THE VOICE OF NORTH AND W December 2, 1992 68 pages age ures WE ee F WER Office. Editorial 985-2731 NV MP announces his retirement from politics NORTH VANCOUVER Conservative MP Chuck Cook is retiring from the political fray. By Michael! Becker News Reporter Cook, 66, announced Monday at the annua) genera) meeting of the North Vancouver Progressive Conservative Association that he will neither seek nor accept the nomination... 10 be a candidate in the 1993 federal election.”’ He intends to serve out his cur- fent term to 1993. Cook was first elected to federal office in 1979 as the MP for North Vancouver-Burnaby. He has held the North Van- couver seat since the 1988 federal election, when the Tories took both North Shore ridings. During that four-year period, Cook has served as party whip, parliamentary secretary to the sec retary of state for external aff. and the president of the treasury board. Cook also chaired two parliamentary committees. Said Cook of his political ca- reer, ‘It has been the most inter- esting thing I have done in my lifetime, and rather than being the most satisfyi it has been the most frustrating thing | have ever done,” he said. Over the years, Cook bas made headlines as a dissident. Early in September, Cook cast the sole major party No vote when the House of Commons voted to support the federal gov- ernment’s constitutional referen- dum initiative. Cook told the News at the time, “Pm looking at it from a B.C. point of view, and from a B.C. point of view this deal stinks."’ Me ile. Cook told his riding association members Monday night, “After much thought and soul searching, Dale (his wife} and I have decided that 14 years should be enough for anybody and feel it is time to enter a new stage of our lives.*’ Cook said his decision to leave federal politics was made before the referendum call. He said i: was time for a younger man or woman to repre- sent the riding in the next federal election. Cook holds a law degree and a masters degree in business ad- ministration. Youths deny gang ties Aftermath of weekend firebombing YOUTHS ASSOCIATED with a group known as Locals have approached the North Van- Nortn \ ancouver couver RCMP in an attempt to distance themsely the ‘‘gang™ in the aftermath of 2 the from firebombing incident in North Vancouver early on Saturday. Said North Vancouver RCMP Insp. Peter Wlodarezak, ‘Some have come forward to disavow any association or knowledge of the Locals. “What they've come forward for, in our opinion, is self-serv- ing. They're trying to extricate themselves from a precarious s ation, and that's why they've come forward.” By Michaei Becker News Reporter The police detachment’s Special Projects Unit is monitoring the activities of focal ‘‘gane” members more closely following the Nov. $4 Robson Street stabb- See Gang page § a eel Index .. 38 .. 23 60 . 44 57 B Budget Beaters . 8 Business . a Classified . . @ Frugal Gourmet. .55 25 ..13 .39 53 B Lifestyles... . bees @ North Shore Now WSports 0.0.0.0... MTV Listings - PFA What's Going Weather Thursday sunny, Friday cloudy. Highs 7°. Lows HC. ations Mail Sales Product Agreement Number 0087238 Spi gt ERS COUVER Display Advertising 980-0511 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 NEWS photo Nei! Lucente Xmas tree troops CASEY BALDEN, 10(right), and Mark Rochford, 9, are in charge of the prize Christmas trees on sale at the cub scout tree lot located behind Brunswick Lanes in West Vancouver. The iot will remain open until Christmas Eve. Funds raised from tree sales will be used for scouting activities on the North Shore. ae