Bias in process alleged

From page

against Doug Collins and the News,

Finding, who acknowl edged that he was a card: carrying NDP member, said he was asked to take on the investigation by the council because he was a senior investigator and had com- pleted a number of major human rights investigations.

“Normally files go to the next available officer,” testi- fied Finding.

He added that the com- plaint was filed in July 1994 and he was asked to investi- gate it in October 1994,

When asked by News lawyer David Sutherland if this case was processed quicker than usual, Finding replied, “I would say so.”

Finding also testified that he had an unusual meeting in late November 1994 with the: News lawyer, Sutherland reversed the tables in what Finding called a “fishing expedition.”

Finding said Sutherland asked questions. about Finding’s education, politi- cal leanings, training and ethnicity of his’ maternal grandmother. during the meeting. :

In testimony that

became feisty, Finding said:

he got the impression. Sutherland also wanted to know if he was Jewish.

Sutherland _ rnaintains that he did not ask any questions about Finding’s religious background dur-

’ ing the meeting.

Finding said Sutheriand argued there was adminis- trative bias in the process of investigating the complaint.

In questioning Finding, Sutherland said-that during the November meeting he asked Finding) about : his political connection’ and whether the investigation could perhaps come to a particular’ result due to Finding’s wish for job advancement.

The tribunal resumes Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

eymour area

plan to

From page 1

undevelopable.

When the public question- period ensued, it was obvious thar most residents were opposed to the development, some — completely, — citing increased traffic on an already car-choked Mount Seymour Parkway during rush hours.

“We have a bottleneck at the entrance to the Second Narrows Bridge,” one resident said. “We have Raven Wood, Windsong and Deerfield — there’s a lot of new traffic gen- erated east of the Seymour River, Why do we want to increase the traffic here?”

Another man also opposed more housing.

“The main reason why most of us are here is we sim- ply don’t want more develop- ment,” he said to loud applause, “If 1 wanted to live jin Richmond or Coquitlam Pd move there, but [’'m here ‘because there’s green space ‘and [can go down to Deep ‘Cove and enjoy the quict.”

Others supported planned development, eager to buy a new house or townhouse in an area they enjoy and have been renting or living in.

“I represent a very small group, about 50 of us, who’ve lived here for more than 20 years,” a middle-aged man said. “We think that this devel- opment is perfect for empty nesters. We want to get rid of our family home and downsize and live in this area.”

Ourdoor enthusiasts com- plained of how high up the mountain the development would extend, saying that it would intrude upon nature.

“I'm opposed to it going too far up, I think it’s a little too high,” area resident Alice Hambleton said. “I’m sad to see it developed at. all. The (developer's designated) parks are drinking places for animals.”

One resident and moun- tain biker said he frequents trails in the area.

“Tm 21 years old and I’ve lived in Blueridge for eight years,” the man said, “I bike those trails and there’s lots more creeks than — they (CMHC) say there is. Those

come

imaps are crap.”

The Group United Around Responsible Development (GUARD), one of many community groups attending the meeting, voiced concerns about the influs of children from the proposed 666 housing units,

“The provincial govern- ment has said there is no money for schools,” GUARD member Alf Cockle said. “Our high schools are full, Blueridge will be too full, Maplewood school is full and Dorothy Lynas is a brand new school and already has porta- bles. Where are you going to put the kids?”

Cockle said the group isn’t against development, but it would like CMHC to wait until an official community plan (OCP) of the area is done. The process would allow for more public input.

Eric Andersen, co-chair of the Blueridge Community Association, said the district is conducting a community plan study of the West Seymour area in the fall.

“We're starting an OCP

rocess here, why suddenly have all this?” Andersen asked. “We have strong objec- tions to having all this rezoned when we're starting a public process in the fall.”

He said he also thinks the CMHC is “incredibly arro- gant” in coming to a public meeting and introducing their “mega-project” when they have a lawsuit against the district.

“We want them to drop the lawsuit so we can have Mountain and Cove Forests as it is and dedicated as parks,” Andersen said. “If the community wants this (devel- opment), by all means go ahead. This is democracy in process, but how are they going to solve the school

roblem, how about the bridle problem?”

Said Coun, Lisa Muri, “This proposal will go to a public hearing and everyone will be able to speak. You will definitely be heard, We want to know what it means to the future of this development. Democracy will look after that at the end of the day.”

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