8 - Friday, March 27, 1992 - North Shore News North Shore MLAs address legislature Housing, education, health care issues discussed NORTH SHORE concerns about housing, education and health care, and a cali for a return to trust and integrity in government were the key topics this week in the first legislative speeches from three rookie North Shore MLAs. @ In his inaugural speech, West Vancouver-Garibaldi Liberal MLA David Mitchell satd inexpe- rience among the MLAs was ’ nothing to be concerned about. He warned the NDP govern- ment that its members should not boast of experience, ‘‘if by expe- rience we mean a tendency to behave arrogantly, to indulge in _dirty tricks, or to waste taxpayers’ hard-earned money on ‘political stunts,*” as the previous ad- ministration had proved. During his 20-minute address, the Opposition house leader also gave a shopping list of vital con- cerns in his constituency. ““Education, health care, irans- portation, housing (and) taxation, economic diversification, the en- vironment, the settlement of land claims and tourism are among the broad range of issues.’’ He welcomed the idea of a regional round table for Howe Sound, involving five municipatit.ss, three regional districts, the Islands Trust, native governments and government agencies and community groups, to resolve fand-use and environ- ment disputes. The West Vancouver MLA then urged the government to create a non-partisan committee similar to the Postwar Rehabilitation Coun- cil of the early 1940s, with ‘‘an ambitious and broad mandate to develop a strategy for B.C.'s training and development re- quirements into the next century.”” On other issues, Mitchell called upon Speaker Joan Sawacki to convene a meeting of the board of interna! economy (BIE) as soon as possible, ‘‘so that we can deal with a number of pressing ad- ministrative concerns shared by all members.”’ 92 CIVIC $198 A MONTH 92, ACCORD EXR, auto, loaded $3 98 A MONTH 92 PRELUDE Power windows, roof, cruise AMON EHS # PROVELMEREDIT 2-4 _725 MARINE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER 984-0331 By John Pifer Contributing Writer The March 17 throne speech promised a new, independent “‘mechanism”’ to deal with MLAs’ salaries, benefits and allowances, a function in recent years of the all-party BIE. A former legislative intern and once a clerk in Saskatchewan's assembly, Mitchell also told the house the throne speech was a disappointment because it failed to deal with the constitutional crisis in Canada. ““We can’t allow our country to fall apart because of indifference. Democracy is like love. It can survive almost any abuse except indifference or neglect.” @ North Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP MLA David Schreck delivered his maiden address im- mediately after Mitchell and blasted the federal government for its inaction in dealing with the plight of local shipyards. “*The displaced shipyard workers in my community want the same treatment the govern- ment vrovided to eastern ship- yards,"’ he told the house. “IT know that cabinet has heard the concerns of these workers and is attempting to negotiate a satisfactory program with (Ot- tawa). I wish them speed, as older workers have little time to wait.’”’ Turning to a profile of his con- stituents, Schreck said their family incomes were slightly below the provincial household average, despite the stereotype belief that the North Shore has only wealthy families. ‘Furthermore, the last census shows that the renter-occupied housing is almost twice that of the provincial average. Almost 65% of my constituents are renters,’’ said Schreck. Other concerns in the riding in- cluded health and = education, especially the use of portable classrooms at schools that, in some cases, are onl: a year old. Although Schreck said the school board must address those and other concerns, he told the house during his 14-minute speech that the board ‘‘also has far more administrators than is standard.” The North Shore rookie brought the biggest laugh so far in the early days of the legislature. Thanking those who had made enormous contributions to his success, Schreck included ‘‘my cat Lucky (who) is going through enormous pain and anguish due to my long absences, but it is a commitment Lucky is willing to make on behalf of debate in this house.”’ @ West Vancouver-Capilano Liberal MLA Jeremy Dalton dwelt primarily on the make-up of his riding and the confusion that the name had caused. He paid tribute to the area’s former Liberal MLAs, Gordon Gibson Sr. and Jr., having work- ed for the latter on two of his campaigns. : Care for and housing for seniors and maintenance of top- quality education were the most important issues in his riding, said Dalton. “Social programs (for seniors) must be maintained, and where necessary improved. This would involve more emphasis on com- munity-based care, including home care. Our seniors deserve that sort of service and em- phasis.” Dalton also praised the various service clubs that support the community. Local MLAs appointed to committees THE PROVINCIAL § govern- ment announced the appoint- meats of MLAs to legislative committees on Wed- nesday. All four North Shore MLAs were appointed to a total of eight legislative committees: @ Aboriginal Affairs Commit- tee: West Vancouvr-Garibaldi Liberal MLA David Mitchell. @ Education, Culture and Multiculture Committee: West Vancouver-Capilano Liberal MLA Jeremy Dalton. e@ Economic Development, Science, Training and Devel- opment Committee: David Mitchell. @ Health and Social Services Committee: North Van- couver-Lonsdale NDP MLA David Schreck. @ Forest, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Commit- tee: North Vancouver-Seymour Liberal MLA Daniel Jarvis. @ Transportation, Municipal Affairs and Housing Commit- tee: Jeremy Dalton, @ Public Affairs Committee: David Schreck. © Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Members’ Bill Committee: David Schreck and David Mitchell. HEAR YE~HEAR YE Plans To Go Underground Municipal Act Section 656 The overhead transmission line on West Esplanade detracts from what is becoming an increasingly attractive working environment and tourist recreational destination. Removing this transmission line would cost an estimated $700,000 which would ordinarily be beyond the means of the City. However, the City has now received grant approvals, totalling app: nities, there is no certainty that they will be available in the future. TAKE NOTICE THAT: roximately $400,000, for this project. If the City fails to act on these grant opportu- 1. The Council of The Corporation of the rity of North Vancouver intends to construct the underground conversion of overhead transmission lines and all ef ornamental street lighting, includin ectrical appurtenances, on West Esplanade between conversion of all electrical street I ting, telephone and cablevision works contained within the Esplanade right-of-way will be at the expense of the Avenue and Lonsdale Avenue. The underground ._ entire project. Any related works required on private property will be the responsibility of the affected properly owners. The estimated cost of the work is - B.C. Hydro conversion: Other Works : (Street Lighting, B.C. Tel & Shaw Cable Conversion) TOTAL COSTS: The estimated share of the total cost which will be charged to the Municipal Affairs grant is: (1/3 of the project cost toa maximum of $300,000.) The estimated share of the total cost which will be charged to the B.C. Hydro grant is: {1/3 of the cost of the B.C. Hydro conversion.) The estimated City’s share of the total costs is: (1\3 of the remainder of the total project cost less grants.) The estimated share of the total cost which will be specially charged against the parcels benefiting from or abutting on the work (including the City owned land), is: (2\3 of the remainders of the total project cost less grants.) The annual charge will be imposed for a period of ten years. Persons desiring to petition against the undertaking of the work must do soon or before the 271. day of Ap number of the owners, representing at least 50% of the assessed value of the lands involved, must sign su prevented from proceeding with the work. In the case of joint ownership, both owners must sign, and where two or more persons are the owners of the property, a majority of them must sign the petition. Where the property is registered in the name of a limited company, an officer of the company must sign the petition and show his or her position in the company. Dated this 27th day of March, 1992 The Ci $500,000. $200,000. 700,000. $233,333, $166,667. $100,000. $200,000. ril, 1992, but more than 50% in petition before Council can be Eleanor M. Rienstra Deputy City Clerk Tt of North Vancouver She Stew S Volta COLE ly