i ‘ 6 - Sunday, April 15, 1990 - North Shore News ir Viren Thon Laseni- I Athletic support North Shore athletes, aspiring or track and field facilities can no siherwise, and the North Shore com- Te SAD state of North Shore longer be overlooked. munity itself, deserve at the very least a Revelations in Friday's News show that the three North Shore muncipalities have spent the last 10 years examining, studying and considering construction of a decent athletic track. But, for all that, instead of creating a place where young athletes can safely train, we end up with various sub-stan- dard facilities where aspiring athletes are more likely to deveisy injuries than skills. Clubs with proud athletic traditions such as the NorWesters have been reduc- ed to the absurd situation of having to train after business hours in the parking lots of local shopping centres. track and field facility that meets the standards that are the norm elsewhere in the Lower Mainland. With the North Shore set to bid for the 1995 Western Canada Games, a profes- sional-class track facility is more than just an athletic luxury, it is an economic necessity. If the North Shore hopes to attract the kind of athletic events that can generate big local business dollars and other beneficial community spin-offs, and if it hopes to produce athletes who will focus national and international attention on the North Shore, a decent track facility is a must. “We need a catalyst.” NorWesters Track and Field Club president Dawn Copping, on how to resurrect North Shore municipal and school board action to establish a decent North Shore track and field facility, which has been studied and considered for the past 10 years. “It (the spill) was spotted right away so it was very minimal, but nonetheless it was very embarrass- ing.” Woodfibre technical and en-. vironmental manager Bili Rempel, commenting on the latest chemical spill at the Howe Sound pulp mill. “The park is there to be enjoyed but it skould be respected.’” North Vancouver District Fire Department Chief Rick Grant, commenting on the dangers of Publisher Associate Editor an Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, tounded in 1969 as an independent Lynn Canyon following the recent death of a hiker who fell into the canyon. “The uniforms should be changed for reasons of fashion, safety or practicality. I do not believe that these uniforms should be changed as a result of a request of a religious minority.”’ North Vancouver District Aid. Ernie Crist, presenting his motion opposing a change in federal gov- ernment policy that would allow Sikh RCMP officers to wear tur- bans as part of their uniform. “This has never happened to me before. F have never heard of this type of thing happening.”* Landscaper George Pithers, commenting on the theft of 30 rolls of lawn turf from a duplex development. THE VOICE OF MONTH AND WEST VANCOUVER SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY - FHIDAY suburban newspape! and qualied under Schedule 113. 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, Paragraph lil of the Excise Tax Act. «s published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by Nartn Snare Free North Vancouver, B.C. Press Lid and distributed io every door on the North V7M 2H4 Shore. Second Class Mai Registration Number 3 Subscuptions North and West Vancouver. $25 pet year 59,170 (average, Wednesday Mailing tales avaiable on request Submussens are Friday & Sunday) weicome bu! we Cannot accept fesponsibibty for unsoliciied maternal including manuscripts and pictures rj winch should be accompanied by a stamped. addressed envelope SDA DIVISION “I van a perfect campaign except for three mistakes — I ran for the ‘wrong party, in the wrong riding at the wrong time.”’ West Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail, commenting on his un- successful run for provincial voli- tics in 1952, “I’m a pretty tough old bird.” West Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail, on himself. ‘*Peopis said we were crazy to put this kind of thing out. For the first 10 years they were saying that. Now they're not saying it anymore.“ Ralph Harding, commenting cn reaction to his Total Recording Co. Ltd., which gathers and mar- kets sounds, Display Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advertising 986-6222 4 vy. Newsroom 985-2131 news Distribution 986-1337 d $ 986-1337 subscriptions 985-3227 MEMBER interesting times BEING APPOINTED a senator in Canada used to be called a ‘‘taskless thanks’’ from the prime minister of the day. Stan Waters, candidate for the Reform Party of Canada, will likely change all that. DAVID SOMERVILLE Guest Columnist On Oct. 16 he won an historic “Senate election’’ held in Alberta. Premier Don Getty held the elec- tion to determine whom he would recommend to Prime Minister Mulroney to fill! that province’s Senate vacancy. Getty eventually submitted the the list of those who stood in the election, including Waters, who gained more votes than all other candidates combin- ed. It’s possible -~ although unlikely — that Prime Minister Brian Mulroney could ignore the wishes of Albertans and refuse to appoint Waters to the Senate. External Af- fairs Minister Joe Clark — whose riding borders Edmonton — hinted as much when he bitterly and publicly attacked Waters only weeks after his win. Waters wants to cut taxes, reduce government spending and bring about mean- ingful Senate reform. Mulroney’s delay in appointing Waters, however, has more to do with the Reform Party than with Waters himself. If ‘Senator Waters’’ becomes a reality, it will give the Reform Party further credibility. That is something the federal Conservatives want to avoid at all costs. They realize that the Reform Party, with its conservative agen- da, threatens their political base in Western Canada and especially in Alberta. It is no secret that about three quarters of Reform sup- porters are disgruntled former Tories who feel betrayed by the Conservative government’s big spending, high taxing ways. {t is that Tory exodus which has made the Reform Party a political force to contend with. In the 1988 federal election, for instance, it took a respectable 15.4 per cent of the vote in Alberta. In addition, the Reformers elected their first member of Parliament in a by- election earlier this year. Not bad David Somerville. for a party that was only formed two years ago. As disillusionment with the Tories increases, the Reform movement will continue to grow. Consequently, unpopular Conser- vative policies like the Meech Lake Accord and the Goods and Service Tax will likely result in major Reform gains in the next federal election, A Reform Party success of any magnitude would spell big trouble for the federal Progressive Con- servatives. Without a western base it would be very difficult for the PCs to form a majority govern- ment. In fact, the Reform Party could conceivably hold the balance of power after the next general election. In any event, the Waters victory is a no-lose situation for the Reformers. If Mulroney does not appoint him he will drive more Westerners into the Reform camp. If he does appoint him the party gains instant Jegitimacy and another voice in Ottawa. Canadians are in for some inter- esting political times. David Somerville is president of the National Citizens Coalition, a right-wing advocacy organization whose slogan is ‘‘more freedom through less government.”’ 4 NEWS photo Neil Lucente WEST VANCOUVER Mayor Don Lanskail (left) and North Van- couver District Mayor Marilyn Baker help senior transit operator Bill Ovans hoist B.C. Transit’s centennial flag at the North Vancouver Transit Centre on 3rd Avenue, Ovans is B.C. Transit's loagest serving operator — he's been with the company for almost 42 years.