BG There's just
no way a billion
dollar highway for
that route would fit
within the province’s
ability to pay. 99

— NORTit VANCOUVER
MLA DAVID SCHRECK

Frain page 1

such as hospitals. shopping centres
and schools — will also be built.

A proposed ski resort near
Squamish will add to the area’s
popularity. Mitchell added that
Whistler's population has tripled

_and Pemberton’s doubled since
1985, .
The Sea-to-Sky is the fastest-
“growing region in the province and
accounts for more than [0% of
B.C.‘s tourism. revenue, ‘Mitchell
said,

But a major roadblock to devel-
opment is Highway 99 (Sea-to-
Sky} gridlock. -
~ Adatly average of 12,000 vehi-
cles are driven on the highway -
frou Squamish to Horseshoe Bay.

in’ 19932.° the “Sea-to-Sky
Highway saw 1.352 accidents,
which resulted in 293 injuries and |
seven deaths, Although Sea-to-Sky
traffic: accidents have decreased,

“vdeaths are on the, rise, said!

~ Mitchell _ J
He -outlined the effects -of
increasing: traffic on the existing
highway.

“Traffic could merely grind
down to such an evtent that tourists start seeking alternative
de Stinations, businesses alternative locations and home buy-
: alternative neighborhoods. Or the inconvenience for
exist residences and businesses could become so critical

“thattocal governments would be forced to block all further
development until the transpertation crisis is solved.

“Hither way, che people who live. work or play in the area
would be the first to suffer.” ;

©. Ta upre-empt those scenarios, Mitchell proposes the
‘Indian Arm. route. which he said has been the subject. of
much government study:

Mitchell said fughways bureauerat: have placed the pro-

i dt-or near the top of their-t6-do bist for years. But the
New Democratic Party has put politics ahead of safety and
economies in setting transportation prorities, Mitchell said.
“ois Wecrejecty a recommendation to improve Highway 99
betore building the Indian Arm route, saying that would put
technical and ecunoniic considerations ahead of the needs of
‘regular highway users recommendition was made by

’McElhanney Consulting Services in the spring of 1995,
Inv addition to relieving traffic on the Sea-to-Sky

nseenesee

NEWS phota Mika Wakelleld

WEST VANCOUVER: Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell has begun

_ his push for a new Indian Arm to Squamish highway. He said the
route will allow continued growth in B.C.’s fastest-growing area
and take the pressure off North Shore roads and bridges.

Highway, an Indian Arm route would relieve
traffic on the North Shore and the Lions Gate
and Second Narrows bridges, Mitchell pointed
out. :

And he said that in the event of a tragedy or
natural disaster, a second route would provide
an alternative,

Mitchell rejects the Capilano and Seymour

Advantages to indian Arm route:

san f

“

Furry
0, Creck

Bowen ‘ Horsashoe
{sland Bay

Indian Arm

INDIAN ARM. ROUTE PROS & CONS

A 1991 Ministry of Transportation aod Highways report by a
design team headed by Klohn Leonoff Ltd. outlined the pros and
cons of an Indian Arm highway route compared with upgrading
Highway 99.

1 i

Ha faster 110 knwh travel speed

1 minimal traffic disruption during construction phase

@ cpportunity to design proper solutions for natural hazards
@ route offers toll potential |
@ service to inaccessible areas
B lower visual impact »

Disndvantaiges to Indian Arm route:
4

im 7.5-year construction period

8S steep grades for trucks,

# snow avalanche and debris torrent hazards

@ heavy. winter fog near summit © -

& disturbance to Squamish watershed —

S greater impact on fish and wildlife -

@ estimated : cost of 67.5-kilometre four-lane highway to.
Squamish: $1 billion in 1990 dollars -

@ heavy snowfall at summit in winter months:

route options because they travel through Greater Vancouver
Regional District watersheds and dump traffic into residen-
tial areas on the North Shore. A route along the west coast of
Indian Arm also poses the later dilemma.

Mitchell envisions a 110-kilometre-per-hour expressway

. cutting the time to travel the 60 kilometres to Squamish to a

litte more than 30 minutes for many Lower Mainland resi-

‘dents and American tourists. With that route finished, the

Sea-to-Sky Highway would become a scenic route.

A recently-announced Indian Arm park does aot pose an
insurmountable hurdle to construction, said Mitchell, noting
other provincial parks have roads running through them.

Mitchell plans to push the Indian Arm project with the

North Shore's municipal politicians. He wants their help to“
pul together a proposal the provincial government can't
ignore,

However, ‘Transportation and Highways Minister Jackie
Pement said the Indian Arm proposal i is on the shelf.

Schreck said the road won't be built because it would
threaten watersheds and run through the Indian Arm park,

Not to mention the cost.

“There’s just no way a billion dollar highway for: that
route would fit within the province's ability to pay: ” Schreck
said.

He added that the Sea-to- Sky Highway’ “has been
improved dramatically and will continue to be improved.

ns

” Fram page %

Bristow.

“We didn't expect hin: hack so soon .. Most
people. have been shocked and coricerned:” sitid
Ricki. McConchie, - Canvon Heights Parents
Advisory Council head.

: Owens appeared in Nonh Vancouver r provincial
court on Tuesday and: was transferred to Victoria
*. where he appeared in provincial court the next day.
“Dthink itis important to pote Mat the Crown ts
nos alleging any new offence sunce his release
Grom jail in July)” said Dirk Ryneveid, Victoria
provincial court Crown kuwyer,

Ryneveld said Owens was brought te court on

Hthe basis that a Sooke RCMP officer feared, with
rixisonable grounds, that Owens will comunit: an
‘cooffence of asexual nature toa child under bas
oudined ina section of the Criminal Code.
Ryneveld said information presented in courton
Wedneslay was banued from publication,

toa

The manager of the Victoria provincial court

registry said he was unable to find which section of

the Criminal Code the ban was issued under.
Victoria provincial court Judge Alan Filmer
released Owens alter his court appearauce with
conditions. The conditions include that Owens can-
net attend any public swim area or park or day care

or playground or community centre where persons

under Pmiay be present,

Owens was released on July 28 from Mountain
histitute in Agassiz after serving an entire six-year
sal! teray for sesially assaulting three girls aged 6 ta
Lt One of his victims developed genital herpes.

The National Parole Board did nat release
Owens early, concluding the pedophile would like-
ly re-offend.

Owens’ former. sister-in-law, Dorothy Shea
believes he is “a’sick man and shouldi't be on the
streets.”

“Myself, Pin not afraid of him. I's the kids Pim
altaid for.” said Shea from ber Parksville bome on

Wednesday. '

Shea said that Owens was born in Toronte and
had worked as an auxiliary police officer in Barrie.
She said that Owens had lived in Sooke for about
20) years and worked as a volunteer firefighter
there.

Owens caused anxiety among Upper Highlands
neighbors when it was revealed that he was living
in their midst in August,

Concerned neighbors posted flyers warning par-
ents about Owens.

Owens told the News in August that he has
undergone trearment.

Upper Highlands residents took part in heated
neighborhood meetings in August demanding chit
laws covering the conviction and release of
pedophiles should be changed. They demanded
that a community be notified when a convicted
child sex offeader moves inte the neighborhood,

Owens is scheduled to appear in Victoria court
on Dee. 3 for a hearing.

Vancouver on Monday.

PEDOPHILE ROBERT Owens
was arrested in North