vice pennants nabeg igh 2 nee gg ot vole at pet pet vag. RO Dep B RC entrapment gedig 3 st ang Steet ect i if % ; ¥ i fe Bo oe ¢ : Mailbox Veterans’ Dear Doug Collins: _ Thank you very.much for writ- ing to me, and for your kind words concerning my. appointment as Minister of Veterans’ Affairs. 1 read your columns with a great deai of interest. Your straightfor- ward, no nonsense style is one I am partial to, particularly in this day of paragraphs doing where sentences once sufficed! There is no question that our veterans legislation is generous in- ‘SOfar as Allied veterans are con- cerned. Howevér, there is equally no question that the intention was to extend benefits to veterans who -had immigrated to Canada, con- tributed to the economy, and made Canada their home. Few have ever objected to the. eligibility of Allied veterans for our primary veterans benefits,and this is quite understandable. Many of the veterans in question fought side by side with Canadians, and the friendships born on the bat- tlefields have continued here in Canada through the years since. Where complaints have arisen, and you made this point quite clear in your columns, is with respect to the portability of our generosity. It is one thing to receive the benefits in Canada, but perhaps another to take them out of Canada. I see no easy answer to the dilemma. Veterans’ Affairs long ago accepted the fact that some veterans would want or would need to leave Canada, primarily for health or family reasons. Sub- ject to certain conditions and disincentives, the War Veteran issue answered Allowance, as a case became portable. It can be argued that portability should be scrapped, or restricted to those who served with the Cana- in point, ‘dian Forces; but both alternatives strike me as being unduly harsh. OF over 79,000 WVA recipients, only 1,600, or two per cent are receiving their benefits while living outside Canada. Portability is clearly not an option being exer- cised by great numbers of WVA recipients. The issues raised in your col- ‘umns and in your letters fully war- ranted a substantive response. 1 appreciate very much your giving me this opportunity to reply, and I -hope my comments will be helpful. George Hees Minister of Veterans’ Affairs Government of Canada Drop-in coordinator thanked Dear Editor: - Thank you for your story and the wonderful picture of West Vancouver’s new teen drop-in cen- tre on the front page of. your: Lifestyles section, Wed., May 14. ‘The tack of such a facility..has - been of concern.to both kids. and ‘adults in our community. for some time. Although still a fledgling, Fridays i is: becoming a weekly habit ‘for increasing numbers . of ; “teenagers. _. 4° To. gives credit .where. it’s due, | on ‘However, I must expand a littleon -your. article. If.it-had not been for - > the . determined “efforts ° of : the - coordinator, Murray Grant, the. drop-in centre. would, not exist, at. “all. One of the most difficult tasks hen ‘establishing such a centre is: ‘to’. find ‘someone “to ’ personally supervise every week and to take - the responsibility. for the operation ‘of the: facility... Murray. not’ only © greed’ to do. this but: he was also ‘the: catalyst that‘ brought, the’ “various “groups s together to pool PILANO Cleaner their resources and enable the cen- tre to open. The organizing committee repre- senting the various funding bodies tf is extremely grateful to Murray Grant. Fran McDowell West Vancouver custom draperies 2 ‘by S. Laursen “in-home service’ Labor $5.50 pr. panei unlined, $6.50 lined . ; All blinds 40% off list prices Track service Phone for- FREE estimates. - call 987-2966 & Post Office (Beside the Royal Bank) - r Professional Dry Cleaning ° Suede & Leather Cleaning -e Shirt Service ¢ Expert Alterations and Repairs « Expert Drapery Service * Postal Office Services 986-2919 #22-235 Marine Drive, N. Vancouver. 7 - Wednesday, May 21, 1986 ~ North Shore News Home Finishing & Design 2ND ANNIVERSARY SALE May 22 - 23 9am to 9pm May 24 - 25 10am to 5pm Furniture - Persian & Oriental Rugs Textiles — Accessories 1859 Marine Drive, West Van. 922-0579 SRN EES YALE DERI RS SOP I Pat The Seafood House * Bennington’s Seafood House invites you . . receive one . ane ne Pntige when one Entree of equal or : Or _ greater value is purchased on presenta- tion of this coupon. . MAX. VALUE $10. Valid till May 31/86 7 days a week after : 4:30 Pm." .... Date This coupon not valid unless sign Live: music: Thurs. to. Sun. food, rth’ Vancouver's newest meeting place.. Great ss prices, great music, great fun. Burgers from $2.50. : 250 Locations Worldwide Best Equipped.