Fired bus driver’s 1 6 — Friday, June 11, 1999 ~ North Shore News Peopl T’S fitting the issue of direct democracy will now go before North Vancouver District voters. The notion of allowing district voters to initiare referenda on munic- ipal matters was narrowly defeated in a 4-3 council vote on March 8. Such referenda would give voters an opportunity to amend or repeal any bylaw or vote passed by council. The referenda could only be launched with a petition by 5% of eli- gible voters supporting the particular issue. In 1990, a B.C.-wide referendum on citizen initiatives saw 83% sup- port. A News telephone poll of 491 North Shore residents on voter-initi- ated referenda earlier this year in March saw 58% in favour and only 15% opposed. north shore news VIEWPOINT wer If the voting public is as passion- ate on the point as polls indicate they are, the March decision will come back in November to haunt those politicians ho opposed the concept. What is it about direct democracy that some councillors are so afraid oP? Under the current Municipal Act, any citizen-initiated referenda is non- binding on council. Elected politi- cians would retain their discretionary powers. Voters are a jaded bunch. Cynicism has given way to the rot of apathy. The result is that too few make the choices about which people pull the levers of political power. Any method by which voters can make some meaningful contributions on community issues has to be a good thing. Shue, Se noKAy BEFORE TOUGH NEw DRUNK DRIVING LAWS mreaiibox views supported Dear Editor: As a regular passenger on the West Vancouver bus system { have another point of view. London Transit has had fare- boxes with turnstiles for over 20 years. . In Africa and many countries fit Asia there are many pri- vately owned buses, the owners of which [am sure would collapse with mirth were anyone to suggest an honour sys- tem. Why do we insist that our drivers become policemen when they are then at the mercy of those disgruntled pas- sengers who have been caught out and who then lodge com- plaints with the management, this being detrimental to the driver’s career? The people responsible for this debacle are not the dri- vers, who have to make the best of'a bad situation, but man- agement, who unfortunately seem to be ducking, the issues in the name of public relations. As to the ex-mayor’s asser- tion that amalgamation is not the ideal solution, what dif ference does it make? The costs are all eventually paid from the public purse. [ agree with (Blue Bus driver) Ms. (Susan) Falls that a direct route to Lions Gate Hospital would be of benefit. . With regard to Ms. Falls being fired, supposedly for con- tacting the media, more power to her, The public utilities should be transparent, and as a passenger I} cannot say that her driving abilities are impaired by her outspokenness, and her consideration for elderly passengers has been outstand- ing. With regard to the article suggesting false accusations, how absurd: either fare is paid or it is not. M. Reynolds West Vancouver Mailbox. policy LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably type- written), brief and iriclude your name, full address and tele- phone number, Due to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all letters. Worth Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and quakhed under Scheduie 111, Paragraph #11 ot the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday ty North Shove Free Press Ltd. and distributed to every doos on the North ‘Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mai ‘Sales Product Agreement No, 0087238. ‘Mailing rates avadabie on request. : ema Distribution Manager ‘988-1337 (124) ia Mark Fancher Creative Services Director 985-2131 (127) 61.582 faverage circulation, Wednesday, Freaay & Sunday} TAKE EFFECT o ° HUR 1'SE AFTER TouGh NEW DRUNK DRIVING LAWS TAKE EFFECT anada’s same-sex stupidity | A liberal-minded friend, though no friend of the social views of this column, expressed surprise that P’ve not commented on the issue of same-sex pensions. Correet. And here's why. T adopted the position thar the very notion is so towcringly stupid, so inane, such an affront to reason, that only the courts and government of this addled country could accept it. And therefore to even discuss the matter flatters it. But, as my friend argues, it’s cut there, demanded by the Supremes ans! heading, for obedient parliamentary appreral by the federal Liberals. And perhaps yy or anyone else’s silence implies acceptance, or resignation. So if you didn’t catch it first time around: The notion is towering: ly stupid, inane, and an affront to reason. Loud applause for the nine dissident backbench Liberals who didn’t vote for the pension bill that extended federal civil servants’ survivor benefits to homosexu- als’ homosexuals of their choice. The nine Liberals want — here’s a rev- olutionary idea! — the public to take part in discussing the much wider bill that will * change all laws that currently assume that a married couple is defined as a man and a woman, one of each. Among the brave Liberal MPs — it’s a sign of our decayed times that it apparent- ly takes courage to say the obvious — are Dan McTeague, Pat O’Brien and Paul ‘PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2131 (101) Hunan Resources Manayer 985-2431 (177) Valerie Stapheason Classified Manager 986-6222 (202) Torry Photography Manager 985-2131 (163) tosg General Manager 985-2131 (133) Steckle. Of course the powerful gay lobby will smear them and all other opposzaes as “homophobes.” My experience is that if you aren't 188% behind tag homosexual lobby’s agenda, you are a “hontophobe,” and doubtless will receive nasty, cowardly anony- mous letters — as I do. The slippery slope began when legislators felt obliged to give common-law couples virtually the same rights (and, eventually, obliga- tions) as married cou- ples, out of concerts Cor the children. The post-war cellapse of the sexual community, and the legislators’ indiffer- ence and even hostility toward traditional families, like caxation unfairnes vard mothers who stay at home to rw. he children, were well analyzed by writuo like Canada’s William D. Gairdner (The War Against the Family) and American George Gilder (Suicide of the Sexes}, who accurately predicted the results. [t would be none of my business what gay men do sexually if it weren't for the health aspect. And its costs to taxpayers — thee, me. In its current HIV/AIDS update, the B.C, Centre for Disease Control shows that in the years 1983-98, homosexual males made up 2,091 of 2,591 reported AIDS cases in B.C. (though not onz woman who had sex with women, by the way), plus a further 126 gay men who also were intravenous drug users. There were 113 heterosexual AIDS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR cases in that period. While the B.C. statis- ties are silent on the matter, my guess is thar overwhelmingly the main cause among both groups is what js politely called anal intercourse. Gay men are also disproportionately sufferers from sometimes deadly hepatitis C, as well as other illnesses associated with so-called gay-bowel svndrome. (For the record, there were 87 cases of AEDS on ow North Shore, 1983-89.) The costs? In 1997 Health Canada estimated that cach person infected with HIV, the AIDS virus, costs the economy a staggering $153,000 directly (treatment, hospitalization) and $600,000 indirectly (loss of a productive member of society). Sympathy, treatment, protection against cruelty toward people who may (or may not) have a genetic disposition to homosexuality — yes, Legislated equality in marriage ete. and special pleading for’ homosexuals — no. We must be socictally nuts to think otherwise. And, apparently, we are. oo00 A friend’s witty observation about gay MP Svend Robinson's disgusting support of taking God out of the constitution: “The religious conservatives were right all along — he really is a godless homosexu-: al!” O00 : Power trip: Derrick Humphreys com- plained that the (two) North Shore taxi - companics aren’t allowed to pick up trav- ellers at Vancouver International Airport unless previously booked. re Fast results: The VIA authority phoned - him to say they will be, secon. News to me. Lo. . ~— lautens@axionet.com Letters must include your name, — full address 4 telephone number. Managing Editor 885-2131 (116; “Teial Agries 286-2131 (218) Entire contents © 1999 North Shore Free Press Ltd. AU rights reserved. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca Distribution 896-1357 Display & Reai Estate Fax 895-1435 | Newsroom Fax 963-2104 Classified, Accounting , : . & Male Office Fax 905-2222 . Michel Becker - News Editor 985-2131 (014) Andrew NicCredie - Sports/Coramunity Editor 985-2131 (147).