SSI Hitt„ • 129 w-.torical hiiiirp;; Avchives INSIDE! Salt Holiday Song book V8K 2T6Pri'lg IsUnd' BC & Light-up OI/OI/97 Specials Wednesday, November 27, 1996 Vol. 38, No. 48 Your Community Newspaper Salt Spring Island, B.C. $1 (incl. GST) Court denies bid for recount Regional director Dietrich Luth's bid for a judicial recount of the November 16 election results — in which he lost his seat by 47 votes to Kcllie Booth — was turned down in Victoria provincial court Monday morn­ ing. The Salt Spring director to the Capital Regional District board had also challenged the proce­ dures followed during the vote, based on a deposition from a witness who saw one voter given two ballots. However, chief election offi­ cer Thomas Moore said he had a deposition explaining that the voter had spoiled the first ballot, returned it and been given a sec­ ond, which is a standard proce­ dure. "It's all settled now," he said Monday afternoon. "Dietrich didn't get a judicial recount." Another victim Luth declined to comment What can you say? Paul Mazzei, left, and Dave McRobb of Salt McRobb's vehicle fell victim to icy road conditions experienced Monday night although he indi­ Spring decide "four-wheeling it" isn't always the answer. on most parts of Salt Spring Island last week. Photo by Derrick Umdy cated the issue had not ended. Waiting lists grow as funding source shrinks By VALORIE LENNOX Salt Spring Home Support Services. Driftwood Staff No new care facility on Salt Spring until turn of century Administrator Marg Mullin notes Frail seniors waiting for placement patients classified as requiring extend­ in Lady Minto Hospital's extended "They've lowered us on the priority list of 13 clients. One client has been extended care patients waiting for ed care are usually bed-ridden. In care unit will have to wait. list, which is hard to believe," said on the list for 18 months. space in an extended care facility. September 1996, 12 such patients Hope for a 100-bed multi-level care hospital board chairwoman Eileen The hospital is handling the The Gulf Islands' intermediate care required almost 1,000 hours of home facility to meet a current and projected Hunter. The CRD will not consider demand for non-existent extended facility, Greenwoods, has a waiting support. backlog of clients faded earlier this funding a new facility until 2001- care beds by sending some clients to list of 22 people who need space Twenty-two of those assisted by month with word that the hospital's 2002. off-island facilities. Clients unable to there. Of those, three require a level of home support workers in September request for funding would not be con­ Hospital board members agreed to remain at home are in acute care beds. care jast below that of extended care. were classified as "intermediate care sidered by the Capital Regional write a letter to the CRD stressing the Of the 19 acute care — medical Some of the patients on waiting three," indicating they suffered from District (CRD) until after the rum of need for the new facility and outlining and surgical — beds in Lady Minto lists are at home, living with family or the century. the demand, which includes a waiting Hospital, 10 are now being used by spouses, and aided by workers from WAITING 2 A potential network of may require a designated cycling lanes on Salt Spring bike lane in the future. got a boost Monday night as PRC gives support to requests Commission member Parks and Recreation Barry Urquhart wondered if Commission members agreed a bike lane could be con­ to back two grant applica­ for two bicycle lane projects structed along Vesuvius Bay tions by the Salt Spring Road. Cycling Advisory Hefferna•it:inn saidQ3tH . cyclistf-Vflictcs — succilfHh a3«s a iailfbikpe coulrnnl/dt alsalcro\ bV\ep usenc#»dH bKyu n*»pedestrii ­ Grey agreed that road is Committee. The second is to construct campground, bike racks, educa­ ans and for some parking. dangerous for cyclists but Chairwoman Claire three-foot-wide bike lanes on tion program, recreational bike "This way we can have a place said adding bike lanes to Heffernan said the group had the shoulders of Lower Ganges paths or matching funds — for bikes but there's also more island roads would have to to apply for the Ministry of Road south from Portiock Park would enhance the chances of room on the road for other be done one step at a time. Transportation and Highways to Booth Canal Road. obtaining the grant. activities." The committee had elected grants by next Monday. Two Eventually, Heffernan would PRC chairwoman Kellie Bruce Grey, another member to focus on lower-cost lanes projects are proposed. One is like to see the bike lanes Booth said the 1996-97 budget of the committee, said the at the outset. for a paved shoulder along extended from Booth Canal has been drafted. However, she underlying philosophy is to Heffernan said Ministry of Vesuvius Bay Road and Road to Ganges and then suggested the PRC could allow room for both cars and Highways staff were provid­ Lower Ganges Road, border­ through Ganges up to Beddis review the issue if there was bikes on the road. Bikes, he ing the committee with the ing the corner of Portiock Road. any surplus from the 1995-96 said, are just another type of required technical informa­ Park. But the first step is to obtain budget. transportation. tion for its application. The The shoulder would be a Ministry of Highways grant Heffernan pointed out the Heffernan said some heavily Salt Spring group has also eight feet wide and would be to cover the work. Heffernan application is for paved shoul­ travelled roads, such as received help from the used both for parallel parking noted agreement by the PRC to ders, not designated bike lanes, Rainbow Road and the Fulford- Greater Victoria Cycling and for a bike lane. provide some infrastructure for so the extra width on the road Ganges Road through Ganges, Committee. A2 A WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1996 N E WS B E AT GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD Freedom of information integral to democracy ypocrisy is all around us but that treated lightly, given the fragile nature of the piece of land to a developer for $ 1. Hdoesn't make it any easier to deal with democratic system of government and the In West Vancouver, a staff report recom­ when you find it in yourself. aspirations for power that are so much a part mending heavy trucks be banned from three On at least one occasion, this space has TONY of the human condition. roads was rejected at an in-camera meeting, been the scene of some critical railings FIPA has called upon the provincial gov­ and therefore never made public. A fatal against a tendency by Canadian govern­ RICHARDS ernment to enact "sunshine" or "open meet­ truck accident occurred later on one of the ments to pay too much heed to the earnings ings" legislation. Such a law would require roads. of special-interest groups. They're every­ government that responds either too slowly government bodies such as school boards Locally, the school board has done much where in this country, and they advocate all or not at all, concerned citizens band togeth­ and municipal councils to do their business of its business either in-camera or in-com- manner of things about which their mem­ er to fight for their common causes. in public. While personnel and land pur­ mittee. One effect has been to leave employ­ bers have strong feelings. So let me share with you my hope that the chase matters have traditionally been dealt ee groups highly distrustful of the board, There would appear to be one basic rea­ B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy with behind closed doors, there is a tenden­ even though trustees themselves have been son for their popularity. Government as it is Association (FIPA) is successful with its cy among such bodies to discuss more of doing nothing improper. now constructed has no way of responding campaign for a "sunshine law." their business in camera. Away from the The appointment of new superintendent quickly and efficiently to causes and con­ For editors, freedom of information is public eye, politicians feel more comfortable Andy Duncan has brought a new, more cerns which are close to the hearts of many fundamental to life. It ranks right up there in expressing their views. That, no doubt, is a open approach in the school board office to Canadians. And linked with that is the woe­ importance (well, almost) with food, cloth­ direct reflection of their fear to say anything making information public. Hopefully, the ful lack of courage on the part of our politi­ ing and shelter. It is integral to the political in public that might make them appear even newly-elected school board will appreciate cal representatives to do anything that might process by which we collectively manage more odious in the eyes of the electorate. the need to do more in public. get them in hot water. In short, our legisla­ the affairs that affect us all. It is, without Research by FIPA revealed that some sig­ Meanwhile, Glen Clarke might take some tive chambers are populated largely by question, a special interest, leaving me with nificant issues are being debated in camera. of the heat off his government over its finan­ wimps. no option but to confess to my hypocrisy. In one instance, in-camera meetings were cial record by responding positively to Stonewalled and stalled by a system of This is a subject that ought never to be held to discuss whether to sell a $90,000 FIPA's campaign.