BC Rail grants VICTORIA'S INTRODUCTION of BC Rail grants-in- liew legislation in spring 1996 will not come soon

enough for Independent West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell.

By !an Noble News Reporter

“The least the government could have done would be io implement a transitional grants-in-lieu of taxes this year, us rec- ommended by the (Union of British Calumbia Municipalities),” said Mitchell,

And he theorized that the reason for the delay is the govern- mierit’s plans to privatize the North Vancouver-based Crown car- poration, Buta local government MLA said the NDP has no cur- rent plans to sell off the profitable business.

: On May 10, the NDP government announced a commitment for a grants-in-lieu program for BC Rail, which has had a munic- ipal-tax-free ride with many municipalities up to now.

That should be good news to a number of municipalities

~ located on the BC Rail lines, including North Vancouver District,

Crown corporations do not hive to pay municipal taxes,

And, unlike the B.C. Ferry Corp. and B.C, Hydro. BC Rail does not pay grants in licu of property taxes to municipalities either, although the Crown corporation currently Pays a grant in lieu of property taxes to North Vancouver City for its head office on West Esplanade.

“After decades of waiting, there is light at the end of the tun- nel for communities, which, up to this point, have not been able to collect taxes on properties owned by BC Rail. * said Municipal Affairs Minister Darlene Marzari.

In March, Whistler mayor Ted Nebbeling told the News that under the existing B.C. Assessment Authority utilities classifica- tion, BC Rail would owe $6.5 million in property tax to munici- palities. Whistler's share would be $329,000.

Mitchel} said West Vancouver would receive $268,860.69, North Vancouver District would get $279,216.13 and Lions Bay would add $20,286.24 to its coffers.

BC Rail senior communications officer Hilary Thomson said the grants-in-lieu could be the same amount as property taxes.

In that case, BC Rail's classification as a utifity could cost the company more. All rai] companies in British Columbia are lob- bying government to be reclassified to a commercial classifica-

‘West Vancouver, Lions Bay and Whistler.

From page 1.

intention to redevelop the site. . The lass of the Vancouver Adult Hockey Association ‘(VAHA), which provided up to 70% of the club's rev- ‘enue through ice time and bar sales, was the final straw ‘that caused his family to terminate its lease with Larco Enterprises, said McKenzie... “They are a 60-team league and they didn’t want to get caught with their pants down,” said McKenzie..

“If the future of the Capilano Athletic Club had been’,

assured, the VAHA would have had no reason to look elsewhere,” hockey association president.’ Tom Murphy . told McKenzie in a Feb, { letter. McKenzie said he gave 60-days notice to. Larco that the lease would be terminated May 20. : ‘Although he. and his family are out, the equipment that the McKenzies purchased for the club i is still in the ~ club... Larco. obtained a writ forbidding McKenzie: ‘from removing the equipment. Club owner Keith McKenzie, .Chris’s father, said he will go to court to have the writ overtumed.

‘But Allen Glazer, operations manager. for Maple ;

Lear: Property. Management, Larco’s wholly-owned management arm, said the lease agreement signed with -McKenzie allows - Larco to buy the, equipment for

. 5100, 000...

‘Larco intends to exercise that option, but will deduct the arrears owed by the McKenzies, said Glazer. . «Glazer said a management team has been appointed

to run the club. The facility also includes tennis, squash -

and. racquetball courts. Glazer anticipates the club will eopen later this week.

“Basically, it. should be ‘status quo in there very uickly.” Glazer said. .

-Larco has a number of options for the future of the,

1.76-hectare (4.4- acre) property. oo

Studio facility active since 19

: Front page 1

tion, Thomson said.

lulb’s gear

Larco chief planner Bob Heaslip said the: company, North Vancouver District, and a local steering commit- tee are looking at four possibilities for the site as part of a Lower Capilano community plan: & retain the same zoning and construct a “regional- style” recreational and commercial complex including businesses such as a bowling alley and cine build a combination of commercial. residential and recreational sites; A build single-family residential housiig: a construct medium-deasity dnree- or four-stoiey real

- dential units and recreational facilities.

No final decision has been made on the development, : Heaslip said. He added, however, that North Vancouver

District staff will be going.to council with a draft plan

for the site in the next few months.

A plan may be put before council for adoption this fall, Heaslip said. “It could take a year and a half before any change occurs on the site,” he said.

Heaslip said Larco does not believe that the Capilano Athletic Club is commercially vioble because of the age and nature of the business.

Chris McKenzie disagrees. “The club can survive. No doubt about it,” said McKenzie. “As long as there is no interference with rezoning.” bo,

Since Larco announced ils intention to pursue rezon-

_ ing, members have been dropping away, said McKenzie.

The club now has roughly 40C. members.. Before rezoning murmurings, there were 900, he said. In the first seven months ‘the McKenzies owned the club, it raked in gross profits of $170,000. ‘said Keith McKenzie. |.

But in the jast two years the club has lost money.

In_ 1993, Larco offered the McKenzies a $400,000

. buyout package. However, the McKenzies rebuffed the

offer because it didn't cover the family’s investment in. the club, Larco Enterprises also owns the Park Royal Shopping Centre. :

fourth, major . network, Fox

Wednesday, May 24, 1995 ~ North Shore News - 3

Nebbeling estimated that the reclassification would chop BC

in lieu cf taxes supported by Gov't aatshittsmouias

The grants-in-licu could also be an arhitrary amount. said Thomson. But Mitchell said that if BC Rail was privatized, it would pay full municipal taxes, not grants-in-lieu, which may be only a portion of taxes.

He added that the New Democratic Party may use a privati- gation announcement as an election issue,

“IT worry about what's going on here politically and that the government is playing political games," Mitchell said.

Although Mitchell agrees with privatizing BC Rail, he said he wants the government to be more forthcoming with information on BC Rajl’s future.

He said Victoria has asked three heavy-hitters in the invest- ment industry —- RBC Dominion Securities, Gordon Capital Corp. and Goldman Sachs ~~ to provide specific proposals for privatization.

He added the government may be using the grants-in-lieu as a carrot with no intention of actually implementing them.

The privatization process, he said, would take precedence.

David Schreck, NDP MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, said the government has reviewed the privatization option but has decided to hold the firm as a public compari.

He stressed, however, that part of governinent’s responsibility is to review such issues every few years.

BC Rail carned profits of $40 million in 1994,

“Photo Bab Symons

VANCOUVER ‘RESIDENT Josephine Evans" is rescued by : stretcher on Monday near Goldie Lake on Mount Seymour.

“The ‘deal will link up ‘hotshot West Coast TV producer Stephen J. Cannell with. Brandon’ Tartikoff, “one of Hollywood's most powertul “executives: Cannell Studios is one “of Hollywood's last major indepen- & dent TV producers. , sNew World is controlled by ‘investment tycoon Ronald Perelman, ‘one of the leading cor-

porate raiders in the takeover fren-.

“zy of the 1980s. Perelman may not be a household name himself, but “his companies ¢ are well known. His holdings ..cun ~ from * “cosmetics

(Revlon) to’ conic: books (Marvel.

Entertainment) and sports cards.' MacAndrew. © 2 &-

" Holdings, Perelman’s private com- pany, pians to spend $1.4 billion in

the next few years in the entertain.

Forbes.

ment field. The Wall Street mogul a

also reportedly wants to buy movie studios, a casino in Atlantic City and! possibly. even a record compa- ny. 7 The Cannell deal would provide

' New World with a vital source of | TV programs for its 12 stations.

The deal. would also team up Cannell. with Tartikoff, . New World's chairman and former pro- gramming wizard at NBC.

The pair jointly produced such 1980s hit shows ‘as The A Team, which pushed NBC. to the top_of the TV ratings heap.

Global: media

mogul: Rupert

Murdoch injected - “$700. million:

into’ New. World last year through “his company..News Corp. . :

“News Corp.: defied. numerous mays nyers in recent yea ars 10 create

Broadcasting, which . competes with ABC, NBC and CBS, the pre- vious Big. Three networks.

North Shore Studios opened in. .

‘1989. and has produced. numerous made-for-television niovies, a number of feature films and several TY series. ' Recent big-screen box office hits /ntersection, with Richard Gere and Sharon Stone, and Little Women, starring Winona Ryder and ‘Susan Sarandon, were filmed on location at the studios.

Local officials were unable to comment to press lime, ;

North Shore Studios genera! manager Ralph Alderman recently

left the company...Cannell's Peter ; Leitch was named acting studio: :

manager for the interim.

Evans injured her hip in snow which gave way on a trait.

COLUMNIST. KASEY. Wilson joins the News food pages this issue (page 20), /bring- ‘ing her knowledge of cuisine and cooking to |. the North Shore. Wilson is a Vancouver food, : wine und travel writer and restaurant reviewer. A contributor to Pacific Northwest: The - Beautiful Cookbook, she has also written The Granville fsland Cookbook, Gifts fram the Kitchen, Done. like: Dinner and Spirit and. Style. In her column, which will appear in each Wednesday oi edition of the News, Wilson's s lively discourse on culinary matters will be peppered ‘with fresh new recipes that make useor seasonal ingredients, :

a