MAIL! OX Wednesday, October 23, 1991 - North Shore News - 7 BBB President clears up misconceptions Dear Editor: E.A. White’s letter of the day “*Reader: questions bureau’s ethics’ in your Oct. 4 issue in- dicates some misconceptions that I would like to clear up. The implication ‘‘that a high percentage of the 83% of Van- couver businesses that do not belong to the BBB may have questionable ethics and stand- ards’? was not intended in the feature article about the Better Business Bureau in the Sept. 22 High Profile article. The BBB is a non-profit service organization funded by businesses which support its mission, “to en- courage and maintain an ethical marketplace.’’ Although BBB members agree to endorse the BBB’s ethics and standards, there is no judgment, real or implied, thar businesses which do not choose to participate are less ethical. **Better” business applies to the market place as a whole where mcintenance of consumer con- fidence is important to all businesses; “‘betier’’ is not meant to apply to individual businesses. The BBB is a franchise opera- tion with a head office in Torcnto and is governed by the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus. Neither the Canadian Council of the Better Business Bureaus nor the locai BBB pays any amount to the American organization. In fact, ali funds raised are spent in Britisk Colum- bia except a $100 licensing fee sent to Toronto. The local BBB’s 3,000 members contribute approximately $500,000 per annum in membership dues, all of which is used to provide public services in Lower Mainland British Columbia. The greater the revenuc, the greater the expen- diture to maximize public service and remain a non-profit organiza- tion. The BBB is a self-regulating organization that does ‘‘bite the hand that feeds it.” The BBB’s role in consumer/ business dispute resolution is third-party neutral. How a com- pany deals with customer disputes becomes a matter of public re- cord. Member companies which fail to respond to customer com- plaints have their memberships terminated. Whether a company is a member or is not a member of the bureau has nothing whatsoever to do with the way the dispute is handled. E.A. White suggests clients are more impartially served by ap- proaching the Federal Ministry of Consumer and Corpvrate Affairs than by calling the Betier Business Bureau. In fact, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs does not assist individual consumers or businesses with commercial disputes. The Provincial Ministry of Labour and Conrsumei Services does deal with blatant violations to the Consumer Protection Act, the Sale of Goods Act and the Trade Practices Act. There is no federal or provincial agency that assists businesses in 2 commercial dispute, and there are few options available to con- Cap College creating a parking wasteland Dear Editor: Your Aug. 14 issue featured an article entitled ‘‘Traffic concerns Capilano College.’’ In it, News reporter Martin Millerchip reported on the concerns of neighborhood people for the col- {ege’s expansion and disregard for the surrounding area. Indeed, the administration of Capilanc College is a veritable environmental vandal: over the years they have needlessly destroyed countless acres of beautiful woods to make way for more and more parking, instead of forcing their students into public transportation by means of steep parking fees. Until two years ago there remained a few natural strips of trees and blackberry and other bushes, such as the ones that sep- . afated the two lower parking luts; these were pointlessiy destroyed and replaced with sterile patches of bark mulch, over which Cap Coilege’s “gardeners”? poisoned ree little natural vegetation was eft. In the brief time elapsed since Capilano College celebrated its 25th anniversary, residents noticed that transplanted trees all died; trees and shrubs have been planted so closely that they stran- gulate each other. Instead of asking transit to in- crease bus frequency on the ex- N. Shore News Mailbox policy LETTERS TO the editor must in- clude your name, written legibly, . your fuli address and telephone number. Due to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all letters. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, ac- curacy, legality and taste. celient 239 line and calling on students to either take the bus or form car pools, all that the college administration can think of is to create even more of a parking © wasteland, bring even more traffic pollution. and noise and more hordes of litterbugs. At a time when environmental consciousness is spreading, one would expect centres of learning | like Capilano to show imagination and leadership. Rene Goldman North Vancouver sumers. Nor is there any agency that monitors consumer com- plaints and responds to pre-pur- chese enquiries other than the Becter Business Bureau. The BBB is not perfect, but it is a non-profit organization, funded by local businesses, that is dedicated to public service and is accessible to everyone in our community. I take great exception to E.A. White questioning the BBB’s ethics and standards and referring to it as misleading. I hope I have cleared up the misconceptions SILK PLANT SALE We are overstocked! eg. 6’ Fig Tree 5119 jag: sus. 08) All All palms 30% off 1184 Narine Dr, , Von. (bsblod Shell Gas) 985-905 Dr. Alf Burt, pv.m. is pleased to announce that Dr. Terri Clemett pv. has now joined Marine Drive Veterinary HospitaAt 1279 Marine Drive, NV. §$88-2177 DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $7.50 per panel uniined, $8.50 lined CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS Low, low prices on blinds and tracks For FREE Estimates Call 987-2966 Serving the Northt Shore for 19 years - OVE 300 NEW & USED IMPORTS - BEST- SELECTION -*. MORE VALUE 10 MINUTES FROM NORTH. SHORE 4991 PATHFINDER _ CAP WEEK 52> Women’s Lecture Series The Women: Issues of the "O0s lecture series continues tonight with Lesbians and Aging: An Exploration of the Issues. Guest lecturer Sally Shamai develops programs and trains volunteers for Senior Peer Counselling at Century House. Capilano College Students’ Lounge, room N115 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call 985-1813 for more information. Be Asian Business, Cuiture & Customs Presentations on Asian business, culture and social customs will be given by the participants in Capilano College’s 1991 CANASEAN Manager Program. The CANASEAN Program is designed to forge links and relationships berween business people in Canada and the ASEAN. Tuesday, Gct. 29: Philippines/Singapore; Wednesday, Oct. 30:. Malaysia/Indonesia; Thursday, Oct. 31: Thai‘nd/China. All pteseniations are free and will be held 9 a.m.-12 noon in the Capilano College Sportsplex. For more information, call 986-1911, local 2081. BP WoriStudy Abroad Work/study abroad opportunities are available to qualified students for the summer of 1992. Positions are available in China, Germany, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and Turkey. Students interested in gaining valuable international experience are invited to attend an information session on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 12:45-2 p.m. in room M101. B- Intemational Volleyball On Tuesday, Nov. 5 the Moscow-based Sparta volleyball team is coming to Cap. From 4-6 p.m., 2 player skill development clinic for high school level volleyball players will be conducted by the Soviet coaches and their players. An exhibition match against UBC's Varsity Women's Volleyball Team follows at 8 p.m. Call the Capilano College Athletic Department at 984-1737 for information and tickets. CAPILANO COLLEGE 2055 Purcell Way North Vancouver British Columbia