At 21:23 05-11-98 -0500, Robert A. Alexander wrote:
>Kelly - You get to vote on this stuff you are describing?
>
>BOB
>
No way.  The Canadian system of government is very paternalistic in the
sense that you vote for your Member of Parliament and the winner gets a 5
year mandate.  There are very few plebiscites, referenda or other voter
participation events.  This suits me fine as most voters don't take the
time to educate themselves on the issues.  The winner then becomes the side
with the most money and the best lobbyists.  We have access to our Members
of Parliament, petitions, the right to demonstrate and other options to
influnce the decisions.  It is not a perfect process but it works well
enough.

The liquor laws vary widely in Canada.  The province of Quebec seems to
have the most progressive laws.  The province of Alberta used to have the
worst although they have improved in the last 10 years or so.  In Alberta
in the 80s, you had to sit down while drinking.  If you wanted to go over
to another table you couldn't grab your drink and carry it over to another
table.  You had to get a server to carry it for you.  This was the law
although few people abided by it.  These type of laws were very old and had
never been updated.  Now, Alberta has private liquor stores and other more
current laws.  I know that some US jurisdictions have some difficult liquor
laws, most noticeably Utah.

Kelly Bauman
Delta, BC
'91 Westy