Here’s the real dope on the deficit Dear Editor: Recently, it came to my attention that most of B.C. real- ly thinks that the deficit this year is only $95 million. This is the NDP spin whereas it is actually $949 million. The facts are clear. The minister of finance’s Budget °98 Review clearly shows on page 33 thar the deficit is $949 mil- lion, Why the NDP is not volling to trofy represent the facts to the people of this province is unbelievable. Even the audi-. tor general has strongly suggested thar the NDP government come clean and nox evade the facts. By the way, this is nor to be confused with B.C.*s $31 bil- lion-plus debt, which is a cumulative of all the previous years" deficits ... to which we Pay approximately $6,740,000 every day, for interest alone on the debt. Daniel Jarvis MLA North Vancouver-Seymour Respect at core of road wrongs Dear Editor: The underlying cause for the all too common wont of motorists to run red lights, show little heed to amber lights, make U-turns, and disregard pedestrians is simply this: a lack _ of self-respect. _ . This lack of respecting one’s self includes society's rules of the road. The same lack of self-respect is shown by the pedes- trians who jaywalk. '’ These pedestrians are clearly demonstrating their lack of self-respect by their bent to commit suicide. I have seen jay- walkers with white canes, jaywalkers with clear lower -appendage difficulties; jayw alkers with toddlers in tow, The “t-answer- to. the above lies not with the government or the police.’ ft lies within the souls of the Perpetrators. Bob For North Vancouver “We lead busy lives and : need honest, qualified and. Bm nonsense format. BC ml Partners in Planning fulfills, these requirements, We have cumplete faith it qualifications and igtegrity; no small. thing in 1 oda 3 business environment. Friday, May 75, 1898 — North Shore News — 9 north shore news MAIL Box ctions of the SPCA defended Dear Editor: In the March 20° North Shore News, an article tithed “Animal advocate acts” con- tains several disturbing and misleading statements attrib- uted to Judy Stone. In the first place it should be made clear that surrepti- tiously “rescuing” dogs from people’s yards is theft, and anyone doing this risks being charged. By ignoring due process, this rough justice offers neither accountability nor recourse to. its victims, who will presumably replace their missing dogs, and treat them no differently from those that were “rescued.” Ms. Stone seems to label those with whom she dis- agrees as ecceps or jerks, as in the statement, “If any of them (the pups) did get adopted trom those places (SPCA shel- ters) they would go to creeps,” or *... we know that they were going to go to jerks with $40 who want a pup as a whim ...” How often, we wonder, are the people whose animals she takes siraply poor, uneducated, or the target of vindictive neighbors? Not surprisingly, Ms. Stone also refers to the SPCA with disdain. In stating “they'd be in the local pounds of the SPCA where they get killed because nobody wants them.” She implies that this f is the usual outcome for animals in Blair MacLean, RFP, crP, cu Marian Saowball, rep, ca, cep Ken Snowball, rer, CrP. Registered Financial Planners : 103. 2401 MARINE Da, West Van BC V7V 1L3 - “¥ Tet: (604)903-7526 Fax: (604)903-9561 Enpetience Fr Email: BCPartners@bcp- fpc. ca SAT.- MON. ATTERNS ” All ii\store stock! our shelters. For the record, the B.C. SPCA is proud to have achietw-d the lowest euthanasia rates of any major humane organization — in Canada. The West Vancouver branch of the SPCA put down a total of three dogs in 19°7; the North Vancouver shelter, 26, of a total of nearly 800 placed in their care. Under the authority of the Prevention of Crucky to Animals Act, SPCA branches take every allegation of cruel- ty sericusly. While inspectors do not nesitare to lay charges where warranted, simple i ignorance is the mosr frequent cause of neglect and cruelty, and edu- cation is the most effective teal for dealing with it. Ms. Stone, however, “rescues” dogs “in the middle of the night and takes them” (her words). In doing so, she has neither legal authority nor the support of the SPCA. Animal welfare work is a demanding field involving rained professionals who in turn depend upon large num- Chinese Summer Day Camp for non-Mandarin speaking children : July 6 -17, 9: 00- 12: :00 haif day 9:00-3:00 ful day f « Children’s ‘Conversational Mandarin « Chinese Arts (calligraphy, knotting, paper Cutting & origami, kung tulf Open House/Registration: May 20 , 4:45-6:00 J Contact: North Shore Continuing Education 986-8888 | Lions Gate Chinese School Mrs. Wu 988-0203 AP a i IT 17 a Giitermann y ‘ THREAD ° 2 100% Polyester 100m spools. - Buy cet | FREE ~ iEN:” Fabricland Sewing Club Members BUY LGET bers of volunteers, willing donors and wide comunity support. The undoubtedly well-meaning but misguided efforts of people like Ms. Stone serve to discredit our movement. Stephen Huddart Director, Education & Community Relations B.C. SPCA Chitopractio Classic — Naw in stock for’ . 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