Island Tides Regional Newspaper
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Strait of Georgia Attractions & Accommodation Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands, Page 12 Every Second Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at www.islandtides.com h Canadian Publications Mail Product Volume 17 Number 17 Your Coastal Community Newspaper September 8—September 21, 2005 Sales Agreement Nº 1047655 Tide tables 2 CBC 2 Letters 4 Saturna notes 7 Black gold 8 Trips 9 Bulletin board 11 Arsonist plagues Galiano property Just after midnight on August 27, an unknown person set fire to property at 15 Morgan Road on Galiano. This is the third time this year and the second time in one month that fires have been deliberately set at that address. The owners were off-Island at the time of the fire. The flames fully consumed a trailer and building materials. There was approximately $10,000 worth of damage. Photo: Priscilla Ewbank Outer Gulf Islands RCMP are seeking information that may lead to the A day-long, grand opening celebration was held on August 20 for Saturna’s new recreation centre. See ‘Saturna Notes,’ page 7. identification of the party or parties responsible. Anybody with such information should contact Constable PIRAHA applies to put Islands Trust wins Komas Bluffs court case Hilderley at 250-539-2309, or call CrimeStoppers at 250-338-8477. i Pender recreational On August 31, The Supreme Court of British January 2005 and Denman Islanders provided Columbia released Reasons for Judgement affidavits in support of the Islands Trust’s case. that decided a significant court case in favour of ‘We are extremely pleased that the courts Re-negotiate facilities on the tax roll the Islands Trust, one that confirms the ability have upheld the bylaws on Denman Island that At a special meeting on August 28, the board of Pender of local governments in BC to enforce preserve and protect this sensitive area,’ said NAFTA or exit Island Recreational & Agricultural Hall Association development permit areas. David Essig, chair of the Islands Trust. ‘While (PIRAHA) voted unanimously to request that the In his Reasons for Judgement, Mr Justice this case has been a costly one for us to pursue, agreement says Capital Regional District take over ownership and Groberman granted the Islands Trust’s request it really went to the heart of the work we do and management of its two properties, Pender Island for a clear declaration that Dean Ellis I believe all of Trust Council was behind it. Green Party Community Hall and Auchterlonie Centre. The CRD unlawfully contravened the Local Government We hope it sends a message to others who would hold the properties in trust in perpetuity for all Act by altering the land in the Komas Bluff may ignore the bylaws that protect sensitive Canada should serve the six-month Pender Island residents and would create a Development Permit Area without a lands in the Islands Trust Area. I believe this notice required to withdraw from Recreational Facilities Service for the Island, for which development permit from the Denman Island case has demonstrated the strength of the NAFTA to show it is serious about re- an assessment would be included in property taxes. Local Trust Committee. Citing Mr Ellis’s Islands Trust federation. Resources from all negotiating a better fair trade A CRD bylaw has been drawn up which would ‘persistence in violating the legislation’ in the the islands enabled us to take the necessary agreement with the United States and transfer the Association’s properties and allow the CRD face of warnings from the Islands Trust, Justice action when an individual on one island Mexico, says Green Party of Canada to levy to a maximum of 10¢ per $1,000 of property Groberman has also placed a permanent attempted to circumvent the provisions of that Deputy Leader, Andrew Lewis. assessment—currently equivalent to $27 annually per injunction against him that restrains him from Island’s land use regulation. I also want to ‘Canada has an opportunity to take average household. cutting trees, clearing, developing, excavating recognize the hard work of our staff and legal the initiative for a new round of fair Once passed by the CRD Board on September 14, or otherwise altering lands within 50 metres of counsel in arriving at this successful trade negotiations, and avoid an Bylaw Nº 3305, Pender Island Recreational Facilities Komas Bluff. conclusion.’ unnecessary trade war of escalating, Service Establishment Bylaw, Nº1, 2005 will be The case dates back to 2002, when Justice Groberman has asked the parties in punitive tariffs,’ Lewis told a meeting of brought to referendum at the local government members of the Denman Island community the case to provide evidence about the scope of Green Party members in Nanaimo. election on November 19. complained that Dean Ellis was removing trees remedial work required to stabilize the area, ‘A Green Party government would If the bylaw is approved for referendum, PIRAHA from portions of his property that were within although he has recognized that it would be take firm, prompt action on this issue. will hold a community information meeting explaining a buffer area, established by the Denman impossible to rebuild eroded slopes and restore Our forest industry has already lost their proposal. Island Local Trust Committee through a a mature forest. Once such evidence is more than $4-billion to illegal tariffs on PIRAHA, a venerable institution of which all Pender development permit to protect the unstable provided, the court will require Mr Ellis to softwood lumber,’ said Lewis. residents are automatically members, owns and slopes of Komas Bluff. Investigations by perform the necessary work. In addition to ‘The Green Party of Canada has administers the 5-year-old Community Hall and the Islands Trust Bylaw Enforcement Officers standard costs that the Court would normally consistently called for withdrawal from nearby Auchterlonie Centre. The Auchterlonie Centre confirmed the complaints were valid. Mr Ellis award to the Islands Trust, Justice Groberman NAFTA if the bilateral agreement property was the original site of the Pender school, and was advised by Islands Trust staff about the also indicated his inclination to award special cannot be successfully renegotiated to the school house and a portable still remain. The buffer area and the need to obtain permits costs to the Islands Trust, given ‘a deliberate protect Canada’s sovereign right to library building, the third building on that parcel, was before removing trees. flouting of the bylaw for personal profit.’ Both protect our industries, workers and constructed some 15 years ago. The Auchterlonie When Mr Ellis continued to remove trees parties may make further submissions before environment. Centre currently houses three community groups, the from the buffer area, the Islands Trust filed a the matter of special costs is finally decided. ‘Increasing trade disputes with the Library, the Nu-To-Yu thrift store, and the Playgroup. legal claim against him in September 2003, ‘It was a very important case for the Islands US, over wheat, steel, and now lumber seeking an injunction and an order for PIRAHA, please turn to page 3 TRUST WINS, please turn to page 2 NAFTA, please turn to page 8 restoration. The case went to court in late DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL MAGIC LAKE WATERFRONT COTTAGE FOR SALE This west facing 950 sq.ft. cottage on a 16,000 Development sq.ft. serviced lot (Pender Island) is ready for Live & Work opportunity on your family's full time or recreational living. In Paradise Pender Island. Bustling The cottage is in excellent condition with two bedrooms,one bath and a propane fireplace.Comes community, fully furnished,including the pool table. Small boat provincial parks. dock and swimming platform also included. 7.28 acres with restaurant, motel For photographs and details see: Options for subdivision, family resort, & 3 modern log http://pendercottage.bravehost.com/ cabins. etc. with present zoning for 46 units. Or contact owners’ solicitor: Excellent supply of water. $1,650,000 Mark WL Lindholm, Solicitor, tel: 250-383-5678 Dianne Barber [email protected] Pender Island Realty www.penderislandrealty.com email: [email protected] 1-888-629-3383 Please do not disturb occupants. Showings easily arranged. Courtesy to Real Estate Agents. Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Sept 8, 2005 The CBC: attack from within ~ Patrick Brown t’s now been over two weeks since CBC management lines. It is the lead government agency in both the provision of decided to bring their long-running contract negotiations information to Canadians and the care of the nation’s culture. It with the union to a head by locking-out their production, is, in every sense of the word, an essential service, a prime AT FULFORD HARBOUR Itechnical, and on-air staff. It is suggested that the reason CBC responsibility of the federal government. Canadians have a right chose to implement its lockout in the dog days of August was to to its continuing operation. SEPTEMBER avoid the possibility of a strike in hockey season, during an The CBC is not just another broadcasting service. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. election, or during the Olympics. (The last three work stoppages Commercial broadcasters would like us to believe that taxpayer 0020 5.9 1.8 0710 1.6 0.5 at the CBC were lockouts, not strikes.) This lockout is destructive support makes it a form of unfair competition to them for 0610 8.9 2.7 1540 10.8 3.3 and irresponsible. listeners and viewers. 06TU 14WE 1200 5.2 1.6 2050 9.2 2.8 There were no negotiations between August 15, the start of It is not. MA 1835 10.2 3.1 ME the lockout, and August 31.