WEDNESDAY March 13, 1996 indoor public smoke doused A SMOKE with your North Shore drink might soon only be possible in North Vancouver City: North Vancouver District and West Vancouver have ‘moved to ban smoking in all indoor public places effective june 1. By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer North Vancouver City defeated the same proposal 5-2, with Coun. John Braithwaite and Coun. Darrell Mussatto favoring a full ban. City council asked staff to report back on the possibilities of phasing in a public smoking ban. “I'm extremely upset. I thought we should bite the bullet now,” Braithwaite said. . Added Mussatto: “I'm a little bit dis- appointed because 1 thought we'd be a little more progressive.” Said Mark Barry, a member of the Restaurant and Foodservices Association of British Columbia and the Yukon, “This is not an equitable decision.” Barry, communications director for Earl's Restaurants, said anti-smoking legislation can only be applied equi- tably if there is a level playing field both by type of establishment and geograph- ically. “The North Vancouver City decision changes that geographically.” said Barry. Avalon Hotel Hutchinson agrees. “This could be very hard cn bars in the district. “We sit right on the border with the city. If a new pub goes in wvo blocks from us, it will make it verv difficult for us.” Both Hutchinson and Robert Savage, owner of the Rusty Gull Neighborhood Pub in the city, agree with a smoking ban in restaurants, where they point out that children are exposed to second-hand smoke. But they ‘say adult drinkers know what to expect when they choose to owner Ken See Smukers page 11 Weather Thursday. Showers likely High 12°C, low 4C, NEWS ohotos Mike Wakefield AT A meeting on Monday parent Jim Mitchell called for time out in the government's drive to resolve North Van school dis- trict’s fisca! woes. He wants more time for consultation. NDP MLA David Schreck (inset) replied that answers are needed soon. District 44 funding and firing turmoil brings anxiety and questions PARENTS OF School District 44 students had North- Vancouver NDP MLA David Schreck on the hot seat Monday night. By Jan Noble News Reporter Schreck, who estimated the crowd at Westview cle- mentary at 200, heard worried parents scold his gov- emment for under-funding, firing school trustees, and rushing government-appointed trustee Bob Sinith to a quick fix. Many parents, concerned about the vague informa- tion they have received from Smith, wonder if their kids will be behind the eight ball when it comes to edu- cation quality and entering university. Parent Bob Whitcroft drew loud applause [rom par- ents when he called the March 31 deadline for Smith's report to the education ministry “totally irrational.” Whitcroft asked Schreck to slow the process before implementing what may be sweeping recommendations, Other parents echoed the sentiment. One said the process must allow for appropriate consultation for Smith tu do a proper job. Smith expects to reiease an interim report March [5 and then talk to parents, teach- ers and affected groups over a two-week period before submitting a final report to government on March 31. Parents point out that one of the two weeks in between the two deadlines is spring break, a time when many parents will be away. But Schreck said a budget has to be set soon, prob- ably sometime in carly April. He appealed to parents to wait and see what Smith’s inter'm report says, Once again, the technical distribution report, a gov- emment study that stated District 44 is under-funded by $1.5 million a year, was front and centre. Parents are adamant the district is under-funded and point to the report as proof, Said one: “We ... have a government that owes us moncy and hasn't paid up. It's pretty simple.” Schreck said he's fought his govemment to get the technical distribution report implemented, but “I’m-all- right-Jack" school disutcts which stand to lose under the teport have successfully stalled it, Fired trustee Barb MacLeflin added the funding problem is now much bigger than the sumbers called for in the technical distribution report. See School pase 11 r Who will J implement recont-: mendations’ when Smith. is. gone? His, appointment: Is’ expected to end April 15, ~ (Schreck’s~ answer: Options being studied)" . © Does the fact that North Vancouver is not a traditional NDP stronghold have some- thing: to do with: the’ deficit dilemma?. (Schreck: No) : ‘How ‘much : does " govern:, ment education advertising cost, “because IT have a feeling ‘it is pretty serious dollars.” (Schreck: Don’t know)... @ Will Education "Minister. Ramsey meet with parents?- (Schreck: Will invite Ramsey to meeting after. decision made by ministry. Schreck added: “I’m the guy who's locally accountable.’)