_flews Section Editor: Eileen Velthuis the other press ileen Velthuis ews Editor atimavik, a Canadian youth service program, is now accepting applications for their next intake of volun- eers. - Katimavik, which means “meeting place” in nuktitut, was founded in 1977. he program focuses on different earning programs, including lead- ership, second language, cultural discovery, environmental protec- ion and adoption of a healthy ifestyle, through community serv- ce and volunteer work. Youth between the ages of 17 and 21 rom all regions of Canada are hosen and placed in groups of 11. hey are then sent to three differ- ent provinces within the program's seven-month duration, to com- plete volunteer and learning proj- ects. One Katimavik group spent their irst rotation in St. Paul, Alberta and then moved on to La Pocatiere, Quebec. Now, the 11 members are spending time volunteering with proups in New Westminster and Burnaby such as The Visits Douglas interview by Pierre Florendo OP Contributor ar Knutson, Canada’s Secretary of State to Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, visited Douglas College on Tuesday, March 11. Knutson, whose constituency is in Elgin-Middlesex- London, Ontario, was on campus to provide an accountability session where students could ask ques- tions and voice their concerns. “I was happy with it.... it’s worth my time to come and hear their views,” he said. Knutson explained Canada’s current foreign policy. “Our foreign policy is about promoting Canadian alues, so it’s a whole range of things from promoting democracy, and human rights, to respect for all people from all over the world. Our foreign policy is also about promoting our economic interests, increasing our trade, access to foreign markets...that would be it in a nutshell,” he explained. Knutson said that although Canadian foreign policy is working for the most part, there’s a need for some hanges. “No, it needs to be reassessed and we're in the midst of reassessing it. We’re having a foreign policy update so we're canvassing the views of Canadians, asking em to get involved. I think at the end of the day, ell realize that Canadians by and large are happy ith our foreign policy but every so often you have a policy, you have to go out and do a reality check and Katimavik Secretary of State 0 the Middle East eileenv@telus.net Katimavik—One Way to Learn hile You Travel Elizabeth Fry Society, where they paint, clean and help with office work. They also help out at Edmonds Community School where they work with students, and The Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, where they spend time doing arts and crafts and other activities with mentally challenged people. Since its inception in 1977, over 22,000 people have participated in this unique program. For participants, Katimavik cov- ers transportation, food, housing and activities relating to the pro- gram. A small daily allowance and a $1000 bursary upon program completion is also provided. Deadline for applications is March 22, 2003 for the programs beginning September 10 and 24, 2003 and May 24, 2003 for the programs beginning January 14 and 21, 2004. For more information or to apply visit or call 1-888-525-1503 toll free. Gar Knutson make sure that you're actually doing what you think Canadians want,” he said. One thing Canadians are concerned about these days is the possibility of war in Iraq, and whether or not Canada will be following the US into war in the near future. DC student Laura McDonald voiced her con- cern that war is even a remote possibility for Canada. “I think Canada should stop supporting the US war. I don't mean stop being good neighbours, I just mean we should be a peacekeeping country and not fighting wars,” she said. “We're one of the leading peacekeeping nations in the world. We have a history with it. We invented peacekeeping so I think we're still perceived as that,” Knutson said. As for whether or not Canada will be going to war, the answer is still unclear. “The Prime Minister has not allowed himself to be boxed in by speculation, but we very much support the United Nations and the Resolution 1441 process. However, if we felt that the UN process had broken down or the Security Council wasn’t doing its job, then wed have to reassess that,” Knutson said. Regarding whether he wants the Olympics to come to Vancouver in 2010, Knutson said, “I certainly hope so. Anything I can do to help with that...I would sup- port it.” Photo by Pierre Florendo March 19, 2003 SFU Student Leads Campaign to Recall BC Premier Student marshalls Support in bid to oust Campbell Kiley Domenko The Peak BURNABY, BC (CUP)—A Simon Fraser University stu- dent has launched a campaign to recall BC Premier Gordon Campbell in his Vancouver-Point Grey riding. Visual art student Eric Simons co-ordinates the grass- roots organization Recall Point Grey, which formed in October 2002 with only five members. Since then, the Recall Point Grey campaign gained several hundred more members who will volunteer to help gather the 14,623 signatures needed to recall the Premier in his riding. The campaign, which begins officially on March 13, must collect 40 percent of the 36,654 potential signatures from voters in the Point Grey riding. The recall campaign against South Delta MLA Val Roddick recently failed after duplicate and invalid signatures were submitted. Dr. John Bayne, who headed the now-defunct South Delta recall attempt, has offered assistance and advice to Simon's group. “Our canvassers will be prepared,” said Bayne. “They can have their voters list of the specific area that they are doing, and so check off who has and has not signed.” “T think it’s great,” said Jagdeep Singh Mangat, external relations officer of the Simon Fraser Student Society, when asked about the recall campaign. “It’s a blow to the government, tactically speaking, and for those who oppose the government, it’s a positive development.” Mangat said there is no one particular issue that frus- trates him about Gordon Campbell’s government. “The policies that the Liberals are implementing here in British Columbia are policies that are being implemented all over the world. There are a million Gordon Campbells in the world that have that same neo-liberal ideology.” The recall process outlined by Elections BC is defined and strict. An individual wishing to initiate a recall must apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for a petition, but only after the MLA has been in office for 18 months. An application must be accompanied by a brief note explain- ing why the MLA should no longer hold office. Once the application has been approved, the proponent has 60 days in which to gather the signatures of 40 per- cent of the residents in the designated riding. Any volun- teers who help gather signatures must be registered voters and must apply to volunteer. A successful campaign pre- vents the recalled MLA from holding office, though he or she may run in the following by-election. Simons said his main motive for launching the cam- paign against the premier was dissatisfaction with the cur- rent government coupled with “a growing sense that there was no opposition in place against Campbell.” The BC Liberal office had no comment for Canadian University Press. mt) ©