News Reporter Greater Vancouver Coalition on Shipbuilding (GVCS) members will tentatively meet Sept. 8 with John Crosbie, minister, of transport; Perrin Beatty, minister of defence; and Robert de Cotret, president of Treasury Board, when Parlia- ment convenes in Ottawa. North Vancouver District Mayor Marilyn Baker said the meeting hinges on Capilano MP Mary Collins arranging mectings with the federal ministers. The latest lobby effort is the result of a recent report to Vancouver City Council by the Vancouver City Economic Advisory Council, urging Vancouver Mayor Michael Harcourt to visit Ot- NORTH VAN SHIPBUILDING Local coalition to return to Ottawa PLANS ARE AFLOAT for a second trek to Ottawa carly next month to step up lobbying pressure for local con- struction of a Polar Class 8 icebreaker. tawaon behalf ef the local shipbuilding industry. “The advisory council report identified long-term economic strategies,” Baker said. ‘Ship- building was identified as an important sector. The short- term strategy is another trip to Ottawa.”* Baker said Harcourt phoned Monday afternoon asking for her support on the delegation travelling to the capital to lobby for the $450 millioa contract. District council voted unani- mously Monday to send Baker as a delegate. North Vancouver City coun- cil also approved Monday the authorization to send Mayor Jack Loucks as a city repre- sentative for the wes! coast shipbuilding lobby group. “The message to Ottawa 1s simply don't delay Polar 8,” said Baker. Ald. Craig: Clark expressed optimism regarding last Tues- day's North Vancouver meeting with External Affairs Minister Joe Clark. “Mir. Clark was very respon- sive and hopefully decisions will be made soon to retain nearly 1,000) jobs on the North Shore," Clark said. Ald. Ernie Crist echoed the optimism: “When the labor minister (Pierre Cadicux) visited Versatile Pacific Shipvards this month, he was helpful and pos- itive. | told him working people vote for those who provide the jobs. My union leader was standing right beside me. I'm sure he was shocked."' The GVCS cause has also received verbal support from Premicr Bill Vander Zalm. Baker said Vander Zalm has been doing some lobbying of his own. ‘Since meeting with him last Wednesday at the Grantham Bridge ceremony, he’s spoken with Pat Carney about our concerns,’’ she said. Weather: Continuing sunny through Thursday and Friday Highs 20°-28°C. Saturday DEEP COVE Day will dawn again. sunny with eloudy periods. Cove [to get overhaul Editorial Page....... Bob Hunter.......... Slated for Sun., Aug. 31 the event received North Vancouver District Council's blessing Monday, despite 2 number of problems associated with the event last year. “A lack of coordination in organization between the community, B.C. Transit and ourselves was the main reason for some of the problems,” said deputy director of engineering services Harry McBride. ‘‘The delineation of responsibilities was unclear.” Litter, loud music and the disappearance of district-owned street bar- ricades and temporary stop signs were among the problems cited . District conditions covering the event include a $1,000 security deposit to cover clean-up requirements, and a clause calling for music to be kept ‘ata reasonable level.” DRUG TREATMENTS FOR MENTALLY ILL QUESTIONED Former patient fights for rights FORMER PSYCHIATRIC patient Joe Lins says he was forced to take drugs when he was institutionalized four years ago in southeast B.C. NEWS photo Terry Peters MIKE GOULD, from the Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights, col- lects signatures for a petition calling for changes to the Mental Health Act. Chris Waddell of North Vancouver, above, adds his name to the petition. The CCHR has coliected about 3,000 of the 10,000 signatures the commission hopes to collect. Today, the 30-year-old North Vancouver resident is working to raise awareness to the effect of drug treatment, which he says is often administered to mentally ill patients against their will, Lins, an unemployed carpenter, works with the Citizens’ Commis- sion on Human Rights, sponsored by the Church of Scientology, to collect’ signatures for a petition calling for amendments to the Mental Health Act. CCHR_ spokesman Margaret Rommann said about 3,000 people from the Lower Mainland have signed the petition, bur another 7,000 signatures are needed. She said the group would like to have the petition presented in Parliament within two months. The petition states that the pa- tient should have the right to be fully informed of all harmful side effects of treatment before being given the treatment, and that if the patient is unable to understand the full nature of the treatment and the effects, he should have this ex- plained to a relative or legal counsel. Also, she said, the patient should be given the right to refuse treatment whether he has been voluntarily or involuntarily com- initted. And, if the patient has been involuntarily institutionaliz- ed, she said, he should be given the right to legal counsel, Lins said he was forced to take drugs while seeking medical assistance for stress, during his marriage break-up. “i didn’t need drugs. 1) was under a lot of mental strain, but all I needed was time,"* he said. “The drugs virtually stopped my life. My routine of activity had deteriorated so badly that 1 didn't feel like getting out of bed.”’ N. VANCOUVER DISTRICT Katimavik funding 1T WAS THUMBS up for Katimavik as North Van- couver District Council ap- proved funding for the pro- gram Monday. By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter Council overturned an Advisory Commission on Community Ser- vices (ACCS) recommendation that the district not support a June 25 funding request from Senator Jacques Herbert. Council instead voted to follow North Vancouver City’s lead in approving funding for up to one program participant based on a ci- ty contribution equal to that made by the community. In a letter dated Aug. 12, ACCS chairman Yvonne Schmidt said the committee’s consensus was, ‘‘that the proposal is outside common municipal’ directions.”’ It was also noted that ‘‘district involvement could prejudice the political neu- trality which our municipality has effectively preserved,” But Ald. Ernie Crist said: ‘Two things puzzled me about this. The committee completely ignored the good work done on the North Shore by this organization and the comment about political neutrality seems to be very, very naive.” Nine of the 10 ACCS commis- sioners voted to reject the applica- tion. Ald. Murray Dykeman voted in favor of funding support. _ Lins said when he was released he stayed with his wife for one week, but he said the drugs he was taking only allowed him to sleep. “I feel if there had not been this psychiatric intervention that my wife and I could have ironed things out,’’ he said. Rommann said since the CCHR has been collecting signatures many people have talked to the group about similar stories as Lins’. She said the Vancouver CCHR office has fully documented four of these stories. “It seems everyone we've talked to has heard of someone who has some kind of upset with mental treatment,"’ Rommann said. ‘‘But people withdraw. They’re afraid if _they say something they’ll end up back in those places.’* Rommann said if anyone is in- terested in signing the petition or getting involved in the work of the CCHR to contact her at 683-5459. approved Ald. Craig Clark rejected the Katimavik request, calling the program ‘‘an absolute waste of money." “Local service clubs provide similar services on a_ private basis,’ Clark said. ‘‘When we spend money at the community level we get a good bang for our buck. Katimavik is purely politi- cal.”’ But Mayor Marilyn Baker, along with the remaining council members, voiced support for the federal program. According to Katimavik repre- sentative Marilyn Hagerman, 7,000 young Canadians have inquired about program participation so far this year.