north shore news VIEWPOINT Water ways USS Fraser is on to something. No matter that it’s not new. he West Vancouver councillor recently refloated the idea of starting a ferry passenger service running from West Vancouver to downtown Vancouver. His reasoning: the looming Lions Gate Bridge overhaul will create a bit of a bother in West Vancouver. Traffic chaos would be more accu- rate, considering that, as was reported in the News last September, the bridge will be closed every night, all night, for anywhere up to nine months to a year. There will also be up to four occa- sions when the bridge will be closed all weekend, The bother for commuters or anyone else who uses internal com- bustion transportation will be consid- erable. : But the rationale for adding ferry service to West Vancouver should go far beyond commuter relief during the Lions Gate upgrade. It should be an integral part of an overall transportation plan for che North Shore and the rest of the Lower Mainland. The success of the North Vancouver SeaBus, which carried over five mil- lion passengers last year, underscores the attraction and the effectiveness of a Burrard Inlet commuter ferry link, It makes sense in other port cities around the world and it makes sense in Vancouver, So forget Fraser’s call for the con- sideration of a limited service passen- ger ferry from West Vancouver. The push should be for a full service ferry linking West Vancouver with Vancouver. Permanently. Reader takes issue. with article on fran Dear Editor: Re: your Jan. 17 article on Eran and the revolution. J not only found that story misleading and extremely biased but insulting. You focus your views front the point-of- view of one or evo men who do not agree with the new regime and portray [ran as a horrid country with litte tree- dom or even basic human rights for its people. Perhaps if vou had researched a little before writing your article, you would notice that the regime has had a pasitire influence on the nation and its people. First of all, women’s education has increased immensely, not to mention their political status and their vast increase in the public sphere in general, _ As far as the revolution not standing up to its promises, it is dificult to do so when being struck with a revolution and then an eight-year war. Your comments on the bloodshed of the revolution isolate the Islamic regime as the cause when it is a significant characteristic of a revolution. | am not even a Muslim, Lam however an [ranian woman who lived in fran just recently for quite some tinie. I also know quite a dit on the topic of the revolution as | have done a number of essays on it and have studied it extensively. . Perhaps, before you pollute the minds of vour ignorant readers — who know nothing about the revolution ~ with half-truths asd limited opinions, you should stop and think ~ how these articles are keeping the public so unaware of Iran, its regime and its true standings and conditions. Maryam Mahjoub . Mailiiex policy LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably type- written), brief and include your name, full address and tele- hone number. Duc to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all letters. ee eres on rth shore a ae Wort Shore News. founded in 1969 as an . : independent suburban Rewspager and quashed undet Schedule 111, Paragraph 11t of the Cacise Tax Act, ts publshed each Weanescay. Friday and Sunday ty North Shore Free Press ‘Lid. and dsinbuted to every door on the Morin ‘Shore. Canada Pust Canadian Pubicatons Mad ‘Sales Product Agreement to 0067238. Mastay rates avatabie on request Barbara Emo Distribution Managet ‘926-1337 (124) Has Glen IF you think Gordon Wilson’s instant reincarnation as a key NDP minister means Glen Clark and party are about to be saved by a homegrown version of Tony Blair, think again. The tempting anaiegy with Blair struck one right after last Friday announcement. Brit “socialist™ prime minister (who sends his kids to posh private schools and has a lawyer wife reput- edly earning more than he does) has catapulted his country’s once union-dominated Labour Party firmly into the political cen- tre. His “Third Way” ideology can be al things ro all people — capitalise with a social conscience, free enterprise socialism or just plain, good old-fashioned vote- winning pragmatism. After the fast ferries fiscal fiasce exploded last week, wasn’r that the new look suddenly being feverishly sought by the provincial NDP? Indeed, wasn't fed- eral leader Alexa McDonough already talking up a move to the political centre? And hadn’t Glen's new Minister-of- Everything Moc Sihora floated a similar trial balloon focally only the day before the Wilson bombshell — the selfsame day, incidentally, thar found Premier Glen Clark enjoying a power lunch with (of all people!) Preston Manning. The NDP image-making department was clearly racking up hefty overtime claims. "$ wwe iy PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2131 (101) ¢ iwst Human Resoutess Manager 985-2131 (177) Jonathan Sell Creative Services Matager - 985-2131 (127) 61.552 (aarage creuiaton, Weoresday Friaay & Suncay) Classified Manager Photography Manager ‘985-6222 (202} 985-2131 (160) ‘985-2131 (133) Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Froe Press Lid. All sights reserved. ITS OFFIZIAL, FOLKS! Stix MORE YEARS OF CHRETIEN So back to Gordon Wilson, the leftist former Liberal and sole MLA of the Progressive Democratic Alliance he subse- quently founded, whom Clark had been quietly wooing for a couple of years. As a strong critic of the fast ferry project, who bet- ler TO convince voters that the Clark govern- ment was at last listen- ing to them seriously? And as a supporter of the Nisga’a Treaey, Wilson brings the NDP a positive bonus too, in addition to increasing its ravor-thin majority. ‘Tough times demand tough calls. By giving Wilson both ferries and aboriginal affairs porttolios, Clark obviously figures that — at this low point in his fortunes — he has litte or nothing to lose. Bur had he had time tor a detailed risk assessment, his new recruit might still be back leading the PDA. On the plus side Wilson has a good mind and enough personal charisma to keep him at the rop of the polls as B.C."s most favoured political leader at a time when the competition is largely non-esis- tent. However, unless he suddenly emerges as an unsuspected miracle-work- er, that about says it all. He lacks a single day's experience of governing or governmental administra- tion. His cight-year record — first with the Liberals, then with the now aban- doned PDA — is that of a maverick unable to work as a team player. Given the size of the fast ferries financial crisis, the technical bankruptey already of BC and yon got a tiger by the tail? Ferry Corp. and the catastrophic level of the B.C, government’s overall debt, there is clearly no possible solution to the mess that won't leave British Columbians con- tinuing to suffer. as to heralding an NDP shitt cowards the centre, any parallels between Wilson and Britain’s Blair quickly break down on closer scrutiny. . Blair was in the | abour Party, mould- ing it in his own image, well betore it returned to power in 1997. He also reaped the benefit of Margaret Thatcher's relencless subjugation of the militant)” British unions. No such pluses favour Wilson and Clark. Hardcore B.C. union voters want no truck or trade with any, wishy-washy “centre” ideas. One theoretical scenario remains: Gordon Wilson playing his new cards skillfully enough to grab the NDP leader- ship, nurture the party in opposition after 2001 and — at the ideal age of 56. — return in triumph as a new, improved: brand of NDP premier in 2005. Does. ° Clark have a tiger by the tail? . Stranger things happen in politics, So. watch your back, Glen —~ and read Wright or Wrong below. 9000 HAPPY BIRTHDAY today, Feb. 3, to | North Van’s Jean Scheidt and to West .: Von Kiwanian Joe Lindsey. Wish that: again Saturday, Feb. 6 to Joe's ‘fellow’ > West Van Kiwanian Geoff Burgess and“ to North Van's Linds Douglas. 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