News

Wednesday; February 27,1991 — A10

I

Alderman will go to jail to
support farmers who defy ban

Central Saanich Ald. Ian Cam-
eron is willing to go to jail in
support of Peninsula farmers who
defy a federal ban on growing
potatoes.

Cameron made the remark to
about 75 farmers at a meeting with
council to discuss the future of
farming on the Peninsula, Feb. 13.

“There’s a situation at Pember-
ton right now where Lil’ wat Indi-
ans are blocking a logging road.
Their cause is just as important as
yours., Cameron said.

“Td go to jail for your cause.”

Ald. Clarence Bolt backed up
Cameron’s assertion, saying he
feels farmers have to consider
drastic action to get their message
across to the government.

Farmers told council most of
them face a bleak future and
potatoes are a valuable cash crop
that could tum things around for
them.

An Agriculture Canada ban was
imposed on six potato growers in
Central Saanich in 1981 because
of infection by a worm called the
nematode. 5

Vern Michell, who owns and
operates Michell Farms with his

two brothers, said his business is
suffering because he is no longer
allowed to grow potatoes.

Potato farming used to be the

mainstay of his 200-plus acre
farm, which was one of the Penin- *
sula’s largest growers, he said.

Ever since he and his brother
were barred from growing potatoes

they’ve struggled to keep their

farm solvent, he added.

Federal government regulations
are discriminatory and unreasona-
ble because hobby farmers are still
allowed to grow potatoes in Cen-
tral Saanich, Michell said.

“Research has to date showing

there has been no nematode or
trace of nematode found in an
actual potato,” he added.

“The golden nematode feeds

only on the fine roots of the potato.
We feel our problem is not the
golden nematode bug but is in fact

the government bug in Ottawa.”

Mayor Ted Jones said he would
go “knocking on the doors” of
high level provincial government
ministers to try to persuade them
to help to lift the potato-growing
ban.

Ratepayers elect executive

Sidney businessman Bob Smith
is the new president of the Sidney
Ratepayers for 1991, following the
election of directors Feb. 13.

Cy Relph and Gerry Presseau
are vice-presidents, Dorothy Smith
was appointed secretary and
Howie Norquay was appointed
treasurer:

Also on the executive are direct-
ors Terry Smith, John Salvador,
Oliver Salvador, John Hopper, Jim
Hinde and Ray Wilson.

Outgoing president Jim Lang
reviewed the accomplishments of
the groups since its formation
shortly before the 1990 municipal
election.

The group succeeded in spark-
ing a high voter turn-out for the
election and in encouraging more
open municipal government, he
said.

Issues still needing attention are
development of the Sidney water-
front, the need for a harbor com-
mission and the future of Sanscha
Hall, Lang said.

Sidney Ald. John Calder sug-
gested the group contact Nanaimo
for information on a harbor com-
mission.

Although the waterfront devel-
opment has been scaled down, the
proposed hotel expansion is still
for a seven-story structure, Calder
said.

Lang hoped waterfront propos-
als would be subjected to more
public hearings.

Members suggested forming
committees to review the water-
front development and the ques-
tion of a harbor commission.

Now that the Beacon Avenue-
Pat Bay interchange design no
longer threatens Sanscha Hall,
Lang said the future of the hall
should be considered by the com-
munity.

Questions were also raised
about the future of Sidney’s
marine mammal museum, revitali-
zation of Sidney’s downtown core,
traffic patterns, review of the offi-
cial community plan and illegal
suites.

Lang urged members to con-
tinue their involvement with local
issues.

“We have a new council that are
prepared to listen to us. I think
they°ve made a valiant attempt to
open up the process,” he said.

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