6 ~ Sunday, September 12, 1999 — North Shore News t cannot yet be too late to stop the insanity. Surely, if enough of us talk to the politicians and bureaucrats involved common sense will prevail. Then again, it hasn’t up to now. Common sense would have built a four-lane bridge and a four-lane con- necter to Vancouver. Common sense would have improved traffic flow not just for North Shore commuters, but for Vancouverites heading for the ski slopes or the ferries. Common sense would have seen the Greater Vancouver Regional District weigh in on the side of a four-lane causeway not only to reduce the costs of traffic accidents, but to improve the air quality of the Lower Mainland by reducing the cnormous number of idling polluters trapped in traffic. -The province, with the approval of north shore news VIEWPOINT dead-end fast-lane on the way to the Port Mann Bridge in the name of speed and air quality. But those same com- mon sense arguments lost out to hys- terical screeching from the Vancouver parks board . Maybe, just maybe, common sense could yet dictate that the lanes on the refinished causeway be made wide enough to match the wider widths on the refurbished bridge. Only five extra feet are required to meet the Roadbuilders Association standard. Without it, everyone involved in the decision to create a nar- rower roadway south of the new bridge is asking to be sued. Not by irate com- muters stuck in traffic jams that could have been prevented, but by any driver involved in a multi-vehicle traffic acci- dent and claiming there was not the GVED, was quite happy to build a you said it “1m like the remains at the undertaker’s -— on view from 10 to 12 and from 2 to 4.” National Library ef Canada founder W. Kaye Lamb. _ Who died recently aged 95, on his ability co face an inter- - view. (From Trevor Lautens’ Sept. 10 Garden of Biases col- uma.) aoa “People don’t come here to stay in a room. They - Want an _cxperience — they want to learn about the ‘community. Rex Davidson‘ on the charms of the Craftsman-style “home, built in 1920, that he and Ruth Crameri run as -.: Thistledown House Bed and Breakfast. (From a Sept. 5 News Sunday Focus.) Qo0Q0 : “Charles Dickens would love this one. It’s just the : sort of thing he wrote big fat books about.” North Vancouver District councillor Trevor Carolan on 1 the recent decision by the Tsleil Waututh (Burrard Band) to “Anvite photo :radar to patrol the stretch of Dollarton Highway that runs through their reserve, despite a district decision not-to invite photo radar in.o the municipality. " (From a@ Sept. 5 News story.) Jd. oa “fF 1 thought. 1 could be premier again, I wouldn’t hesitate : a minute. ” ‘.: Fortier B.C, premier Bill Vander Zalm, on the need to overhaul'B.C.’s political system. and his ability to do it. (From e Sept. & News story, oe “Tes easy to make somebody ‘took ood and sell clothes when they’ re sitting on a Vespa. the clothes can be bloody ugly.” : Vespa Club of Canada president Mark Sexsmith on the — paralicls between scooters aiid style: (Frora 4 Sepe. 12 News _ Sunday Focus story.) oe gaa “You drive up to the ferry and you pull up with all these Harley Davidsons and such and they kind of look and laugh, but I’m thinking: ‘I’m going by more gas Stations and having just as much fun.°” =. Retired school principal Ron Bain on 35 years of scoot- er riding. (From the same ne Sept. 12 News Sunday Focus story.} ”_ North Sdore stews, tounded hi 1997) as 37 independent subusbia newspaper and quaitied under Schecke’ 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tur. ALL is cublished each Wesnesday, Friday and Gunday by HON Publications Company and distributed fo every duos on the Ruth Shore. Canada t’ost Canadian Publications ‘ait Seles Product Agreement No, 0067238. *~ Distibation Manager 908-1337 (124) - enough room to manoeuvre. Tough love for the drug HOW to stop the ghastly human tell and crushing cost inflicted on society by the drug trade — especially in Vancouver, “drug capital of Canada,” with its 12,000 res- ident junkies? West Van councillor and former B.C. attor- ney general Allan Williams gave his own answer a while back ina Vancouver Sun article. His proposals sparked cries of outrage among the bleeding freart frater- nity, in favour of cad- dling the criminals and “solving” the problem by legalizing drugs. The nu of Williams’ argument is that expanding rehabilitation facilities for addicts — whom he'd treat as innocent “sick” — is pointless until the “merchant: of misery” responsible are expelled from our midst permanendly. That’s now irspossible under our lenient “revolving door” court system, which often allows traffickers back selling on the strect, - pending a distant trial, just hours after - their arrest. Therefore, says Williams, amend the Criminal Code to throw a 10-ton book at ~ them. He wants anyone in the supply chain who's charged — from manufacturers, financers and shippers down to street- level pushers — to be held for trial with- out bail. If Convicted, they’d automatical- ly receive a ‘mandatory minimum sentence of life i imprisonment with no parole for . PETER SPECK _ Publisher.” 985-2131 (10%) e Bhai Human Resources Manteger 985-2131 (177} ~ Creative Services Ditector - WH-2135 (127) "61,582 (average eiveutalion, Wodtescay,Fritay & Sur fay) Photography Manager 985-2135 (160) Doug Foot General Manager * 885:213t (133) Entire contents © 1999 HCN Publications Company. All is meserved. 15 years. A special provincial court divi- sion would deal exclusively with dru cases, and sentences would be served in a special maximum security prison camp to be set up in conjunction with the federal attorney gencral. Convicted non- Canadian citizens would be immediately deported, Moncy an property from any drug-trafficking activity wouid be seized and used to fund police ser- vices and addict reha- bilitation. And the “notwithstanding” clause would be invoked to climinate Charter defences in drug cases. This latter item would likely stir up the biggest hornet’s nest, politically and judicially, At least halfa dozen Charter guarantees can conceivably be used by the deience in specific cases — including freedom of association, mobility ion security against unreasonable scare . seizure, the right not to be arbitrarily . detained or imprisoned, nor to be denied” reasonable bail. Civil libertarians would have a field day, probably with some significant sup- port from the public at large. Why have a Charter ac all if its sacred promises can, be. so easily thrown out via the backdvor? Nor will too many voters wax enthusiastic about life imprisonment with no parole for 15 years being handed to, say, a .teenage strect-kid driven to become a small-time pusher in order to cai. Finaliy, the expense of a becfed-up . court system to,handic drug cases exclu- tough love alternative. $0, AS | WAS SAYING— MAY CAUCUS 15 FIRIALY BEHIND ME pushers sively, plus the capical cast, manning arid upkeep of at least ons big new maximum security prison. Don’s forget we're tafk- . ing abour a period of major increase for maybe up to a decade in prison inmates, ranging front accused awaiting crial with- out bail to the ever-growing horde of 15- years-to-parele liters. Nevertheless, Williams is on the ri hr. track. Limited experiments in Switzerland and elsewhere in legalizing drugs have: proved of dubious value. ‘The massive’ deterrent of an automatic minimim “Life-15” séntence is the only sure Way , we'll conquer drug-trafficking. A castly cuse, true — though as costly as allowing B.C.’s life-sapping social wound to fester virtually intreated. : So it’s up to us. If che flawed Charcer; and criminals’ rights mean more tou than the daily horror of needled addicts dying behind dumpsters, runaway teen: '. daughters drugged into prostitution, and home invasions by junkies desperate fo: cash to buy their next fix, by all: means: let’s scttle for Vancouver's cragi Downrown Eastside and Victoria’s boom. ing drug scene as B.C.’s s pefmanent ‘social ~~ trademark: But if we wish ver ‘0 shed it; we'd: better start considering Allan Wiliams! OO Q HAPPY 63RD ANNIVERSARY. today, Sept. 12, to’ West Van": ‘Alin and ‘Ali Jessup ....And hap rely ‘48th this same day to North Van's Re iy and Stella Jo'." Dean. ooo WRIGHT OR WRONG: Poise is the act of raising syebrows rather than th LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must include your name, full address & telenhone number, Vif e-mail: trenshaw @ diréct.ca, Maraging Editor 2 985-2134 ($16) Gall Snetgrove Display Advertising Manager 986-0511 (317) General Gitice Manager - 905-2137 1105) - 4 intemet- Mite es. comt over time.nor nearly