by News suit story Dear Editor: Re. Jan. 1) article “WV kids get more sup- port™ written by fan Noble. First let me tell vou I've always read your “paper with some hesita- tion as to the learning value of it and | normally have found your so- called articles as nothing more than notes | would sce on community bul- -fetin. boards. With rhis “article” of Dr. Lottis Metzner, well, fet’s just - say it’s confirmed all. Tam nor a journalist; however, [ seem to recall from school days when writing an article there -were certain rules to fol- low. Where ... when ... how ... why... This arti- cle was nothing more than gossip about a so- called “wealthy” citizen of West Vancouver. Do people of this. community really want ito know how much this «man makes and has to _ pay? I thought by read- ing the firs” paragraph ... the decision concerning increased support was handed down in B.C Supreme Court on Dec. . 30, 1997, I would be finding out interesting facts regarding “the new Federal Child Support Guidelines. Instead I found myself learning way ‘too much about a family 1 have never met hor want to. Please. note my address. I would like your company to stop . delivering your paper to “my doorstep. * Kelly Kent North Vancouver Dear Editor: Whoops, am [missing something? The Feb. 4 North Shore News reported that West Van is short of school space. West Vancouver sec- ondary, built for 1,100, nas an additional. 700: students and Sentinel also has a 50%, over- load. But the school board propagandized the citizens that it was a good idea to tear down the = 1,400-student Hillside school and sell the north shore news Me Be Vancouver secondary — or Sentinel. What happened? Where's the gain? Many felt the destruction of Hillside, one of the newest high schools in greater Vancouver, was ill considered and even absurd. When it was offered to West Vancouver for $1 plus negotiated land fee, for tem- porary (or permanent?) art gallery, muscum, public meet- shops, crafts, overtlow facilities for the cramped and outmod- ed community centre and an extra gym, it was) turned down, Am 1 missing something? Or are we so rich thar we can rip down schools and dispose of our school lands on a whim? Is our municipality so unconcerned with our pathet- Wednesday, February 25. 1998 — North Shore News — 9 i¢ facilities that it can’t even consider paving $1 plus land for such a marvellous facility (compared with what we haven't got?} School superintendent Doug Plaver and the usually malleable board should re- assure the citizens that we did the right thing by destroying eur high school when we haven’r enough space for stu- dents. I believe Mayor Par Roname should re-assure the citizens and tax payers that by not buying Hillside for $1 plus land that our council did a good deal stor West Vancouverites. Neil S. Thompson Vest Vancouver advertorial, February 25/1998 ‘LETTERS to the editor must fand and then to build the ing rooms and halls, work- 700-student Rockridge school. Doug Player and the usual- ly compliant board — gave numerous reasons to destroy Hillside including the fact that it had stairs, a small plaving field, and was further for the bused-in Bowen Island. stu- dents. But surprise, the new school has nwo storeys, it has stairs, it has a tiny playing field, and now the high school stu- dents from Bowen have to go farther to overcrowded West Correction Notice In our B1-4 Right for Your Home flyer, Springmaid comforter sets. Springs Home duvets, Wamsutta | Bayport pillows on page 4; Springmaid & Wamsutta | mattress pads on page 5 should have read "Last 5 Days! Sale ends Sun., Mar. 1". Disney Little Mermaid bedding on page 5 will be substituted at the store. Boys’ | Corduroy & denim fashions offer on page 22 are noi as shown in photo. Save the GST & PST’ offer on pages 24 & 25 should have read "We will give you a discount equivalent to the GST & PST’ off our clearance prices." Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. MAILBOX POLICY be legible (preferably type- written) and include your name, full address and tele- phone number. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, accuracy, legality and taste. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2104 bur still must be signed and fully addressed. BUILDING A BETTER RRSP Call today for your FREE copy of ScotiaMcLeod's 1998 RRSP Investor Guide. RICHARD KORTIE investment Advisor 661-7447 a ScotiaMicLecd Building Relationships for Life Member CIPF Sponsored in part by: Peay |aweatmente —s EI Nino (translation: gardening season starts early this year) Sarcococca Humilis Low-growing. evergreen shrub. Ideal for landscaping shaded areas: under overhangs, entryways, etc. Fragrant white flowers, onegaten pot... 697 Or 3 plants for $19.98 “WITH ALL WE KNOW, IT HAS TO GROW." MAPLE LEAF GARDEN CENTRES OPEN SEVEN DAYS: NORTH VANCOUVER: MON-SAT 9:30 to 6 SUNDAY 10 to 5 1343 LYNN VALLEY ROAD 985-1784 2558 HAYWOOD AVENUE 922-2612 ted white, m.p. THE M.A.I. AND MORE The fur has certainly been flying over the past three weeks in connection with my tentative support for the proposed MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment). This paper's columnist Noel Wright first expressed his concern that there was virtually no information publicly available about ‘the MAI, but then com- plained that ! had provided too much information after | sent him a sizable sam- pling of material from our files. Rafe Mair also went on the offensive on his CKNW talk show, first accusing me of toadying up to the Liberal Government on the issue, | then scoffing at my commitment to vote in Parliament on the MAI according to the majority will of my constituents. By now though, many of you will have seen the MAI debate in Parliament — forced upon the Liberal Government by Reform last Monday — so you will know that I severely criticized the Government for its faiture to provide enough informa- tion about the deal. You will also know from my speech that | still intend to vote {| the majority will of my constituents if, or when, the MAI legislation comes to the House, possibly late this year. HERE’S THE PLAN in order to avoid repeating material pre- viously printed here, if you are unfamiliar with the MAI, or submitted questions for me to ask the Government during the MAI debate in Parliament please call my office and ask for a copy of my North Shore News Report of October 29, 1997 and a copy of the Hansard record of the debate. This week ! want to concentrate on the process ! will follow if, or when, the MAI in principle is signed by the Liberai Government. Here is the plan: 1. As soon as possible after the MAI is signed ! will advertise in this paper for persons who are opposed to, or supportive of, the agreement to come forward and establish two advisory groups. . Research services will be provided via my office to assist each group to write, in their own words, a detailed argument supporting their position, which will be included in an MP “householder” document for distrib- ; ution te every home in the Riding. 3. In the interests of fostering the wide- spread sharing of opinions, my office will respond to incoming mail and phone calls using material supplied by the group taking the opposite point of view. 4. Public meetings and forums will be held, based on demand. 5. Then, when enabling legislation is introduced te Parliament, { will moni- tor attitudes in the Riding using rolling polis, and will conclude with a final scientific poll just prior to third reading of the Bill. I will then vote in Parliament in accor- dance with the majority will. The proposed MAI! is an important ini- tiative, designed to “level the playing field” for investment activities between a group of 29 participating countries, and yes, 1 am personally supportive of the concept of an MA. As already mentioned though, it will be you, the voters of North Vancouver, who instruct me how to vote, once we have all had a chance to study the final form of the agreement, possibly sometime | later this year. OTHER NEWS — PERU During the Christmas/New Year break Sue and | were in Peru and Chile on vaca- tion. As a result, we saw first hand some of the terrible damage to Peruvian coastal areas caused by this year’s El Nino weath- er. Unfortunately, the heavy rains have continued, and flash floods have left large numbers of people homeless, as well as destroying agricultural activities during a peak growing season. - Last week, the Peruvian Consulate Gereral asked me if | could help make pub- lic the urgent need for donations of non-per- ishable food, clothing, equipment and med- icines for attected Peruvian families. Please call the Consulate on 662-8880 for information on where to send your contributions, or, if you prefer to donate money, a trust account, num- ber 00040-0011301-440, is now open at the Bank of Montreal. OTHER NEWS ~— VOTING TRIVIA Which two parties received the high- est vote percentages in North Vancouver during federal elections over the past 50 years? The answer may sur- prise you, even when considering that prior to 1988 parts of Burnaby and Coquitiam were combined with North Vancouver. From 1953 to 1962 the seat was held by the CCF, followed by the NDP from 1962 until 1968. At that point, the present Liberal Senator, Ray Perrault, took over for one term before the Riding reverted to the NDP from 1972 to 1974. The Liberals had con- trol again from 1974 until 1979 when my predecessor, Chuck Cook, captured the seat for the PCs. Chuck held the seat until 1993 when | won the seat for Reform. The two parties recording the highest ever vote percentages are the NDP and Reform. Tommy Oougias won the seat for the NDP in 1965 with 52.9% of the vote, while { managed 49.9% during the 1997 election. The Liberals had their ban- ner year back in 1968 when Ray Perrault was elected with 45.2% support, while Chuck Cook topped the polls for the PCs in 1984 at 43.6%. This Riding has certainly exhibited an interesting shift in political preferences over the last 35 years as the vote moved from NDP through Liberal, PC and on to Reform. Ted White, M.P. , #302-1200 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, B.C. V7} 2A2 Tel.: 666-0585 Fax: 666-0509, Internet: hitp://www.reform.ca/white-t/