Final bridge design debate From page 1 Redlin made the comments to a North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting audience on Thursday. A day earlier, Clark had out- lined the government’s plan for the Lions Gate Bridge. He said Victoria would: @ spend a maximum of $70 million on the aging span; @ favor a tunnel under Stanley Park; @ not support a widening of the controversial causeway through the park. Transportation Minister Lois Boone was expected ro flesh out Clark’s comments today. Because Redlin did not want to steal the politician's thunder, his comments Thursday were limited. Redlin told the chamber that Boone’s announcement would not include a final design for a new crossing. Instead, it will be a plan to bring together local govern- ment and the private sector s0 all sides can work together to produce what Redlin called an affordable and environmentally sensible solution. Saying the government is not really looking at third cross- ing options, he called the $200- million option linking a four- lane bridge crossing to a four- lane causeway through Stanley Park the most “cost-effective” solution. For an estimated $610 mil- lion, the province said a four- lane tunnel under the park and Burrard Inlet could be con- structed. Noting considerable support in Vancouver and on the North Shore for a tunnel option, Redlin said: “The government will be challenging local gov- ernments and the private sector in the coming months to prove us wrong on our estimates and offer a lower cost, and also find a financing method that will provide the revenues to pay for construction.” He added the government favors tolls that are dedicated to improvements to a particular facility and there must be a non-tolled alternative, in this case the Second Narrows. Although chamber trans- portation committee chairman Bill Perrault agrees with the four-lane bridge concept, he objects to a Lions Gate-specific roll. “A few cents a gallon over a number of years would raise a lot of mioney,” he said. North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Katherine Whittred also wasn’t happy with all she heard. She worries that the agenda to do something about the bridge has been co-opted by the desire to save the environment in the park. That’s a noble goal but it’s introducing a whole new issue into the discussion, she said. “The repair or replacement of the bridge as a source of transportation has become sec- ondary to the status of the causeway,” she concluced. "NEWS photo Cindy Goedmen NORTH Shore Taxi cabbie Sukhi Saroya is pleased about a province-wide blitz to thoroughly inspect all taxis. Saroya's three cabs passed the mechanical inspections without any problems. 26 North Shore cabs unk gov't inspection Friday, April 18, 1997 — North Shore News — 3 Human remains identified By Michael Becker News Editor NORTH Yancouver RCMP confirmed Wednesday the identity of human bones found last year on Mount Seymour. The remains are those of Mary Lidguerre. She was 30 years old when she disappeared from east side Vancouver streets in July of 1995. Police describe her as “a known street person.” She was often seen in the area of Clark Drive and east Hastings Street. Vancouver Police investiga- tors suspect Lidguerre may have «, met he death at the hands of 2 serial killer who murdered as many as five prosti- tutes in 1995, Said North Vancouver RCMP Const. Tom Provincial program aimed at idling defective vehicles By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter SUKHI Saroya is proud of the three cabs he owns. Saroya’s 1984 Cadillac, 1986 Pontiac Parisienne and 1988 Capri Classic Brougham all passed a thorough provincial government mechanical inspection this month with flying colors. “I think the inspections are great. They should be mandatory, not just once every 10 years for bad news, but every three to six months to make sure commercial vehicles are safe on the road,” Saroya said on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Burnaby resident is an eight-year veteran of North Shore Taxi. Saroya’s cabs were among 23 of the 105 taxis inspect- ed on the North Shore that passed on the first try. ‘But almost the same number, 26, were in such poor condition that they had to be taken off the road. A minority of those cabs taken off the road belonged to North Shore Taxi. North Vancouver RCMP Sgt. Bob Beaudoin said they were bracing for worse results based on driver com- plaints, customer complaints and the high numbers of cabs taken off the road in Vancouver and Richmond. The condemned cabs on the North Shore had broken frames, major defects in steering boxes or brakes or defective fuel systems. Many of the cabs are fueled by natural gas or propane which use pressurized tanks in the vehicles. Saroya stressed that it was unfair to blame cabbies and taxi company owners for faulty propane and natural gas conversions in taxis. Saroya said a propane conversion costs about $2,500 and natural gas about $3,000. “Ifyou would look at any commercial fleet, including the police, you will find faulty installations,” said Saroya. Meanwhile, Beaudoin said the rest of the cabs inspected on the North Shore were rejected with minor problems such as broken lights and failed air care tests. The traffic sergeant said it was not unusual for a inspected taxi to have travelled 300,000 to 750,000 kilometres. Beaudoin noted that since the provincial government decided to do thorough mechanical inspections of all cabs in the province, a lot of shiny new taxis have appeared in the Lower Mainland. Motor Vehicle Inspector Jay Northcott who took part in the inspections was unavailable for comment to press time Thursday. The cabs inspected were from North Shore Taxi and Sunshine Cabs. The taxi cab inspection on the North Shore took place at the Lynmouth ICBC claims centre. Seaman, “It’s very possible. We’re not ruling that out, that’s for sure.” Police have a suspect in the murders but no charges have been faid. Lidguerre’s remains were found cn Aug. 16, 1996, by provincial parks department workers. They had originally found a BMV, stolen in Vancouver, that had gone over an embankment on Mount Seymour. The bones were scattered about. No clothing was found in the search. A cause of death remains elu- sive due to decomposition. Lidguerre’s identity was made ~ possible through dental records. Information regarding this case may be forwarded to the Mounties at 985-1311 or to Crime Stoppers at 669-8477. POLICE seek leads about Mary Lidguerre. Health management reduced From page 1 They added the majority of nurses at the hospi- tal support their call for Schamborzki to step down. The two nurses agreed with doctors that during this uncertain period, as the health region and the hospital move toward a more integrated model of health-care delivery, Schamborzki has opcrated as an individual and not sought their input. Said Stojkovich: “You cannot initiate and suc- ceed at change unless you have the majority of peo- ple behind you. “She does not have the majority behind her.” The two nurse representatives said one of Best’s abilities was to make unpalatable changes accept- able. . Stojkovich said Best’s firing has led to an unsta- ble, who’s-next feeling at the hospital. But there are cracks in the hospital staffs soli- darity against the board and Schamborzki, who is in charge of trying to make the North Shere’s health system inore efficient while delivering Victoria’s model of what ir calls “closer to home” health care. Sue Parker, a medical lab technologist who's also a member of a health-care services committee that advises the board, said the elimination of what she called far too many managerial positions at the hospital is critical to reach the goal of streamlining the region’s health care. “f think it’s necessary,” she said..“Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” The Health Sciences Association member said it’s the responsibility of Schamborzki and the board to cut positions when responsibilities can be dis- persed among others. “You might say I have an axe to grind ... but I really think what Inge and the board are doing is - the way to go,” she said. “T think they are shooting from the hip,” said Parker of the doctors and the nurses. “I think they are caught up in the emotion and I don’t think they are giving (Schamborzki and the board) a fair shot.” She also resented comments by an HEU staff member that the hospital is a rudderless ship due to Best’s dismissal and daily changes at the hospital. Parker said the patient comes first. “I’m still doing my job with or without Lynette Best,” she said. On Wednesday, Schamborzki said she did not remove Best in a cold fashion as some have indicat- ed. Instead, Best, who lost her job in a hospital management streamlining move, received income, benefits and counselling. “I don’t think there is a way to delete someone’s job that is ever going to be viewed by individuals losing their job or by their colleagues as appropri- ate or acceptable,” said Schamborzki. The CEO added Best was offered a standard package for senior public service workers that includes a month’s salary for each year worked. In Best’s case, that works out to approximately $148,000 in salary. Schamborzki said she could not currently dis- cuss the specifics of Best’s package, which is still being negotiated. . While calls for Schamborzki to step down mount, she continues to cut management positions from North Shore health services with the backing of the health region board. Schamborzki announced Wednesday that more management positions will be eliminated in the region, including top staff at North Shore Home Support and North Shore Community Heafth Services and four senior positions within North Shore Health. Schamborzki said the health region is exploring whether there are positions for the redundant man- agers within the health region. For the managers who the board can’t find positions for, severance will be part of the package offered, said Schamborzki. Schamborzki added a three- to six-month role study for Lions Gate Hospital will be performed. She anticipates the $50,000 to $70,000 study will direct decisions regaz-,ing the present and future role of the hospital within the context of the com- munity’s needs, the new regional health care struc- ture and tight fiscal realities. . — tan@nsnews.com