More
winter
coming?

WILL THE North Shore have six
more weeks of winter? Only the
groundhog knows...Today is
Groundhog Day and legend has it
that the groundhog comes out of
hibernation on February 2. If he
sees his shadow he is frightened
back-to hibernation and ‘winter .will -
continues. 2 ; _

Bo ane

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A SLICK road surface sent this moving truck moving in the wrong way Wednesday. The truck was travelling south on Westview, attempted to enter
the freeway and flipped while turning. Three people in the truck’s cab ¢scaped shaken, but without injury. The truck was untoaded and returned to
a its former position. : ;

ee ey 7 Eee ns

4

NV OPERATION MAY GC TO NANAIMO

Versatile negotiating shipyard
move, union president claims

VERSATILE PACIFIC Shipyards Inc. has heen negotiating
for several months with Nanaimo in hopes of moving its
North Vancouver operations to the Duke Point area of the
Vancouver Island city, the president of the Marine Workers
ang Boilermakers industrial Union (MVEBIU) said Thurs-

day.

John Fitgpatrigkh made the
comment following oa warning
from North Vancouver City Ald.
Bil Bell that the city is in danger
of fosing Versatile if the provingial
government fails to award future
B.C. Ferry contracts to the ship-
yard.

The prosinciad government an

By SURDRAEEAN

‘ or

nounced last vear that at plans ta
hase tivo yumbe ferries built for
servive in 1994 as part of a $SS80-
million capital eapansion and
majatenanee program,

Reports have been circulating
for several months that Versatile is
planning to close down its North
Vancouser operation and move to
Nanaimo as a cost-saving measure.

“Eohad raised the rumors we
had heard that | Versanle was
Neeodiating with Nangimo for the
Duke Point areal’ Fitzpatrick
said. ‘Middle management is now
telling ous that they have been
nevotining with Nanaimo tor the
last three or four sears."

“Obviousty we feeb it would be a
disaster for our tmrembers and the
ety and district of North Van-

couver,”* he added.

Fitypatrick abo said) the feder et
government: should mot he sub-
sidising othe construction of anys
new shipyards and said oof
Shieldings Inc., the Toronto-based
company that) owns | Versatile,
wants to build another shipyard,
then they should pay for it
themselves.

“Er they (Versatiley do decide to
move, then they can expect it tieht
from us.” said Fitepatrick.

Namamo civ manger Gerald
Reers said Tharsdits that he has
heard the rumors about Versatie

moving to Nanumo, but said the
city has noo comment to make
about it.

Bell said that, despite Versatile’s
ongoing nerotiatens with the ted-
eral government for the $350.
million Polar Class 8 igebreaker
contract, the shipyard and the
MAW BIU are in “grave trouble 2”

“They need both BoC. berries
tepair contracts and new orders if
they are going to sursive in North
Vancouver.” Beil said’ Thursday.

See Move
Page 3