Black substance at base of fir trees fingered DEAD TREES recently taken down by B.C. Hydro pose ‘a complex question: Were they poisoned or weren't they? By lan Noble News Reporter: - Neighbors say they were, B.C. - Hydro says they weren't and North Vancouver City is not sure. In an‘effort to’ discover the truth, . the city. will have tree samples ; ‘screened ’ for’ herbicides’ and pesti-, - “If it comes back and it’s not (a: herbicide or: : pesticide), 1: guess: we're back to square one,” said city streets and park i Gary Palmer. Palmer hopes: to’ ‘have the $300 answer in two to,lhree weeks. Resident Ron’ Polly. ‘told the.” News a small, stand of 80-year-old’ Douglas firs on “an. embankmeni between -.21ist.. and Edgemont . Boulevard have been dying over the past ‘Tew years. He’ said they were likely being, poisoned, ° 2 ‘After: the: poison is “applied, ‘hydro: takes the ‘dying trees down because they pose a danger to near- by hydro lines, Polly said, The iast remaining fir in a grove _.of-about 10 trees is now ‘starting to : die, said Polly. oo Tt. Used to" be a nicely treed, ‘embankment and now ‘they are all: “CITY PARKS foreman Al Moore and resident Ron Pally look for clues in the death of Douglas firs. Polly blames poison, “People should not be doing that to public property.” James Cullen, a 20th Strect resi- ~ dent, agrees with Polly's assessment, of the trees’ demise, He said he has watched 10 or 12 trees die over the last three years on the embankment. “They're being | killed, dying.” he said. Polly pointed to a black sub- stance at the bottom of the trees ; ; possible culprit in the Douglas firs’ “deaths. ‘ * Although North Vancouver City” horticultural foreman Allan. Moore not Advertorial ‘Ted White, M.P. #302 1200 Lynn Valley Rd. North Vancouver . “VI 242 Telephone: 666- 0585 “Faxt 666- 0509. ry 7 Last week | wrote about the a ; brown envelope” i recently recgived “from: some’ mployees of Immigration .. Canada. Tha envelope contained a 99 page Internat Immigration Depariment faport which was based cn the out- ‘come of meetings involving more than /400 Citizenship. and Immigration staff ‘members from the BC/Yukon Region. A summary of the first four issues ussed at the meetings were printed - last weak, Issues five to ten, along with the. conclusions reached by the Immigration” Department employees, “are listed below: §) How should we help newcomers © integrate Into Canadian gccioty? * Immigrants ‘should: be expected to . j .begin the integration process before ‘arrival by enrolling in language courses’ overseas. Free language instruction in “Canada only for genuine refugees. 6) How do we Integrate Immigration policies and programs with’ other pollcy areas? . | Social: programs : are the magnet for “many ‘non-productive immigrants so access to programs should depend on — a period of productive residency. i 7) How should we enforce and main-' tain the integrity of the immigration . process? . | There should be less political interfer- ences. Residency requirements must be enforced. There should be better cess to criminal information sources: eriminals must be removed promptly. 8) How can we best realize the eco- nomic benefits of immigration? We ‘should took at issuing long term work authorizations and give landed ; Status only to those who have integrat- ‘J -ed and are contributing to Canadian ‘ society. The 183 days per year residen- at should be enforced, . entrepreneur and busitess class cate- 4 gories must be redefined to ensure that - Canada actually receives a benelit.. . 9) How do ‘we bulld partnerships | ‘among all fevels of government?’ ~The provinces and tha cities of Montreal, ' Toronto ‘and - Vancouver, should have more sayin level setting, ‘ selection, and developing immigration “policy. - s 10) How do we build @ common ‘database on Immigration te serve public policy and program guals? Too much information is anecdotal so - there needs (o be better empirical data “ available with which to assess the rela- ‘tive economic benefits of immigration ' and social program dependency. There needs to be sharing of databases regarding criminal activity. . WHAT CAN WE Do? ' This. internal immigration. | Department report seems to indicate -:| that the employees we entrust. with “administering our immigration system want fo see the same changes made to the immigration process that are being demanded by the ‘majority of | Canadians, a ' ttlooks like the only thing left stand- ing in the way of these changes is the political will of the Minister of Immigration, On March 14, . 1995 Reform's Immigration Critic,. Art Hanger MP, tried without success dur- ing Question Period in Partiament to get the Minister to agree to implement the recommendations contained in the ‘report. You can help by writing to the Minister to demand that he make the changes ‘| recommended — in’: the .BC/Yukon Internal Report of 1994. His ‘address is'The House of Commons, : Ottawa, Ontario, K1A AG. . Brian Baxter said the’ trees were not Propershoes for problem feet. At New Balance, we realize you have special needs. 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But hydro vegetation inspector poisoned, ' He'said an independent arborist ‘ determined that the trees likely died from their roots being compacted and subjected to salt runoff from the road, The “trees became : a “hazard to ‘ public safety and “line integrity” so - had ( to come down, Buxter said. 1 ashion c cen tres. of a : Its the eorig event 0 ¥ te Sse [ Earrings are a perfect way to express your own personal style and taste, Take advantage of chis rare oppertunicy to view our 7 "exceptional collection of designer earrings from around the world, all specially priced for this event. Swedish Jeweler. ; “-secting the standard - for fine jewelry design for over forty: years. Park Royal Location Only SVVEDISH JEVVELER Park Royal South 922 2-2255 con Pacific Centre Atrium / Upper Level 682°671 !