NEWS RIEFS Mediator named to shipyard dispute VANCOUVER MEDIATOR John Thorne has been appointed to try and settle a labor dispute between local 506 of the Marine and Shipbuilders’ Union and North Vancouver-based Vancouver Shipyards Co. Lid. (VSY). The union served VSY with 72-hour strike notice on Monday is in a legal position to strike. But both sides agreed this week to the intervention of a media- tor in a bid to head off a strike. Thorne is expected to enter the labor dispute on Monday. Union president Ron Ferguson szid he is ‘very optimistic’’ that Thorne will be able to mediate a settlement. Wages are the key issue. “We're not that far apart,”’ said Ferguson. Tom Ward, VSY general manager, said he was happy to see the union agree to third party intervention. “I'm very pleased to see both sides are still talking. Any labor disruption is bad for our business. We have contracts that we're completing and we do not have any work coming in,’ said Ward. “We'd like to get this settled.”” Earlier this month the union rejected VSY's latest contract offer by an overwhelming margin of 94.4 pez cent. That offer included wage increases of $1.11, or 5.0 per cent in the first year of a two-year collective agreement and $1.17, of 5.5 per cent in the second year. But Ferguson said he wanted the company to “sweeten the pot’ with increases of 85 cents in cach of the two years. The union's current wage rate at VSY ranges from $18.88 an hour to $20.25 an hour. There are approximately 300 VSY workers represented by the Marine and Shipbuilders’ Union. Youths hold protest concert MORE THAN 100 youths, who say they are being denied access to North Vancouver Recreation Commission (NVRC) facilities, will stage a ‘‘protest concert’’ tonight at 8 p.m. in front of the Seylynn Hall. **On one hand, there’s 300 peopte at a house party confronted by police, but when we try to organize a teen dance we aren't permitted,”’ said protest organizer Kris Jerome. Jerome, 19, said others have tried to bock all-age dances at the Seylynn Hall and Capilano room, both operated by the NYRC, and that each time a request was made the facilities were *‘sup- posedly booked.”’ “We are expected to raise $400 for an evening's use, plus dou- ble that amount for a damage deposit," said Jerome. ‘‘That keeps young people on the streets unable to raise that much cash in ad- vance.’* The “‘protest concert’’ will feature the Deep Cove band From Beyond, which will perform in front of Seylynn Hall. Youths from Deep Cove, Mount Seymour Parkway, Blueridge, Lynn Valley, Lonsdale and West Vancouver are expected to attend. Legal experts concerned about asset law abuse From page 3 with drugs,”’ he said. But the Canadian Criminal Code proceeds of crime legislation has been criticized by some legal experts who say the potential for abuse of the law by over-zealous policing agencies is substantial. Given special search warrants may be issued. And proceeds of crime are broadly defined as ‘‘any proper- ty...obtained or derived directly from or indirectly as a of..."" the commission of an of- fence. By way of restraint orders police powers may also prohibit the disposition of property. Pro- ceeds of crime are forfeited to the Crown following conviction. lt has also been argued that lawyers may open themselves to prosecution should they ‘‘know- ingly’’ accept money deemed to “reasonable grounds ,”° result have been generated as a result of criminal activity. Meanwhile West Vancouver District lawyers are attempting (0 claim for the municipality $287,245 U.S. cash seized earlier this year from a man who subse- quently died February of a co- caine overdose in Vancouver. The man had been pulled over for speeding on Marine Drive in January. The car, which the in- vestigating officer had thought to be stolen, was searched and two bags of money were seized. The RCMP anti-profiteering section initiated a proceeds of crime in- vestigation. West Vancouver is claiming ownership of the cash. Said West Vancouver municipal manager Terry Lester, ‘‘There’s a counter claim against us saying the money is due to the estate. But we've ini- tiated an action to claim that money.** Friday, Sepiember 28, 1990 - North Shore News - 5 Reynolds raises ire Alderman questions election practices WEST VANCOUVER District Council was in an uproar Monday night over the routine appointment of a returning officer and enactment of arrangements for the upcoming municipal and school board elections in November. Several council members were angered by Ald. Carol Ann Reynolds’ questioning of deputy manager and oreturning officer Doug Allan as tw whether he would be given the necessary resources to carry out the election Process, She reminded council of the 1988 elections, when a re-count revealed an error of about 300 votes, which, she stressed, af- fected only two of the candidates. “PE hope there are some plans to prevent these problems from oc- curring again,’ she said. But Allan, who is also the municipal clerk, said a number of changes had already been put in place. He added that he had asked for comments and suggestions from all of the aldermen which had not, as yet, been forthcoming from Ald. Reynolds. This fall's clection will be the first one in which all members of council and the West Vancouver School Board will be elected for a three-year term. Another day has been added to those day» set aside for advance polling which will take place from 8:30 am. to 6 p.m., at. the By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer municipal hath on November 9, 13, ld and 15. The regular poll will be held at Caulfeild School, Chartwell School, Eagle Harbour Communi- ty Centre, Gleneagles School, Hollyburn School, Irwin Park School, Lezion Hall, Masonic Hall, the Presbyterian Church at 28th and Marine Drive, Ridgeview School, the Seniors Activity Cen- tre and Westcot School on Satur- day, Nov. 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nomination of candidates will take place on Oct. 29, from 10 am. to noon wt the municipal hall. Arrangements are the same for FREE SEMINAR Real Estate Planning for Retirement. See today's Home Section page 71. 7 ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors Personal Injury FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION AFTER HOURS 645-8989 986-4366 FAX 986-9286 #300-1401 LONSDALE NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. Meh WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL the election of five people to the West Vancouver School RPoard, with additional polling stations to be setup at the Lions Bay Village Office and Bowen Island Com- munity School. The GVRD will hofd an addi- tional poll for the Electoral Area B elections of Island trustees and regional director at the Masonic Hall. Allan reparted that following enumeration, over 10,000 changes were made to West Vancouver's fist of electors, which has increas- ed from 21,771 in 1988 to 26,647 as of this September. These numbers could change as of the Oct. 1 Court of Revision, 10 a.m. at the municipal hall, The cost of the elections is currently estimated at $22,000. 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