north shore news ____ MAIL Box Ghance Dear Editor: Open letter to Mr. Lingwood, BC Ferry Corp. Re: Traffic safety in Horseshoe Bay (responding, to Bob Lingwood’s comments). Thank you for appreciating the traffic problem, “If it’s bad now imagine how it will be in five or 10 years, with tight geo- graphical constraints, constantly increasing demand and cantin- ued commercial truck traffic use (in Horseshoe Bay).” North Shore News, July 21. While you were speaking in defence of the fast ferries 1 think your admissions are better suited to recognize thar the Naraimo/Horseshoe Bay run has outgrown our sniall residential community. My biggest concerns are tor safety. The following are situations I find very troubling: & 1 have concerns for the safety of people driving along a major highway only to find themselves dodging cars parking on the shoulder of that highway. & Since cars are parked on the shoulder portion there is no place to puil over in an emergency. The numbers of cars waiting for fer- ries is (as you noted) increasing, which in turn increases the unus- f ferry trafti able emergency shoulder areas. B The exception recently is that Highways have recognized the danger of rocks falling on parked cars in some areas. Why haven’t they recognized the danger of cars careening out of control into a whole row of parked cars? BM 1 have concerns for the contract workers who have been instructed to stand in the middle of two lanes of the Trans- Canada Highway and bring all oncoming vehicles to a complete stop so they can lead a row of previously parked cars across that highway. BI have concerns for the people driving along the highway and net realizing that around the corner tathe has been brought toa complete halt. @ Surely people must be concerned for the safery of the occupants of the parked cars (containing smali children, adults, and pets) who grow impatient waiting fer ferries in the hot sin at the edge of the highway —- because they leave their cars and move danger- ously close to oncoming highway traffic. ® Cyclists don't have che safety of the shoulder to ride on — they are now placed in che position of dodging parked cars, often weaving into the oncoming traffic. Brain drain column stirs debate Dear Editor: Nana Mercer claims that the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is mistaken in holding that the “brain drain is Sut a myth” (July. 30 News). If the CAUT is mistaken, Ms. Mercer provides no fig- ures or data {relating to pro- As with most other pro- these individuals have options south of the border, and some do not. Of those who have such options, some choose to go, and some do not. The reasons behind these choices — to stay or go -- fessional groups, some of sent a fair range of public opinion — not just the nar- row, ideological perspective thar you happen to feel com- fortable with. Contrary to everything that Ms. Mercer suggests, The Econsmiss (July 24) con- cludes that “the Canadian economy is performing ad hominem arguments. If any of your readers would like to see a textbook example of the sort of bad reasoning involved, they could do no beiter tian take a look at Ms. Mercer's attempt to discredic the CAUT and its position on the subject of “brain drain.” C acc fessional groups or individu- als) to show this. Instead, she argues that what lies behind the views of the CAUT is nothing but the resentment of “fragile egos,” because their members have no offers coming from the U.S. for : their brains. This is just plain igno- rance. and stupidity. The CAUT’s membership num- bers in the tens of thousands, and it includes individuals from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds. vary greatly, and include fac- tors such as salary, profes- sional ambitions and iater- ests, lecation, and family considerations. Beyond this, Ms. Mercer provides no dats to show that taxation is an especially important — much less deci- sive — factor for those Canadians who choose to leave. Ironically cnough, Ms. Mercer began her article with a reference to “special interest” groups who employ The North Shore News is “free”, but you still have certain responsibilities to your readers. Please treat the public with some respect, ax ensure that your columnists present their views — what- ever they are — in a more balanced and informed man- ner, Beyond this, if the News really is committed to “open debate” and the “competi- tion of ideas”, plcase ensure that your columnists repre- Self interest motivates ruling party There is a fading desperate attempt to Dear Editor: Allowing that the majority of NDP MLAs are of normal ‘intelligence icaves only one - conclusion for their seeming blind dedication *. to such an incompetent’ blunderer — self interest. SALE! cling to their undeserved jobs, hang in for their unearned pensions, with entire disregard for the well-being and future of B.C. Denis Mason West Vancouver er rance " Save on selected feeders, clothing jewelry, garden accessories and more. 40 - 60%off sunburnt items _. Prices marked on scratched, marked and 20% Off regular prices on _ B.C. made hopper feeders: - LOOK FOR RED TAG SPECIALS inde: oe = Bringing people and nature it us at www.whu.com 1190 Marine Dr (at Pemberton) 988-212 1 _BixDSEED ° FEEDERS © BIRDBATHS ¢ Ee 5 at well”, and that while taxes are relatively high in compar- ison with the U.S., “the price of being Canadian still buys something worth having.” Paul Russell North Vancouver idents high @ I'm concerned for the truck driver who urgendy needs the run- away lane because he will have to negotiate around a highway lit- tered with parked cars — full of people. @ What will happen in a large emergency? Will emergency vehi- cles be able to get to the communities of Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay, Squamish and Whistler, with cars all over the highway? & The possibility of placing a maintenance building with fuel acruss from an elementary school, completely ignoring any municipal bylaws set up to protect people's safety is outrageous, These problems of satevs are well known to decision makers and yct you still try to force more vehicles into unsafe helding patterns on highways, get special permits and ignore municipal bylaws. All of these concerns are generated from one underlying problem. There is not encugh space in Horseshoe Bay to handle the increasing quantity of vehicles. You could talk about who will be Hable when the next accident happens — (and it will happen) bur what really goes through my mind when I hear sirens on the highway is — 1 hope it isn’t a member of my family, ary of my neighbours or my friends. Sherry Hancock West Vancouver