Election ’90

Candidates fire at Sidney council

during two all-candidates’ meetings

A majority of the persons seek-
ing election in the Town of Sidney
have not attended council meet-
ings on a regular basis, a packed
room at the Sidney Senior Citi-
zen’s Centre heard during one of
two all candidates’ meetings last
week.

Mayoral candidate Marie Rosko
watches council meetings broad-
cast on Shaw Cable on community
television the night following the
meeting.

“When you go to these council
meetings you don’t feel like you
can go forward and say anything of
merit,” Rosko said. “What I’ve
seen there I’m not very pleased
about.”

The council meeting attendance
question was posed to all candi-
dates not currently sitting on coun-
cil by Sidney businessman Clive
Tanner.

Aldermanic hopeful Bob Smith

-said he has attended one council

meeting and has found it hard to
get away from a business he oper-
ates in Sidney.

Brenda Harfield said she has
attended four council meetings
and has written letters to council
frequently.

“T was totally dissatisfied with
the cold impersonal replies I got to
those letters,” Harfield said.

Candidate Dave Goulet is one
hopeful who has attended almost
all council meetings.

“For the past year I have pre-
pared for this election and attend-
ed almost every council meeting,”
he said.

Another aldermanic candidate,
Don Amos, said he attended one
council meeting when he wanted
the street in front of his paved.

“I was very impressed with the
way things fly by,” he said. “It’s
like the hit-and-run show.”

Ted Daly said he attended a
recent council meeting when
council considered holding a ple-
biscite on the GST.

But in the past Daly “would
rather do it from the comfort of my
own home, where I can’t be turned
off or insulted.”

Mayoral candidate Arthur Gregg
has attended several council meet-
ings and criticized council for not
holding a plebiscite on the GST, a
move he introduced during coun-
cil’s question period.

‘Talk about putting the cat
among the pigeons,” Gregg said.

Gregg said council should have
ignored advice not to have a ple-
biscite, considering the possible
result of going against the advice
was likely minimal. s

“Private ballot, eh, how about
that?” Gregg asked cynically.

Pressed on the GST question —

later, incumbent candidates
explained their individual stand on
holding a plebiscite.

Ald. Tim Chad said: “I wanted
to see a referendum because | feel
the tax is unfair. I don’t agree with
the way it is being applied.”

Ald. John Calder said: “I felt it
was an ideal opportunity to get an

- expression of opinion from the

people ... not challenge it, just get
an opinion.”

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Ald. Stan Bamford said council
has no jurisdiction or control on
the issue. “I support the idea of
having it but given the advice
(from solicitors) we do not have
the authority.”

Mayor Norma Sealey said the
Town has parents bodies (Union of
B.C. Municipalities and the Feder-
ation of Canadian Municipalities)
with representatives who have
voiced opinions on the GST.

Smith questioned why. the City
of Quesnel could hold a plebiscite
on the GST question but Sidney
council decided it couldn’t.

In another all candidates’ meet-
ing for Sidney, Wednesday, sitting
council members were asked why
a green light is being given to
developments when the sewage
system is overtaxed.

Sealey said that the situation is:
“Not quite as drastic as some
people have indicated.”

She said the sewage treatment
plant has four modules — three
owned by the Town and one owned
by Transport Canada.

Because Transport Canada does
not use its entire capacity, Sidney
has been using space in the fourth
module, she said. A health officer

is the only person with the author-
ity tO impose a moratorium on
development because of an over-
taxed sewage system, she said.

Candidates were also ques-
tioned on the Port of Sidney devel-
opment.

Mayoral candidate Gregg said
he is one of the people who is
critical of the port. Gregg claims
taxpayers have spent $3.6 million
on the Port “that doesn’t have
anything to do with you and every-
thing to do with the developer.”

Rosko heard that “it’s Granville
West catering to the Palm Beach
crowd.” She said an in-depth
study should be taken on the
marina-breakwater complex.

Bamford said that, as of Sept.
1990, the Town has received over
$200,000 in revenue from the
project “and we can look forward
to more than that.” A long term
contract ensures the Town of con-
tinuing revenue, he said.

Amos wondered where all the
people will park once the water-
front development is completed
and Calder questioned council’s
conduct in selling a parcel of
waterfront land that was virtually
“given away” to the developer.

TheReview Wednesday, NOoe 14, 1990

C16

MARIE ROSKO

a part of the

Sane resident 1964

Vice-president Saanich
Peninsula Chamber of
Commerce, 1987-1990

President and founder of
Sidney Association of
Merchants (S.A.M.)
1984 - 1988

Director — Sidney and
North Saanich Memorial
Park Society, 1987 - 1989

Outstanding Citizen
award, 1986 - 1987

Government of Canada
Community Certificate of
Merit, 1988

Local business owner/
administrator for 32 years
Family: husband Lorne,
Children: David, Michelle,
Craig, Kristi, Renee and
Jeni-Lynn

TOWN OF SIDNEY

FOR A BUSINESS LIKE APPROACH TO
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

VOTE ROSKO, MARIE #@
FOR OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THE TAX
PAYERS OF SIDNEY

VOTE ROSKO, MARIE [@
FOR RATIONAL PLANNING OF
SIDNEY’S FUTURE

VOTE ROSKO, MARIE

FOR RETAINING THE BEAUTY AND
CHARM OF SIDNEY-BY-THE-SEA _

VOTE ROSKO, MARIE —

a

ON NOVEMBER 17th
VOTE

FN EN ae oe