inguiving
reporter

Dundarave/Ambleside
British Properties
Norgate/Pemberton Hei

DESPITE the extra rain, the folks of Blueridge and
Deep Cove are an optimistic lot. How else to explain
the 13% who believe last week's provincial budget —
forecasting an $890-million deficit — will help
B.C.’s economy to grow. Even Finance Minister Joy
MacPhail herself did net appear to have much confi-

dence in her own

budget released March 30. How

else to explain the provisions made in the budget for
the possibility of credit-rating agencies downgrading
B.C.’s rating. The Canadian Bond Rating Service
downgraded this province's rating to AA from AA+
last September. Tuesday MacPhail's fears were confirmed when CBRS down-
graded B.C.’s rating again to AA-. A lowered credit rating can contribute to a
rise in interest rates and that means borrowing money becomes more expensive.
This government borrows a lot. Auditor-General George Morfitt reported last
year that B.C.’s debt servicing costs are running at $2.5 billion annually. A 0.5%
interest rate increase could add $50 million to the province’s debt servicing costs.

NORTH SHORE DEMOGRAPHICS

NO

Capilano/Delbrook Highlands

Lower Lonsdale

Central and Upper Lonsdale

Lynn Valley
Blueridge/Deep Cove

TOTAL ....sccsscsersssssseeoeees

69%
1% 71%
9% 65%
13% 59%

seesene 5% 73%

OPINION KNOW

NO DON'T

Curtis Krahn
West Vancouver
I think, like anything else we

0% need a ‘ch

3%
6%
9%
9%
1%
2%
8%

6%

18%
17%
Li%
10%
16%

There wasn’t ‘enough con-
centration on balancing the
books. We can’: spend our
way out of things.

Jennifer Wightman
North Vancouver
L think se

as 'm concerned.

if they stick to

fast chance as far

wi

Henry Smood
West Vancouver
Phpppwt
Thumbs dow
as the government.

Tcan‘t believe we are in such
a me

on it, same

. It goes from bad to

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE INQUIRING REPORTER? E-mail your comments or question ideas to: martin@nsnews.cem

Liam Lahey
Contributing Writer

NORTH Vancouver
City will ask the North
Shore Women’s Centre
(NSWC) to jointly
apply for funding from
the provincial govern-
ment to make the city’s
streets safer for women.

The Ministry of Women’s
Equality has funding available
for municipalities who file a
joint application with a non-
profit agency through its Sate
Funure for B.C. Women pro-
gram.

By the Ministry’s puide-
lines, applicants are required to
provide their own funding toa
project, the province will then
match every dollar contributed
by an applicant with up to
three dollars.

In 1995, 74 safety audits
were conducted in’ North
Vancouver as part of the Lower
I ale Sate Initiative.

Of the 74 audits, 40 were
completed by consultants, and
17 by Carson Graham see-
ondary school students along

with Insurance Corporation of

B.C. (ICBC) employees
Those audits helped formu-
late the following recommen-
dations to council:
@ 3 brochure on
Prevention T
Environmental sig
(CPTED) developed for use
by city staff, building owners
and developers;
@ YWCA brochures entitled

Crime

Before You Rent — A Home

Safery Check for Women

Rentersand Making Your Suite

Safer for Women being reprint-
ed by the city and made
available to suite owners and
renters in’ multiple unit

COUN. Sharp: “Ask any
woman how she feels
about walking into an
empty parking lot at
night...”

rildings;
@ a specialist hired to train sel-
evant planning, engineering
and fire staff on CPTED prin-
ciples;
@ development of a pedestrian
level lighting plan by the city’s

COUN. Perrault:
“Anything that is proac-
tive in nature when it
comes to public safety is
beneficial to the city.”

enginecring department as
part of the Lower Lonsdale
redevelopment.
Coun. — Barbara
acknowl
effort the city has already put
into safe-proofing North

Sharp

ged the amount of

vuver’s streets, but she
dain hesitate to add chat
more can be done

“We can never du too
much when it comes to the
safety of our citizens,” Sharp
told council.

Sharp was the first council-
lor to recommend applying for
the provincial funding along
with the NSWC

Coun. Barbara
wholeheartedly
Sharp’s motion.

“Anything that is proactive
in nature when it comes to
public safety is bencticial to the
city,” she said.

City staff will contact the
NSWC regarding the joint
application in the near future.
{tis not known how much
money the project will cost the
city undl a full review of the
application guidelines has been
completed. There is no dead-
line as to when the application

Perrault
supported

can be filed.

“Satety for women is a
complex issue,” said Coun.
Darrell, Mussatto. “We should
never rest on our laurels ...
should (apply for) funding.”

Council unanimously
endorsed Sharp’s motion. “All
of council recognizes the
strong need for all of this ci

ens to feel safe and

ted,” Sharp said. “But the
i absolutely no doubr women
have a very special issue with
safc

“Ask any woman how she
feels about walking, into an
empty parking lot at night, or
entering an elevator with 4
man or taking a walk after dark

.. i's imporrant to structure
whatever funding we can to
protect wonten and all citizens
particularly in’ this instance
(with the provincial govern-
ment) for a three to one fund-
ing basis.”

FOREST
ALLIANCE

Y BRITISH COLUMBIA