6 ~ Wednesday, June 17, 1998 — North Shore News north shore news VIEWPOINT smoked foods OWER Mainland restaurants are d at work ensuring that their environments remain smoke- filled. An issue of rights, they say with hand on heart. But it is much more an issue of what they perceive as an unhealthy assault on their bottom line. Make that a healthy assault. In a recent decision, a provincial court judge ruled that the Municipal Act does not give municipalities the power to prohibit such activities as smoking. Applause here from the own- ers of the Knight and Day Restaurant, who took Burnaby to court over the city’s bylaw banning smoking in such public places as restaurants. Similar municipal legislation is set to be initiated in other Lower Mainland municipalities, including the North Shore, where smoking in Jocal restau- rants will be prohibited by the year ing. mailbox Speakers should speak up or shut up Dear Editor: This is an appeal — not for money but for clear hearing ‘of free speech. In this era of free speech nobody speaks up: ‘Almost without exception every group, club, society, _ assembly; church, gathering -or mecting of any kind is ‘plagued. by “no speekum” cither by the speakers or the microphone or both. “People do not speak clearly, they do not speak up, and they do not talk to the back row.so that all may hear.com- fortably and they are not wasting half their rime and that of their trapped audience. Four out of five speakers mumble ‘and drop the sound of the last word if a sentence. ‘Microphones, if installed, are frequently not tested some hours ahead, and when not operative cause delay and confu- sion, Vf churches paid as much attention to the clarity of the - Voice’ productizia-of the various readers as they do to the : flower arrange:nerits at the altar their message would be 10 times as effective . The advent’ Gf cordless microphones has made every speaker and commentator available and those who don’t use “those newfangled things” should remain dodo quiet. Derrick Humphreys West Vancouver North Shore News Mailbox poiicy LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably type- written) and include your name, full address and tele- phone.cumber. . Duc to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all tetters. Published Jetters may be edited for brevity, clarity, accuracy, legality and taste. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2104 bur still must be signed and “fully addressed. north shore. Morth Shore News, founded in 1969 4s an independent suburban newspaper and Quabtied under Schedule 111. Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tar Act, iS published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore “ree Press Ud. ane distributed to every door on the North, ‘Shore. Canaca Pust Canadan Pubbeatons Rta Sales Product Agreement No. 0067238 Muding rates avaitadte on request. Jonathan Bell Creative Services Manager 985-2137 (127) Distribution Manager 986-1327 (124) 63,582 (armrage circulation, Wodnestay, Friday & Sunday) 2000. The ruling threatens the exis- tence of those bylaws. Public outcry over the prohibition of smoking in restaurants has been lim- ited. The non-reaction underscores the reality that most people don’t want tobacco smoke served. with their meals when they go out to restaurants. But the restaurant and neighbor- hood pub industry is bent on ensuring that what has become an unacceptable social activity will continue — the pub- lic be damned. Some local restaurants, such as Calvin’s and Capers in West Vancouver, have already acted on behalf of their principles and their cus- tomers and made their establishments non-smoking. They recognize the reality that there is no such thing as a non-smoking sec- tion in a restaurant that allows smok- GREAT 10 SEE STATUTe OF LIMITATIONS? French pinkos sing Reform song A DICEY item in Preston Manning’s “United Alternative” drive to defeat Chretien’s Grits is getting a boost from a most unlikely quarter -— Europe’s once sin ridden “city of light.” The Reform leader stresses that, in any United Alternative that emerges, the only non- negotiable clements are Reform’s four core poli- cies — fiscal and social responsibility, democra- tic accountability, and an equitably balanced federation. However, there’s quite a sticky little problem with the social responsibility bit, inasmuch as it includes the dyna- mite term “family values.” That’s a concept few non-Reform politicians in this politically-correct age will touch with a 10-foot pole. To Reformers it’s shorthand for happy moms and dads who stay married for life and bring up exemplary kids to repeat the process a generation hence. To others ir means bullying fathers, cowed mothers, children disciplined with the strap and a side order of gay- bashing. Meanwhile, from Paris, France — once the worldwide symbol of tasteful extra-marital sex, where every wife calmly accepted the fact of her spouse’s mistress, while he neglected their off- spring — comes amazing “family val- ues” news. Moreover, according to + PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2131 (101) Sd Terry Poters - Photography Manager 985-2131 (160} Doig Foot nothy Rensh Comptrotter Managing Editor 585-2131 (133) Cisasitied Manager 986-6222 (202) Entire contents © 1997 Notth Shore Free Press Ltd. Atl rights reservec. Suzanne Lowry of Britain’s Sunday Telegraph, it comes from, of all people, the “formidable feminists” of France’s socialist government. Having battled their way to the highest offices in the land, they’re now busy “re-inventing daddy.” In short, they have launched a campaign to restore papa to his traditional status as head of the family, authority figure and role model. A report by France’s former women’s rights minis- ter, Michele Andre, reconumends strength- ened daddy-ing as the most effective answer to teenage vio- lence, disaffection, lack of discipline and many of today’s other social woes. Also leading the charge to reinstate dads in their proper function is Sylviane Agacinski, philosopher wife of France’s socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin. Though she personally still resists being called Mrs. Jospin, her new book Politics of the Sexes, while continuing to stress the equality of men and women, now calls for them to work together to “reinvest” the difference between the sexes and share their lives and responsi- bilities peacefully. And for BC Education Minister Paul Ramsey in his witch hunt against Surrey school board for banning gay-parenting books from schools, Agacinski has this to say: children need two parents, one of cach sex, so that they underszand the “double origin of humanity, masculine and feminine.” hither and yon LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, Admittedly, the drive to get fi back into the picture is not solely ideal-" istic. It also has a strong socid-economic - element. As in Canada, some 90% of. : : single parents with children are women, 25% living on or below the poverty line.” As well, their average income is falling, while the living standard of “tradition-' al” families is rising. Su the financial realism of French socialists seems way” ahead of that of our Iucal breed, repre-.” sented by Glen Clark’s fumbling, stum-" bling welfare and children*s ministries...” For Preston Manning, socialists of." any stripe are nornially political anathe-: ~. ma. But he could do much worse than.” . study the family-values appeal of France’s pinkos. From the far left of the political spectrum, they are singing his.“ own right-of-centre song. What a happy © ;: Father’s Day gift!. 2 9090 ok WARM CONGRATS from the Better’): Late Dept..to North Van's (Woodcroft) Howard and Jane Craig who last. — Thursday, June 11, celebrated their... +»: 68th wedding anniversary .... West Van? Historical Saciety’s.7 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, meeting in West Van Seniors’ Centre features Reg Ashweli, top’ auchority on noted BC artist Mildred Valley Thornton (1890-1967) ... Literary treasures abound at this week-. end’s annual Friends of the Library book saic, Saturday and Sunday, June °- : 20-21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day in West Van Memorial Library.” — don’t miss! ; .. aoo0 ot WRIGHT OR WRONG: Never con- - fuse your net worth with your sclf- worth, . . WERCHIUS | 985-2131 980-0511 tull address & telephone number. 985-2131 (316) “Trini Agrios Gail Prometions Manager 985-2131 (218) VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca £5 Sneigrove Generat Office Manager 985-2131 (105) Andrew McCredie - Sparts/Community Editor} 985-2131 (147) . a | : Intermet- hitp:y//eww.nsnews.com Classified Givertising Newsroom Distribution Display & Real Estate Fax Michuel Seckes ~ Nows Editer . 985-2431 (114) The North Shore News is published by North Shore Free Press Ltd., Publisher Peter Speck, fram 1139 Lonsdale Avenue ‘darth Vancouver, 6.C., ¥7M 2H4