=_— Te 6 - Friday, August 5, 1988 - North Shore News INSIGHTS rivers cheat, too, in privatized car testin TEMPTATION TAKES MORE THAN ONE FORM, it seems, with privatized mandatory auto testing — which starts next April 1 for B.C. vehicles five years old or more. The obvious fear is that the unscrupulous unlicensed repair shops will ‘‘fail’? roadworthy cars in order to zonk the helpless cus- tomer with unnecessary repair bills. Now, a consumer watchdog in Ontario, which already has privatized testing, confirms that this regularly happens, especially the overselling of parts. The ‘‘five o’clock surprise’’, he calls it — 8 a.m. estimate of $300 which swells to a $700 charge by the time you pick up the car at 5 p.m. But Mohammad Bouchama of Ontario’s Automotive Protection Association also reveals a frequent scam by motorists themselves. The “‘big problem”’, he says, is mechanics paid under the table to certify cars that are NOT fit to drive. Typically, he claims, a STEPHEN CANNELL ...very welcome. motorist will offer $50 for a faked inspection to avoid a much larger repair bill. Toronto’s chief auto inspector admits that he’s called on to in- vestigate some 10% of the safety tests, but brushes that off as ‘ta small number’ in relation to the four million cars annually bought and sold. If 400,000 suspected fid- dies (to say nothing of those not reported) is ‘‘a small number’’, one wonders when he WOULD start to worry! Ontario experience again points up the need for a complete separa- tion of testing from repair work, alchough under a privatized system this still wouldn't stop bribery by drivers. The only safe and scam- proof system is a government-run system and there's no evidence that — operating on a user-pay basis — it could not be fully sclf-suppor- ting. All that’s lacking is the polit- ical will even to explore the pro- position. Impartial, dependable vehicle testing is a vital factor in road safety. But once the privatization bug bites, it may not be the only safety factor entrusted to disciples of the fast buck. How would you like to share the road with a whole new generation of motorists who bought their driver’s licenses from Shur-Pass Driver Testing Ltd. or its com- petitors — where proficiency was measured by profits and the tester’s top priority was his firm's bottom line? eke et BIG SIGH of relief at North Van City Hall last Friday as Hollywood film boss Stephen Cannell at long Ritalin howl ARENTS HAVE a right to be concerned about behavior-modifying prescription drugs being used in the classroom — but before damning this therapy out of hand, all of the information on the issue must be known. A new watch-dog committee, SCREAM (Support Children’s Recovery From Enforced, Addictive Medications), has been established on the North Shore to look in to possible misuse of drugs being prescribed to children. The group’s main target is Ritalin, a commonly prescribed drug for hyperactive children and those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. SCREAM leader Pat Eskola paints a dismal picture of Ritalin ruining thousands of childrens’ lives. Eskola claims that 30 to 33 per cent of school age children use Ritalin. Of those, most develop more serious problems including the loss of self-esteem. But according to the North Shore Heaith Department, it prescribed stimu- lants such as Ritalin or amphetamines to only 28 children last year (this does not include private practice prescriptions). The medical community also defends the safety and effectiveness of the drug. SCREAM has a right to be concerned over Ritalin and its argument for the use of non-drug therapy whenever possible is a valid one. But health organiza- tions already prescribe Ritalin as a last resort. Moreover, the drug works splendidly for two-thirds of the children to whom it is prescribed. If the committee finds legitimate abuse of Ritalin in the community, appropriate steps must be taken. But sounding the alarm on possibile drug misuse without ail of the facts could instead do the public a disfavor. NOEL WRIGHT last (turned the sod to start con- struction of his $20 million pro- duction studio on the former Park & Tilford property. It's been dickered over since March 1987 and even now unresolved dif- ferences with local film unions re- main, but Cannell finally decided to “‘damn the torpedoes’’ and go full steam ahead. The project's bottom line for the City is ex- cellent. [t permits a major new shopping centre with high tax rev- enue to be built on the other half of the site. As the biggest film-TV production facility in Canada, the studio will provide a glamorous, non-polluting light industry to enhance the international reputa- tion of the City, the North Shore and the whole Greater Vancouver area alike. And last but not least, it means the revival of North Van's beloved ‘*Park & Tilford”’ Gardens. You're very welcome here, Mr. Cannell! ° friday focus ¢. mers ket WRAP-UP: Back homie last week from San Jose was West Van graphologist Renate Griffiths who addressed the convention of the American Handwriting Associa- tion there on the likes between handwriting and earliest childhood recollections. Her handwriting analysis classes resume Sept. 13 — call 926-0642 for details ... And congrats to North Van's Steve and Penny Jansen, proud parents of the first Jocal B.C. Day baby — 8lb 1002 Jessica Vivien, born in LGH Aug. } at six minutes past midnight. Tg eat . ANE. wy ; a WRIGHT OR WRONG: Want to NEWS photo Mike Wakelleid «know about REAL vacation pro- blems? Try a mosquito bite on top ALL LIT UP...West Van Mayor Don Lanskail flips the switch to turn on of poison ivy on top of sunburn. “revitalized”? Dundarave’s ornamental 19th century lights. \aruyins Gens. I} All ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CBNADIANS OR TUNING iNTOTHE jf HOTEST NEW GOMEDY TO Wil THE TUB..... P | arr THE NEWS FROM BRITSH COLUMBIA... Publisher ........... Peter Speck Display Advertising 980-0511 Managing Editor... Barrett Fisher Classified Advertising 986-6222 A iate Editor Noel Wright Newsroom 985-2131 ssociate FQNOr ..... oe Wrig Distribution 986-1337 Advertising Director Linda Stewart hzcienDtnaretflentteronerts Subscriptions 986.1337 SUNDAY + WEONESOAY «+ FRIDAY North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an indepondent 139 L dale A Fax 985-3227 suburban newspaper and qualitied under Schedute 111, 1 onsdale Avenue, il 5 Paragraph {Il of the Excise Tax Act. is published each North Vancouver, B.C News Tips 988-NEWS Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free vets ares te and Asttibuted 9 every door on the moa V7M 2H4 ote. 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