He's probably a bit of both, but mostly he's romantic with a dream.

Somewhere, however, under that layer of incurable romanticism there's a realist who knows the difference between merely dreaming of an idea and doing something about it. And for that, we are all a bit better off.

If you've been to Chemainus in the past few years, you've seen what difference Karl's dreams can make. The little town on Vancouver Island was already dying on the vine when the lumber mill shut down in 1982. There seemed no hope for Chemainus.

It was Karl who gave birth to the idea of writing the history of Chemainus in giant murals on the town's buildings. Against many odds, he succeeded. The 24 murals by outstanding artists have made Chemainus world-famous. "The Little Town That Did" has become a household name.

I talked to Karl just after his return from Australia, where he had been invited to set up a mural program similar to that of Chemainus.

The first thing you notice about Karl is that he blushes easily. He has never quite learned to come to terms with his fame. Being called a visionary embarrasses him. Dreamer is a little more acceptable.

The second thing you notice is, he likes to laugh. When his face breaks into a thousand wrinkles, he looks like a kid who just got his first bike.

But it is his unquestionable dedication to his dreams and his ability to draw others into his world that impresses you most of all. Karl's latest dream is awesome. It's still set in Chemainus, the little town that continues to do, but this dream is global in scope.

Picture an Artisan Village where artists from every Pacific Rim nation create, exhibit and sell their works. Picture national pavilions, representing the best in culture and the arts Pacific Rim countries have to offer. Picture a lodge, not a hotel, where guests can "book and experience, not a room."

A 50-acre site for the Pacific Rim Artisan Village has been secured. It will house the 120©room lodge, a 250-seat outdoor theatre, the national pavilions and the studios in which artisans will work.

Karl says his dream is not futuristic. If anything, it draws for strength on the artistic values and ambience of a world gone by.

"It's a renaissance of art, a representation of realistic and functional art, such as silver and goldsmithing, pottery, painting, sculpture and music" he says.

Karl was born in Heidelberg, an ancient German university town whose romantic flavor had an undeniable effect on his own artistic concepts. He probably inherited his love for artisan creations from his grandfather who was a coppersmith.

Karl came to Canada in 1951 and settled in Chemainus in 1952. Here he ran his own cabinet maker shop for nearly 30 years. When the mill closed, the writing for Chemainus was on the wall. Its chances of becoming another ghost town were excellent. And then, Karl came up with the idea of adorning the town's buildings with murals.

There were difficulties at first. He run afoul of just about every bylaw there was, making life hell for John Berikoff, the town's administrator, who fortunately had a lot of patience and became a good friend.

Then some people suggested that the murals be painted only by local artists and school kids, but Karl convinced them that this would never do. If Chemainus was to attract international attention, he knew the murals had be of the highest artistic quality. And they are.

Today, Chemainus is a little enclave of artistic beauty that has captured the imagination of visitors from all over the world.

Karl's part in this success story speaks for itself, and there is no doubt in my mind, he will succeed with his new dream.

Governments have not yet come through with financial support, but more than a quarter of a million dollars has already gone into the purchase of the site and the preparation of a model for the Artisan Village. That money has come from individuals and corporate donors.

For those who want to take an active part in Karl's dream, there is a great opportunity. For a $1,000 donation to the Pacific Rim Artisan Village Foundation, you become a founding member.

In return you'll get a framed limited-edition print of the Artisan Village, your name on a bronze plaque in the village, a card for preferred admission to special functions and recognition in print on the foundation's publications.

I do believe that for anyone who can afford to part with $1,000, it is a small price to pay for sharing in a dream.

FESTIVAL OF SPORTS AND PRIDE

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VICTORIA -- By most standards, Canadians are a pretty conservative lot. Our eyes don't get misty looking at the Maple Leaf flag.

No lump in our throats when the band strikes up Oh Canada. Most of the time, we don't stand on guard for thee, but against any overt exhibition of national pride.

But every so often, we get caught off guard. That's what happened to about 15,000 people attending the opening ceremonies of the B.C. Summer Games in Victoria. Tossing aside all conservative notions, they revelled in feelings of unabashed pride, and for good reasons.

From the opening ceremonies, through all the competitions, to the closing ceremonies, the Games were spectacular. The spirit of both athletes and spectators was great, the organization superb and skies blue and warm throughout.

The opening ceremonies had more than just a passing resemblance to Olympic competitions. Imagine 4,800 athletes marching into Centennial Stadium, set into the lush grounds of the University of Victoria campus.

They came from every corner of the province to test their skills in numerous sports from track and field to under-water hockey, from swimming to soccer, from softball to lawn bowling.

They weren't all of that magical age at which physical prowess is at its peak. The oldest competitor was well over 70, the youngest was a mere seven years old. One sports writer called it a festival with a sports theme, a good description.

The organizational efforts that went into the Games washerculean. About 800 volunteers had been working for close to a year to make the Games a success. They were joined by an army of 4,000 more volunteers during the last four weeks, leading up to the three-day event.

The lineup of entertainment was equally impressive. The Sky Hawks, a crack Canadian Armed Forces sky jumper team, had the crowd roaring during the opening ceremonies. The Victoria Police Choir gave a memorable performance. So did the hundreds of youngsters, dancing on the stadium field.

Throughout the Games, the athletes excelled, giving it their best shot. And while no Olympic or world records may have been broken, the spirit of the participants was every bit as high as that which marks world-class sporting competitions.

A lot of people received praise for the Games during those three days, except the ones whose legacy they are. For those whose memories don't go back that far, I would like to mention here the names of two people who, more than anyone else, deserve the credit for the Games.

Meet Bill Bennett and Grace McCarthy. Remember them? They took the germ of an idea and ran with it. Way back, in 1976, then Premier Bennett started the ball rolling.

Like every good idea, this one, too, was met with its share of skepticism and cynicism, but it took hold. The B.C. Summer and Winter Games have become the model sporting events, looked at with envy by others.

At the outset, this column was to have no negative comment. Unfortunately, something is afoot that prompts me to introduce a sour note. The format of the Games, we are told, is to be changed from broad-based to elitist.

What that means is the B.C. Games are no longer to be festivals with a sports theme. They are no longer to be events in which athletes of lesser ability can compete for the sheer joy of it.

No longer are the Games to be merely a gathering of British Columbians, celebrating their own enjoyment of physical competition.

Instead, the B.C. Games are to become highly competitive. They are to become the testing ground for Olympic and World competition. What a shame. And what an alienation of a beautiful idea.

Turning the B.C. Summer and Winter Games into a breeding ground for Olympic athletes may help bring a few more precious medals to our province every four years, but at what price?

I consider myself a damned good downhill skier and I was determined to make it into the next winter games in Nelson, but I'm afraid that at 53, my reflexes don't quite measure up to those of 20-year-old Olympic material.

I'd never make it past the trials if the B.C. Games are to become truly elitist. The same goes for the 74-year-old who competed in last week's summer games.

That puts the B.C. Games at cross roads. They can remain the "broad-based" and friendly sports festivals or they can become dead serious competitions. Which should it be? For my money, I'll take the B.C. Games just the way they are, thank you. What do you think?

FAMILY PROGRAM GETS FULL MARKS

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VICTORIA -- For the first time since the abortion debate heated up, Premier Vander Zalm has introduced an argument that cannot and should not be ignored.

The government's new $20 million family support program is precisely what was needed to combat the alarming increase in abortions.

Rather than wishing abortion would go away, making people feel guilty for even considering an abortion or, worse, trying to force an end to abortions by withholding funding for the medical procedure, the new program offers alternatives to abortions.

Initiatives For Strengthening The Family is a solid program that proposes to battle the rising number of abortions in all the right places.

The program is based not so much on religious considerations, which are an important moral guide for the individual, but on a humanistic respect for life, which should be a major moral beacon for any society. Here are some of the highlights of the program:

. The health ministry will conduct a major public awareness program on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Pamphlets on pregnancy prevention, produced by the B.C. Public Health Association, will be available at doctors' offices and in pharmacies and local health offices.

. The education ministry will continue its Family Life Education program in grades seven to 12.

. An additional $6.1 million will go to increasing subsidies for infant day care. The government hopes this will help women return to the work force or to school and enable them to maintain their independence after the birth of their baby.

. The housing ministry will spend $3 million on a variety of accommodation for women who want to have their babies but cannot stay at home.

. Approximately $7 million will be spent on programs that enable young women to complete their education by offering child-care services and parent training.

. The adoption program will be streamlined to make adoption of unwanted children easier. There is now a waiting list of 2,500 families wishing to adopt a child.

. The new Family Maintenance enforcement Act, operational by July, has a lot more teeth than previous legislation and is expected to be much more successful in enforcing maintenance payments.

. A marriage preparation program, devised in consultation with the B.C. Council for the Family, is to prepare couples getting married in a civil ceremony for the pitfalls of marriage and "strengthen understanding and communication skills in marriage."

. Women facing an unwanted pregnancy will be able to get a 20-minute video at libraries, video outlets and health offices throughout the province. The video features a discussion with a family physician and a psychologist and is to inform women of the alternatives to abortion. The video will be available free of charge.

"The government of British Columbia is committed to advancing the well-being of the family," the premier said when he announced the program.

"I believe through the strategies we have outlined, we have met that commitment in a way that will benefit all British Columbians," he said.

I believe so, too. The premier has, at long last, shown a willingness to go beyond expressing his personal agony over the abortion issue, an agony that is shared by many, including those who have criticized his previous decision to cut off funding for abortions.

Personally, I couldn't agree more with a reader who wrote me that she was saddened and horrified by the fact that last year, more than 12,000 women "didn't want their babies." At age 75, she said, she no longer understood the world.

Having brought up four children and now being grandfather to four little ones, the very thought of abortion horrifies me, too. But as I pointed out before, no government can and should try to force moral beliefs on individuals. If morality needs to be propped up by force and coercion, it's already dead.

The premier deserves full marks for his initiative which should go a long way toward reducing the number of abortions in British Columbia. And if the program is successful, its funding should be increased. No money would be better spent.

I should welcome the day when not one women chooses to have an abortion. But that choice must be made freely. Only then will society be able to celebrate the sanctity of life.

WELCOME TO THE WITCH HUNT

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VICTORIA -- Welcome to Witch Hunt, the latest craze in British Columbia. Purpose of the game is to corner the premier and, if possible, bring him down.

The rules are simple. Anything goes, including low blows and shooting in the back. The game is to be played for its sheer excitement with no holds barred.


Organizers of the hunt are the media in co-operation with the victim who is possessed by a Freudian death wish. Sponsors include Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, its supporters, disgruntled former and current cabinet ministers and sundry folks with their own agendas.

There are few requirements to take part in the game. A capacity for Schadenfreude is one; that's a German word for which there is no English equivalent; roughly translated, it means taking a fiendish delight in someone else's misfortune. The ability to suppress urges of fair play is an asset.

That about describes what has been happening to Premier Vander Zalm these past few weeks. And if you think that's strange coming from a guy who has done his fair share of Socred and Vander Zalm bashing, let me just say there's a difference between rational criticism, no matter how stinging, and persecution.

There is no way around the fact that Vander Zalm himself brought on much of the misfortune that has befallen him. His inability to compromise, his propensity for outspokenness, his political naivete and his conviction that the most complex problem has asimplistic solution somewhere, have made him lurch from one crisis to another.

In 18 months, the premier has given the opposition more fodder for its cannon than the two Bennetts did in their 30-year rule.

He has systematically alienated just about every special interest group, from trade unions to teachers, to doctors, to welfare mothers.

The opposition has exploited his weaknesses, as it should; the media have reported them, as they should; editorial writers and columnists have criticized and attacked the premier and his government, as they should ... until the Toigo Affair came along.

With the revelation that the premier's principal secretary, David Poole, had intervened in the bidding process for the EXPO land on behalf of Peter Toigo, a good personal friend of the premier's, criticism of the premier began to turn into a witch hunt.

A dumb move was blown out of proportion. Editorial writers and columnists began to hint of conflicts of interest. Gloves-off politics and hard-hitting media coverage began to give way to hysteria. The media had smelled blood and were beginning to believe they could bring down the government. Not just the opposition, which has a legal right and, indeed, an obligation to

defeat the government, but the media. Columnists who, by and large, take a fair position on issues, had, in the words of a colleague, "new life breathed into them."

One of them even had someone denying that Toigo "held the papers on Fantasy Gardens" which was supposed to have a cash flow problem.

That's like having some unnamed source vehemently deny that Bill beats Lillian. Rumor and innuendo can work wonders in the pursuit of someone's demise, I suppose. Others asked questions of Vander Zalm as if they were at an inquisition, not a press conference.

Vander Zalm's own benches have been no help to him. One day last week, when he was grilled in the legislature by the NDP's Bob Williams, the premier's responses failed to rouse his colleagues support which usually expresses itself in vigorous desk-thumpingand loud "hear, hear"s. The Socred MLAs sat silent, watching their leader's discomfort.

The opposition asked a number of carefully©crafted questions of Vander Zalm. Did he ever have a corporate link to Toigo? Does he have one now?

The premier said no. The following day, it was established that Vander Zalm has shares in a company which operates a restaurant at Fantasy Gardens. The company belongs to Toigo. Is that a corporate link? Even if it isn't, Vander Zalm's earlier statement that he didn't have a

corporate link to Toigo would seem to be plain dumb.I suppose what bothers me most about all this is the exhileration the premier's misfortunes and speculation about the possibility of his fall are causing among some media types.

I can understand the opposition's delight. I can even understand that some Socred cabinet ministers and backbenchers would be happy to see their leader fall on his face. They're politicians, and not all of them have forgotten about their own ambitions.

To have contributed to Vander Zalm's political demise by means other than honest reporting and fair criticism, however, would not make me especially proud. And there's no doubt, the media have been leading the chorus to discredit the premier, not just reporting it.

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