JOSE Goyarzu waz all set to start work at Harvest Project under a job creation pian approved by the federal government, only to be overruled by a citizens com- mittee orgenized th:ough MP Ted White's office. Friends of From page 1 Friday, August 6, 1999 — North Shore News — 3 fed appr jie vetoes ved job Harvest Project was to hire North Van City man Brady Fotheringham Contributing Writer JOSE Govarzu thought he had found the perfect job creation program to launch him back into society as a working citizen and contributing taxpayer. It turns our, however, that North Vancouver MP Ted White, on the advice of his own citizens committee, vetoed the very federal job program application that had already been vetted and approved by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). Goyarzu applied for a six-month ware- house manager position at Harvest Project, an organization that helps people find work and become financially independent. The job creation program at HRDC would have funded a $10 per hour position at Harvest Project for up to $413 per weck, but White’s office cast a vote of non-con- currence or non-approval. Now Goyarzu feels he’s caught in a catch-22 position between a well-meaning job program and a North Vancouver politicizn and clectorate who think otherwise. “They should be helping me get a job if Harvest Project necds someone. The system make you lazy by letting you go on wel- fare,” the 42-year-old Goyarzu said. Although White would not give his per- sonal views on the work his *Comiaunity Cammittee” conducts, he did say his Reform, busincss-oriented, constituency tends to oppose government job creation programs because the moncy is needed else- where. “They make their own decisions and | don’t get involved,” White said. White uses his 30-member committee to give him guidance as ta which grant appli- cations and job programs he approves. Non-approval or —non-concurrence “should be expressed for any application which comes from a group or project which should more properly he funded by the rovince or municipality.” White said in a etter. White summarized his commiztee’s posi- tion stating “Harvest Project has a fantastic reputation, but what they do is something that should be paid by local or provincial taxpayers. Where do you put limited amounts of government money?” David Foster, executive director for Harvest Project, said getting Goyarzu start- ed as a warehouse manager was something the non-profit organization was locking forward to, given Goyarzu’s former experi- ence as an apartment manager. “I was very surprised at White’s vote of non-coucurrence. I think it’s wrong that he’s in effect voting Goyarzu out of a job,” Foster said. Now doing part-time work as a painter and roofer, Goyarzu said he doesn’t see the point of the job creation program if a mem- ber of Parlianient can override it. “It’s kind of stupid to deny me the opportunity to use my skills as a manager to get a job,” Goyarzu said. White said his vorers think it’s wrong for government to create jobs and rescue peo- ple from poverty and welfare lineups. “Government should reduce taxes so there is more money in people’s pockets,” White said. He said morey for job programs is best given to the private sector, because those jobs have the best chance of returnin money io the public treasury when the jo becomes permanent. Seniors and the mentally and physically disadvantaged are a second priority for funding, White said and ifany money is left, it can go to federal programs associated with national parks and Canada Day activi- ties. Despite White’s vote of non-concur- rence, HDRC can appeal the decision to Jane Stewart, minister of Human Resources Development Canada. Foster is looking into other job creation programs at the provincial leve! but hasn’t found any that are suitable for Harvest Project’s needs. Virginia Harvard, media relations for HRDC would not comment on the suitabil- ity of a member of Parliament’s office vot- ing on job creation programs already approved by HRDC. . Fibre optics net envisioned Shore Arts Commission; RCMP; North home and to public centres for residen- tial and small business needs. Cypress sue vernment Commercial growth opposed Brady Fotheringham Contributing Writer THE battle for the preservation of Cypress Provincial Park heated up iast Friday when a citizens group filed a petition with B.C. Supreme Court against the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Friends of Cypress Provincial Park Society, an advocacy group opposed to any further commercial expansion within Cypress Park, filed a petition against the environment ministry claiming the former environment minister, Cathy McGregor, “exceeded her jurisdiction or wrongly ... exercised her discre- tion” when she agroved a Cypress Park master plan in 1997 that would increase and commercialize the park’s capacity. An affidavit attached to the petition statement claimed that “nearly 55 acres (22 hectares) of old-growth forest and park- land ecosystem within the central portion of southern Cypress” will be lost if the expansion project goes ahead. Katherine Steig, co-chair of Friends of Cypress, maintains " that approval under the provincial Park Act was not granted by the Environment Minister when an amendment in June 1997 was made to a park-use permit. The 1997 permit 506 allowed Cypress Bowl Recreations Ltd. (CBR), which owns the ski operations in the park, to “more than double the winter recreation capacity of the park and to expand its summer commercial recreation opportuni- See Development page & attending a technology conference in June in that capacity when she first heard about the Snsart Community Program. Having been extensively involved in many district planning processes, Trudeau told the News she knew “We have a smart community sitting right here. It just hasn't been labeled.” Following district council’s unani- mous endorsement of the Smart Community Program application, Trudeau has obtained approval in princi- ple from North Vancouver City, West Vancouver District, the Tslei! Waututh Nation and the Port of Vancouver. The Squamish Natiun has yet to obtain full band approval for the concept. Industry Caneda is looking for com- munities that have a vision of the future involving the use of information and communication technologies in new and innovative ways. The district already has a partnership with BC Tel regarding the extension of a fibre optic network and was designated a Smart Community about two years ago but the new federal initiative is much broader in scope. Taking