Police search for account raider WORTH Vancouver RCMP are investigating a case in which cash was withdrawn from an account through an automated teller machine at a bank in the 1500-block of Lonsdale Avenue. The account belongs to a man who told police he had Jost his wallec at Czpilano Mall earlier thar day on Cet. 3. He said that his benk card was in the wallet, along with the personal identi- fication number The NV RCMP to access the seek this bank account. fraud suspect. The suspect withdrew cash from tie account after making two false deposits using envelopes without money in them. Investigators are attempting to identify and locate the indi- vidual in the accdmpanying pho- tograph in connection with the case. If you have any information please contact Const. Templeton at 985-1311. Ferries workers back strike move B.C, Ferries should be shuttling Christmas passengers, said 2 top union official Friday. Ken Michael, president of the ferry workers union, said mem- bers have veced 94% in favor of strike acticn but have no imme- diate plans to walk out. He added he does not expect union members to take job action and the union will not take strike action while a media- tor is at the table. A mediator has been appoint- ed and will be bringing the two sides together Monday, Michael said. B.C. Ferries union employees have been without a contract since Oct. 31. index _ tw Bright Lights... 12 mw Crossword. ) @ Health Trends.................46 ig Horoscopes ta North Shore Alert Narte Shere Mets, founded in 1969 25 ats inde pendest suburbea newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise fan Act, is published each Wednesday, Fad ay anal Sunday by North Shore ree Press Lid. and diterrbuted w every door an the North Shore. Canada Post Canacun Publications Mzil Sales Prod Agrecnent No 0087238. Mailing rates svaileble va request Sunday, December 15, 1996 ~ North Shore News ~ 3 Goodwill grows OVER 850 families have been matched with donors participating in the North Vancouver Christmas Bureau (Family Services) hamper exchange. The Lucas Centre is busy processing donations. By Martin Milierchip Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver District is once again asking North Vancouver City to the amalgamation ball. Bat while the city says it’s willing to discuss areas of cooperation at least one councillor is warning it takes ovo to dance. On Monday night the new district. council unanimously supported Coun, Ernie Crist’s motion to establish a North Shore Citizens’ Pask Force on Amalgamation. Crist’s motion calls for the city and district mayors cach to appoint nine representatives by Jan. 20. Bur af city council decides not to cooperate Mavor Don Bell will be directed to appoint the task force unilaterally. Furthermore, should the task farce recom- mend amalgamation Crist says the question should be taken to the community ina referen- dum. Crist also told council that, with or without city support, if district residents vote to support amalgamation the provincial government should be asked to step in and legislate it. And thar notion has some city councillors hopping mad. “I have every confidence in our provincial government saying ‘you guys sort it out amongst yourselves’ and, quite frankly, it takes two to dance,” Coun. Darrell Mussatto told the News. “They sce it (amalgamation) as a way of reducing costs and eliminating duplication. District, City councils duel over motion to establish task force While some may sce it that way [ hove another Perspective on it. “How about a municipality unwilling to accept its fair share of growth, promising no tax increases or service cuts and looking for a rich uncle to help themselves out of an impending financial crisis? “Quite frankly | am getting very tired of hearing the district whine about the issue when in reality the city has absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose in the scenario “ATl one has to do is substitute the words ‘bail out’ for amalgamation to better understand the district’s posinion.” Bur Crist argues that amalgamating the two political and administrative jurisdictions would likely result in overall benefits and efficiencies. To what extent, would be determined by “a blue ribbon task force.” “The city has always insisted they are better off without us. J believe that ifthe people in the city had been given all the facts without biases they would have favored the referendum “This approach is different because it puts the process in the hands of the citizens. It takes the political atmosphere out of this,” said Crist. The task force would look at present joint services such as police, fire, recreation, the arts and economic development and determine how THE provincial Health Ministry is investigating a West Vancouver doctor who says he’s not doing anything wrong. Last month, Dr. Myron MacDonald opened his Bellevue Avenuce-based North Shore Bone Density Clinic with a bone scan- ner that performs fee-for-service screens for bone density. The scanners, worth approxi- mately $155,000 caci, are called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) machines. They are often used as a diagnostic tool for patients with osteoporosis. The Health Ministry is cur- rently trying to determine if MacDonald is — extra-billing patients for services. Health ministry spokesman Susan Gee said extra billing con- travenes the Medicare Protection Act. She added a doctor contra- vening the act could ultimately Jose his ability to bill patients through the Medical Services Plan. If his biling privileges were removed, MacDonald, a general practitioner, said he would be in deep trouble. “It means financial ruin for ine,” said MacDonald, who has not been particularly busy since he opened his bone density clin- ic. Gee said the ministry would send MacDonald a “letter of concern” outlining rules under the Medicare Protection Act. She said if there is a problem, doctors usually comply right By fan Nobl News Reporter See Service pageS having nwo masters “impacts, curcails or increas- es costs.” Crist also wants an estimation of how a larg: er municipality might rate more respect in deal- ings with the Geeater Vancouver Regional Disurict, B.C. Transit or the provincial govern- ment. District council agreed to remove polincians from the task force membership and suggested it be comprised of “representatives of the North Shore’s environmental, business, social, sports, arts, recreation, health, media, transportation, labor, legal etc. areas and jurisdictions.” Whether the city will fully cooperate with the district initiative is doubtful. City mayor Jack Loucks confirmed that hus conneil would meet with the district carly in the new vear but said discussions would fikely centre on areas of cooperation rather than amalgama- Hon. He said a uniticd dispatch service for North Share Fire Services was one example of a subject on which the city has “always been prepared to meet.” But Loucks himself spoke out strongly against amalgamation during the recent mumici- pal election, arguing that the city’s infrastructure and capital funding plans were in much better shape than the district’s. Mussatto agrees. “LT certainly don’t hear the city. taxps wanting to increase their taxes lo pay for the sins of the district. “Why in the world would city residents want to give up an enviable tax sale land account and one of the lowest tax rates in the region?”