ESTABLISHED 1912
- 9781 - 2nd ST., Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C5

VIC SWAN, Publisher
SUSAN McLEAN, Editor

Proprietor: Island Publishers Ltd.

Wednesday, April 23, 1986 Page A4

SECOND CLASS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 0128

Excuse

Unable to dream up a plausible justification for axing
the Early French Immersion program just might be the
‘undoing of the Saanich School Board.

Since its inception a decade ago, the EFI program has
gained popularity like a steamroller on.a_ downhill
grade.

In 1983, there were 227 youngsters registered in im-.
mersion classrooms. The following year brought 302
enrolees, and 386 in 1985. This year, the total reached
448 children participating in EFI in the 6,276-student
district.

The erowth continues.
Keating and Deep Cove schools for the upcoming fall
‘term shows 53 children in the English program and 93 in
French immersion.

There are no additional costs to local taxpayers as
federal start-up grants foot the bill for initial and expan-
sion costs. After that, costs for teaching in either

language are similar.

There are premises available, if the trustees would be
less concerned with election tactics and more with fin-
ding a suitable solution.

But with months of. endless and fruitless. debate
behind them, the majority of trustees simply became fed

‘up with the entire issue and hoped to end the dilemma
with one fell swoop. | oe

They might even have got away with it, had trustees

- had the foresight to contrive a worthwhile excuse. But
citing “frustration”. and ‘“‘taking too much time’’ is
ludicrous.

Now they have a giant battle on their hands. C’est la
vie.

Lor "7 cost he using
need din Sidney

~ Nothing brings ered: to the fore likea ‘lopsided game
of supply and demand. ‘One side lakes home the winn-.
ings, the other doesn’ t havea home. to.go home to.

‘lost.

~seen everal years ago, now: remain relatively. low

result, more. ‘and. more ‘people. are. scooping up “good:
-buys”’ -then: renting them.out at inflated prices.

ae ‘mortgages. ere

But’ those~.on “fixed incomes
students, the. unemployed,
“parents — are especially: taking" the brunt of this im-
~~ balance.

Tiny, run-down houses with long. lists of deficiencies
are being rented out at exorbitant prices t to people with
no choice. .

What is urgentl "iceded, articular! in Sidne sis» :
g y: P y Ye _-sent council: in’ regard to the

~ waterfront development.

| would entrust everyone who:.

_more middle to low-cost housing. .

One answer . might be to look “skyward. Thére
nothing | wrong with building up rather than out.
OA decision made a couple of years ago by Sidney

council not to allow residential units above a commer-:

~:- cial. floor should: be reconsidered. It can be a conve-

nient, rompanne and. affordable arrangement for all

“parties,

People. will come —— they want to live here ~~ ~and they -

cw:

must have shelter.

ae VICTORIA Prince: S Rupert
“MLA Graham Lea onee said if
‘the government used - napa oe,
fo keep: British Columbians.)
4 under: control, all the auditor _
“general would:want to know
“was. whether proper accouns
“ting, procedures were. follawed:
ine om anufacturing: Or. buying
“the stut't,;
With all sing respect 10 Lea,
“that's exactly what Irma. More:
rison'’s. job is. He: isntte the ©
‘V. auditor general's. ob 10. pass:
_ judgment onthe morality of a
government. : That's forthe
Voters to decide. The auditor.
~ general’s job is to see that the
books are i in order. wo
Tie Mis. Morrisons net: ©
very flamboyant, but then,

aroun

et
shee” Gh, 24

in excess. of $50,000.\0 year
eannot.. be. awarded |
“ministry. Tt needs approval
from the tre
up of cabinet ministers. -

We're not talking about
small amounts. Inthe year en-
‘ding March 31,. 1988, expen-
ditures ‘for such professional
services toumied $4132 millions”

Kindersarten: enrolineni at

senior. “citizens, a
low- -income ‘earners, single Ae

“LEGISLATURE
- HUBERT BEYER »

tract’ for: professional: services -
“by: ae

USUTY. board, made

One. unidentified ministry, -

foly | ACCOUDTANES are, Siilly che

had no hand in it) makes ine
teresting reading.
. Taspayers wie

‘ know. how some”

Walt.

aw: thsi

Pereport. that. csome ©
P bureaucrats: have found AWAY
tO. get tLauAG spending. son
trols mnpased by ut overt
UIment

“ts

-1986.annual report Ue swear, be

“money, is used. mays bes ine
rented te fit nde out from th: i
wily

The rales wily’ on amy ‘con:

according, to Mrs: Morrison's —
‘report, circumnavigated that
vbstacle by splitting contrac
— above the $50,000, ceiling into.
Bree DW CONTE,
“treasury: board sApprowi M eed: 7

AAO. .-
ed.

attennpy to circumvent: fn. ime

_porrant controd on. the expen.

diture.s Of -paublies monies,’

Morrisan sahil oc

Bad: debts ‘owed the: forest

amine by forest companies, :

No.

" This’ ] view oil wait rdrate

(UNHARMED

FLEA)»

THE FAMILY.

- Don’ t split School District 63

 Kditor: | -

lam writing résarding French
Immersion.» As aparent with
children in. the Saanich School
District, | am.very distressed by

whatI--have read and heard
' from trustee Rubymay Parrott..

Our... school.* board: has «not

_been: trying to get.rid of French
The dirth-of affordable rental. housing ‘in the Sidney -

area shows what happens when: that tenuous balance i is .

Immersion. : for years... “It met

‘with‘parents from all schools af--
wh fected..

“ Sidne arents:.
Property and housing values: after ‘the sky-high prices: yee

when. sion‘

“compared to. other areas’‘of Greater” Victoria. As a~

Trustees’ : “met.

“saying -

in” Sidney, School:

Editor: =.
Thank - you’ Ald. Stewart
Mackay for bringing the atten-
tion of residents and_ratepayers
of Sidney the antics of our pre-

cares about this lovely town of

Sidney to watch Cable 10 on.
Tuesday evenings when Mon-.

days’ council meeting is broad-
cast and view. the rubberstamp-

ing by Mayor Norma Sealey and:

‘the three yes-men of all. her.
discusions.

Remember also that her four

AT THE |

Dalen eeealneat and

reer 8 cemenaneteaws mom :

‘the | report: said, had “neatly

» doubled i inone year,
Bad economic = times,

slump. . That's not. the: only
reason, according — to, the
auditor general, Some oft the
debt is due to.the ministry's
> failure to -provide fast ine,

formation for collection pro
“cedures and. inconsistent ap.
plication of collection policies, .

You always’ had ja. bunch |
~ that there was» amore than
enough: government. vehicles.
son the, road, ~The
_ general provides «more than:
‘just. a huneh. She -says the:

“government, OWNS. 100. many. come withouta price tag of its

“Wehiules | (about G,000)

this

perly.
She said the
docan't have enough informa.

tion to be sure that it receives however, it's

_ Rood value for its Meet money ;

'

with...
~ they.
is wanted _to. put..French . Immer-.
: The: “eh
~ parents in the Sidney area” were”
- overwhelmingly opposed. to this
» idea,:
but

Ae: ‘, hse ae oy os vand?
= :

"rely more. “on:
© employee owned vehicles. ae
ALL told. government:

. Workers travelled 150. million

Kltomertes in. 1985, 80 per cent
of:

7 Vehicles,

“section listing the: status of ©
recommendations she made-in

‘you
“say. The forest industry isin ae

“not quite to Mrs, Morrison's
satisfetion, while about half a

found out and exposed.

wrongdoings and sloppy. ace”
_tuditor. ©

doesn't) use a lot of them pro 7

: million: in the. A9RG:RT: fixcil
yovernmens we

because the board, including
Parrott, could give us. no
guarantee: that .- existing ~ pro-
grams: in-the ‘school (i.e. learn-
ing assistance, . library, or
enrichment) would ‘not be com-
promised.

We have,. due to the restraint.
. program, lost programs such as -
, Music ard’ some. of.:our’ class~

sizes have increased.:The:schoo!

their children. I also: feel-I have

-Rubberstamping

previous years of occupancy of
the. mayor’s chair produced the >

Landmark building which _ is
completely out. of character of

our little town. Sidney could : .

have been so beautiful with the
tight architectural building at
the end of Beacon Avenue.

So please let us-all. take an in-
terest in what is happening .in
council before it ‘becomes too
late to correct some horrendous
‘Waterfront development: which
we will regret forever.

‘Mina Craig.

Sidney

vol nent

should

“government: owned -

“The teport “ro. contains a

previous: annual reports,’
According © to ‘that report

card, most recommendations |

have been implemented, some

dozen | recommendations -
main unimplemented,
The real value of having an
auditor general. is, of course,
not that. wrong-doings .

res

are |
It is.
that fear of exposure prevents

counting for “public expen.”
ditures inthe first place, :
That ‘assurance, doesn’ t-

owi, The agile general han
staff of 87 and will’ spend $4.4.

years
AI things: ‘considered,
“money well.

_SPent.

Me

learning assistance -if needed.

“went into.Deep Cove. School,”

- guaranteed there. would be no.
: programs
“board listened to our concerns. * “among. the. ‘children. Indeed - it:
I-resent Parrott. turning this.
“into a political. and. election - wounds are slowly: healing. We. =:
‘issue.’ As a:-parent;:1 respect the ~
rights of ‘other. parents. to have'a™

choice of French Immrsion for
‘not.because. we. didn’t.

wn Ps want. French Immersion, °
~ Pretty. nice move to have renters pay for. two or three = Biel

‘learning “assistance: -
» Who.-are coming from. the Deen: By,
Cove areas.”

the right. for. my child. to® have cee
~mersion could be’placed in one...
school,

‘choose to: continue with © the.

ib plete with five golden floweri ing heads was discovered by R

 Welleaweall know. that two heads are better than One, argh, aoe
HONK HORNS, FLASH LIGHTS, = or playcitcup however you
See fit! Expo Eve celebrations.should take, plage throughout the,
‘ province, May Patho pan. sharp, Expo president Jind Patisondn-

I
during Expo’s:*Fun-ta Sea Island: Week’) North Saanich resident |
|
1
|
]

sign on Highway £7

“Teadjusted. by ROMP... GA REMINDER from NorihoSaanieh |
Sire dnspestor. Ed Banas who asks the public. ty be varefub with oo:
“bed Tes, AOI usin Wan gte Tas Vast choad taatan qibivbly atid tae
often left abandoned, Keep your tooaely tres at ar “be How the bipho
watermark, Good advice for everyone's sake Se. OOPS, those op
oo @remlins potinta the photo eutlines wean,

Native Women's Association co-ordinators Molly Diistiels ant Rass:
ooly Underwood whieh appeared in hist week's edition showed Molly
“as Rusty, and Rusty as Molly, Raises Underwoad 16 the prarram cer

district and cause hard feelings
among parents. We are not..as
divided as you would: like us to. |
be. Let’s. get on™ with: good.
education.

Sidney School has a good learn-
ing assistance program. We, as
parents, have worked: hard tu
assist our excellent teachers. to
keep it a good program.

Verna Popejoy,
’ When . French Immersion

Sidney

parents'-and ‘staff .were =.

lost...or no... splits... :

was deeply. divided. and: those... di

-were visiting from out of town: |

.
{
|
|
i
iy
i
i
}
accompanied’ me ‘to a fashion 4
‘show. held © at. St. Elizabeths: ae

have. children i in Sidney. School’ S:
‘program’ ™

Catholic Church. eae

IF would like: to. “compliment :
the women involved for.not on-

- ly:presenting a: professional- -like™
show but also: for the warmth °
and friendliness shown to. us. 1:
am relatively new. in town and
was made to feel very welcome.

A big bouquet to all concerned... |:
-- Julia Gardiner — -|

1 feel that perhaps French Im- ‘

totally’ French Immer-~
sion. For those. parents. who’:

general program, with’ French
as a Second. Language in place,
they should be allowed to do so.

Please don’t split this school

FROM THE ;
_ TOP. OF THE PILE.

=e ! : cone
co ore BSS d . ; ; :
DOES FREE CAMPING sound like your cup of tea? Volunteer
campground hosts are needed for July and August at Goldstream,

Mill Bay-and Sidney Spit: provincial parks. kor more info call
Cathy: “Mackin, - 387-4363. 0.0. PENINSULA. STUDENT.

-ORATOR David Taylor is offsto talk-it up atthe 4H Speakers

Island. finals, 2.0... NEVER BErORE SEEN, a dandelion com-

ae Kerr

. during one, of her picking sessions dast week on Last Saanich Rd;

The avid winemaker also spotted some siamese twin dandelions.

vag Wee

Vitesse LOCAL MUSICIANS SCORES BIG. and will play

James Bond Jr. and: his group Chevy Ray and tlie Fins are parteof

talented” Island Will, es

CLAREMONT. CHESS “MASTERS

took, first prize in the first annual inter-igh schou chess. LUM

despite being one player short, David Gardner's performance prove

~ ed pivotal tonthe ‘victory. eve BELATED CONGRATULAS co
TIONS. TO, North: Saanich: “mayor Lloyd Harrop. and wife: Gwen.

who’ celebrated ‘their 4Sth “anniversary twolweeks ago. oe.
ANOTHER POSITION FOR Sidney: mayor Norma Sealey: whe “
was recently named.to: the. Victoria, Regional. Transit, Comoiis:
sion. oo NO SMOKE: PROJECT received hanors’ for North:
Saanich student. Kelly MacGregor at the recent: IMand Highschool 7
Science Fair aU View... 6 OA WELE EARNED community service -
award was presemed to Paul and Margaret Anderson by former) 4
president of Central Saanich Lions, Jim Atwood, April lh. Choo :
going, . 6. UPON TOURING the BiG... Provincial Mtuseum: in - 7
Victoria, at Review staffer discovered paper cit-ont bits for ehildre i po

* forsale in the giftshop, Gront-dideay dntono cutee of-Cangdias

subjects = just U.S. president George Washington. Bip irather, i
mMoveover, oo e VANDALS not appreciating Me new hirge Lape
recently decided fo spruce it wn vit with anes
rr’ S"" in front and oT. ticked on fo the ends The pew word was!

Picnures afte

ordinator cand “Molly:
hate... CANADIAN:

Daniels.
Ladies”:

the researchers:
Air-pistat

SOT’
CUNO:

"Pane oo
Trudy

» Danard. cof Central Saanieh qualified to attend the Subd invita:
ional shogt in Gist Gerniany, May 16. The soon is a pretest of | :
ve the range. 10. a ive in the W oF Id c Mamiplolnans this EDIE a

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