1 ON SCALE of 10, the Sun series on immigration rated Douce CoLLINs © get this straight « | five. The stuff began reasonably well, but quickly deteriorated into yet another mass of puffery designed to persuade the populace that dancing around the multicult maypole will make for happiness. Against a handful of critical stories, I counted 27 favorable. Some typical examples: “*Admitting refugees called best policy’’; ‘‘New lands inspire new dreams’’; ‘‘Attitude on refugees appalling, lawyer says’’; ‘‘The world finds a home in Van- couver.’” All accompanied, of course, by pictures of grinning tions on earth? And why is Den- mark, with a population of about 6,000,000 so prosperous? . Even as the Sun series was runn- ing, an immigration drama was taking place in Toronto. Im- migrants from Trinidad were pour- ing into Toronto by the hundred, claiming to be refugees. Planes from that country were fully ce IL population is the key to prosperity, how come India and China are not the most prosperous nations on earth? And why is Denmark, with a population of about 6,000,000, so prosperous?’ Third Worlders, who in Canada have a lot to grin about, plus a picture of our wicked forefathers turning away that Sikh freighter in 1914. (if they hadn’t, this would have been a Sikh province years ago.) There was even a report on some poor little sod who was the only white kid in his class. He said he liked it. In his position, I would say the same thing. We were told that the more people we have, the better. (‘‘Im- migrants found to be an economic boom.’’) Immigration is vital in the face of Canada’s declining birth rate, hummed some pro- fessor, and may stimulate the _ economy. May. And may not. But who wants an immigration system designed to make real estate fat cats ever fatter, at our expense? If population is the key to pro- sperity, how come India and China are not the most prosperous na- 36 CENT HIKE booked into the New Year. After Ottawa belatedly banged a visa requirement on Trinidadians in an effort to slow the traffic down, the story rated five lines in the Sun’s news pages. Elsewhere, it was a top story. That was the sort of thing I meant when I wrote on Wednesday that the Sun has largely ignored the immigration story and bashed the critics as racist. (When the Great Immigration Debate took place in North Van, the paper had the damned cheek to apologize to Immigration Minister Gerry Weiner and MP Benno Friesen for the crowd’s responses to arrogance. This time it did give some space to the critics. The Hon. J.V. Clyne was quoted, but in case anyone thinks he is not a fossil, the story said his office contained ‘‘an aura of empire.'’ Also mentioned was a Richmond secondary schoo! teach- er, Richard Barton. (A brave fellow, considering the B.C. Teachers’ Federation approach to immigration and the wimpishness of schoolboards.) ‘‘Weekly news- paper columnist Doug Collins’’ got a few words in, too. With one exception, however — that of West Van’s Charles Camp- bell — the Sun couldn’t bring itself to run the critics’ stuff straight, as it did the comments of the boost- ers. Our observations were cither interlaced with those of the likes of Aziz Khaki the professional multiculter, or those of some aca- demic whose aim is to prove that alt would be well if it weren’t for people like Clyne, Collins and Bar- ton. On the same page, not coin- cidentally, there was a sidebar on the history of ‘‘racismn in B.C.,”’ our cute Chinese Lt. Governor was quoted to the effect that ‘‘racists” are ‘‘not unlike the Nazis.”’ Thanks, gov. But what does that make Winston Churchill, who was an empire man? Oh well, we can count ourselves lucky that we were not shown in white sheets. When the Sun reporter called me I gave him a bunch of immigration department figures that would have hit people in the eye. But for the most part the newspaper con- tented itself with saying that ‘‘most immigrants now come from the Third World.”’ It would have meant more if people had been told that 70.5 per cent of the Ca- nadian population. I would ques- tion that, but even if it is true it ignores the fact that few im- migrants descend on Medicine Hat. They flock to the larger cities, and it is the larger cities that pay the price. Anyway, five out cf 10 isn’t bad, seeing that it’s the Sun. P.S. I wish they would stop re- ferring to me as ‘‘a weekly news- paper columnist.”’ | write three times a week, you guys. And don’t be afraid of stating that this paper is the North Shore News. It won’t bite you @ Family allowances rise FAMILY ALLOWANCES, paid to over 3.6 million Canadian families on behalf of 6.6 million children, will increase in the new year. Health and Welfare Minister Jake Epp announced recently that effective January 1989 the federal gov- ernment Family Allowances, paid monthly for children under age 18, will rise to $32.74 from $32.38 in most provinces and in the territories. The increase is based on changes in the Consumer Statistics Canada’s measure, in excess of three per cent. Under a provision in the Family Allowances Act, a Price Index, provincial government may ask the federal gov- ernment to vary the rates payable in that province ac- cording to the age or number of children in a family, cost-of-living or both, providing that the average monthly payment in that province equals the federal rate. This option has been chosen by Alberta and Quebec. The refundable Child Tax Credit for the 1988 taxa- tion year will provide up to $559 per child based on family income. Also, parents who qualify can claim an additional $100 on their return for each child age six and under for whom no child-care expenses were claimed. 9 - Friday, December 23, 1988 - North Shore News NVD mayor re-elected to GVRD post RICHMOND MAYOR Gil Blair and North Vancouver District Mayor Marilyn Baker have been re-elected by acclamation as chairman and deputy chairman of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Board of Directors for 1989. Both are serving their second one-year term. Baker has served on North Vancouver District Council for 11 years, the last six as mayor. She has been a GVRD director for six years and is currently also the president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities. Blair is the ninth chairman since the GVRD was established in 1967. He has served 18 years on Richmond council, the last 15 as mayor. He has been a GVRD director for 14 years. Personal Injury Hunter Ardagh Barristers & Solicitors #300-1401 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver 986-4366 Free Initial Consultation Turner _ BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME! re 8 INTEGRITY Is a must Our total service you 7 4 CAN TRUST Marilyn Anderson “Merry Christmas”’ ar | ~ Pamela Bell 922-1244 (24 hrs} Season's Greetings to all our customers and best wishes for the New Year For your added convenience all North Shore stores will be open Christmas and New Year's Located near you at: 3rd Avenue at Lonsdale (24 His) Lonsdale at 19th Avenue (24 hrs) Lonsdale at 29th Avenue (24 Hrs) Chestertield at 3rd Avenue (24 Hrs) Lynn Valley Road at Mountain Highway (24 Hrs) Edgemont Blvd. at Queens, Edgemont Village (24 Hrs) Marine at Pemberton (24 Hrs) Marine Drive at 14th, West Van. (Open 6am-l2mid) 38471 Cleveland Avenue, Squamish (24 Hrs.) SOUTHLAND CANADA INC “BLUE BUS” Service Continues For Lions Bay Commuters Schedule Changes Effective January 2, 1989 Demand for commuter services has resulted in an extension of the trial period for the #259 Lions Bay route for an addi- tional year. Commencing January 2, 1989, Monday to Friday rush hour ser- vice will be continued. Saturday service BCA Transit will be discontinued. For more information, pick up a new West Vancouver transit timetable onboard your “Blue Bus” or at local libraries, city or municipal halls or Travel InfoCentres. Or call Transit Information at 985-7777. Vancouver Regional Transit System