6 - Sunday, March 18, 1990 - North Shore News WHAT MAKES You FEEL YOU ABE QUALIFIED 70 WORK FOR Uo COLLECTING THEGST WYP... ye PERSONMEL I - REMC ECU VM AN EXPERT IN THE SPANISH INQUISITION. Weka fan Oy I SkyTrain’s green link NORTH Shore extension of SkyTrain would be welcomed not only by frazzled North Shore commuters, but also by local en- vironmentalists. It is becoming increasingly clear that we cannot afford to accommodate the growing numbers of private vehicles on the urban streets by continually increas- ing roadway capacity. The easier it is for people to commute by car, the more they are likely to do so. And, with an average car pumping up to six times its weight in carbon into the atmosphere each year, every effort must be made to encourage motorists to cut down on the use of their vehicles, especially during peak rush hours. An expanded rapid transit system is the first and most important step in changing driving habits. Studies show that if just one out of every 10 people switched to public transit, global oil production could be cut by 17 per cent. But, unfortunately, most people won't switch unless it is convenient to do so. SkyTrain is a good traasit alternative, but it, too, has to be made convenient and efficient to use. Although it would re- quire a large initial financial investment and a re-evaluation of provincial political priorities to extend SkyTrain to the North Shore, those considerations must be weighed against the value of offering accessible public transit to as many peo- ple as possible. If North Shore residents and transit officials work together, not only will a third vehicle crossing for private vehicles be unnecessary, but rush hour as we know it could disappear. “I don’t know why I swear so damn much.”’ IWA leader Jack Munro, com- menting on his well-documented use of profanities. “But the idea is, what is this? The Wild West?....The killing was premeditated. 1¢ was sick. It’s get- ting to be pretty strange times.’’ Deep Cove resident Larry Smith, commenting on the shooting of his dog by an unknown gunman. “French is not a language of communication, not a world lsn- guage...English is the only lan- guage that has the facility to grow and edapt.”’ Colin Darnel, a representative of the Alliance for the Preservation of English in Canada (APEC), Speaking to a meeting of the Con- Publisher Associate Editor Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart federation of Regions Western Party in North Vancouver. ‘*They now, with their former col- onies, are forming a Com- monwealth of Franco-Phonies.”’ Confederation of Regions Western Party leader Elmer Knut- son, in a letter commenting on France and the Roman Catholic Church. “You are simply engaged in mischievous harassment.” West Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail, exasperated over repeated requests from Ambleside and Dundarave Ratepayers member Lionel Lewis for the ap- pointment of a factfinder into West Vancouver’s expropriation of Property on Argyle Avenue. ‘*The whole process is obscene.”’ Tet CCL OF MONTH ANG WIS) VANTOULIM SUNDAY © WEONESOAY - PHIDAY North Shore News, founded in 1469.48 an indenendent Disolay Advertsing Classified Advertising Newsroom Distribunon Subscriptions North Vancouver City Ald. Bill Bell, commenting on the tenancy terminations facing tenants of North Vancouver City’s Harbour Castle residents. “The fact that it’s out of bounds to a 13-year-old is an invitation to do it. However, he’li face zeper- cussions.”” Bruce MacFarlane, commenting on his 13-year-old son's skiing beyond designated ski areas on Grouse Mountain. “When a 24°’ diameter tree comes down on a pole, it doesn’t matter if the pole is old or new.”” B.C. Hydro vice-president cf cus- tomer services John Sheehan, ad- dressing West Vancouver District Council on the recent number of local power outages. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 Made-in-U.S. answer to Canada’s future! LIFE AFTER Meech? If you are finally beginning to wonder about the future of Canada if Quebec quits, you may like to know that heavy thinking is at work on the same subject below the border. lt thudded into my in-tray last week, in the form of a seven-page screed from one Craig Schoon- maker of New York entitled “Statehood for B.C.?”" Mr. Schoonmaker is chairman of the Expansionist Party of the United States (“‘XP"’ for short) — and you don’t need to guess twice where he wants to expand. He admits the party is still a little short on members, but the same can’t be said of its reasons why we should be happy to be swallowed up by the Union. Herewith just a few highlights of the party’s pitch to Canadians. The central XP thesis is that (a) the only way for Canada to realize its true great potential is to join the States; and (b) most Canadians, including many Quebecers, really WANT to do just that, but are too shy to say so. The partnership of English and French Canada, says Mr. Schoonmaker, is like a marriage which has never worked because neither wanted it. Forced on the kids by their British ‘‘parent,"’ it has only lasied this long, he sug- gests, because ... well, one must try to keep un appearances, mustn't one? But the XP would welcome Quebec, too, promising that ‘‘their cufture would thrive in a large, tolerant Union.”’ Provided, of course, there was no more nonsense about English signs. It would be just another State like the Atlantic Provinces (to be rolled into one), Ontario, the Prairies (probably also a single unit) and B.C. Canada, argues the XP, is al- ready totally dependent on the U.S., both economically and militarily, but lacks any clout in Congress. As part of the Union, the Canadian States would be equals with California, Penn- sylvania and Texas when it came to getting things Canadians wanted — like keeping B.C. fish at home and action on acid rain. We'd stop wasting money, all of it henceforth U.S. dollars, on our separate federal government. We'd get more sports franchises up here. If the U.S. didn't have all the social programs we want, the Ca- nadian States could provide extra ones from State taxes. We'd be allowed to keep our funny provin- cial flags as State flags. The only no-no would be singing ‘‘God Save the Queen.”’ Best of all, the XP adds, Cana- dians — who are personally indis- tinguishable from Americans any- how — could at long last stop worrying endlessly about their ‘‘identity.”’ You can sure say THAT again, Mr. Schoonmaker. { gather from your epistle that you're hoping to establish Cana- dian chapters of the XP soon. Please be sure to let us know how your membership is coming along. And thank you very much in- deed for brightening our Canadian weekend! WRAP-UP: Congrats to Lynn Coules, winner of the recent 33rd annual speech contest of the Hollyburn chapter, International Training in Communication, who'll now compete in the city- wide contest in April. Formerly known as the Toastmistresses, the Club holds dinner meetings every second and fourth Wednesday of the month — phone 921-7597 for info ... Calling all old Tupperites in this neck of the woods, Sir Charles Tupper Secondary holds its 20-year reunion in May. Peter Latchford, 531-8864, has the details ... Interesting how sedately the traffic seems to have been moving since Tuesday's demo of that Multanova radar camera in North Van! ... But don’t let that keep you from joining the life- givers tomorrow and Tuesday, March 19-20, at the blood donor clinics, 2 to 8 p.m. each day at LGH. ree WRIGHT OR WRONG: Commit- tees to get things done should never have more than three members — two of them absent. 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver. BC V7M 2H4 Suburban Newspaper and dualted under Schedule 1tt Paragraph TH ol the Excise Tan Act 1s published Gact Wednesday. Friday and Sunday py North Snore free Ltd and chstibuted to every doer an the Nortt MEMBER Second Class Mal Registration Number GRaS Subscantians North and We Marling tates avalabte on reques welcome out we cannot accep! unsolicited material incivding manu: envelope sepansitvity tor nts and pictures t s which Should be accompanied Dy a starnped. addressed §9,170 (average. Wednesday Frday & Sunday) SOA DIVISION . sere NEWS photo Paul McGrath TOP ORATORS...finalists were (left to cight) Joyce Marr, Kathy Bradley, Karen Brennan and Lynn Coules in the annual speech contest of the Hollyburn ITC Club (see column item).