by struck ay. Van RCMP contemplate crimi inal charges , 5 ae Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter dangcloenusnews.com Seraps ing St. Andrews Avenue a near East Keith Road in avr Macvhew Justin Granam was pronounced dead at Proms Gate owas land tres broad pedest trun voteands naar try Nase ieawk ets wD mornin i A 12-year-old boy was Was trtty y ’ killed on Friday while cross: ou Asares tee Wer faae. theo onarked ata i Peete saenas werd reat onk Nort! North Vancouver. Thy Was a! vicnd Toa : ander tac Mater Sennde sisted wath fares Ine Hospital Ast. Potties declined ter teleise the The Ridyeway clementary stu driver's dent Was struck by a van at 3.30 pom. an the eve or the start of the school spring break Criminal Code charges are being contemplated against the van driver, a 42 vear old Vancouver man, according te 0 Nortn Vancouwer ROMP Set. Bob Beaudoin. speed. Police did not driver's name. There was also a Passenger in’ van. The occurred at an interection with stop signs and marked pedestrian fines. there.” Meanwhile on the same day. a youngster was hit by a car at working accident “We are ALYORU OF Motorists are inoring the pedestrian crosswalk in’ place said Beaudoin. He said the youngster was hit while the cross- walk Jights flashed. aging Beaudoin sand tia bidon and Capuiana asa probtent intersections Pe sand that police are with North Vancouver Dirt engineers to umprove: the satery of the intersection, Beaudor sad that portot che problem is as slape bend that deads to rhe niter section where raotoristy pak up | release the van Ao thashing vellew light and crossiatk are at the intenecenion, concerned the great Wednesday. March 17, 1999 - North Shore News and Killed | NEWS photo Paul McGrath MAURICE Gagne's appointment as the Horseshoe Bay harbour master has been rescinded in the wake of community criticism. New harbour master dropped Robert Galster News Reporter roberi@nsnews.com MAURICE Gagne’s stint as the Horseshoe Bay harbour master was short lived. Gagne, whose appointment was rescinded fast week, was appointed to the post in January. Officials at Transport Canada got leat for his appointment wher his relationship with BC Ferrics became public. Gagne is the owner of shipbuilder Astrolabe Marine, a company that was then on the verge of spearheading a pilot project running a passenger-only service between Bowen Island and Horseshoe Bay. BC Ferries has since backed off the proposal, stat- ing it will indulge in a public process should it decide to contract a passenger-only service. “We didn’t find a direct conflict of interest, but we did receive a number of complaints,” said Transport Canada spokesman Rod Neison. In fact, the alleged conflict ceased when BC Ferries pulled out of its deal with Gagne’s com- Transport Canada to look for a replacement pany to operate the passenger-only service in January. “[ suppose there is a certain irony in chat,” said Nelson. Transport: Canada now plans to again embark on a process of community consulta- tion to find suitable candidates to fll the posi- tion. *Then once again we'll make a recommen- dation to the minister (of Transport in Ottawa who officially appoints all harbour masters),” said Nelson. Long-time Horseshoe Bay harbour master Billy Lord, who was replaced by Gagne after 20 years in the position, welcomed word of his suc- cessor’s ouster. “The whole thing is a big fiasco, burt at least it’s back on the right track,” said Lord. “Pd be quite willing to jump back in there ... if they promise to be nice to me.” Gagne did not return News calls, but at the ume of his appointntent said he took the posi- tion because he has a vested interest in keeping public docks tke the anes at Bowen Island’s Snug Cove and Horseshoe Bay open, “Tan build all the boats [ want, bur it’s fike building cars. If there are no highways ... that’s what this is all about,” said Gagne. “I think we need water transportation up and down the coast.” Further complicating the messy scenario are Transport Canada’s plans to divest itself of the government docks. The federal ministry has been in contact with West Vancouver's director of parts Kevin Pike who is currently preparing a report tor the municipal council to consider. “We'll consider it based upon the premise that if we have it we can decide what its future use is right down from a community use to demolition,” said Pike. Transport Canada’s options range from passing responsibility for the dock on to the municipality to demolition of the structure. NEWS photos Jutie Iverson and Terry Peters NORTH Vancouver Mounties examine a van which struck and killed a 12-year-oid boy on Friday afternoon on St. Andrews Avenue at East Keith Road. Flowers have been left at the accident scene. closures pressure hospital Katharine Hamer Contributing Writer DOCTORS at Lions Gate Hospital are coping with a 10% to 15% increase in patients caused by this week’s Rationed Access Days (RADs), said LGH vice president of medi- cine Dr. Stuart Madill. A dispute over provincial health-care funding has toreed family doctors to close their offices for the second time this vear The relatively low increase at Lions Gate has been “a bit ofan anamaly” said hospi Lil representative Clay Adams. “We don't seem to have the problems with boule uiecks that other hospitals are having.” CUnel Friday, patient: will be able to obtain urgent care via the hespital or an on-call physician, said Dro Doug MeTaggart, a spokesman for North Shore physicians. Patients with fess urgent problems are being encouraged to contact their doc: tor’s office for the number of an on-call physician. Madili sand that those who arrive at LGH's emergency room with minor ailments would be treated, but could face a wait of nwo to three hours, The hospital, which usually has one emer- geney roont doctor on call, has added an additional physician: tor the duration of the week, and may open a second emer: gency room to house extra patients. One operating reom will be running tomer: row and Friday to deal with emergency surgeries. Doctors also volunteered their services yesterday tor a series of tree health-care screenings at the hospital MeTaggart empt d thar the RADs are not about a fee increase, “There is a looming crisis (in provincial health-care funding),” he said. “There could be a shortiall of up to $75. million next year — that’s 52 RADs. “Dectors are bending over backwards to ensure patients have access to urgent care treatment and health information this week. We hope che public will join us in Putting pressure on the government to direct the appropriate level of finding towards health-care.”