BEE Rates PEP a nat Overhaul public service now Dear Editor: North Vancouver District 44 school board chairman Barbara MacLellan’s comments quoted in your Oct. 4 edition indicate her inability to cope with what is admit- tedly a difficult situation. The problem, us (see it, is in her apparent unwillingness to grasp reality, She states that the district's prob- fem isn’t cash management. Wrong. That is the problem. The role of an administrator is to administrate. If you receive a given’ amount of money, then that is what you have and your task is to stay within those parameters. Many of us in the real world —~ ENJOY. your Vacation! Leave your Residence in the care of Homechuck A Setvice oF rroreamusire, HOMECheck PROPERTIES LTD, WiST VANCOUVER, 1C, PAGER:623-5116 whether in business or household budgeting —- could silse justify situa tions by stating that the problem is not in how we have managed our affairs, but rather that we have short- falls in revenue. tn patting forth his or her name as a candidate for any public office, a person jimpties that they: are capable of performing that role, Once elected, offtcials must accept the reality of financial con- straints and respect that the funds they disburse belong to the people. at Lonsdale Quay vi Compare at $999 Features a Deluxe 720 Coll mattress and box foundation with PSS™ Perfect Sleep System™ giving your body the comfort and support it needs. Other sizes available/while quantities last. 267 E. 1st MW. Van 984-4504 entrance in rear lane Mon-Sat 11-6 Sun 12-4 advertorial Nov, 15/95 “GRANTS, GRANTS AND MORE GRANTS “On ‘October ‘13th Reform ‘MP ; ‘Jobin Williams released a fist of federal grants given to a myriad of ~ groups, companies, and individu- i. als during the 1994/95 federal bud- . get year. The Liberal Government continues to dispense alarming amounts of money in the form of grants, ‘apparently ‘without con- ,cern for the fact that almost 25 }. cents of every granted dollar now A -has to be borrowed. We are stil! . | adding around $1,100 to our $565 - BILLION federal debt every sec- | . ond of every day, guaranteeing an enormous ‘tuture tax burden for “four children and grandchildren. . ‘Based on the Budget Estl-1ates Part I! for last year, 14. government f. departments handed out just under ‘§ $11 BILLION. Some of-the compa- nies which received money included ’ Mark’s Work Warehouse ($99,000), ‘The T. Eaton Company Ltd. ($5,000), 4: The --Hudsons Bay Company .($5,000), Diners Club/En Route ($708), Superior Propane ($70,000), Manitoba Christmas Tree Growers “Assn ($8,537.44), and Sears Canada inc. ($18,956.21). The : Canadian, Chamber of Commerce, ‘which is’ constantly urging the Government to cut spending, received $4,500,000 - yes, that's four -and one half million dollars. ° ‘THE MOST GENEROUS -The.most génerous grants and contfibutions: using your money f came fram indian Affairs and . Northern Development at $3.3 bil- ‘§° tion, Veterans Affairs at $1.52 billion, Human Resources Development at $1.3 billion, and Department of Industry at $0.73 billion. Smalter’ players were Canadian Heritage at $552 million, Foreign “Affairs at $444 million, Health at 2412 million,- Western Economic Diversification at.$406 million, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency at $316 million. - Buried in the fist of hand outs there are certain to be some funding Initiatives that we would ail feel fairly happy about supporting, but the - “worthwhile” projects are ~ being eclipsed by very questionable and ' unaccounted tor blocks of spending. ' For example, why did the Solicitor ‘General grant Foundation the Prison Art. $51,949 and the, Prisoners with HIV/AIDS Support Action Network $63,104. Why did the . 1 Department of Natural Rescurces grant the National Community Tree Foundation $8,300,000, and why did Western Economic Diversification grant:$121,295 to the International Pine Shake & Shingle Bureau? MORE EXAMPLES. it will probably surprise you to learn that even the Privy Council managed to spend $2,488,000 on grants and contributions last year, but the smaflest grant programs were run by Treasury Board at $185,000, | and Public Works at $38,00. - Here are just a few more exam- .ples of where your money went in 1994/95. * Canadian $10,000 * Whistler Centre for Business and Art $10,000 - *Committee on Sexuality $116,675 * Army and Navy Department Store $187,495.37 “tes Pionniers du Telephone d'Amerique $11,995 _ * Ristigouche Saimon $10,171.50 * Food and Beverage Canada Assn. $1,705,000 * Abbotsford Airshow Canada Assn. $500,000 * Canadian Embryo Exporters Assn. $2,949.84 * Feminist Literacy Workers’ Network $57,940 * Twizzle Designs Inc. $20,275 * Irish Writers Centre $900 *The Program Training and Consultation Centre $150,700 There are literally tens of thou- sand of similar examples to be found in Government records, and sooner of later someone is going to have to start making some tough decisions Labour Congress Seniors and Club about this type of spending. It is . extremely frustrating to watch the Federal Government making major cuts to the transfers for health care and tertiary education while. they continue to satisfy grant requests in virtually every government depart- ment and crown corporation. ‘Ned White, MB. - 84302-1200 Lynn Valley Rdi >’ . North Vancouver, B.C, V7} 2A2_ Tel. 666-0585 : Fax: 666-0509 23. An acid test might be to ask Whether what they do is in the best interest of the people. In the cise of the school district these peaple are, or should be, the students. Surely all individuals tn ihe public service, whether elected or not, must realize that we have 1 do our best to cooperate to deliver the needs of soci- ety inthe most efficient way without compromising quality. If not, my message to all of them is that they need to change how they operate. | do not ican only in appear- ance, but right dawn to the core. As fon as we continue to allow adininistrative structures to drive the delivery of services, we will have unprincipled, dysfunctional and inef- ficient systeins. What is needed is a change of gon- text 4 total reorientation in think- ing. Rather than fetting structure dic- tate services, (he needs of the peaple niust dictate structare. Barbara MacLellan is also quoted us saying that she'd like to see some- one else do better. She will certainly have that wish fulfilled. wrth R.D. McSween North Vancouver ROSE SPECIAL Gypsy Dozen °23” 1 dozen Roses (any colour) 1 dozen Carnations (any colour) Dish Gardens ‘24.99 & up Full Service FlorisuOpen 7 days a week - We alecwcrd Aawers all aver the workd ath ALES. Flower Wiring Service! 1529 Marine Dr, West ‘fan Tels 925-3177 Fax: 925-0177 gu acne ae eae aeasiene ne “Vou ean afford a quality membersiiy * Child minding now available * Ladies only exercise area * New exercise equipment. * New sauna, steamroom, whirlpool * Physiotherapist and massage therapist now on staff Limited. time offer | Compare our facilities. Discover the difference Learn the Customs of Doing Business in Asia Two free lectures will be given on the social/eultural aspect s of doing business in Asia. Talks on Wednesday, November 15 will cover Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Thailand. Talks on Thursday will cover Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. Presencations will take place at the North Vancouver campus of Capilano College in the ot ary building, roam 2, from 7 to9 p.m, Free Speakers Offer Their Expertise Does your group or organization need some life pumped into its meetings? Why not consider booking a speaker from Capilano College's Speaker Bureau! - The College has speakers available at no charge ~ who can address a wide | Nariety of topics, such as: 101 Fun Things to Do on the Internet; China: - Indonesia - Living - Working There; : Sustainability: How to Do Business Without Hurting our World; AIDS/HIV Homophobia, Heterosexism & Sexuality. To book a speaker, call 984-1729, fax 984-1714, email: pr@capcollege.be.ca % interested in Animation? An information session on Capilano College's Animation Program will be held November 28 in the Library building ac che North Vancouver campus, ‘room 316. It-will ran from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more information on the Animation Program, call 986-1911, local 2154. % Together Against ‘ Violence Lecture Join Capilano College criminology instructor Craig Hathaway for a free Together Against Violence Lecture at the < North Vancouver.campus on November 20 at? pm., Cedar building, room 148. Craig’s topic will be Campus Crirne: Are Our Campuses Safe for Community Members? CAPILANO COLLEGE 2055 Purc.eif Way North Varicouver _ British Cotumbia 986-1911