mailbox A7-Wednesday, February 20, 1980 - North Shore News Chlorine r Dear Editor: Having now seen and read the secret report by a consultant firm about the dangers which would result from an accidental spill of dangerous chemicals at Hooker Chemicals, I am more than ever convinced that: 1. the report should be made public 2. potential catastrophe is not too. strong a term to describe the possible and probable dangers to the public 3. measures taken so far to deal with the danger have been absolutely inadequate. I can assure you that this report is no more com- plicated than many of the other reports prepared for this Council. Furthermore it is an insult to the public and the media to suggest that the mayor and aldermen have a monopoly on _ intelligence and are the only ones who can “appreciate” this report. Mayor Don Bell is very upset that I sent him an open letter demanding that the report be made public and called my action “discourteous” and “political grandstanding"’ He demanded an apology. I think there should be an apology, but I think the mayor should make it to the public for trying to keep under wraps a report that involves the very lives of our citizens. My action was necessary to bring the issue into the open; I refuse to have my hands tied by a mayor and council who insist on dealing with such a report only “in camera”. Aldermen Ball and Lakes are also incensed at my open letter to the mayor. They protest that it was not only the mayor who kept this report secret; it was the whole council. They have a point. I am quite happy to let them share the responsibility for an action of which they should be ashamed and that includes those aldermen who were on Council last year. But even more important than releasing the report is the question of what action is being taken to avert a possible catastrophe. Mayor Bell insists that council is taking “on-going action”, also that Hooker Chemicals is taking action. Baker merely ‘target practising’ Dear Editor: Since it has been rumoured that ex-alderman Baker has further political ambitions, it makes sense for her to pick on somebody who is active and visible such as alderman Crist, a notorious cobweb disturber. It provides Mrs. Baker with ideal target practise and the experience she will need if she does go to either Ottawa or Victoria. This is all very well and we all understand, of course, but it still leaves one vital question unanswered. Why didn’t Mrs. Baker, when she was an alderman, fight for the release of the Beak report as Mr. Crist is doing now? After all, it does concern the safety of Please return missing OPEN LETTER TO AN UN- KNOWN PERSON The two saws you helped yourself to from the front seat of the yellow Datsun did not belong to the Datsun owner. These saws had just been sharpened by a man doing a good deed for an older woman who had just lost her husband. May the saws help you to shape a better heart and mind. Name withheld by request North Vancouver (If anyone has found the above saws, they may be returned to the News reception desk, 1139 Lonsdale, North Vancouver, possibly thousands of people, including those in Mrs. Baker's own neigh- borhood. Or is she so naive as to assume that governments will do anything without constant prodding and pushing by the public. (Mrs.) BE. Podovinnik off North Vancouver with a note asking them to be passed to the Editor. We will ensure they are returned to the owner. The finder's name is NOT required unless he or she wishes to give it — ED.) MORE MAILBOX ON P. Al7 All RSP's are not alike. YOUR RSP. EASILY SWITCHED TO CANADA TRUST If you already have a retirement savings plan, consider switching to Canada Trust In most cases switching to us is easy Just say the word We'll do the rest All RSP’s are not alike. Canada Irust — Most branches open 8 a.m. to & p.m. Monday to Saturday 41st Aye W at Yew 261.1301 * Denman at Comox 683-5644 Cambie at 41st 261-7266 « West Pender at Hornby (Mon-Fri 8 to 5) 688-8444 450 Main at Pender (Mon Sat 9 to 6) 682-6701 West Vancouver Park Royal Shopping Centre 926 5484 Burnaby 5000 Kingsway 437-0814 New Westminster 6th St at 7th Ave 525-1022 (Mon Thurs 8 to 6. Fri 8 to & Sat 9 to 4) Richmond Lansdowne Park Mail (Aiderbridge entrance) 278 3188 Brighouse Centre (No 3 at Cook d.) 278.7735 Broadmoor Shopping Centre (No 3 at Willams) 271 1620 Langley Willowbrook Mail 530-0714 Surrey Guildford Place 581 1919 Victoria View at Broad 382-8111 (Mon Thurs 8 30 to 4 30. Frito 6) Clearbrook Meadow Fair Plaza, South Fraser Way 853 5921 Nanaimo Terminal Park Plaza 754 7731 These statements do not square with charges by a spokesman for the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union, repre- senting Hooker Chemical plant workers, that changes made have been only minimal and that “if the public really knew con- ditions inside here, they would be scared to death”. I have seen no evidence that adequate precautionary measures are being taken to safeguard the public. This is not an issue that can be left to the discretion of a chemical plant owned by a far-off multi-national corporation. * Plant management is in a bind because safety measures often cost money and it has to show maximum profits. ort must be made public Government control and intervention in such a case is absolutely vital. We may as well face up to the fact that people nowadays haven't a hell of a lot of faith in politicians, be they municipal, provincial or federal. Considering their track record of broken promises and buck-passing, that’s not surprising. If we want public confidence, we have to earn that trust. Keeping reports secret and trying to cover up and hide real dangers is not the path to credibility. So let’s make the report public and get on with the all-important job of public safety. Ernie Crist Alderman North Van District Hiding behind smoke screen Dear Editor: I suggest that the real reason for Manlyn Baker's attack on Ernie Crist is due to the fact that he had the guts to do what she should have done when she was on council — to insist that the Beak Report be published. Now that Mr. Crist has shown he is not afraid to speak out even against powerful interests and taboos, Mrs. Baker is trying to polish her public image by hiding behind a smoke screen of insult and in- nuendo. As far as her remarks about Sey-Lyno Park are concerned, Mr. Crist not only opposed that location for the firehall from the very beginning, he also voted in favour of giving citizens a public hearing. Mrs. Baker would have been well ad- vised to check the facts From the windows receptions too remember Alaska King Crab Legs Cracked and broged until tender served with lemon butter Chrome of baked potatoe oF nice vegetable of the day and cnsp greer satnd 810 95 What a View? the beauty of Howe Sound as far as the eye can see From the new menu seafood, superbly prepared for your enjoyment We welcome your inquines about private parhes and wedding An evening at the Sundowner iS an evening to 2 Dinmers for the Price of I your choice of *plano entertainment Fridays & Saturdays *open Tuesday thru Sunday 5 10 pm Sundowner Restaurant 8 miles north of Horseshoe Bay 921-8161 (picase phone for reservations) before sounding off so in- dignantly. Gordon Alexander North Vancouver KEEP IT SHORT Readers’ letters on all topics ere welcomed and MAILBOX wants to print as many 43 possi- ble, subject only to space limitations. To heip us print YOUR letter while it's still time- ly, please keep it short and to the point-normally no longer than 200 words (about 20 lines of average typing or 26 lines of average handwriting). Ail tetters must be signed and include an address andifor phone naumber. The writer's name must aiso be spelled out clearly in biock letters. Street addresses and phone numbers will not be published, and a nom-de-piume will be used it specially requested. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity, taste and legality. Let's hear from you — often The address is North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. 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