Continued from Page A6 great B.C. is and how much better things are getting. ““Hard core” unemployed and people in need of local health care are hardly con- vinced. To strengthen communities whose residents are experiencing hardships, and to provide. neigh- borhood child care and commun- ity based health care will be the tole of the Ministry of Community Development. Its activities would be co-ordinated with local govern- ment, church and neighborhood groups and volunteer organiza- tions. The local MLA would tailor the services provided to fit local needs. By getting residents work- ing together, the quality of life for all residents of B.C. can be enhanced. Communities lacking a base of operations could be sup- plied with administrators to build a community organization that fos- ters the self-respect and autonomy of residents to solve their common problems. A good, viable plank from the election platform of the B.C. Lib- eral Party. Elmer G. Wiens Victoria Education record an election issue? Editor: Incredible but true. The Social Credit government has chosen its education record as an election issue. Education Minister Stan Hagen has sent a glossy “Back to the Future” brochure to every house- hold at taxpayers’ expense, and the premier has sent articles to news- papers around the province. They want voters to believe that B.C. spends lavishly on education, that school construction is a prior- ity, and that teachers’ salaries are too high. The facts are different. In Van- couver, ten schools are still waiting for 32 new portable classrooms, leaving hundreds of students in libraries and gymnasiums. Surrey’s School Board says all Surrey schools are sharing the pain of the $17 million cut from their operating budge. Good teachers are leaving B.C, citing impossible working and learning conditions in their resig- nation letters. And around the province unfair legislation like Bill 82 continues to cause disruption, chaos, and confusion in school districts. The Rita Johnston-Hagen claim that their government spends more on education than other provinces is just a shell game. It depends entirely on the government’s removal of school board autonomy by confiscation of control over residential property tax collection. What is clear is that the 1991 spending increase on education is substantially less than current inflation rates. In real life in our classrooms, . that means cutbacks to our stu- dents’ programs. Johnston and Hagen claim the average teacher salary is $51,000. In fact, the average salary of a B.C. classroom teacher is $42,765. Johnston and Hagen would have you think all is well in our schools. But teachers and parents and others concerned about education know better. They know the educa- tion system can meet is challenges only if there is stability, respect for teachers, fairness, and the resources to do the job well. Why would Johnston and Hagen distort the facts, treat teachers unfairly, and ignore what the school system really needs? We can only conclude that this government does not fully under- stand the important role a quality education system can play in the future of our province. Our schools and our students deserve better. Ken Novakowski President BCTE Vancouver Long history fo interchange Editor: The news item of Sept. 4 quot- ing Mayor Marie Rosko (Clear direction needed for transporta- Come to Dairy Queen Today and enjoy a single Burger or medium shake for only 99¢ each. — Limited time offer — SIDNEY D.Q. 2323 Bevan Ave. The Sidney Dairy Queen is a participating sponsor of the British Columbia Children’s Hospital thru the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. 656-3339 tion, The Review) about the Town’s problems with the Pat Bay high- way needs further elaboration. The massive Beacon Avenue interchange proposed by the Min- istty of Transportation and High- ways and endorsed by the previous Sidney council became an election issue in November resulting in the election of the present mayor and council. The very first item of business of the new council was to rescind the previous council’s approval of the interchange. Mayor Rosko then approached an accredited profes- sional engineer and transportation specialist, William Zonnenberg who had retired to Sidney from Ontario. In response to the mayor’s request, Mr. Zonnenberg prepared an overview of the highway prob- lem and made some preliminary suggestions for highway connec- tions in and out of Sidney without the negative effects which were Continued on Page Al1 TheReview Wednesday, September 25,1991 — A8 24 HR. TOWING Phone 656-3939 “Serving the Peninsula for 28 Yrs.” GURTON’S GARAGE LTD. TIRELAND SIDNEY VISA * SHELL * MASTERCARD Corner of McTavish & E.Saanich Rd. 656-3939 There’s a Friend who can help you with every move you make. AWhe_ DAVIDSEN 652-5171 NRS Peninsula Properties VICTORIA AIRPORT Travelodge “BEAR PUB” MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL * Specials * Prizes * Chicken Wings 25¢Each * HALLOWEEN DANCE in “BEAR PUB” and “IMAGES” Prizes for Costumes SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26th 656-1176 2280 Beacon Ave. z | Travelodge | Technology Fund. Transportation. aoe ay British Columbia i Science and technology are the keys to strengthening B.C’s economy. They unlock doors for B.C. companies to expand their operations and introduce new products and systems. At times, though, scientists, engineers and technologists need assist- ance to turn their ideas into action. That's where Technology B.C. comes in. Technology B.C. is a program administered by the Science Council of British Columbia for the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology, with funding from the Province’s Science and Science & Technology Fund Technology BC A place in your future. Deadline for the next Technology BC competition is 5 PM, Friday, November 1, 1991. Results willbe __ announced approximately three months following the deadline. For information and application forms contact: Science Council of British Columbia #800—4710 Kingsway BURNABY, B.C. V5H 4M2 Telephone: (604) 438-2752 Call toll-free: 1-800-665-SCBC (7222) Fax: (604) 438-6564 This program has already helped lift dozens of projects off the drawing board and into development in such diverse areas as Agriculture and Food; Aquatic Resources, Biotechnology; Computers 5 and Computing; Electronics and Communications; Energy; Environmental Technology and Waste Management, Forestry; Forest Products; Health Tech- nology; Manufacturing and Machinery; Mining, Minerals and Metals; and Science Council of __ British Columbia Be a part of British Columbia's future Cc Av" Ministry of Advanced Education, B BZA Training and Technology