10 ~ Wednesday, March 3. 1999 — North Shore News north shore ______MAIL Box Aews issues are what matter in the local politic arena Dear Editor: North Viacouver District is a banana republic and the only reasan it is not worse is because some of us, including a handful of civic minded individuals, have been willing te stand up and be counted. Municipalities are asked to do a Herculean job with nei ther the means vor the power to deal with the staggering problems we face. Our main enemy is public apathy. The turnout during municipal elections with luck is 28%. The Noh Shore press is ignoring important — local political issues. The private sex lite of Gillian Guess gets more ink than the annual $1.5 mil- lion shortage atthe Northlands golf course, or the district Heritage Fund fiasco worth a $150 million. A district councillor got a bad rap in the News report card because be insisted that such a simple procedural rule as the speaking order is adhered to. He received a °C” for his pain while the only councillor who has no tele- phone answering machine and who harangued other council- lors for working too hard “when it is not necessary” got a“B.” Imagine elected ofticials having to fight tor the right to communicate with their con- stituents, including MLAs and MPs. Imagine operating in an environment where it is the bureaucracy that is asked for “advice” to what extent this should be allowed. Civie democracy is at the heart of the struggle tor good government. The district has a poor record. The only thing worse is our business efficien- cy record. In a comparative study of western Canada’s sities and municipalines the district was an the very bot tom A simple matter such as insisting that existing bylaws are enforced can sour rela- dons. And Jet there be ne mis take that behind personal clashes on council are always differences 02 policies. [tis no coincidence that the council lors who voted i favor of an 12% increase in recreation fees for seniors when for other car egories it was only 3% are also wae ones who voted in favor of spending millions of taxpayers money for the benefit, of Canadian Ovv. Politics, even at the local level, is not tor saints, The kitchen i too hot. A face that the local press seems to forget is that above everything else we were clect- ed to took after the public interest. We were elected to get things done. Certainty, it is possible and desirable to have a civil and businesslike relationship berwcen politicians, but this is only possible provided demo- cratic ruies and principles are adhered to. When they are violated they should be exposed. My advice to our cit- izens is to get involved, observe and then judge for yourself. It is the issues that count. Ernie Crist Councillor North Vancouver District CristE@district.north- van.be.ca Dear Editor: I am sorry you chose to attack Councillor Ernie Crist recently — and at such great length too: has he crossed vou up, of offended a treasured source? Yes, Ae is too strong, a person to wo through lite without making occasional mistakes, or upsetting others, but in general, the benetits the people of she district have derived trony his presence on cound} are substantial, and this simply has not always been so where all other coun cillors are concerred — what ever their gender o¢ charisma! Whether one-on-cne, or at meetings, he has been approachable and) fair-niind- cd: he listens, chinks out a subject, and does not hesitare to tell any caller or applicant if he disagrees with their views; he ako explains with courtesy, extclly why he takes such a position. This may explain why he scores well with the public in municipal elections. Natural feaders are rare birds, and often not chosen for charm) — or beauty. During the Second World War, one of the great luminar- ies was asked whether he real- ly appreciated sufficiently, the presence of the irrepressible First, Australian Division in the Western Desert. He replied that this divi- sion was truly indispensible to the cause —- but that nwo of them would have een a disas- ter. This is probably tue of Ernie — (and, perhaps to Doug Collins too), and T sug- gest you rethink vour position toward those who represent Us, You will find very lithe of substance against Ernie Crist — which may be why your article dealt mainly with per- sonality. Kenneth W. Hext North Vancouver “Advisory Committee on Disability Issues Members Wanted! f8 The North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability issues (ACDI) is comprised of people with various disabilities, sponsored and funded by the District of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver. The ACDI advises the Mayors, Councils and staff of the three North Shore municipalities on a wide range of issues affecting people with disabiiities. Prospective members must have a disability and be a resident of one of the three North Shore municipalities. if you are interested in applying to become a member of the ACDI, contact Leanne Sexsmith at the District of West Vancouver Planning Department, telephone 925-7238, by I March 12. | A TRUE PONTIAC, THIS MAY s BE THE ONLY MINIVAN SPORTY ENOUGH TO HAVE | BEEN BUILT FOR DRIVERS. 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