Suit alleges
ski resort
pian stalled

IN THE latest twist in the
simmering controversy over
the Cypress Bow! recreation
“area in West Vancouver, the
operators of the private sec-
tor ski resort are suing the
‘B.C. government and five
parks ministry officials who
oppose the resort's proposed
$50 million master plan.

By Brent Mudry
‘Contributing Writer

In a suit filed Monday in B.C.
Supreme Court, Cypress _ Bowl
Recreations Ltd. Partnership

~ (CBRL) claims breach of trust and
breach of contract. The suit also
names deputy parks minister ‘Tom
“ Gunton, assistant deputy minister
Jake Masselink and regional parks
.officials George Trachuk, Me}
_ Turner and Ray Peterson.

-CBRL claims the five conspired
‘to destroy its plans by misrepresent-
ing the situation to the premier, the
minister and the public.

-The suit further claims the offi-
cials interfered with the provincial
Ombudsman’s investigation, The
“government and the employees are
“also alleged to have coerced a
change in language of the indepen-
dent Ombudsman’s draft and final
reports.

The resort claims the Minister of
Environment, Lands and. Parks
acted in bad faith by stalling the
ministry’s approval of the eight-

- year-old development plan for the
~ park. The suit traces back. to. the
original privatization of the provin-
cial park 10 years ago.
_ The. provincial government
spent several million dollars build-
ing the highway into Cypress Bowl
‘and starting development of a pub-
lie ski area. In 1984, facing a sub-
“Stantial deficit, the government
“decided to cut its losses and sell the
facilities to the resort partnership.
Two years later. the deal was final-
ized in a. 1986 amendment agree-
“ment.

CBRL lawyer’ Robert
‘McDonnell claims the 1986 deat
involved several trade-offs. The
‘resort would give up its right to the
“hikers” wail, the parking Jot and the
snow play area, The province

“allegedly agreed to give full assis-
stance to the resort in its develop-
ment plans for downhill and cross-

_country skiing and other reereation-

; al facilities.

A CBRL now claims the province
has hindered the improvement of

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NO APPEAL

West Vancouver decides not
to appeal decision on sale of
fractional interests. in

Bellevue apartment building.

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

Blaze battled

WEST VANCOUVER firefighters attack a noon-hour roof blaze on Monday at a home in the
1300-block of Cammeray Road in the British Properties. Nobody was injured in the fire,
which caused an estimated $50,000 worth of damage to the roof and attic area.

cE

SET TO SELL

Narth Shore Studios may
be part of $140 million
takeover as investment
tycoon eyes Canneil.

Business..
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8 Sports..
@ Table Hopping............14

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wt, gee. set,

Sa.

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EB Valerie Gibson tells it
like it was: 13

@ North Van's Garden of
Eatin’ goes exotic: 14

NS News paper

chase continues

NORTH SHORE News read-
ers may notice that their
favorite sections in the newspa-
per are Jooking leaner these
days. .
A newsprint-production
strike in the province has limit-
ed the amount of available
newsprint for alf newsprint
consumers in B.C.

The News is therefore
attempting to conserve its sup-
ply of newsprint in a number of
ways, one of which is by reduc-
ing the newspaper's editorial
content.

Fletcher Challenge pulp and
paper workers went on strike in
Deceinber.

Weather
Thursday and Friday:
periods of rain
High 9°C, Low 4’C.

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