by Valorie Lennox
The Review

Five priorities for allocating the
Peninsula’s share of a $700,000
discretionary social services
budget were determined at a pub-
lic workshop June 17.

Priority should be given to pro-
viding accessible, affordable and
generic family counselling; to a
child care position serving local
native reserves; to a child care
position for out-of-school young-
sters and to a centre for young
families, workshop participants
said.

The 16 people who attended the
Peninsula Communities Social.
Planning Council meeting also
agreed that more comprehensive
planning was needed between all
agencies and levels of government.

Many of those at the meeting
represented community and social
service agencies, including the
Dallas Society, the Saanich School
District, Ministry of Social Ser-
vices office (and its probation
department), Peninsula Associa-
tion for Substance Abuse Preven-
tion and the Peninsula Community

_ Association (PCA). _

Participants chose their prior-
ties following a workshop discus-
sion which identified current

- resources on the Peninsula and
current needs in the community.

Facilitator Barbara Loveday rep-
resented the Victoria Community
Social Planning Council.

She explained that the provin-
cial government had allocated
$700,000 in discretionary funds to

_ the area ranging from the Gulf
Island to Port Renfrew, including
the Peninsula, Greater Victoria and
Duncan-Cowichan.

Allocation of those discretion-
ary funds will be determined by a
regional Child and Youth Commit-
tee following public meetings in
each area, Loveday said.

Several participants felt there
should have been more notice of
the meeting and more people pre-
sent at the meeting to help deter-
mine priomities. :

Bob Leach, of the Ministry of
Social Services, agreed there had
been little notice of the process.
However, he said this is the first
time the government has requested

community input on the allocation
of social services funding.

One issue raised repeatedly at
the meeting was the lack of afford-
able housing in the area, which
creates intense financial pressure
on families and is driving many
people from the Peninsula.

Bill Scott, youth services coor-
dinator for the PCA, noted there
were no municipal council repre-
sentatives — who could deal with
that issue — at the meeting.

The PCA’s executive director,
Barb Fraser, said people may need
to learn that if they live in commu-
nities where housing is less expen-
Sive, they may improve their qual-
ity of life.

“At one point the question was
one of jobs in a community. In this
community the main concern is
housing,” said David Hardcastle,
Saanich school district coordinator
of learning for living programs.

If housing is less expensive,
then two incomes may not be
required and one parent may be
able to stay home, Hardcastle sug-
gested.

Fraser reported that the PCA
offers parenting courses but some-

_ MAKING HIS CHOICE, the Saanich School District’s David

times does not have enough
attendance to warrant continuing
the courses.

“Maybe everyone has abdicated
from the role because they re too
busy to be parents. The parents

who you need to see often don’t
come,” Hardcastle said.

Also cited were transportation
problems and the need to bring
some specialized programs, now
only available in Victoria, out to .
the Peninsula.

Instead of duplicating programs,
it might be possible to borrow
resource people from Victoria-
based programs and offer sessions
on the Peninsula.

“We've got to learn to share,
share our buildings, share our
resources, share our professionals.
There’s only so much in the pot,”
said North Saanich Middle School
teacher Dalver Roach.

Fraser stressed the need to teach
personal responsibility.

“We were raised to believe that
if you have a need, someone will
come and fix it for you,” she
added.

Colin Ross of the Dallas Society
said early intervention through

Hardcastle places a sticker beside one of the services
which he feels are needed on the Peninsula. Participants
at a workshop Wednesday identified how they felt the
Peninsula’s share of $700,000 in discretionary funding

should be spent.

VALORIELENNOX photo

New monthly billing by Hydro opposed by
Sidney’s self-appointed energy advocate

Sidney resident Jim Campbell,
in his own words the “‘self-
appointed Vancouver Island
Energy Advocate,” is leading a
campaign to oppose monthly bil-
ling by B.C. Hyrdro, a practice the
company is to pilot on July 6.

Campbell. believes a monthly
billing system would ultimately
cost the consumer more than the
current bi-monthly billing system.

In any case, is not necessary
because Hydro reads meters every
second month and the intermedi-
ate bill would be estumated, Camp-
bell said.

The problem with the new sys-
tem is that in paying a little at a
time, people would imagine their
Hydro bill was going down when it
is not, he suggests.

In fact, he maintains, “the real
danger in monthly billing is it will
allow the ministry of energy and
the provincial Cabinet to slip in
new rate increases” — increases
he says the public might not heed
in small monthly increments but
would be sure to notice and heed
in larger amounts on bi-monthly
bills. :

B.C. Hyrdro is introducing their

new customer billing system for
Vancouver Island South Region as
a four-month pilot project — to
allow for “testing and refinement
of the system — beginning July 6.
It invites individual members of
the public to submit their views.
While the monthly billing will
be the most noticeable change, it
will not be the only one in billing

practices and comments on all
aspects of the new scheme, includ-
ing the new appearance of bills,
are being elicited.

Campbell insists, “this 1s your

opportunity to participate in a
telephone referendum.” If you
don’t phone, he warns, “we are all
going to receive monthly billing
automatically as a consequence.”

B.C. Hydro will be accepting
customers’ comments and sugges-
tions throughout the period of the
pilot scheme (until around mid-
November) at which time they will
forward the responses to the B.C
Utilities Commission for its
review.

You can contact B.C. Hydro in
the Victoria area at 727-5222.

STRAIGHT TALK |
ABOUT
YOUR MONEY. [

bec

Gers
Fg

5

5 0

(Rates Subject to Change without Notice)

RON GURNEY FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD.
FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS - LIFE UNDERWRITERS
SUITE 10A — 9843 2nd St., SIDNEY (In Marina Court) 656-9393

TeReview Wednesday, July1,1992 — Al4

Group sets priorities for spending $700,000 on social services ~

counselling can resolve problems
before they become insoluble.

Fraser remarked that skilled pro-
fessional counselors cannot be uti-
lized by some people because fees
are not covered by the Medical
Services Plan. One solution would
be including such services under
medical services, she said.

Commenting on the need for a
family center in the community,
North Saanich Middle School
principal Wayne Hunter said an
aging population in Sidney may
lead to extra space in Sidney
Elementary, which would be an
ideal location.

“Its a great facility and it’s in a
perfect place in the community,”
Hunter said.

Saanich North and
The Islands Constituency 4
CLIVE TANNER M.L.A. ;

Residents of the Constituency are invited
to visit or call their new office at

#11 - 9843 Second Street
(Marina Court, behind the Landmark)
Sidney, B.C., V8L 3C7
Telephone: 656-0488

Fax: 655-4906
Open
Monday 11 a.m: - 4 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Other times by Appointment

Security needs.

2040 Teale Pl., Sidney

SUN RAY WINDOW
TINTING LTD.

To much of the Summer Sun’s Heat? Like to
enjoy the full use of your windows while maintain-
ing day time privacy? Wanttoreduce the harmful
effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays? Sun control

film works . .. Talk to us about your Sun Control or

ly

~

—

656-5744

HOUSE OF RUSSEL

HAIRSTYLISTS LTD.

UNISEX

Qur Reputation
is on Your Head

|
|
|
|
i

656-1522 ve«e

®@ Precision Cutting

IN SIDNEY CENTRE
#102-2367 Bevan Ave., Sidney, B.C.
(Next to Safeway)

the choice is yours

Enjoy

surrounding of our

47s enah pasha ane

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

aa ret

COLD BEER &

* Lots of parking

2280 Beacon Ave. Sidney 656-1176

It’s Barbecue Season
Both our fantastic B.B.Q’s. are now open
Poolside or Garden area -

g relax |

WINE STORE - OPEN DAILY
9 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 77 p.m.

* Great selection of popular brands
* If we don’t carry it, we'll bring it in.

NO CABARET COVER CHAR
IN JULY OR AUGUST