North Vancouver Politics.com

North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton to Join Prime Minister in China

2009-11-30T19:37:00.003-08:00

Local MP Andrew Saxton will accompany Prime Minister Harper on an official visit to China and Korea set to begin on Wednesday (December 2).

According to today's announcement from the PMO:

Mr. Saxton has particular expertise in Asian business and trade, having served on the B.C. Government`s Asia Pacific Trade Council. He also lived and worked in Asia for eight years, serving as a senior executive with HSBC in Hong Kong and Singapore. Mr. Saxton is also the Vice Chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association, which promotes better understanding and closer ties between the two countries.

The Canadian delegation will visit Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul. Prime Minister Harper will address business audiences in Shanghai and Hong Kong. He will also meet with the Chinese and Korean Presidents, and address the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea – a first for a Canadian leader.

In today's announcement Saxton says, "Increasing our exports to Asia is vital to Canada’s future prosperity. Canada has much to offer major Asian economies in terms of resources, skills and services. I am pleased to be part of this effort to extend Canada’s presence in China and Korea."

HO HO HO HST is coming to BC this week from Ottawa unless....

2009-11-29T17:01:00.005-08:00

In a post by John Sharpe on the HST not one word was from our Conservative MP Andrew Saxton.

"Party Positions in Parliament on the HST

Conservative Party - Support the HST and will bring in legislation this week to impose it as of July 1, 2010. All Conservative MPs are expected to support the HST.
********************

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government will introduce legislation to impose the Harmonized Sales Tax in Ontario and British Columbia this week - meaning a vote could come as early as Wednesday or Thursday.

Harper says that it is NOT a confidence vote and if the HST legislation is defeated it will NOT be brought back at a later date.

So this is a fantastic opportunity to defeat the HST in Parliament and save Ontario and British Columbia consumers from paying far more for goods and services without seeing any of those taxes pay for health care, education or social programs.

The revenue raised by the HST will instead go to tax credits for big business."

- Bill Tieleman

I would have thought with Barry Forward giving the Federal Conservative MP an advertising plug, a link from his Constituents, on this blog site, the very least the Honourable MP Andrew Saxton would do is to give us a heads up on this weeks vote.

How many readers here had a talk with our MP? What was his reply?

Our Salmon

2009-11-28T16:00:00.001-08:00

From: Alexandra Morton
To: fishermenlist@lists.onenw.org
Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 6:42 PM
Subject: [fishermenlist] The Fisheries Act does apply!

Hello All

We are one step closer to applying the laws of Canada to salmon farming! It was a pivotal day in court. Although it is only one more step towards enforcing the laws of Canada on fish farmers, it was essential if we are to bring reason to this situation.

In September I laid charges against Marine Harvest for illegal possession of juvenile wild salmon. This came after months of correspondence with Fisheries and Oceans, asking them to uphold the Fisheries Act and lay a charge themselves.

Today was our third court appearance. The first two were simply to set dates, and then extend those dates so that the Department of Justice could review the details of the case. Today's appearance was a "process hearing" with a judge to lay out the charge and our evidence. The judge could either have refused to issue a summons, or approve the charge.

Today in Port Hardy, the judge approved the charge and a summons will be issued to Marine Harvest to appear in court and the trial could proceed.

There are several directions this could take from this point:

1. The Department of Justice could take the case over and run the case. My lawyer, Jeff Jones and I are hoping this will occur as this is truly David against Goliath, a tiny North Island law firm working Pro Bono to date, against a multi billion dollar international corporation. A round of applause for Jeffery and Marianne Jones they have done so much already!

2. If the Department of Justice takes the case, they could proceed to trial where all evidence can be heard, and a Judge will rule on the merit of the case. Or, the Department of Justice can stay the charges and the case is closed without a trial.

3. Jeff Jones and I might have to run the trial ourselves. While this seems a good idea, the reality is a tidal wave of paperwork that could overwhelm his firm, even though this appears to be an extremely straightforward charge which many fishermen have faced. However, well funded corporate defendants can stretch a trial out for days if not weeks, making it extremely costly for a private citizen to enforce the Fisheries Act.

In any case we are setting precedence. Canada cannot manage its fisheries in a sustainable way unless the laws about how many fish are caught are enforced. Over-fishing is a global problem, it is not sound management to allow salmon farmers unlimited access to BC wild fish.

Thanks to all of you for all your support. If you know anyone who would like to join us in signing the letter to the Minister of Fisheries to PLEASE ENFORCE THE FISHERIES ACT, the letter is still on our website www.adopt-a-fry.org. Until the Federal government is
willing to uphold the laws of Canada we will continue to do what we can to fill the void.

My deepest thanks to all of you, we face tough stretch ahead, but once again the courts have agreed with our position.

A remarkable film will be released next week on the Global impact of salmon farming, here is the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eggrGn0V0fg

No individual can right the wrongs we have wreaked on our planet. Thank you all for being with me on this.

alexandra

Parking Meters Coming to City of North Vancouver

2009-11-27T15:48:00.003-08:00

Thought it might be worth some discussion here on the City of North Vancouver's decision this week to approve the concept in principle of installing parking meters on the Lonsdale corridor. Council has now asked staff to develop an implementation plan.

According to the North Shore News:

At this stage, city staff are suggesting that parking on Lonsdale Avenue and the blocks on either side cost one dollar per hour, possibly rising to two dollars for the second hour. This is consistent with the regional average of $1.50 per hour. The meters would be in effect from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Staff estimate the new meters could generate $1.5 million annually.

There were some great quotes from Councillor Rod Clark that ran in the North Shore News story:

"This isn't going to make us any friends politically," said Clark. "This is taking away something people have been getting for free. But we are in a nasty downturn in this economy, and the city needs revenue to continue business."

and:

"I believe pay parking's time has come in the City of North Vancouver."

A Poverty of Ideas

2009-11-24T18:10:00.004-08:00

According to reports published today, British Columbia's child poverty rate has remained the highest in Canada for six years in a row.

Six years in a row.

The provincial Liberals not only refuse to take meaningful action to help people out of poverty, they actually are claiming that our current child poverty rates represent a success!

Remember, we're talking about child poverty, so the old "go out and get a job" nonsense won't cut it. And an awful lot of these children are in families where one or both parents are already working full time, or where one or both parents have been thrown out of work by this recession.

Finger pointing at parents and children won't solve this problem.

Surely the government has a moral obligation to help these children and their families out of poverty.

Council Conflict of interests

2009-11-22T17:16:00.009-08:00

Oh woe are we with the latest revelations that Bill Bell has brought forward in today's North Shore News. He claims that Mayor Mussatto should be stepping aside on the topic of Coach Houses when it comes to voting on the topic. Its a matter of conflict of Interest.

"According to legal advice given to municipalities, if it is an issue that impacts the general population or a broad section of it, there is no conflict. Tax increases and broad changes to the OCP like the current question relating to coach houses, would fall into this category -- although it might be considered a conflict if a council member had submitted a coach house proposal to the municipality."

- Bill Bell

The problem as I see it is Bill Bell has far too many fond memories to fall back on when writing from his Mexican habitat, he's to the point that he is starting to lose track of the realities that are happening in our midst. Just how many Mayors have ridden their bikes along the whole July 1 parade route, handing out water bottles to hot parade watchers and coincidentally Bill Bell didn't take notice of that solitary effort in the Press when he had the chance to.

Question is how do you rate your Mayor's effort.

NV-Seymour NDP constituency association requests changes to leader election rules

2009-11-19T13:14:00.003-08:00

While reading the Georgia Straight today I noticed this snippet in an article about the NDP's upcoming convention:

Meanwhile, the North Vancouver–Seymour constituency association has submitted a resolution calling on the executive and provincial council to develop and ratify, no later than December 1, 2010, “appropriate regulations for the election of the Provincial leader”.

So far, two constituency associations (Parksville-Qualicum and Powell River–Sunshine Coast) have directly called for a leadership convention, but Opposition House Leader Mike Farnworth says "that's just not going to happen."

Comments?

School Board soliciting input on budget priorities

2009-11-17T20:28:00.002-08:00

I noticed in Vancouver Sun education columnist Janet Steffenhagen's blog that the North Vancouver Board of Education has been having a series of public meetings to gather input on how to balance upcoming budgets.

There has already been one meeting, but apparently it was poorly attended by parents. One parent, Jennifer McKenzie, wrote to Janet that

First, the meeting was not advertised by the NVSD directly to parents. Secondly and perhaps related to the first concern, the majority of individuals in attendance were NVSD administration and staff. Finally, the data presented did not reflect all data available and relevant to the discussion.

Ms McKenzie also had other concerns that are described in Janet's post.

The Board of Education, perhaps in response, has scheduled two more meetings. One on November 18 at 7pm at Sutherland Secondary, and the second on December 1 at 7pm at the Leo Marshall Centre.

More details, including summaries of the feedback received to date, are provided in the District's press release.

Health Authority to present $831m building plan for LGH

2009-11-15T00:01:00.003-08:00

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority will be presenting their long-range development plan for Lions Gate Hospital to North Vancouver City Council on Monday night.

The plan, summarized in an overview presentation, has in the next two years:

1) A mental health and ambulance building with a budget of $47m
2) A new 347-bed inpatient and surgery building for $315m

In 2024, the plan is to build a 64+-bed technical care and imaging building for $470m, and demolish the current acute care tower, which was built in 1961.

First Snow North Shore Mountains: Olympic Predictions

2009-11-14T00:16:00.003-08:00

We woke up Friday morning to fresh snow on the local mountains. Grouse Mountain opened for skiing on the 13th of November for the first time in recent memory. Is this a good omen from the snow gods with respect to what we can expect in terms of snow during the Olympic run in February? Or is El Niño still coming as the scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted in July?

Sustainability -- What!

2009-11-13T16:18:00.002-08:00

I have sent the following email to the DNV Council. It might seem unimportant to you, however I find this lack of concern for our taxpayers' dollars very important.

Hi folks,

I am writing today about the fact that the two (motion-activated) doors to the Lynn Valley Library (one on Lynn Valley Road and the other onto the plaza) are always open. Isn't the DNV policy to become sustainable? Why are we District taxpayers paying to heat the outdoors in the winter and cool it in the summer? I have spoken to many staff at the library and they agree with me but they say that there is nothing they can do because the "Juice Guy" says it is too hot or too cold.

I respectfully request that these doors be closed.

Lions Gate Bridge Among Top 10 Crash Sites in Metro Vancouver

2009-11-12T15:39:00.004-08:00

Probably to no one's surprise the Vancouver Sun is reporting today that the Lions Gate Bridge is one of the Top 10 most likely places to be involved in a motor-vehicle crash in Metro Vancouver. Fortunately for us North Shore dwellers we are not at the top of the list. According to the ICBC stats that dubious honour goes to two stretches of the Highway 1 Freeway — the intersection with Brunette Avenue on the New Westminster-Coquitlam border, and with Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby, which boasted 410 crashes apiece last year. The Lions Gate Bridge saw a total of 190 crashes last year or about one collision every second day.

The Vancouver Sun article noted for comparison, the B.C. Transportation Ministry reports that Highway 1 at the Port Mann Bridge carried an average of 118,600 vehicles per day last year, the Alex Fraser Bridge 98,700 vehicles, and the Lions Gate 61,300 vehicles.

Staff Sgt. Marc Alexander of RCMP traffic services said in response that sheer volume is one explanation for the statistics, but so are excessive speed, inattention, and motorists failing to leave enough distance.

Windsor Artificial Turf Field Funding Announcement

2009-11-11T17:46:00.011-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, politicians and sports enthusiasts gathered in the rain for the official announcement of funding for the new $3.2 million Artificial Turf Field at Windsor Secondary School. The project was made possible with funding from Federal Government, the Provincial Government, Canexus, and North Vancouver's Community Sport and Recreation Council. On hand for the announcement North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton, North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite, DNV Mayor Richard Walton, School Board Chair Susan Skinner and several District Councillors, including Councillor Doug MacKay-Dunn who many credit with first envisioning this project two years ago.

Comments from the announcement by Mayor Walton and Sport Council President Larry Wilson:

Time To Revisit Municipal Election Laws

2009-11-08T14:30:00.004-08:00

Mr. Bill Bell's Ringside Seat column in today's North Shore News seems a good topic for discussion on this blog.

To be or not to be supported by a special interest group such as CUPE or a Developer when running as a candidate in a civic election? That is the question.

The answer seems clear to me. The interests of the community are best served when an elected official's vote on all issues is independent of influence. After all who is supposed to making decisions at District and City Hall, the Developers and/or CUPE or independent-minded politicians?

I am not anti-union or anti-sustainable developement and obviously if either group supports a candidate in a campaign it increases their chances of being elected but, somewhere along the way they will have to answer to the piper and that may not be in the communities best interests.

I think running with an independent platform and if elected being able to listen to all aspects of the community with as little bias as possible is the best for the community. Unfortunately it may not get you elected but, it's the ethical way to approach it.

In the meantime to create a more level municipal election playing field, it may be time to re-examine the election donor rules.

Ringing hypocrisy

2009-11-07T15:34:00.002-08:00

The following letter was published in the Province yesterday. It is interesting to note that I posted this yesterday, and it was deleted. I will try again.

"I see that 14-metre-high Olympic rings are being lit on a barge in Burrard Inlet. The City of Vancouver and the province deem this is safe for drivers and are not worried about it being a distraction. Yet so many have a problem with the Squamish Nation putting up much smaller billboards on their OWN land. What hypocrites."

Task Force Proposed on Improving Community Engagement in City of North Vancouver

2009-11-06T15:45:00.002-08:00

It seems to be the bane of all elected bodies these days - How do we meaningfully engage a broader section of the community? Particularly when it comes to the decisions of the day that have a major impact on the long term shape of the community and the institutions that we all rely on.

The City of North Vancouver passed a motion this week to consider the establishment of a task force to look into the idea increasing community engagement. According to Councillor Guy Heywood the motion came about for a number of reasons, in addition to the obvious low voter turnout in North Vancouver in recent years. Heywood says with the Provincial Government is considering reforms to local government designed to foster greater community participation, it is incumbent that we think about this locally well before this comes to us from the Province. He also points to the City's Official Community Plan review set to take place in the next year, which includes engaging the community in the planning process.

Bottom line is that the make-up of the City of North Vancouver has dramatically changed in recent years, with over 60 residential towers now housing a good portion of the City's population. Strata Council's are more a part of people's lives in the City, in addition to residents becoming more economically and culturally diverse.

Heywood says the current low engagement rate comes at the same time as the City is doing more than just about any municipality in Metro Vancouver to advertise opportunities to get involved and engaged in civic initiatives.

With the City committed to looking for ways to increase engagement perhaps there is an opportunity to get the District of North Vancouver involved in the process, possibly passing a similar motion to the CNV's. While we are at it, the North Vancouver School District is currently involved in engaging members of the Community in the budget challenges it is facing, and it would be interesting if the local Board of Education was at the table to share its experiences in this area, and increase engagement at the local school level.

This is all about starting the conversation. What should a "Civic Task Force", if any, look like if it is to embark on "investigating ways of involving the public more closely in municipal affairs."

Olympics - Show Me The Money?

2009-11-05T17:47:00.005-08:00

A story this week at theTyee.ca does a little arithmetic and concludes that the economic benefits of the Olympics will be pretty slim.

More to the point, about 6.7 billion dollars less than promised by the Campbell Liberals.

The government was using the number $10.7 billion as the estimated economic activity hosting the Olympics would produce. Now it prefers to say it will be $4 billion.

But even that amount is based on a best case scenario mapped seven years ago by a consulting company, and real tourism revenues in recent years fall well short of that projection.

Honestly I'm not in the least surprised. When a government commits to something like the Olympic Games they always present the most rosy picture possible. The reality is never close to what is promised.

How much will these games really cost us? And will we ever know the true figures?

(Photo Note: this picture of NDP leader Carole James and Tina impersonator Luisa Marshall is not at all newsworthy, but at least she's not wearing red mittens...)

North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton marks 100 days until the 2010 Winter Olympics in House of Commons

2009-11-04T14:03:00.005-08:00

Setting H1N1 Priorities.

2009-11-01T14:56:00.004-08:00

The North Shore News reports that shortages of H1N1 vaccine mean that many health care workers can't be immunized:

NOT all health care workers will be getting their swine flu vaccines as originally planned this week, after the B.C. Centre for Disease Control received fewer doses of the H1N1 shots than anticipated.

CBC News reports that RBC/Coca Cola Torch Relay runners are a priority group for H1N1 immunizations:

Public health officials say it was vital to give members of the Olympic torch team inoculations for swine flu, despite the short supply of vaccine for people in other high-risk groups.

Am I alone in thinking that there are some serious problems here?

H1N1 -- The Facts

2009-10-28T17:45:00.002-07:00

Health is politics: How much of our money goes directly into the health care system?

Know the Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Fever
Fever is rare with a cold.
Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1flu.

Coughing
A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1flu.

Stuffy Nose
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

Chills
Chills are uncommon with a cold.
60% of people who have the H1N1flu experience chills.

Tiredness
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1flu.

Sneezing
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
Sneezing is not common with the H1N1flu.

Sudden Symptoms
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The H1N1flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of H1N1flu cases.

Sore Throat
Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1flu.

Chest Discomfort
Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1flu.

The only way to stop the spread of the epidemic is to spread the awareness.

The previous was sent to me by a friend, TMS, who has been a community health nurse on the North shore for 44 years.

Translink Mayors Vote to Adopt $130 Million Plan to Fund Transportation Improvements

2009-10-23T12:13:00.009-07:00

CKNW reports that the 130 million dollar plan will fund transportation improvements, with funding for the plan coming from a three cent gas tax increase, an increase in transit fares, and an increase in the parking sales tax.

However, from the $130 million figure mentioned in news reports, it appears the mayors have approved a version of the 10-Year Transportation Plan dubbed the "Funding Stabilization Plan" that requires $130 million each year in new funding just to maintain the transportation services available today without any new services". Not quite the ambitious "On Track to a Sustainable Region (Supplemental Plan)" that called for $450 million in new revenue annually, but included new investments in transit, rapid transit, roads and bridges as well as cycling and greenways.

The Translink Mayors Council contains representatives from each of the 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver, including North Shore representatives West Vancouver Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones, District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton, and City of North Vancouver Councillor Craig Keating.

More details on the plan can be found on Translink's website:

http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/10-Year-Transportation-Plan.aspx

Olympic Game Plan: North Vancouver

2009-10-22T05:28:00.004-07:00

VANOC brings its organizing message to North Vancouver tonight.

According to the District of North Vancouver website:

Game Plan 2009 will help people better understand the daily operations leading up to and during the Games in an open-house setting with stations focused on areas such as venue and transportation operations, security and public safety. The open house will provide an opportunity for those living or working in a Games-venue neighbourhood to learn more, ask questions and find out how they can get involved in the Games.

This afternoon the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be joined by "the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, TransLink and the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit for an update on 2010 Winter Games planning and a look ahead to the daily operations of the Games."

Game Plan North Vancouver
Thursday, October 22, 2009
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Centennial Theatre
2300 Lonsdale Avenue

Old News...Nothing has been accomplished

2009-10-20T21:37:00.001-07:00

I have spent many hours going through the DNV Council candidates' websites, answers to questions by FONVCA, and have attended
all-candidates meetings. They are all saying the same things. The incumbents are talking about affordable housing, homelessness, and
green sustainability... but when they voted...they voted against the issues they are now so adamant that they stand for.
Examples:
1) Couns. Nixon, Little, and Hicks voted in favour of the Whiteley Court project (Branches) and evicted 46 low income families in favour of
"market housing." The public hearing regarding this development was well attended and more residents spoke against it than for it,
however it was approved.
2) Couns. MacKay-Dunn spoke in favour of the Hynes Development which will only introduce more (over 1000) automobiles a day into an
already congested area and produce more traffic and pollution.
3) They all talk about "sustainability" however not one incumbent has done anything about it. All re-zoning (higher density)
applications have been approved over the last three years despite public meetings being fully attended and against them.
4) Current Council voted against the BC Rail Lands re-development to form a bus depot (barn). Couns. Nixon recused himself because of
conflict. Therefore we are let down regarding public transportation and all the incumbents are blaming this on senior levels of government.
5) Current Council has "allowed" the recreation facilities to deteriorate. Most especially Couns. MacKay-Dunn and Couns. Muri. Where
were they when the rec commission requested funding from the DNV? It was paid by the CNV, but the DNV denied their requisite funding.
It takes years to deteriorate, not even one term of office. Now they want to sell off our precious district assets...at the expense of seniors
and low income people. If the rec facilities are privatised the hours will go down and the services will go down, and the prices will go up.
I could go on and on, however these are the main issues.
DNV Council Hypocrisy.

Olympic Disruptions

2009-10-16T17:12:00.007-07:00

I returned to school this year, to study (despite my left-leaning qualities) Accounting and Business. For convenience as much as anything I have enrolled at Capilano ~~College~~ University.

I was looking over the 2010 Olympic transportation plans today to see how those of us on the North Shore would be inconvenienced when I saw that Cap is listed as a parking lot for the Olympics.*

Uh-oh...

Imagine my surprise today to find out that next semester I will see my University shut down for two and half weeks - eighteen days! That will be no small imposition.

Just how far should those of us in BC bend over backwards for this event?

Restrictions on freedom of speech?
Large chunks of Vancouver placed off-limits?
A near-demand that traffic to downtown Vancouver be reduced by 30%?
Many institutions shut down for weeks to be used as parking lots?

Just what does VANOC and the IOC do to merit so much power? And why do so few of our politicians seem disinterested in saying anything critical of the mighty IOC machine?

* Sorry - Cap is more than just a 2010 parking lot - it's offering "a once-in-a-lifetime global learning experience" for students and "the chance to gain the kind of real-life experience that could not be taught in a classroom."

Why, "Capilano University Students are currently being recruited for positions on campus during the reading break in February 2010. Gain valuable experience to enhance your resume. Working for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and being a part of an internationally recognized event will enhance your employabilty in the future."

Yes - you too can be a 2010 Parking Lot Attendant!

Local politicians spend our tax dollars in tough times

2009-10-14T21:28:00.002-07:00

My apologies to Ms. Qureshi for blogging before the midnight rule had lapsed as is suggested by blog protocol. I thought the following letter from N.V.C. Councillor Rod Clark on page A8 of the North Shore News published on Wednesday, Oct.14th, 2009 was too good to pass up.

Good for Rod calling the kettle black.

Twinning trip not worth cost

Dear Editor:
Hi ho, Hi ho, It's off to Chiba they go. . . .
Think times are tough? Taxes got you down? Well you can take solace in the fact that a majority of City of North Vancouver council is off to Chiba, Japan on a twinning visit.

This little junket is in honour of the 40th anniversary of the twinning relationship.
Not one nickel of economic development has ever flowed between these "sister cities." So the trip is merely a "cultural" exchange. More like a political junket at taxpayers' expense. A little tough to take in these tough economic times, don't you agree?
Oh, but there's more. . . .
In the interests of efficiency, after the Chiba trip, Mayor Darrell Mussatto along with Couns. Bob Fearnley, Craig Keating and Mary Trentadue will be flying in to Huizhou, China on the initial visit of another "sister city" twinning. Seems the City of North Vancouver needs a second port of call in order to justify these junkets. We can well expect that not one nickel of economic development will ever flow between the new Chinese twin and North Vancouver.
Should be a great party for the politicians in both ports of call though. It would have shown great leadership to say no to this type of foolish waste of taxpayers' money in these uncertain times and with budget deficits looming.
I guess these four have proven that they are just not leaders.
Coun. Rod Clark
City of North Vancouver