& - Friday, October 29, 1999 — North Shore News

Ferry bi

E B.C. auditor general’s
review of the fast ferry project
released Thursday presents a

damning indictment of NDP political

meddling.

While the first ship was being built
in North Vancouver, the story basical-
ly ‘unravelled® before our very eyes
thanks to intensive media scrutiny.
George Morfitt, the province’s incisive
auditor general, reiterates the case
thoroughly and frankly.

« ~ «The. original. impuise behind the
* project a means to Foreathe life back
: into B.C,’s:shipbuilding industry, was
G essentially a laudable one. The trouble

m s core:conclusions:..
ES ‘the decisio sion to build fast ferries was__
“Mot Sportal by. sufficient informa-

a eae o
t cruelty to ' ani

efice:: LE is done for a thousand reasons: including sy:

north shore news

VIEWPOINT

the ferries would meet either BC
Ferries’ needs or the government’s
public policy goals in a cost-effective
manner;

@ an unrealistic timetable led to a
cushed process;

@& opportunities for ce-evaluation were

-Not taken;

@ lack of information was a key char-
acteristic of governance failures during
the fast ferry project.

Morfitt does not mince words. He
tells us “the fast ferries are unlikely to
meet the major service expectations set
when the project began, and their cost
will further impair BC Ferries’ finan-
cial health.”

’ We're in the soup because govern-
ment did'not allow its Crown corpora-
tion board te function effectively with-
in its mandate. The NDP has yet to pay
the political bill for this n mess.

ome political

IT’S wue. Life isn’t fair.

If it were, a man could be in two differ-
ent places at once. (A woman, if she has
career and family, often is.)

“So I regret that, due to family matters
— the death this week of
our children’s beloved
Grandma, and 4 ceremo- .
ny in Hamilton honoring
my late brother aay
next month — Pil be
largely absent and unable
to give the North Shore :
minicipal election tam 22:
reigns the close attentio
they deserve. ‘

3 Fortiinately.my cole:
league and News manag
"ink editor Timoth 7
Renshaw i is scrutinizir the campaigns and’
cam aignezs in mricticul lous detai
ut I'll icave:you with a plucking or.
. two o from the Garden of Biases. .

* Of course #’bias can be positive, And
for West Vancouver School Board I admit
eto a strong’ bias int favor of Mary Fawley.

ay.

¥ Mrs. Fawley teflects Young West .
ig being anything south ‘

Vancouver — youn
of 3 or 40'for'mie.”

She is beloved’and highly respected i in
western West Van. Great fa woman.
Community activist, between bearing chil-
dren, Warm backer of the proposed west-

Sem recreation ‘céntre. Smart and conscien-

‘strong endorsement.
r, doesn’

McCleary’ report, an outrageously i invasi
survey including questions about the sexu

Pen acneceeaesenenecenasccceratscaseseseatenses,

; leaders

HAVE THOUGHT =f
BRITISH COLUMBIANS F
WourP HAVE GOTTENS

used To THAT =f

[teem

al, drug, drinking and other experiences of |
children aged 12 or even younger. Bird’

and Stevenson offered a sensible compro- |.
_ mise, Bell-Lowther and Ferguson rejected -

it. (Ken Haycock, now running for coun-
cil, was absent.) . ;
Next up, council. Ron.
Wood's bid for mayor
leaves a vacant Scat.
Susan phomas ce

paying at
“crm councillor far

quite competent to me.. Victor Durmaa
and Bill ces somesimes a
meetings with sharp exc OU
Durinan says they’ re pel fect }
stage. Allan Willisms (s is SO ed ‘tha
it’s almost sickening. Won't somebody s

y
something critical of this council Father ~

Figure, at the top of his: form'at age 77?
Now, mayor. There's the ruby I person-°
ally like incumbent Patricia Boname but °
publicly sig her performance. Doubtless
she'd prefer the other way around.
But at the critical fash-points where. -
is vested — like the Dolphin -
rt, expansion of Park

pert on retailing and

_ malls, had had a contract) — Boname has :
: flouridered: ; whe y

picks in

idly off:

ia

Would’ t be surprised i if shi bid
srofessional advice and a
er Ridgeview. speech was
dew Teader-like. Too bad’ :
. » Russ Fraser‘is s genial, has'm
. ,ence in business and politics, but doesn’
secm to me to radiate commitmen
.. Maybe too candid to play that gan His
wife Jone is'a great asset'—'a sharp-miind
ed lady and a grand wit
one and with Danylit

ty, Ron Wood: Si
“tion. Biggest: cheetl ding a
meeting. Most obvious planted questions
by same: You could almost See the soft;
floating, pre‘arranged Leese labbe

rsonal feelings:

in of how th i
eco Frise