Volume 76 Issue No.50 TheReview — Wednesday, December 12,1990 — - : Planning committee: Equal treatment? for all Faced with a brand new job is difficult for anyone. From the moment you sit down at the chair it’s not difficult to realize that some mistakes will inadvertently happen. Sometimes, reviewing history and gauging experience can prevent mistakes, One can’t help but question the wisdom of some of the recent mayoral appointments to committees. There were many surprises in the recent municipal elections resulting in two councils left with a new mayor, neither with experience at any level of government. But both councils have a little bit of experience to draw from. Unfortunately, the new Central Saanich council doesn’t seem to be using that experience to the best of its ability. The appointment of Ald. Clarence Bolt as chairman of the planning and zoning committee is a point in question, considering the alternatives. One must remember that, although the chairman can and should make recommendations on rezoning applications, development vanance permits and requests for revisions to the official community plan, it’s up to council what ultimate decision is made. The best person for the job is the person who has the ability to get information and inform council on the intricate details of the particular application, provide the background information and take a position based on past council’s precedent, logic and suitability. Other than finance, planning is likely the most important portfolio in Central Saanich. It’s going to require a lot more than philosophical arguments about motherhood issues to Support a no-growth perspective. Objectivity and a great deal of hard work is what will be required of Bolt in his first year of office. As the local area plan process becomes further advanced, we hope he keeps his ears open to all members of the community, not just the special interest groups his roots lie with. Indian land claims: Oka is no example Local natives gave Mohawk visitors a standing ovation last week. At the same time, local native leaders stressed the need to avoid similar conflict on the Peninsula. Oka has served as a catalyst for Indian people and provided self-confidence and heroes to a people in need of inspiration. Wisely, local leaders recognize the futility of repeating an Oka here. Confrontation that involves law enforcement forces will take away from the real issue that native Indians are focusing on. Land claim issues are not going to go away. The Indians are not going to give up and go back to the way of life they once lived. From Oka, they want to establish the next stage in resolving native land claims with serious and respectful negotiating on both sides. Both the Saanich School District and the Saanich tribes should recognize that it will likely be a long process before the dispute over land is close to being resolved. Maybe an interim agreement can be reached to allow the school district’s immediate need to be met. TheReview Serving The Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9781 2nd Street Sidney, B.C V8L 4P8 or PRO. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C V8L 3S5 Second Class Mail Registration #0128 Published every Wednesday 656-1151 : Publisher: Vic Swan Editor: Glenn Werkman AN ISLAND PUBLISHERS NEWSPAPER Beg PRUE WINN Ee CCNALYY ay = 1AM COM = : Soe Sn Ngee EN ane VERIFIED CIRCULATION ~ CONTROLLED SIDNEY LIONS/ REVIEW KIWANIS CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE foe i Ce LS pa el rt | TiO 4 PLEASE RELP. i a — ae FOR INFORMATION CALL XMAS 6S6é- (656-9627) DROP OFF AT 9627 FIRST ST,_ a =) Ey hs Lita an \ indi) (Eee Mafia UTA ere pear arate AACA \ R/T MMILL a i { eS Sia jis a AEA gala inf mae SIDNEY HP TAT My < ~ (ean NDP critical of PM for CBC cuts Editor: An open letter to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. I am writing to express outrage at your calculated steps to destroy the Canadian Broadcasting Cor- poration. Since its founding in 1935 by Conservative Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, the CBC has been a comerstone of Canadian cultural identity, one of the links that binds our country east to west, a way for us to speak to one another, a way to describe our communities and to build our nation. : Because of your government's policies, our regional voices are being silenced, our opportunities to participate in the definition and nurturing of our country are being eliminated, our chance to see our- selves as uniquely Canadian is being denied. Canada is not about “‘short- falls” and “expenditure reduc- tions,” “downsizing,” or “base revenue productions.’ If we wanted to be Americans we would move south. Do you share none of the passion we feel about our nation, or the commitment we - have to establishing caring com- munities? Do you really think you can describe Canada on a balance sheet, and sum it up on the bottom line? One of the few remaining ties that holds our fragile nation together is the contempt we feel for you and your destructive, mean-spirited policies, where we discuss what everything costs, and understand nothing about what it is worth. Elsie McMurphy New Democratic candidate Saanich North and the Islands Crime rampant at Christmastime Editor: Christmas is upon us — once again, unfortunately, so are all you thieves and robbers. For all of you I have a Christmas message. Maybe some of you will stop and think ... and reconsider. A few days ago one of you broke into my parents’ home in Sidney. My father was in a deep sleep at the time, after a 12-hour night shift. He dispatches fire trucks to bumuing homes to save the lives of people like you and your family. It may have shocked you to see my father standing at the top of the Stairs as your final blow broke in the back door. I know it shocked him. I know he had a heart attack three days later. Perhaps you aren’t aware that hypertension is a major cause of heart attacks. Perhaps you didn’t think of the consequences your actions could bring, or sadder sul, perhaps you sull don’t care. You didn’t get what you came for, you turned tail and ran. It may well be that you are planning your next break-in. Maybe you'll get lucky. Maybe you'll get caught. Either way, you'll still be a loser and we both know what happens to losers, don’t we? Sheila Cooper Ottawa Please, Sania! Editor: If the parents and children in Central Saanich were to write a letter to Santa this Christmas, it would read: Dear Santa, This year we would like a new Mt. Newton Middle School. Noth- ing fancy — just one that isn’t falling into a gravel pit, isn’t on a Native Land Claim, and has some playing fields. Four long years have gone by and we have been very good, getting all our work done and waiting patiently. You can find a school just like the one we need in the catalogue called “Buried in government bureaucracy 1986- 90!” We don’t want a luxury hotel or even a golf course — just a school. PLEASE SANTA ... Lynn Lewis New Mt. Newton Middle School Committee Brentwood Bay Polling siation was total chaos Editor: In response to Alix Day’s letter in last week’s Review (Unorga- nized polling station, Nov. 28) many voters, including myself, experienced total chaos at th municipal polling station held 2 the Silver Threads on Novembe 17th. In all my 20 years of acting a returning officer, campaigner, pol ling clerk, canvasser and scrutin eer I have never seen a shamble such as this held at any poll station be it at the federal, provin cial or municipal level. For the information of you readers the scrutineers were nc allowed inside the polling statio until 7:45 p.m., therefore, it wa impossible for any scrutineer t assist voters where to line-up an place their ballots. It has neve been the responsibility of the scru tineer to guide the public, but it : the direct responsibility of th returning officer to see that th polling station is run effectivel and that the ballot boxes ar placed in such a position and at manned either by himself or hi deputy. Many voters were con fused where to place their ballot and some even went to the exter of putting them into the Goods ag Services Tax box, inadvertent! which was situated at the fror door. No one was there to tell ther otherwise. I did not see any policing of th ballot boxes when I arrived at th polling station 11:30 a.m., whic indeed surprised me, and whil waiting in line to register, havir already waited in the wrong lir for an appreciable amount of tim one of the legs of the table holdir the blue ballot box collapse fortunately, no one was hurt. mused, then was this the signal | defeat? One area which concemed m and other citizens, was that som of the people waiting in line‘ register were told to go over to tl incumbent mayor’s campais office on Bevan Avenue so the could sign on, little realizing th they had to cross over Beacc Avenue to Bevan and return bac to the polling station in order vote. Votes were lost, as many peop became frustrated with the traff and what appeared to be an unett cal method of processing, al decided not to vote. Why were 1 council offices not made availab to those voters who needed register? Acting as a scrutineer I noti Continued on Page A