Mr. Erie Crist, would indicate that perhaps you considered this gentleman to © have an in-depth knowledge about transit in the Greater Vancouver region. Un- fortunately the letter does a disservice to your readers. Mr. Crist claims that I have brushed aside a very expensive GVRD study that Dear Editor: Christmasses past seen us caught up in the have annual frenzy of over- spending. Each year our Christmas list grew longer, until finally we were giving to virtual strangers: — mailmen, teachers etc. It's a fact that gifts, for the most part, are just overpriced baubles, destined to gather dust in an attic. Heaven knows it’s often difficult to buy for one’s self, let alone other people. As for greeting cards, over the years we've sent out mountains and received as many in return, ‘he would like implemented immediately. I have asked that a Canadian rapid transit technology be considered and had the Ontario com- pany pay for most of the Studies on its application to the Lower Mainland. The GVRD wants to do another study on the Canadian technology which will put the eventual final decision on rapid transit further into the future than really need be. Mr. Crist says the cost of rapid transit will certainly be one billion dollars. If he took the time to read the most recent newspaper accounts, at the very least, he would have found out that the estimated cost for the Canadian system is. slightly under $300 million (in 1979 dollars) and slightly over $300 million (1979) for the German system that the GVRD study recommended. Mr. Crist says he doesn’t ra Crist +t should do transit home work Dear Editor: The prominence your paper gave in the October 29th issue, to a letter from know who will pay for rapid transit in B.C., and then refers to the Edmonton LRT System, and the under- construction» Calgary LRT There is a transit funding agreement in place that has the province paying the lion’s share. The B.C. funding formula is the best for local government in the whole country and Ed- A7 - Wednesday, November 26, 1980 - North Shore News monton, Calgary and the GVRD readily admit that. One would think that Mr. Crist was more interested in a bit of Socred bashing than critizing rapid transit policies, but I don’t know his political bent and merely suggest he do a bit of homework next time. William N. Vander Zalm, Municipal Affairs Minister Victoria simply to be thrown in the garbage come January! The merchants and the media have combined to turn a once pleasant and peaceful time of year into a vulgar circus of unconcealed greed. For quite some time now we've dreaded the onslaught of advertising hype and drunken bouts which have become an accepted part of the “Season to be merry”. However, it was the adverse affect that all of this was having on our children (hearing them compare how many gifts they'd received with their Christmas exploited Dear Editor: My thanks to Jean Lawrence of West Van- couver who expressed so well my own sentiments regarding the exploitation of Christmas. On November 15, we were subjected to a bear in a department store handing out free Merry Christmas buttons to children. Today |! passed a store window in Dundarave where a shopkeeper was diligently decorating a Christmas trec. I wonder if any of them realize how many of us make a point of avoiding those stores which seem to regard Christmas merely as a giant money maker. Bilingualism needed Dear Editor: Y our recent editorial “The French Facts” requires comment. The assertion that practical advantages of a bilingual capability are “obscure” loses touch with contemporary reality. If Canada is to survive as a united nation — and most Canadians devoutly hope i will — both = official languages will play an im- portant role in our national life. More and more of the important jobs in politics, business and the professions will require both French and English, and if British Columbia is to play an cf- fective role in national af- fairs, she must produce men and women who are qualified in this regard We should not be cnncal of the Parents for French group who have a closer vision of the future than most. D.A.G Lanskail Alderman West Vancouver Life Insurance Rates are DOWN IN B.C. BUY froma VANCOUVER, B.C. based company 929-4164 MALCOLM TINDALE AGENCIES independant Agent Sponsored by Fidelity fe Ass Co friends etc.) which finally prompted us to break free and refuse to be manipulated any longer. Which brings us to Christmas present. ‘We have explained to our children that what we have come to accept as Christ- mas, is, in fact, an obscene distortion of all the good and wholesome values which the real Christmas represents. So, instead of buying gifts and cards this year, and in the future, we pian to use the money which would have been squandered It is becoming more and more difficult each year to explain the true meaning of Christmas to one’s children. The birth of Christ would seem a far cry from the constant glitter and twinkle with which we are bom- barded from the beginning of November. Cherry Budzinski Bowen Island he CU7 We CURL drying always wanted The natural cut follows the flow of the hai and ts cut exactly as the hair naturally talls Completely wash and wear Comb and let dry or blow dry Permacur is a new PH controlled perm combined with a natural cut to create an exciting new look you just wash and wear No setting or blow he WAILS We create beautiful natural looking nails to the shape and length you ve ristmas deserves no future in this way and donate it to our favourite charity. The kids thought it was a great idea and hope to persuade their friends to do likewise. Canadians spend over three hundred _ million dollars on toys alone at Christmas. Imagine how much good that money could do if it were channelled into some worthwhile cause. As for Christmas future; in its present form it should not be allowed to have one! C. 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