18 - Sunday, November 23, 1997 — North Shore News Politicians square off over GVRD plan Crist versus Durman on local transit Catherine Barr Contributing Writer RING the bell for . ‘round one as two -. North Shore council- lors from different ’ municipalities prepare to go head to head on the Greater Vancouver Regional District’s (GVRD) transportation initiative. - West Vancouver District Coun. Victor Durman and North Vancouver District Coun. Ernie Crist do not agree on much when it comes to the GVRD transportation issuc. ; The current initiative pro- po ses to hand over control of ‘ancouver regional roads, bridges and transportation systems to the GVRD munici- palities. A newly created Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority. (GVTA} of 15 appointed _ representatives would then. assume control. The North Shore would have _ only one representative on the _ new board. — Questions. abour _ the amount of debt to be assumed and the enormous cost over- runs. have sparked a. lively debate among many GVRD municipalities. So far West Vancouver and Surrey are among the munici- palities :that have come out. solidly against the plan. Durman and Crist are pre- pared to fight it out. The wo are diametrically opposed in their opinions and show no ‘signs of backing down. “He (Crist) really doesn’t understand the liabilities he is raking on,” said Durman, “Mr. Crist seems to have the view, like any good socialist, to.tax the hell out of every- body and that will be good enough.” Durman said the current * transportation proposal is full of “enormous liabilities that have been undisclosed to the public.” - He said: “I think that Mr. Crist should be duly put in his rightful place and that he should read the letters that have been passed around from municipality to municipality with regards to the many questions (about) this agree- ment.” Vancouve « Genera os UBC Mosrral tal *,, NVD Ernie Crist ... time to learn from other big cities. © Crist called the “socialist” comment “inappropriate” and “not worthy of a reply.” He believes that it is time for the GVRD to take control of the situation and “accept the responsibility” for a shift towards, funding a better transportation system. Said Crist: “My point is, let us have the power to access- additional funding. We will be more accountable. The money will go to transporta- tion and not to the province.” Crist believes that every- one: should examine what he calls “the facts.” He said it is time to learn from other big cities that suffer from gridlock and pollution and to realize that more roads and bigger bridges only attract more vehicles. “Other citics have cried it and have found that the only way you solve the situation is through transportation,” Crist said. “As we analyse it, I believe that every intelligent person will come to the same conclusion.” He advocates a shift in planning and funding and wants transportation to be provi ided “virtually (fare) free” to encourage wide- spread use. But Durman said ‘Crist is being unrealistic given the province’s mishandling of the situation so far. He thinks that the public will be unfairly singled out and forced to pay for the heavily debr-ridden system. Durman says AirCare fees could increase to $100 and predicts the implementation of a vehicle tax that would force owners to pay for cach car on a per-kilometre basis. He said the public should ‘be concerned about the cur- rent transportation proposal and that “if the public knew exactly what was going on they would be voting this hands down.” 1,000,000 Cash © $100,000 in 36 rand Prize Jan.27 @ $1,000,000 in 20 "Luxury Cars @ $100,000 Cash econd Prize © $75 Cash Prize Dec.30 WV Coun. Victor Durman .«"(Crist) doesn’t under- stand the fiabilities.” Durman stated that he would also consider having West. Vancouver withdraw from the GVRD under ceriain circumstances. He said that the vote should be 75% in support of the proposal before proceeding. Ina set of letters to GVRD chairman George — Puil, Durnman asks for clarification on a number of items, He questions the acquisition of BC Transit employment con- tracts and the liabilires associ- ated with any inherited lands, roads, bridges and buildings. To date, Durman has received no answers. Meanwhile, Crist plans to te-introduce a motion to have the three North Shore munic- ipalitics mect to. debate the issuc. He said his motion will request “Mayor (Don) Bell to arrange an emergency mect- ing between all North Shore municipal councils, their staft, all North Shore MLAs ‘and members of the newly formed North Vancouver District Transportation Planning and Advisory Committee for the purpose of establishing a unit- ed position.” ‘Ao similar motion was defeated 4-3 ata recent North Van District council meeting. “I want us to sit down. | have given you my opinion and [ am prepared to sit down. Let’s hammer out a united position,” said Crist. West Vancouver Coun. Allan Wiltiams would agree. He proposed a similar motion this past week. Williams said that if the three municipalities do not . unite to form a position then the “skids will be greased and Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and New Westminster will control the issuc.” The GVRD municipalities are expected to vote on the issuc by the end of February 1998. OUR NORTH SHORE NEWSROOM OPEN LONSDALE QUAY UNIT 224 / CARRIE CATES COURT NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. V7M 3K4 TEL 904 5621 FAX 904 5324 _E MAIL interactive@vancouvertelevision.com WEB www. vancouvertelevision.com VANCOUVER “PAUL MENNIES t The North Shore Recycling Program invites YOute-., (set ‘the Gone” L | n8 Unique “shopping™ experience Take part in the North Shore's first amd Go November 29, 1997 1:00 to 5:00 pm: Anne MacDonald Hall . (333 Chesterfield Avenue, North Vancouver) Round up your used and unwanted household goods and bring them down to Anne MacDonald Hall on November 29. Every item you bring in entities you to take away an item of your choice -anyitem! Clothing, toys, artwork, skis - anything is possible! Comeondownand Get the Geeds on alternative gift-giving, holiday crafts, international Buy Nothing Day and scrumptious free food and drink. Join us at Drop, Swap and Go - be part of a new tradition. For event details, contact Maureen Rae-Chute at Cruises & Vacations ® $235,000 in 1,850 Entertainment Prizes @ 1,750 Lotte 6/49 $400 Subscriptions 000 Early Bird @ Bonus $100 Travel Voucher with ticket ® $200,900 More @ Better than 1 in 20 Cash Prizes chance to win! Buy. in person at Vancouver General and UBC Hospitals, or any London Drugs in BC. Total $2.8 Million to 3,768 Winners! Entry forms and rules at Bank of Montreal and Rogers Video. Our hospitals need your support now!