6 - Vicdnesday. December 30. 1395 — North Snore News

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TEWPOINT

Cold truths

E prepared. It’s the timeless
motto of boy scouts the world
over.

But it’s doubtful that the Seventh
Burnaby Mountain Scout troop was
prepared for the tragedy that struck
so suddenly on Dec. 20.

As reported in this and other news-
papers, li-year-old troop member
Philip McLeod died from injuries suf-
fered in a fall from the Mount Harvey
trail near Lions Bay.

He was among a troop of six
Scouts and two leaders who were
involved in what could only be called
a challenging winter adventure hike.

Many might substitute foolhardy
for challenging. While McLeod was
considered an experienced hiker, the
challenges of winter hiking in North
Shore mountain wilderness are signif-
icant. For an 11-year-old boy, they

would be more than that.

Scouts Canada and other organiza-
tions that introduce young people to
the outdoors and the world beyond
the computer and television screen
deserve support from all quarters.

They provide young people with
the kind of challenges that help turn
them into confident, resourceful and
useful adults.

But as a result of the Dec. 20
tragedy, Scouts Canada officials have
said they will review their policy on
winter hikes. That is a prudent deci-
sion. The ages of the participants in
such undertakings should be the first
issue reviewed. But Scouts Canada
should not eliminate such adventures
entirely.

There are risks with eff such pur-
suits. Just as there are risks with any
life worth living.

Publisher disagrees
with News columnist

Dear Editor:

Re. Leo Knight and Premier Glen Clark.

Pye never before written a letter to the editor of the
paper I publish, but it seems to me an appropriate way of
expressing what [ have to say.

T take umbrage with Leo Knight's Dec. 23 column.

Leo interrupts a pretty good story about an alleged high-
life Oriental gangster trom Vancouver to point out that a
photo of Kwok Tam, the accused, with our Premier Glen
Clark, was found in a police raid on Kwok Tam’s property.
He goes on to hint at some possible netariousness on the
part of the premier.

Tr can’t be said of me chat Uma big fan of the premier or
of the NDP.

But the premier — and most others of his rank in the
political process — get their pictures taken with hundreds,
maybe thousands, of people.

It’s a big thrill for the constituent, and an inexpensive
and flattering way for a politician to be charming.

So, maybe there is something in Leo’s conjecture, and
maybe there isn't.

However, if every politician who gets his picture taken
with ons of his constituents has to have the voter's creden-

.. tials approved and his criminal record analysed there would-
n't be very many “photo ops” taking place.
Peter Speck, Publisher
North Shore News

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wh

SNOOZE ALARM

Cleaning up the pre-2000 agenda

WITH only 366 days left until
Y2K, the to-do list of jobs need
ing to be completed before the
world grinds to a halt at mid-
night a year from

tomorrow gets

longer every time

you look.

Helptil as ever, vour
humble scribe otters 3
few quick fixes for some
obstinate end-:millen-
nium problems that
have so far resisted all
attempts ac slow fives.

First in dine, of course,
world crises.

Traq: Fire UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan and nominate Saddam
Hussein as his successor. Move the UN
headquarters trom New York to
Baghdad.

The Clintons: Launch the “Hillary
For President in 2000" campaign right
away, Encourage Bill to prepare for the
millennium by taking cookery, sewing
and hand-holding courses.

Boris Yeltsin: Give him a luxury
condo in Florida with daily deliveries of
antibiotics and vodka. This could allow
his ministers in Moscow to battle
Russia’s economic woes witheut being
tired daily.

The Asian Flu: Have the IMF
bankroll a 1,000-store Wal-Mart expan-
sion in Japan, If thar fails co set the Asia
Pacitic economy ablaze again, write off
Asia and start Wal-Mart working on
Africa.

Next, fast solutions to national

PETER SPECK
Publisher
985-2131 (101)

ie

Human Pesoutces Manage
985-2131 (177)

are in
Terry Peters
Protograrny Manager
995-2131 (190)

Classitied Managet
986-6222 (202)

" Goug Foot
985-2151 (133)

Valerie Stepbonsan '

Ente coments © 1997 Notth Shore Free Press Lid Ati ughts reserved

headaches.

- “Police Brutality” (see also APEC
and Hyatt Riot): Boost budget surplus
by cancelling prime ministerial police
escorts, Equip Mr. Chretien with a per-

sonal baton and can of

pepper spray.

Uniting The Right:

Persuade Reformers

and Tories to pay for

Preston, Sandra, Joe

and Maureen to holi-

day together and figure
outa “United

Canadian Alternative”

basking on a Bali

beach.

The 65-cent Loonie:

With all thase U.S.

dollars carned from exports and tourists,

what's the problem? Anyhow, 65-cent
loonies still buy lots in Australia, New

Zealand, Ecuador and Kelowna.

Quebec: Tell Lucien Bouchard to (a)
get lost; or (b) make sure all Quebee's
fights are curned out betore it leaves
Canada. Have a barber straighten out
Jean Charest’s curls. “Don't worry, be
‘appy”

Medicare: Train thousands more
doctors and nurses — forced to repay if
they emigrate in under 10 years. Then
watch job competition slice costs and
bring a handsome return on investment.

Finally, closer to home, soare speedy
relief tor our B.C. headaches.

Nisga’a Treaty: Tell the other 50
treaty-seeking bands dreaming of it as a
model to wake up and smell che coftec.
A pay-out up to $25 billion for some
150,000 aboriginal citizens just won't
happen,

hither
and you

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters must include your name,
full address & telephone number.

Timothy Renshav:
Managing Editor
985-2131 (116)

Cemptrover

Asen Evers
Achsg Desplay Manager
980-0511 (307)

Teel Agri
Promatwas Managet
985-2131 (218)

VIA e-mail trenshavs @ diract.ca

Gail Sneigrove
Genera! Ottce Manager

985-213 (105)
Internet- httg://www.nsnews.com

The B.C. Economy: Train enough
helpers fast to recall just four NDP
MLAs without lousiag up the numbers
again. Thar way we could be rid of die-
tator Glen and his wrecking crew by
niid- 1999,

Gordon Campbell: Insist he holds
his nose and makes a working deal with
Bill Vander Zalm right now. Hf we must
wait for relief until the 2001 election,
Reform still packs too many [nterior
votes Campbell needs to save us all from
another 1996-style Liberal pratfall.

These items alone are a pretty big
agenda for 1999, But they're sill only
scratching the surface of all that has to
be done betore the Y2K bug plunges us
into indefinite darkness, cuts our phone,
Yay and Internet finks, fouls our drinking
water, backs up sewage into our toilet
bowls, deprives us of food, heat and
cash, and crashes the Jan.t, 2000, plane
we were stupid enough to board.

Of course, it may not happen that
way. Phe Y2K bug may prove simply a
figment of the chrill-hungry media’s
imagination, Still, [felt [should do my
bit to help a little, just in case.

And while we wait to tind out, have a
great 1999 anvhow!

229
WISH HAPPY 67TH birthday comor-
row, Dee. 31, to North Van's “mouth
that roars” — top-rating CKNW alk
show host Rafe Mair ... And many
happy returns of Saturday, Jan. 2, to the
Tyabji-Wilson birthday duo, Judi*s
34th, Gordon’s 50th.

aaa
WRIGHT OR WRONG: Recipe for
every happy New Year — live so vou
don’t have to hide your diarv!

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The North Shore News is published by North Shore Free Press Ltd., Publisher Peter Speck, from 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, B.C., V7M 24