District Candidate Launches Campaign

Jim Hanson is holding a launch party for his campaign for District Councillor.  It will be held on Wednesday, October 1, between 8 PM and 10 PM in the Cardinal Hall - Lynn Valley Recreation Centre 3590 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver.

With municipal elections just around the corner, what needs to be done to get people to vote?

Should there be fines for not voting? On the other hand should there be incentives for voting such as a tax credit receipt. Some say yes, but only if 'none of the above' is on the ballot. In light of this discussion on the media recently local resident Sue Cook answers the Province Newspaper's E-Street question.

 This is a difficult question to answer as it really depends on how big the municipality is.  If it is smaller community, the old fashioned knocking on door routine could work well.  Public contact is really important.  Larger municipalities becomes a problem and usually money is a major factor.  The present Mayor and Council usually have a much larger financial pool to draw from (usually anyone or any organization that wants something “special” from City Hall. I think that NO money should come from ANY special interest groups whether they be unions, developers, ethnic voters or special interest groups, nor should City Hall be used ever for present candidates such as newspaper ads etc.   Candidates should raise their own money and there should be a limit to how much they spend. City of North Vancouver has an interesting situation as the Mayor is being challenged by a person called Kerry Morris who is independently wealthy and can afford to put regular ads in the North Shore News.  He also is the only municipal candidate that I can think of who has his campaign office all set up at the bottom of Lonsdale.  Too bad all candidates cannot do the same.

—Sue  Lakes Cook

Argyle students cross picket line, visit MLA's office

Today two dozen students of Argyle Secondary crossed the teacher's picket line, staged a brief 'sit-in' and then walked to Jane Thornthwaite's constituency office. Ms. Thornthwaite met with a half dozen of the protesting students and attempted to answer their questions. They asked her what pressure she is putting on the government to get schools up and running? Jane's answer was that she fully supports the position of Premier Cristy Clark, the education minister, and the government.

Binding arbitration was offered by the BCTF as a way to get schools operating again, but it was rejected by the government this past Friday.