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June 15, 1986 © News 985-2131

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NORTH VANCOUVER’S ad hoc shipbuilding committee
returned’ from an emergency trip te Ottawa bearing vague
‘promises and sympathy from the federal government, but

little else.
Formed, June 6, the committee,
. with ‘representatives from local

labor, industry and government,
made. an emergency pilgrimage to
the country’s capital. Tuesday to
lobby politicians for the $450 mil-
lion. Polar Class 8 icebreaker con-

_ tract for North Vancouver ship-
yards.

“I. was a little disappointed,’’
John Fitzpatrick said Friday, ‘‘but
the trip was worthwhile. We had to
do something.”

The’ Marine Workers and
Boilermakers {Industrial Union
(MWBIV) president said he and
the other four members of the
committee talked to B.C. caucus
members of all three parties.

All were. syrnpathetic to the
plight of the West Coast ship-
building industry, he said, but no
concrete Commitments were made.

Fitzpatrick said a decision as to
whether the government will go
ahead with construction of the
Polar 8 icebreaker is expected to be
made in the‘next two weeks.

The contract, which would pro-
vide local yards with an estimated
900 jobs over four years, is crucial
to the survival of the Lower
Mainland’s shipbuilding industry,
according to Fitzpatrick.

He said the big yards. such as
North Vancouver's Versatile
Pacific, need big contracts to sur-
vive.

“There is nothing coming from

By TIMOTHY RENSHAW
. News Reporter

the commercial sector right now.
We need this one."

In 1982, the private sector ac-
counted for $839 million in orders

for the Canadian shipbuilding in--

dustry. Government contracts
totalled $110 million. — .

In 1985, $291 million in ship-
building orders came from the
private sector, while $386 million
came from Ottawa.

Versatile, Western Canada's
largest. shipyard, is down to. a

workforce of 1,100. In good years, °

it has employed 3,000 workers.
The company was one of three
yards invited to bid on the original
Polar 8 contract.

Fitzpatrick said two-thirds of the
1,500 MWBIU members involved
in shipbuilding are looking for
work,

Agreeing that the Ottawa trip
was worthwhile, North Vancouver
City Mayor Jack Loucks said Fri-
day the icebreaker decision re-
mains in the hands of the federal
government.

The committee, he said, talked
to Senator Jack Austin and ex-
fisheries minister John Fraser.

Both understood the West Coast
shipbuilding situation, he said, but
neither could offer more than
promises to relay the committee’s
concerns to the government.

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NEWS p' oto Mika

VICKIE STEELE clutches a 12-week-old jaguar in Lynn Valley Centre mall, while a group.of Grade 3
Queensbury Elementary School students crowd round for a quick stroke. The jaguar and a 10-day-old
Siberian tiger were brought to the mall by Our Vanishing Kingdom Ltd. The organization is dedicated | to
promoting wildlife appreciation. ,

akefield