🚀 go-pugleaf

>In a previous article, am983@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Pierre Bourque) says:


>Hi,
>Gilles Villeneuve was one of the all time greats. No doubts.

>For the past two years , I have been lobbying the Canadian Government
>to honor he memory of Canada's greatest racing legend by issuing a
>stamp in his honor. I am still working on it.

What response if any have you had to your efforts? Have you tried
lobbying Canada Post rather than the government itself? Yes, I know 
Canada Post is a crown corporation, but details of stamp topics
are usually decided by the corporation without a lot of involvment
by the politians.

>And now I turn to you. If you support this initiative, please
>email me directly and I will forward your support to the Prime
>Minister of Canada directly.

>Villeneuve died over 12 years ago.

Usually, a minimum period of 10 is required after someone's death
before they can be honored on a stamp. Exceptions are made for 
former prime ministers but that's about it. So Villeneuve has
only recently become elligible. Remember that there are many 
hundereds of other events and individuals who are just as worthy
(although perhaps not as interesting to you) that are being considered
for a (thankfully) limited number of stamp issues. Also, people
are usually commemerated on a significant anniversary of their 
birth or death (usually 100 years with rare exceptions, like the
Terry Fox stamp issued some years back).

>Canada Post issues tons
>of silly stamps bearing the likeness of birds, flowers and
>the British Queen of Canada.

Hey, wait a second! Some of us like birds, flowers and the Queen! :-)

Actually, what you need to realize here is that the post office issues
two different types of stamps. Commerative issues, which honor specific
events or people, are issued several times each year and are on sale
for a limited period of time. Definitive issues, such as the current
wildberries/fruit trees/Canadian architecture series (plus the 43 cent
QEII and flag stamps) are placed on sale for several years and are designed
for people who don't care what's one their stamps. The definitives are also
usually printed in a smaller form factor so that more stamps fit on
a sheet or booklet pane.

>At the same time, Villeneuve has
>been honored with stamps by a variety of countries. But not
>his own , Canada.

Which countries? There are some nations who will put anyone on
a stamp merely for the purpose of selling them to naive collectors.
(There are a number of Caribean island nations who don't seem to 
have any significant people of their own since they issue hundereds
of stamps each year with photos of still living American entertainers
and sports figures on them). 


>It is time. Let's do it.

Good luck with your campaign. Just remember there are many other
people seeking to have their heroes recognized as well and the
process may be long.

Barry Moss


-- 
Barry Moss			| Phone: (604) 241-6148	
Motorola: Wireless Data Group, 	| Fax:   (604) 241-6042
11411 Number Five Road 		| Member: Royal Philatelic Society of Canada 
Richmond, BC, Canada  V7A 4Z3	| Disclaimer: My opinions, not Motorola's.