GOVERNMENT TO UST THEAR WOLE-HiLt PROGRAMM. i Nai T'S TEME to start naming names. Federal Justice Minister Pierre Blais recently raised the issue of naming young offenders who commit violent crimes when he reportedly said that ‘the country had ‘done the right thing with ‘individual rights over the fast 10 years: of the charter. Now it’s time to look at not only the rights of the individual but society itself to be safe.” ”, , Yes, Mr. Blais,’ the time for naming “names - has always ‘been with us. It is the cornerstone of an effective and open ._ justice system. - ., For it is the anonymity afforded teens ” aged 12 to 17 by the Young Offenders Act ‘that can in large part be biamed for the rise in crime among young people. e names . Punishment is only half the deterrent to crime; publicity is the other haif. Secrecy of court proceedings removes . most of the sting from prosecution and leaves the offender free, beyond a clase circle Of acquaintances, from the sobering effects of public notoriety. It also undermines public confidence in the court system, because the public aever finds out who committed the crime or what their punishment was. Young hoods, who are usually children by technical definition only, currently have a Get Out of Jail Free of Pubticity card to play until they officially become adults. It’s time to cancel that card. It’s time the system started working for the victims,not the victimizers. “LETTER OF THE DAY Double-decker the solution for crossing any possible head-on collisions. Many North Shore residents are frustrated with the politics of the Dear Editor: : bridge. and building a new five-lane I have been reading the North Shore News with some interest as to the. decisions regarding the Lions Gate Bridge, as well as the many comments that come frem the pubdlic. Obviously the bridge is old, and will have to bé replaced sooner or later. Wouldn’t it be less expen- sive to deal with the situation now rather than wait for a few years? » Tam curious as to: who made Look at many of the bridges in’ the. United States. Their major Crossings’ are double-decker, one feyel heading in one direction, while the other in the opposite course. Why didn’t anyone sug- gest this when proposals were made regarding our bridge? This would solve the problems of complaints destruction of trees, as well as the constant lane-changing (which we regarding the: decision-makers; why not some type of a vote? I hope this suggestion is taken into consideration; it may be an expensive resolution, but it's for the of future of Vancouver and the North Shore. Stop putting off the: problems of today and. start considering tomorrow. Gigi Lyile West Vancouver have ake your pay for trying © {0 uZZie you SO YOU THINK freedom of speech —~ especially during elections — is your Canadian birthright? Sorry, dear - reader, but if you let Ottawa get away with its proposed new gag law, you'll have to think again. First, however, a brief history lesson, because the planned law is not really new at all. It’s a revi- sion of the infamous Bill C-169 which was sneaked through Parliament 10 years ago in just 40 minutes with the unanimous sup- port of Tories, Liberals and NDP _ alike. Bill C-169 banned clection campaign spending by anyone ex- cept’ the officially recognized por litical parties. It meant en- vironmentatists, pro-life or pro- choice advocates, consumers, » business spokespersons and in- numerable other groups entitled ta say how they wished to be gov- erned were simply silenced! —- on pain of up to five years in prison — once the election writ was issued, Happily, Bill C-16% remained unenforceable thanks to the Na-_ tional Citizens Coalition, a | Canada-wide organization which promotes ‘more freedom through less government,”’ The NCC mounted a successful court challenge which found the bill violated frecdom of speech | ’ guaranteed by the Charter of Rights, Now, the same old Tory- Grit-NDP gang, opposed only by the Reform party, is preparing to rehash Bill C-169 tor.the upcom- ing federal election — with just’ one meaningless modification which they hope may make it challenge-proof in the courts. This time citizens other than polit- ical partics would be free to spend up to $1,000, individually or as a group, before being thrown i ini the slammer. i Some concession! The $1,000 limit would buy about one-third of a page in a single issue of the North Shore News. Meanwhile, the three established parties will spend tens of millions,” Hence the support of, all three — not just Mulroney’s embattled Tories -— for the pending law. It serves the one common interest they share. They'll try anything to avoid another Oct. 26 fiasco. The’ . massive defeat of their Charlotte- town Accord, on which they joint-- ly spent some $500 million, taught them what opponents spen ding only a tenth as much can «chieve when backed by the basic beliefs of the people, freely expressed. So cut back free expression to a min- Noel Wright HITHER AND YON * Acourt challenge to this revived gag Jaw might not be resolved be- - fore the election is upon us. In the - meantime, therefore, our.only — hope is to guarantee personal . defeat for any MP supporting it, Today is none too soon to reach for pen, phone or fax machine — and let YOUR MP know the price he or she will pay for muzaling you. POSTSCRIPTS: Volunteers and canvassers are needed for the April Cancer Fund campaign — if you can help for a few hours, please call 985-8585 (North Van} or 925-1952 (West Van) ... Mt.Seymour Little League Association's a.g.m. is set for Thursday, Feb. 25, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Seycove community, sec- ondary school — contact president‘ Doug Buchsnun, 929-6623, for details ... Boys aged seven to 19 can register Feb. 27-28 at Lynn, | Valley Centre with the Morth Shore Softball Associats-7 - a.m. te 4 p.m. Saturday’, 4 p.m. Sunday, or call Jack Hub- bard, 987-BALL, for info... . Thursday to Saturday, Feb. 25-. 27, at 4360 Galant Avenue enjoy Deep Cove Shaw Theatre’s Act — 1/Scene 2 Variety Show benefit for director James Doyle ... Aad many happy returns of tomorrow, Feb. 25, to North Van Kiwanian Hugh McKay. WRIGHT OR WRONG: It’s a sil- « ly goose that comes toa fox’s sermon the suggestions of making repairs have to suffer through now) and @ Printed on 10% recycled newsprin) North Shere managed Distribution 986-1337 Subscriptions 986-1337 Fax 985-3227 Administration 985-2131 § MEMBER ones bt 1 EWS photo Brad Ledwidge Le > on 3 OPENING A new exhibit at North Vancouver’s Presentation SDA DIVISION House this.month featuring the history of Moodyville were North Vancouver City Mayer Jack Loucks (left) and North Vancouver Todel) and Archives curator John. Stuart (supporting period mode’ ; see teeeneeeineneneemmmmnenennnneneseemaane treet ee .. Peter Speck "Timothy Renshaw -Noet Wright Display Advertising 980-0511 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Publisher .” Klanaging Editor . Associate Editor |. . . Sales & Marketing Director. Linda Stewart Comptrolter . .Doug Foot Norh Shore News, founded in 1969 as. an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph IH of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore. Free Press Utd. and distributed to every door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Malt Sales - Product Agreement No..587238. Mailing rates available on request. Submissions are welcome but we cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures whictr should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. 1139 Lonsdale’ Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 Entire contents © 1993 North Shere Free Press Lid. All rights reserved, a +582 (average Circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday)