Four probes frazzle premier VICTORIA — With four separate probes, investigations or inquiries into his Fantasy Gar- dens involvement going on at the same time, small wonder Premier Vander Zalm is getting a little frazzled. Still, to compare himself to the victims of the Nazi Holocaust seems a trifle far-fetched. It’s somewhat reminiscent of the time the premier compared his trials and tribulations to those of Christ. Mind you, I'm still trying to figure out just what reminded him of the Nazi persecution. I’m sure now it’s the media, although at first it looked as if he meant the RCMP and the attorney general’s ministry. Both agencies are looking into unrelated matters to do with Fantasy Garden World, formerly owned by the premier and his wife Lillian. : The RCMP is reported to have taken over a so-called non-criminal investigation that was started last month by the government's own Financial Institutions Commission. The issue being investigated centres on whether or not the premier and real estate agent Faye Leung agreed to split a commission on the sale of a parcel of land adjacent to Fantasy Gardens, a practice prohibited under he Real Estate Act. The attorney general’s ministry is reported to investigate the handling of a liquor licence by the premier and Fantasy Garden World Inc. The third probe is being handled by Stephen Rogers, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. He is to decide whether the premier committed a breach of privilege by lying to the House with regard to details of the sale of Fantasy Gardens. And while all this is happening, Conflict-of- Interest Commissioner Ted Hughes is working on the mother of all reports which is expected to come down by the end of this month. Hughes is trying to clear up two specific matters. He will determine what role, if any, the premier played in the sale of Fantasy Gardens, and if he did play a role in that sale, was he in breach of conflict-of-interest guidelines put in place by the premier himself for adherence by Members of the Executive Council? Like I said, it’s understandable that under all that pressure, the premier shows the occasional sign of cracking. That’s when he thinks British Columbia is like Nazi Germany. It’s been one of the hallmarks of this premier that he opens his mouth before he engages his brain. As a result he has a tendency to offend large groups of people, in this case Jews in general and Holocaust survivors in particular. “T left Holland as a kid in 1947. I guess we got away from oppression, and this is all very reminiscent of Nazi Germany,” he said. “It’s terrible, because it’s like a bunch of vigilante action and you have to sort of prove your innocence. It’s very depressing,” the premier added. Rudolph Vrba of Vancouver, who was impris- oned at the Auschwitz death camp for two years, called the premier’s remarks inappropmate. “He has no idea what Nazi persecution is,” said Vrba, a pharmacology professor at the University of British Columbia. “Persecution was to be arrested with your whole family and sent to the gas chamber,” Vrba said. But true to form, Vander Zalm bounced back the next day. While holocaust survivors were still shaking their heads over his stupid remark, he had already forgotten all about the incident, and joked with reporters as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Socred caucus members tell repor- ters privately they see no chance of winning an election with Vander Zalm at the helm, but they do absolutely nothing to get md of him. Somehow, they are pinning their hopes on Hughes to deliver such a negative report that Vander Zalm will have to quit, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. If four investigations in progress didn’t make him step down, there’s a good chance the Hughes report won’t either. The premier is convinced the Hughes report will exonerate him and, like Bill Reid:‘he will probably feel exonerated no matter what the Teport says. Sooner or later, caucus will have to make a choice and go into the election either with Vander Zalm, and lose for sure, or without him, and have at least a fighting chance. Museum opens this Tuesday ZAR rats © SS THE DOORS OPEN for the Spring season at the Sidney Historical and Marine Mammal Museum Tuesday. The museum will be open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The official opening will be May 18, after which the museum will be open daily. A new pamphlet has been printed promoting the Beacon Avenue - museum and a doorbell has been installed. For more information, call 656-1322. *k OK SEVEN SAANICH PENINSULA companies or agencies were among the Gold Plaque Win- ners recognized for high employee participation in the 1990 United Way campaign. Plaques were presented at a March 14 luncheon in Victoria to Canoe Cove Marina, Sidney RCMP, Mt. New- ton Centre, Pacific Geoscience Centre, Sidney Review, Town of Sidney, Royal Bank-Sidney and Tanners Books and Gifts. Owner Clive Tanner is also the incoming president for United Way. Money raised by the campaign is divided between 36 charitable agencies. * *K xX SCHOOL STRIKE-STRUCK parents, coping with home-bound children, got some respite from a children’s activity program operated by the Slugget Memorial Baptist Church from 1 to 3 p.m. daily during the strike. Volunteers from the church operated the programs, which were open to elementary and middle school students. * KK PET PHOTOGRAPHERS in grades one through 12 are invited to enter the S.P.C.A. Photography Contest with pictures of their pets. Photographs must be taken by the student and must be color or black and white prints, mounted on a piece of black, light-weight cardboard. Each entry must include the student’s name, school and erade and by submitted to the S.P.C.A. office, 3150 Napier Lane, Victoria, by noon May 1. Winners in each grade category will receive books and ribbons. Prizes will also be presented for the best photograph by a student in grades 1 to 7 and for the best photograph by a student in grades 8 to 12. Winning photographs will be displayed in Tillicum Mall during Be Kind to Animals Week May 6 to 11. * ok x BUNNIES OF CHOCOLATE or plush make better Easter gifts than real rabbits warns the Victoria S.P.C.A. Many of the fragile chicks, duck and rabbits given as Easter gifts die from injuries or are abandoned. The S.P-C.A. wants to discour- age the coloring and giving of live animals as Easter gifts. * * OK A TOY LIBRARY is planned by the Shoreline Community School Association to give children access to larger or more expensive toys which could be borrowed. For information call Josie Harrigan at 386-8367. * KK TheReview Wednesday, March 27,1991 — A7 “The MEN’S Shop” Just North of the a ‘Landmark Building on 2nd St.; 656-4443 * DRAPERIES * ETC. * UPHOLSTERY *x ANTIQUES Ee R PERSONALIZED 6655 TRUDEAU TERRACE i BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C. \. 7} Presenting i 32 656-1333 2446 Beacon, Sidney Born and raised on the Saanich jas Peninsula, I appreciate the uni- |i = queness of our community. Ij | invite you to call me today and f= ask me about my successful Real Estate Marketing Program My commitment to you is honest, quality service. - Pemberton Holmes (Sidney) 656-0911 2, ry ) Soar NGO 7 GF 20 HES WIV308 S oa 3A A *) ae RO ee ¢ © EASTER IN THE COUNTRY {9} Fri., Sat. &Sun., March 29, 30&31st <9 eS ‘© DINNER HAM Deliciously prepared slow roasted sliced turkey with baked dinner ham. Our own chestnut § dressing. Roasted potatoes. Vegetable supreme. Cran- Se, berry sauce. Salad garnish. $6.95 includes GST. &@ CENTRE CUT FILET MIGNON STEAK &e ry a Choice bacon wrapped filet mignon. Thick and juicy. wn Char-broiled with herb butter. Served with baked potato Cs and sour cream. Accompanied with sauteed buttered mushrooms and julliene carrots. Salad garnish. @, 40z.Steak$6.50 8 oz. Steak $9.95 inciudes G.sT. OUR FULL DINNER MENU ALSO AVAILABLE <5, All Dinners Under $10.00 Z % LUNCH MENU 11:30- 4:30 DINNER 4:30- 11:00 p.m. OD) “THE PRAIRIE IN ) yh Neighbourhood Pub = ee MT. NEWTON & EAST SAANICH RD. (ay Cass & All Prices Include G.S.T. No Reservations Accepted ar (Ree EO SO ANY Sa OSS: VOICI ES ‘2 ae Zo @ Ee St