British Columbia On Sept. 26, Vancouver city council passed the following resolution: “Whereas negotiation of a comprehen- sive nuclear weapons test ban is the single most important step which could now be taken to prevent nuclear war, as well as to create a political environment favourable for further multilateral disarmament agreements, and; “Whereas the citizens of Vancouver expect the government of Canada to pro- vide the leadership of a nation committed to peace; “Therefore be it resolved that Van- couver city council urge the federal government to change its policy and henceforth actively support negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear weapons test ban in every appropriate international forum, including the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament.” The motion passed unanimously. This is a tribute first of all to the peace movement of this city which has won the minds and hearts of the vast majority of citizens. The huge annual peace marches show that conclusively. Vancouver has won the title of the peace capital of Can- ada, something of which we can all be proud. The unanimous vote in council for this resolution shows that even the most right-wing politicians cannot afford to ignore this fact. But the battle for an international test ban is still far from won. It is a shameful fact, as reported by city council’s special committee on peace, that “the govern- ment of Canada has effectively opposed all attempts at the United Nations to achieve a comprehensive nuclear weapons test ban by abstaining in all effective reso- lutions favouring such a ban.” Ottawa, it seems, is still hell bent to continue the arms race and federal Finance Minister Michael Wilson in his last budget increased arms expenditures to $11 billion. That’s one reason we have such a big annual deficit of $25-$30 billion and such a huge national debt amounting to $322 billion. And that’s why Wilson now wants to impose a nine-per-cent Goods and Services Tax so he can keep up and increase his military budget every year. It’s an insane way to run the country but that’s what the Tories are doing to Government should heed council’s peace call Canada. Col. W.N. Hoye C.D. RCAF (Ret)., in a statement to city council, pointed out that “military weapons are weapons of mass destruction ... as long as nuclear weapons exist the risk of the ultimate catastrophe — the destruction of life on earth — exists.” Dr. Tom Perry Sr., a professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of' B.C., noted that “a comprehensive nuclear weapons test ban is the single most impor- tant step which can now be taken to pre- vent nuclear war .... Tests are carried out for one purpose only — to develop ever more effective and dangerous new wea- pons.” He urged city council to adopt the motion because “it has everything to do with preserving our beautiful city, and fol- lows all the best peace-promoting tradi- tions of our community.” president of Science for Peace, produced evidence to show that a carefully nego- tiated treaty would be fully verifiable and safe. “Verification is feasible” he said, “cheating is ineffective.” shares reminded city council that “we have to use our democratic institutions to effect change which will ensure the survival of this planet. Money spent on the arms race is money not available to solve pollution problems on earth or to fund human needs.” Shalom Institute, an interchurch peace education organization, told city council that “we must do whatever we can to compel our government tc acknowledge | both the reasonableness and the passion with which Canadians are calling for the ending of the era of nuclear weapons.” . Meridith Wadman, BMB, vice-president of End the Arms Race coalition, told city | council a comprehensive test ban treaty “would largely halt the modernization of nuclear weapons, given that the develop- ment of new generations of such weapons depends on a nation’s ability to test them ... A test ban treaty would represent a quantum leap in arms control for the international community.” Dr. George Spiegelman, national vice- Jean McCutcheon of Project Plough- The Rev. Dr. Donald Grayson of the Mr. Prime Minister, are you listening? North Van. council urged to rescind suites ban By BETTY GRIFFIN North Vancouver District’s controversial bylaw banning secondary suites may be headed for oblivion following the recom- mendations to district council in reports from consultants and the district’s staff on Oct 15. Both recommended that secondary suites should be legalized in the district, which is facing a housing crisis due to lack of accommodation. The district had adopted a highly contro- versial bylaw to phase out suites by 1995, but because of demands from the citizens’ group, the Committee forSuite Justice, and the community at large, council subse- quently agreed to hire consultants to make a study of unmet housing needs in the district. The reports, reflecting 10 months of research and meetings with the community, were finally on the agenda at 10:30 p.m. when many in the audience who had waited up to three hours gave up in disgust and left. The critical housing situation throughout the Lower Mainland was noted in the staff report, which stated: “No new alternative housing option could be developed by the time of phase-out of secondary suites (1995) to rehouse the significant number of tenants involved.” Neither the private sector, nor small co- ops and public housing will be able to accommodate displaced suite tenants, it stated, observing that this is a trend across North America. Michael Goldberg of the consulting group, the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC), pointed out that Onta- rio is now offering $7,000 interest-free loans for homeowners to build suites in their homes. SPARC recommended the district res- cind the bylaw phasing out suites, and- instead retain the registration and licensing of suites in single-family areas. It called for secondary suites in new house construction, encouragement to 2 Pacific Tribune, October 23, 1989 homeowners to register their suites, and “neighbourhood meetings to discuss hous- ing needs identified by the study and the affordable housing alternatives that resi- dents would consider appropriate for their neighbourhoods.” District staff meanwhile recommended that the SPARC study be received and referred to ratepayers and other groups for comment, and be sent to the Greater Van- couver Regional District, the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the provincial govern- ment for consideration. The GVRD should be asked to address secondary suites in its proposed regional rental housing study, the staff reported stated. The staff said the B.C. Building Code should be changed because it does not rec- ognize the distinction between a secondary suite in a single family home and any other form of multi-family residential building, making the requirements difficult for any home owner to implement at an affordable cost. Secondary suites are now a regional issue, and “‘it is therefore preferable that common policy guidelines on suites are adopted at a regional or provincial level,” the staff report recommended. Most of the public support legalizing secondary suites, given the housing crisis, the report said. The many community groups who took part in the consultative process will no doubt be pleased with the consult nts’ report. The Committee for Suite Justice is also gearing up for action and feels vindi- ° cated that their original stand that the study should be completed before the enactment of any bylaw is echoed by the consultants. It is to be hoped that council will not drag its feet waiting for GVRD and UBCM and provincial reactions, but will rescind the bylaw. Betty Griffin is a member of the Commit- tee for Suite Justice in North Vancouver dis- trict. VICTORIA — Some 300 pro-choice citizens rallied against proposed new federal abortion legislation at the provincial legisla- ture grounds Oct. 13, kicking off a weekend series of rallies across the country. Rallies also took place on Oct. 14, the national day of action against new abortion laws, in sev- eral other Vancouver Island communities. NDP MP Lynn Hunter told the noon- time Victoria rally that legislation setting a 12-week gestation limit on abortions is under consideration by the federal Tories. She said pro-choice people “must act now. Any legislation speaks of a profound dis- respect for women. : “We are not here for abortions — we are here for choice. Choice means childcare, affordable housing and research for contra- ceptives as well as abortion,’ Hunter declared. Rally spokesperson Dr. Mary Connolly warned that if abortion is re-criminalized, women will continue to have back-alley abortions. Recent polls show Canadians 71 per cent in favour of choice, with 89 per cent of. British Columbians pro-choice. But letters to MPs are about 20-1 against choice, said Norah Hutchinson of the Canadian Abor- tion Rights Action League in urging the pro-choice side to write their MPs. In Nanaimo, a newly formed pro-choice Help debate. group staged three events to mark the national day of action. campaign to get pro-choice members into the Nanaimo Regional District Hospital Society, in preparation for a possible mem- bership meeting on the proposed new law. The hospital board is currently dominated by anti-choice directors. Nanaimo women who have to travel else- where to get an abortion. Several organiza- tions contributed to the fund and rally costs, including the Commonwealth Holding Society of the NDP, the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers union Local 8 and the Tele- communication Workers Union, the Com- munist : Pullinger, a local hotel and several women’s groups. munities of Port Alberni and Courtenay. We're aiming for 250 new subs and . increased reader involvement this fall. | Help make the Tribune the forum for Some 100 people rallied outside the local courthouse and heard Susan Vanderberg from the New Democrats and Communist _ Party speaker Deborah MacDonalddemand no new law on abortion. The Every- woman’s Health Clinicin Vancouversenta _ supporting telegram. Additional action included a sign-up An evening dance helped raise funds for Party, local NDP MLA Jan Rallies were also held in the island com- With files from Nadia Dowson in Victoria and Deborah MacDonald in Nanaimo.