12 — Sunday, March 15, 1992 ~— North Shore News Anna Marie D’Angelo INQUIRING REPORTER THE TRAGIC bus accident Tuesday on Highway 99 in Richmond has renewed calls for improved bus safety in- cluding the possible use of seat belts. Two female Seniors were killed in the accident after a B.C. Transit bus collided with a large, broken-down truck parked in the bus-only lane. Although it hasn’t been determined what safety measures could have helped to prevent the accident, various groups including the bus drivers’ union have warned that the death toll could have been higher if standees were present on the bus. The Independent Canadian Transit Union has asked for a ban on highway standees. While others have called for the imptementa- tions of seat beits on highway-bound buses. (Another bus fatality occurred fast Wednesday when a woman died after a runaway B.C. Transit trolley ran over a group of people on Davie Street. The cause of the acci- dent has not been determined but a mechanical failure or improper setting of the Drake raay be responsibic.) Should buses have seat belts? Chantal Gamache North Vancouver I don’t think so because buses make so many stops where people get off. The cost of seat belts would also increase bus fares. I think buses are safer than cars because they are bigger. Linds Blouin Montreal I don’t think so because it would increase the cost of bus fares. There are uses for seat belts, but I don’t think they are nec- essary for city buses. Don Kranenburg North Vancouver I think buses should not have stand-up passen- gers. Perhaps in the long haul, all buses that travel on highways should have seat belts. Mitchell calls for free vote on Speaker A FREE vote and secret ballot should be used to select the next Speaker of the B.C. Sean Murphy North Vancouver I've been on buses where the passengers have been thrown about. Bus drivers should wait until passengers, especially older people, have sat down before moving the bus. legislature, West Vancouver- Garibaldi MLA and Liberal House Leader David Mitchell has said. ‘*Speakers are elected in this manner in the House of Commons in Ottawa as well as legistatures in Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories,”” said Mit- chell. “I believe British- Colum- bians are now Teady for this kind of progressive, democratic reform.”’ According to Mitchell's pro- posal, an clection. for Speaker would take place on the morning. of March 17, the opening day of the’. new legislative: session. All. MLAs other than: ministers and party leaders would be eligible for the position. | A: candidate would require a majority of the ballots cast to win the: election. The clerk of the legisiative assembly would: preside over the election. | “Our: legislature is .our, Pro- | vince’s”. most: important _institu-‘ tion,’’ said Mitchell. ‘‘We all want . it to. work better. By freely in- vesting: a. new .Speaker with the full authority of ‘all. MLAs, we -will be going a long way to restor- ing the self-respect of the house.”’ Mitchell has written to Premier Mike Harcourt asking for a free vote and secret ballot to select the next Speaker. . “Such a fundamental and .dem- * ocratic reform of our traditional procedure. will both encourage greater respect for the office of : Speaker among all.members and send. a signal to. British Colum- bians that we are serious in our mutual objective of restoring the | layer 00 OE SS Gat es ee ee = THE SMART CHOICE! KEVIN LYNCH... Sells Homes Best! | (Home estimates at no cost) E gig Por. esooo1z | a oy Off. 986-9321 a]! By Surj Rattan News Reporter self-respect of our legislature,’’ Mitchell wrote to Harcourt. Under the current system, the premier indicates to his cabinet his choice for Speaker. That person then becomes the Speaker- designate and at the. opening ses- sion of the legislative assembly all parties usually agree to the premier’s choice for Speaker. Premier Mike Harcourt has selected Joan Sawicki for the job ‘of Speaker. But Liberal Leader Gordon Wilson said he may not support Sawicki’s. nomination because as Speaker-designate she slashed: Wilson’s office budget by 5%, North Vancouver-Lonsdale Somebody Cares! Cares if you are new in town and feel kind of lost; If you've just added a new son or daughter to your family; If HE has finally asked you to become his wife; If you or someone in your family is celebrating a very special oc- Who? | Steaus UME, 1930 926-2753 or 980-9738 psutton Group-West Coast Realty NDP MLA David Schreck dismissed Mitchell’s cali for a free vote and secret ballot. “Every vote in the house is a free vote. If it’s a secret ballot does David Mitchell want to hide from the voters where he stands?,’’ asked Schreck. ‘‘I don’t want to hide from the voters where I stand.”” He added that the Liberals have broken all tions and are attempting to ‘‘go to the lowest level the legislature has ever gone.’ Criminal Matters Only parliamentary tradi- - Jody Roth North Vancouver I think it’s a good idea but . it’s definitely not practical. How would they enforce the rule? ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors IMPAIRED DRIVING AFTER HOURS 926-3181 FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION | 986-4366 926-2788 #300-1401 LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. - North Vancower WATCH THIS SPACE North Vancouver 355 West Queens Road You'll see a place at Hall over the next two years. eee ere aera ee Hall with a beter focus on service to the community. Drop by to see how things are ag ato to nd rot ck : Construction is expected to cause some inconvenience, but but throughout it all i's "business as usual." And, we'll Keeping you Ps your business at the Hall. Watch DURING MARCH. Reconstruction work begins on the. east lot. reduces spaces available at the , limited svailobid along tes west side oft Hil, of Wear Oueers. this will be ed on any developments which impact you and: i” eer space O call 9677151 for more information op