LIBERAL MAJORITY Tories trounced as THE UBYSSEY NDP gains seats; Vol. LXII, No. 54 Vancouver, B.C. Tuesday, February 19,1980 228-2301 B.C. weep It's true. There is another world on the other side of the Rockies. While eastern Canada renewed its infatuation with Liberal leader Shadow Pierre Trudeau, British Columbians were deciding between the Conser­ vatives and a surging NDP. The New Democrats snatched wins big four seats from the Tories and held on to all eight seats they won last May. The Liberals were wiped off the B.C. electoral map as Van­ with Grits couver Centre MP Art Phillips Why is Liberal leader Pierre finished third behind Tory winner Pat Carney and New Democrat Ron Trudeau back in office with a Johnson. majority government? The The Conservatives held on to 16 Shadow knows. So does On­ of the 19 seats they had in May, los­ tario. ing Kootenay West, Kootenay East- Eastern Canada gave its regal Allantic dumps NDP/2 assent for a re-ascension to the Et ta, Ontario/16 throne of the same man, called Quadra results/16 The Shadow during the cam­ Revelstoke, Kamloops-Shuswap, paign for evading public events, and Cowichan-Malahat-The Islands they angrily deposed only nine to the NDP. The NDP got 35 per months ago. Ontario gave 55 of cent of the popular vote, the Tories its 95 seats to the Liberals, while 41.5 and the Liberals 22.5. the party took all but one of But there was little joy in either the Conservative or Liberal camps, Quebec's 74 available seats. the former because it got creamed The Liberals had enough back east, the latter because it had seats for form a majority come up empty-handed this side of government before the polls Winnipeg. even closed in the west — and The New Democrats seemed to be the only ones content with the for the Liberals it was a good B.C. returns. "I'm so happy, I've thing, as they achieved virtually got a job again," cried NDP MP the impossible by losing one of Svend Robinson's Ottawa aide their meagre three Western David Gort, cheering and hugging seats. his female companion after Robin­ son doubled his margin of victory Winnipeg Liberals Lloyd Ax­ from last May. "The vote showed a worthy and Robert Bockstael — petaf menyasz photo SOMETHING DOESNT JIVE but victorious Tory Pat Carney dreams of happy times during celebration Monday definite swing from the Tories. The will most certainly find majority we got was from themselves in the new cabinet as after Vancouver Centre win. Carney joins 27 other B.C. members of parliament who will sit in opposition and everybody, not just students." a result of the election's un­ watch revived Pierre show, brought to you by central Canada. Carney won one election too late to make cabinet and will spend most days in house sawing wood. Another Robinson campaign precedented polarization. Set: page 16: PIERRE The Progressive Conser­ vatives found it a difficult night — losing votes and seats in Carney is happy bedtime Tory every part of the country, in­ cluding four seats to the NDP in By PETER MENYASZ Wallace, one of Carney's campaign but not a decisive defeat. B.C. While a Liberal tidal wave was washing workers. One radical Westerner shouts "Let's Joe Clark out of the prime minister's chair, "It doesn't look too good," Wallace separate!" but is ignored by his fellow The New Democratic Party a few Tories managed to keep their heads says. "The Liberals are going to get 75 seats Tories who are intent on learning the extent watched its small base in the above water and retain their seats. in Quebec." of their humiliation. east virtually vanish, as Ed And Vancouver Centre voters presented 7:09 p.m. 8:19 p.m. Broadbent's Oshawa riding their Tory candidate with a touch of A few Pat Carney signs drift by the cof­ The first Vancouver Centre poll results becomes their eastern-most sweetness to take away the bitter sting of fee shop on their way upstairs to the cam­ arrive and the crowd's mood changes possession. But the west came Clark's downfall. paign headquarters. The doors to the room perceptibly, even though the results repre­ through for the NDP as Broad­ Pat Carney created a decisive victory in are open now and 10 people, including the sent only one polling station. bent predicted in Vancouver one of Canada's showplace ridings. After bartender, wander listlessly between the Carney — 46 votes; Phillips — 42 votes; this Saturday, winning six seats losing to Liberal Art Phillips by only 95 television screen and a table full of sand­ Johnson — 20 votes. in Manitoba, eight in Saskat­ votes last May, Carney expected to wind up wiches and snacks. "Maybe we'll at least get some consola­ A woman walks into the room with a tion in this riding," says one depressed chewan and an all-time high 12 in a dead heat with Phillips and NDP can­ didate Ron Johnson this time around. radio slung over her shoulder blaring out campaign worker, convinced that the single in B.C. But her hard-hitting campaign over­ election results on CBC's short wave sta­ poll is a sign of things to come. And she's But while Western Canada whelmed Phillips' feeble efforts and had tion. The news isn't cheering the Tories up. right — the lead is Carney's from the begin­ clearly rejected Liberal party, enough stamina to outlast a massive NDP ning. 7:41 p.m. 8:29 p.m. Ontario eagerly jumped back on surge. "It's going to be a three-way tie in Cen­ the bandwagon giving Trudeau Feb. 18 didn't start off confidently for The results from six polls have been tre," says UBC law student Paul Wilson, tabulated and Carney is still in the lead with 26 seats that went Tory last Carney, but as the evening progressed . another of Carney's campaign workers. May. 316 votes. Johnson has moved into second Century Plaza Hotel, 6:30 p.m. And Wilson adds that B.C.'s Tory sup­ place with 242 and Phillips brings up the Standings in the new House, The hotel lobby is quiet, too quiet. It porters are generally discouraged by the rear with 228. news broadcast on U.S. television stations before recounts, are: Liberals would be hard to tell there's an election A low buzz of conversation fills the 148; Conservatives 100; and going on if the doors to the bar weren't for an hour before the mandatory blackout took effect. room, but not many smiles are on the NDP 33. The Liberal share of locked. The desk clerk seems surprised that Tories' faces. They were expecting a close the popular vote increased nine someone is asking for Pat Carney's cam­ "By quarter to six people were calling up run and they're worried. and asking 'Is it true?' " Wilson says. percentage points to 47, while paign headquarters. But a sign listing the Someone announces that Liberal Gordon the Tories got 29, and the NDP hotel's events for the day distinctly says "All that work for nothing," another Gibson's temporarily leading Conservative "Progressive Conservative Party Election Carney supporter sighs. Chuck Cook in the North Vancouver- 19. Results Headquarters, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m." The leading Tory to bite the 8:00 p.m. Burnaby riding. "Gibson's a fag anyway," The Century Plaza coffee shop looks like The magic moment arrives, and the says one dismayed onlooker. dust was employment and im­ a young lawyers' convention. Clean­ migration minister Ron Atkey, Carney supporters surge in a single motion 8:40 p.m. shaven, boyish faces wearing three-piece — to the free bar. A minute later, CBC's The polls are reporting in rapid succes­ who lost his Toronto St. Paul's suits drink coffee, read newspapers and election fanfare blares out from the giant- sion and some of the Tories' enthusiasm riding to Liberal John Roberts. grab quick bites between snatches of sullen screen television at one end of the room. wanes as Johnson pulls within 119 votes of Other Tory cabinet ministers conversation about the results from the "The Liberal government, defeated in Carney with 49 or the 225 polls accounted west of Quebec were all re­ east. May, comes back with a majority win in for. elected, as were finance minister 6:56 p.m. February," announces CBC announcer But Wilson is not worried. "She's going John Crosbie, fisheries minister "The election's over," says one coffee Knowlton Nash. to win. I've never been wrong yet," he says. James McGrath, and economic shop diner. "I just heard the news on an "Christ, no!" shouts one Carney sup­ "They wouldn't vote for a labor expansion minister Elmer American channel." porter. A general shock pervades the researcher." Mackay. "I know, I know," answers Dave Tories. Everyone was expecting a setback, See page 3: TORY Page 2 THE UBYSSEY Tuesday, February 19, 1980 Maritimes spurn UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT LANDS PC, reject NDP Proposal For A Regional Park with a high ranking cabinet post in GVRD OPEN HOUSE By MATT ADAMSON the new Pierre Trudeau govern­ for Canadian University Press ment. The Greater Vancouver Regional District is holding an HALIFAX — Joe Clark's tough In Newfoundland, a move to­ foreign affairs stance did not make wards the NDP a year ago evapor­ Open House to discuss with the public plans for a major an impression on Atlantic voters, ated as the party's vote percentage regional park on the Endowment Lands.