10 - North Shore News — Wednesday, March 15, 2000 saddened by sch Dear Editor: T was saddened by the Grade 7 letters in your Feb 11 issue. I am also suspi- cious, since they both said Virtually the same thing. Either this is the atzitude of students at Ross Road school, or they copied it off the chalkboard. Each is equally disquieting. So let’s consider some facts: Canada with a papula- tion of 27 million people, accepts as refugees each year, less than a tenth of 1% of that population. A person would have to be very desperate to set to sea in an over-crowded ship in dubious condition, or in 2 container. Would you do it? Many refugees are indeed forced to travel on false papers to escape. International law prohibits governments from penaliz- ing refugees for this. The current negative feel- ing towards the recent boats of refugees is simple racism. Consider that whoie fleets of boats from Europe invad- ed B.C. just over 100 years NOTICE OF POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING “OCP Revision — Consolidation of Issues & Amendment Process" Report The Policy Committee of Council will be considering the issue of “OCP Revision - Consolidation of Issues & Amendment Process" outlined in the report of the Planner dated December 7, 1999 at a public meeting to be held on Monday, March 20, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber City Hall, 141 West 14th Street, North Vancouver, B.C. The Policy Committee of Councii will receive representations with respect to the above topic. : The purpose of th the report to be reviewed by the Policy Committee, “Offi cial Community Pian Ravision ~ Consolidation of Issues & Amending Process”, is to: SE ommunt ye eae : 6F oe MAIL Box ago and brought: uninvited immigrants who showed no consideration for indigenous First Nations Canadians. I find this current attitude extremely hypocritical. Today one in four Canadians is from a background other than English or French. Who a “Canadian” is, is entirely a matter of opinion. Perhaps Ross Road school students would like to brush up on their history. Or visit to check their facts regarding refugees to Canada. Le Consolidate the issues identified in earlier OCP background papers; “Identify other. issue areas which require analysis prior to inclusion in a revisea. OCF; sé 3. Suggest two options regarding the OCP aniendment process; and 4. Suggest a public involvernent process and tentative timeline. The next steps are likely to be the drafting of a new OCP for discussion purposes, vased on the work spared to to date, and ithe comments received from the City’s advisory body. Staff Presentation. “Representations from the public. Discussion, :by members of the Policy Commitiee of Council. Recommendations from Policy Conimittee. ‘Adjournment. Councillor 0. R. Mussatto, Chair, invites all interested: members of the cublic to attend the Policy Committee Meeting and make comments on the above. Those whe wish to -“eview the referenced report dated December 1, 1999 can obtain copies from the va. City Clerk's office prior to the mecting. : 0 oon - Hawkshaw, city Clerk Lastly, neither refugees nor other immigrants take any resources away from homeless people. The government doesn’t care enough: about homeless peuple to fund preventive programs such as alcohol and drug addiction rehabilita- tion. Addiction is a major con- tibuting factor in homeless- ness. AM of Vancouver's rehab programs have (often very long) waiting lists. Meg Torwl North Vancouver Mayor Barbara A. Sharp : | Councifior Gill Bell” Councillor John Stsitivaaiee Councillor Bob Fearsiey Councttor Craii Keating “pel 2Tt y -- They are, after all the: of ie ol children’s letters No adolescent health survey needed here Dear Editor: The North Shore News deserves credit for both the front page and editorial coverage you have given to some of the issues surrounding, the ce-cmergencs of the McCreary Adolescent Health Survey here in Nerth Vanceuver. However, having discussed this issue with dozens of parents and teackers over the past few weeks, f also believe that you have missed a few key points that are of COUCEN TO US First of ail the tr: istees need to be ceminded chat this battle has already been foushe and that their prederessexs rejected this sur- vey in response lo the ¥ yishes or the parents it our commu: Ly, I don’t recall any of the trustees campaiuning on this issue in - last fall’s election. When both trasrees and parents have to Aight every battle twice ic’ SO WoT fer eur schewal SYSILTN is having trou- ble pe ting anything dene While we are not naive enough to believe thas we don't have any “at risk” childrens in our schoo! system, we fail to see nor have we been told how chic study oi) help to identify and assist those children At best, proceeding with this study is an exercise in social engi- neering, thar We believe 32 not part of our school system's mandate, This is a political action sunporied by and for the benefit of special interest groups sho wall’) ape to reccive more funding if they san find more “pre: cblems” to fix. Of course they have syreed to allow many of uur children to opt ont which would skew the. results in their tavour. This aione means that any survey cesults will be neither scleatilic of valid. We have more probieins in eur school systern than this school board. has the ime or money io Ex during ns current mandaic. Why then are they wasting se mitch of both on any issue thar has so much opposition. fom § its coustituents May we suggest that » few of your much ‘nigher Paorities arc better play grounds and athletic “ickds, assistansce for music depart- ments, iniplementation of the joint use of schools agreement. and. facilities such as a cafeteria at Sevcove secondary. Ac the Feb, 22 school boar id meeting Diswict 44 custec Guy Heywood mentioned that he was ted this study so fie could ese, both as a school custee aid as a recreation cormissioner, how his... customers were doing, As fir as.) know the North Vancouver: Recreation Commission has never endorsed nor even discussed this issue. To be implying support of the McCreszy st ation commission was both ineppropriats and 1 wihead Heywood. , One canect help but wonder if this recent decision 4 Of the | tristees 19 ignore me parents in North Vancouver would be the same if it was chree months before an election instead of just three mwnths affer one. Their arrogance in the face ofan av: alanchi:-of f opposition fom both individual pazeuts and those representing uson the PAC’s unbelievable. They surely saust. be hoping that we have, short’ memories, However, | 1 promise them that we will reracmber during the elece tions in 2002 that it was trustees Heywood, (Pat) Heal, , (Richard White, (Barb) McClellan and (Dorothy} Bell’ who voted agzins the wishes of their community in the year 2000." i by the recre- in by bar. , Daa Morrison North Vancouver Thanks to the for. aur WOrkt Dear Editor: genecatioas for reoul.d see use today. Is ik any und. pe iticians YOUR group. ‘Aad t - pensions aud hexiun cat: we provide for them are well spen T have Jearned many thisgs from cur aged populatio: Thank you, to the elderly, for teaching me about blind ; 1 to a tcle-serving god ond ourdated traditions. ! Theak you fer taching me f : ong. efter tt the deterioration of your ison, generation te: pay Jars you spent during the past 30 pperdng our head of: ster, of dictator inbree: a cencities Gil, for the ckims s they assault, rob or murdes : : Thenk you for giviug mea justice system dite pe pists aut for parole after serving two years in our federal penitentiar 'y/ Spas. Thank: you for shang 3 your ‘wiscon: with me by spouting out’ simpic, narrow-minded and derogatory remarks s about foreigners. Thank you for requiring ime to learn in sche this curacy "ce tuseflul and interesting history.) Thank you for creating a country ‘which I ha 2 respect for. and which I. ear SVanE: io ieav social system is 2 lost cause, ; _,, Lknow now aftec Svour by ending ny hits be: abundance of Matt: Was wick