Opinion What the people want: Not just assumptions Respecting the wishes of the public and making politically rhetorical statements that “the electorate spoke loud and clear’ during the November municipal elections may sound good to residents of Central Saanich. We’ve certainly heard it enough. When questions arise on the preservation of agricultural land, several council mem- bers refer to election platforms that touted preservation of the rural quality of the district. Ald. Bruce Tobin is one of the most vocal about his convictions. During council’s discussion on the Saanich School District’s rezoning request, Tobin read from a prepared statement that began with his interpretation of why he was elected. What Tobin chooses not to put in the limelight is the fact that during the November election only 2,368 people supported his platform by marking an X on the ballot beside his name. Obviously, to be precise, 2,368 pcople “spoke loudly and clearly,” of 9,094 people eligible to vote. Mayor Ted Jones continues to insist that previously- approved bylaws allowing John Berglund to construct the Brentwood Lakes golf course on the Maber Flats farmland property were against the wishes of the community. The basis for the argument, again, is the result of the November election. To make assumptions on the motivation behind a yoter’s vote, several things must be considered. Former mayor Ron Cullis (who received 1,371 votes), held office for a significant period of time. Could the people have merely wanted a change? But, putting aside the assumption that all those who voted did so to voice their opposition to the golf course proposal, we come to the basic flaw in Jones’ argument. The fact is, only 43.5 per cent of the Central Saanich population voted in the November election, the lowest voter turnout of all three Peninsula municipalities. If the silent majority didn’t even get out of the house to cast a ballot, how can one assume what the majority of the electorate wants? Mayor Jones wouldn’t comment on a May 6 discussion of a proposal by would-be developer Berglund to hold a referendum on the Brentwood Lakes golf course because the item was discussed in camera, behind closed doors, and because the matter is before the courts. Berglund rightly says there is controversy over what residents really desire. That controversy would be put to rest by a referendum being held, with Berglund paying all costs and abiding by the result of the vote, as proposed. There is more than one benefit to the municipality. Legal fees to defend a B.C. Supreme Court action scheduled for May 23-24 could be avoided. The council could finally find out what most of the residents want, assuming voter turnout at the referendum is sufficiently high. And, perhaps a council with foresight could tag the Panorama Leisure Centre funding question on the ballot and really save taxpayers some money, That question will have to be asked via referendum regardless. The only obstacle seems to be a technicality, according to Ald. Clarence Bolt. A binding referendum would commit council members before the required public hearing on bylaws to approve the golf course — assuming a majonty yotes in favor at a referendum. Perhaps a mutual agreement could be negotiated between Central Saanich and Berglund to clear that barricr, so the electorate’s true wishes can be expressed and council has a clearer direction on what the future of the Maber Flats farmland should be. Volume 77 Issue No.17 ON JUNE 22, EH? YEP! GONNA DO MY BIT To HELP PROTEC] RURAL CENTRAL SAANICH! ~TheReview Wednesday, May 15, 1991 == AG GETIING READY FOR THE COUNTKY MARKET AT SAANICHTON FAIRGROUNDS @ TheReview Serving The Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 ist Street Sidney, B.C V8L 3C9 or BO. 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 VERIFIED CIRCULAT:ON: Good lobby for highway Editor: Hats off to the Saanich Penin- sula Chamber of Commerce and especially chamber spokesman vice-president Paul Deeton (Chamber calls for Pat Bay work, The Review, May 8). The small pressure groups tel- ling the Highways Ministry have been too vocal altogether. It is about time people with expertise have: more recognition. On with the removal of all traffic light controlled intersec- tions on the Pat Bay Highway between Swartz Bay and McKen- zie Avenue, and immediate con- struction of interchanges as origin- ally proposed by the Ministry. A.E Benbow Sidney. Fair site for school before it’s too late Editor: Re: Relocation of Mt. Newton Middle School. The School Board seems incap- able of learning from its previous mistakes. Cost and urgency have been their excuses for no choices or poor choices for a school site for the past four years. Though the Agricultural Society has expressed a strong desire to move to Cumberland Farm during this period, not once has the School Board put in a firm offer to the Fair Board. A suitable location from a plan- ning perspective is crucial to the taxpayers, the environment, the ALR and above all the safety of the children travelling to and from school. The actual site cost can be dwarfed by sile preparation and upgrading of services to a rural area. Take the Gowdy Road exam- ple: site about $115,000, buffer zone about $500,000. Add to that an estimated $1 million estimate to upgrade Stelly’s Crossroad, and it 1s easy to see how crucial location can be. Having ignored the Official Community Plan re environment and the ALR, they now tout the Wallace Drive site as the only possibility and once more we are told to accept this for the sake of cost and urgency. The site cost here is about $300,000, but add to this the cost to fill in the ravine, to culvert the winter creek, to clear and level the land, to bring in the necessary road and services, to place a six-foot chain link fence and a 50-foot buffer strip of dense vegetation around the perimeter. This esti- mate is an additional $400,000- $600,000 and there are no guaran- tees that this estimate will not double or triple before the job is done. Is this a safe route for Keating Ridge children to cycle along? Is it possible to add-a cycle lane along Keating Crossroad through the industrial park? If so, what will it entail and what would be the cost? What would be the upgrading costs of Wallace Drive, Marchant and Greig avenues? These are narrow roads. For the sake of the taxpayers, the environment, the ALR but above all for the safety of the children, the School Board should take instant action on the old fair- grounds site, before this opportu- nity is Jost. Brenda May (Mrs.) Saanichton Time to recognize Sidney’s pioneers Editor: Congratulations to the Town of Sidney on its 100 year celebration and thanks to The Review for all the pictures and articles it runs on the pioneers of this area. Being the descendant of a pio- neer family myself, I find it very important to remember one’s roots. I would hope that The Review could find the space to do an article on the Brethour family. I don’t think many people know the family donated all the land the Town of Sidney now stands on, and were also responsible for the establishment of the V.S. Railway and many other local businesses. I would also hope that on this 100 year centennial that the Town of Sidney would in some way recognize pioneer families for their most generous contributions to the development of this com- munity, and in this way perhaps descendants 100 years from now will also feel proud as they walk down the streets of Sidney. Kelvin Campbell Sharon Watters Sidney Stay tuned Editor: E. Stockall (May 1, The Review) complains that Mel Couvelier, MLA, was not available for ques- tioning on the open line program MLA Report, Shaw. Cable, April 23, as advertised. The regular program was can- celed because Couvelier was cal- led to Vancouver on government business at short notice. In its place, a pre-taped interview with Couvelier from Rogers Cablevi- sion was substituted. ~ MLA Report is an open line program aired monthly since December 1986 providing viewers with over 50 opportunities to ques- tion Mel Couvelier on any subject. I hope that E. Stockall will be among the viewers of MLA Report on May 16, at 7 p.m., to phone in questions and find that Mel Cou- velier really listens. & | Alex Kilpatrick MLA Report producer Sidney Council is missing the opportunity fo _ let people decide © Editor: The Oxford Universal Diction- ary defines democracy as: govern- ment by the people; that form of government in which the sovereign power resides in the people, and is exercised either directly by them or by officers elected by them. The idea being that those elected officers do what the people believe is best. My understanding is that what the majority wants is the best decision and that is what makes democracy the wonderful and powerful system it is. One of the efficient democratic = tools is the public referendum. The way it works is one question and one vote. The yes and no votes are added so we know what the people want. It’s simple and relatively fast. Then why not use them more you say? Because they are expen- Continued on Page A8 ———————