6 — Friday, Aprit 23, 1999 — North Shore News are living in times of fiscal challenge in West Vancouver, but a fire department without a ladder truck? Come on. It’s outrageous news that the municipality’s sole 100-ft. zerial res- cue truck is out of order and fire- fighters don’t have the cash to fix it up. Let’s hope this isn’t just a public- ity stunt in a war of nerves between a fire department seeking a bigger budget and a council out to clamp down on costs. However we got to this point, it’s not acceptable. The statistics are chilling. West Vancouver is home to 88 highrises more than five storeys tall. The fire depaztment’s pumper trucks can reach 35 feet in a pinch. Neighbouring Nerth Vancouver City fire resources can be called in for sup- mailbox Theatre facility “Dear Editor: T enjoyed the recent article by Trevor Lautens describing the e-mail war of words between Ms. Papnas of the West Vancouver Arts Centre Trust and Ms. Reynolds of the Ambleside and Dundarave Ratepayers. At stake appears to be the merit of a new multi-million- sal being championed by Ms. Pappas cost to the taxpayer and appropriateness of location being questioned by the _ dollar arts facility pro and some concerns about its potenti organization of which Ms. Reynolds is president. _ {would continue to sit’back and learn more on this sub- "ject were my name not introduced by Ms. Pappas into her _ debate with Ms, Reynolds. Although I have been encouraged by hundreds of people | | yes; white elephant no north shore news VIEWPOINT issue port, but the response time for its ladder truck is estimated by West Vancouver fire officials to take any- where from 20 to 30 minutes. People living and working in tow- ers in the community should not be relegated to the status of second-class citizens when it comes to the provi- sion of municipal services. Emergency service is a bread and butter item for taxpayers. It’s not an area to scrimp on. The sight of a fire chief having to go cap in hand before council Monday to lobby for about $20,600 to repair the aerial truck was pathetic, Waik through Ambleside and you'll find businesses with collection buckets soliciting donations for the fire department’s truck repairs. Is this what we've been reduced to? THIS photograph won’t be soon: Indian Affairs Minister Jane Stewart, a light- weight lady with a big toothy grin, lunging for- ward to happily shake the hand of Premier Glen Clark, a lightweight guy with a big toothy grin — both looking like winners of a 1950s high school prom Best Dancers con- test — in front of Nisga’a Chief Joseph Gosnell, dressed in full Indian scrubbed from my mind anytime Frequently reproduced, it shows federal to run for mayor in the next election I am not yet a declared candidate and have no “platform” as suggested by Ms. Pappas. As a citizen, taxpayer and very involved member of the arts community I care very much about arts facilities for us and our children. In fact, I derive part of my livelihood as a member of ACTRA and the BC Performers Union, have served as VP of the WV Little Theatre and on the board of directors of the WV Community Arts Council. I believe that stages for our children to perform on are as vital as playing fields. But I also believe that only an idiot would tear down onc to build the other. My son plays soccer and 1 hope will also “tread the boards” on a theatre stage when we build it. Council and mayor have a duty to ensure that public moncy is spent pru- dently and with probity. They must demand a business plan and have in their possession third party viability studies before they tear up playing fields or commit any park land. West Vancouver wants and needs a viable theatre facility. We do not need another white elephant feeding at the pub- lic wough. . Andy Danyliu andre_danyliu@bc.sympatico.ca morth'shore’ gf = : Nerth Share News, founded in 1968 a: an independent suburban newspaper and quakfied under Schedule 111, Paray.sph 111 of the Excise Tex Act, is published each Wadnesday, 85-2131 (127) ‘61,582 (average circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) regalia. All three grasp copies of the Nisga’a Treaty, which they have just signed. Gosnell’s face is a study. On one hand it looks so wise and old and noble that Gosnell could have come straight from Central Casting to play the role of a wise old noble Indian chief in a politically cor- rect 1990s Hollywood film. On the other hand there is a look of indescribable shrewdness on those noble features — as if, while the white folks are metaphorically slapping cach other on the back, delirious with political joy, he’s thinking: “Heh, heh. The old ‘noble Indian’ speech worked again.” Well, perhaps I do Chief Gosnell a dis- service, and I’m sorry if I do. I have no such reservations about Stewart and Clark. Clark especially has gone far beyond merely exploiting the Nisga’a Treaty for political gain. When it was signed he put ona costly. show — flying about 100 ae . eee i! 906-2131 (180) 906-8222 (202) GN stele ¢ Nisga’a from their Nass Valley home and” putting them up at taxpayers’ expense. Far worse: The government, with only itself to blame for various delays, recently announced, when our MLAs had debated only about a third of the treaty, that debate would be closed and the treaty passed by the end of this week. Why the rush? To deliy- er it as 2 celebratory prize to an annual gath- ering of the Nisga’a this weekend. A fine reason to hustle passage ofa treaty with profound consequences for B.C., Canada, and — nor least — the Indian people themselves. The Clark government thus didn’t even go through the motions of getting democ- ratic approval. This was a railroaded job, first to last. So what's wrong with the treaty? Too much to list. It’s effectively forever. (Compare the recent and saner Sechelt legislation, which can be altered like other parliamentary acts.) Especially, it creates what Gordon Gibson correctly calls a closed society, open only to Nisga’a citizens as defined by the Nisga’a. It excludes other Indians as much as it excludes “white Europeans” etc. from citi- zenship based on simple residency. (I've sat with B.C. negotiators and Clark himself and heard this point fudged.) Clark, Stewart and their Indian affairs lawyers effectively ignored the claims of the smaller Gitanyow and Gitksan people WHAT?II- AND F BE KNOWN AS A BUNCH OF Nisga’a deal raiiroaded from outset to disputed Nisga’a lands — apparently on the basis that the bigger wheel that had squeaked longest and loudest got the rease. It’s argued that the Nisga’a negotiators made a big, big concession in agreeing to pay federal taxes (12 years after the effec- tive date of the treaty). Sounds terribly equal. But the harsh fact is that unempioyment and welfare rates are so high among the Nisga’a and other Indian bands that few are likely to cross the tax threshold. . I have pet criticisms that I can’t recall others making. This above all: The press has never cov- ered Indian council meetings. Has no cluc whar gozs on there. Intuitively, suspects it would be unwelcome and so doesn’t ask. Reports on nothing about band elections (anyone know whom Joc Gosnell beat? And when? And by how much? Or any of our North Shore chiefs and bands?). Instead the press sometimes stumbles on apparent corruption, vast nepotism, ard chiefs with bloated self-bestowed incomes while “outsider” band members live in poxerty and drunkenness. Brief story. Then silence. T emphasize that I’m not racially stereorypi Indian ethics. They may weil average igher than “white” socicty’s — small compliment. . I'm asserting that any unfettered elite without the democratic controls of an... inquiring opposition, objective accountan cy and clear legal penalties would be tested by such temptations. amen Think how Clark and his arrogant gang behave even with a snooping press, a prob- ” ing, opposition, and non-parzisan watch- dogs, and you get the picture, °° LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, full address & telephone number. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca Promotions Manager 985-2131 (218) Entire contents © 1999 North Shore Free Press Lid. All rights reserved. ese Ltd., Pablisher Poter Sp Bistritution - 996-1537 Display & Real Estate Fax S95-1435 | Newsroom Faz 985-2106. Accounting & Maia Offics Fax 899-3227. Michael Becker - News Edites , 985-2131 (114) Androw McCredie - Sports/Comnawnity Editar 965-2131 (147)