6 ~ Friday, April 7, 1989 - North Shore News INSIGHTS Gearing immigration to what makes us a nation GOOD TO HEAR BARBARA McDOUGALL, our im- migration minister, declaring that wholesale immigration is NOT the answer to Canada’s falling birthrate. She also admits that she’s not yet sure what to do about im- migration. Since she won’t get any useful guidance from her boss, Brian Muiblarney, this column is happy to offer her a little help in her policy-making dilemma — starting with Greg Wellman of Richmond, with whom she seems to have quite a lot in common. Recently, you may recall, I reported on Mr. Wellman’s refreshingly negative approach to the whole subject. He argues that wide-open immigration does nothing whatsoever for a country except provide a short-term cheap labor pool for industry. The downside being depressed wages, masses of low-paid service jobs cities — all combining to add to social problems and environmental pollution. Instead of increasing TOTAL gross product with cut-price workers, he says, we should con- centrate on raising the PER CAPITA gross product from the workers we already have — aided by state-of-the-art technolcgy. A limited, firmly controlied yearly intake of immigrants — YES, With a quota system io en- sure that Caucasians form at least a majority. Nothing ‘‘racist”’ about that. In reverse, any sensible Asian or African nation would do exactly the same. However much the bleeding hearts rave and rant about so-called bigotry, ‘multiculturalism’? remains a and the overcrowding of our big fragile flower, needing to be cultivated very gently over a long period of time. The instant hot- house variety never blossoms. Never has in all of history. Two other important points for solving your policy problem, Bar- bara. Canadians are excellent at pro- ducing babies, given a little en- couragement. Only 25 years ago we were producing more babies than any other western country. So tell Michael Wilson — whatever else he cuts — not to touch the baby bonus. In fact, he should now RAISE it. And ask Brian to help reduce the deficit by finding a new job for Multicult Minister Gerry Weiner. We don’t need his costly depart- ment. If you want to be a Cana- dian, BECOME one! Finaliy, Barbara, when you run your new policy by the boss, this definition of nationhood by John bailes. Causeway case Te VANCOUVER parks board decision to ex- tend the evening rush hour closure of access from Stanley Park to the causeway reflects the evidence accumulated thus far that the experiment is saving North Shore commuters time and frustration. While some North Shore residents continue to op- pose the plan on the grounds that it penalizes all park users for the sins of the few who regularly use the park as a shortcut during evening rush hours, the validity of that opposition evaporates in the face of the overall positive results from the closures. Admittedly, the option of taking a slow drive through the park on the way back to the North Shore during rush hour rather than battling Lions Gate Bridge traffic has been removed. But more importantly, the potential for accidents caused by traffic entering the causeway from the park during peak rush hours has been removed, and up to 30 minutes has also been removed from the time it takes long-suffering North Shore commuters to get home each night. Those North Shore residents who cheose to use its W. Gardiner might help him to grasp what it’s all about: “A nation is held together by shared values, shared beliefs, shared attitudes. That is what enables a people to maintain a cohesive society despite the frustrations and tensions of daily life. That is what enables them to rise above the inevitable conflicts and divisions that plague any society. That is what gives a nation its tone, its fibre, its integrity, its moral style, its capacity to en- dure."’ Amen. weak WRAP-UP: Now in business, the new North Shore Arts Commission celebrates its birth Friday, Apri! 21, with a reception at the Centen- nial Theatre featuring perfor- mances by North Shore artists Anne Mortifee, Gene Ramsbot- tom, Melinda Coffey, Judith Mur- cuse Dancers and many others. Call 984-4484 for the limited public seats available on a first- come, first-served basis ... New member elected to the board of the B.C. Arbitration & Mediation In- stitute is North Van life under- writer John Glavin ... Assistant Deputy Tourism Minister Jim Doswell speaks at the West Van Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, April If, at the Ambleside Inn — call 926-6614 to reserve .. And con- grats to the latest members of the “Golden Club"? — 30-year North Van residents Dennis and Eva Wollenden, just recently moved to White Rock, who tomorrow, April 8, celebrate their SOth anniversary. whe WRIGHT OR WRONG — the old Chinese proverb: Talk does not cook rice. east side facilities during weekday afternoons or prefer to use the park during rush hour rather than fight traffic can surely adjust their schedules so that they leave the park before or after the causeway access closures. Though a major transportation artery should never have been put through Stanley Park, it can hardly be removed now. Wher it comes to safer roads and more efficient transportation, the sacrifice of the few will therefore have to be made for the general good of the many. Publisher ........... Peter Speck Managing Editor... . Barrett Fisher Associate Editor ..... Noet Wright Advertising Directur . Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualilied under Schedule 111, Paragraph tll of the Excise Tax Act, ts published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press tid. and distributed lo every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3865 Subscnplions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year. Mailing rates available on requesi. Submissions are welcome but we cannol accept resporsibility for unsolicited matertal including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a slamped, addressed envelope. photo Juiiet Geremia UNUSUAL VISITOR TO DEEP COVE ...Siberian tiger ““Quadesh’’ and trainer Bill Fraser on their way to a recent portrait session at the Cove’s Goodman Stadios. el ELL Display Advertising 980-0511 th shore. Classified Advertising 986-6222 vw a Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 986-1337 Sunoarewronesoae rman SUOSCriptions Peete ax — 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. 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