Upgrade ON’T get too excited about the recent Lions Gate Bridge news, fellow commuters. Judging by the history of the process thus far, not much, if any- thing, is going to happen soon. A Feb. 12 News story reported that the selection of possible companies for the $78 million project to overhaul the bridge is down to a short-list of three. Highways Minister Harry Lali’s Statement that tke contract will be awarded next month is encouraging. But if you consider that the Lions Gate Bridge game has been ongoing for the better half of the past decade and that the process to decide on what should’ be done with the bridge burned up over $7 million to come up with a plan that will do nothing to address the commuting needs of North Shore commuters, the latest 6 — Wednesday, February 24, 1999 - North Shore News north shore news charade announcement rings hollow. And, as pointed out in a Feb. 21 News story, the cost of repairing the bridge is as fluid as any government project. West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Jeremy Dalton maintains that approx- imately $20 million of the original $78 million has already be used to fund pre-upgrade bridge work. Couple that with what is sure to be the ever-escalating cost of the project and you come up with some more unpleas- ant government math. With that math will come more expensive revelations. The bridge job in the meantime will be delayed until it is fobbed off on another highways minister. It all adds up to another mishan- dled project that you will continue to pay for whether it’s done or not. VIEWPOINT BALANCING THE | TAKE BUDGET 15 EASY! / PARADISE WE HAVE ) THEME PARK. 7 A SURPLUS, 7h S GNED\ money 2” [a Dear FOR |Losina “awMinum | PULP mus SpAeUTERS In [ARE A GREAT Tae NORTH INVESTMENT. FOR EVERYTHING PIGHT GOWN TO THE Tone PAPER- maibex Dogs not fouling district creek area Dear Editor: Re: the Feb. 17 Off-leash trial advocated article by Liam Lahey —~ in which it is stated by city staff that a district facil- ity of the west side of Mosquito Creek is polluted by “count- Jess dog owners (who) were not picking up alter their dogs sy (thereby) damaging the fragile ecosystem and fouling conditions along the trai) near the creck.” Whar a load of unmitigated ordure. This is the same lie —— off repeated — which was used unsuccesstilly some five years ago, to argue for an unlimited bicycle route down this narrow, curvy mountain-side path. Fortunately, wiser heads at district council prevailed then and the walking public con- tinuc to enjoy it in safety. There are garbage cans situated top and bottom of the trail, and they are filled regularly with the plastic-bagged droppings; the sanitation department can vouch to their tull- ness. We walk this trail once or twice a day, often with our family and dog and it is rare t see droppings lying around. if we spot any, we pick up, regardless of which dog owner, district or city — has offended. This district facility is 2 con- siderable success and we intend to keep it that way — even, if justitied, to the extent of pointing aut ta the occasional decamy owner that their dog is not beyond reproach. In the meantime, please, no mare shaggy dug stories, especially about a particularly good district facility, which we public are helping to maintain both by taxes and conscience. iCW. Hext North Vaaccuver Maiidox policy LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably type- written), brief and include your name, full address and tele- hone number. Duc to space constraints the North Shore ews cannot publish all letters. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2104 but still must be signed and fuliy addressed. north shore North Share News, sounded in 1965 33 an independent suburban newspapes and quatted writer Schedule 101, Pangragn 111 of he ferxce Tax Act. 0s pubkshed each Wedinestiay, Friday and Surutay by North Shore Free Press, Usd and detibutad to every door on te North ‘Store Canada Post Canadian Pubkcanors Mal Sales Product Agreertent Mo 0087238 Maiiery cates avadable on request §1AS2 (average corcutation, Weonescay, Frctay & Sunday) The Herth Shere Mews is published by Rorth Shore Froe Press Ltd., Publisher Peter Speck, fram 1129 Lonsdale Aveawe Werth Vancouver, B.C., W768 2H4 ORE: 99% Beiter ‘centre’ Reform’s best bet SO last weekend’s United Alternative convention in Ottawa finally voted to create a brand new right-wing party. What chance has it of ever flying? The theory is great but the practical obsta- cles are datinting. The 1,500 delegates were undoubtedly buoyed by a Compas poll just before the meeting that showed 53% of Canadians would sup- port such a party to only 30% tor the Liberals, New, untested ventures to replace something thet dacsn’t work are always exciting — especially before persortalities start to muddy the picture. Which brings us, of cour +, mght away to Tory leader Joe Clark who flatly refas- es to have anything to do with the idea. For Joe — despite the Tories’ fifth- place standing in the Commons, their shut-out everywhere except Adantic Canada in the last clection and his own lack ofa seat — ihe party of Sir John A. Macdonald remains the only lesitimate government-in-waiting. Dream on, you say? Not that Reform leader Preston Manning's situation is all chat happicr. Despite Reform’s official opposition sta- tus, he and his party have repeatedly failed to break through in vital Ontario, with its 103 Commons seats. If the new party -— which Preston aspires to lead — fulfils the Compas poll forccast of draw- ing its major (40%) support trom PETERSPECK Publisher Hunan Resoutoes Manager 935-2137 (01) eS ZEST V7) Reformers, how realistic is it to count on Ontarians suddenly flocking to it instead of sti ting with that tried and known quantiy, the Liberals? Reform and Tories share broad popu- lar support on free myar- kei economies and fighting high taxation. But from Ontario cast- ward, Reformers still tend to be seen as red- neck western racists and gay-bashers who, more- overs, don’t give a damn hither About Quebce’s aspira- d tions, ANE YOR Manning personally rejects that Reform stereorype, although his concept of equal “sovereignty” for ALL the provinces remains well short of what Quebee City wants, All in all, as leader of a new party with Reformers as its dominant “sharchoid- ers,” he would definitely have his work wut out, Whether Joe (“Tories for ever”) Clark would fight him for the job scems highly questionable right now, Among outside contestants, National Citizens Coalition boss and former Reform MP Stephen Harper, and Alberta treasurer Stockwell Day, are names worth rentembering. Three other factors enter the cqua- tion. First, Manning has performed the remarkable feat of building a party from zero to Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in just 10 years. That’s an unparalleled achievement. Many Reformers are saying: “Why should we have co start all over again from scratch?” Second, the time constraints. The next federal election is duc in 2001, Is it remotely realistic to envisage — within the next 18 months — a new, untested, hybrid “right-wing” party able to defeat Canada’s “natural governing parry,” the Grits? How much of YOUR money would you bet on it? Finally, the “centre” is where it's at in today’s polities — the middle ground brilliantly exploited by British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s “New Lsbour,” by Europe's free enterprise-friendly social democratic governments and, for seven decades of this century, by Canada's canny Grits. What is the new right-wing’s answer to this? In our brave new world it can only be to provide a BETTER “centre,” combin- ing free exterprise with a social con- science more efficiently than the Liberals have ever done. That is Preston’s chal- lenge. ago PAPER MOSAICS, an unusual and fas- cinating art form cultivated by West Van artist Sunny Stringer, are on exhibit together with her watercolours in a “Celebration of Colour” show February 26 through March 36 at West Van's Dundarave Cafe — well worth dropping by ... Many happy retusns of tomorrow, Feb, 25, to North Van Kiwanian Hugh McKay ... And more of the same n Saturday, Feb. 27, to North Van birthday girl Mary Swan. QaQa WRIGHT OR WRONG this crazy math: Happiness is the only thing you multiply by dividing it. ACHOUS: Dexg Fe Comptroller SES-2131 (733) = Managing Editor 585-2131 (116) Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Froe Press Lid. All rights reserved. LETTERS 10 THE EDITOR Letters must inchx’e your name, tuft address & telephone number, VIA 2-mail: trenshaw @ carect.ca 985-2131 (114) 985-2131 (147) Michael Becks Mews Estos Andrew McLredie - Sperts/Cammunity Editer 985-2131 885-0511 985-6982 985-6222 985-2131 988-1337