6 - North Shore News - Sunday, September 17 2000 ———VIEW POIN Heritage trai LCOME to heritage week- end on the North Shore. While there is much to celebrate in our community, there are also trou- bling signs that should not be ignored. Because we are a young country, so much of what may well be considered valued heritage by future generations is today too easily dismissed as irrele- vant. Our councils generally tend to give in quickly to developers promis- ing higher tax revenues and compro- mise allowances for buildings that have come before. In many cases there is no nod to the past, just wholesale bulldozing. We’ve lost many heritage buildings this way on the North Shore. There are always bright spots how- ever. Praise is in order for North Vancouver City councillors who have supported the refurbishment of street- car #153. Hats off as well to Sixth Field Engineer Squadron who moved to North Vancouver a Royal Engineers’ log cabin built in 1860. It will now be proudly preserved. Meanwhile in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve a portion of the historic Lillooet Trail has been buried to make way for a new trail for cyclists, hikers and in-line skaters. The trail had beer forgotten by most until Society Promoting Environmental Conservation director Paul Hundal sounded the alarm. It is a North Shore heritage feature we should care about. The trail was built as a route to bring cattle from Lillooet to Burrard Inlet. It was used by prospectors, trappers and settlers. It’s a part of our heritage and should be respected as such. you said it “It's not everything. I did get a medal at the Para “Pan Am Games and it’s sitting in a bag somewhere. "What do you do with it? The experience and the memo- ‘. fies that you bring back — that’s what you' re going for. ‘That’s what really matters.” “.. The Canadian Paralympic Committee appointed North “Vancouver physiotherapist Paige Larson'to the 11-member athletic support staff that is accompanying the Canadian team competing in the Paralympic Games this October in Sydney, Australia, ( From a Sept. 13 News story.) Q00 : “Everything: went according to plan, it just didn’t go according to schedule.” «Pam Ryan of the Lions Gate Project Office.explained the . selaye 170 reopening of the Bridge. ( Fro rom ia Se 13 News “Sonie people will be very sich.” os. Cirea Communications Ltd:: president and CEO Phil uo Holland on how his North Vancouver high tech company’s «star is on the rise. Circa will be acquired by Silicon Valley- .. based Polycom Inc. for $130 million Cdn ($90 million US). (From: a Sept. 15 News story.) a ga “We've got with ist here. And when you get a wish list, you get trouble.” re ‘Coun: Johri Braithwaite spoke on Monday at the North Vancouver City council meeting. Council was asked to get its “priorities in order. as director of finance Terry Christic pre- sented a list of 16 capital plan Projects for discussion. (From. : a Sept. J News story. > 0 YOU HAVE A HAYES TIPT. Michael Becker News Editor... -: 985-2131, local 114 985-2104 back r@nsne s.coOm North Sh 0 News, founded in 1969 as an indspencent. uburban newsnaper 2nd. qualified under Schedule Paragraph’ 1 ofthe Exise Tax Act, is published . Wednesday, Friday* and Sunday by: He ications Company and istributed to every oa “the North ‘Shore, Canada . Post Canad Publications Mail’ Sales Product Agreement 7 0087238. Mailing rates_availabig on request. contents © 2000 HCN Publications Compa ny. All reserved. Average circulation for James gang SHE founded B.C.’s CAGE, and she’s in the business of rattling. others. Mainly the cages of those in government. Especially those in the current NDP gov- ernment, whose list of cockups, canards and calumny would turn white the hair of any sane voter. Liz James does not seem your typical politi- cal activist. The expatriate Lendoner is a computer consultant who lives on the banks of the Capilano River in an RV. She bought the RV to retire in when she hit 60... But she changed her mind about retirement. Not on for Ms. James. Too much to do; too many tax dollars being squandered; too many sapskulled decisions being made by politicians with- “out accountability to their constituents. Prior to the last provincial election, James was like a lot of British Columbians who were dissatisfied with the NDP government: she complained about its actions but did nothing about them. The notorious “fudge-it budget” changed all that. When the NDP’s pre-election promise ofa $16 million surplus turned into a _ post-election $355 million deficit, James - stop ed complaining. © ¢ started acting. CAGE, BC (Coalition for ’.- Accountability in Government. : . : Enterprises) Brew fi from her first failed ; f attempt to have the lieutenant-governor toss the socialist tlat-wheels out of office. It has continued to grow. The coalition has spear- headed such enterprises as citizen telephone ref- erendums on the Nisga’a Treaty (all but 27 of over 3,000 callers against) and TransLink’s proposed $75 annual vehicle tran- sit levy (all but 95 of close to 2,000 callers against). It has doggedly pursued such colossal wastes of public funds as the fast ferry program. - And it’s currently hot on the trail of another monumental tax revenue sink hole: SkyTrain. On Aug. 23, CAGE met with B. c. auditor general Wayne Strelioff to lobby for an inquiry into all TransLink opera- tions in general and the $2 billion _SkyTrain extension project in particular. James and CAGE want public scruti- : ny of the process that resulted in - ” SkyTrain technology being chosen “in ' the absence of comprehensive due dili- "gence as sto all of the transportation options.” The group also wants public scrutiny” of the process behind the provincial gov- ernment’s decision to proceed with the SkyTrain extension. ; And it wants to know details of the” agreement struck between former pre- mier Glen Clark and Bombardier Inc., - manufacturer of the SkyTrain system: How much it’s going to cost? How long the province and B.C. taxpayers are: locked in? How many hidden landmines th LETTERS TO YHE ESITOR must include your name,: full address and telephone number”: Submit via e-mail to: mbacki COM aces Hews es: 896231 (ares 9)! : HIGH GAS Prices = FOR GOV'T COFFERS) are in the deal awaiting the next ‘govern ment? CAGE claims that because the deal a was made behind closed doors, it didn’t.“ receive the scrutiny of the full elected provincial legislature. . The entire five-year $1.4 billion : TransLink transportation plan is also on the group’s hit list. o ba As pointed out by West Vancouver we District Coun, Victor Durmian in an ear lier Yarn, the plan was appraved by the Greater Vancouver Regional District: ' byard on May 26 without having under gone GVRD finance committee scrutiny .— which sets it up as another. runawa' fiscal train’ driven by'an unelected; countable bureaucracy. 1°" 5 Since the Aug. 23 meeting, the rest of CAGE have requested that: the auditor general widen any TransLin! audit to include all GVRD operations as they affect regional transportation issues No word yet on their-audi But regardless of the outcom 2 front, the group’s efforts continue inspire faint hope in the ability. f pe ple’s voices to penetrate political earwax CAGE is based on the beliéf that go ernments should be accountable to the people who elect them and that those’ _ same people can have’an impact'on how “government acts and wh: governmen does between electior % Ie’s not something your typ ing erence! invests her spare time WWW.HSHeWSs.6o 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouve