Funds Take Aim at GP Shortage
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Island Wheels Health & Wellness SALT SPRING ISLAND Island Wheels Our spring edition Your island ride guide Great deals + Mayne Island INSIDE PAGES 10, 11 + 12 classic car story HEALTH DIRECTORY wellnessSPRING 2015 GULF ISLANDS STORIES & to inform and inspire SERVICES advertised specialties LISTINGS $ 25 by-category directory (incl. GST) PG. 8 DRIFTWOOD PG. 20 GULF Wednesday, May 20, 2015 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 55TH YEAR ISSUE 20 ISLANDS 1 DgiM MEDIA ISLANDS TRUST Trust tackles gap in septic regulations Grantville area concerns prompt LUB change BY SEAN MCINTYRE DRIFTWOOD STAFF Worries about drinking water quality in a Salt Spring neighbourhood has highlighted troubling gaps in provincial oversight of septic system regulations. “We had no idea that B.C. is the only area in North America — that includes Mexico — that has no government oversight on septic and wells,” said Gayle Baker, a Fort Street resident who spoke at Thursday’s Salt Spring Local Trust Committee meeting. Baker took to the podium alongside neigh- bours from the Grantville Street area in antici- pation of a much-awaited Islands Trust staff PHOTO BY JEN MACLELLAN report that discusses minimum distances FRONTROW SEAT: Southey Point is the perfect spot to watch some of the 99 Round Salt Spring Race boats pass on Saturday after- between septic fi elds and drinking water wells. noon. Co-operative winds helped bring the fi rst boats to the fi nish line by 6:10 p.m. See story on page 23. Fearing hazardous effects on water qual- ity in their small-lot neighbourhood, some residents approached the LTC last year with HEALTH CARE a request to consider and enforce setbacks between wells and sewage disposal fi elds. “Some people who I know drink the water and don’t have clue, and I think that’s a bit dis- concerting,” Baker said. Subsequent research by Trust staff revealed Funds take aim at GP shortage the province does not mandate government Social worker pilot project to help users navigate system approval or inspection for septic system instal- lation, notifi cation of neighbours about con- tamination concerns, or any public oversight BY ELIZABETH NOLAN (RRDFP) completed earlier this year with the ginalized populations and lay a foundation for of ongoing septic system maintenance. DRIFTWOOD STAFF aim of addressing primary care challenges on the future of primary care in our community,” a A team of public health offi cials reviewing New funding from British Columbia’s A GP the island. According to the chapter, an esti- press release states. the province’s Septic Sewerage Regulations for Me program will help Salt Spring residents mated 18 to 35 per cent of the population does Focus group information suggests many in 2004 recommended immediate changes. access health care and related social supports not have a family doctor in the community. islanders fi nd the health-care system diffi cult They said the lack of public oversight has “set during a pilot project running to March 2016, “Based on information from our community to navigate and have trouble getting the support the stage for a potential health disaster.” A 2009 and in the long term through potential develop- assessment, the Salt Spring Island chapter has they need. This is particularly true of some of the study by the University of Victoria’s Environ- ment of a new health-care clinic. made plans and received funding for two initia- community’s most vulnerable members, such mental Law Clinic also raised concerns about The funding is the result of focus group tives that we hope will help increase capacity as seniors, people living in poverty and people the septic approval process. studies the Salt Spring Island Chapter of the within the local system, improve the experience Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice of patients, better support vulnerable and mar- GP FOR ME continued on 2 SEPTIC REGS continued on 2 INSERTS INDEX We’re 15, • Country Grocer • Sears • The Source Arts .................................................................... 13 Letters ............................................................... 7 DRIFTWOOD • Thrifty Foods • Buckerfield’s Thanks SSI! 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If we do not receive a response by MONDAY AT 5 PM this ad goes to press in this format. Driftwood YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 Thanks very much. GULF ISLANDS Driftwood YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 2 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 NEWSBEAT www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com GULF ISLANDS DRIFtwOOD BROADCASTING CRTC grills Green FM station owner at second hearing Noncompliance consider whether these par- Dhillon placed the blame dence sent by Dhillon. Fournier also referred to the A similar concern arose ticular licensees deserve to for all noncompliance issues “This is 2015, Feb. 23. You are issue of ownership during a during the hearing on Dhil- alleged at two continue benefitting from that squarely on his staff, referring assuring the commission that remote hearing submission lon’s station in Wetaskiwin, privilege,” CRTC chair Jean- to ongoing resentment from within 30 days the quarterly from Victoria. Fournier testi- Alta. Pentefountas suggest- stations Pierre Blais said during open- Salt Spring programmers dat- reports will be deposited and fied that Radio India, a com- ed that Dhillon’s request to ing remarks on May 13. ing back to his purchase of here we are three months later pany owned by Gill’s father, amend his music categories BY ELIZABETH NOLAN Blais and CRTC commis- the station. More specifically, and we still don’t have quar- had been taking care of CFSI’s to include more world beat DRIFTWOOD STAFF sioners Peter Menzies and Dhillon blamed former sta- terly reports. Any thoughts on financial matters such as was a way to increase cover- Salt Spring radio station Tom Pentefountas questioned tion manager Radha Fournier, that? Any explanation of that, payroll and bills. She added age to the area’s Southeast owner Sukhdev Dhillon was Dhillon about his failure to who resigned in March 2015, besides blaming staff?” that Radio India had recently Asian population, at the back before the Canadian meet his obligations with as well as Andrew Forsyth, a Commissioners were also approached her to ask if she expense of the listener com- Radio-television and Telecom- CFSI, including proper filing consultant he hired to work on concerned by Dhillon’s noti- wanted to run the station munity the current licence munications Commission on of logger tapes and Canadian CRTC compliance. fication of a transfer of partial “with no need to interface serves. Thursday for his second hear- content descriptions, failure ownership in CFSI to Har- with Mr. Dhillon.” Dhillon promised to pay ing in a little over a year. to file annual and quarterly “A broadcasting man Gill, since the CRTC must “I turned this down as all amounts owing within 30 Dhillon was summoned reports on time, and $9,000 approve licensing arrange- I believe it would not be a days, citing a new influx of to Gatineau, Que. to explain owing in Canadian Content licence is a ments before sales take place. CRTC-approved business revenue through a Califor- why his broadcasting licences Development contributions Under questioning, Dhil- deal, nor would it fly on the nia station he recently pur- should be renewed for two and a further $5,746 outstand- privilege.” lon said he had received a island as Mr. Dhillon would chased. An employee of that stations that he owns, both of ing in tangible benefits. $150,000 investment from Gill, still be owner,” she stated. station named Tony Vieira which have shown repeated “Mr. Dhillon, I can’t help but JEAN-PIERRE BLAIS which included $100,000 in Dhillon’s request to change is supposed to monitor pro- and severe noncompliance be struck by the level of your Chair, CRTC return for 50 per cent of the the station from a FM to AM gram logs, logger tapes and with CRTC regulations. In preparation for this hearing shares, plus another $50,000 signal also raised questions musical lists from Dhillon’s addition to hearings on Dhil- to conclude that I don’t get the Pentefountas pointed out in cash.