6 ~ Wednesday, January 13, 1999 ~ North Shore News nortn shore news VIEWPOINT oe advice U gotta love our man Moe. B.C.’s_ Minister of Public Service recently waded into the municipal grant cuts issue in West Vancouver with his usual aplomb. His message to the municipality: accentuate thie positive. Don’t be so negative. Quit your whining, West Vancouver, and get on with running your municipality. The whining in West Vancouver is similar to whining from municipalities all over the province after the provin- cial government announced that it would be cutting $42 million in unconditional equalization grants to raunicipalities with populations over 5,000. West Vancouver has had its provin- cial grants cut by 90% since 1993: from avproximately $2.4 million six year. The upshot of course is that municipal governments, which are required under law to balance their budgets, will have to cut services fur- ther. But B.C.’s provincial govern- ment, as with other senior levels of government, are not required to bal- ance their budgets. Little wonder that they so rarely do these days. And since the socialists have taken power in B.C., the fiscal fabric of the province has been reduced to tatters. Business is beleaguered on all fronts as tax loads continue to grow and spending and inefficiencies on the part of the NDP have helped drive B.C.’s debt into the stratosphere. So, with all due respect, Mr. Sihota, it’s getting a little tough to look on the bright side of the fiscal picture, espe- cially when senior levels of govern- ment do not practice what they preach. wears ago to a piddling $232,000 this sree xy ICBC thanked for cresswalk support Dear Editor: Our comniittce would Eke to formally thank ICBC fez its financial support of North Vancouver District's crossing guard program. Its commitment to our children’s satery is commendable and greatly appreciated. In order to get to school cach day many of our students cross a very busy intersection at 18th Street and Mountain Highway. ‘Vhe cars and trucks travel at great speed through this intersection. Many vehicles do not even slow down ler alone stop at the traffic light. This intersection is not only a danger to the children crossing; but intimidating to the adults accompanying their children to school, We hope the added measure of a permanent marked adult assisting thase using the crosswalk will provide more visual awareness to drivers that families cross at this busy intersection. We look forward to receiving mor: information regard- ing [(CBC’s “Way to Go” program. This initiative, together with [CBC’s financial support of the crossing guard pro- gram, are particularly appreciated. We are growing increasingly concerned with district staff’s reluctance to consider additional signage options that are currently being used in other municipalities, but are deemed “non-standard” in North Vancouver District. This intersection needs an innevative solution for a uniquely dan- gerous traffic situation. ICBC’s generous donation has temporarily helped make our crossing more visible and therefore somewhat safer for those of us that cross this dangerous intersection to take cur ch’4ren to schooi cach day. ."ank you. Eastview PAC- Safety Committee North Vancouver North Shore Haws, founded i 1969 as a7 independem suburban newspaper and quanled wndes Schedule 114, Paragraph $14 of the fxcrse Tax Act. 5 published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by Hurth Shore Free Press. Lid and destrebuted! 10 every door on Ihe North Shore Canada Post Canadan Publeations Mas Soles Product Agreement Na 0087238 HMading sates avalable on requesl. a> Barbara Emo ta 7 Distribution Manager sacemgre ores 986-1337 (124) feyeste Jonathan Bell Creative Services Manager 985-2131 (127) 61.982 (average curcu‘ation, Weanesaay, Fercay & Sunday) BASKETBALL, YOU REMEMBER... ROUND BALL, ABOUT YAY BIG... AND WE GOA PUT IT THROUGH Mie URETEPEID IONS ort STEARNS 1510 BOT? Sad WoC Every immigrant = one more vote — BADLY in need of “kissing” is Immigration Minister Lucienne Robillard, whose hefty 60-page policy paper on revision of the Immigration Act was released last week. Not that the lady is pining for some gent to give her a buss on the cheek. “Kiss” in the pre- sent content is the acronym for advice all too often ignored in this complex age: heep It Simple, Scupid! Ms. Robillard does- nt. Her paper, heralding a first major overbaul of the Act i120 years, is a patchwork of half-baked proposals chat make the minister look busy but fail to promise any long-term benefits for future gencrations of Canadians. For starters, there’s no reduction in the annual 226,000 quota — more than twice the comparable per capita level of immigrant admissions to the U.S. One big switch recommended is to stop selecting immigrants trom specitic occupations to meet specitic labour mar- ket shortages in Canada and accept, instead, immigrants with a general educa- tion and theeretically “transferable” skills needed to cope with a rapidly changiag economy. The problem with this theory is that, in practice, we could well wind up with too many central European MBAS driving taxis and former Bombay bank managers selling fax machines at Future Shop. & - e Dee Gaaiheal Husnan Resouttes Manager 965-2131 177) PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2131 (101) Terry Photography Manager 985-2131 (160} Classsfied Manager 986-6222 (202) 985-2131 (133) Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Another Robillard brainwave is to admit temporary workers to relieve labour shortages in specific industries. The trouble here is that sending them back home Iater is often easier said than done. Just ask the Germans about their headaches with “guest workers” from eastern Europe and Turkey. Under “family reunifi- cation,” common law and gay partners of the principal immigrant would be admitred. But how on earth do you police such applicants when the relationship — unlike chat of legally married couples with a certificate — can- not be legally verified? This could open the gate co endless illegal settlers whose “relationship” with their sponsor ended once they cleared the airport. The minister would aiso drop restric- Cons on spouses and children with seri- ous medical problems, From the humane angle this is a tricky one. But given the current financial crisis in medicare, how fair is it for Canadian taxpayers to foot the bill for an endless list of legally imported diseases? The policy paper talks bravely abouc beefed-up deportation of serious crimi- nals and interception of illegal immigrants before they land —— changes that have been promised before but have so far always lacked Jegal teeth. And instead of letting our overseas diplomatic statts impartially accept or reiect refugee appli- cants before they hea.? ny Canada, the 210 members of the tmntigration and hither and yon Refugee Board (annual payroll $90,000 per party hack for a total of almost $19 million) remain on the job. Also ignored is a task force recom- mendation fast spring that all principal immigrants should speak some English or French, and should partially pay for lan- guage instruction for dependants. And why not, considering the costs? Last year Vancouver School Board faced a $34 mil- lion bill for ESL classes — 10% of its operating budget. In 1996 nearly 60% of business-class immigrants plus a majority of family-class immigrants arrived uriable to speak a word of either of our official languages, To “keep it simple” all Ms. Robillard had to do was heed what every survey shows a majority of Canadians want: (1) the yearly intake halved; (2) priority to skilled, independent immigrants speaking English or French; (3) dependants initial- ly Hmited to legally vetifiable spouses and children; (4) tough new powers for our diplomatic missions abroad te cut off criminals and bogus refugees at the pass. But “keeping it simple” is the very opposite of what she’s done. Nor, politi- cally speaking at least, is the lady stupid. After all, every additional immigrant admitted — even a Triad gangster, a phony refugee or a fake dependant — is one more vote for the government that lets thea: in! 0200 MANY HAPPY RETURNS of today, Jan.13, to West Van Kiwanis birthday boy Jack Wilks. O80 WRIGHT OR WRONG: The road to success is always under construction. (Thanks, Arno!d Paimer!) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, full address & telephone number. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca mothy Managing Editer 985-2131 (116) Comptrolie: Trixi Agrios Promotions Manage: 985-2131 (218) Acting Display Manager 980-0511 (307) fat Snelgrove Genera! Ottice Manager 985-2131 (105) internet- hitp:/Avww.nsnews.com Classified Advertising Newsroom Distribution Display & Real Estate Fax Rewsrcom Fax Classified, Accounting & Main Office Fax Michael Becker - News Editor 985-2131 {114} Andrew McCredia - Sports/Community Editor 985-2131 (147}