@ e@ ss : = Opinion Volume 79 IssueNo.51 ™*Review Wednesday, December 18,1991 — AG ® 14-year-old thieves: Help the police stop them If someone approaches you with a good deal on a VCR just before Christmas, think twice. Sidney RCMP just released figures that show residential break and enters increased to 51 during November from 15 during November 1990. The most startling part of the police Statement is the fact that the average age of those committing the crimes is 14 years old. Someone has to know about these crimes, other than just the person who committed it. Crime Stoppers is an easy and effective Way to get information to the police without anyone, anywhere, knowing where it came from. You don’t even have to reveal your identity. We recognize the trauma homeowners go through from being victimized by punks who trash bedrooms and living rooms. It must be stopped and the police can’t do it alone. If you know anything, call 386-8477. Four-legged friends: The continuing cycle It’s not the nicest subject in the world, by comparison, especially with the advent of the Holiday season almost upon us. But, frequently, the newspaper receives calls from people who are forced, by non-attention during leisure strolls, to deal with the remnants of another’s pleasurable experience. With leisure time expected to be somewhat plentiful in coming weeks, one would assume long walks with one’s best friend could be in order for some. For many Peninsula residents, that friend has four legs, a warm fur coat, a very wet tongue, a cold nose and an exceedingly large appetite for extensive exercise. To power the beast through his daily activity, a healthy appetite is usually quenched with a generous dinner of what his mortal Master might call “mystery meat.” Some is crunchy and tastes bad. Another is soft and lumpy, but also tastes bad. It all goes down the gullet with great grunts, followed by satisfying smacks, and a drawn-out drink of water Then, it’s either a nap or time for more exercise. A run along Roberts Bay, illegally chasing seagulls and flinging oneself into the water after a stupid but mesmerizing stick. An even-paced stroll along the Lochside Drive, pausing for a Slow breath of the sea air and a long gaze at the snow peak on Mt. Baker. A short cut back through Tulista Park, enjoying the sight of children at play and a man feeding the seagulls across the Street. “This is living,” is one thought that could come to mind. Not a care in the world, out with your friend, walking, enjoying his company. According to some people, that level of enjoyment wouldn’t be diminished a great deal if a few plastic bags graced the inside of a pocket, ready to clean up some of the “business,” should the eating, drinking, Tunning, forgiving four-legged friend do it above the high water mark, where fellow men and women walk, too. ™° Review Serving the Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 - First St. P.O. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C.V8L3C9 _ Sidney, B.C. V8L3S5 656-1151 Publisher: Rory McGrath Editor: Glenn Werkman Reporters: Valorie Lennox Advertising: Brian Wyatt Girard Hengen Corrie Morozoff Production Manager: Tamie Sargeant Office Manager: Lori Fitzpatrick Circulation Manager: Wendy Denison AN ISLAND PUBLISHERS NEWSPAPER ccna 4 eS Pr ROLANICOM cSEL NAMED FOR IM AFRAID | STILL WON'T Do... ; “THE' CONTAINS ‘HE i “NAMED” HAS NAN, & WHICH 1S "AMAN SPELLED A HE PRIMARY City 2 ier , WELL, THAT WILL : NEVER DD... a p [pene ell ote cite | fl .f N. Saanich high school reunion Editor: After this year’s very successful Sidney School Reunion, many of the same group were resolved to do the same for those who attended North Saanich High School. There was an organizational gathering in August at Sidney Spit where individuals of various grad years had a trial run and they thought it very satisfying to recog- nize school mates not seen for three or four decades. The target date selected is the weekend of Aug. 29, 1992. If you or someone you know attended North Saanich during its high school years we want to hear from you. We already have contacted peo- ple for most of the years but what we need is addresses and phone numbers of those who have moved away and lost contact. If you can help us give us a call or drop a line. We would like to make sure that no one misses the gathering of the ““Norsmen.” The people to contact: Roland Gilbert 652-2159, Fran Flint 656-2393. Terry Melville 656-1020. Barry Du Temple 652-6221. Opinions better out in the open Editor: It never occurred to me during my 10 years as a Saanich school trustee that my support of the many community organizations dedicated to education might involve me in a potential conflict of interest. I say this in response to your Dec. 4 editorial suggesting that some of our locally-elected politi- cians may be involved in a real or potential conflict of interest because of their membership in community groups (Conflict of interest: Not just business inter- ests, The Review. There can be no doubt about the need for our elected representa- tives to avoid situations where they can profit from their own actions. In this context, you were right to point to the recent court decision in Surrey as a helpful effort to define the appropriate procedures for local politicians to follow. But it is a dangerous leap from this point to the editorial’s sugges- tion that politicians should be required to sever their ties with the many interest groups that are an munity connections to be openly expressed for our scrutiny, not hidden for fear that someone might suggest that they have a conflict of interest. If we know what they stand for when they seek office, and we know how they behave when they Tepresent us, we will be able to make intelligent decisions about whether the should get to hold office again. Gerry Kristianson indispensable part of the local Piers Island political process. 5 5 There is a fundamental differ- P layers I eunion ence between a politician’s ‘‘inter- Rditor: est” in personal financial gain, and his or her “interest” in causes which are important to the com- munity. For this reason, it seems both unreasonable and unfair to suggest that councillors have placed them- selves in conflict by continuing their association with community organizations. How on earth could an alderman’s connection with a Little League organization consti- tute a conflict of interest? I also would like to say that it was most unfair to suggest in your editonal that newly-elected MLA Clive Tanner might somehow be involved in a conflict of interest. How on earth could Tanner’s local businesses involve him in a con- flict of interest? As an opposition MLA he has absolutely no opportunity to make any decisions which might affect his business, except insofar as such a decision might affect every busi- ness in the province. Under B.C.’s Conflict of Interest Act, a vote on such an issue is not a conflict of interest. Might I suggest that the problem with your editorial is found in the first line when you write about “an increasing demand for unbi- ased politicians.”’ If there is such a demand, then it should be opposed, not encouraged. We don’t want or need unbiased poli- ticians. We want politicians who are openly committed to the things in which they believe. We want their views and their political and com- Peninsula Players will be cele- Y brating their 40th Anniversary in <3" September 1992. We hope to hold a reunion for past and present members to commemorate this event. To enable us to plan this, would past members please give me (8088 Rae Leigh Pl. Saanichton, VOS 1MO. Phone 652-9901) their address and phone number so we can contact them. Richard Farmer Secretary, Peninsula Players Comment was shortsighted Editor: -Re: Dec. 4, editorial Conflict of -— interest: Not just business inter- ests, The Review. For the past eight years in the communities of Coquitlam and Sidney, as a coach and member of the executive, I have volunteered SN literally thousands of hours of my . time working with children in Little League Baseball of Canada. I have never heard anything as ridiculous as your description of Sidney Little League as a “special interest group.” I suppose if you consider pro- moting the development of the social and athletic skills of young- sters through team sports special interest, you could be right! Furthermore, you describe my situation as president of Sidney Continued on Page A8 -