MaILBox

NVI Council should have
supported striking nurses

Dear Editor:

The real issue that came out of
the nurses’ strike is whether we in
British Columbia will regain the
health standards we had achieved
over many years or whether we will
slide to the level of a third world
country.

There is absolutely no doubt
that the nurses’ demands are
justified.

Anyone who has visited a hospi-
tal or who has been a patient
knows that our hospitals suffer
from acute staff shortages and
work overload.

According to Statistics Canada
for 1988-89, B.C.’s per patient day
funding for hospitals ranks only
ninth among the 10 provinces; the
result of years of cutbacks and
chronic underfunding of hospitals.

At one time, B.C. was leading
Canada in health standards. Our
system was as good as any in the

industrialized world. Now, only
Quebec puts less money per patient
day in the hospitals, and B.C.
government contributions have
fallen to a level which is 20 per
cent below the national average.

So what's the effect of all this?
The effect is that there are insuffi-
cient nurses.

Nurses are leaving the profession
or accepting jobs in other countries
and we are not training enough
new nurses to take their place.

Nurses who are on the job are
rapidly becoming burned out and
demoralized, thanks to the theories
of the government in Victoria.
Fortunately, the public does un-
derstand this and is solidly behind
the nurses.

I made a resolution at district
council asking that we support the
nurses isiasmuch as their demands
are justified and that we request
the provincial government to in-

struct the Health Labor Retations
Association to negotiate in good
faith with the Nurses’ Union and
conclude a fair and equitable con-
tract as quickly as possible.

The resolution also asked that
we seek simultaneous support from
both the City of North Vancouver
and the municipality of West Van-
couver,

Unfortunately, my resolution
was defeated. Ald. Murray
Dykeman, council’s representative
to the North Shore Union Board
of Health, thought that it was too
biased in favor of the nurses.

In my opinion, the real reason
council would not support the res-
olution is that they dare not risk
losing the support of their political
friends in Victoria for the next
municipal election.

Ernie Crist, Alderman
District of North Vancouver

Commemorative area would attract tourists

Dear Editor: ;
. I'm voicing my _ enthusiastic
support for Kelly Phillips’ cam-
paign to establish a memorial to
Group of Seven painter Frederick
Varley on wilderness land in North
Vancouver near the inter-river area
currently being threatened by pro-
posed residential development.
Until recently, I was unaware
taat this enormously influential! ar-
tést had lived on the North Shore.

Thinking of Seiling?
Cail —

J. Michael Gendron
For all your
Real Estate needs

integrity & Service
with a smile

Call Michael at:

984-9711

(on pager)

| Realty

‘SRC, Realty Corporation|

Feature Special |

Green

One of Canada’s genuine cultural
visionaries, Varley was a_ true
modernist in every sense, and his
work has become recognized and
valued far beyond our borders.
Memorializing his years as a res-
ident of Lynn Canyon would be a
terrific boost to the growing North
Shore arts awareness program and
a@ source of community pride. Like
the Malcolm Lowry Walk area in
Cates Park, a Varley com-

memorative area is a _ surefire
visitor-oriented attraction with
both educational and environmen-
tal appeal as well. It can’t miss.

And it’s a prettier proposal than
the 1990 monster vinyl boxes the
developers will give us.

Let’s hear more about the cam-
paign in our own community
paper.

Trevor Carolan
Deep Cove

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7 - Sunday, July 9, 1989 - North Shore News

JOIN US IN ONE MORE TRY

Monday, July 10 at 7:30
City Hail, 141 West 14th

- called off the last scheduled PUBLIC
MEETING with less than 4 hours
notice

- continues to issue building permits to
developers on an ad hoc basis

- has not yet set height limits for
planned highrises

- communicates well with developers
while the public remains in the dark

Force our ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES to respond to our
& concernts by attending this important
‘a public meeting.
Citizens’ Action Group
of Lower Lonsdale

FOR INFORMATION PHONE: 986-5755

City Hall:

JULY 10-16

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