Job acti Robert Gaister News Reporter robert@usnews.com A BC Ferries labour dispute took a turn for the worse yesterday when union employees began job action on the Horseshoe Bay-to-Nanaimo sail- ings. Cafeterias, snack shops and gift shops were all shut dowit on the route by the BC) Ferry and: Marine Workers: Union {BCEMWE) as of noon yesterday, All three areas were scheduled to be up and running by today when the same shutdowns will move to vessels on the Tsawwassen: to-Swartz Bay route, “The reason we're in job action is because the pace of mean- ingtul discussions was non-existent,” said BCEMWU president ken Michael. The union represents 4,400 ferry employees whose con: tracts with BC Ferries expired on Now 7. The corporation's catering revenues generate S28 million per vear. Michael said the union’s nest target will be the Pacificat fast ferry currendly undergoing tesiy near Nanaimo. He said the Cour! Christmas bureau told 300 Squamish need assistance Robert Galster News Reporter vobert@usnews.com AN administrative cock-up may leave about 300 Squamish Nation families out in the cold this Christmas. The Christmas Bureau, a Family ces of the North Shore program sisting those in need during the holiday season, had asked the band whether any of its members required assistance. The bureau’s coordinator Diana Cowden said she had a hard time getting any answers, Phone calls to the band went unanswered and when she did talk to someone, the person told her band members would: be taken care of, Neither Squamish Nation Chief Bill Williams nor any other members of the band’s council returned News calls to,press time Thursday. ise nat iy its Cafeterias, snack and gift shops shut down as ferry workers turn up contract heat unions goal is to “incomenience the corporation more than the travelling public.” making the Paciticat a pertect target. “Well be doing some mild action there and if we have any problems there, wel pat up a pieket ing (and halt the ongoing tests3,” said Michael. ft has been a busy week for the S86 million fast ferry, which has run into several snags: [tis already two years behind sched ule and S16 million over budget. Last: Monday. Nanaimo’s municipal council rejected a BC Ferries proposal to install tuel tanks at the city’s ferry terminal. The ranks would be used to refuel the tast ferries, Following council's decision, Dan Miller, minister responsi- We for ferries, suggested the corporation might move its entire operation out of Nanaimo. “We had made an application to Nanaime council after ralk- TRACEY and Barry Baker are forced to make ends meet for their five-person family on $383 per month. He is holding a $35 check the Squamish band issued him for his daughter's bus pass, but he needs more. ocal ferri Friday. December 11. 1998 — North Shore News - 3 ing te the tins depsrtment, DEO «Department of bisheries and Oceans) and none had riised anv concerns.” said BC Ferries spokesman Eric Kristiansen, He added that the proposal is being review ed to incerporate Suggestions tram the area’s residents. “From an environmental and sarety pomt-ot view this pro: ject is vers sate.” Krisiianson added that a new BC Ferries’ proposal can be expected in the “next several weeks.” Meanwhile, a torrent of complaints in the wake of a Nov. 16 fast ferry trial in’ Horseshoe Bay thar resulted in thick white foam washing over the area's harbour, has prompted the DEO to take a second Jook at the vessel's impact. West Vancouver council, Ferrey CURE and West Vancouver: Sunshine Coast MP John Revnolds all issued calls for an envi- ronmental assessment alter the foam incident. “We're going to be doing some sampling ourselves to see what the foam is.” said Kristianson, confirming that DFO per- sonnel have contacted the corporation, The DFO's assessment will not further delay the launch of the first of three fast ferries on the Horseshoe Bay-to- Nanaimo route currently scheduled for carly 1999, plan studied Catherine Barr Contributing Writer HORSESHOE Bay is getting an independent traffic study to help assess the impact of BC Ferries’ latest terminal proposal. On Oct. 26, West Vancouver council approved the terms of reference to. study Horseshoe Bay area attic. Independent consultant Brian Wallace, with ND Lea Engineering, has been retained to carry out the study in con- junction with the newly estab- lished Horseshoe Bay planning committee, Wallace conducted the Gleneagles Arca Traftic Study earlier this year. He will focus on the following: @ randomly based interviews with area resident: and mer- chants; NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge However last Monday, a band spokesman told the bureau some members would require help, When Cowden asked how many, the caller calmly informed her it would be abour 300. But by then it was too late to accom- modate such a large number. “We're still wanting to make sure we can help as many people as possible bur still we have 150 people we have to help and I think we talked to enough people to make a determination,” said Cowden. North Vancouver MP Ted White said he doesn’t understand why band members would be ina position to need help at Christmas or any other time. “There's no reason why anyone on that reserve (would) need Christmas hampers,” said White. “The band reevives plenty of money from the federal government.” One of the people the bureau turned away is Tracey Baker. Baker, although not native, lives on the Capilano reserve because her hus- band is a Squamish band member. Baker said she has encountered nothing but problems since moving on to the reserve. The bureau’s refusal to help is just the latest blow, she said. “Once [ got married I lost everything,” said Baker. “It’s been hell. I've been on anti-depressants and I’ve been ready to pack up and feave.” She has been unable to work because her husband Barry has needed con- stant attention since developing medical problems fast vear. Both have been on a band-administered social assistance program since. Living, with the cou- ple are three children, all from previous unions. Both say the amount they receive — $383 per month —- is inadequate for tive people. “I can’t live on 400 bucks a month. No way,” said Barry, adding that the band has a responsibility vo offer its members more of a helping hand. Eileen Joe, an income assistance worker at the Squamish Nation Social Development office, said the Bakers receive the same amount as anyone else on welfare whether they are native or nor. The amounts, she said, are set by the federal government. But Barry believes the band should be taking better care of its members and be more accepting of outsiders. “{ just want to sue for discrimination, all the wrongdoing and all the hurt,” said Baker. “My wife wants to leave me and I'm on five different medica- tions.” He points out many of the band’s members are well paid if they are employed by the band. According to this year's payroll projections, top salaries for the band's most senior administrative staff pay $115,000 per year. Several others, including Chief Bill Williams, make’ $75,000 per year. Meanwhile, Baker also points to the money paid to Squamish Nation staff at other agencies, including the social development office. All the figures are also tax free, added Baker. “Their wages are outrageous and people like us -- a family of five — live off $383 and single people live on $175 and are sleeping outside,” said Baker. Man on the lam returned to U.S. custody VIOLENT U.S. fugitive Robert V. Trevino was handed over to U.S. Marshalls on Wednesday on the American side of the Peace Arch bor- der crossing. Trevino, 34, had lived in North Vancouver for several months undetected until a tipster saw an episode of America’s Most Wauted in October. The television show ran a segment about Trevino’s alleged crimes and jail escape. Last Saturday, Trevino was arrested at gun- point at an Abbotsford area craft fair by North Vancouver RCMP plain clothes and emergency response team members. Last Tuesday, an immigration adjudication hearing ruled the fugitive was inadmissible to Canada based on his previous criminal convie- tions. Trevino was ordered deported. Members of the North Vancouver RCMP and Canada Immigration staff took Trevino from Vancouver Pre-Trial Centre to the border in a three-vehicle convoy on Wednesday. U.S. Marshalls planned to transport Trevino to Seattle where he would be flown back to Colorado. While ar Vancouver Pre-Trial, News sources indicated that Trevino obtained 2 razor and cut himself which may have been a bid to be taken to hospital and possibly escape. Trevino is charged in the U.S. with firse- degree (violent) sexual assault, theft, second- degree kidnapping, first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft, assault during a escape and robbery. Trevino escaped from the Baca County jail in southeastern Colorado in July 1996, Police believe he ended up in’ North Vancouver after meeting a North Vancouver woman in Mexico. The woman, police say, was unaware of Trevino’s criminal past. — Anna Marie D’Angela @ evaluation of existing erattic circulation in area; @ review of parking demand; ® impact of any future proposed parkade and/or passenger build- ing on traffic; & transit issues; @ assessment of options. {f further funding is approved, Wallace will identity other long-term issues. For example: % detailed analysis of overall parking demand resulting from ferry and other uses in the broader Horseshoe Bay and Gleneagles area; @ parking regulations in larger area, alternatives and enfarce- ment; @ identification of alternative or satellite parking sites; @ review of long-term plan tor ferry traffic storage on Upper Levels Highway and impact on local street system. BC Ferries has said it will fund one third of up to $20,000 worth of any studies recom- mended by the committee. This means that at most, the corpora- tion will contribute $6,666. Since the cost of the initial study could reach $10,000, council has approved funding of $7,000 for the initial phase of the traffic study. A decision regarding the long-term. study will be made later. The initial study could be complete as carly as January 1999,