on fy RAE PY oth 8 abt AL ECS GEST (Eode fe See HE WEST Coast fish story is loaded with all the sordid ingredients of a scandalous paperback: greed, intrigue and incompetence. But it lacks a happy end- ing. Instead it appears to be headed for a real life tragedy for the West Coast fish resource and all who are involved in the multi-million- dollar industry. Millions of salmon are missing from runs estimated by federal fisheries department staff. No one knows where those fish are or why the estimates are so far off the mark. What is known for sure, however, is that the good health of West Coast salmon stocks can no longer be taken for granted and their fate can no longer be left in the hands of bureaucrats based in distant central Canada. Given the choice, which we still have even at this late date, government, fishermen and the B.C. public should be working together Doug Foot Comptroller 985-2134 (13:3) Peter Speck Publisher 985-2431 (101} Chris Johnson Operations Manager 985-2131 (144} to write a happy ending to this dismal fish story. . The recent call by B.C. Fisheries Minister Dave Zirnheit for a new B.C.-based council to spearhead the management and conserva- tion of West Coast fish stecks is a good start. The council would be made up of the industry’s major stakeholders, including commercial, aboriginal and recreationai fish- ermen. Effective management and conservation of B.C. fish stocks has been all but abandoned by the federal government. Those who have the most stake in the resource need to reclaim those responsibilities ts ensure our salmon fishery and all West Coast fisheries remain the viable renewable resources they should be. And they have to start putting the resource ahead of those who exploit it. That is an achievable, happy ending. Timothy Renshaw Managing Editor 985-2131 (116) Linda Stewart Sates & Marketing Director 980-0511 (319} Ask no more Pau |, just do what we must! Noel HEAVEN HELP us! Finance Minister Paul Martin, promising to slash the deficit “come hell or high water,” has started by asking the Commons finance committee to find out what kinds of spending we want cut. aul is the kitest ina string of finanee ministers — including Chretien, Wilson ind Mazankowski ——- to issue dire warnings about the urgent need to halt the federal debt. As it result. it has soared over the past 20 years from $25 billion to more than $500 billion. So the fact that he’s still seeking our advice on how to tackle the job sounds ominously like the death knell once again for cost-cutting, especially on the scale that's now crucial. Because. of course, the only answer the finance committee will get from everyone is: “Cut all government spending — except what Ottawa pays ME!” The Finance department, you'd think, must be already drowning in data of every kind needed to make intelligent cost-cutting decisions that are as fair as possible to all concerned, But if Paul hungers for still more “how to” tips before steeling himself to wield his axe, the person he should quiz is happy Bill Birch. Mr. Birch is Paul’s onposite number in New Zealand's ruling National Party. He has just posted the first budget surplus in 17 years. What’s more, he plans repeat sur- pluses every year — all going to pay down New Zealand’s debt until it's reduced by 2004 to a mere 20% of the country’s economic output (Canada’s is now almost 100%). Not bad, a mere decade after Big Government excesses led for- eign lenders to suddenly pull the plug and force New Zealand into’ virtual bankruptey. Almost overnight all services —~ health, welfare, pension and unemploy- ment benefits —— had to be slashed . to the bone; government assets were sold off in a giant national flea market caper; New Zealand's living standard plummeted from third in the world to 22nd. That mid- 1980s horror story taught its leaders fast. They cut the top income tax rate from 67% to 33%. They compensated with a 12.5% goods and services tax. They Peter Kvarnstrom Dispiay Manager 980-0511 (103) Valerie Stephenson Classified Manager 986-6222 (202) Jed toed 34, HITHER AND. YON “privatized” civil servants, making department heads on fixed-term contracts personally responsible for performance. They smashed the excessive power of the unions. When the grocery moncy is threatened, you have to get serious. After several tough years the econoiny is now growing at an annual 5%. Last year New Zealand placed seventh among 22 industri- alized nations in economic health — and first for the quality of gov- ernment. Way to go, Paul. Stop asking everybody and his dog what to do. Forget the weekly opinion polls. Just do what we all know MUST be done. And don’t bother to check with us again until 1997 or 1998 — at the ballot box. Like Alberta’s Ralph Klein, you might then get a happy surprise! SCRATCHPAD: World-acclaimed Aspen Wind Quintet, featuring composers of the ’80s and '90s, kicks off North Shore Commun- ity Concerts’ new season Sunday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. in the Centennial Theatre ... Belated 55th anniversary greetings (Oct. 20) to West Van's Doug and Betty Reid who built their first home in 1939 on a view lot at 26th and Nelson costing $125! ... And many happy returns of today, Oct. 26, to West Van Kiwanian Len Roth. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Before you give anyone.a piece of your mind, be sure you can spare it. ‘Trixi Agrios Promotions Manager 985-2431 (137) MEMBER North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspapar and qualified under Schedule 141, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday. Frday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. and distnbuted to every door on tne North Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Produc! Agreement Na, 0087238. Mating fates available on request. 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