|Your Community Newspaper! UACS >*«^»* *fe, ^, local bigb school students plan selection of plays. See Arts and Entertainment Page A19. Gulf Islands Group looks to organize island track and Driftwood field club. See Sports Section Page A31. VOL. 32, NO. 11 60 CENTS GANGES, BRITISH COLUMBIA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1 991^ Ministry deals hard blow to school district Education ministry budget an­ Initial examination of School Dis­ Starling told school board members Superintendent of schools Mike He says the Gulf Islands district nouncements have hit the Gulf Is­ trict 64's 1991/92 per student budget at a special weekend meeting that the Marshall attributes the decrease to was so harshly affected because "the lands harder than any other B.C. allocation shows a funding reduction district has about one million fewer the provincial government's recent ministry and government have not school district of 2.2 per cent from the previous dollars than in 1990/91 to meet the decision to implement an "equaliza­ accepted the unique costs of operat­ School board chairman Marg year. This marks the most severe real 1991/92 costs of inflation, tion formula." Marshall says this has ing eight schools on five islands. Billsten said various island groups decrease in the province. Funding al­ growth and new programs initiated resulted in "30 and 40 per cent cuts They really do not understand us." will meet as soon as budget details lowed for each student is down $152 by the Ministry of Education. Star­ to supplementary district funding in Supplementary funding cuts in are available to determine how the — to $6,916 from the $7,068 allo­ ling also estimates an additional 1991/92 and 1992/93, with these dol­ the Gulf Islands do not affect "frills" district will deal with substantial cated in 1990/91. 1992/93 shortfall of $600,000 based lar savings being redistributed to SCHOOL BUDGET A2 funding cuts. District secretary-treasurer Ken on current funding levels. other school districts." Couvelier resigns as minister Mel Couvelier resigned as provin­ cial finance minister last week and his future as Social Credit candidate for Saanich North and the Islands rests with the constituency executive. By BILL WEBSTER Driftwood Staff Writer Couvelier told the Driftwood he could not support Premier Bill Vandci Zalm when the Legislature reconvenes du« to ongoing investiga­ tions of his conduct in the sale of Fantasy Gardens. Couvelier said he had asked the premier at a cabinet meeting last week not to appear in the house until the results of the investigation were known. "I felt I could not sit on the front bench defending something I know nothing about," Couvelier said. He submitted his resignation to Vander Zalm following the cabinet meeting. Driftwood photo by Gail Sjuborg "It is with deep regret I submit my OPEN AIR CLASSROOM: North Star sailing ship owner Svend Elementary students. The North Star's Ganges stop was part of a resignation from my Cabinet respon­ Johansson shares his "knotica!" knowledge with Salt Spring tour sponsored by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. sibilities effective today (March 6)," Couvelier said in his letter. "This is the most troublesome decision I have ever made because I am aware of the difficulties this presents for you and my colleagues." Agreement may spell end of Heal Lake Vander Zalm's office issued a ter­ Heal Lake will continue to exist Atkins) of the 18 CRD board mem­ sion could take until October, 1992. to a benefit-cost analysis of all re-use sely worded acknowledgement. — but only in aging photographs. bers. "Premier Vander Zalm today ac­ An engineering staff report on and recycling programs. An ex­ Last week, the Capital Regional MacKay, who was hired to study cepted the resignation of Mel costs estimated the price for expand­ amination of ways to encourage District environment committee the region's 1987 solid waste Couvelier as Minister of Finance... ing the site and life of Hartland Road backyard composting should also be recommended expansion of Hartland management plan, recommended the ." the release stated. It went on to landfill at close to $221 million over looked at, Williams suggested. Road landfill site into Heal Lake. current Hartland road site be ex­ announce the appointment of Elwood the next three years. He recommends $ 12,000 be spent Members agreed to accept a report by panded to include the area covered by Veitch as replacement for Couvelier. The engineering department on examining the possibility of recy­ Douglas MacKay on the future of Heal Lake. recommends a new loan authoriza­ cling (mining) the landfill. In an interview with the Hartland Road garbage dump. The In a memo to the environment tion bylaw for that amount to make Driftwood, Couvelier explained the Williams said odour from the matter must now be approved by the committee outlining the position of up costs of the expansion plans at dump is of major concern, needing "parliamentary game" requires front full CRD board. CRD engineering, chief engineer $6.3 million this year, $124 million benchers to defend the government prompt action. Because odours occur Mike Williams noted the Hartland in 1992 and $3.4 million in 1993. from escaping methane gas, he position without question. He would Chaired by Esquimalt mayor site would reach the limit of its gar­ "feel uncomfortable showing blind Williams also recommends fur­ recommends the CRD proceed with Christopher Clement, the environ­ bage disposal permit by December, ther study of various aspects of the a gas extraction system for the cur- support for the leader under these ment committee consists of 10 (in­ 1992. RESIGNATION A2 MacKay report at a cost of $ 106,000. cluding Salt Spring director Julia Preparation of the area for expan­ He suggests consideration be given DUMP A9 SPOTLIGHT USD 1 FEATURE Youth Action Committee outlines student opinion Business Directory.. A24.25 Gulf Islands Secondary School students are practising empowering Classifieds A26-30 skills as their much-discussed "youth centre" takes shape on Salt Spring Entertainment A19 Island. Your Health Bl Part of this process includes hear- ing the views of student members of Letters , A5 the Youth Action Committee — a ByGATLSJUBERG Real Estate BI-12 group intent on meeting the needs of School children had a Carol Voo rhoe v e took the Driftwood Staff Writer island teens and creating a youth taste of the sea last week as Sports , All winning spot in an ITC centre. they boarded the vessel speech contest Gail Seattle C,,,,lo n.nA .1. ^:_ A^.. \i <t r.. Down the Years BS «*_ i.. — - Page A2 GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD Wednesday, March 13, 1991 Ai NEWS BEAT Drift woo '.'.•'.'. .•;-:•:•.•:•:•:•»;•.•:-;•;•:•>:•:•:•:-: .•:•;•::•:*:-:•:•;•:•:•?-:•:•:-:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•:':•':':•:•: VIDEO & NINTENDO Lady Minto, Greenwoods RENTALS (Color King) 1 HOUR PHOTO FINISHING establish joint committee REPRINT SPECIAL WEDNESDAYS Lady Minto Hospital and Greenwoods boards Once the committee is fully operational, both 3 REPRINTS $-|00 have formed a joint steering committee to address boards will receive its findings and recommendations FOR areas of mutual concern. "for ratification and possible implementation." Colour negatives only The committee was formed at a March 5 meeting Greenwoods board chairman Ron Watson told the No custom orders of Lady Minto and Greenwoods directors. A joint Driftwood one of the committee's roles will be to press release says the meeting was called "with a "look for opportunities" for the hospital and Green­ #6 Gasoline Alley 537-2131 view to developing closer cooperation" between the woods to work together. two island health care facilities. The release described the committee's aim "to He said this kind of move had been contemplated develop a joint approach to common problems within by both parties since last summer. However, creation the two facilities," with the expectation "that this will of the steering committee was not a first step towards Income Tax result in a more economical use of health care dollars amalgamation of the Lady Minto and Greenwoods BY APPOINTMENT and improved services to the community." boards, he said. James T. Fogarty SCHOOL BUDGET Ferry Tax Accountant CANADIAN & AMERICAN From Page A! PERSONAL & CORPORATE TAX PREPARATION as they might in other jurisdictions, classroom and support services to the lodged Fulford Harbour 653-4692 he explains. children of the Gulf Islands. Budget School District 64 uses sup­ details have not arrived, but when plementary funds "mainly to support they do, meetings will be held with underfunded core or new ministry various groups to determine the most on rocks appropriate courses of action." ANNOUNCING. programs such as Kindergarten, com­ About 90 Mayne Queen pas­ puters and smaller primary class sengers had an unforgettable seven- sizes." hour trip from Swartz Bay to Pender These programs require sup­ Island Monday night plementary funding here because According to B.C. Ferry Corpora­ even if only a few students are in one B^^yfym tion information officer Maureen primary grade on an island, they still Morris, the Mayne Queen's require a class and a program. scheduled 6:10 p.m. sailing had left It is a real problem for the district, Swartz Bay Monday when its power NOW OPEN AT Marshall says, "because they under - failed around 7 p.m. fund us in a number of areas that Morris said the ship's anchors relate to our dispersion and remote­ were dropped immediately but they 121 McPhillips Ave. ness and water and such." did not hold in the prevailing high 537-4491 GRIEIEK5IDIE Other districts actually received winds. As a result of strong gales, the significant per student funding in­ Mayne Queen was pushed onto a reef creases due to "equalization." close to the north end of Portland Kitimat's district received a 13.9 per Island, she said.