8 — Sunday, August 22, 1999 — Dear Editor: Open letter to the Honourable Gordon Wilson, Minister responsible for BC Ferries: I have been a resident of Horseshoe Bay for approxi- mately two years and have become increasingly interested in the proposed plans of the BC Ferry Corporation in my North Shore News ljorseshoe comnnunity. I was aware that the plans encompassed some new and significantly large structures, but FE could nor visualize the extent of the proposed pro- gram. On Monday, attended a meeting of con- cerned citizens “of West Vancouver regarding the terry June 28, I Since 1986 985-800 LYNN VALLEY CENTRE north shore news MAIL BOX projects and was aghast at the scale of what is being pro- posed. OF more concern was the apparent lack of detail planning by the corporation with apparently omissions that include: cost-benefit analysis environmental impact studies, community impact studies, transportation and intrastruc- ture studies, ctc., ere. to name but a few. From all that was said by many informed parties. that attended the meeting this is the normal and expected method of operating tor the BC Ferry Corporation as it would appear to have almost dictatorial power when it comes to its endeavours, being a Crown corporation support- ed by the government of the day. Mr. Minister, please be advised that I strongly resent dictatorial power in this, one of the most democratic nations on earth, I will strong: ly and if necessary aggressively resist. any move made by the BC Ferry Corporation or this government that will have a Negative impact on my com- aid, it is perhaps time to define the problem as I see it, Much has been discussed in many meetings with regards to parking facilities, offices, ser- vice facilities, of] depot ete., ete. but in fact these are not the problem. The real prob- lem nS one of traffic volume. The bay is already over: whelmed with traffic and sim- ply cannot handle anymore volume without permanently and negatively affecting the residents and the community as a whole. As you are probably well aware, on any weekend during the summer months there is ay ferry parked traffic for several miles trom the ferry facility, east, along the Upper Levels Highway, and it is projected by the corporation that these may well extend as far cast as the 15th Street intersection. Regardless of the size of the intended new parking facility this problem will never be alle- viated as demographics and traffic patterns increase. This raises the additional problem of traffic safety in our commu- nity. The resolution would be to move the high craffic volume route of the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo run to another loca- tion. Perhaps a facility on the North Arm of the Fraser River next to the airport should again be considered as it has been on previous occasions. As this particular scenario has been discussed in the past as a remedy I will not dwell on the issue other than to say that it is now more critical to consider this option as the communities of Whistler, Squamish and Lions Bay expand which will add to the traffic woes of the Upper Levels Highway. Mr. Minister, by this letter, i call on you to carefully review the activities of your ferry corporation and closely heed the comments and sug- gestions contained in this Iet- ter and others that I know you will be receiving. This is a very serious issue for the majority of members of the community of Borseshoe Bay and surrounding districe and should not be considered as the whining of affiuent West Vancouverites. I am nei- ther alluent nor do I whine. I respect the democratic process as I hope that you do too. David J. Heukelom West Vancouver Staff at Evergreen House a compassionate bunch of people never been refused. Dear Editor: It’s obvious that Brady Fotheringham has never spent time at Evergreen House on floor 2-south. In his artic on Sunday, Aug. 1, he refers to how difficult it is to hire “ade- quate staff” especially in the home nurs- ing care area. The staff on Evergreen House are more than ade- quate. They are a dedicated, hard- works ing, compassionate group of people. I have been associated with them for seven months. I have asked much of them and floor 2-south at NOW OPEN! Parkgate Community Health (Centre The North Shore Health Region is pleased to announce that Community Health Services are now available at the Parkgate Community Mr. Fotheringham should drop sometime and observe what takes place cach day, every day of the week. It’s amazing. W.B. Coughlan West Vancouver Health Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver. A variety of services have relocated to the Centre: * immunization clinics * nutritional services Famil Owned Since 1946 * prenatal classes: * healthy infant/child drop-in * breastfeeding support * injury prevention programs * mental health assessment and counseling * home care nursing * home support ° long-term care assessments For information on these and other North Shore Health Region ; Community Health Services, drop by the Parkgate Community Health, Centre ; or call 904- 6450. a of Hieatth