8 — Friday, December 19, 1997 —- North Shore News islanders step up attack on B.C. Ferries News Reporter tan@nsnews.com BOWEN Island commuters have launched a second attack on B.C. Ferries in response to increased fares. After their request for an audit of B.C. Ferries by Auditor General George Morfitt was rejected, commuters estab- lished a new society and will initiate a court case against B.C. Ferries. In a press release Thursday, the Bowen Island Ferry Fares Strategy Committee, which requested the audit, said it had sect up Ferry CURE, a coali- tion of ferry users “to re- -establish equity in ferry rates and practices.” In January 1998, the society will commence proceedings against B.C. Ferries and request a report on its whol- ly owned subsidiary, Catamaran Ferries International (CFI). _ CFI is building three controversial $74-million catamarans for the Horseshoe Bay-to-Nanaimo route. At the same time, the firm is trying to sell catamarans globally to reinvigorate the sagging B.C. shipbuilding industry. Ferry CURE said B.C. Ferries is act- ing beyond its statutary powers in paying for ship industry training and capital COSTS. “These are industry costs and not costs of building or operating the ferry system,” said Elbert Paul, a Bowen Island chartered accountant who is also a committee member. Those costs and other costs relating to catamaran construction are built into the ferry corporation’s rate structure, said the group. “These are industry costs and nct costs of building or operating the ferry system.” — Elbert Paul, chartered accountant Ferry CURE argues the Ferry Corporation Act requires that the corpo- ration give consideration to the cost of operating and maintaining ferries, termi- nals and other assets and the amount required to meet depreciation and inter- est charges. $8.2 Approximately million for welder training to build catamarans are ineligible public-policy costs, said Ferry CURE. Ferry CURE added that the use of an independent subsidiary such as CFI, which Ferry CURE says is nor subject to an independent audit, results in inade- quate financial reporting practices. Meanwhile, Richard Goth, a member of the Ferry Fares Strategy CG ‘committee, rebutted Victoria’s attempt to extend an olive branch. On Wednesday, Employment and Investment Minister Dan Miller appoint- ed mediator John Fryer to work with Gulf Island ferry commuters to get B.C. Ferries’ stakeholder consultation process “back on track.” Goth called the appointment ridicu- lous. If B.C. Ferries wants to have arbi- tration, it should first rofl back ferry fares to what they were before hikes took effect in mid-November, he added. “Until such time, we are not amused,” said the owner of a small trucking company. A book of 10 car and driver tickets for islanders was hiked from $122.70 to $152.70, said Goth. It was the second fare increase of 1997. The Bowen route lost nearly $2 mil- lion in the last fiscal year. Dix’s death cause a mystery Robert Gaister News Reporter robert@nsnews.com MORE than six weeks after a maid discovered the lifeless body of real ‘estate developer Kerry Dix in his bedroom, the West Vancouver police are still unclear on the specific circum- stances surrounding his death. West Vancouver Police spokesman Const. fan Craib said two investigators are working on the case. Last Tuesday, the police revealed that Dix’s death *4 different 6 pack sets to choose from *Lifetime warranty resulted from a drug overdose but “have yet co rule out either foul play or suicide.” According to a B.C. Coroner’s Service spokesman, the drug that killed Dix on Oct. 28 was heroin, but there was not cnough of the drug left in the syringe found beside Dix to determine its potency. Dix, 50, was well-known in North Shore real estate circles, where he was active in the °70s and °80s. In recent years, he was a principal in The Dix Group which specialized in the acquisi- tion, development and resale of proper- ties. At the time of his death Dix was being investigated by the Securitics Commission (BCSC) for an alleged misappropriation of $2.8 mil- lion that was supposed to have been held in trust. “We contacted his lawyer and he agreed not to raise any more funds until the matter was resolved,” said Gerry Halischuk, manager of investigations at the BCSC. Halischuk said BCSC staff were scheduled to meet with Dix on the same day he was found dead in his Bellevue Avenue home. North Shore Customers Get 15% Off at P| MEXICO ie A We've moved from Park Royal to an exciting new location in Kitsilano: 9949 West 4th Avenue (Between Yew & Vine) Visit our new, all-furniture store. ZAPATA & CO., and our original MEXICO ARTE gift shop next door, and save 15% on any purchase until March 31st, 1998. We miss you! MEXICO ARTE Celebrating 10 years in Vancouver Tel: (604)739-1767 Fax:(604)739-1769 Promotion valid for North Shore residents only. 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