Defence changes could benefit local militia More opportunities possible for citizen-soldier - MP Collins A DEFENCE policy shift to a greater emphasis on reserve and militia forces will likely mean more activity for the North Vancouver-based 6th Field Squadron CME. Said Capilano-Howe Sound MP and associate defence minister Mary Coailins, ‘‘We’ve got the 6th Field engineers there and as we look at the increased future role of the reserves and the increase in reserves, it bodes well for them. “There are more opportunities for the citizen-soidier concept. We had reservists over in Cyprus for example. One of the infantry bat- talions in the West will be primarily militia-based. We're g0- ing to see their numbers and roies and activities enhanced. The engineers are of course particular- ly important.” CAPILANO-Howe Sound MP Mary Collins The defence policy statement announced in Ottawa earlier this week calls for the department to increase its contingent of reserves from 29,000 to 40,000. Under the policy, supplementary reserves would be increased. from the cur- rent level of 15,000 volunteers to 25,000 by 1994. The new policy calls for a three-year, 9.5% reduction of the country’s regular force from the present level of 84,000 to 76,000. Prior to 1995, Canada is com- mitted to reducing its military force in Germany to 1,100 people. Major combat units will be withdrawn by 1994. index @ Automotives @ Classified Ads EcolInfo BB Editorial Page @ Home & Garden @ Trevor Lautens ai Paul St. Pierre B What's Going On....43 Weather Saturday and Sunday. sunny. Highs 18°C. Second Class Registration Number 3885 By Michael Becker News Reporter Canadian Forces Europe cur- rently has a military strength of about 6,600. To maintain combat units in Europe at current levels costs the government about $1.2 billion annually. In June, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced in Berlin that Canadian forces would re- main in Europe ‘tas long as there is a residual threat to European and Canadian security.”* Of the perceived ‘‘residual threat,’’ Collins said, ‘*! think it’s really the threat of instability and that’s really reflected throughout the defence policy. “We no longer have the tradi- tional big enemy out there. We have a fragmented situation and we don’t really know what might happen next — whether it’s a Gulf situation or if something should happen in Europe again. If the in- ternational community should step in we want to be there to res- pond.”* By cutting personnel, operations and maintenance expenditures, the national defence department ex- pects to raise the level of money spent on equipment. Said Collins of military com- mand reaction to the new defence policy, ‘‘Some people had been expecting a lot more draconian reductions. So I think for many of them it was a relief -- a good reaction from the navy because they are getting some of the equipment they’ve wanted, so good news for them and | think good news for B.C. from a naval side because there’s a call for a better balance of our assets."’ The 1990-91 Department of Defence spending estimate of $12 billion represents 8.1% of the na- tional budget. The figure repre- sents an increase of $445 million over actual 1989-90 expenditures. Friday. September 20, 1991 — North Shore News - 3 NEWS photo Stuart Davis A FREIGHTER heads out to sea from Burrard Iniet. At the beginning of the week there were 28 vessels waiting in the Port of Vancouver to load grain after federal civil service pickets were set up at grain terminais on the North Shore and in Vancouver. Group lobbies for park dedication NVC council debates the future of Pemberton Heights greenbelt A GROUP of North Vancouver residents wants a greenbelt in Pemberton Heights dedicated as parkland, city council was told recently. But others opposed to the idea said the push for the park, just west of Mackay Avenue between 19th and 20th streets, is spearheaded by North Vancouver District residents, and in the best interests of very few North Van- couver City residents. City council will conduct a geotechnical study of the site to determine its usefulness as_resi- dential, rather than parkland, but council members indicated support for the pocket park idea. . Although counci! would not support a motion by Ald. Barbara Perrault to support, in principle, the development of a pocket park, other councillors said they support the idea of maintaining green space. “This is an example of what the North Shore must have once By Pamela Lang Contributing Writer looked like,”’ said Perrault. A petition submitted by the pro-park group is signed by 164 people, the majority of whom are district residents; others are from West Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Surrey, Maple Ridge and Port Moody. Dedication supporters told council that the residentially-zoned city-owned block: eis virtually the only safe pocket of unspoiled green space in the area, adding that the natura! areas of Haywood Park (less than two blocks away) ‘‘are not suit- able or safe for children or adults to play or walk in’’; © js situated at the bottom of a steep, unstable slope that is in danger of eroding; @ supports many tall trees that protect the slope from erosion; * faces east, receiving no direct sunlight after | p.m., and is therefore unsuitable for housing: *supports a wide variety of birds and wildlife, unusual in a residential area. The park supporters also said that the lane next to the land would have to be upgraded to a street, which, according to their petition, would increase area traf- fic flow. Jan Bryant, who sent the peti- tion to city hall, told council that preservation of green space should be a priority to preserve the char- acter of the Pemberton Heights neighborhood. The necessary road, she added, would also take away the rights of some residents because they would then have a street on either side of their properties, rather than a street in front and a lane behind. Others echoed her concerns and those raised in the petition. Stephen Bunton said the quality NOATH VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL of the neighborhood would dras- tically change if the land is devel- oped for housing. But David McKinnon opposed dedication of the area as parkland. McKinnon said the area is used as a dumping ground for garden refuse; he said he has never seen the land used as a rec- reational space. He added that the area creates a security risk for the adjacent homes because thieves hide among the trees to watch them; McKin- non said a number of area houses have been burglarized. With the proximity of Haywood and Sowden parks, McKinnon said the area does not need any more green space. Louise Ferguson countered park proponent claims that the McKin- nons and the Fergusons want the lane upgraded (o a street so they can subdivide their property, siay- ing that her property is already subdividable.