6 — Sunday, August 8, 1999 - North Shore News each hi OME on in, the water’s fine. The ritual cry of summer echoes happily around swimming holes everywhere at this time of year — except the beach at Deep Cove’s Panorama Park. The advisory issued by North Shore Health on Thursday left the beach closed for the sixth week in a row due to fecal coliform contamination. It’s not a new problem for Cove res- idents and visitors who like to swim in the muddy-bottomed waters next to the government dock. In 1989, the beach remained closed for 49 straight days and prompted angry outbursts at North Vancouver District hall. To its credit, council of the day coughed up the money for an extensive consultant report, and local water test- ing became an ongoing activity. Bue the report provided no clear answers, just a you said it “There was no nudge nudge, wink wink; dub here. It was business as usual.” - North Vancouver District councillor Japice Harri: on allegations that-a (since failed) development on the Avalon Hotel site had benefited ffom Mayor Don Belt’s involve- ment in the approval process. Bell is a friend of the develop- er. (From an Aug. I News story.) Qog0 north shore news VIEWPOINT string of contributing factors: a shal- low bay that is not fully scoured by tidal action; dog and goose feces get- ting washed into the sea; possible municipal sewer leaks; pleasure craft dumping their holding tanks. The district has dye-tested the sewer lines and improved part of the system but has never found ongoing leaks. The cove is still shallow, and warming trends in B.C.’s coastal waters exacer- bate the lack of a tidal flush. People are picking up after their pooches, but the geese remain — and so do the boaters. We could probably get rid of the for- mer if we tried, but boating activity in Indian Arm is only going to increase. If the GVRD was serious about protect- ing Vancouver’s major marine play- ground it would install enough dock- side pump-out stations to protect our environment. no old boys IT’S almost scary the way my usually favourite talk show host, CKNW’s Rafe Mair, eats alive one caller after another unsym- pathe cic to those 123 illegal Chinese . immigrants. “I have never claimed to be a hero, but I amt cer- tainly not a villain.” North Vancouver District mayor Don Bell characteriz- cing himself in a prepared statement. (From the same Aug. 1 News story.) ; o0Q “The best we can calculate is there's five ing stalls North : there for his’ newly invented biodegradable (From an ied 4 News Story.) Q06 - : * “They saw 2 picture of me with no hair and all these brass. buttons and thought, ‘Whoah, who i is this guy? : ‘Let's get him up here.” “Deep Cove actor and writer Stephen Miller on his US. military background and his selection into the masters cre- at UBC during the Vietnam War. ‘ative Writing pro oo (From an Ang. ! This Week profile.} OO - *enple are these ‘primarily for the music and they’re : drunk or faid. There’s net tobacco ' not there to staoke in the air and there’s a full spectrum sexual orientations and races there. I find playing bars to be hom ; it’s all 19-24 year ol ‘same. At these festivals, I have 60: 76 year olds bobbing ‘their heads to the beat.” ‘Third Eye Tribe. founder Jacob Cina on his second of population.” : - anvecuver-raised vin Daum on the $6 billion- worth of parking lot clean-up in Canada he estimates is out Pounding the same theme in his regular Frovince column, he has also vowed never again to support the Reform Party. “(It) is mean- spir- ited but worse,” he declared, “ir cares noth- ing, 3 about the rights of people much less the ule of Law.” For this about-face the once Reform-friendly Rafe “thanked” Capilano-Howe Sound Reform MP John Reynolds, the party $ justice critic. ering is change of heart was Reyne s’ comment about the unidenti- fied mob from China’s Fuijan province furtively probing Vancouver Island’s ¢ olate west coast in their rustbucket witi: the suspected aim of landing unseen. “These people are criminal,” che MP said. “They should be sent ‘home. These people paid to de something illegally, and it's going to cost taxpayers millions of dollars.” This enraged Rafe, a former lawyer who remains a stickler for due process. The 123 Chinese, he points out, clair to be refugegs, not ordinary i immigratts. Under présent Canadian iaw all you have to do is appear on Canadian soil with no to six park- oil solvent. of ages and dressed the UNFORTUNATELY, PAN-AM GaMes OFFICIALS DIDNT INCLUDE ViaGRa WN THeIR List OF Balled PERFORMANCE -ALTERING take up to two years for the powers that be co sore out whether you're a phoney. Meanwhile, you qualify for welfare,” medicare and the right co work and live among the general population pending your refugee claim earings. But today some 71% of Chinese chimants landing in Vancouver dea‘ even bother to show up for the hearings months after they arrive. They simply fade from sight — in a good many cases by jumping the border and windin; in New York or L.A. . So the nub of the shouting match between Raic and many of his listeners — plus the solid support for the latter in eters to the editar and in John Reynolds’ ove. flowing voice mail from constituents — boils down to dts: ‘While ittegal immigrants may be casy to define, can there ever be such an animal as an “illegal refugee” before his claim is -. adjudicated alter up to 24 months of tax- ayer support? : P For lawyer Rafe the answer is “no.” No matter how bogus the refugee claim nay appear to be, and no matter what the cost to the taxpayer, due process under th the cxisting law must be compiet- ed... For taxpayers with a dictionary the answer is a resounding “nonsense!” — bogus us refugecs can be quickly identified without waiting many months and. squandering thousands of tax‘dollars on cm. up. ‘Refugees’? Think again Rafe! defines “refugee” as a “person taking” refuge, esp. in foreign country, from |” political or religious persecution, or from war, carthquake, etc.” All media reports: to date on the 123 claimants in question clearly indicate they do not fit this defini; tion. rt reportedly admitted to paying: up to $38,000 apicce for their voyage to a criminal people- -stauggling gang, priv’ marily in order to seek a better economic life for themselves and theie families i in North America. Most British Columbians are no longer prepared to tolerate such non- sense. Genuine refugees fror persecution? Yes, of coursé.'B economic “refugees” paying « skip legal immigration procedures? Bac home on the next plane to reapol through the proper channels Given the ridiculous refugee immigration laws we've been’s _ largely by Liberal 3 governt insistence on due proc technically correct. But ins ing John Reynolds, Refe: of his own fans as “mean-spi ots,” he might far better ble talents to join them in getting a very bad and costly y law chang d= fase!- ; North Van's Mahe ‘Treije same tomorrow to ‘West ‘Van Legioninaire pearance at this weekend’s Under the Volcano festival at ap identifyin ag ¢ documents, tumble Cates Park. (From an Ang. 6 This Week story.) “refugee,” and you’re in. It-can then The Concise Oxford Dictionary - LETTERS TO THe EDITOR roa Letters must include your name, ~. full address & talophone number. VA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca’ Horth Stare tiew:, founded in 1969 a8 an ++ gnider Schade 111, Pzragraph 111 of ma ; Exciov Tax Act, is pubcshed each Wednesday, Friday and Senday by Nocth Shere Free: Press * Utd, and distriguted t0 evory door on the North Shoce. Canstia Post Canacaan Publications Mest ‘Soles Product Agreement No. 0067238. 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