Freedom Flyer 4

By Cathy Hilborn

Marc Emery is spending thousands of dollars - and walking hundreds of miles - to persuade Londoners they can fight city hall's bid for the 1991 Pan-American Games.

More than 30,000 copies of a pamphlet, The London Citizens' Guide to the Tax-Paid 1991 Pan- Am Games Bid will be delivered door-to-door by early December. The City Lights bookstore owner started the anti-games campaign at the beginning of October. He researched and designed the pamphlet - and paid $1,100 to print the first 15,000 copies.

A postage paid card inside each booklet addressed to Emery allows the recipient to indicate if he is against London hosting the games. He can volunteer his time or money to extend the campaign, and can offer to call city politicians to protest the bid.

The Freedom Party of Ontario, a new political party against government intervention, has helped with co-ordination and distribution. President Robert Metz says there are three main reasons Emery and the party protest the bid. These are outlined in the booklet.

"The interests being served by hosting the Pan-Am 1991 in London are not the interests of the average London taxpayer or citizen. The economic justifications proposed for using tax dollars to host 1991 Pan-Am are totally misleading and logically flawed. Basic civil services that most homeowners assumed they're paying for through municipal taxes will be inevitably and negatively affected by Pan-Am costs," Metz explained in an interview.

He said the biggest problem is that the bid committee is asking for government funding. This means people would not voluntarily support it.

"Gordon Hume was talking about this thing being a 50 to one pay-off. For who?" Metz asks. "If it was for the investors, then you wouldn't have to go to the government. If it was a 50 to one pay-off, you couldn't keep people away from your door."

The booklet recommends that "frivolous" tax spending be cut to improve our basic services. It points to programs it says are behind schedule like the warranted sidewalk program which is running seven years behind plans, and curb and gutter repairs which are five years behind. These essential services should be looked after before the city considers hosting "a two-week entertainment gala costing $30 million to stage", Emery insists in the booklet.

Metz said they were concerned that Londoners weren't going to know what the "other side of the story was" - what the costs were going to be. That's why they brought out the pamphlets.

While Metz insisted most people find the approach non-threatening, and aggree the pamphlet makes its point clearly, he said some people have become apathetic.

"A certain percentage of people are disgusted with government and don't think there's anything anyone can do to that can possibly stop the process or help in any way," Metz said. "These kind of people we're really trying to get a hold of, because we can prove to them it's not hopeless."

The campaign appears to be working, according to its instigator.

"About 70 people have promised to call their politicians. Over 50 have promised to write a letter to the editor of the Free Press, and we plan to keep reminding them until they do. We've had 25 people offer to deliver pamphlets for us and we've collected over $700 in donations," Emery said in an interview.

"We're going to use up all the money we get to print up more, so hopefully it will keep coming, so we can get the whole city done," he explained.

"We're taking our time. We're not in any big hurry because it puts pressure on city hall politicians for a consistent period of time. We don't want everyone calling in a two-week period," Metz added.

Emery delivers the booklets four to five times a week for four hours.

"Let me tell you, it's exhausting." he said. "You have to be a true zealot to keep that pace up. Of course, you're talking to a true zealot.

"I've always figured this is the one job I can do that nobody else in the world can do as well. I love going out there and giving out pamphlets and talking to people and getting the feedback. Just knowing I'm doing something that no one else has ever tried or will ever attempt on such a scale," Emery said.

He realizes people don't trust others with new ideas, and they're cynical about the political process.

"But if you give them principle, and dedication, and consistency," Emery added, "over time they'll trust you and begin to adopt your ideas.

"Ten years from now, if I'm still around, I feel this is going to be a great place to live, because we'll have given people a sense that they can take responsibility for their actions, they can take back a great deal of what government has assumed, and it'll be a much better, healthier environment for the city for business and growth."

While most of the response has been positive, there has been some opposition.

"A few people sent me cards that said 'f--- off.' One guy got my pamphlet and said stick it up my a--. I've never had anyone articulately criticize me. I've always had people use swear words and invectives which make me feel better. If that's how articulate our opposition is, I won't worry at all!" Emery explained.

They have until January to convince three more council or board of control members to change their minds on the bid. Based on the response they've received from Londoners, and because there is a municipal election in 1985, Emery is confident the bid will be overturned.