Switching gears could regulate wider service

Dear Editor:

I refer to the recent B.C. Tel ‘‘Mailbox”’ letter trying to justify its CRTC application for a 49% increase in the cost of basic tele- phone service on the North Shore, from its present $12.05 per month to an outrageous and = uncons- cionable $17.95 per month.

This’ monopoly, with its princely after-tax return on its capital and coirespondingly high dividends paid, wishes to raise its residential rates despite these bulging profits.

Without true free-market com- petition with the consumer free to choose from, whatever supplier of- fers the best deal, there should be a cap on excessive monopoly prof- its earned.

TV offers every subscriber the

choice of either a limited non- cable service or a wide cable/pay TV service. This offer is controll- ed and supplied by sophisticated switching gear.

There is no technical reason whatsoever why B.C. Tel is unable to offer subscribers cither the present limited $12.05 per month service, or the wider toll-free $17.95 per month service, at the sole choice of the subscriber.

In these stringent financial times with many seniors on fixed: in- comes subject to ever-rising costs, this small consideration, which it can very easily and well afford, should be made by B.C. Tel. Lionel Lewis West Vancouver

BEL MS a JONES

THE NORTH Shore's two schol districts face cuts to stefl and programs due to slashed 1893-94 school year budgets.

The total 1992-93 funding allocation for North Vancouver School District 44 is $88,902,957. There will be an estimated 16,784 students enrolled in the school district by September.

West Vancouver School District 45 feceives a total funding allocation of $31,810,690 to seive a projected enrolment of 5,696 students in September.

In a weekly random survey of more than 50 North Shore residents, the North Shore News survey team asked the people if they thought that the provincial government provides enough funding for public schools.

Ot those who responded, 37.2% said No, 26.8% said Yes, 18.2% hac no opinion, and 14.8% said they didn't know,

Shaughnessy closure most irresponsible

An open letter to health minister Elizabeth Cull:

The announced closure of Shaughnessy Hospital by you is the most irresponsible deci- sion that the NDP govern- ment has made so far.

It is totally ridiculous to close a much-needed hospital after spending $13 million on renovations.

Don't blame this on the previous government.

The NDP has been in of- fice long enough to have discontinued plans to reno- vate Shaughnessy Hospital a jong time ago before all of this money was spent.

You stated in your an- nouncement prove that population in the city is declining so this hospi- tal won’t be needed.

Have you counted all the people who will be living and working in the Expo devel- opment area once it is com- pleted?

Why don’t you start a hos- pital lottery? People will cer- tainly support it because it has been proven that the public buy lottery tickets, and what better way to fund our hospitals and doctors without raising taxes?

Harcourt states that the NDP government is for the people. Why not prove it by allowing Shaughnessy to con- tinue providing quality health care and by settling with the doctors so that they can con- tinue to practise their profes- sion for the benefit of their natients?

C. Partridge North Vancouver

that studies

Sunday, March 14, 1993 - North Shore News - 7

ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER

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