Dear Editor: Your recent front page story on recreation discounts missed the most salient points of the ongoing recreation fee increase saga. The roral conwibution from the district to the commission for 2000 is $4.3 million. With that amount of subsidy, fees should be lower. That they are not is an admission that the commission does not understand how to run a business. Instead of concentrating on preventive health care and provid- ing basic programs, they are all over the place complete with ui On rec ¢ Since this amount, compared to the commission’s annual budget of S14 million is infinitesimal, che commission was asked to absorb this amount without raising fees. In fact they Were specifically asked by council not to raise tees since this would be a reduction in the level of services and contrary to instructions. But showing its contempt, the commission instead raised the fees in the amount of $750,000. They state they had to do that to cover increased fuel costs. But, by their own admission, the additional cost for fuel amounted to only $200,000. So sion provide an answer as to why they singled out seniors for a 50% increase. To add insult to injury the commission hired an expensive spin doctor to tell seniors how lucky they are. Your reporter not only missed most of these salient points but also missed the other main issue — that the commission is out of centrof -— that it has become a headquarters of politics — that it is over top managed and that, when it comes to run- ning a business, they are incompetent. In addition, you missed what may be the most salient point of all which is that the soon- er politicians face up to the commission instead of playing up to it the better it will be for all of us. bureaucracy, including in places where they should not be. The additional money asked by the commission from the district to forgo fee increases for 2000 was roughly $40,000. Too many Canadians greedy, lazy : Dear Bditer: 1 have noticed for a long time now how our country ‘lags behind other industrial- ized countries‘in the world. Our economy. is suffering’ because of a low dollar. ‘True, a low dollar means that companies in the United ‘States (which is our inain “trading partner), tend to buy - lots of. - Canadian- made : goods. » : “.- However, Canadian busi- “nesses find it expensive to buy goods from the U.S. ‘On top of that, there are over a4 million ‘poor. people ‘who. cannot ‘afford to pur- * chase fresh produce from the ULS.; leading to poor health ‘and a burden on our health- ‘care system.. One of the main reasons that I believe causes the poor cononzy is that Canadians as ‘a whole are becoming lazier -and greedicr. Canadian ‘workers: are’ ~ striving. for shorter. work weeks, © more: government- uthorized.. holidays, Maternity leave and more sick me Canadians are demand- . ‘especially - g. mor Aion: members - (case: in “point: the inside civil servants responsible’ for.stopping’ the tsidée workers from collect-.- g- garbage in Vancouver who are: currently © earning een $14-S are ‘now’ fighting over their more . 38 ‘per hour hours of work.) Why can’t people who have jobs just be thankful that they do have a paycheck? There are over a mmiftion peo- ple in Canada without a job. When we look at other countries such as Japan, we see a totally different set of work ethics. The Japanese worker works long hours, and is committed to his job and company. True, there tends to be burn-out faster. Perhaps, if we were to -adopt some of their work ethics and become less greed- ier and lazier, our economy ‘could rival other countries such as the U.S. and Japan. . Perhaps we have too many civic holidays. There seems to be a civic holiday almost every month. Every civic hol- iday costs millions of dollars in lost revenue for this coun- try.’ As a country we should rethink our present work ethics and develop something more efficient in order to become a country to be fol- lowed rather than a country. that follows others. : When the people of this country realize. that greed and laziness only causes high- er uneinployment and weaker economies, then’ and only then, will this nation of ours become a lean, mean fighting " mackine. - -. David Wilson "North Vancouver - what happened to the remaining $550,000. Other than gobbledygouk, the commission has never pro- vided a clear answer to that question. Neither did che commis- ivility and respect required Dear Editor: { thank Mr. Sadler for nominating me for the Hall of Fame, but I really do think that my ‘accomplishments are too modest to be accorded such an honour, so I respect: fully decline. The SLP, the Seymour Local Plan, is not to be con- fused with’ the Sadler Local Plan and has been several years in the making. Over the years, it has become apparent that the community east of Seymour like the community west of the Seymour is, in fact, several communities. Deep Cove, Dollarton, Indian River, Parkgate, Roche. Point, Plymouth, Blueridge, and Mapleweod are proud communities and rightly so. They are diverse HIGH PROTEIN. LOW CARB DIET Now approved i in Canada ‘Free Sample |. - wwwinewbédy. net ‘984-6672 David Neel . 441 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver 988-9215 and different communities each with its own history, needs and aspirations. Because the community east of the Seymour is in fact several communities, there are bound to be conflicts. Although the communities are united by a common traf- fic problem, there are many, many maiters on which they differ, sometimes irreconcil- ably so. So what happens when they debate and end up dif- fering and cannot come to a common understanding? Paralysis. In the interest of moving ahead, of breaking the dead- lock, I proposed, and council supported, the motion that the Maplewood plan be sepa- Way fe Fight the BS Seasonal ay Affective _ ,, Disorder, ‘Professional nainey ot stair in administration of UV light. Carrying the latest swim wear * and beach wear designs. . Surs “Scape TANNA Wi srumies 4111-223 Lower Mountain Hwy North Van, behind Wendy’ s 981. Sit North Shore In-line Hockey League Society. (NSIHLS) i isa nén-profit boys and girts youth in-line hockey league. With no con- - act; NO offsides or no icing it is a fot of fun. Entering our 5th year we would like to establish if there is demand for a year-round, -}. fine facility on the North Shore. Whether or not you in-line skate, you could win a pair of CANUCKS tickets to ahy garns you “chose. Simply complete the survey below and email: nsihi@ home.com fax to 984-2310 or drop off/, mail to NSIH{S.123 East -- 23rd Street (Lonsdale F Rec Centre), North Vancouver, BC V7L. 3E2. Prize will be awarded October 30th, winner will be notified’ y phone.” Ld 1°’ How many people in in your family inline skate? How many people i in-your family play street hockey? 3e How mary people i in your family would be interested in Public/Family In-line skating? 4° How many people in your family would be interested in In-line skating parties?. low many ‘people in. your famiiy: would be interested i in youth/adult In-line Hockey? 6° Currently, NSIHLS operates in the Spring oniy. if considering the activities above, how many seasons would you Fall -- Winter_—__. Spring ‘Would like to learn how? In-line hockey? Would you like to receive more information on NSIHLS? Please feel free to.lei us know your tioughts. on our.quest for an in-line. arena: Five Kabat uskacl eed ice hockey o> on a oe. om » Please answer each question. Use “O” where the answer is none. = = — oe ox we ice skate -—_ Ernie Crist, councillor District of North Vancouver rated from (not “excluded from” and Mr. Sadler would have it) the plan(s) for the rest of the communities cast of the Seymuur. I stand by my decision. Each community deserves to be heard and respected. Mr. Sadler, the mayor offered you a gracious apolo- gy for remarks made in coun- cil. The mayor saw, quite rightly, that a tone of civility and respect should prevail even when policies and poli- tics differ. I would expect you to follow his example. Labelling those who differ with you the “Maplewood malcontents” serves no pur- pose. You may differ with them but you must not smear .them. Ie is appropriate that you offer a public and imme- diate apology to those you denigrate. Douglas MacKay-Dunn North Vancouver District councillor macdunn@uniserve.com S.LAURSEN & SON draperies & blinds. td. Serving the Lower Mainland a over 7 28 Jears . wrarvecidrapesandblinds.core TT ‘| Custom Rods, Upholstery & Be ds {3 task abour oer Senay Bedpreadey For Free Estimate call: 922-4975 or 987-2966 Grapery Labour $14.95 per panel lined. - . - Low Low Paces “efforts in. short’ of the te pepe a : . Nep al, Sir Edmund will intro luce you — Canada = to his autobiography, . “View from the Summit’. = ... + Signed ‘copies ; will be available. “All proceeds go to his charitable WOH.