6 ~ Friday, August 29, 1997 -- North Shore News Friend visit earlier this week to North Vancouver District by visitors from Dalian City in China offered a tantalizing glimpse of the future. It has been much trumpeted that the Pacific Rim will be the econom- ic hot spot for the coming century. China is warming to more liberal trade policies with the rest of the world, yet the councry is in dire need of massive infrastructure investment. _ .. In order to make a big country like’ Canada work, we Canadians _ have developed expertise in many of . the areas China now recognizes it needs to develop to succeed. We are experts in teiecommunica- . tions, hydroelectricity, environmen- tal: protection, and road building. = “They need the expertise and we can THE North Shore News Free Speech Defence Fund has moved beyond the ty . halfway point. To press time Thursday, donations from over 1,650 supporters to the fund stood iat $119 S82. 5. eee fees expended thus ‘far by the News have’ ‘already exceeded $200,000 - The final bill will: be: much higher. All received will hel; elp ) defray the legal costs faced by the jc with the Human Rights Tribunal *- News readers and “News in its | ba over ‘a compiaint laid ag columnist Congress. The hearin the ni * some time later this year. “ More excerpts trom the hundreds of af respondents , to the cause: “ 0090 “It is really ditgusting that it has come to this. Our jovernment is becoming more and more like the Nazi Socialist Party. But what really would take advantage of the NDP thought police and use Nazi tactics to suppress free speech. Could they not hare simply refuted any statements they disagreed with?” — J. Hunter Ross, Delta Socialist B.C. surprises ine is that the Jewish Co 000 Donations to the fund ‘can be sent to: 1139 North Vancouver, V7M 2H. Lonsdale Ave., ug: Collins by the Cansdian Jewish into the matter, which -. . began'on May 12, concluded on June 27 with final _ aigurtents. at the Century Plaza Hotel, 1015 *. Burrard St! The decision from Nitya Iycr, tthe tri- ‘one hearing the complaint, is expected north shore news VIEWPOINT iy dance provide it. To connect with our Chinese counterparts it is necessary for political relationships to precede any eventual investment and joint-ven- ture enterprise. In witnessing the niceties that define the dance of politicians when they first :neet to take the baby steps on the way to economic relation- ships, it’s easy enough to write the ritual off as pomp. They press flesh in the spirit of “friendly coopera- tien” and exchange little gifts and platitudes. But behind the facade it’s a seri- ous and necessary business. ‘Mayor Don Bell is on the mark in his plan to make this economic agreement with Xigang District of Dalian the first of many such arrangements with foreign cities. IN my work you get used to a new twist in the story. As in: 2 new twist of the knife. the time this reaches you — since columnists must meet earlier deadlines than reporters, W jOWS YOU how much fairness there is in this world —- here is up-t3-the-minute-of- line warning to North Shore :.sidents: The most dangerous ~ | ame is when the politicians ; er And when the agree- funds rand its . place your hand finaly on your wallet and do not let go. [ ‘ol ¢ Over Troubled Waters, t ca to you ee the makers of Money — Send Yours to Your Friendly Governments. that at this moment — is that the provin- Bridge by, simply, giving them a piece of the action: a share of the toll money. The West Vancouver Chamber of letter last weck to Victoria. Apparently it anticipated that that might be the most attractive compromise (and it mi; because the province in tiks with the Cheques should be made out to the North Shore wing: up as one of several possibilitics. " News Free Speech Defence Fund. — trenshawédirect.ca | north shore of course each municipality — the two North Vancouvers, West Vancouver Nerth Shere Rews, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper ‘and quaidied undt Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excase Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shors Free Press ‘Ud. and castributed to every door on the North . ‘Shore, Canada Post Canadian Publications Mz Sales Product Agreement ‘lo. 0087238. Human Resources Manager Sales & PETER ed 995-2181 (177) ‘eonae. 995-21 Photography Manager O0S-217) (100) So, though it may not be hot news by mnt is between two levels of government My suspicion, you see — no more than cial government will buy off North Shore councils’ opposition to tolls on Lions Gate Commerce deftly suggested as much in its it be} — municipalities has already discussed such a 31 (101) WELL, WE CAN “THANK OUR LUCKY STARS The ACTORS AREN'T ON and Lions Bay — would then set aside its. share in a special account to reduce your" Property taxes correspondingly. ; Been. Just think of the political wrangling that: that would set off. Motorists who pay the zalls would see bus passengers, cyclists and the odd pedestrian who walks to work get a. share of tax relief from tolls the y hadn't pai t pai aid. , I'd expect the vari- ous council if made an offer they couldn't refuse, would throw their share of the toll money into the - pot with other revenue sources, Where it would be spent. That's what all govern- ments do, you know, And you, dear motorist, would be stuck with the toll costs, period. . Ancther softening-u ibility: If up. a Pp possi ed to-date electronic scanners were which can be placed 6n a car’s sun visor, - obviating any need to when entering or leaving, a tolled road, i tke Onrario’s brand-new Highway 407, still offering free use at this moment — North Shore” motorists could be issued cards pro- - seme for, say, 60 or 80 free uses annu- *-That would shift the toll burden further onto other bridge users: Only 50% of the 69,000 motorists who use Lions Gate each day live on the North Shere, according to Doug Hibbins, the articulate official o the B.C. Transportation Financing Authority. (Unfair? The principle is well estab- lished: In many congested areas, residents’ get exclusive sizeet parking.) * promise to ereyire born Hes ameng th man} vinced that if Lions Gate . instead of Liberal ridings, . talx. (He also questions the belli some municipal politicians Victoria: “Don’ t tell Tarzan side.”).. Shore values? You tell me. heard remy ch cet ranr? in g ch a be in fren 20 be heard, The colims lished in she News present differing view, but those views arc not necess of the newspaper itself. . LETTERS T9 THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, full address & telephone number. VIA Intermet: trenshaw @ direct.ca COMPUTER BBS - 980- 8027 | User ID; Classified Manager 958-0222 (282) Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Free Press itd. All rights raserved. Manage: 986-2131 (114)? SOEZ1T 10D Andrew NcCredia - ~ Spera/Commonity Eto 995-2131 (147)