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page 6, July 28, 1976 - North Shore News .

Back in 1968, in those heady days of Canada’s
love affair with Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the prime
minister coined the inspiring phrase ‘‘participat- .
ory,democracy.”’ The idea was that the peasants
would be encouraged. to. talk ‘back to their
masters—and their masters would heed what they
were saying—between elections as well as on

polling day itself.

Judging by recent events _

in Ottawa—the handling . of.
the airline’: pilot’s stoppage, -
the ham-fisted: Olympics
fiasco over Taiwan and the |
abolition. of capital punish-
ment in face of an apparently |
clear . majority of public
opinion in favor of retention:
—Mr. Trudeau’s noble con-
cept of a meaningful dia-.

- logue between electors and

elected still doesn’t seen to
have got off the drawing

board at the federal level.

By contrast it’s comforting -
te report that “‘participatory
democracy”? is definitely
alive and well in _ West
Vancouver.

Band on 1 the whole question
of the- traffic situation that

“will result from the expan-

sion of Park Royal South.”
as Mayor Peter Jones also
announced that..a municipal

traffic consultant i is presently - .
‘preparing for council. an

analysis _of the various.
proposals put forward by the
citizen groups. And he
promised a public debate on
the traffic situation ‘‘in a
matter of weeks.”’

For almost a year prior to
last May Mayor Jones and
his negotiating committee
had fought a tough rearguard

' action to protect the interests

Five weeks ago West
Vancouver council’s regular
Monday metting was dom-
inated by nine citizen and .
ratepayer groups represent-
ing many thousands of
residents from Cedardale to

_ Horseshoe Bay. Before a

crowded public gallery they
presented briefs and sub-
missions calling for vigorous -
action by.council to avert the
traffic chaos expected to
‘result from the planned —
expansion of Park Royal
South. .

Eight days later, at a.
private meeting with council,
representatives of the citizen
groups submitted specific
and positive proposals for
alleviating the threatened
congestion at West Van’s
narrow: ‘‘front door,’” once
the ‘enlgarged shopping cen-
tre is completed.

Last week council voted
unanimously to re-open ne-
gotiations right away with
Park Royal Shopping Centre
and the ‘Squamish Indian

: ruling had.

of the municipality against
the -traffic and associated

_ problems that will inevitably

be created by doubling the
size of the present Park
Royal South shopping facil.
ity.

In . practice, however,
their clout was _ strictly
‘limited. A B.C. Appeal Court.
'y denied
West Vancouver any . juris-
diction over the Squamish
Indian Band land on which
Park Royal South sits.

By May council felt Mayor
Jones and his team had done
about: as much as was
possible by way of safe-
guarding West Van's ‘inter-
ests, and formally endorsed
the expansion—which - the

' Indians were legally entitled
to carry out anyhow, with or
without council’s blessing.

_ That was the point at
which participatory democ-
racy swung into action.. And
credit for, the present out-
come of that action is due to
everyone concerned.

' what Mr. Trudeau had in

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Working through their
various. neighborhood.
groups, the. citizenry~ moun-
ted amostimpressive demon-
stration of solidarity in their
council chamber—admirably .
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‘Mayor. Jones .-and his
council, for their : part,
listened, heeded,. reconsid- - |
ered and acted. ‘Whatever :
the final answer, a week ago
last Monday -was''a good
night in the history of the
municipality.

from $ $5. 50 f per yard a

installation & measuring i included

In a democracy ‘the _ulti-~
‘mate sanction in the hands of
the citizenry is the ballot box..
There—for. periods of two,
three or four years at a
stretch—they can hire and
’ fire the people who govern
them. But in today’s world,
where so many vital things
are happening at such
lightning speed, the ballot
box alone is no longer the
answer.

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There must be a contin- .
uing dialogue between elec-
tors and ejected WITHOUT
the ultimate sanction of the

‘ballot box. north 1a

- This’ doesn’t mean. that
councils or cabinets should
wilt before the screams of
every small but strident
pressure group that chooses —
ito attack..them | for ...some
narrow, sectarian goal.
Councils and cabinets are
there to carry out the will of
the majority.

When, \however—in be-
tween election dates—a well
organized majority: of elec-:
tors speaks out loud, clear

_ and responsibly, govern- |
ment’s duty is to take note -
and be open. to. second .
thoughts.

I think that’s .probably “

mind when he formulated his
‘theory. of particpatory ‘dem-
ocracy. If ever he decides to
put it into practice Mayor
_Jones, the council ‘and |
‘ratepayers ‘of ‘West “Van- *
couver can offer him some
valuable tips.

Hayes and Warwicke cancel
PNE appearance —

The PNE, which had been.

The Pacific National Ex-

hibition has announced the

- cancellation .of the Isaac

Hayes/Dionne Warwicke

apprearance August 29 as

part of the Fairtime ‘Star
Spectacular"’ series.

The Isaac Hayes agents
informed the PNE they were
cancelling his appearance
because of a prospective U.S.

northwest tour, built around |

the PNE play date, did not
materialize.

The. Hayes agents said
they were reluctant to send
the artist to this arca for only
a one-night, one-city en-
gagement.

selling tickets for the show
based upon a_ package
appearance of two . top
artists, thus felt it had no
alternative but to cancel the
entire show.

Refunds may be obtained
from the Vancouver Ticket
Centre or any of its outlets,

ience this may cause to those
who purchased tickets for the
show,”" said. PNE penceral
manager John Rennic, ‘but
the circumstances were be-
yond our control. "

The August 29 date. will

now be filled by a ‘Disco

«

“We regret any inconven-

long summer gowns,
summer pants & tops,

_., . | summer coats & jackets.
Dance Party” which. will | ‘ vo

feature both live and recor- ‘
ded music. The floor of the
Coliseum will be cleared to’
enavle show patrons to
dance. ' ;

‘summer hours
10-5 Mon. - Sat.

Tickets for the Dance Party
will be $2.50, which included
PNE grounds entry of $1.75,

In addition to the general
dancing, the PNE will put up
$3,000 in prize money for’ .
competition in five dances.
Winning couple in cach.
category will receive $250.00
with S150 going to the .

town & country
aust a ee |othes (1974) ttd.

\ ' 4
successful couples will |. * : ; oy 4

‘ dance-off for a Grand Prize of 1649 Lonsdale , North Vancouver 98 5-291 9

$1,000. Audience reaction
will determine the winners. es woot

mirator charge

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