Tho Heth Suora News ls policed by Marth Shove Free Press Ltd, Pabilsher Peter Spact, trem 1139 Loesdate Avsnse Herth Vancouver, B.C., W7Al 2K4 PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2131 (101) “rams mae at (8) Production Manager -~ sa5-2151 (127) Kerth Shere News, founded in 1969 as an independent subuthan newspaper and qualified under Schedule it], Parsgraph 111 of the Excive Tax Act, is yublished cach Friday and Sunday by North Store Free Press ____, Et and distributed to every dour on the North ‘Sore, Canysa Poet Canadian Publications Mail Salea Product Agreement No, 0087238. Mailing rates available on request. Entire contents @© 1996 North Shore Free Press Ltd. . Al tights reserved. 6 RHDORHD ED DEAE HF economic reconsi T’S A good time for the three North Shore councils to reconsider the effi- cacy of supporting an agency such as the North Shore Economic Development Commission (NSEDC), At least one Nerth Shore councillor wants to pull the plug on funding, charging that the $173,000-a-year com- mission has not lived up to its expecta- tion of fostering, diversifying and pro- moting economic development on the North Shore. Others believe the NSEDC performs valuable services. The commission happens to be’ the subject of an investigation by the witwour CUTBACKS, ALL THOSE PANGED FISH Witt. BE Too HARD 0 KEEP THIS FALL'S ta in Greater Tiddlycove could be dramatic. Historic. Epica. ' Absorbing. Gripping. Trend-setting. Even interesting. | No, honestly, pay attention to this one, West | Vaacouverites, Of:course poli- tics in our town are always a fascinating study. We are so contented in Greater Tiddlycove (aka West Vancouver) that council meetings consist mostly of our elected representatives sitting in a half-circle smiling at each other, eagerly competing to see which one can be more agreeable than the rest, and a couple of dozen citizens in ihe cheap seats, dozing. © Dozing out of sheer respect, I hasten to add. Out of gratitude that our council meetings are not like (shudder) Surrey's, or those of other grumpy places. But underneath its placid surface, elemental forces are bubbling, bubbling in Greater Tiddlycove. So pay very careful attention, voters, or the character of our town could vanish before we realize it. For the prospect is that three, possibly four members of the present council won't run in this fall's elections. The question isn't just who might replace them. It’s what kind of people might replace . them. ’ Such as eager-beaver developer types. You'll have noticed that in the latest real estate statistics the average price of a detached "SOUTER ORD ATY baa TC ENR SA EIT LN NE LF a EOE TALIS SOUR SAE LNG SNIPS To ELAR URE E I OS ECS EES! RCMP’s economic crime unit, and so with the spotlight comes the debate over the need for such an agency at all. North Shore taxpayers are picking up most of the tab. The commission was formed in 1989. In 1995, North Vancouver District bankrolled it for $73,770; North Vancouver City $51,319 and ‘West Vanceuver $35,281. Value for money is a big deal fer all of us. We already have two chambers of commerce singing their enterprising song for the North Shore. Are we triplicating services here with three agencies — and that’s not even home in West Vancouver passed even that of the Lower Mainland's long-standing Numero Uno — west-side Vancouver city. Now consider the nature of present council and municipal staff. It is cautious, conserva- tive. The town has certainly made mistakes in the last dozen years or so. But, as Coun, Rod Day remarked recently, what you don’t see is the proposals that the municipality has dis- couraged or turned down, conserving the essential nature of our town. And now? There is little use asking politicians if they plan to run again. Even if they’ve decided or have a pretty good idea, they tend to play their cards close to the vest. But listen to the rumors — so often more accurate than official decla- rations. Prof. Day himself is likely to retire from council. Sound man. Arguably the archetype of ‘a West Vancouver councillor. Buta fair guess is that Day will scrutinize avy possible aomi- nations very meticulously, and reconsider if he detects a threat to the town's ambience by hus- tlers eager to spur growth any faster than is already taking place. Coun. Diana Hutchinson, absorbed in mat- ters of the North Shore Regional Health Board, is expected not to run again. She too is very much Old West Vancouver — meant as a com- pliment. And Ron Wood, an unassuming man who is respected and liked by town hall insiders, also seems to be thinking of leaving. Some people Mews vic wpcint deration counting the direct efforts of the three municipalities —~ tripping over them- selves to serve the same business needs? Ultimately whichever route the municipalities decide on for ihe future of the NSEDC the onus falls upon local government to make their communities desirable and practical places in which to do buziness. Zoning, taxing policy and. the ericouragement of livable neighbor. hoods are the core areas to tend. - Local government must do more: to foster the growth and success of local’ business than just be willing to sustahia. -. ready budget for a business develop-. , ment agency. aE tax tales EVERY YEAR millions of t tax 7 . lars are funneled to political inter-. est group (we cali them PiGs) that - can't get encugh voluntary. pport : to pay their own way. : subsidize : political interest | their handouts 19 re ee ee for. bigger’ gcvernmicnt. ene “In 21994, : “Human cozy ‘relationship. a step further an actually ' paid 161. special” interés mentary committee set up to exam: ine federal spending. on social PGs that attended the. ‘Axworth hearings and how much it taxpayer to get them there: “@ ~ Social . Faimess Committee (Sask: @ Social Planning and Council (B.C.)—~ $50, 000: a ris, and Association ' ~ Trough Hl,/a National Coalition publication. would like ti to coax him out of that idea. The very personable-Pat Boname‘is: re ard ed as a sure candidate and the eventual an ed successor of Mayor Mark Sager.” wt Andy Danyliu, council’s brightest talker,” and wit, which sometimes obscures his peasant... common sense and the nerve to be its odd- ° e man-out, will return barring an unexpected: act of God. Allan Williams, who looks like the’ ‘sober... 4 Supreine Court judge he might have become, oO takes more delight in life and in our parish” politics than meets the eye, and after.one term” has become council's respected (maybe feared?) eminence. ‘There's even wistful talk of begging him to. take a shot at the mayor's chair. Williams, an imposing figure in his mid-70s. probably i is happy just where he is. . Which leaves Sager himself. Speculation swirls around our muscular young mayor. because he's got more irons in the fire of life than most people could lift: lawyer, restaura- teur, entrepreneur, skier, saijor, family man — plus mayor and a top dog in the Greater . Vancouver Regiona! District. Bigger potitical ambitions? Past tense, maybe. Once was highly favored in high... places to lead the Social Credit party, before it fell on evil times. Any challengers? Here’s ich mischief and good fun. Former mayor Derrick Humphieys, trim, fit, snappily turned ont and sharply.alert’ : at age — um, who's counting, he’s‘an eve a green — is having his sleeve tugged... He shows up at every. important public meeting, says his shrewd, short piece, and is listened to. He is that rarity, an old hand who isn't an old bore, And he'd enliven this fall's , local elections like nobody else. : : ceca eens tonnn ne PEAS EDOOROKEROD ERROR ERED ERH HS OOO a Rae AeA TE ORE LE HERR E OER ADH HORE