INQUIRING: WRONG place, wrong time! Federal Industry Minister John Manley forgot this was Canada in 2000. A coun- try whose population has watched its after tax dollars erode for almost as many years as the Canucks have been in the NHL. In fact, who else but hockey players could afford to drop $1,000 a head for a single meal (the Dallas Stars rookie dinner after their recent game in Vancouver) these days. Meanwhile, the ticket-buy- ing, wage-paying public must worry over things like higher education costs and health service lineups. Offering a tax. break in such times was not such a smart political move and Maniey is now trying to scrape the egg off his tic. What has been overlooked by some non-sports fans in the debate surrounding this issue is that we are witnessing the Amcricanization of a game that we still think of as Canadian. If the NHL was really interested in the health of its Canadian teams it would have developed a five- or ten-year business plan in conjunction with its teams before run- ning to the government for help. But, of course, it is not. The league is now con- trolled by U.S. owners who are in the game for themselves. It’s sad. NORTH SHORE DEMOGRAPHICS YES Horseshoe Ba 5% Dundarave/Ambleside 10% British Properties 12% Norgate/Pemberton Heighis 13% ~~ Capilano/Delbrook Highlands 1% nquiring reporter Bob McCormick North Vancouver No. They alzeady get enough. The businesses who purchase blocks of seats for tax purposes are already helping them out by filling otherwise empry seats and creating concession money. Sheila Whitlock North Vancouver No. Players make millions of dollars. Cut their wages to cover the losses. + Robert Jackson NO oriNion pony North Vancouver 90% 2.5% 25% No. E think we have better 81% 6% things to spend our money 85% 0% on. 72% 3% 80% 3% 79% 0% Lower Lonsdaic 13% Central and Upper Lonsdale Lynn Vailey ~~ Blueridge/Deep Cove COMBINED AVERAGE 13% 75% 6% 86% 17% 79% cvveeseevsene 19% 81% 6% 5% 3% 1% 3% 3% 5% DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE INQUIRING REPORTER? E-mail your comments or question ideas to: mmillerchip@nsnews.com Waterfront Marcie Goad Contributing Writer THE narrowly defeat- ed November referen- dum on increasing public access to the waterfront should not end discussion of the issue, North Vancouver District Mayor Don ‘Bell told council on Monday nigh. _ Instead, he said; district staff should review the inter- ‘im report (phase 2) of the *_.. Waterfront Task. Force and “identify which recommenda: tions could be carried out soon with minimal cost. “I do not consider a 52% to 48% vote to be a clear indi- cation that all the recommen- dations should not proceed,” he said. “I believe that che Task Force has produced an important study that contains many good recommenda. tions.” Coun, Ernie Crist was the only member to vote against the motion. Bell's report directed staff to identify recommendations that could be accomplished this year within existing departmental budgets and those with minimal costs that could be considered for the 2000 annual budget. Staff will also suggest ways for council to get more pub- lic input on the task force's recommendations, Bell noted that he was absent at the meeting in September 1999 when the previous council voted to put the report to a referendum, which he did not support. The resulting question, he said, was “top vague” to give council a clear direction on where to proceed with the issue. . A waterfront: seawall, as envisioned by the task force, issues debated is still a sticking, point. “[ have gone on record well before the last election that [ felt a continuous walk- way from Cates Park to Panorama Drive is prohibi- tively expensive, would be invasive to an established community and is environ: mentally questionable,” said Coun, Janice Harris. Bur, she said. she “enchu- siastically supports” other measures recommended by the task force, such as the opening of street ends and the establishment of a marine sanctuary near Strathcona Park. Coun. Ernie Crist’ con- tended that the walkway was a necessary aspect of the waterfront pian. Council should nor “pass the buck” to staff, he said, but “rake leadership” on the waterfront issuc. - His motion te ask staff to fiad our how much the districs has spent “defending the public interest and rights” against _—_ illegal encroachment by private waterfront landowners was not seconded. W. Van students performing weli THE performance of West Vancouver students indicates achievement levels weil above those reported for the province at all grade levels tested. The British Columbia Foundation Skills Assessment (formerly known as PLAP -— Provincial Learning Assessment Program) is the annual ministry assessment of student performance in read- ing, comprehension, writing and numeracy in Grades 4, 7 and 10 in the province and within cach district. © The assessment provides a snapshot of how students are doing at several key stages of their schooling, and provides information to scheol districts and the public about student performance relative to provin- cial expectations and standards, and about trends that have developed. In Grade 4, 92% of West Vancouver students. met or exceeded expectations in read- ing comprehension and 26% of students exceeded expecta- tions. At the Grade 7 level, 92% met or exceeded expectations in reading comprehension and 20% of students exceeded expectations. At Grade i0, 89% of stu-. dents met or exceeded expecta- lions in reading and 30% exceeded expectations, Also at the Grade 10 level, 90% of stu- dents met or exceeded expecta- tions in numeracy, : West Vancouver student questionnaires for Grades 4, 7, and 10 revealed a high level of reading in spare time, confi-: dence in ability to do mathe- matics, and good use of comm- ©: puters at school to search for and display information. “The beard of . school trustees is very proud of these:* results,” said board chairman David Stevenson. “The district.” will continue to develop strate=“*. gies that will enhance current. strengths and address areas needing improvement.” To obtain. a copy. of the - skills assessment contact: the... ° schooi district office located at’. 1075-21st Street, in West ~~ Vancouver. : - Travel the World Grand Texas Texas plays host to more than 4,000 species of wildflowers and 400 species uf birds. Join natural- ist David Sdrling to see the diverse environments of southern Texas, biological crossroads, during April when this state comes alive. ey a with Capilano College Andalucia -—— Southern Spain. Andalucia provides the visitor. with all that one. expects of Spain ... Flamenco dancers, sun-) 3." * drenched, white-washed villages countryside... of olive groves and vineyards ...and much ~~ more. Join our popular Language instructor and" Andalucian expert, Kirk Mattson. ° Southern Alberta . Madagascar is famous for its spectacular diversity of birds, its many species of colourful endemic chameleons. its rainforest and spiny desett ecosys- “tems, but most of all for sts Jenvurs, Ecologist ‘and biogeographer Dr. Keith Wade is your guide. See the best of Alberta's gecloegy and natural his- tory. Tour with naturalist David Stirling through — the alpine meadows of Waterton Lakes, the prairie grasslands and pine forests of Cypress, Hills and the nich fossil beds of the Badlands and more. “Upcoming in fall 2000 Australia with Dick Cannings Saskatchewan: Last Mountain Lake with David Stirling “Upcoming in May, 2001... Intriguing Galapagos and Feuador ~ Great Expeditions Inc. Please call Great Expeditions for tour itineraries and registration SE Cteegs 604-257-2040 or 1-800-663-3364 www.greatexpeditions.com Capilano College Continuing Education, North Vancouver, B.C.