AS we go to press, the federal government has intro- duced new immigration legisfation that Elinor Caplan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is calling “a tough bill.” In addition to trying to curb human smuggling, Caplan said the government wants to make it harder for criminals to seek refugee status once they’re in Canada. Smuggling ringleaders could face a fine of up to $1 million and life in prison. Proposed changes will be debated in committee over the next six months so it is impossible to predict what the new act will look like when adopted, but changes are promised © the security screenings of all claimants and the grounds for detention. Fewer appeals will be allowed for serious criminals and those charged with crimes will have their claims suspended until the courts make their decision. Caplan claims the !egis- ation will provide a faster and fairer way of determining who's cligible for refugee tus, but on the past performance of this government we remain skeptical. In any ent, the Liberal Party has a: ing a key part of the Canada’s gain committ future on the to the concept of immigration remain- grounds that Canada needs to attract killed workers, reunite immigrating families and provide a safe haven for refugees. NORTH SHORE DEMOGRAPHICS Horseshoe Bay Dundarave/Ambleside British Properties Norgate/Pemberton Heights Capilano/Delbrook Highlands Lower Lonsdale Central and Upper Lonséaie Lynn Valley Biueridge/Deep Cove YES 52% 50% 54% 64% 58% NO 33% 32% 38% 18% 17% NO DON’T OPINION KNOW 3% 12% 4% 4% 11% 11% 1% 16% 12% 19% Theresa Thompson North Vancouver No. I think we have an ethi- cal responsibility towards the rest of the world to accept some of those refugees. It’s a difficult question, especially with the expense involved. R. J. Lewis North Vancouver That’s a hesvy question. I don’t think I could support a moratorium since [’m an immigrant. Maybe we could say ‘The cities are full? and insist on resettling the small- er communities in the interi- or that are dying off. Krista Jakobsen North Vancouver Definitely not, even though there are certain things wrong with the system. It’s wonderful to see cross-cul- tures come in, Ud like to see even more variety and not the Asian predominance. I like the cthnicity of Lonsdale’s new restaurant’s. COMBINED AVERAGE .........0. 52% 26.5% 1% 10.5% BO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE INQUIRING REPORTER? E-mail your comments or question ideas to: mmillerchip@nsnews.com Streetscape guidelines adopted for Lynn Valley _ Marcie Good Contributing Writer LUSH rainforest trees, boulders set on side- walks and cut for peo- ple to sit on, panoram- ic views of the moun- tains, public art that celebrates the area’s wildlife and even its rainfall — these ele- ‘ments of 2 plan for __ Lynn Valicy sound like 2 utopian vision. : ut as several. councillors joted at Monday. night’s North Vancouver | District meeting, it will take years of “effort. to"achieve the town “centre. “set: forth in the streetscape guidelines for Lynn Valley. The plan was developed over the past three years b _ consultants and district sta! with the input of community and business representatives, and received unanimous approval frem council. Several councillors praised the plan, which focuses on the triangle of land between Mountain Highway, Lynn Valley Road and . ist 27th _. Sweet. Through a number of community workshops, par- ticipants chose the natural environment, as a theme for various elements of the streetscape. ; “This is not an area that fends ~ itself to | artificial extreme “colours and tex- tures, it’s one that lends itsclf to rocks and trees and moun- tains,” said Coun. Janice Harris. “These guidelines complement a fairly abun- dant natural environment and they fit the community very well.” Council also passed a bylaw which will require any landowner or. developer to implement aspects of the guidelines as a condition of any kind of rezoning or building permit. That means that the plan will be complet- ed piece by piece over many years, but paid for by devel- opers. An carly cxample of how it will be carried out is Adera’s Dakota multi-family residential project. Trees, landscaping and sidewalks consistent with the guide- he EATHER SOFA, LOVESEAT *CHAIR & OTTOMAN lines have been incorporated into the development, as well as a widening of a section of Lynn Valley Road for cyclists. The district established a framework for improvements to Lynn Valley town centre in the local area plan, which was adopted in April 1999. Through incceased -resi- dentiai densities, mixed land use, and transportation strategies, it aimed to create a more “pedestrian-friendly” core. Instead of having peo- ple living out in suburbs and driving into the town centre, it allows residents to live within walking distance of shops, the Karen Magnussen complex, and a potential new — site for<:the Lynn Valley library. ; Upcoming multi-family developments and planned residential uscs of floors above. commercial zones mean that more people will be moving through the town centre. District staff have identified strategies, such as underground parking and | location of retail stores close to the street, which would be more attractive to pedestri- ans. But for Coun. Ernie Crist, a resident of. Lynn. Vailey, enhancing the roads with greenery does not erase their purpose — transporting tov many automobiles. The’orig- inal vision for the. plan, he argued, was for a completely: pedestrian-oriented core. . - “In order to do that, we would need a large consistent _the automobile as weil.” - plan to re-route. traffic,” he said. “The car-fed mall is on its way out, and the pedestri- an-oriented town centre is in. If we really wanted to strike a blow for the business. com- munity that is what we would do. i'm disappointed. — it falls short once again.-It has no vision and no courage.” To eliminate: all cars, ‘said Mayor Don Bell, is “unrealis-.. tic.” In an area of mostly sin- gle-family_ residences, public transit is not going to work for everyone.” - coer “We need: to look “at. a marriage of the. two,” he’ . said, “a: pedestrian-focused © © town centre that provides for Director: of .. planning Richard Zerr: told ‘coun that the plan ‘does not ‘limit. - what. can be ‘done “in..the. town: centre —' but it ‘does: _rely on the will of developers. . '.. “He. (Crist) wants : resi dents to think big, and he - wants people who own land - , to think big. Nothing is stop: : ping them from doing that,’ : ut it takes dime.” Aspects of the streetscap: guidelines include: “BE vegetation and - trees. of | “native West Coast ‘rainforest. - species-arranged in informal.” * groupings. to Jook as natural -as. possible, - planted near : stréet edges and on medians; ‘tage points; ©. i. highlighting .“Hastings: °. “Creek: with walkways along. -° the ravine and enhanced van-" | B bicycle racks, water foun-- “tains, and widened strects to and 2... encourage "cyclists mountain bikers; ) * paving. materials ‘which | --echo -the- natural . landscap ~ theme, such as rock-cut slices: oe of boulders’ or smooth peb- : bles; . @ ‘decorative signage and -: street lighting; ar SELECT FROM OVER 100 DESIGNER FABRICS .