AS we edge towards a new year with new challenges, it’s time to give in to the spirit of the season and thank our local politicians for their public service. Now, I know this is a novel cancepi, since elected representatives rarely get caught doing things nght. So Pi throw in some unsolicited advice as well with these good wishes for 1997, First, to North Vancouver District Council: in the new year you will need to demonstrate that you're actually worth the salary increase you've just approved for yourselves. Let’s face it, voters should be suspicious when one of the first actions following an election is increasing the pay and raticns of politicians. Personally, 1 think the raise may be justi- fied, especially since the duties of a municipal council- lor are rapidly becoming a full-time job. The challenge now is to prove it. To North Vancouver City Council: don’t be bash- ful; don’t be shy; and don’t be afraid of joining with North Van District Council’s important initiative appoint- ing a citizens’ task force eee x we Bi, Maite hth, Th yee oy mals sya 7, ts es sR ees RIAL ELI NEAR RATES ARE TNS PASE BIL ATE ecw a second opinion studying amalgamation. There’s no harm in taking a good, hard look at this issue, especially if it would save money for local taxpayers. Having an open mind doesn’t mean you're required to have empty minds. ‘fo West Vancouver Council: Canada’s most self- satisfied community has a new mayor, Pat Boname. As the first female mayor in the municipality’s history, she has an opportunity to provide a new kind of leadership for a new council. Let’s hope she asserts herseif. A good place io begin would be ending the past practice of secret meet- ings, where all of the real decision-making in West Vancouver was made in polit- ical back-rooms, away from the public eye. What's there to hide? To the North Shore’s provincial representatives: our four Liberal MLAs have been virtually invisible since the B.C, election seven months ago. Two of them are new to the job, so presum- ably they've been busy figur- ing out what an opposition MILA is supposed to do ina province where the legislature is only very rarely in session. The other two are old hands now, who've apparently dis- covered that when they stick their heads out of the politi- cal fox-hole, they're likely to get them shot off. Since none of them are government MLAs, they form an impotent mini-cau- cus who unfortunately can do the North Shore a lot more harm than good. While the leaders of their party engage in the politics of sleaze and character assassination, our local opposition MLAs are probably best advised to con- tinue their self-imposed code of silence. After all, whenever they open their mouths it tends to harm our interests and delays any possible progress on North Shore issues. Let’s hope, therefore, that our local MLAs have a very quiet new year. After a busy year of poli- tics, with provincial and municipal elections now behind us, we can look tor- ward to an alinesr certain federal election in 1997, pos- sibly as early as the spring. Wonders of wood-burning heat Dear Editor: How quick we forget! The government of Canada in the ‘70s or ‘80s, if I remember the years correctly, strongly pro- moted the use of wood-bura- ing space heaters and made available to all homeowners exhausting information regard- ing installation and responsible clean operation of such devices, So many of us subscribed to those ideas, and invested heavi- ly in such installations. Owners using only well-dried wood fuel - will never give cause for com- plaints. Owners producing annoy- ing visible pollution should be stopped, Besides, many older buildings are being demol- ished, and the number of NEW & USED LEASES ALL MAKES AVAILABLE now check them out at Capilano Volkswagen 1151 Marine Drive North Vancouver Tel: 985-0694 wood-burning heaters is dwin- dling. And finally, only those of us who own this sort of equip- ment can fully appreciate the wonderful warmth — those heaters give, especially when there is a lengthy hydro power failure, and all other heating equipment goes dead, which happens from time to time along the entire North Shore. Frank Tschumi West Vancouver Al DIVORCE SETT!EMENT AU Persian & O ong established n & Oriental carpet company will be dissolved by MANY ITEMS AT NO RESERVE, NO MINIMUM @ Partial List: Persian Royal Kirman, Masterweaves, Bm Silk Prayer Rugs, Double Wool Bokharas, High # Quality Chinese, Tribal Chichakto and Baluchies, Indo Kashan, Tabriz, Heriz, Good Quality Aubussons, Runners, Silk and Kurk Wool and Silk Isfahan, Gabeh with natural dyes, antique Ardabil, Zanjan, Khemseh and many more. Variety of sizes and styles. AT: Masonic Hall 1763 Bellevue H West Vancouver ‘Terms: 10% Buyers premium charge to be added, Bank m Certified Cheques, VISA, MasterCard and Amex accepted. § & (fer: Bs) some items subject to a reserve ms ss To Ted White, the Reform MP fer North Vancouver: you've indicated your intention to seek reelee- tion, so steel vourself fora tough fight. While Preston Manning's Reformers are low in the polls, White is one of those rarities in federal politics who hos actually paid more atten- tion to his constituents than to the partisan shenanigans in Ottawa. We'll scon tind out if this maverick approach will win him the favor of North Vancouver voters once again. To Herb Grubel, the Reform MP for West Vancouver: vou’ve indicated your desire to step down after a single term in office, Thank you for serving as an elected representative at a time when few people in our country are prepared to make such a per- sonal sacrifice. And thanks for reminding us that politics isn’t a life- long career; nor is it necessar- ily a dirty little game played by misfits with over-inflated egos. The race to succeed Grubel as the MP for the new federal riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast wiil be one of the most intriguing political contests to watch in 1997, And to all of the North Shore’s elected representa- KIDS FOLLOW THE WATER SAFETY RULES DO You? od The Canadian Red Cross Society You DO have a choic (private auto insurance). tives: may you have a very successful year in the tough, challenging, often thankless task of listening to con- stituents, helping them find their way through the bureaucratic maze of govern ment, speaking out on their concerns, resisting the temp- tadion to grandstand for media attention on phoney issues, and savoring those few occasions when you can make even a small contribution to * Lower rates, better coverage and service Sos © Loss of use and rental car coverage included * Monthly payment plan available Showroom 2210 Cambie Sz. 875-0045 Clearance Centre 56 East 2nd Ave. 873-6575 el maintaining or improving our privileged lives here on the North Shore. Public service is really its own reward. Happy New Year! — The Narth Shore News believes strongly in freedam of speech and the right of all sides in a debate to be heard. The columnists published in the News present differing points of view, but those views are not necessarily those of the newspaper itself. vance | @ Royal Insurance | Our expertise is your best paticy.” toe : INSURARGE BROKERS + EST 1808 1900 Lonsdale Ave, 988-1148