irect democracy on tap at session

North Vancouver District all-candidates meeting held

Jonathon Narvey
Contributing Writer

IT was democracy in
action.

Abour 80 people got to
see where their candidates for
mayor and council in North
Vancouver District: stuod on
the issue of direct democracy

this week during an all-candi-
dates meeting held
Wednesday night at the Lvan
Valley United Church,
The Nt was sponsored
yo othe North
District Residents for Direet
Democracy, which set the

NEWS photo mike Watetield

Scary site

GET in'a ghoulish mood with a visit to Steve Williams’
. Wast:Van House, 1488 Palmerston, this weekend.
Willlams annuatly donetes the proceeds from his
Hai laweun-ihemes house tour to Timmy’s Telethon.

Vancouver

tone for the speeches by the
candidates and question peri-
od that followed.

While all the candidates
spoke primarily about their
various plattorms for the
Nov. 20 municipal election,
almost all devoted some time
to the direct’ democracy
issue

er 20 vears on coun:
cil, Pve come to the conclu
sion that direct democracy is
the only solution to save our
democratic system,” said
Coun, i
political
state of ¢ beeause the
electorate has become cynical
because governments |
people are being dec
manipulated and “cheated, It
is an opportunity to give
more power to the people.”

The issue hasn’t been
swept under the carpet since
district council voted 4-3 ear-
lier this year against holding
a referendum to decide if dis-
trict citizens should adopt
direet democracy, as outlined
in the 1999 report by the
District Task Force on Direct
Democra

Direet democracy would
enable district residents to
initiate referenda covering all
district affairs.

Districe Mayor Don Bell,
who voted against the direct
democracy referendum,
expressed concerns about
bringing direct democracy to
the district.

“If I accepted that { was
morally bound to vote for the
results. of a referendum, pos-
sibly ignoring facts and int
ests presented at a public
hearing, 1 would be legally
and morally in breach of my
responsibilities and dutics 2

an elected member of coun-
cil,” he said

Bur other candidates saw
merit in direct democracy

“Yhe residents of North
Vancouver can make history
by electing a majority of can-
didates that support direet
democracy,” said district
council ndidate Albert
Weisstock.

“We can be a model for it
across Canada, It’s worked in
Switzerland tor over 130
years.”

But other candidates were

force: “E voted in favor of let-
ting the people decide
whether or not t wanted
dircet democracy. [ favor that
and | still do. We weren't
voting on whether we want-
ed it, but whether the public
can decide.

“The real issue is how dif:
ficult it would be to oper-
ate,” Munroe said. “Before
the public could have the
council put an item on a ref
erendum, they would require
abour 2,500 names. I've only
seen that happen once in six

Burt Bell foresaw other dif-
ficulties with direct democra-
cy.

“Often, you take a com-
plex issue and reduce it to a
one-line slogan that really
doesn’t address the issuc
that’s there. If you look at
the decisions district council
makes, there are very few
that come down to a simple
yes or no decision.”

Reterendums do have
their place inside a democra-
cy, Bell added. “What we can
do is use referendums for
information, Council can
take them into account and
balance them against our fis-
cal and legal responsibilities.”

less enthusiastic about using years.”
: erland as an example of
a working democracy.

“Switzerland only gave
women the right to vote in
1971}, and ¢ ater in some
cantons id Don Williams.

Direct democracy may
have other — drawb
Williams said: “Special inte
est groups will compete over
the agenda, with your com-
munity as the battletield.”

But other candidates were
more focused on the advan-
tages direct democracy could
provide.

“Special interest groups
are not necessarily a bad
thing,” said district Coun.
Lisa Muri, who is seeking re-
election. body in th
room belongs to a special
interest group. It’s not a bad
thing. It’s a good thing. It
promotes community
involvement.”

Said fellow Coun. Pat
Munroe, who is up for his
third term as councillor and
was council’s representative
on the direct democracy task

VIEW LOTS
For Sale by Posting

Single Family Lots situated in the
KILMER CREST subdivision,
1000 Block, Kiimer Road, North Vancouver.

Minimem Acceptable Prices:
$185,008 - $210,000

Packages giving full details must be picked up
from the Properties Dept. at Municipat Hall,
355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver
Tel: $90-2256
E-mait: baxterh@dnv.org |
http: Jw. dn. orgikitmercrest

Ay

eats:
superb sounding§

Stereo Music Syste rv

reas

. owered Subwoofer
delivers rich,

deep, solid

bass response, |.

or a natural, well-
defined mid-range
and smooth,
ag extended highs.

ompact, simple
remote contol in
addition to a full-
function main remete.

‘MusicBank’ 5 disc CD Changer
and AM/FM Tuner in brushed
silver or black aluminum
finishes. Rear panel keyholes
for easy wail mounting.

TB Nakamich

_Come irvand listen to:

what we are talking about