ESTABLISHED 1912 9781 - 2nd ST., Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C5 SECOND ehAS? MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 0128 | Christmas commercialism The Christmas decorations are starting to appear, the visits by a horde of Santas are about to start, and the sales of perfect gifts for not.always perfect friends and family are in full swing. So, this is Christmas. It’s a time when people bemoan the incredible com- mercialism that's taken over the recognition of the birth of Christ. Then they promptly drop several hundred dollars apiece at their favorite stores. . _ Don’t let Christmas turn you into a commercialism cynic. The singing of carols that celebrate the important values of Christmas need not clash with the ringing of cash registers that celebrate business. the essential profit of And Christmas really is an important time of year for much of-the retail sector. It’s the make-or-break season. The profits made during the next month will see many businesses through to another Christmas. Those businesses support the community by paying taxes, dontating to charity, sponsoring sports teams and employing local residents. Sidney wouldn’t business sector. A small be nearly what it is without a healthy community like So support those businesses by shopping locally. And for that warm giow Christmas should impart simply donate money, time, food and toys to the local Spirit of Christmas 1987 campaign. Greet your least- favorite neighbor with a hearty merry Christmas. Be “more tolerant and understanding, in the hope that the spirit will make the rest of the year a little kinder too. . And don’t get too down on commercialism. essential to the community you enjoy so much. What next, Thought police? It’s The torch is on. its way and organizers of.the 1988 *-Winter’ Olympics in Calgary have the public relations — oar machine i in high gear, “walting to show the | world their ci- ty, The Olympics is a time to promote international "understanding, through the excellence of athletic com- . petition.: So: why. are Olympics organizers being fe about use of their name?: as even chosen: ——. a name. Instead, sporting spectacle. . court for that too. Something: funny” happened to. Finance .- Minister. Mel conference last week. “great pains and probably con- siderable cost by. his ministry, ~Couvelier apparently Jost faith in his people's ervstal-ball waz. ing, cancelled: the press -con- ference and proceeded 1a de- ditures ar ‘basis of quarterly reviews, He still released the report, an irresistible temptation 6 many a finance because the figures made the government look gad, : The -report. for: example, “predicts: that the province's economy will araw by 2.8 per cemt this year, The original forecast was ].d percent, the’ ovear-end deficit equally encouraping, Aer vince was expected 10 be in ihe Pnole at. Wiis potod, lag. figutes showed only. a $351 million ‘fodeficit. year at about $300 tmihon, rather than. the anticipated SRS) million, the report. ously starts in ‘Couvelier on his way to a press About to release his quarter: ly financial report, prepared at. ‘nounce the whale practice of . forecasting government expen.» and revenues son. thy bur nor with the usual fanfare > and chestthumping, The lat “ter would. have been presented 1987, ministers: The report's predictions of Instead.” ‘of the $650 million: the: prow expected,” That would: put the deficit atthe end of this fiscal There's more, good news ine such twits -...Not'content just.to harrass those who illegally iden- i tify: their: ‘products with the Winter Olympics, the com- . “mittee wants. restaurants and other businesses —. many)» ..of which used the name. Olympics long before Calgary ‘4 to find newnames. : asi people: from Cowtown seem, to. have forgouen Granted, ‘much of the loot needed to! run. the. Games comes from official, paid use of the word.. But the pro- ‘tectionism Olympics organizers are demonstrating is _taking the issue to unfortunate extremes. - to ~~. Sidney. Elementary School. currently has a Reading Olympics program. Will the Calgary Thought Police soon.be tearing books from the hands of children? When. legal costs.and the bad public relations are counted, it is doubtful Winter Olympics organizers are - gaining anything at all from their effarts. the committee should welcome use of the name as free advertising for their product: an excellent In the meantime, be careful about using the word winter; the Olympics committee may well take you to i @ of ‘ ac Bey, 3 / bey ; poh Weir seeeer mensena nine enaney tcresreeehnnnniira einem ancient: St Pg ae” ‘. gees mt British Columbia’ were with the sammie period jastycar, Seasonally: adjusted employ. menrwas up by 18 per cent for the first nine months af periad last year, Retail sales during the f eight months were impressive S.8 per cent. and manufacturing shipments ine ureised by seven per cent. While all this was happen. ing, inflation: remained relatively low, Phe Vancouver Consumer Price Index rose by oniv three per cent during the first Hine months of this wear And for the jeing on the cake, government UTAL up byouan the rosy pisture fo same ey: ae e Editor: " would: i certainly seem, “has at least as much claim tO. the -ATTHE | LEGISL ATU RE a HUBERT BE YE Re uy BA $7 oper cent for the first nine months of. this year, compared ery valerwed translating jnto 23,000 more jobs than for the Se revenues Wels SEGA Laitiaiaceysteyl phat while expendinres:— were $92 million lower than dtiUeipated, The repop Will sy hanweaels “thar “fexpenditure pressure’ during the second hit -ofthe s fiscal year are likely ta alter everybodys by VIC SWAN, Publisher GEORGE LEE, Editor Proprietor: Island Publishers Ltd. nnteehnete mar eee ets A ey, Janet hada “she said: ‘But she eyes of the which. gave their brief. caged lives for it. Never saw them pac- ing incessantly behind the wire waiting -for-.something they knew was missing. but would never come. She never saw their’ deformed paws,» their ‘lolling tongues, their quiet madness. Never saw the skinned bodies Iving still at last. What a Christmas Janet cooked for Iechn! dinner A fine, plump turkey -~ ‘the best I've. had,”' said John. But he. never house. caw - the projler crammed © with birds +n moins permite minepat Marin paneer ett A eee SN Naeem til oNcVert a“ the original budater deficntat S880 million, av haes able Wo ae eApenautare pr Uxsures shuld bar cot fser by higher rev spies.” thie report SANS, Sn the report, Couvetfer at tritvuges the rmproved GOON Sibel ta the SUPOsy ArOvHiod 3 fescurce mia opartivalariy the fares: STPits, Ge tOr, “Poorest groducts hive-been Mig strengesc Sasnpmasdiny sous ane PGS Pex toawer desels Of housing starts i the ~umiver | Lorted Stabs Mis veur prices hase rericined POSA Teedewehin be ters above hedpart rey Wistdate the dadieiy from the, Teyahee Efbests af Kenny export qin? why y iid arreraee Suab in: Talking to reporters inter; however, Couvelier: mMovked lh qa lt die puri l Lay, eb LM (hat lig AGU pat a dod oF credeinee iN the pradictions, MWe re ready the TS per Couveher talking as tf Were done bette. Hain we. lov ely Christmas. a John: bought her a fox fur’coat. “Tr’s beautiful.” - never looked into the 40 caged creatures curious turn at events, ‘the least, been published te begins pertoraianse af the “aut, ominisury otficials. herding: with: some pood news Opinion Wednesday, De _darkness, never smelled beaks, He wasn't there when his turkey was shackled: . upside down by the legs and went to the. knife fully conscious. John's turkey missed the mer- ciful blade and went to the scald tank-half alive, But vou can’t _taste’mistakes. On Boxing Day. they shared the pate de foie gras — ‘‘cost a bomb. but Christmas comes once a year." they said. But they never. tast upon kilo of maize which was - rammed down the throats of the geese, never saw the birds drag- Now it’ s good, now it’s not ging around: their cages with iisoueht on Worse: than we inouvhe. tr doesn’: means damned thing because. our Prowechions Gust areny ag curate” Ue finanye minister said. Do Why would Coussher: say one thing Ina official report, and repudive the Vabldias: af those statements Hiinutes afrer the report iscreleased? ty a ao say Ifthe figures are as. inane curate ds Couveber sventy ta supgest, (hey. snoulday Mave erty, The minister’s lack caf con: fidence inchis own report akko raises the question whether all HOVEDINENL Teparts are tu be vonsidered . inaccurate and unreliable, on H.oon-the other handy. the report's. predietions are barn Couvelier stands ta be anitiized for ro hreb af con fidence on the. competence: of Pather wary, Couvelien's reaction te has Yuen peeve pe cesebey _ . As things are now, we don’) know whom oto belive + Couvelier, the anther of the, QUAeLy Liflamedad repent. or py, ‘Couveliers the. uritic of his: own yo _ work, ayn that L am dematters: ole fag finance, b. hang Coaveliens: We. author. will prove Ta be correct. We can do forca. change. novniaesutianmanaessmamamesesintianes noses aaisceanantaisoissmesannnsscnmrennsanatssnnannevesnainmneeciontuiettentnaniensenieasatenane i. cember 2, 1987 Page A4 only. ed the Kilo | diseased. livers, never. saw ‘the from the still-warm bodies.. maize 4 day: tasted nice. This is. Janet'and John’s idea of a happy Christmas. “No doubt they will go to church to celebrate the birth of a. child whose life was a testimony. to compassion, mercy and love. No doubt ‘they. never. knew of the massacre they perpetuate in John. Yes, but it : His name. blood as’ the livers were pried. - “With some: thougit, John and allof us can reject and: avoid this cruelty and suffering: and. celebrate with true. love passion. Sidney Coordinator, Vancouver. Island Vegetarian . Association Review coverage — _ of election praised — ‘Editor: Your coverage of the recent murmicinal glectians eas well handled. In regard to the Sidney elec- Uon,- if is notable .that two neweamers headed the alder manic poll. An analysis of the votes leaves the impression that, had. there been more entries in the aldermanie race, it is quite conceivable that there would be more hew faces on-council, We applaud the courage of. Don Phillips and Arthwa Grege | for their efforts to draw: the at- tenuion of the electorate ro what - appeared. lo be. inconsistencies’. | in the agreement bemveen the — developer of the waterfront and . the council. As a result; at least one amendment nt) the. agree: Ment concern transient ber- : No ° place for innuendo breakwater -- disturbed by the hasty way the Agreement was signed between, Own ebected ths emerged. Who knows, upon sober reflection, other amend- nents might fallow, oo Toimust again emphasize that We Were never against the but) we the council and the developer. Itis to be hoped thatthe new “members on council will be their. thein: homework before committing men Saad odo themselves toasty decisions, No matter whoo waserlectedss »Wwe-owe a-debt of: erutigide tc hase who avcepted: omtinits tions. Goad citizens all! ; Tclose with every aod Wish! caring, . ae and a little creativity, Janet.and: Force: fed with six ‘Pounds of were | AG case against « eating meat — a. squabbling in perpetual semi- | the. “filth, never saw the man with - the red hot cutter slicing off the © this Christmas. and active com-. Pat Bastone to all members. of the Newly: wa uw near). “Nell Horth Sidney in North Saanich | Editor: During the recent ‘election campaign. in North: Saanich aliiust Grciy sundiddaie seemed 10 Want too maintain al rurale Inosphere.” Some of the basic “ingredients , of suche an at Hhosphere ate friet idliness, GOr “Operation and decency. Innuendos and accusations by one candidate and her sup- porters, directed at Lloyd Hare irop certainly do nor belong. in -thiscammunitye eo Ina truly rural CONMUTLY “theres wname for sneh rubbish” _ as we have Witnessed in the past few weeks =< it's manure, TP regret thar most verers did: SNOT SCO his way, and te Thase Who did not vote and are disap: > pointed with the resultas Byar) had better Vote West tinne! | . L. - Mutholland, +a -N, Saanich