NSCU rejects various merger overtures THE NORTH Shore Credit Union (NSCU) has decided to remain autonomous. After considering the prospect of merging with other credit unions, the credit union board has decided to remain independent. “We have taken this opportunity to examine the advantages and dis- advantages of several options for the future and have concluded that at this time we would best serve our members ang our communities by continuing to operate as an independent and autonomous credit union,” said board chairman Jack Bright. “We remain absolutely committed to providing the dest possible service to our members.” NSCU vice-president Doug Smith said the merger discussions were the result of interested suitors and not something the credit union set out to encourage. “We viewed the discussions as an opportunity to consider what our strengths are anc whether they would be enhanced as a result ofa merger,” Smith said. “The board of directors gave until the end of August to go or not go on the topic of a merger,” according to Smith. With merger discussions over, NSCU will now concentrate on recruiting a replace- ment for CEO Phil Keller, who lft in June for personal reasons. ‘Lynnterm business disrupted PROTESTERS FROM the’ Forest Action Network targeted the Japanese ship General Tirona Thursday, climb- ing a crane on the North Vancouver waterfront and hoisting a banner above it reading “No more ex- ports of plundered forests.” “We're initiating our cam- paign of a boycott of all exports of products from ’ clearcuts or areas where there’s over-cutting — i.e., B.C.,” said spokesman Simon Waters. He said climbers Deryk Wenaus and Corrie Duncan passed through the gates of - Lynnterm terminal at about 5 a.m. and walked on board the ship. They proceeded up the ‘crane and intended to spend the night there, delaying the departure of the General Tirona by a day. Waters said the Forest Action Network objects to the environmental impact of clearcutting and over-cutting, which he claimed are the pre- dominant methods of Jogging in B.C. CALL US: 983-2208 Sunday, September 4, 1994 ~ North Shore News - 3 Ts rr 59, ve rye Photo David Joyce A 50-YEAR-OLD Squamish woman died in this head-on crash on Thursday that left four people injured. Highway 99 was closed to traffic as emergency crews helped the victims. l-on crash clan iS ONC Two-car accident injures four and shuts down Highway 99 for hours A SQUAMISH woman was killed in 4 head-on accident Thursday on Highway 99, 1.6 kilometres (one mile) south of Lions Bay. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter Isabella Confortin, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, Danilo Confortin, 54, Danilo Confortin was seriously injured in the 4:30 p.m. accident, said RCMP Set. Peter Montague, Vancouver RCMP headquarters spokesman. Danilo Confortin was in Lions Gate Hospital's (LGH) Intensive Care Unit (ICL) to press tiie, The couple were travelling north on Highway 99 when a southbound 1992 Toyota Camry apparently failed to negotiate a curve. The Camry crossed the centre line and cellided head-on with the Confortins’ 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The Toyota was driven by Vancouver resi- dent, Cheong Kong Tan, 46. Passengers in the Toyota included the general manager of the Malaysian Olympic Council, M.P. Haridas, and Malaysian newspaper journal- ist Chan Wat Kong. Kong and Haridas were also seriously injured in the crash. Kong was airlifted to Vancouver Hospital by a B.C. Ambulance Service helicopter where he was in ICU to press time on Friday. Haridas was in L.GH’s ICU to press time. The Toyota driver, Tan, was in a surgical ward at St. Paul’s Hospital. The Confortins are parents of four children. said Montague. . Montague said drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the accident. Squamish RCMP, West Vancouver Police, the West Vancouver Fire Department along with B.C. Ambulance Service personnel and numerous ambulances responded at the accident scene. Traffic was backed up to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal and beyond as a result of the colli- sion. Some Lions Bay residents had to wait sev- eral hours to get home from the North Shore. The MP White will collect — constituency gun views From page 4 owners without a proven decline in violence,” said Grubel. “In order to save perhaps one life.” Grubel asks, “are we prepared to spend, for example. $100 mil- lion?” ‘Ted White, Refori MP for North Vancouver, said he is personally against guns “und if [ had some way to wave a magic wand and make them all disappear | most certainly would do so.” White said his party has no for- mal policy on gun control and that he will vote according to the wishes of his constituents, “Talk to the community, not to me,” White tells lobbyists from both sides of the issue. “If and when gun control comes before the House, I will conduct a scientific poil and vote in accordance with my constituents, even if it is against my personal beliefs," White said. But even Grubcl has reservations about a referendum on the topic of gun control. “Any bill is likely to be extremely complicated because of the complex- ity of the issue, and I'm not sure a referendum is the way to go,” Grubel said. Gerry MacNeal, the representa- tive for the RFOCBC, dismisses many of the stated objectives of the CFGC. “They're just a bunch of fanatics. More people die each year from inhaling food than from firearm deaths,” according to MacNeal. The real problem, he said, is lack of enforcement of existing laws, “There's no deterrent there at all.” MacNeal claims. “You can pass a million laws, but if nobody obeys them, what's the point?” he asks. MacNeal believes gun ownership protects individuals from becoming victims of crime. “The tourists who have been attacked in Florida have been specif- ically targeted becat:se criminals there know tourists don’t have guns.” he said. He claimed his group has the complete support of the Reform party. MacNeal said membership in the RFOCBC is approaching 100,000 and the organization is signing up 100 new members each day. RCMP Set. Randy Bennett of the North Shore detachment said police are “very concemed” about the pro- liferation of firearms and the access to firearms by criminals. crash is under investigation. Gun Pojnt oF View 86% of Canadians support registration of firearms 68% of gun owners support registration of firearms 84% of Canadians support a ban on milltary weapons” 71% of gun owners support a ban on military weapons ins. = 82% support registration of rifles and shotguns 79% support a ban on military weapons 69% support a ban en handguns Scurce: Angus Reid poll (September 1993) " NEWS graphic Linda Dougles A A RTE TE EE OT RTP CT CELTS STD Poverty in the land of plenty The News series about poverty on the North Shore returns next week with an exdmination of poverty among seniors. Page one headline clarification The headline for our Sept. 2 page one story was incorrect. Sutherland school is in fact located in North Vancouver. THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: Do you think Canadian gun restrictions are adequate?