AS they say on the
rubber chicken circuit,
Pve got geod news
and bad news.

But considering that
there is the bright Hight of
summer optimism in the air,
let’s start on a posinve note.

Reasons to be cheerful
part two:

In the category of the
world going to hell in a
handbasket, a brief respite
from the more marketable.
bales of bad news delivered
daily to your home via TV,
newsprint, radio, the
Inrernet and poison-pen
email.

News flash!

Not all is lost on the
environmental front.

According to a recent
Fraser Institute Critical
Issues bulletin, “environ-
mental quality in both
Ganada and the United
Srares is improving. not
deteriorating.”

Uplifting stats from the
institute’s bulletin include:
. BM Between 1975 and 1994,

ambient lead concentration
“in. our air fell 99.9%;
@ Air pollution from sulphur
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide,
_¢arbon monoxide, particu-
lates ‘and lead has decreased
considerably in both Canada
and the United States;
- @ Forests in North America
are increasing as growth
“exceeds the harvesting of
_ trees; |
“@ Relative to conditions in

= 1980, overall environmental

quality improved 10.8% in
Canada and 18.6% in the
United States.

The figures are based on

ripping

yarn

the free-market think tank's
Eavironmental Indicators tor
Canada and the United
States, which ic developed
with the Pacitie Research
Tnstiture for Public Policy.
Inspirational, ch wor?
More uplifting news?

“Even the phoney
do-gooders in
Victoria ... realize
the quagmire they
have stumbled
into.”

How about this dispatch
from the aboriginal land
claims front:

A recent report in the
daily news described fears
that the B.C. government,
which foolishly waded waist-
deep into the whole issue of
aboriginal title when the
NDP took power, is having
second thoughts about the
treaty process.

Even the phoney do-
gooders in Victoria are
beginning to realize the
quagmire they have stum-
bled into. Thus rumblings
that the province wants out

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Mention this Ad to receive special
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of the B.C. Treaty
Commission,

As chronicled in a previ-
ous Rapping Yarns, the land
claiins issue is the lavest gov-
ernment- generated growth
industry emploving all man-
ner of consultants, lawyers
and prufessional treaty
grinders leading no where.

The estimated $10 billion
price tag for cash settlements
alone for the 51 B.C. native
claims is bur the tip of the
iceberg for endless negotia-
tions and renegotiations that
rightfully reside with the fed-
cral government.

So second thoughts are
more than welcome, First
thoughts would have been
better. They might have
helped avoid the headlong
plunge into the current
mess.

And while we are on the
subject of second thoughts,
how about that Lions Gate
Bridge plan?

According to spin doctors
and experts everywhere, it is
nothing but good news tor
the North Shore.

The previous Ripping
Yarns cast aspersions all over
Harry Lali’s non-decision to
patch up the Lions Gate
Bridge, our three-lane won-
der, and relieve none of the
traftic congestion that has
been affecting the west side
of the North Shore for the
past two decades.

But maybe I need a shot
of summer optimism too —-
accentuate the positive —
because the latest good news
story in the Vancouver Sun

finds standing ovations from
experts and assorted non-
North Shore residents alike.

A victory over the evil
auto, they sav. More Janes
would just have cncoursyed
more traffic from selfish
Sorth Shore folk. A
resounding victory for
Greater Vancouver planners,
we are told.

“Any decision that would
have inereased the capacity
for automobiles would have

been counter to the policy of

the region.” UBC prof Peter
Boothroyd is quoted as sav-
ing.

He did not say how the
HOV lanes being instailed at
great public expense on
Highway ! fit into that poli-
cy. But we are trying to be
positive here,

Opined the chairman of
the Light Rail for Vancouver
Committee Malcolm
Johnston, the decision was

. the perfect example of
passive traffic calming ... 7

So there vou have i. A
blow has been struck against
the evil automobile and traf-
fic-calming measures have
been added to boot.

Good and good for you.

So why are we sticking
with three lanes? Let's trirt
it back to two while we tre
overhauling the grand old
lady and institute some real
traffic calming.

Then maybe we can
spread it around the rest of
the Lower Mainland, even
into NDP country where
similar government-entorced
traffic calming measures have

2229 FOLKESTONE Way,

WEST. VANCOUVER, BC

RESERVATIONS: 926-3212

"EARLY BIRD"

Sunday, June 7, 1998 — North Shore News ~ 7

od news that's fit to print

yet to be applied.

Excuse the lapse into
negativity but another minor
fly in the Lions Gate Bridye
ointment is rhat the non-
decision provided no parallel
relief in the form of
improved rapid transit tor
traffic-calmed North Shore
residents.

No additional SeaBus, no
rapid transit rail link, even
though trackage runs all
along the North Shore
watertront and already con-
nects to Vancouver via the
Second Narrows.

Sorry, Lapsirig into the
bad news, which just won't
do on such a pleasant day.

Before we get there. a
solution that could generate
more good news.

The Ministry of Indian
and Northern Affairs is set
to flood Vaacouver with tax-
Payers” cash.

A new centre of B.C.
operations is on the drawing
board. Sites are being scout-
ed now for the over 100,000
sq. ft. edifice.

Locations on Melville,
Granville, Burrard and
Richards streets appear to be
in the running.

But, ladies and gentlemen
of the tree-spending federal
government, there 35 a tailor-
made site for the latest mon-
ument to civil servantry here
on the North Shore: the
vacant waterfront site at the
foat of Capilano Road on
the Squamish Band’s
Capilano reserve,

Remember that? Who
could forget? The place is

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currently costing raxpayers
$4.4 million per vear in fed-
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band and has been costing
us all truckloads of cash
since 1974 when it was orig-
inally supposed to house a
400,000 sq. ft. Pacitic envi-
ronment centre.

Ir would provide a perfect
fit for the new Ministry of
Indian and Norrhern Affairs
tower don’t vou chink?

And now fer the bad
news, What's that? Our of
space.

Biast.

Vell, there's always next

Andrew Gibbs

Specialist antique & art appraiser.
hems valued for Insurance,
Probate, vir Family Division.

Entire house contents appraised.

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