& - Friday, May 10, 1991 ~ North Shore News Water worries T HE RECENT public forums held in Vancouver on watershed logging have failed io clarify the already muddy waters of the local water-supply issue. Both sides in the debate again marshall- ed their conflicting evidence to back claims that: yes, clear-cut logging in the North Shore and Coquitlam watersheds raises water turbidity levels; or, no, logging in the watersheds does not adversely affect waier quality and, in fact, helps maintain the good health cf the watershed forests and provides jobs. The arguments have neither advanced nor decided the debate. Neither side has moved from its position and neither side is likely to move, and solutions remain as distant as ever. But the fundamental issue remains: OF North Shore water quality has dropped over the past few years; it reeks of chlorine and, after heavy rains, it is often muddy and unpalatable. Whether it is the source of any health-related complications is open to argument. What all consumers of North Shore water know now is what water quality has been like while logging is taking place in the watershed areas; what we don't know is what water quality is like when no logg- ing is taking place in the watershed areas. Before we invest $480 million in filtra- tion and other ways of improving local water quality at the source, we should find out if the source itself can be improved and determine once and for all how logg- ing affects local water quality by imposing a temporary moratorium on _ watershed logging. THE Suggestions for wildlife rescue INSIGHTS Mel’s ouster nothing to do with integrity FANTASY GARDENS — on which Mike Harcourt again seems to be pinning his election hopes — is screwing up the whole concept of ‘‘integrity in government.’’ As witness fired finance minister Mel Couvelier. Like all of B.C. since last August, he knew ex-premier Vander Zalm was dealing with re- altor Faye Leung. On learning that the Mounties were in- vestigating the lady, he naturally figured the boss ought to be alerted —- in everyone's interests and not least the government’s. Financial Institutions Act pro- bes are rightly confidential. But obviously quite a few people (RCMP officers involved, the at- torney general and the finance minister himself) HAVE to know about them. Why, therefore, shouldn’t the premier — ANY premier — also be informed in appropriate cir- cumstances? Cabinet secrecy is binding on him and all other ministers. So it’s hard to see how a quiet word in his ear from his finance colleague could possibly breach the FIA’s confidentially provisions. Poor Mel’s downfall was that he didn’t do it that way. Instead of passing the warning verbally in the privacy of the boss’s office, he put it in a written confidential memo —~ nowadays a sure-fire method of eventually spilling the beans to the entire public. Thus, when it duly turned up among court documents, Couvelier did, technically, become responsible for breaching con- fidentiality. His new boss Rita, more than a little strung up thesc days, panicked — so zap! And one more self-inflicted body blow to the punch-drunk Socreds. But what on earth all this has to do with “‘integrity in government”’ — as the NDP is again joyously claiming — you may well ask. Couvelier had had numerous policy run-ins with Vander Zalm and presumably had no special reason to do him personal favors. A much likelier reason for warn- ing the embattled premier about Leung would have been to prod him into cleaning up his private Noel Wright HITHER AND YON himself has hinted — is that we could wind up with no cabinet ministers at all. And nobody willing to take the risk of replacing them! TAILPIECES: Let Mom start her special day with her flipping mayor — that’s right, Mayors Jack Loucks and Murray Dykeman will be doing the culi- nary honors at the Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Sunday in Silver Har- bour Centre, with ‘‘golden oldies’’ on piano and organ by Bella Elphinstone and Theresa McManus. Tickets ($3.25, $2.25) at the door ... Delbrook High Class of '61 celebrates its 30th re- union June 1 at the Canyon House — if you belonged, call Caroline Mason, 926-6762, for all the details ... And only four more days left to the May 15 deadline for naming your North Van District ‘Distinguished Citizen,” past or present — 100 of whom will be selected for a special award Dear Editor: Each spring well-meaning peo- ple ‘rescue’? baby birds and other wild animals, believing them to be abandoned by their parents. Most of these ‘‘rescued’’ babies die, as untrained individuals are not able to feed them every 15 to 290 minutes, or do not have the knowledge of proper diet, han- dling, housing and treatment for parasites and other health prob- lems. If you are absolutely certain an animal is in need of human help, the following guidelines will pre- vent unnecessary suffering: 1. Special permits are required by law to house and care for most wildlife. Do not attempt this crucial task yourself. 2. If truly orphaned or injured, quick action by trained people is imperative in order to s7.ve the life of any bird or animal. On the Lower Mainland, contact the Wildlife Rescue Association at §26-7275 for help and informa- tion. 3. If the animal is in a danger- ous location such as a roadway or driveway, it can be gently moved to safety to nearby bushes where Parents can find it. 4, Look and check to see if adults of the same species are nearby. Watch at a safe distance for a while. It would be a shame to take a baby from its narenis. Remember, animal parents take quite a long time to find suitable food for their young. 5. Keep cats inside. If allowed outside, they should have two bells hung together (not spaced apart) on a safety collar. Cowbell shaped bells are recommended rather than the round type. Caring for wild animals is a specialized job. Specific needs must be met such as adequate survival training if wild creatures are to have a successful release back to the wild. Lucy G. Davies Wildlife Rescue Association independent suburban newspaper and quabhed under Schedule 111. Paragraph I of the Excise Tas Act, is pudushed each Wednesday. 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Wednesday Friday & Sungays 1991 Narth Shore Free Press Lid All nght3 reserved MEL COUVELIER... fidential memo trap. as part of the District’s Centennial celebrations. Nomination forms can be obtaired from District Hall. : act before it further embarrassed the government. When it didn’t work, Couvelier resigned from Vander Zalm’s cab- inet. To my simple mind, that seemed an act linked to protecting government integrity, not destroy- ing it. The danger in this whole slop- py, go-get-the-bastards approach to “integrity in government’? — as Attorney General Russ Fraser WRIGHT OR WRONG: There’s always room ai the top because ’ some people up there always fall asleep and roll off. PREMIER RITA... more than a littie strung up? the con-