BY IAN NOBLE ‘News Reporter A tentative deal between Safeway and Save-on- ‘Foods and Drugs and work- -ers for the two giant chains has been struck. Safeway expecis to, be open for business Sunday. Details of the deal will not be released until the outcome of member voting is announced, likely on Saturday. “Leif. Hansen, president. of. Local 2000. of the United Food | and Commercial Workers - Union, ‘said Safeway’s threats to liquidate its B.C. stores were. a significant factor in reaching the deal. _ “They have the capability,”. said Hansen. He’s recommending workers accept the deal. : Safeway said meetings were held “over the weekend with assistant deputy minister of labor Don Cott acting as facilitator between’ the companies and {cunion‘ locals. Cott's recommendations -resuited in the tentative settlement. “UFCW Local 1518 is also involved in the dispute. ; "The tentative settlement is not only’ good news for shoppers, but also mer- “chants in North and West Vancouver who depend on Safeway and Save-On-_ ‘Gods stores to help draw customers. The food workers have been locked out or on sirike since. May 31. Wi Business. M Bright Lights... (Crossword... Ki Dining ‘fi Sports. ‘MTV Listings... HUNDREDS gathered at Waterfront Park 9: of events held throughout the North Shore weekend photo coverage please see page 3 of today’s News. ‘Budget stalls bridge, school, fast-ferry jobs BY IAN NOBLE News Reporter ‘MILLIONS of dollars in North Shore capital © expenditures have been put on hold as part of a province-wide freeze on capital spending. Planning for a new Lions Gate crossing, two North Vancouver: assembled fast ferries, and two school projects in West Vancouver and one in North Vancouver have been temporarily iced. NDP Finance Minister Andrew Petter fleshed out the capital-spend- ing freeze — and announce his government didn’t 1995-96 budget —- Fi noon, just before the long weekend. Petter said the spending freeze and a six-month “review of $272 Jdilion in’ capital project: Night light — response “to B.C.'s_ concern about the growing level of debt. “This review will lead to a lower level of capital spending in response to that concern,” he said. Approximately $10.5 million in capital spending for improvements to Sentinel and West Vancouver sec- ondary schools were included in the freeze, said trustee Clive Bird. School board chairraan. Ken Haycock called the government's move frustrating, but would not comment on whether the NDP had been up-front when making spend- ing promises in the run-up to May's election. ; “These people will make a decision later this week that con- stitutes more than $7 million to the d So, at this point, I'm will- ing to give them the benefit of the doubt.” he said, “There is a statement about bit- ing the hand that feeds.” : Bird said the school board was going. to tender with the West, Vancouver secondary schoo! project. hich would rebuild a 2 : wing for the schoul. Capacity would be increased frem 800 to 110K) stu-. dents. Bird said the work was to be done_by September of 1997, when ‘ a n Monday night to view Canada Day fireworks. to eelebzate the 12Sth birthday of our nation. Weather Thursday: Cloudy, chance of showers the district planned to change the school from a Grade 10 to 12 facility to.a Grade 7 to $2 school. © ” “We can't plan because we don't know when the funds are going to come through,” he'said.. = Bird added that an expected $3.5 million in Sentinel renovations were to be in the ‘planning phuse in 1996-97. North Vancouver; superintendent of schools Robin Brayne said $176,000 in funds to plan a Handsworth secondary expansion from 1,000 to 1.200 students ‘has also been frozen. ° “ He added that the current school will not be able to handle forecasted enrolment increases within two to ” three year. Petter also froze two of three $70-million fast ferries for the Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo route. NDP Premier Glen Clark point-_ ed to the $210-million project as a’ revitalizing forge for the B.C. ship- building industry = when. he announced $45 million in contracts to North Vancouver’s Vancouver Shipyards aad its subcontractors and a fast-ferry assembly facility on the North Shore waterfront April I. George MacPherson, president High 18°C, low 12°C. NEWS photo Terry Peters The display capped off a full day. ‘or more locai Canada Day long- ‘of the Marine Worke \ Boilermakers Union Local 1, said -of his unioit members are training to work on the. ferrie MacPherson ‘said, he wants a meet- ing © with | Employment’ and "- Investnient Minister Dan Miller. who's. responsible for BC. Ferries, to determine what exactly is hap-.« pening with the program. a, MacPherson said there is a tremendous leaming curve on the’ project and he believes ali three ves- sels must be built to make the pro-. ject viable. The assembly shed will be built and a Horseshoe Bay terminal upgrade is also under review, said a BC Ferties spokesman. ; West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Ted Nebbeling said he -and other North Shore. MLAs will maintain pressure on the government to deliy- er on anew Lions Gate crossing. “That bridge has to be replaced not only from a capacity perspective but from a safety perspective.” said - Nebbeling. A long-promised shert- list of crossing options still hasn't been delivered by the NDP. bog The ‘government’ review, will... examine more than $3_ billion. in ed capital expenditures.