6 - Sunday, March 31, 1991 - North Shore News BE) yea ow anny care cites 2 * BaiSep FROM SELUNG Hi Bike, T MICHEL, WISON, TO ALP REDUCE CaNADES DEBT... YEAR OLD L2iD OFF aUT0 WoRKeA, Was 4 SLIGHTLY DiFreRENT 4PPAOACH TO ROUCING Cotas NEWS VIEWPOINT Causeway cause themselves to trees along the Stanley Park causeway in protest, let us carefully consider the plan by the North Vanceuver Chamber of Commerce to overhaul that terminally treacherous and clogged traffic artery. The chamber plan calls for widening the three-lane causeway to five lanes, incor- porating a centre median and a north- bound bus and emergency traffic lane. At @ casi of approximately $5 million, the widessine would immediately provide two lanes in either direction for smoother, less dangerous traffic flow. The addition of an emergency lane for northbound traffic would also provide a safety valve for transit and emergency vehicles in the event of a major causeway tie-up. And while most Bees ACTIVISTS chain right-thinking folk would agree that a main commuter artery should never have been cut through the ci- ty’s largest and most beautiful park, the fact remains that the causeway exists. Rather than leave it as a dangerous eyesore, every effort should be made to improve both the iook and the efficiency of the Stanley Park causeway. Expanding it to five lanes would mean the loss of trees on 15 feet on each side of the present causeway route. But the traffic safety gained and the transit efficiency achieved on one of the main arterial access routes to the North Shore would more than compensate for that loss. Once the Cassiar Connector has been completed, provincial highways experts should be casting eyes westward to break up the lamentable Lions Gate Bridge log- jam. An improved Stanley Park causeway would be a good start. INSIGHTS NEWS QUOTES OF THE WEEK “I's a simple idea, really. Some- body told me maybe it’s too sim- ple — ‘You should put some flashing lights on the corners to make it complicated.’ ’’ North Vancouver businessman Silvio Petlegrini, on his frustration at trying to market concrete con- tainers for hazardous wastes. “People think we have a big country. You can just spread it (waste) around. But once you pollute, you pollute.’ North Vancouver businessman Silvio Pellegrini, on pollution. “I think (the council) really believes we're a Uunch of hippies out here or in the Dark Ages. Why don’t we become a Lions Bay? Why don’t we incorporate ourselves?’ Margie Goodman, owner of Goodman Studios on Gallant Avenue, on the slow pace of road construction in Deep Cove. “There's only an ending for us, there’s no beginning.”’ Ann Wodak, a member of North Shore Adult Adoptees, on being adopted and not knowing who your birth parents are. “Our kids are sexually active, and if they don't use condoms, they will die.”’ Former nurse, Lori Baker, urg- ing West Vancouver District 45 trustees to have condom-dispens- ing machines installed in high school washrooms. “They do make errors. Tt was medical officers who once recommended 2 drug called thalidomide.’’ © Mel Bryan, director of Focus on the Family, on medical officers who advocate the use of condoms. “Dual entry is 2 complete waste of time. I spent a year being so angry | made myself sick about it.” West Vancouver parent Suzanne Zacharias, on the new dual-entry school system. Publisher Peter Speck independent suburban newspape: and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph Ilt of the Excise Tas Act, is published each Wednesday. Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Lid and distributed 19 every door on the North Shore Second Class Mai Registration Numter 3885. Subsenptions North and Wes! Vancouver. $25 per year. Mailing rates available on request Submiss‘ons are welcome but we Cannot accept responsibility tor unsoliciied rmatena! including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by 2 stamped. addressed envetone. V?7M 2H4 Display Advertsing Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw — Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Subscriptions 986-1337 Adtoniging Direc tort Noe wright Classified Advertising 986-6222 Fax. 985-3227 4 re c inda stewar Newsroom > 5 Comptrolier Doug Foot Ww! 985-213t Administration 985-2131 North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an = Re wort ov wommano wtsy wencouven MEMBER RUNDAY + WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY 1139 Lonsdaie Avenue, ~ North Vancouver, B.C. Entire contents %: 1991 North Shore Free Press Lid. All rights reserved. 98-0511 = Distribution 986-1337 SDA DIVISION 61,582 (average cuculation. Wednesday. Friday & Sunday) Act three of Socred drama a clifi-hanger APRIL FOOL’S DAY — postponed to Tuesday — sees the curtain rise on the climax of the Socred melodrama ‘‘Him or Us?’ If it has thrilled you so far, grip your seats hard during the closing episode. Commissioner Ted Hughes’ verdict on Premier Bill Vander Zalm’s alleged conflict of interest in the Fantasy Gardens sale has three possibilities: 1. A complete exoneration. 2. A damning indictment. 3. Some criticism — falling short, however, of outright con- demnation. In the first case the triumphant Premier might call the election almost right away. Armed with his new halo and his Taxpayer Pro- tection Program, he’d gamble on blitzing his NDP tormentors — Gulf War style — before they could regroup for the counter- attack. In the second case it’s hard to see how even Bill could avoid fi- nally throwing in the towel and retiring to his tulip garden. Then the party would have to name an interim leader — among likely choices being Mel Couvelier or Rita Johnston — and also maybe decide just How interim. How safe would be the timing of a June leadership convention which, after further internal party bloodletting, catapulted the un- foreseeable winner almost im- mediately on to the hustings? Would it be smarter to let things calm down and entrust Social Credit’s election fortunes to some unknown and reasonably well-respected ‘‘instant’’ leader like Couvelier or Johnston? The third Hughes scenario could bring the rea/ cliffhanger. Vander Zalm stays put despite the slap on the wrist — while a significant number of cabinet and caucus members, together with party HQ brass, endeavor to dump him. But as the election clock moves ever closer to midright, it isn’t easy. The party would first have to call a leadership review conven- tion and then a leadership conven- tion proper, if the review conven- tion forced him out. In theory the caucus could also fire him by passing a vote of no confidence. But at least 35 MLAs in the 69-seat Legislature would have to agree on an alternate leader before their choice could go to the Lieutenant Governor and ask to form a government. So don’t hold your breath on that one — remembering the sup- port Vander Zalm still commands in Interior ridings. Also the fact that he decides when or if to recali the Legislature. apparent? Noel Wright" HITHER AND YON Meanwhile, other bombs tick away in the background. RCMP probes into two alleged but non- criminal offences — split real estate commissions and a Fantasy Gardens liquor licence. And now, an indefinite use of special war- rants to pay government’s bills, with no check by the Legislature on what is spent. Act three of ‘‘Him or Us?’? — Bill’s survival or the party’s — promises to be a cliffhanger, however it’s scripted. What we won’t know until the final curtain in the fall is its effect on the audience’s owa long-term health. eee WRAP-UP: Slo Pitch players among Nerth and West seniors aged 55 and older are needed for the Recreation Fue League. If you qualify and have some experience, call Bill Howard, 921-7844... Or- ganizers of West Van High Grande (sic!) Reunion May 17-19 are beating the bushes for all Classes of °48, °49, and °50 West Van High grads to join the three-day funfest — get all the details from Tom, 921-9605, or Gwynn, 987-4368... Local art tal- ent is showcased again during the next two weeks at West Van Sketch Club’s Spring Exhibition in Park Royal North, opening Wed- nesday, Apr. 3, and continuing until Apr. 13... And many happy returns of today, Mar. 31 to North Van Kiwanis birthday boy Art Weseen. ees WRIGHT OR WRONG: As the chicken said to the eggshell, sorry about that, but a very happy Easter just the same. 5 MEL COUVELIER, RITA JOHNSTON... ‘interim’ heir or heiress