— f HERE IT 1S GANG!... “THIS 1S WHERE WERE GOING TO SPEND OUR SUNTMER, HOLIDAY? MW Loose change HOULD THE present provincial government choose to centinue the practice of utilizing Crown societies to implement programs at arm’s length — @ process much favored by the former Socred regime — it is imperative thai such: organizations become more publicly ac- countable. This year’s report from the provincial auditor general included a broad review of non-profit societies established by gov- ernment. It seems that accountability to the fegislative assembly, and by extension to the public, is poor or nen-existent. There are 18 Crown societies. Fifteen of them were created since 1985. In the 1990-91 fiscal year the societies had revenues totalling $50 million. Grants from government totulled $41 million. At the end of March 1991, assets totalled $81 million and debts stood at $15 million. A Crown society is often the result of a desire of a minister or ministry to find a way to deliver a program separately from government, but with some degree of con- trol. Ministries responsibie for the affairs of such societies provide them witk operating funds from within ministry budgets or through Lottery Fund grants. Possible benefits to government include greater flexibility in management and operations; reduction in government in- volvement, and availability of outside funding — in short, 2 more entrepreneurial way to go. But there is a major downside — loss of accountability and fack of public disclosure. Reporting practices must be tightened and yerformance must be objectively measured. The days of playing loosely with public meney should be behind us. Trustee Furk true to her convictions Dear Editor; couver, was “playing politics’’ her from other members, she has in answer to G. Madden’s bias- ed letter of July 8, he accuses West Vancouver Schoo! District ‘Trustee Margot Furk of stalling the process of selling Hillside school land to finance a new school at Caulfeild. Mr. Madden implied that Furk, having moved to North Van- Publisher Peter Speck with the future of West Van- couver’s children. We attended all schoo! board meetings, also two private meetings with trustees, and find Mrs. Furk the most intelligent of the trustees. At all times, greatly to her cred- it, and with great pressure against Display Advertising 980-0511 Dist -nution _acted according to her convic- tions. She has done what she con- siders right; that is, not to tear down a needed. school so as to rush into building Mr. Player’s vaunted high-tech school. . Rosemary Hazen West Vancouver 986-1337 & Managing Editor .. . Timothy Renshaw Asseciate Editor Noet Wright Advertising Director .. Linda Stewart Comptroller Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualitied under Schedule 111, Paragraph Ill of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday oy North Shore Free Press Lid. and distributed to every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3885. Subscriptions Norih and West Vancouver, $25 per @ar. Mailing rates available on request. ubmissions are welcome but we cannot accept tesponsibility for unsolicited material including Manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. Newsrcom V7M 2H4 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Fax Subscriptions 986-1337 985-3227 Administration 985-2131 MEMBER * Printed on 10% recycled 985-2131 SUXOAY © WEDNESDAY * FRIOAY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. SDA DIVISION 61,882 (average circulation. Wednesday, Friday & Sunday} Entire contents © 1992 North Shore Free Press Ltd. Al! rights reserved. NAFTA is the wrong medicine § again, Mike! FAR REMOVED from the constitutional killing fields, Trade Minister Michael Wilson has been working hard for seven months to save George Bush’s badly burned bacon with a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Mr. Wilson, whose solemn statements no Canadian under- stands — none having ever coin- cided with facts — believes free trade is the answer to all our eco- nomic woes. NAFTA would, in essence, add Mexico to the 1988 U.S.-Canada free trade pact with some bells and whistles added. The talks between Wilson, tough Yankee hozse trader Caria Hills and Mexican Trade Minister Jaime Serra — at this writing, still mired in some major snags — have been notabie for their secrecy. A Masonic convention would have kept Canadians better informed of its doings. Now, the pressure is on to tie up the deal within days, so that it can be rammed through Congress as a last hope for the embattled Bush at the November election he's virtually certain to lose. Meanwhile, Mr. Wilson, who once undertook to cut Ottawa’s deficit by one-third, assures us NAFTA will bring new export openings that are just what Canada needs to restore its eco- nomic health. This was the story, remember, with the origina! 1988 U.S.- Canada pact —- but unfortunately only half of it proved right. To- day, exports are indeed doing fine, thanks to a weak dollar and exporting firms compelled to become leaner, meaner and more cost-efficient. Dropouts simply closed shop and laid off everyone, The smart ones cut costs by replacing employees with technology wherever possible. Others moved plants to lower-cost U.S. labor markets (and think of the far Jower-cost labor in Mexico, where we export almest nil!). As a result, the stubborn reces- sion is into its third year, while the jobless have soared from 10.5% to 11.6%. What the soothsayers in Ottawa forgot is that prosperity — like charity — begins at home. Without it, exports ALONE benefit only those directly invoiv- ed, Japan, though recently beset with its own problems, knows this. During its 35-year expansion spree it guarded its home market with protectionist barriers like a bear guarding her cubs, while seli- ing vigorously all the time to a world hungry for its quality pro- ducts. MICHAEL WILSON... statements. sojemn Noel Wright oe he oA. ? HITHER AND YON High, stable employment within .. Canada itself — which means fots . of Canadians making and doing things for lots of other Canadians with the wages to afford them — has to be the first goal, not simply churning out cut-price goodies. and raw materials for foreigners. Gnce again, Mike, your NAF- TA bromide is the wrong medicine -— and known now to have dan- gerous side-effects, taken on an empty stomach. , WRAP-UP: Don your kilt and tartan (or if a poor kiltiess Sassenach, just go as you are) to the fifth annual Day in Scotland» Sunday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Waterfront Park — with piping competitions, Highland dancing and all the other tradi-- tional Gaelic gambols galore ...-- Attention the West Van High ~~ Class of ’72, whose big 20-year = | reunion is set for Oct. 9-10. Make sure of being in on the fun by *:... calling Hamish, 986-9336, or.” Lyen, 980-1927 soonest... Send queen-size birthday greetings to- - day to former West Van resident. Nora Ann Birkenhead in ; Evergreen House. Born Aug. 7, 1885, she celebrates the start of her 108th year! ... And tomorrow, Aug. 8, wish many happy returns to North Van’s John Treijs. . . oe . . WRIGHT.OR WRONG: Ju: because the river is quiet, don’t. count on the crocodiles ha left: . (Malaysian proverb). CARLA HILLS... tough hores. — trader. :