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Media must keep
eye on bottom line

Dear Editor:

Re: Your Oct. 25 front page
story, Seymour forest rezoned to
park:

I was intrigued by the sub-
heading: “The people spoke, and
council listened.”

This shows that democracy is
working at the community level,
and the North Shore News is
doing its job in getting important
issues in front of citizens."

Bravo to both the News, and
especially to the activists who
took up this cause.

The higher up you go, however,

the less public accountability and.

information there is. -:..

Take for example, the sinister
Bill . C-62,;°" the so-called
“Regulatory - Efficiency Act,”
‘which received first reading Dec.
6,.1994. |

The Canadian’ Environmental
‘Law Association says the act,
which .allows business. to’ avoid
_regulations by seeking “compli-

ance agreement” privately negoti-

ated with ministers, marks the end
“of any concept. of legal standards
applicable tc to all.

Is sone ‘of the ate a

different Induste
Including drug sf
health: care prov!
workers, retail Yo
industrlal. food |
and others,

through collec
with thelr emp
WE CAN DOT
AMD YOUR co-

- The liberal government is
“fast-tracking” this and other
dubious legislation - putting all
public safety and environmental
standards at risk.

Where have the media been?

Something as sweeping and
devastating as this deserves full
coverage, so all voters may know
how their government is selling
them out to the interest of big
business” bottem line.

The “efficiency” is to make it
easier to circumvent existing laws.
that protect us in favor of back-
room deals.

l-say we must flood the prime
minister's office with mail protest-
ing this egregious bill, which was
pulled for redrafting a few months
ago, but is currently poised to be
put to committee.

We must also demand full dis-

“closure of the implications, and:

that hearings should be hefd across
the country’ where citizens can
learn’ the facts and make_ their
wishes known.

Victoria Hogan
North Vancouver

Dear Editor:

I don't know all the facts on the
railroads, but [ feel it is much more
complex than the Nov. 15 News edi-
torial, “Rail way.”

I think the railway crossing at
Second Narrows. and the track to
Pemberton Avenue _in North
Vancouver is owned by CN Rail.

That's why BC Rail passenger
station and freight yards are so far
west of Lonsdale. ‘

Isn't it an irony that Amtrak is
now running a successlul passenger
service to Vancouver, when there
are now no connecting trains to
points cast and north on BC Rail to
Prince George?

Since Paul McElligott became
president of the provincial BC Rail
Crown corporation, passenger ser-

.vice has fallen, yet not a peep from

press or politician. No investigative
articles have ever appeared to my
knowledge. Since 1990 passenger

customers have declined and within...

the past two years fares have
increased over 100%.

Bryan Mitten’s Nov. 10 News
letter to the editor —- “Link Whistler
by Rail” shows how little the public
knows: about BC Rail operations,
including those who live on the
North Shore.

Back about 1972, BC Rail drasti-
cally cut back on local freight ser-
vice up to Whistler, Lillooet and
beyond. '

This included no more refrigera-
tor car service for dairy. products,
beer, etc. This was before the phe-
nomena! growth of Whistler.

Think of all the truck traffic that
could be eliminated from the Sea-to
-Sky Highway if local freight ser-
vice was resumed. |

I agree totally with Bryan Mitten
that there should be commuter ser-
vice on BC Rail: at least to
Squamish. Any government subsi-

dization needed would be far less’

than highway improvements or a
secondary highway, and much safer

and environmentally friendly as.

well.
Don't forget that all motor vehi-

cles, including the trucking industry,

ane already heavily subsidized. by
governments who build, maintain
and police the roadways, while rail-
ways have to factor in the cost of

building, repairing and maintaining =: “

thtir tracks into the price of fares
and cargoes.

‘Peter King’s ‘Nov. 17 letter, |
“NDP MLA missing the bus in tran-
sit debate,” misses a very. important at

point.

If motorists could be persuaded

to take the bus at least two out of :.°

five days a week, there wouldn’t be
any congestion and all vehicles,
including buses. would move. at”
much better speeds, , :
This could cost ..the taxpayer
nothing and could. happen,
overnight, if people lost their subur-
ban mentality. I'm sure BC Transit
would readily, respond with: more, :
drivers and buses should’ they be
faced with increased demand for
their service: =."
Lorraine Fisher
North Vancouver

A Tradition of Excellence

Karen Magnussen, Grant Connell Brett
: Hull, and Linda Moore are just a few of

our members who have reached the

pinnacle of their sport from beginnings at |

our Club. As proud as we are of them,
. the real success of the Club i is. the quality
and reas of. programs aimed at

1325, East Keith Road, North Vancouver _

Grant Connell, member

Phone: 985-4135