NV teachers appl

Dear Editor:

Reporter Ian Noble, in his
article, “Teacher money pact
trouble for North Vancouver,”

reported that North Vancou- . &

ver teachers were pleased
with the tentative provincial
contract, but he did not pro-
vide the reasons why.

First, teachers are relieved
that this contract was
achieved without job action
or any other disruption to our
students’ education, and that
this stability will continue for
at least two more years as a
result of this collective agree-
ment.

Second,. teachers are

pleased that the‘ provincial .

government will provide the
money necessary to cover the
2% salary increase over the
four years of this agreement.
This means that. our school
board will not have to cut any

services as a result of this
salary settlement.

Third, teachers are grate-
ful that the tentative contract,
by continuing current class
size provisions, acknowl-
edges that class size is the

-most important learning con-

dition. that teachers have
obtained for their students.

At the same time this con-
tract provides boards and
teachers with a mechanisin by
which the impact of class size
on student cducation and
bourd budgets can be objec-
tively measured. This tenta-
tive agreement also provides
an avenue by which those
school boards, who claim fis-
cal pressures because of class
size requirements, can apply
for relief.

Fourth. teachers are
pleased that local contract
provisions developed over
three rounds of bargaining
with our school board will
continue in effect.

We have experienced the
disastrous effects in North
Vancouver of a centralized
fiscal framework, so we
understand the dangers of
imposing “one size fits all”

solutions on districts, If this -

Bill undermines the family unit

Dear Editor:
I. congratulate
Vancouver MP Ted White for
his “advertorial” on the sub-
ject of Bill C-33.
Our federal government is
- pandering to the homosexual
lobby groups who want noth-
ing less than an acceptance of
" their lifestyle as normal and a
‘legitimate alternative to het-

, erosexual relationships.

“\ It-is appalling that the
majority. of MPs_ voted
against inclusion of a defini-
~ tion of “sexual orientation”

- well as “family”. and ‘ ‘mar.
riage". in Bill C-33. ‘This

‘North .

clearly points to the fact that

Mir. Allan Rock lied about the,

intent of this bill and that the
Liberal government is bent on

further eroding morality in

this country and on weaken-
ing the family, which is the
basic unit of society.

J.M. White

West Vancouver

Complete Mechanical

Repairs & Service

189 Pombertaa Ave, TALKING

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advertorial al, May 29/96

‘SENATORS; ‘STUDENTS & IMMIGRANTS. |

oe

A‘number of updates and short top-

‘beginning: with ‘the, patronage’ ‘appoint- °
mont’ by Jean Chretien of Liberal Jean
Forest to the vacant Alberta seat in the
Senste. The Prime Minister’ ignored
Premier‘ Ralph: Klein's ‘announcement
‘that. an‘ election would be held for the
position. under. Alberta's Senate
Election Act, stying “I will name a
Senator who I will choose and who

will represent my Party in, the House
of: Commons”. Is the Prime Minister
‘any different'to Brian Mulroney in this
blatant -use ‘of patronage to stack the,
Senate?

ASTRONAUT FAMILIES.

A couple of weeks ago | showed the
Minister of. National Revenue, Hon . Jane
Stewart, information about an innovative
new method being used in New Zealand to
help detect possible’ tax evasion by
“Astronaut Families”. it wasn’t very long ago
that people were called racists for even sug-
gesting that some “Astronaut Families”
might not be paying taxes, so | was pleased
‘to discover that the Minister now recognizes
that’ there is a problem. She. was quite
impressed with the NZ solution, and has
alveady asked her staff to investigate
whether a similar system can be introduced
in Canada.

. The new method works by giving immi-
gration officials the power to ask landed
immigrants, and people on residency per-
mits, who have been out of the country for
extended periods, to prove that they have
filed a tax return BEFORE RE-ENTRY iS
PERMITTED. Initial results in NZ are report-
ed to be better than expected, indicating
perhaps that the problem was larger than
originally estimated. .

_ MORE ON
IMMIGRATION |

Also in New Zealand, new immigrants
must now pass a standard English test at
the time of entry or lodge a $12,000 bond

‘with. the Government. The bond is refund-

‘ Minister,

_ unteer

“able on passing the English test within threa i =:
“months of. fanding, otherwise: ‘the money

“goes to campensate the NZ Treasury for the
costs of ESL training and other services for

* Immigrants whio do not speak Eng ish

Meanwhile, our new immigration
_Hon_ Lusienne - Robillard, has
announced $7 mitlion in funding for four
“Centres of Excellence”, one of which will be
in Vancouver, to study societal problems and
tensions asscciated with the intearation of
immigrants. This has all of the appearances
of shutting the barn door after the horse has
bolted. Expensive studies on how to encour-
age integration and reduce tensions would
not have been necessary if new immigrants
had been assessed for their ability to inte-
grate BEFORE being granted landed status.

STUDENT SUMMER
EMPLOYMENT

The Canada Employment Centre for stu-
dents is now open at 101-260 West
Esplanade in North Vancouver, Te! 666-
9192. The Centre provides an employment
registry tor employers, casual labour service
for home owners, and a variety of services
to help students with their job search.

INDIAN LAND CLAIMS

Finally, after lengthy administrative
delays that would be completely unaccept-
able in the private sector, my “Nisga’a
Householder” has been printed by The
House of Commons and is ready for distrib-
ution. It should arrive in your mail slot or
apartment lobby in the next few days.

CANADA DAY
VOLUNTEERS

There appears to be a shortage of vol-
unteers to assist with the local organiza-

‘thon and running of Canada Day celebra-

tions this year. If you have enjoyed the
various Canada Day events in past years,
why not take this opportunity to show
your pride in Car.ida by becoming a vol-
to hel» the Canada Day
Committee: with its work. Please call Pat

‘Johnson during business hours on

683- 7271.

experience has taught us any-
thing, it is that when control
is taken away from local
hoards and centralized in
Victoria more problems ate
created than solved.

This has also proven to be
the cuse in provincial burgain-
ing. Our problems won't be
solved by the provincial gov-
ernment imposing solutions
on local districts, Local prob-
lems will only be resolved

when true local autonomy is
regained and elected trustees
are once again given the right
to negotiate with teachers,
Hopefully the inclusion of
local apreements as part of
the first provincial collective
agreement is a step in that
direction.

C, Dixon

President

North Vancouver Teachers’
Association

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Basic Education

The Adult Basic
Education Program is
offering courses for
students wishing to
upgrade their G.PA.,
obtain their grade 12, or
prepare for university
transfer or college career
programs. Classes start
July 2 or September 3.
For more information,
call 984-4971.

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Information meetings -
have been set up :
throughout the suinmer
for people interested in:
the Office Assiseant ESL
Program. The program

is full-time for nine

: ‘months from September |
to May. Graduates will
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general office skilts,
computer applications,
English grammar and
compcsition skills. For
more information, .
contact. the Department
of Applied Business
Technology at 984-4959,

CAPILANO
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. 2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver: .
* British Columbia -