6 — Friday, February 5, 1999 — North Shore News Ferry pre HE timing couldn’t be better on the news that Ferries minis- ter Gordon Wilson is consider- ing pulling the plug on the construc- tion of the second and third catama- ran ferries. The Pacificat scandal in which the NDP finds itself embroiled is really a gift to North Shore residents. On Monday, North Vancouver City councillors unwittingly provid- ed a solution to the question of what to do with the first fast ferry, a vessel that seems to be doomed to a sedentary future. City councillors voted in favour of ordering the M.V. Seven Seas to move from the Lonsdale Quay area immediately. Councillors are con- cerned that the ship might be L north shore news VIEWPOINT posal ver time it has become a North Shore marine landmark. Consider this proposal to usher in the new millennium with bold vision: replace the M.V. Seven Seas with the Pacificat. The province could go a long way in reclaiming some of the goodwill it has lost over the fast ferry debacle by simply selling the ferry to North Vancouver City for one dollar. The ferry would make a very sleek waterfront restaurant. A thoroughly modern menu is already in place — quiche, iasagna, wraps, sushi. Space aboard ship for vehicles could be converted into a nightclub. The enterprise could be leased to a private operator, with the city picking up a bit of income from the (INTHE KING OF THE WORLD! SUNN SEAS oreress ett eaaee OTIS SDT oe Re unsafe. The former ferry has served as a waterfront restaurant for years. mailbox Demanding democracy Dear Editor: Accolades to the members of the special task force on direct democracy and to Coun. Ernie Crist who are working hard to initiate change in the Municipal Act allowing citizen- initiated referenda. We should all be concerned when it comes to how our community is run by raising our voices and demanding some input. I was consequently horrified to read a message from Coun. Crist stating that his motion to council for municipal representation to the Greater Vancouver Regional District board and its committees should be through democratic public elections rather than throvgh a system of political appointments was defeated. Their reason for this rejection — “filling GVRD positions during municipal elections would be tow confusing to th: public.” Please — does this mean the average citizen is lacking intelligence? Then again, maybe they are right for surely we erred badly when we put our faith in our council making informed and intelligent responses! Ursula M. Forrestal North Vancouver Treaty won't help natives Dear Editor: ‘Trevor Lautens’ editorial concerning the flawed proposal for the Nisga'a was right on. One of the many problems with the proposed treaty is that it is structured as a govern- ment-to-government treary and not a_pcople-to-peopic treaty. The effect of the treaty for the average aboriginal will be trading Ottawa handouts for band council handouts. After 100-plus years of mismanagement via the handout sys- tem it’s time to [ct aboriginal people decide for themselves. Each aboriginal should be given the option of reseiving his share of the land and cash settlement or of turning the land and cash over to elected aboriginal councils. This treaty will not improve the life of the average abo- riginal and if it won't do that what is its purpose? Michael McMahon West Vancouver north shore ' j orth Shore News, toured at 1969 25 An independent suburban newspaper and quakfied under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act, is pubkisted each Wednesday, Faday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed fo every door on the North ‘Shore, Canada Post Canackan Pubbcations Mai Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238 Emo Distribution Manager 985-1337 (124) Sonsthan Bal Creative Services Manager 985-2138 (127) 61,562 (average circulation, Wednesday, Fridzy & Surstay) The Worth Shore News is published by North Shore Free Press Ltd., venture in the process. How about it Gordon? Wrestling THE only thing worse than beating a dead horse is whipping up froth in a dispute with anoth- er writer. But Murray Dobbin’s Jan. 24 fetter to the editor protesting my November item abour him requires a reply. I described him as “so far up the (New Democratic Party) that he is lodged somewhere in its throat.” Dobbin denies he is, or ever has been, an NDPer. E accepe that. Now, where on earth would I get such an outlandish idea? If you read no further, know this: Last September The Vancouver Sun broke the story that, while sanctimoniously warning of nefarious outside interests taking part in the recall campaign against Paul Ramsey in Prince George, the NDP had in fact flown in Lower Maialand and out- of-province organizers to fight the cam- paign, and had urged members to sign letters to the editor decrying the cam- paign and supporting Ramsey. Dobbin — gratuitously — scurried to the defence of the NDP. [na Sept. 19 letter in the Sun he slagged “the recent efforts to make this out to be a major scandal for the (NDP).” Then he bran- dished Recommendation 19 to the 1998 Reform party assembly “posted for ail to sce on the party’s Internet site.” The recommendation urged Reform’s national office to generate Ietters to its constituency offices, get them signed by members, and send them to the press. PETER SPECK Publisher 285-2131 (101) Human Resources Manager Cai 868-2131 (177) Valerie Classified Managet 985-6222 (202) Peters Photography Manager 985-213t (760) ' Be Se Ts, ag Foot mptrotier 985-2131 (133) Entire contents © 1997 North Shore Free Press Ltd, All rights reserved. Publisher Peter Sp besldhatieh shed 6 dete Renekds ht hte aeet 3 hes Scamadhies Carin d with a fellow writer “There was not one word in the media” about this resolution, thundered Dobbin, ending with a grand flourisk: “We are witnessing a blatantly biased double standard in the way political par- ties are judged.” I tell you: I instantly smelled a rat. And when Dobbin com- plained about my piece, [ checked with Reform’s top communications guy, Ron Woad. Suspicion confirmed: Recommendation 19 was defeated in a workshop and never made it to the floor of the Reform assem- bly. Which explains why the “biased” media didn’t report it. Ifthe aggrieved Dobbin, huffing about his 30 years of journalism and his reputation, didn’t know that all kinds of wacky resolutions (including anes from ineducable Marxists at NDP conventions) are tossed out before they get to the floor, he knows less than a rookie reporter at his first such assignment. So take your choice. Dobbin (a) is ignorant of convention process, or (b} was stunningly lax in his research, or (c) knew, but misled readers by hiding the whole story. There’s more. In a Dec. 30, 1996, Sun letter, when Glen Clark campaigned ona “surplus” budget that in fact was in the red, Dobbin again came to the NDP’s defence — accusing Liberal feader Gordon Campbell of election “ties.” On Nov. 9, 1996, another Dobbin ler- ter in the Sua scorned as “drivel” a col- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, full address & telephone number. VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca Managing Editor 885-2131 (116) Trial Agrios Promotions Manager 985-2131 (218) Ason Evers. Acting Display Manager 880-0511 (307) Gall Snelgrove General Ottice Manager 985-2131 (105) Internet- http://wenw.nsnews.com umn by John MacLachlan Gray: “It is ... just one more cheap shor at Glen Clark.” A Sun reporter wrote (Aug. 24, 1996) that Dobbin “sces an overlap in goals between Reform and the (gun-tot- ing) U.S. militia movement.” Huh? Preston Manning? Dobbin was publisher of a newsletter, Reform Watch . He’s obsessed with Reform. Hints darkly about its “real” agenda. He wrote a deeply hostile book on Manning and Reform. Who helped? The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation — as in CCF/NDP icons Tommy Douglas and M.J. Coldwell. [t gave hins a $4,060 research grant. Reviewer Lisa Fitterman described another Dobbin book, on Conservative Kim Campbell, as “an exercise in mean- spiritedness.” So Dabbin has publicly slammed every major party — except the NDP. His leftist ideology is plain. A secent Dobbin book: The Myth of the Good Corporate Citizen. Lhave more. No space. Like: Dobbin was communications manager (he’s cor- rect, I didn’t know he left) for the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, whose executive included Gien Clark’s former campaign manager and tailed NDP candidates. Now you know why [ assumed he was an NDPer. He serves the NDP just like Harry Rankin served the Communist party — better for not being a member. aoa Stop press! West Van’s Jimmy Pattison has lured the superb Dal Richards away from AM 1040 to his fast-rising 600 The Bridge. Dal’s Place , music of the swing era, begins Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (repeats Sundays at 9 p.m.). Firse guest: Our pet, Juliette. Be there or be square! a cemreres HOWATORRERCHSUS: Admintztration 9885-2131 Dispiay Advertising 930-0511 Classified Advertising 986-5222 Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution $86-1337 Display & Real Estate Fax 985-1435 Newsroom Fax $95-2104 Classified, Accounting . & Main Office Fax 995-3227 Michael Becker - Nevvs Editer 985-2134 (114) Andrew Mc€radio - Saurts/Community Editor 985-2131 (447) eck, from 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, B.C., ¥V7M 244