6 - Sunday, February 18, 1990 - North Shore News

Defeat of Zaim dumpers improves Socreds’ odds

THE PACE of political change in Russia, eastern Europe and South Africa these days is dizzy-making. But back here

in B.C. we're not doing too badly, either,

sensation department.

Remember — just 67 days ago — Bill Vander Zalm and Social Credit? Black Wednesday, December 13, in Oak Bay? The Premier finally out for the count, licked, finished for good? Ditto, almost certainly, his party itself, even if it dumped him right away?

Socred rebels-in-waiting were secretly lining up to join the Gang of Four who jumped ship in Oc- tober after the Cariboo byelection disaster. Plans for a new free enterprise party were leaked to the jubilant media. In the bleachers Mike Harcourt, grinning like a Cheshire cat in a dairy, sat happily waiting for the end-of-game whis- tle.

So what do we have today, a mere two months later?

We have a smiling, unruffled Bill Vander Zailm more firmly in the premier's saddie than ever. The party trumpeting solidarity behind him. Even Grace McCarthy deny- ing she’s a dissident. And last week the remaining three members of the Gang of Four creeping sheep- ishly back into the fold.

in short, Bill’s oddly assorted foes in the unions, on Howe Street, among Pro Choicers, in the party and in the media blew it. With everything possible going for them in their New Year’s bid to dethrone him, they wound up outwitted, outmanoeuvred and stripped of further options until ie chooses to call the general election — which COULD still be as far away as 20 months.

While it’s been a superb exercise in political smarts by the Premier and his handlers, there’s a little

in the political

more to its success than that. B.C. has enjoyed an economic boom under the Vander Zalm govern- ment and more of the same is forecast, even if slightly slower. It’s also become clear, after the past two months, that there is no alternative in the foreseeable future to Social Credit as B.C.'s free enterprise party.

Thus, the decades-old polariza- tion of Social Credit free enterprise vs. NDP socialism will continue and keep the choice a simple one when the TOTAL B.C. electorate again goes to the polls. Byelections tend to be for wrist-slapping. Bread-and-butier issues count for more in general elections, and that could still speil survival! for the Socreds.

Unbelievable though it seemed then, the party’s odds under Bill Vander Zalm have improved in the aftermath of the Oak Bay blocd- bath. In politics nothing is im-

MAUREEN Harvey ...head

“bride.”

Chilling situation

NOW has revealed disturbing weaknesses in the North Shore’s ‘capabilities to deal with natural

emergencies.

possible. Europe's former com- munist states now rushing headlong to embrace free enter- prise teach us that.

So does the Vander Zalm story itself since December 13, 1989!

KR

AN IDEA WHOSE TIME had come was born just over a year ago, when North Van’s Maureen Harvey and Winifred Rose laun- ched the Narth Shore War Brides Club. Its aim: a social meeting ground for British, Dutch and other European wives brought to Canada 45 years or so ago by our wartime soldiers, sailors and airmen. Now, their children gone, they themselves are seniors, more than a few are widowed — and some lonely.

In addition to the monthly meetings — 11:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday at North Lonsdale United Church — the past year’s activities have included theatre trips, discount shopping excur- sions, a summer picnic, a Christmas dinner party and mon- thly restaurant lunches, But the best news is the group’s new name.

With membership growing steadily from all over the Lower Mainland, it has now become the Greater Vancouver War Brides Club, with North Shore founder Maureen Harvey just elected as its first president. Call her at 926- 8066, or Gwen Cope at 987-0360, to learn more and, if you qualify, to join the fun.

xe k WRAP-UP: [f you’re a fundraiser, West Van Kiwanis Club may have

some tips for you. Over the past year, from their money-making ac-

A MULT PARTY

SitOO; 88 WrCI2},

tivities, they donated over $41,000 to a list of local good causes — an average of $820 for each of their 50 members ... Dine, wine and be entertained at popular Park Royal veepee Hugh Addison’s retirement party Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the South Mall Market Place — ad- vance tickets at the lottery booths in both Malls ... And get down to the river by 1 p.m. today to cheer

© sunday brunch ® ©

your quacker (or everyone else’s) on to victory in North Van Rotary’s Great Capilano River Duck Race!

kat WRIGHT OR WRONG: People who slap you on the back are often

trying to help you swallow what they've just told you.

submitted

A TOAST TO SIMON FRASER...celebrating the University’s 25th an- niversary is explorer ‘‘Simou Fraser’’ portrayed by North Van actor- playwright Kevin Conway, himself an SFU grad.

FINALLY, WELL GET fan GaN

Over the past two weeks, cold weather and heavy snowfalls have plunged the three North Shore municipalities into varying stages of mayhem and chaos.

While the intensity of the storms would surely have brought any community to a temporary hall, the ease with which it crippled the North Shore is frightening.

Not only were commuters unprepared for the snowfall, attempting to drive vehicles that were outfit- ied with summer tires and hoping that the good Lord and milder weather would see them through the crisis, but such vital services as telephone communication were lost for two days running.

While the former is annoying and rot unexpected on the West Coast, the latter is extremely unsettling.

B.C. Tel officials said that the loss of telephone communications on the North Shore and elsewhcre around the Lower Mainland was due to a heavier than normal demand.

But if the system is so prone to overload under the relatively normal conditions of a iarge snowfall, its reliability under the infinitely more taxing conditions of a major earthquake or other natural disaster must surely be called into question.

The recent problems with the weather should raise more questions than just who should be installing snow tires on their cars.

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