Election special page A11 Gulf Islands Real Estate Inside $ 25 Your Community Newspaper Since 1960 1 (incl. GST) Wednesday, June 23, 2004 44th year Gulf Islands Issue 25 328 Lower Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2V3 Tel: 250-537-9933 Fax: 250-537-2613 Toll-free: 1-877-537-9934 e-mail: [email protected] editorial: [email protected] Website: www.gulfislands.net THIS WEEK’S INSERTS • Ganges • Ganges Village Pharmasave Market • Mouat’s Home • Thrifty Foods Hardware • Slegg Lumber Armed robber strikes bank The Ganges branch of er service line and pulled as of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, tion will continue using the dog-handling personnel to the Bank of Montreal was open cash drawers and stole his direction of travel was video evidence and possible Salt Spring. robbed Tuesday morning by money,” said Giles. “He was unknown. fingerprint evidence that is Pender RCMP happened �������������������� an armed, masked man. carrying what appeared to be Because the man was potentially available at the to be on the island and took Salt Spring RCMP Sgt. a rifle under one arm.” wearing a mask, an accurate site.” care of boat searches in Gan- �������� Mike Giles said police Two customer service rep- description was difficult to RCMP contacted ferry ges Harbour. responded to the call at resentatives were working at obtain, said Giles, beyond personnel, requested assis- Anyone with any infor- 11:39. the time and the man took the fact the robber was of tance of Duncan and Sid- mation about this incident “A man dressed in dark funds from both drawers. average size. ney RCMP members to deal should call the Salt Spring clothing wearing a mask He then fled the bank “With such scant informa- with ferry inquiries and RCMP station at 537- jumped behind the custom- by the back entrance and, tion to go on, the investiga- brought identification and 5555. Electoral End of a reform musical era meeting Salt Spring’s Barley Bros. band says good-bye to packs hall founding member. Page A18 By JENNIFER MCFEE Staff Writer A full house gathered at Index Lions Hall Saturday to hear Arts . A18 eight people present their Classifieds . B16 ideas on the provincial elec- Crossword . B19 toral system before repre- Editorial . A8 sentatives from the Citizens’ Horoscope . B20 Assembly for Electoral Letters. A9 Reform. Salt Spring Visitor. B9 The hearing, facilitated by University of British Colum- Sports . B5 bia political science profes- TV Listings. B7 sor Ken Carty, began with a What’s On. B10 short video. The video explained that the assembly is made up of Weather 80 men and 80 women ran- domly selected from each Sunny, hot weather is provincial riding. Public forecast right through meetings have been held FLIPPING OUT: Salt Spring Seal Carol McMahon shows off her flippers at Vesuvius Beach as she and other the weekend, although across the province over the group members finish an Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre fundraising swim across Stuart Channel. More Photo by Derrick Lundy temperatures aren’t past two months to gather photos, Page B6. expected to be as input on electoral issues. high as last week. Assembly members must Highs to 26 C today decide by December 15 if (Wednesday); over- they will recommend a Candidates volley island questions night lows to 12 C. change to the current elec- toral system, which will be By GAIL SJUBERG tack in their introductory promised by the Conserva- ter’s Office. His standards voted on in a referendum Staff Writer comments. tives. will filter down to the rest of during next year’s provincial About 200 people saw Mulroney, a 49-year-old He pointed out the Liberal government . and we’ll election. Saanich-Gulf Islands federal litigation lawyer who has party, also unlike the Con- be able to deliver services After the video, NDP fed- election candidates live in also been a federal prosecu- servatives, was against par- better.” eral election candidate Jen- the flesh at a Saturday after- tor, said he was running for ticipating in the Iraq War. He said throwing more nifer Burgis was the first to noon meeting at the high the Liberal party because it Lunn, who has been the money at the healthcare present, favouring an open school. matched his “core values.” riding’s MP for the past system would not fix its list system where voters, From ethics to the econo- Those included respect for seven years, as a Reform, problems, and addressed rather than political parties, my, healthcare and Canadian people, their differences and Canadian Alliance and now his opposition to the Kyoto can select candidates. sovereignty, candidates and personal choices in matters Conservative representative, Accord. “The concept of reform questioners raised a slew of conscience and a tradition focussed on the need for fis- “I oppose Kyoto simply must be grounded in the val- of issues at the two-hour of helping people, including cal responsibility. because there is no plan, and ues of society. It is necessary meeting sponsored by the those in other countries. He said people he talks I’m not sure you’re going to ensure all voices present Driftwood and moderated by He said that rather than to are concerned about how to get results . If you’re in society are present in the Kimberly Lineger. spending more money on the to stop wasteful govern- going to spend money, you values of electoral reform,” Candidates Andrew justice system, government ment spending and improve have to be sure you’re going she said. Lewis, Jennifer Burgis, should be investing in youth accountability. to get results.” Gary Lunn and David Mul- — something that “can’t be “Solutions have to start at ALL-CANDIDATES A11 ELECTORAL REFORM A2 roney each took a different done with the huge tax cuts” the top in the Prime Minis- ������������������������������������������ ���������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ������ ������������������� ���������������������� �� ������������������� ������� ������������������� ������������������� A2 ▲ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2004 NEWSBEAT GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD ���������������� Trust offers tax exemption Day in ��������� plan in southern Gulf Islands ���������������� the Life Islands Trust Council has “Application forms will be by the Islands Trust and meet ���������� taken the next step towards available in early 2005 and its minimum standards to launching its unique tax our staff will hold informa- qualify. To continue to quali- shoot exemption program in the tion sessions on the islands at fy for the tax exemption, the Capital Regional District that time,” said Essig. property owner must pro- ������������ (CRD). “This program offers an vide for annual monitoring set for Under the Natural Area incentive to the many island- to ensure the land remains Protection Tax Exemp- ers who want to protect natu- protected as agreed. �������������������������������������������� tion Program (NAPTEP), ral areas on their land.” NAPTEP was originally June 29 the Trust can issue partial The program, which can conceived by trustee Kim property tax exemption cer- lead to a 65 per cent prop- Benson of Keats Island, Driftwood photog- tificates to property owners erty tax reduction on the pro- who is now a vice chair of raphers will be out in ������� who have placed a perma- tected portion of land, will the Islands Trust Executive force Tuesday trying to ����� ��������� nent conservation covenant first be offered to landown- Committee. capture the heart of Salt ������� ��������� on their property to protect ers who already have a con- The Islands Trust launched Spring in 24 hours. its natural values. servation covenant with the the program as a pilot in the A Day in the Life ������������ “We know there is a lot of Islands Trust Fund Board. Gambier Island area two is a special Driftwood ��������������������� interest out there and we are “We feel that since they years ago after the province project that will see very pleased to be able to have already protected their enacted the necessary legis- Derrick Lundy, Mitch- ����������������� offer this program to proper- land without financial incen- lation. ell Sherrin, Jennifer �������� ty owners in the CRD,” said tives, they should be the first The CRD board approved McFee, Ken Sakamoto, ����������������� Islands Trust Council chair to benefit from this new pro- use of the program on islands Peter McCully and John David Essig, following the gram.” in its area at a meeting last Cameron shooting pic- June Trust Council meeting. The covenant must be held month. tures of typical island �������������������� happenings on June 29. � ������ ���� ��� A huge range of early ����������������� ������������������� risers, late night revel- Advance polls hum with activity lers, kids, seniors, work- Salt Spring federal election���������������������� displeased with the situa- Brown was furious to find ers and visitors will be �������������������������������� voters reported busy advance tion. She said she waited 20 that after waiting 20 minutes photographed, with the ������������������������� ������������������������ voting stations this week, in minutes before she was even to get registration problems best shots published ���������������������������� �������������������� �������� part because several voter able������ to talk to someone at cleared up, she would have in A Day in the Life, a cards were reportedly mailed the United�� Church advanced to wait another 20 minutes supplement to the July ����������� out with incorrect polling voting������������������� station on Monday. to vote. 28