1 t . 4 6- Wedraaday, Aum 13, 1997 ~ North Shore News north shore news VIEWPOINT Cat calls NDY Danyliu’s cougar misad- - venture last week reveals a lack f good judgment. Not, however, on the part of the former West Vancouver councillor. Why shouldn’t he expect an effec- tive response to a cougar sighting? ‘It’s difficult to determine who is at. fault for the fact that Surrey-based : “conservation officers did not. check ‘out a cougar complaint in West . Vancouver, It’s absurd, however, - that the North Shore — which has more coy-. "> otes, ‘cougars | ‘and black’ bears than... should ‘have.to - Surrey has roads —~ import, someone. from that sprawling sity to check out problem animal, “West Vancouver Police rightly point out that they shouldn’t have to take -on'.the responsibility... The departrient, is. already being hit by. "THE North Share News Freé”Speech Defence . Fund continues to, Progress beyond the halfway point. “To press time Tuesday, ‘donations from over 1, 300 ‘News specch: supporters to the find stood at $105,232. “ah fees. expended thus far by the News, have me hit approximately $200,000; The final bill will ° “be much higher. All finds received will hel defray the y the News in its battle with the Hunian Rights Tribunal over a complaint laid against - 7 vothe newspaper andi*s columnist Doug Collins by the _ ’ Canadian Jewish Congress; The hearing into the mat: . a ter, Which began on May 12, concluded on June 27 ments at the Century Plaza Hotel, St. The decision from Nitya lyr, the . tribunal of one hearing the complaint, is expected * readers and fre legal costs faced wit final a - ,,1015-Bu: “some time later this year, « More excerpts from the hundreds of respondents to the cause * “Though I don’t always agree with Doug Collins, my a, husband and I believe in his right to say it and believe . "the law restructuring free speech should be struck down. », Once you start laws like this, where do you stop? ” ytands of West Vancouver — Mrs. Df cutbacks. But what about spreading the cost of a North Shore conserva- tion officer among the three munici- palities to make the concept far more __ palatable. Certainly, there . won't be ‘enough - work to keep a conservation officer busy. But perhaps a police officer could receive extra training and police: dogs could be trained to sniff out big cats, Cougars generally don’c attack children unless the animals are starv- ing or sick, ‘But that’s small comfort to par- ents, Sooner or later, a cougar will attack a‘person on the North Shore. We should take steps to ensure that is 4s later as possible, Perhaps, if Danyliu ever decides to run for public office again, he could keep that in mind. ULTIMATELY, in the unity debate now heating up once Quebec — it’s Ontario. » «+ Last month a study prepared for Premier Glen Clark by Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) Jeader Gordon Wilson shook loyal federalists to the core. In the event of Quebec finally separat- ‘dng, it claimed B.C. could easily go it alone, ‘too, as an independent sovereign nation, But why on carth them everything they desire, if only refrain from destroying Canada? _ humerous positive suggestions for strengthening national unity. But ” throughout, the “what iff” question more, B.C.’s big problem is not even float such a fantasy at this delicate stage — when everyone should be bend: ing backward to persuade Quebecers they are loved and wanted, and that we'll ive In fairness, Wilson's study also includes ‘ Q00 SMy small donation bs sent with a big thank you to always lingers. It is answered in a section between the remaining ‘eight provinces, Some hope, in such a situation, for B.C...’ interests — or those of any of the other. . TROC provinces -~ to prevail. against Me : 45%-50% poled clout wielded by". ‘Ontario! In a’truncated. Confederation minus Quebec Ontario alone. would clearly. call the shots. That B.C. would - “Never accept such a situ-' - ation is inherent in the .. 2 All’ thing: :this is NOT the ost soliition ts 0 Canada’ si : options”, section of the. : Wi ilson study, The other Options, suggeitd by . author Gibson are a. loose federation of the, four western provinces, : a B.C.-Alberta’ garner ship, or a union of B.C, with the states of Washington and Oregon. However, in ia worst-case scenario, ° with Quebec quitting, the go-it-alone ” concept for B.C. remains the most intriguing, Is Gibson dreaming in techni- color when he asserts that a nation called ©: 7 B.C. — with no defence costs, free trade with Hong Kong and using the U.S.‘dol- : lar as currency — “would work perfectly well in both economic and political ” terms?” Peter Speck and the Norih Shore News fur standing up _ of the study dealing with B.C.’s options if,. ‘against those who place themselves above the law and would take ‘ away our firedom. The legislative actions of Premier Clark and ‘company tell me they want complete control of our lives and are undermining the very prince many people fougin. for in two world wars — Bob Powell of North. Vancouver ©. Donations to the fund can be sent to: i 139 Lonsdale ‘Ave., North Vancouver, V7M 2H4..Cheques should be made out to" the North Shiore News Free Speck Defence Fund. crane ; . id = trenswtiret ta thst Shere Rs, found i 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and questied under Schecela 111, Paragcagh 111 ofthe. “” Eypise Tax Act is published exch Viednesday, Friday and Sunday by Nosth Shore Free Pruss * Utd, aad dtstriuted ta avery door oni the North _ Shore, Canada Past Canadian Pubdortions: Mat + Salas Product Agreement Ho, 6067238. ~, Distribution Manager. OO 15E7 (128) SOR 2151 (177) nevertheless, the worst should happen, written by respected former B.C, Liberal leader Gordon Gibson. B.C, is Canada’s third largest province , ‘after Ontario and Quebec, and with » Alberta and Ontario one of the only three “have” provinces. If Qitebec departed, -;- The Rest Of Canada (TROC) would be dominated politically by Ontario, which ° would hold at least 45% of the Commons * seats — with the other 55% divided * aan Rosato Wage Sse & Matin Diet “i, 582 (average cradaton, Westy, Fiay& Sunda) PETER SPECK Publisher Ot 985-2131 (91) A little research into some of the world’s small but prospering nations sug- gests Gibson is more than just a theorist. Comparable to B.C. with its 3.7 million popu ation we have. New Zealand ston million), Norway, (pop. 4.4 milli and Switzerland (pop::7.1 million). ° B.C.’s gross domestic product of more than $100 billion already outstrips, : on 4 per capita basis, Switzerland’s by 28%, Norway’ s by 35% and New hs ' points of sarily those of the ~ LETTERS 16 THE Eni : “ Lottets must inchide your fname: full address & toleptione nrtiber : _WA Internet: reshaw @ recta. _ ‘Commtaler S05-2151 (133) Managing Editor 985-2131 (116) COMPUTER BBS - 880- e027 " User (D:maitbox :