Island Wheels $ 25 Boat festival 1(incl. GST) INSIDE This weekend SEE PAGE 30 GULF ISLANDS Wednesday, September 19, 2007 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 47TH YEAR – ISSUE 38 FIRE DISTRICT Fire wish list drafted Options include 20-member 24/7 department BY SEAN MCINTYRE DRIFTWOOD STAFF Dwindling volunteer ranks and the island’s growing popu- lation require the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District (SSIFPD) to consider hiring 14 new full-time firefighters by 2012, according to the depart- ment’s long-awaited draft 10-year plan released for dis- cussion on Monday evening. “The number of volunteers currently responding to calls is PHOTO BY DERRICK LUNDY far below the [Salt Spring] Fire/ FAIR TIME: Katie and David Fullbrook hang out at the Salt Spring Island Fall Fair, held last weekend at the Farmers Institute. A story and more photos can Rescue targets and it’s essen- be found on page 10. Watch for Harvest Time in next week’s Driftwood as it will include fair results as well as close to 100 photographs from the annual event. tially your safety that we’re concerned about,” fi re trustee Mark Wyatt told a crowd of BUDIMCIC CASE roughly 35 people at the Gan- ges Fire Hall meeting room. “I would love to have 25 people “Somebody” wants to set record straight walk in the door next week ready to do the job. We’re trying Budimcic hearing set for National Post on Friday. was scheduled following a request from Minis- really hard to get those people Budimcic’s five-day hearing set to begin in ter of Public Safety Stockwell Day in late 2006, in the door, but keeping them December 3 Vancouver on December 3 will be open to the according to Melissa Anderson, a spokesperson is another story. People have public following an application submitted by a for the board. lives and they’re busy.” BY SEAN MCINTYRE National Post reporter. “This is only the fi rst step in a long process to Adding nine career fi refi ght- DRIFTWOOD STAFF That’s of little concern to Budimcic, who said deport Mr. Budimcic,” she said. ers in 2009, four in 2010 and It was back to business for an island handy- he and his lawyer welcome the opportunity to Anderson said the government’s case to revoke 2011, and another three in 2012 man convicted in absentia for war crimes by a clear his name once and for all. Budimcic’s refugee status is based on his “direct would ensure the department Croatian court after the weekend’s headlines “I want to leave the doors open,” Budimcic said. and deliberate misrepresentation of the facts” could be staffed around the announced the date for Josip Budimcic’s Decem- “I might as well let the public know I’ve got noth- during the application process. clock seven days a week by a ber refugee-status hearing. ing to hide. I live here and this is what I want.” “Any of the particular information will come four-person crew. “I’m sorry I took so long, I’ve been working all Budimcic was convicted of war crimes by a up at the hearing itself,” she said. “It all goes back to response day,” said Budimcic during an interview at the Croatian court after he arrived in Canada as a Budimcic did not provide any details on his times and how quickly we can Driftwood offi ce on Monday evening. refugee in 1995. He has since obtained perma- involvement in the war and could not reveal get people out there,” Wyatt Budimcic, commonly known on the island nent resident status. on what grounds he and his lawyer will dispute said. “It’s just one of the meth- as Joe Somebody, said he has received nothing The events allegedly occurred during Croatia’s charges levied against him. ods that just tends to make a lot but support from fellow islanders after a picture war for independence between 1991 and 1995. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to wait until the hear- of sense.” and front-page story on his case appeared in the The Immigration and Refugee Board hearing ing,” he said. FIRE PLAN continued on 2 INSERTS INDEX North End Health ........................................... 38 Fitness -/24'!'%15%34)/.3 • Thrifty Foods Arts .................................................. 26 Horoscope................................ 46 ASK!RLENE • Ganges Pharmasave Classifieds ................................ 42 ............................................. 9 537-5217 • Harbours End Marine Letters • Ganges Village Market Editorial ..........................................8 Sports ............................................ 39 • Mark’s Work Wearhouse Ferry Schedules .................. 40 TV Listings .............................. 31 • Uncle Alberts What’s On................................. 33 ",/ *"/ email: [email protected] website: www.gulfislands.net 10% off Tuesdays GANGES Gil Mouat (some restrictions apply) VILLAGE MARKET Closer to the Community giantWednesday case Sept. lot 26 @ sale8am! [email protected] Locally owned and operated OPEN DAILY 8am - 9pmm 1-800-537-4905 (250) 537-4900 2 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 | GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD CALL GAIL, SEAN OR CHRIS IF YOU NEWSBEAT SEE NEWS HAPPENING - 250-537-9933 Staffi ng will up expenses by $1.1 million FIRE PLAN ees said the projected rate Lee suggested it may be time our numbers up, no matter continued from 2 is only slightly more than for the fire department to what model it is. That will the average rate paid by resi- reconsider its fi rst-response still need to get addressed.” The staffing increase is dents in the province’s 43 mandate as a way to reduce Fire board trustee Tony anticipated to boost the fi re fi re protection districts. the burden on volunteer Kennedy took the opportu- district’s annual operating The potential increase firefighters, thereby reduc- nity to remind participants expenses by $1.1 million by led former fi re trustee Ben ing the need to hire more the draft strategic plan does 2012, with fi nal rates subject Taylor to ask that fi re trust- full-time fi refi ghters. not represent any final to negotiation with the fi re- ees consider the higher tax “Volunteer fire depart- decision, but only poten- fi ghters’ union in 2010. rate’s impact on the island’s ments have always been tial directions in which the Staffi ng changes are only seniors citizens and other designed to respond to fi res. department can head. one of the elements out- fi xed income residents. People don’t sign up to be “This really isn’t written in lined in the 65-page strate- “Instead of what things volunteers so that they can stone and we are really open gic plan, which is available are going to cost, maybe we direct traffi c and do all that to improving the plan,” Ken- to the public at the library, should ask, ‘How much do other important stuff,” Lee nedy said. “What we all want Gulf Islands Secondary School Ganges Fire Hall and online we really need?’” he said. said. “Maybe the community is a good 10-year plan.” at www.saltspringfi re.com. “The island is expanding. We needs to take a long look at Fire district chair Mike Adult Graduation Program Other recommendations realize that, but do we need whether it still wants a fi re/ Schubart declared the plan include acquiring land for a the minimum or maximum rescue department and the is required to provide the Enroll now for evening classes starting new fi re hall before the end or something in between?” added expense that you’ve public with some indication of 2008, construction of a Former volunteer fi refi ght- described so well tonight.” of where the department is throughout the school year training ground behind the er Jeff Outerbridge recalled According to fire trust- headed. Fulford Fire Hall, the pur- warnings expressed when the ee Wyatt, dropping first “It would be prudent not Communications 12 September Wednesday chase of a ladder truck val- fire department began tak- response capabilities would to always be in a reactive English 12 November Tuesday ued at $1 million in 2010 and ing on fi rst response calls 20 leave an enormous gap in mode and, instead, be pro- Math 11e November Wednesday construction of a $50,000 years ago. First response calls services available to island- active to seek the service we Social Studies 11 February 2008 Tuesday vehicle shelter in 2012. to medical emergencies and ers in need of emergency think is appropriate for the Geography 12 February 2008 Wednesday District trustees estimate car accidents make up rough- care. It is unlikely other future,” Schubart said. implementing the new mea- ly 38 per cent of the depart- island groups could step up The immediate priority, Math 11UE February 2008 Thursday sures will increase island- ment’s 700 calls per year. to provide the level of ser- he added, is pursuit of land Business Info 12 April 2008 Wednesday ers’ fire tax requisition to “When we began the fi rst vice provided by the depart- for the construction of a $1.37 per $1,000 of assessed responder program, one of ment at similar costs. new downtown fi re hall. All other High school courses, including Biology property value, more than the major concerns we had Even if fi rst response calls “The new fire hall is one 11/12, Physics 11, and Writing 12 are available double the current rate of at the time was burnout, were let go, the department of our primary concerns and on-line, as computer directed, or as home .53 cents per $1,000. The and it would appear that would still be faced with a it has been for the past 10 increase would represent a we’ve reach that point,” Out- growing island population, years.