IIE first-born of the two-year-

late, $200-million over-budget

PacifiCat litter floated into Horseshoe Bay Thursday on a sea of taxpayers’ money.

The fact that it was 40 minutes behind schedule on its first fare-paying voyage is, we hope, just part of the shakedown process. Apparently the ferry crews are still learning where to position cars and trucks on the two decks in order to keep the boat in trim for its high-speed run.

We assume this process will go faster with experience but the story off the car decks suggests loading may never go quite as fast as seasoned “Spirit” travellers might be used to. Pickup truck drivers were forced to stop and fold in’ their wing mirrors because parking lanes were so narrow, while other drivers complained of only being,

north shore news

VIEWPOINT

able to exit their vehicles from one side.

If you succeed in getting off the car deck, things remain cramped. Narrow passageways require walk-on passen- gers to check their luggage, negating any hopes of a quick exit. And forget about relaxing outside and soaking up some rays. Only the truly desperate nicotine addicts will be willing to crowd the cramped little outer deck for a quick puff in the painful slipstream.

BC Ferries appears to be sensitive to Horseshoe Bay resident concerns about the PacifiCat’s powerful wake and is taking things easy while dock- ing. That’s the right decision —- but it does add another 10 minutes to the predicted crossing time.

Superferries could have carried many more cars for much less money in almost the same time. Thanks, Glen.

Hey’ WHERE & UNCLE HARRY ?

INFORMATION, THE COWS ATTEMPT

you said it

“If you want everyone to like you, don’t come on our show.” .

TSN’s Michacl Landsberg, on the network's Off the Record round-table sports show. (From a June 18 This Week story.)

000 “It’s a waste of money. If you've got a pickup you've got to swing both mirrors in. I had to climb out the pas- senger side. It’s built for a Honda Civic.” ‘. Don Matthews of Port Alberni, on the new PacifiCar Explorer fast ferry after experiencing the inaugural run of the vessel. (From a June 18 News story.)

a00 wt ee treating the family, upgrading the house, and getting a good haircut.” | Lennea Lingle, after winning $53,006 in the 6/42 lottery, on what she plans to do with the money. (Fras ii June 20 News story.)

oan “I believe in getting the most out of each day.” Senior Edwin Evans, on living life to the fullest. (From a June 20 News In Profile column.)

. 900 “Life is also about survival. You go through the ‘crucible and you come out of the refiner’s fire and you arc a new being because of it.” Jazz musician Kurt Elling, on life’s ovists and turns. (From a June 18 This Week story). : wy 000 “(Jimmy) was upset with himself. He hadn’t played badly but he.wasn’t doing his best. But I think ic helped going the year before — once you realize the ’ worst you can do is lose, it gives you a little more con- fidence.” an Robin Peterson, on his nine-year-old son Jimmy, who “won the Canadian Chess Challenge championship this year after finishing second last year, on the educational value of losing. (From a June 18 News story.)

; north shore’ Worth Snore News, founded in 1969 2s an independent suburban newspaper and quabtied under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday ty Nosh Shore Free Press Lid. and distributed to every door on the North ‘Shore. Canada Post Canadian Putdications Mail Sales Product Agreerneni No. 0087238.

= PN Mark Fancher Distribution Manager Creative Services Director 985-2131 (127) 61,582 taverage circuiabon, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday)

ss newspaper conta, S86-1337 (124) fenced |

ERNIE Crist is all set to test to the limit of Winston Caurchill’s famous definition of democracy — “the worst form of govern- ment except for all

the others that have

been tried.”

North Van District's veteran (and poll-top- ping) councillor plans to run for re-clection this coming November on a “direct democracy” slate designed to give district voters a powerful, ongo- ing voice in week-by- week council decisions throughout that body’s next three-year term.

The state’s umbrella organization — District Residents for Direct Democracy (DRDD). described as “a civic non-parti- san association” — is already up and run- ning, with membership apen to all dis- trict residents.

If it succeeds in electing Crist :nd ar least three other DRDD candidate: in November, that council majority of four or more will immediately enact a master bylaw enabling all other bylaws to be subject to citizen-initiated referendums for amending or repealing them.

By the same token, citizens could also initiate new bylaws by referendum. The only condition for any of the above refer- endums would be for the nectssary peti- tion to council to be signed by 5% of eli- gible district Moters (roughly around 2,500). ia

As well, of course, such referendums

PETER SPECK Publisher 2131 {I

Bat

Valerie Stepheason Classified Manager 986-8222 (202)

“Tay Pater _ Photography Manager 985-2131 (160)

Vhe North Share Hews is published by North Shore Free Press Ltd.

Doug Fact General Maneger 985-2131 (133)

Entire contents © 1999 North Shore Free Press Lid. All rights reserved.

UFESTYLE CHANGE...WITH UNFORTUNATE RESULTS

Direct democracy not that simple —

are advisory and not legally binding. But it would be a pretty brave — not to mention suicidal — bunch of councillors, of course, who flouted a solid referen- dum vote,

So much for the good news. Considering the current apathetic 20-. 30% voter turnour at North Shore municipal elections, with no effective voter voice in council decisions for the next three years, direct democracy sounds like manna trom heaven for con- cerned citizens. But it, too, as Churchill could have told us, comes with a price tag.

Even with today’s electronic wizardry (if available to district hall) referendums don't come cheap. Three to four referen- dums a year — and why would there be fewer if direct democracy is alive and well? — would still puta sizeable diat in the district budget.

They would also slow dawn apprecia- bly the pace of council business. Lord knows, the backlogs today are often bad enough. With direct democracy they'll inevitably become even worse, though maybe slower local government is exactly what we need!

And then, always, that agonizing per- centage question. With a 75% majority referendum there’s no arguing — council had better jump to it fast. But what about the 51-49%, or even 55-45%, results?

Two hundred and twenty-five years ago one of England's greatest parliamen-

hither and yon

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letlers must include your name, full address & telephone number.

VIA e-mail: trenshaw @ direct.ca

Gail Snelgro: Display Advertising Manages ‘Genera Oifice Manager 985-2131 {105}

intereet- http://ewas.nenows.com

Promotions Manager

986-2131 (218) 980-0511 (317)

tarians, Edmund Burke, told his Bristol constituents: “Your representative owes you not his industry only, but his judg- ment, and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.”

So what direct democracy surely means is that we indeed no longer trust the judgment of our elected representa- tives and must therefore do their job ourselves,

Which, of course, leads to the ques- tion: Why on earth, in that case, bother to elect the idiots in the first place?

Because (you re ly) we, the all-wise voters, are strapped for time, stupid! We've jobs, working wives, mortgages, Visa bills, kids to be driven, yard work and fixit projects, along with squeczing in the odd golf game and an annual cou- ple of weeks on Lake Okanagan. Bur we still want our say.

Find out how at 7 p.m. this Wednesday, June 23, at the inaugural meeting of DRDD in Capilano Public Library, 3045 Highland Boulevard in Edgemont Village.

And ask what you can GIVE to. the direct democracy process — not just whar you can heedlessly grab from it. It’s not that simple.

O00. ; HAPPY UNBELIEVABLE 80th birth- day tomorrow, June 21, to North Van's June Martin ...-And many happy returns of Tuesday, June 22, to Mount Seymour Lion Joe Thornley.

ano0 WRIGHT OR WRONG: Good enough

seldom is. ro ; : — nwright@uniserve.com —

WO TOFRERCHI US! Administration Display Advertising Real Estate Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom

Distribution - Display & Peal Estate Fax

960-0611

. Michael Bécker - News Editor. 985-2131 (114)

Andrew McCredie - Sports/Com-nwunity Editor 985-2131 (147)