Sharing the flame NORTH SHORE residents came out in force to view the Winter Olympic flame as it passed through the three local municipalities early Sunday morning. The flame bound for ihe Calgary ‘Olympic Games in February crossed the Lions Gate Bridge on to the North Shore at approximately 9 a.m. Sunday morning. It went up Capilano Road to a ceremony at Cleveland Dam Park, then headed east to the Second Nar- rows Bridge via Edgemont Boulevard, Queens Road, Lonsdale Avenue and East Keith Road. Thousands Hned these streets to cheer on the torch carriers, Torch bearer Ruth Mukai (above) is greeted on her route along Edgemont Boulevard. Crowds brave the cold and wait patiently for the flame to arrive at Cleveland Dam Park (right photc). The flame ceremony _ Started Inte due to delays at the start of the day’s relay in Van- couver. NEWS photos Tom Burley 3 - Wednesday, January 27, 1988 - North Shore News VICTORIA FUNDING PROTEST V council ealti cuts A MOTION proposing council cease local health depart- ment funding unless the inequitable funding arrangement with the province is addressed met with rebuke from North Vancouver City Council! members Monday, but the decision was deferred pending more details. The motion, introduced by Ald. Rod Clark, stated the North Shore municipalities pay a ‘far greater" price for public health care than any other health unit in the pro- vince. It proposed the city formally give notice that it will withdraw all funding for public health as of Ju- ly 1, 1988 unless the current situa- tion is corrected. The North Shore Union Board of Sfealth gets the lowest funding percentage of all 22 provincial and metropolitan health departments. The North Shore receives only 2.5 per cent of its preventative care budget from the government while Richmond, with a smaller popula- tion, gets 47.2 per cent provincial aid for the same program. The board has been under tight fiscal restraint for six years. ft provides long term care, public health nursing, speech pathology, nutrition, dental and mental health programs and public inspection, Clark said he brought the mo- tion forward because the North Shore Union Board of Health is in “tough times,"* He said the finality of the motion was necessary to force the governinent’s hand. “We have tried to do this for a number of years ind we have come up against a cold blank wall. If we can go only a little distance with this motion then it is worth it."* However, Ald, Bill Bell said he has “real reservations’’ about the tactics the motion infers. ‘'] would hate to see us go into a bluffing game when it will be the users ~ children in school and the elderly — who will be held hostage."* He snid the Social Credit gov- ernment has not shown consider- able concern about health in the New fears arise over illegal suite registration in North Van WHILE 212 people have so far made‘inquiries about regis- tering illegal suites in the District of North Vancouver, one * alderman fears the registration process will fail. But: Ald: Joan Gadsby is afraid that many people are being scared away from coming forward to reg- ister their illegal suites because of fears that they will have to pay several thousand dollars to upgrade their suites to meet mini- mum health and safety standards. _ Said Gadsby: ‘'I believe that the “majority are quite prepared to reg- ~ ister ...but they are afraid to come forward and when they make their anonymous inquiries they haven’t been able to get the answers.”’ _ Gadsby indicated that owners of _ illegal suites have not been able to get forms that describe the re- _ quirements for registration. But Mayor Marilyn Baker stressed that the district is being ‘“‘reasonable’’ and adopting a ‘‘le- nient attitude’ about the type of upgrading that will be required to bring suites up to standard. The district is currently in a reg- istration period that runs until April 30. During that time, all il- legal suites in the district have to be registered. If they are not regis- tered by the end of April, they will By PAUL HOULE Contributing Writer be automatically shut down. The district has adopted a policy of phasing out all illegal suites by June 30, 1995. Council has decided to extend the waiver of the $200 registration fee for illegal suites until March 31 | from Feb. 29. As well, council will be placing further newspaper ads which urge people to come for- ward and register. Ald. Craig Clark said he thought the registration system ‘‘is working extremely well under the cir- cumstances....My experience does not show any problems, or delays, or anything else.’’ Some members of the audience expressed their continuing anger at council for clamping down on il- legal suites. Margaret Plumb of 3430 Mahon said, ‘I want to know if you would be willing to come forward and say you're doing something il- legal? Watch what you're asking people to do.”’ Plumb said angrily, “I think that it’s something that. council ought to be stood up against a wall and shot with a machine gun for doing it.” In criticizing council’s actions, Ron Gamble of 1796 McGuire noted that ‘‘there are over 10,000 illegai suites in the district.’ How- ever, Baker quickly responded, saying, ‘‘There hasn't been proof of that fact at all.”’ Said Baker: ‘‘I appreciate, Mr. ALD. JOAN GADSBY...illegal suite owners scared away. istrict Gamble, that we disagree. It’s council’s best effort to deal with this very difficult problem. “S'm pleased that there’s been, up to this point, 300 people...that have come forward,"’ said Baker, “I'm sure we'll have considerably more when we put the ad in the paper.” Ald. Ernie Crist said, ‘! heartily endorse the proposals. I also want to say they are fair because no one has to pay any penalty...even the (registration) fee is waived up to...March 31.”" The district clamp down on il- legal suites started Nov. 1 with the beginning of the registration period. This followed on the heels of two B.C. Supreine Court decisions relating to council’s efforts to amend its single-family. zoning bylaw. In a Sept. 11 decision, Mr. Justice Lloyd McKenzie upheld the district’s efforts to move in on il- legal suites. However, a ruling by Madam Justice Mary Southin on Sept. 28 struck down the district’s efforts to legalize inlaw suites. The district's appeal of the Southin decision will be heard next month, By KAREN GRAM Contributing Writer province and feared a bluff would fail. He suggested council first at- tempt ta send the three North Shore mayors to Victoria to lobby Minister of Health Peter Dueck. Ald. Stella Jo Dean agreed that the motion was {oo strong. “Perhaps we should put on the gloves and say: ‘We will con- sider... Saying ‘we will’ and ‘shall’ is too threatening and we are not as big as the province."* Clark argued the motion is nota bluff. He said if the city withdraws funding, health care will not diminish. ‘This is not bluffing or tactics,"" he said. ‘*Pulling out will not hurt health care. We're just saying, ‘We're giving you a time clock and if after six months you have not resolved this you will have to carry the whole thing." Ald. John Braithwaite said he thought the motion was premature because council still lacked the details of the current inequities. He moved the decision be deferred un- if council heard from chief medi- cal heaith officer Dr. Brian O'Connor. O'Connor discussed the pro- blems with Dueck in July, but came away doubting new funds would be forthcoming. O’Connor has been invited to address council next week, The motion was also put before West Vancouver District and North Vancouver District councils Monday, but both deferred the motion for two weeks due to the’ absence of mover A'd. Murray Dykeman of North Van District. Auto... cece eee db Businass ............. 28 Classified Ads.........42 Doug Collins.....°0.... 9 Comics...............39 Dr. Ruth.............38 Editorial Page......... 6 Food...........+2....d2 Lifestyles.............97 Moailbox.............. 7 TV lListings...........36 Wednesday and Thursday, cloudy with a few showers. Highs near 6°C.