Opinion Take the challenge: Revenge last year’s loss Will the Town of Sidney be embarrassed again? Last year at this time the reeve of the Town of Sidney, Ontario was chuckling with pride as our town council was forced to raise the Ontario town’s flag. In 1991, residents here responded dismally to the Partici- paction Challenge with a response rate of only about five per cent. Out in the east, a total of 6,478 citizens took 15 minutes out of their busy day to embark on some sort of physical activity. With an average population of 16,000, the Ontario Sidney achieved a response rate of over 40 per cent. This year, the Peninsula’s Sidney has about 10,000 people and organizers believe that a minimum of 5,000 people are needed to participate next Wednesday to achieve victory. The fun part of it is that any type of physical activity can qualify. Review columnist Helen Lang suggests people dig in their garden for 15 minutes. But there are numerous options available for people with imagination. The Town is setting up a variety of sports equipment at the waterfront near the Centennial bandstand. Among the planned activities is mini-golf, horseshoes, croquet and volleyball. Less strenuous activities also qualify. Wear sneakers and walk to work in the morning. Plan to mow the lawn on Wednesday. Even spend 15 minutes dancing to some of your favorite music. Whatever you do make sure you call in and register your participation. The number to call May 27 is 656-1184. Outrageous gas prices: Give us a break! Motorists on the Peninsula can do well to keep an eye on signs at local gas stations. Some are displaying different numbers. Last weekend, a 15-minute trip into Brentwood Bay from Sidney could save the average motorist a bit of money. There the price was set at 49.9 cents per litre, down from an average of 52.9 cents per litre on the more urban east side of the Peninsula, with one exception. A full-service facility in Sidney was seen with a 49.9 regular unleaded price. Fluctuating gasoline prices are a welcome change for local motorists. In a free enterprise society, one would think that major gas stations would compete for customers as a matter of course. Unfortunately, the practice seems to be the exception instead of the rule. We suggest the provincial government blow the entire gasoline retailers’ industry wide open and encourage compe- titiveness. Last year the provincial Social Credit member for Shuswap-Revelstoke, Cliff Michael, revealed that the proyin- cial sales tax, when combined with the federal GST, equaled 11.49 cents per litre. Add our federal tax and the total tax per litre was 20.99 cents per litre. In comparison, all US. taxes combined total 11.32 cents per litre. Because fuel is a necessity for so many citizens, we believe it would be prudent for the NDP government to make a real step toward slowing cross-border shopping and create a more competitive environment for major oil companies. Eliminate the provincial tax and our prices will be on par with the Americans. Once implemented, major oil compa- nies will be hard pressed to justify higher fuel prices in Canada. As a spin-off benefit, fewer motorists will travel to the States to fill up, thereby reducing air pollution. The Review ‘Serving the Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 - First St. P.O. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C9 Sidney, B.C. V8L3S5 656-1151 Publisher: Rory McGrath Editor: Glenn Werkman Reporters: Valorie Lennox Advertising: Corrie Morozoff John Gelder Production Manager: Tamie Sargeant Office Manager: Lori Fitzpatrick Circulation Manager: Wendy Denison Si BGYGNA Se “MUN BAITISH COLUMSIA AND YUKON 3p. CCNA COMMUNITY. rs, NEWSPAPERS Ps ERS ASSO ASSOCIATION Volume 80 Issue No. 21 = WHATEVER GAVE You THE IDEA PRICES HAD To GO DOWN IN A PRICE WAR"? THEY RAISE THEIR PRICES... —\ WE RAISE OURS: IT'S A TAKE-NO-PRISONERS BATTLE ! SZ S___ (Nae) CASS | A | a y, {ae el TH Pe = t mS Al ATT Wn ©. UIC alternative Editor: There is close to $20 billion spent every year on the biggest problem in our society today, sup- port for the 1.5 million Canadians unemployed, over 11 per cent of Canadians. I suggest that billions of the money be reallocated to the better- ment of thousands of lives. There is nothing worse than to be unemployed, want to work and need to be able to procure employ- ment. Conversely there are thousands of Canadians in their early 60’s who would love to retire if only they could afford to. Also, of the 76 per cent of married women who have work and have children, I am sure there are thousands who would prefer to look after their children if they could afford to. I suggest spending billions of UIC monies yearly to give workers in their early 60’s severance pay for earlier retirement. I also suggest spending billions of UIC monies as severance pay for women who would rather spend time at home with their children. In the long run, it could cost no more or less, and provide work for those unable to find it and provide a respite for those who would like to retire. Also the UIC money could be reallocated to provide six-month to one-year sabbaticals. I feel these ideas could make more people happy more of the time, at no more of the cost. John R. Hunger Victoria Concenirate on getting criminals Editor: A page one item in last week’s Review tells us that the RCMP believe that drugs are being smug- gled into the area and asks for the public’s help to catch the culpmits. On page three in the same edition there are reports of “ Vehi- cles vandalized,” “Residents beware of car break-ins,” “House break-in”’ and ““Break-ins get bucks.” No where did I see that anyone had been nabbed by the police. Page nine of the same edition tells us how the same RCMP are very, very busy nailing lots of speeders on the Pat Bay Highway. I tefer also to your cartoon on page SIX. Is it too logical to suggest that these highly-paid protectors of our society devote their time and effort towards catching the criminal in our midst, rather than aiming at those relatively innocents who in 99 per cent of cases are harming no one, while paying their full share of taxes. Why not let two or three Multin- ova cameras automatically do the job and let the police do what the public requires of them. A. Bridge Sidney Lack of faith disappointing Editor: Regarding Ald. Bill Gordon’s letter in the May 6 edition of The Review (Residents’ choice increased hazard), it is very unfor- tunate that North Saanich council did not take time to listen to the residents of Curteis Point and their advocate Mr. E. E. Readshaw regarding the latest road designs in their area. Mr. Readshaw is the former directory of planning for the B.C Ministry of Transportation and Highways. As a highly respected, retired highway engineer, he was in a position to look at the plans being proposed by the Ministry and those submitted by the Curteis Point Residents Association and give an unbiased opinion. He felt that the residents’ plan would work very well, would meet all standards and presented no safety concerns. As a bonus, this plan saved a million dollars or so, a couple of hundred trees, and reduced a lot of noise for the residents. The residents of Curteis Point have gone to considerable trouble and expense over the past three years to protect their environment. It is too bad that most of the current council did not have enough faith in them to support them. Ruth Jacox North Saanich Recruiting drive for recycling day Editor: The Capital Regional District plans to operate a six-month pilot recycling project beginning at the end of May or early June. The project involves the collec- tion of some plastics, cardboard and mixed paper other than news- paper. The original scheme was to set up permanent collection depots but I suggested a once-a-month collection at one site using volun- teers could be done at a fraction of the cost. Such a volunteer program was carried on in North Saanich for 18 years and proved to be very suc- cessful not only as a recycling venture but also as a social occa- sion. This new pilot project would include both Sidney and North Saanich. The collection site, dates and times will be announced later. The purpose of this letter is to recruit volunteers to help with the program one Saturday morning per month. If the response to the program is greater than expected it may be necessary to expand to two momings per month. If some conscientious environ- mentalist would offer his or her services to co-ordinate the volun- teers, it would be appreciated. Interest volunteers can add their names to a Sign up sheet in the foyer of the North Saanich munici- pal hall or call me at 656-6189. As an aside. I would like to comment on the replacement of the Recycling Crop Box (cans, bottles, newspapers) at the San- down race track. It was removed Continued on Page A8 i