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Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 20 Number 20 October 16—October 29, 2008 $1 at Selected Retailers Tide tables 2 Candidates 2 & 3 Gardening 3 Letters 4 What’s on? 5 RTI 6 Bulletin board 11 45 candidates nominated for Islands Trust Photo: Henny Schnare, www.henny.ca positions Galiano ferry workers clean-up the beach at Sturdies Bay as part of Vancouver Aquarium’s Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up. At the close of the nomination period for the Islands Trust elections, 45 candidates, including 15 incumbents, Elder Cedar nature NGOs take legal action to protect orcas had submitted nomination papers for On October 8, the federal Department of Southern Resident Killer Whales.’ positions on twelve local trust reserve celebrated Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was presented Frustrated by the federal government’s committees and Bowen Island with a lawsuit backed by environmental groups failure to take steps under SARA to protect the Municipal Council. Voting day is ~ Islands Trust Fund from across Canada. Filed by lawyers with orcas, the David Suzuki Foundation, Saturday, November 15, 2008. In the Gabriola Island residents gathered recently to celebrate Ecojustice, the lawsuit alleges that DFO has Environmental Defence, Greenpeace Canada, Mayne Island and Saturna Island local the official naming of the Islands Trust Fund’s Elder failed to legally protect critical habitat of BC’s the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the trust areas, an election may not be Cedar (S’ul-hween X’pey) Nature Reserve, formally most iconic marine mammals, the endangered Raincoast Conservation Society and the necessary as there were two candidates known as the UREP lands. Snuneymuxw linguist and Southern Resident and threatened Northern Wilderness Committee have turned to the nominated for the two positions in each elder Dr Ellen White honoured the nature reserve with Resident Killer Whales. courts as a last resort. local trust area. a Hul’qumi’num name—S’ul-hween X’pey or Elder On September 10, 2008, without consulting ‘DFO’s decision not to protect critical habitat Nominations closed at 4pm on Cedar. Dr White translates the word ‘elder’ to mean killer whale scientists, DFO declined to issue an of Resident Killer Whale is symptomatic of the Friday, October 10 but on South Pender more than old; it has connotations of unseen ancestors Order under Species at Risk Act (SARA) to federal government’s widespread failure to the nomination period was extended and guardians. A stroll along the nature reserve’s trails protect the Resident Killer Whales’ critical implement the Species at Risk Act,’ said Gwen until 4pm, October 14 as there only one can reveal the true meaning of the name—visitors may habitat from destruction, say the groups Barlee, Policy Director of the Wilderness candidate for the two local trustee feel the presence of ancient spirits in the veteran cedar bringing the action. Committee, adding ‘BC’s endangered species positions. giants that watch over this quiet place. ‘This is the first lawsuit ever of its kind in deserve better.’ Like other communities in British ‘This is a very special day, because this is a very Canada,’ said Lara Tessaro, Staff Lawyer at Bill Wareham, Senior Marine Conservation Columbia, island communities elect special place’ said Gabriola Land & Trails Trust Ecojustice. ‘We hope to force the federal Specialist at the David Suzuki Foundation, local government representatives every President Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley at the event. ‘I am government to legally protect the critical explained ‘To truly protect killer whales’ critical three years. Islands Trust trustee are delighted that we have the chance to gather to celebrate habitat of endangered species—like the ORCAS, please turn to page 7 among these, together with regional this jewel, a place that individuals and groups from district representatives and school across the island worked so hard to preserve and district trustees. protect.’ Commentary by Patrick Brown Voters in each of the twelve Local The Islands Trust Fund Board received the Elder Trust Areas elect two local trustees to Cedar (S’ul-hween X’pey) Nature Reserve from the Anatomy of a body blow serve on a local trust committee and to Province of British Columbia in 2006 as its first Free Do you remember: ‘Follow the birds to Over the last five years, the emphasis of represent it on the Islands Trust Council. Crown Grant. Members of the Gabriola Land Victoria’? It used to be the slogan of the BCFS has certainly changed from providing the Local trustees serve a three-year term Conservancy and the Gabriola Land & Trails Trust led government-run BC Ferries. Five years after the transportation infrastructure for the coast to and make land use planning decisions the campaign to protect this land. The 65-hectare (162 Coastal Ferries Act and the ‘privatization’ of BC being a profitable monopoly corporation. The for their communities. They are acre) forest contains the last remaining stand of old- ferries, the seagulls have come home to roost— government has stubbornly limited its financial responsible for decisions about official growth trees on Gabriola Island. Stoney Creek and in Victoria (surprise!). exposure, refusing to review its original community plans, zoning and In 2003, the newly elected Liberal provincial business plan. New ships have been built, subdivision regulations and a variety of government, looking for a prototype for the mostly outside Canada, with over a billion development applications. ‘privatization’ of BC Hydro, seeking to make dollars borrowed by the now ‘independent’ On Bowen Island, voters elect two political capital out of the previous NDP corporation. Directors and officers have trustees at the same time they elect the 7- government decision to have fast aluminum received substantial increases in remuneration. member Bowen Island Municipal catamaran ferries built in BC, seeking to limit Fares, originally forecast to rise modestly Council. Two municipal trustees both the political and financial responsibilities with the cost of living, have more than doubled represent Bowen Island at the Islands for providing ferry services to coastal on some minor routes. Recently, in addition to Trust Council. communities, and facing the need to borrow announcing its intent to move to new offices, it The Islands Trust Council has a over $2 billion in shipbuilding costs to renew has taken to defining its services as ‘products’, provincial mandate to preserve and much of the aging fleet, decided to ‘sell’ BC thus raising the possibility of discontinuing protect the Islands Trust Area and its Ferries. Since it was already a Crown them if they do not yield profits. And in a novel unique amenities and environment for several other streams cross the property, bringing vital Corporation, and there were no waiting buyers, example of political blindness, the government residents and all British Columbians. To nutrients and biodiversity values to the forest. the government exercised considerable has appointed the brothers Stoilen, one to the carry out this mandate, it makes Wetlands scattered throughout the property accounting ingenuity to sell it to itself, stripping Board of Directors, and one to the ‘regulatory’ decisions about overall policy, staff provide habitat for amphibians and food sources for the corporation of assets as it did so. commission. resources and budget. many bird species. The property protects several at-risk Thus was born BC Ferry Services Inc Here Come the Seagulls A preliminary list of candidates for plant communities and animal species including the (BCFS), an undercapitalized corporation, with Besides significant increases in operating costs, Islands Trust positions is on page 3. A band-tailed pigeon and the red-legged frog. an ambitious but risky, business plan BC Ferries has been hit with large increases in final list will be determined by Chief ‘When we protect natural areas like forests and ‘regulated’ by a Commission whose fuel costs. The government has refused to Election Officers on Monday, October marshes, we not only get to enjoy the natural beauty responsibility was to ensure its financial increase its subsidy to absorb even part of these 20 at 4pm. ✐ but we also receive real and measurable benefits such viability (so it could borrow money), and if NATURE RESERVE, please turn to page 2 necessary ignoring any other public interest. FERRIES, please turn to page 9

is now available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the Island Tides yellow boxes or racks inside! Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital Campbell River—Island Highway near Larwood Rd South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Ave Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd Sidney—Beacon Avenue Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave good reading, great coffee — it’s time to get SERIOUS! Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008 Commentary by Ellen Gould Conservatives still pushing mortgage deregulation? istening to Stephen Harper and you might think Canada mortgage products do not do cash-strapped families any AT FULFORD HARBOUR plays to our national stereotype when it comes to the favours. Rather than being considered a break for low Lworld of finance—we might be boring but at least we don’t income people, mortgages with lengthy amortizations OCTOBER stand for the risky policies adopted by our American cousins. should be regarded as an extremely expensive way to buy a Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. In response to a pessimistic Merrill Lynch report on Canada’s home. An analysis in the Toronto Star pointed out: ‘A 40- housing market, for example, Harper said ‘We don’t have the year mortgage [on a $350,000 home] will save you $73 a 0444 9.5 2.9 0427 3.0 0.9 same situation here with the mortgages as was the case in the US week on payments but cost an extra $254,000 in interest 14 0952 6.6 2.0 22 1248 11.2 3.4 TU 1545 10.5 3.2 WE 1925 7.5 2.3 with the subprime mortgages there. So, therefore, I think that than if you had opted for 25 years. It’s a trade-off that works 2226 2.6 0.8 2224 8.2 2.5 our market is in a much stronger position.’ way better for the bank than your personal finances.’ 0544 10.2 3.1 0536 3.6 1.1 However, Harper’s government is responsible for having As the Canadian economy turns sour, what will be the 15 1033 7.2 2.2 23 1327 10.8 3.3 cost of Canada’s experiment with mortgage innovation? In WE 1605 10.5 3.2 TH 2002 6.6 2.0 pushed the envelope on deregulation both domestically and 2304 1.6 0.5 internationally, despite cautionary events in the US clearly what may turn out to be a too-little, too-late intervention, this summer Flaherty limited CMHC to ensuring mortgages 0645 10.5 3.2 0037 7.9 2.4 indicating what could go wrong. 16 1118 8.2 2.5 24 0641 4.6 1.4 of homebuyers who can make at least a 5% down payment TH 1628 10.8 3.3 FR 1358 10.8 3.3 Promoting Mortgage ‘Innovation’ and who amortize their mortgages over a maximum of 35 2345 1.0 0.3 2035 5.6 1.7 In his first budget as Harper’s finance minister, Jim Flaherty years. The new restrictions only took effect as of October 0748 10.8 3.3 0217 8.2 2.5 invited ‘new players’—that is, US financial corporations—into 15—essentially closing the barn door after the horse had 17 1209 8.9 2.7 25 0739 5.6 1.7 FR 1656 10.8 3.3 SA 1423 10.5 3.2 Canada’s mortgage insurance market and doubled the amount bolted. 2104 4.6 1.4 of government money available to back up private insurers from Selling Financial Liberalization To 0032 0.7 0.2 0334 8.9 2.7 $100 billion to $200 billion. Flaherty’s 2006 budget states that 18 0855 10.8 3.3 26 0831 6.2 1.9 The World SA SU ‘These changes will result in greater choice and innovation in the 1313 9.5 2.9 1444 10.2 3.1 On the international stage, Canada is a major proponent of 1728 10.5 3.2 2132 3.6 1,1 market for mortgage insurance, benefiting consumers and promoting home ownership.’ financial liberalization. 0123 1.0 0.3 0437 9.5 2.9 19 1003 11.2 3.4 27 0921 7.2 2.2 New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has observed that At the WTO, Canada heads a group of delegations pressing SU 1444 9.8 3.0 MO 1502 10.2 3.1 ‘financial innovation’ are two words that should henceforth developing countries to open their economies to the supposedly 1805 10.2 3.1 2200 3.0 0.9 strike terror into the hearts of investors. With the entrance of superior services of foreign financial institutions. The world’s 0220 1.3 0.4 0531 10.2 3.1 major financial conglomerates are claimed to have sophisticated 20 1106 11.2 3.4 28 1010 7.9 2.4 new private mortgage insurers into Canada after the Flaherty MO 1652 9.5 2.9 TU 1520 10.2 3.1 budget, Canada saw a dramatic weakening in the standards for risk management capabilities that can stabilize economies. You 1850 9.5 2.9 2229 2.3 0.7 mortgage insurance. This enabled Canadians to get into homes might think these days such a claim would not pass the laugh 0321 2.0 0.6 0620 10.5 3.2 they otherwise couldn’t have—and in many cases shouldn’t have. test, but that did not stop financial liberalization from being 21 1202 11.2 3.4 29 1059 8.5 2.6 pushed at the WTO ministerial meeting held in July 2008. TU 18.34 8.5 2.6 WE 1540 10.2 3.1 It also kept house prices rising. In fact, Canadian median house 2011 8.9 2.7 2258 2.0 0.6 prices peaked this year at levels higher than median prices at the The enormity of what’s at stake in the WTO financial sector top of the market in the US. negotiations is revealed in a February 2006 bargaining request ADD ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME In November 2006, Canada Mortgage and Housing sent from Canada’s Department of Finance to developing countries. Canada asked that foreign financial institutions be Fulford Tide Table Courtesy of Corporation responded to the competition from private insurers guaranteed rights to ‘establish new and acquire existing Island Marine Construction by starting to insure no-down-payment, interest only, and 40- year amortization mortgages. A CMHC spokesperson was companies’ in all financial sectors. This would mean among Floats • Ramps • Moorings • Pile Driving quoted in the National Post as saying: ‘We’re the third guys other things that countries would have to allow 100% foreign Ph: 250-537-9710 Email: [email protected] coming up to the plate with these products. AIG has done it, GE ownership of their banks and insurance companies. www.islandmarine.ca has done it. We’re just doing something that’s in the Canada has also asked that companies be given WTO marketplace.’ enforceable rights to trade in derivatives, which has been Competition from US-based mortgage insurers meant risky described as a high-octane form of financial speculation products rapidly took over the Canadian mortgage sector. Forty similar to gambling. Warren Buffett famously called percent of new mortgages approved in 2007 were amortized derivatives ‘financial weapons of mass destruction,’ over 40 years, and in overheated markets like Alberta’s, the destruction that is now being witnessed on a daily basis on the percentage was even higher. By 2007, there was clear evidence world’s stock exchanges. from the US on the hazards of loose mortgage standards, but the While successive Canadian governments have been strong GULF ISLANDS WATER TREATMENT SOLUTIONS Harper government did not step in to tighten regulations here. advocates of financial liberalization, the unfolding financial crisis might have suggested that it was time to show a little Well Water • Rain Water • Surface Water Better Ways To Get People Into caution and back off these WTO negotiating demands. Yet a WTO submission from Canada, dated December 5, 2007, • Whole-house Treatment Housing If the Tories had really wanted to make houses more affordable berates other WTO members for their lack of ‘ambition’ in the • Self-cleaning Sediment Filters for low income Canadians, one thing they could have done was financial services negotiatins. On behalf of the co-sponsors of to reinstate CMHC’s social housing programs. Innovative the submission, Canada claimed: ‘further liberalization of • Media Filters financial services will help promote economic growth and • Ultraviolet Systems improved standards of living for all WTO Members…’ NATURE RESERVE from page 1 It makes one wonder. Just how bad would things have to REMOVE: as clean air and clean water’ said Leigh Ann Milman, President get before the Harper government realizes further liberalizing Iron / Odour / Bacteria / Hardness / Arsenic of the Gabriola Land Conservancy. the world’s financial markets is not such a great idea? ✐ The naming event was a celebration of the community’s 250-412-1110 • 604 630-1114 • 320 Mary Street, Victoria dedication and effort in protecting the forest. Island residents www.watertiger.net worked for more than 15 years to have the Elder Cedar property Regional Directors protected for its ecological values and popular walking trails. ‘The transfer of this property from the province to the Islands One to be elected Trust Fund was a big win for our community,’ said Sheila Malcolmson, Gabriola Island Trustee and Islands Trust Fund CRD-Electoral Area F CRD-Electoral Area E Board Chair. ‘Former trustees Susan Yates, Jack Sickavish and Southern Gulf Islands Salt Spring Island AT POINT ATKINSON Gail Lund, and current trustee Gisele Rudischer all worked to Ken Hancock Garth Hedren enshrine the community’s wish to protect the UREP lands in Roy Smith Gary Holman OCTOBER Gabriola’s Official Community Plan, and this ended up being key Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. to the Province agreeing to transfer the lands. And without the NRD- Electoral Area B Comox Valley RD-Area A constant efforts of Leigh Ann Milman of the Gabriola Land Gabriola Island Denman & Hornby 0501 13.8 4.2 0509 4.3 1.3 Conservancy and the vital support of our former MLA Mike John Hague Alan de Jersey 14 1043 7.9 2.4 22 1259 15.1 4.6 Jim Phillipoff Bruce Joliffe TU 1627 14.4 4.4 WE 1932 9.8 3.0 Hunter, efforts to protect the property may have been lost.’ 2314 3.6 1.1 2339 11.2 3.4 The Snuneymuxw First Nation was also instrumental in the Gisele Rudischer 0554 14.4 4.4 0619 5.2 1.6 efforts to protect the Elder Cedar property. By graciously Jeff Warr 15 1124 8.9 2.7 23 1343 14.8 4.5 excluding the land from their Treaty Settlement claim, the WE TH 1654 14.8 4.5 2021 8.2 2.5 Snuneymuxw allowed the Islands Trust Fund to apply to the GVRD- Bowen Island Cowichan Valley RD 2353 2.3 0.7 Representative selected from Area G (Thetis Island) Crown for its transfer for conservation purposes. ✐ 0649 14.8 4.5 0123 11.5 3.5 elected council members after N/A 16 1208 9.8 3.0 24 0727 6.2 1.9 TH 1724 14.8 4.5 FR 1420 14.8 4.5 the election (see chart next 2100 6.9 2.1 Fair Trade Sale of page). 0034 1.6 0.5 0245 12.1 3.7 17 0747 15.1 4.6 25 0828 7.2 2.2 World Crafts FR 1256 10.8 3.3 SA 1450 14.4 4.4 1757 14.4 4.4 2135 5.9 1.8 Saturday, October 25 0119 1.3 0.4 0350 12.8 3.9 18 0849 15.1 4.6 26 0922 7.9 2.4 SA 1353 11.5 3.5 SU 1518 14.4 4.4 10 am to 4 pm 1835 14.1 4.3 2208 4.6 1.4 Call Us Toll Free For Quotes On AT 2 LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN GANGES, SALT SPRING 0208 1.6 0.5 0446 13.5 4.1 • Homeowners • Farm 19 0955 15.1 4.6 27 1011 8.9 2.7 SU 1506 11.8 3.6 MO 1545 14.1 4.3 • Commercial • Bed & Breakfasts 1919 13.5 4.1 2241 3.9 1.2 TEN SALT SPRING ISLAND: 0302 2.3 0.7 0535 14.1 4.3 THOUSAND Mike Garside • 250-537-5527 20 1102 15.1 4.6 28 1056 9.5 2.9 1103–115 Fulford-Ganges Road MO 1641 11.5 3.5 TU 1610 13.8 4.2 2019 12.5 3.8 2312 3.3 1.0 VILLAGES SIDNEY: 0402 3.3 1.0 0620 14.4 4.4 Doug Guedes • 1-866-656-9886 • (656-9886) 21 1204 15.1 4.6 29 1139 10.2 3.1 Salt Spring United Church, Hereford Avenue A2–9769 Fifth Street TU 1821 10.8 3.3 WE 1635 13.8 4.2 BRENTWOOD BAY: 2147 11.5 3.5 2344 3.0 0.9 Doug Strong • 1-877-655-1141 • (652-1141) ADD ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 7178 W. Saanich Rd OAK BAY: Gary Law • 250-592-5544 SOLID Exchange Store, McPhillips Avenue 112-2187 Oak Bay Avenue autoplan YOUR BUSINESS SAANICHTON: An opportunity to choose an interesting and DAN OLIVE • 1-877-633-0877 HERE! beautiful gift item as well as promote fair trade Anchor Insurance Agencies Ltd., 2-7855 East Saanich Road for crafts people in the developing world. www.seafirstinsurance.com October Garden ~ Brian Crumblehulme ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008, Page 3 ‘There is more pleasure now in firmly around each one. Remove all the buds Climate Change not Climate Action is the feeding on the fruits of your labour and from the lower part of the stem to discourage industry, than in viewing the ruins and ‘suckers’ or underground shoots that will not Real Risk ~ Clare Demerse decays that this season hath made fruit as readily. The exception is the rom the chaos on Wall Street to the estimated to be in the hundreds of millions or amongst nature’s glories. There is a time blackcurrant which produces better from outbreak of listeriosis, Canadians have billions of dollars. Although we can’t say that all for all things, as well to pluck up as to shoots produced below the ground. Fbeen hearing a lot about risk lately. It these events were ‘caused’ by climate change, plant. This month invites you to both, Choose a dry day to make late sowings and emerged on the campaign trail as well, when global warming is expected to make them even being the most seasonable to plant plantings of garlic, onion sets, and fava beans. Stephen Harper called a tax on greenhouse gas more frequent in the future. young trees that are not tender exotics, This year I am experimenting also with winter pollution an ‘economic risk’ to Canada. The UK government commissioned Sir and to eradicate the old and decayed… peas. This hardy European variety is about one As each day brings fresh tales of disaster in Nicholas Stern, a former World Bank chief ‘Cut off the withered stalks of inch high as I write and should grow a few the financial markets, some Canadians may economist, to assess the economic costs of asparagus near the ground, and weed inches more before slowing down. If it gets indeed be asking themselves whether we can global warming. Stern’s comprehensive review the beds clean, and cover them with good really cold, I may have to cover them but the afford the cost of taking action on global concluded that the cost of unchecked climate rich dung not quite rotten, which will prospect of fresh peas in April is worth the warming now. change would be 5–20 times greater than the defend the roots from violent frosts, and effort. There is still time to sow winter salads, Before accepting that premise, we need a cost of taking action to prevent the worst enrich the bed, by the rains washing in lettuce, endive, chard, rapini, etc—if you have more careful look at the various risks we face, so impacts. its vertue.’ an unheated greenhouse or a frame. I use door- that we can make the right choices about how to Since Stern’s report came out in 2006, the The Gardeners Monthly Directions, 1688 sized sheets of plate glass recovered from the manage them. In other words, we can’t assess scientific findings have become even more etween the rains, this is indeed an active re-cycling depot to make mini-green houses the risk of acting on climate change without urgent. One of the world’s most eminent season. Most fruit will have to be picked around my garden to protect salads, winter and looking at the risk of climate change itself and climate scientists, NASA’s James Hansen, Band stored indoors. Green tomatoes will spring vegetables. Behind glass is always the benefits of taking action. testified at a recent US Congressional hearing eventually ripen on the window sill or you can warmer than in front and the panes act as a Two recent government reports have that we are nearing tipping points ‘that lead to use them for frying, pickles, or chutney. Carrots, screen from heavy rain and wind. documented the risks that global warming disastrous climate changes that spiral beets, and parsnips can be left in the ground ‘To dig or not to dig’—if Shakespeare will poses for Canada in stark terms. dynamically out of humanity’s control.’ and lifted as needed, but they will require forgive the corruption. Garden books all insist Health Canada’s assessment of our There’s no doubt that tackling any major protection from freezing should the that dahlias, gladioli, and most lilies, must be vulnerability to global warming projects challenge involves some uncertainty and risk. temperature get really low. And, as above, once lifted from the ground, cleaned, dried, and climate-related risks to Canadians’ health from But weight that against the enormous costs stored for the winter in a shed or garage. the leaves have fallen, this is best time to plant ‘the food they eat, the air they breathe, the water associated with global warming̶not just to the fruit trees. Fuchsias, geraniums, and many so-called they drink, and their exposure to extreme environment, but to our health and livelihoods, I am preparing a new garden this winter on annual flowers, are also discarded like weather events and infectious diseases.’ in Canada and even more so in the world’s ground containing lots of clay. So while I had Christmas wrapping paper, or treated like A companion report from Natural poorest places. And it’s not hard to see which the advantage of an excavator, I had a three foot tropical exotics. Resources Canada detailed the projected path is ultimately riskier. deep trench dug along the south facing bank in In this region, it’s a matter of chance. In a impacts of climate change across the country, Most Canadian parties agree that climate preparation for tree planting. This trench, now bad winter, expect to lose some to frost, but I finding increased risk nearly everywhere. The change poses a major threat. (For example, half-full of compost and wood ash, is waiting have friends that have left dahlias and glads in costs in southern Canada ‘associated with Stephen Harper has called global warming only for a layer of top soil and manure by which the ground for the last ten years only to watch flooding, wind, hail and ice storms, hurricanes, time it will be ready for six or seven semi-dwarf them flourish. If the ground is well-drained and tornados and wild fires’ since 1996 are CLIMATE, please turn to page 7 trees. sunny, it’s a good bet. Geraniums, calendula Fruit bushes and canes can also be planted marigolds, etc, are more vulnerable but then FUEL-EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE WOOD HEATING and pruned now to remove all the old fruiting again, a sheltered south-facing corner under the branches and allow the new ones to mature for eaves of the house will probably be fine, and you next year. For propagation, select twelve-to- can decorate your January salads with violets ifteen inch cuttings of any desired fruit and bury and marigold petals even if its snowing. two-thirds of the lower stem in rows at the edge Speaking of violets and wallflowers, the of the garden, remembering to tread the ground OCTOBER GARDEN, please turn to page 10 Bowen Island Serving the Gulf Islands & Greater Victoria Islands Trust Candidates For over 25 Years Municipality BOWEN MAYNE Sales / Installations MAYOR Lisa Barrett Jeanine Dodds+ ** Alan Mills Peter Frinton+ Colin Shew ** Bob Turner Alison Morse+ Ark Solar Products Ltd. One to be elected Nerys Poole #6 – 1950 Government Street, Victoria, BC COUNCILLORS DENMAN NORTH PENDER Lisa Barrett Louise Bell+ Barbara Johnstone Grimmer Phone: (250) 386-7643 Sally Freeman David Graham+ Victoria Jones Peter Frinton Andrew Scruton Derek Masselink David Hocking Gary Steeves+ Doug Hooper Cro Lucas GABRIOLA SALT SPRING Alison Morse David F. Boehm George Ehring+ Nerys Poole Deborah Ferens Rick Laing Tim Rhodes Ian Lowden Kimberly Linegar Lisa Shatzky Sheila Malcolmson+ Norbert Schlenker David Wrinch Eric P. Moeller Christine Torgrimson George Zwadzki John Ralph Six to be elected GALIANO SATURNA Louise Decario John Money ** Ben Mabberley Beverley Neff ** SD #64 Sandy Pottle William Russell Candidates Michael Sharp+ GALIANO ISLAND Bonnie MacGillivray GAMBIER SOUTH PENDER Bruce Bingham Wendy Scholefield+ MAYNE ISLAND Joyce Clegg+ May McKenzie Jan Hagedorn Kate-Louise Stamford PENDER ISLAND Ken White Pete Williams HORNBY THETIS Russ Searle Ron Emerson+ Peter Luckham+ One to be elected Fred Hunt Sue French+ SALT SPRING ISLAND Tony Law+ Dave Steen Charles Hingston LASQUETI + incumbent Mike Krayenhoff Jen Gobby ** candidates acclaimed SATURNA ISLAND Susan Ann Morrison Two to be elected Susanne Middleditch Bronwyn Preece+ Withdrawals till Oct 17

NANAIMO We’re all about the Islands (Departure Bay)

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Harbour Commission Defies Wishes entity. The directors will be: Peter Carter, Colin Campbell, Dorothy Cutting, Guy Dauncey, Andrew Haigh, Joanne of Mayne Island Residents Montrichard, Sheila Reid and Jan Slakov. Dear Editor: I want to thank everyone who helped with this effort, with 21,000 copies this issue On Sept 27 the Harbours Commission held a meeting on Mayne special thanks to Tim Lott for giving us such excellent legal Every Second Thursday Island to inform residents of their decision to close the Miners advice and to Dave at Imagine That Graphics for his generosity Bay dock to vehicle traffic. and patience. SALISH SEA’S ONLY FREE & The Miners Bay dock has enabled the ambulance to drive to Dorothy Cutting, Salt Spring Island the ramp providing emergency evacuation by boat for sick and There Are Bonuses and Bonuses injured patients in all weather conditions for many years! The MAIL DELIVERY NEWSPAPER Dear Editor: dock has been in existence for over 100 years providing a marine The recent bonuses paid out to ferry workers were from last fiscal conduit and access to the rest of BC. Vehicle access to the dock year, before all the fuel surcharges, fare increases, and service 14,000 print copies delivered to enables many other crucial services to function, such as mail reductions happened. I certainly don’t begrudge the rank and file delivery, BC Hydro personnel with heavy equipment, and many Gulf Islands’ households workers a paltry holiday bonus. They take a lot of flak on behalf more. As unbelievable as this sounds, the Harbours Commission of their overlords— we should never mistake the workers for the has passed a resolution to place a barrier on the dock as of policy-makers that are responsible for our current ferry mess. November 15 to prohibit all vehicles from the dock, including The ferries are a part of the highways system. This was the emergency vehicles! original vision of WAC Bennett when BC Ferries was created, This resolution was passed by the Harbours Commission on and every other ferry in this province, except the ones in our tidal August 12 with no public input from the residents! This means waters, remains true to this vision. 4,000 print copies on the Ferry Routes that patients will have to be wheeled on their stretcher the entire What I want to do is make people mad. Real mad. Our liberal and in Sidney, Victoria, Mill Bay 350 feet of the dock, often at night when it is raining or snowing. government sold us out and violated the social contract that has Duncan, Nanaimo & Campbell River Heavy mail packages will have to be loaded and unloaded at the been on place since the inception of BC Ferries when they calved wharf head and manually wheeled to a waiting vehicle at the 3,000 online pdf readers each edition it off from the Ministry of Highways and turned it into a for- entrance to the dock, 6 days week! Sometimes elderly passenger profit corporation. It’s not going to get better unless we do www.islandtides.com from the float plane will be forced to walk the length of the dock something about it. while many other services will be extremely difficult or Our island communities are being eroded and slowly being ISLAND TIDES PUBLISHING Ltd impossible to perform. turned into ghost towns and bedroom communities for the idle The meeting was held at the Community Centre to an Box 55, Pender Island, BC, V0N 2M0 rich. Stripped of the necessary diversity that comes with housing overflow audience of concerned citizens. There was standing affordability and easy access, local island economies are coming Owner, Publisher & Editor: Christa Grace-Warrick room only with all voicing their disapproval to this decision when under real pressure to survive, and Bowen is no exception. The Assistant Publisher: Jill Moran a show of hands was requested. It fell on deaf ears. bottom line is this: the economies of all of the Gulf Islands are in The Southern Gulf Islands Harbours Commission has passed Contributors: Denese Izzard-Ferris, Priscilla Ewbank serious danger unless the management of BC Ferries gets turned a motion to prohibit vehicle access for all docks under their Brian Crumblehulme, Pat McLaughlin into an election issue. BC Ferries must be returned to the people jurisdiction. Their reasoning is unclear, as two years ago when Clare Demerse, Richard Boyce, Henny Schnare of this province by re-integrating it back into the Ministry of they attempted this, they claimed the vehicles were causing Ellen Gould, Patrick Brown ‘damage to the docks.’ This is incorrect as vehicles cause Transport. Tel: 250-629-3660 • Fax: 250-629-3838 negligible damage. Now it appears as if their reason is a concern Getting mad at the ferry corporation is a useless waste of Email:[email protected] & [email protected] for ‘potential liability.’ energy. This is a political issue, and in my opinion its the responsibility of those who live on the islands to make it a central Deadline: Wednesday between Publications Closing the dock to vehicles is unnecessary. Peter Sara, Mayne Island issue in the next provincial election. This is difficult, as I’m sure Off-Island Canadian Subscriptions $42 that more than half the people who live here now commute to Voluntary Mail & Box Pick-up Subscriptions $26.25 November Local Election town fairly regularly, and it would be a real challenge for those International Subs: $60.00 • Free online in PDF format Dear Editor: people to assist in raising awareness by participating in any During these days of frenzied election campaigning north and systematic protests that would shut down ferries. But that is south of the border, the Gulf Islands Alliance is concerned that precisely what we need to do, and it’s in everyone’s long term Bureaucrat pay hikes betrays Islanders will suffer some political burn-out and give insufficient interest to do so. Sometimes you have to take one for the team. attention to the upcoming local election. We have been nickeled and dimed to death over the last few On November 15 there will be two trustees elected in each of taxpayers and frontline workers, years. Perhaps so gradually, that the will to fight back has not the 12 island areas and the Bowen Island Municipality, for a total surfaced amongst most of us. But we need to fight back. We need of 26 trustees on Islands Trust Council. Their term will be three to protest. We need to get the protests in the media, in the hopes says BCGEU years. that those suffering on other islands may follow our example. We Trustees have considerable power to plan and regulate land The union representing 29,000 provincial government need to communicate the message that the ferries are our uses in our community where what happens next door can often employees has reacted with anger to the September highways, and do not exist so that CEOs can collect 6-figure have more immediate importance than events in the wider announcement of huge wage increases for senior government performance bonuses. world. bureaucrats retroactive to August 1. If our tax dollars pay for the snow removal on a Smithers ‘These increases and the way they were announced should be Our non-profit grassroots organization with almost 300 members is dedicated to preserving our natural and social highway, why should they not support the function of BC Ferries quite troubling to both taxpayers and frontline workers,’ said completely? In light of record surpluses coming from offshore oil Darryl Walker, president of the BC Government and Service environments, preserving our small rural communities, and ensuring that the Islands Trust mandate is effectively and gas revenue, and the multibillion dollar boondoggle that is Employees’ Union (BCGEU). the 2010 Olympics (which will be over-budget and will be costing ‘We negotiated a collective agreement with the province implemented. We urge voters to carefully consider each candidate’s resolve us for a long time), BC Ferries being snatched away from the which provides modest increases of 2% this year for frontline —in word and deed—to uphold the letter and spirit of the Islands citizens of this province seems like a near criminal act. I don’t staff—and look at these increases.’ Walker went on to accuse the Trust Act, particularly in its objective of protecting and want a luge track. I want my ferries back. Campbell government of having misplaced priorities and of preserving the Gulf Islands from unplanned and damaging So let’s not begudge the lowly BC Ferries worker a decent being highly selective in its use of salary comparisons and growth. turkey and a bottle of rum at the holidays. Instead, let’s write recruitment and retention data. ‘Future recruitment challenges Our best chance to maintain the natural beauty of these letters to our MLA’s. Let’s organize some good old-fashioned in the senior bureaucracy is used to justify raises of as much as islands is by electing trustees devoted to these goals. Bowen protests. Let’s get the media out here to see how pissed $77,000 a year,’ he said. ‘But we’ve been trying to negotiate For more, visit our website at www.gulfislandsalliance.ca. we are. This morning, a friend likened our situation to ‘boiled recruitment and retention wage adjustments to solve staff Graham Brazier, Spokesperson Gulf Islands Alliance frogs’. You put a frog in a pot of cold water and gradually increase shortages that we’re facing right now in a number of key the temperature, and it won’t jump out before the water boils program areas.’ New Action Group Dear Editor: because the change is so gradual. Walker says addressing the current shortage of childcare Here is the link to a new website, produced by climate activists My family is leaving for India at the end of next month, but I workers and community social service workers who care for on Salt Spring Island. It is designed to post the top articles of the hope that some of us frogs get cheesed enough to get hopping people with developmental disabilities is more of a priority for day relating to global climate change, as well as articles written mad. I have created a petition online, and I urge all of us to sign the public than granting big pay boosts for bureaucrats. by concerned people here on Salt Spring and the rest of BC: it and pass it on to everyone in your email list. With the increase, a deputy minister will be making six times http://WestCoastClimateEquity.org. Sign the BC Ferries petition at as much as the average government employee. ‘Attracting and We hope you will take frequent looks at our site for breaking www.thepetitionsite.com/1/return-bc-ferries-to-the-bc- keeping qualified employees in the provincial government will news, useful information, to add your own comments, and ministry-of-highways. Robert Bailey, Bowen Island not succeed if workers see people at the top making huge pay submit articles: [email protected]. increases,’ said Walker. ✐ The West Coast Climate Association will soon become a legal LETTERS, please turn to next page Butler Gravel & Family! Friends! Christmas! 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Relatives far away? They can keep up with the Islands by reading the full copy of Island Tides on the Internet - www.islandtides.com It’s like they are still visiting! www.islandtides.comwww.islandtides.com Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008, Page 5 SINGLE EVENT • $31.50 • With image $36.75 (max 50 words) water, air and soil and these are the things we should be using ‘What’s On?’ the Bank of Canada to invest in for our benefit and the future of MULTI-VENUE • $42 • With image $47.25 (max 70 words this country. There are some things that Canadians have Payment with order only. VISA credit card accepted embraced as important, like the quality of life for our fellow Thursday, October 16 Fri, October 24 Canadians. Putting the basics of life into the hands of private for- profit corporations is not in our best interest. Reading by Margaret Atwood—benefit for the Galiano Galiano Concert Series presents soprano The banks have been making substantial profits on the backs Library Building Fund • South Hall • 2-4pm • Tickets $20, to Suzie LeBlanc and pianist Robert reserve call Chris Bayliss at 250-539-3322 • ON GALIANO Kortgaard—Songs of Heaven and Earth of ordinary hard-working Canadians. Why is government ISLAND includes works by Mozart, Messiaen and Kurt rushing to aid them in their risky business rather than Friday, October 17 Weill (full season subscriptions may be supporting people to rise above a poverty lifestyle? purchased at the concert) • South Galiano Will these decisions create a lower interest rate on credit card Alpha Yaya Diallo and guest Doura Barry in Concert— Community Hall • 7:30pm • Tickets: Adults $25; 15-&-under with debt for many Canadians? How does this decision really assist one of the best on the World Beat circuit today; guitarist and paying adult free, Other students $12, at Galiano Island Books or singer from Guinea, West Africa, now based in Vancouver • at the door • ON GALIANO ISLAND the Canadian public who are paying the price? Why did Mr. Pender Islands Community Hall • 8pm • Tickets: $18 advance at Flaherty have the right to make such a decision outside of Talisman and Southridge Store, $20 at door • ON PENDER Thursday, October 30 Parliament, during an election? ISLAND ‘Conservation Celebration’ Benefit for Salt Spring Catherine Whelan Costen, Brant, Alberta Sats, Oct 18 & 25 and Sun, Oct 19 Island Conservancy—featuring Dr Bob Peart on connecting Saving The CBC Too Pender Film Group Screenings: SAT OCT 18: Hijacked children and nature, and showing of ‘Lord of the Ants’ about Future (2007)—where our food comes from, and how industrial biodiversity pioneer E.O. Wilson; live auction; displays; Dear Editor: agricultural is altering the future of food; SUN OCT 19: The Secret doorprizes • ArtSpring • Doors 7pm for refreshments, Your wonderful paper is a little slow reaching us now because we Garden (1993)—family matinée, 1pm; timeless tale of a special performance 7:30pm • Tickets $21 @ ArtSpring ticket centre 250- rely on friends from Salt Spring Island to bring them up, but in 537-2102 • ON SALT SPRING ISLAND place where magic, hope and love grow; SAT OCT 25: your September 18 edition the letter from Diane Engelhardt Resurrecting the Champ (2007)—reporter rescues a homeless Fri to Sun, November 7, 8 & 9 man and discovers he is a boxing legend believed dead, about the ‘New 2 You Radio’ jumped out at us. In the last production designer Pender local Ken Rempel will talk at the 19th Annual Nanaimo Professional Craft Fair—62 crafters paragraph of her letter she hopes that CBC management is screening • All shows 7:30pm, except where otherwise noted • selling coffees to belt buckles, hourly door prizes, grand prize: ‘tsunamied with expressions of outrage,’ and we’ve done just Nintendo Wii Family Fun and Fitness System, wheelchair Community Hall • Admission by donation • Info: that for months, even more so after the new programming www.penderislands.org • ON PENDER ISLAND accessible, refreshments available • Rec Centre, 2300 Bowen Road • FRI NOV 7: 12-8pm; SAT NOV 8:10am-5pm; SUN NOV 9: started on September 2. I thought it might help your readership Thursday, October 23 10am-4pm • Admission $3 (unlimited re-entry), CLIP THIS AD if I sent along the addresses we’ve been using, and you can even Gulf Islands Concerts (Pender) presents FOR $1 OFF ONE ADMISSION • Info: 250-758-3989 or sign up for the regular ‘savecbc’ newsletter! [email protected] • IN NANAIMO Soprano Suzie LeBlanc and pianist Robert It might also help to know that the tone of the ‘new’ CBC Kortgaard—open the 2008/09 season with an Thurs to Sun, Nov 13, 14, 15 & 16 might be attributable to the CBC Board members (many now eclectic program titled Songs of Earth and Heaven • School Auditorium • 7:30pm • Fifth Annual Poetry Gabriola Festival—poetry, spoken word, appointed by the Prime Minister), one of whom said something Admission: single concert adults: $25.00, storytelling and music including George Bowering, storytellers to the effect that they wanted the new CBC 2 to be more like a children $5.00 • ON PENDER ISLAND Ivan Coyote and Richard van Camp, performance artist singer poet Baby Dee; writing workshop, Alphabet Soup-poetry reading in a Tim Horton’s than a Starbucks! Well, they have neither—all they Saturday, October 25 hot tub, and Buskers Galore—roving poets in the village, nightly have are, in the main, totally unlistenable programs! Fair Trade Sale of World Crafts—choose an interesting and after parties at Surf Lodge • Info: www.poetrygabriola.com 250- If you want to let them know how you feel, write to any of beautiful gift item as well as promote fair 247-7604 • ON GABRIOLA ISLAND them and send copies to the others. A while back some of the trade for crafts people in the developing board members, including the president, blocked their email world • Two locations in Ganges: Ten Salish Sea-wide Visibility access (wonder why?), but it seems that problem has been Thousand Villages at Salt Spring United Church and the SOLID Exchange Store [email protected] corrected. You should find the list of their names at: on McPhillips Avenue • 10am-4pm • ON www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/about/directors. SALT SPRING ISLAND 250-629-3660 At (www.standonguardforcbc.ca and www.SaveTheCBC.ca), ask them to put your email address on their list to receive newsletters. You can reach them at [email protected] or LETTERS from previous page [email protected], or [email protected]. I think these addresses are still current. Foreign Aid In Georgia parental cottage has been preserved and a large museum erected At the CBC, you can email: [email protected]. At Dear Editor: close by. Our interpreter was quite candid about the mixed Friends of Canadian Broadcasting email: [email protected] or Georgia is wonderfully cultured and contradictory. It is still late feelings Stalin and the Soviets evoke in most Georgians— Visit: www.friends.ca. summer here, warm and mostly sunny. The food and wine are especially as it is only five weeks since the Russians bombed part You can write to the president (also appointed by the PM): good and the people friendly. Traffic is something else: imagine of their town! Hubert T Lacroix, president and CEO, CBC, PO Box 3220, if you will a major intersection in Calcutta where all the drivers On the outskirts of Gori a refugee camp is under construction Station C, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 1E4. are armed with BMWs! where about 100 small (500-600sq.ft) concrete cottages are Why not write the Prime Minister and your MP? (Prime Georgia is like Janus, it has two faces. I asked our driver about lined up nearly complete for Gori residents whose homes were the middle-class economy and his terse response was simply ‘we lost in August. Minister Stephen Harper, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, have no middle class.’ That appears to be true, there is Tbilisi and Our work is full of surprises, today we taught a seminar to K1A OA6). there is the rest of the country. Tbilisi is a vibrant city undergoing women prisoners who are nearing their release time. The idea is And like Diane Engelhardt, we don’t intend to listen on a staggering reconstruction. The scale of the buildings may be that they will need some help finding work so maybe they can computer speakers! This is a taxpayer funded public smaller than Vancouver, but nowhere is there more building. start their own businesses. broadcaster, but it seems that a huge chunk of Canadian tax It still has that old world charm about it. Most offices open at Tomorrow we are supposed to teach a master class at one of payers are considered expendable! And from what we’ve read, 10am and close at 6pm with an hour for lunch. Construction the universities nearby but that has not been confirmed. We are these changes may be going against their own mandate! workers begin early; hard hats appear at about 9am. Rush hour also slated to travel to Kaheti near the border with Azerbaijan, In the meantime, because we have to be on cable here in the lasts all day but it is impossible to cross any main road from and sometime later to Mestia in the Dolomites. Comox Valley, even for CBC, we’ve found KING FM out of 6–8pm. Thankfully, there are clean, well lit, pedestrian Brian and Mary Crumblehulme, Tiblisi, Georgia Seattle. Some ads, but beautiful classical programming. Let’s not underpasses. give up the fight though—we might just get through to the Many of the old Soviet buildings, both commercial and Canadian Bank Bail-out diseased minds who did this to us and bring back some dignity residential are undergoing restoration or in need of one. Ours Dear Editor: to CBC 2! belongs to the latter group. Our apartment is about 1200 square How can a decision to spend $25billion of Canadian Rosemary Baxter, Courtenay feet with two bedrooms, a large kitchen and separate oak taxpayers money be made, outside of Parliament, without Ed’s Note: Hello Rosemary! It’s amazing how many finished dining and living rooms. The 10ft ceilings and 8ft doors debate or informed consent? Do we or do we not have a duty to southern Islanders are relocating north on Vancouver give the impression of a once grande epoch. It is spotlessly clean discuss and debate where our money is spent? We bailed out the Island. You will be glad to know that, as of this edition, you but otherwise very shabby. We buy most of our supplies at small banks back in the ’80s under Mulroney’s government, and now will be able to pick up your Island Tides from an indoor supermarkets or corner stores, the owners are very helpful and we are doing it again. rack at Serious Coffee in Courtenay, 2760 Cliffe Avenue courteous, however, our faltering Russian is firmly but politely We make a regular annual interest payment of approximately (see ad on the front page). If you, or anyone else, know of corrected for Georgian. $37 billion, which doesn’t touch the principal, to private banks other likely locations for indoor racks or outdoor boxes we Anti-Russian sentiment is high and the August invasion did every year, because of our previous error in borrowing from will be very happy to make arrangements a get box or rack nothing to improve relations. Many buses have posters them instead of our own Bank of Canada. Canadians have a true in place (locations must be within a block of the Island exclaiming hopefully in English, ‘Stop Russian Aggression.’ central bank called the Bank of Canada and it ought to be used Highway anywhere north of the Malahat to Campbell Bumper stickers and signs in store windows more graphically for our benefit, not for corporate welfare. River). And don’t forget you can read the entire paper proclaim, ‘F**k Putin!’ These banks are private industry, and they have played a online at www.islandtides.com. Speaking of Russia... Yesterday we visited the town of Gori game on Wall Street as well as here at home. Canadians have a LETTERS, please turn to page 8 about 70 kilometres away. Gori is the birthplace of Stalin whose right to sustainable infrastructure, healthcare, education, clean MOORINGS Barnes contractors ltd. INSTALLED • SERVICED • MAINTAINED • Hitachi ZX Excavator • John Deere Sand Pro WE MAKE BASEMENTS AND CRAWLSPACES DRY AND ENERGY EFFICIENT...ALL THE TIME! Chris West Dive Services • Bobcat 334 Mini Excavator • 5 Ton Dump Truck • Bobcat 763 Skid Steer Loader • Tandem Slinger Truck Serving the Gulf Islands 250-888-7199 Paul Barnes 250-538-1667 [email protected] Cell: 250-740-7021

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If you are receiving Island Tides in your Island mailbox Photo: Denese Izzard-Ferris or if you pick it up from one of our yellow free boxes Berry Point, Gabriola Island in dramatic October light. located across the Strait of Georgia and from Victoria to Nanaimo, or if you read online, you can show your support and appreciation by mailing a voluntary subscription of ($25 + $1.25 gst = $26.25) to: Round The Islands Box 55, Pender Island, B.C. V0N 2M0 Christa Grace-Warrick (Or call us with your VISA number, 250-629-3660) Thank You! And a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to those of you Writer Recovering who have given subscriptions. And keep Since his open heart surgery a month ago, those lovely letters coming. We paste them Patrick Brown and his new pig’s aortic valve all in our scrapbooks! (his third) are getting along well. We are delighted to have him back at his computer and on the front page with a ferries article. Meanwhile, we heard from the Jack Webster Awards office that there was a mistake in their press release; Patrick is, in fact, a finalist for a suite of four articles written between June 2007 and May of this year: ‘Deconstructing TILMA’, ‘Subprime fraud RECEPTION AREA made easy’, Carbon tax versus cap-&-trade’ and ‘Betting on oil: Officially the Bishop Coleman Memorial Health Centre, the $1.3 An intelligent way to get a mortgage. the only sure thing.’ million facility project was funded by community donations of Lower than posted bank rates Island Tides will be celebrating at the awards ceremony (an equally astonishing) $600,000 and a similar grant from the Gulf Island Financing dinner in Vancouver on November 6. The four articles can be Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD). Self-employed found through Island Tides ‘Archives’ page at (may not have to prove income to qualify) The expansion features a new medical wing, an emergency First-time buyers www.islandtides.com. treatment centre, enlarged waiting and reception areas and new Debt consolidation Connecting Children & Nature offices for health practitioners. The existing facility has also been Sandy Noble No fee for consultant services This year, the Salt Spring Island Conservancy annual benefit renovated and upgraded to meet the latest safety and fire codes. Mortgage Consultant takes the form of a evening of fun, food, and food for thought. The evening will provide insight into our experience of the Thinking about buying… Find out what you can qualify for! natural world, including saving our children from ‘nature-deficit Phone: 604.825.0081 • Email: [email protected] disorder’ and the value of biodiversity. It features a talk by noted www.migroup.ca/sandynoblewww.sandynoble.com BC biologist Bob Peart, who has long been a champion of efforts to connect children and nature. Bob Peart believes that the solution is just outside, often right in your own backyard or neighbourhood park. JAKOBSEN The evening also features a showing of ‘Lord of the Ants’, a new program produced for NOVA on the work and wisdom of ASSOCIATES biologist, E O Wilson. Actor and environmentalist Harrison Ford narrates this portrait of a ceaselessly active scientist, writer and humanist, who has accumulated two Pulitzer Prizes among his Custom designs for Homes, many other honours. David Attenborough says of him that, ‘He COURTYARD Renovations, Interiors, will go down as the man who opened the eyes of millions around and Vacation Homes the world to the glories, the values, the importance of—to use his ‘The existing building, built by the Pender Lions Club in 1980, term—biodiversity.’ Wilson still devotes time to projects that was bursting at its seams, and this new expansion will provide Keith Jakobsen www.jakobsenassociates.com allow children to learn about species that live in their for the health care needs of the Pender Islands community,’ said 604.261.5619 [email protected] neighbourhood park and so begin a life-long appreciation of Shirley LePers, president of Pender Islands Health Care Society, nature. For details of the evening, please see ‘What’s On?’ page 5. which owns and manages the facility. Pender Clinic The centre had already had one addition in the ’90s. This latest upgrade will allow for the hiring of a nurse practitioner (see Pender’s health clinic expansion is finally finished. Astonished A Better Way to Build related article, page 10) to join the current two-doctor team as Islanders gathered at an open house on Friday, October 3. The well as providing more space for related services, including Save time, money and headaches. clever design around a courtyard and the exquisite colour chiropractic, physiotherapy, optometry and dentistry. The health scheme left mouths agape. Many had to make several circuits of the building to puzzle out how the new meshed with the old. continued on the next page

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Duncan, BC Phone: (250) 720-6000 Visit www.crd.bc.ca/takethepledge to take Brian Haller View over 100 plans at: EV^YigVkZaVcYVXXdbbdYVi^dch™:mXZei^dcValV\Zh the pledge and find information on what you www.nelson-homes.com Mayne Island (250) 539-0024 &"-++"(**"-(**™lll#igVkZacjghZ#XV can do! 4th beach clean-up on Denman Island ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008, page 7 Pat McLaughlin enman Islanders with garbage bags and wearing gloves, Other recyclable items like bottles and cans that were not part of CLIMATE from page 3 covered specific areas of the foreshore, picking up any the industry garbage were sent to the recycling depot. ‘perhaps the biggest threat to confront the future of humanity Ddebris that did not belong in the natural marine It is apparent the shellfish farming industry is not taking today’.) And most Canadians agree: an Ekos poll released this environment, and that was outside a legitimate shellfish seriously their responsibility to see that their equipment is well month found 63% agreement with the statement that ‘global aquaculture tenure. secured and therefore remains on their tenure or, if some warming will be the most important issue facing Canada’ over Once again the Denman Island Marine Stewardship escapes due to winter storms, it is their responsibility to retrieve the medium to long term. Committee organized the cleanup. However, this year we joined it from the beaches of Denman Island. So we agree on the threat of global warming̶but how risky with other Canadians across the country in the TD Great This year, as in the past three years, over 90% of the garbage are the alternatives to combat it? Canada’s timid climate action Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, that was co-ordinated by the collected was from the shellfish farming industry. Much of this to date means we have little experience with tools like emissions Vancouver Aquarium and took place September 20–28. is plastic. If it is not removed from the beach it may break up into taxes or ‘cap-&-trade’ systems, the two main ways to put a price Because the BC Shellfish Growers Association had been smaller pieces but is not biodegradable. It remains indefinitely on pollution. And the unknown can be very intimidating. alerted over the past and becomes part of the A look at some of the countries that took the lead in putting a three years about marine environment real price on pollution provides some reassurance. Norway, the large amount of negatively impacting Sweden and Denmark each introduced a tax on greenhouse gas garbage found on marine life beginning with emissions (a ‘carbon tax’) in the early 1990s. According to OECD our beaches that the lowest and moving to data, all three have enjoyed economic growth and low originate from the the highest in the food unemployment since they introduced their carbon taxes. And shellfish industry, chain. Norway has maintained one of the world’s largest oil and gas we felt the amount In spite of the financial industries while charging a higher carbon tax than any of the gathered would be assistance given by the main proposals on the table in Canada. substantially less provincial government to According to Nic Rivers, a specialist in climate policy at this year, but that help the BC Shellfish Simon Fraser University, economic models often find that the was not the case. Growers Association light manufacturing sector benefits somewhat from a price on Instead two large clean-up the beaches greenhouse gas emissions. truckloads (almost following winter storms So can individuals. In the longer term, we know that oil and 2 tons) were taken last year, the situation has gas will only get more expensive. Already the upfront costs of to the landfill in not changed. In our view, reducing our energy use, like buying a more efficient furnace, Cumberland. In the garbage must be often pay for themselves over time. A price on pollution that addition two stopped at its source, and increases the cost of fuels will provide even more incentive for smaller truckloads of plastic sacks used for growing oysters, were cleaning up the beaches should not be a job left to the residents those investments in efficiency by shortening the payback taken for re-use by a shellfish grower. All the garbage was sorted of the island. It is surely in the interest of the industry to do a period. and the contents counted for the Aquarium records. better job. ✐ As other countries move to take action on climate change, there’s growing pressure on laggards like Canada to catch up. What went to the landfill did not include a damaged This article can be found at www.islandtides.com, in the Some nations have raised the possibility of trade sanctions or aluminum boat, and about 300 pounds of aluminum that was a Reprints section of our online archive, go through ‘Good Life,’ regulations against products that carry a high pollution price tag derelict cage used by the industry that had been left to box in left column. It is a easy size to email to a friend. It is a easy disintegrate on the beach. These were set aside for recycling. to email to a friend. ̶a threat that Alberta’s oil sands producers are already starting to grapple with. ROUND THE ISLANDS from the previous page Climate action isn’t just about avoiding the human and centre is also home to community-based health programs and Two Opportunities for Writers environmental chaos of global warming; it’s about cashing in on significant new economic opportunities. For example, here’s support services. Winter’s coming on and those with an inclination to write by the how California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger explains his The expansion has provided a good deal of work for Pender’s woodstove should get cracking and finish off that novel or poem. interest in climate action: ‘The computer industry and the tradespeople. Some Islanders will breathe a sigh of relief, with Mother Tongue Publishing of Salt Spring Island is searching internet built the economy of the Silicon Valley. And now green, the prospect of their hoped-for house renos emerging on the for the great BC novel (or novella). The contest is intended to clean technology̶along with biotech—will take California to the event horizon. encourage an appetite for reading, and writing, literary fiction next level.’ Stewardship Fair that arises from BC landscape, history, culture, language, vision Canada has incredible potential for green innovation as well. North Pender Island Local Trust Committee held a packed and people. Inspired writers living in British Columbia should We have more than enough expertise and ingenuity to be a world submit the first chapter of a complete and unpublished novel. Stewardship Fair on Thanksgiving Saturday. The room was leader in renewable energy, clean cars, or carbon sequestration. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2009. For more info: crowded with exhibits as well as people. But until our federal government accepts the ‘risk’ of taking www.mothertonguepublishing.com. The first presentation was a workshop on non-toxic rat much bolder climate action than we’ve seen from Ottawa in the Arts Angels Publishing of Chemainus is looking for twelve control (rats have become quite a problem on Pender in recent past decade, we won’t be able to reap those rewards. years). More chairs had to be taken upstairs at the community short stories and four poems for a book of fiction to be published Clare Demerse is a senior policy analyst at the Pembina hall to seat the crowd. And standing room only continued in the spring of 2009. The deadline is December 31. Selected Institute, a sustainable energy think tank. ✐ throughout the event. authors will join award-winners Eliza Hemingway, Jonathan Also on the wildside were talks about maintaining Haylett from Scotland and Jim Bennett from England. Vancouver Island artist Clare Carver will provide art for the book endangered species such as the Western Painted Turtle and the cover. For information: visit www.elizahemingway.com or email Sharp-tailed Snake, and ‘Deer Ecology 101’ about the definitely [email protected]. not endangered Black-tailed deer. For a change of pace a workshop on solar-powering your home was presented by Thinking of a Winter Getaway? SolarBC. Accent Inns in Victoria has advertised their great in-town offers ‘People who live in Island communities continually express to overnighting Islanders every winter for many years. Now to their desire to share their knowledge and understanding of the help with those soaring fares, the family-owned chain is offering unique natural settings in which they live and work,’ said local a great deal for local travellers taking flight from Victoria Trustee Gary Steeves, ‘This sharing is at the heart of community International Airport. Airplane-bound guests park free for up to eight days with one night’s stay at Accent Inns’ Victoria location. stewardship.’ For $147 you get one night’s stay for two people, free parking for Organized by outgoing Trustee Ken Hancock the event was up to eight days, and transportation to and from Victoria Airport quite the swansong. Hancock is nominated as Southern Gulf provided by AKAL Shuttle. As 8 days parking at the airport cost Islands’ CRD director in the November 15 local elections. Of the $96, this may open up some travel options. If you need more switch Hancock says that it came from his experience as a time, parking longer than eight days costs $5/day to a maximum member of the Islands Trust Governance Task Force which of 10 additional days. committed itself to improving coordination between the Islands ‘Because we are a locally-owned company, we are always Trust and the CRD. Ken commented, ‘By improving looking for ways to make travelling easier for Vancouver coordination between the two levels of local government, not Islanders,’ said Mandy Farmer, President and CEO of Accent only will taxpayers get a better return for their tax dollars, but Inns. ‘And we wanted to help those travellers having to drive also their elected officials will be more effective at advocating to some distance, especially over the Malahat. It’s much easier and senior governments on issues such as ferries and funding for safer to do in daylight, particularly when the weather turns.’ improvements in transportation, affordable housing and ‘Victoria Stay, Park N’ Fly’ package: 1-800-663-0298, or visit maintaining and improving our Islands’ infrastructure.’ www.accentinns.com, ✐

ORCAS from page 1 habitat, Canada needs to legally protect areas that serve the scientists tasked with preparing a recovery strategy for these Killer Whales’ basic needs for food and rest. Comprehensive orcas—to ensure that the recovery plan included information marine-use plans that include new protected areas are essential, showing the orcas’ critical habitat. Critical habitat is the habitat if we hope to recover populations of these magnificent whales.’ that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a species-at-risk. Orcas face many serious threats throughout their habitat on Dr Lance Barrett-Lennard, a leading international scientific the west coast. Declining salmon stocks, increased boat traffic, expert on killer whales and co-chair of the Resident Killer Whale toxic contamination, and acoustic impacts from dredging, Recovery Team, has noted that the team resisted multiple seismic testing and military sonar all threaten the orcas with attempts by senior government officials to remove critical extinction. habitat and other scientific information from the Resident Killer The lawsuit follows a long struggle by the Killer Whale Whale Recovery Strategy prior to its completion. ✐ Recovery Team—independent scientists and government What is a property worth without water?

• WATER WELLS • Carpet and Upholstery cleaning • Water damage restoration • HYDROFRACTURING • Leather cleaning TO IMPROVE WELL YIELDS • Area rug cleaning, on site if possible Drilling the Islands since 1965 • Pet odor removal 1-800-746-7444 SSI: 250-537-8456 1-877-744-2004 • 250-744-2004 www.drillwell.com [email protected] www.sani-tech.com Page 8 ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008 First ‘affordable housing’ Salt Spring OCP adopted Fire prevention tips On Thursday, October 2, the Salt Spring Island Local Trust If you’ve ever removed batteries from your smoke alarms to stop on Salt Spring Committee adopted its new Official Community Plan, following a false alarm, or think smoke alarms last forever—here’s the Provincial and community partners gathered on October 4 for approval by the Islands Trust Executive Committee and the plain truth. You’re playing with fire. And the consequences can the official opening of a new $5-million housing development for Minister of Community Development. be deadly. individuals and families at risk of homelessness. The 27 units are The new Official Community Plan represents more than two To help, a new handbook called ‘Safe at Home’ is available for funded under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, which years of work by dozens of community members and extensive free download from www.safeathome.ca. aims to break the cycle of homelessness by integrating support public consultation. The previous OCP was 10-years-old and A 4-step fire safety plan: services with housing. needed updating. 1. Install a smoke alarm on every storey of your home and Murakami Gardens is the result of partnerships between the The revised OCP includes a new Vision Statement, a new outside sleeping areas Capital Regional District, the Murakami family, the Real Estate section on Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, new 2. Install fresh batteries in smoke and CO alarms at least Foundation of BC and Salt Spring Island Community Services. definitions of Sustainability and the Precautionary Principle, once each year when you change your clocks Provincial funding help to incorporate energy-efficient features. 3. Replace ALL smoke alarms over 10 years old– both revised policies on Amenity Zoning and Density Transfer, and ‘Homelessness and affordable housing are important issues battery operated and hard-wired improved affordable housing policies including criteria for the facing our community,’ said Gary Holman, director of the Capital 4. Prepare a family fire escape plan and practice it! ✐ legalization of the occupancy of secondary suites and seasonal Regional Housing Trust Fund. ‘Murakami Gardens is a great start cottages for rental accommodation. Support for the Area Farm to building housing that meets the needs of Salt Spring residents.’ Plan and the new Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission Richard and Rose Murakami initiated the project as a tribute IS YOUR is also included. to their late parents, Katsuyori and Kimiko, who, because of their ‘Members of the community deserve an enormous amount of Japanese ancestry, were forced to leave their Salt Spring Island credit for all their hard work in making the revised OCP a reality,’ WELL WATER farm in 1942 and interned in camps in the Interior of BC. In said local trustee George Ehring. ‘We appreciate their many SAFE TO DRINK? 1954, the Murakamis returned permanently to Salt Spring months of thoughtful work, and we also thank islanders for all Island—the only exiled family to do so—to find their farm had Contamination can occur their feedback on the plan as it evolved. We hope the new OCP been confiscated and sold without their consent. Since they had will serve our community well for many years to come.’ without changes in colour or been forced to pay for their own internment, they returned taste. Be safe, test annually. impoverished, with just enough money to buy a different piece of ‘I am delighted that we have completed this important phase scrub land. of the Official Community Plan review,’ said Peter Lamb, also a The Murakamis started all over again, clearing the land and Salt Spring Island Local Trustee. ‘It has been a long process for 250-656-1334 creating a market garden of vegetables and berries. During this us with extensive public input—as it should. In this revision to time of intense hardship, Salt Spring citizens and regular the plan, we have tried to reflect new priorities arising from summer visitors help the Murakamis to re-establish themselves current and emerging challenges facing the community. The key by enthusiastically buying their produce. Richard and Rose view now is to ensure that the objectives and policies of this new their donation of land to the project as a way of acknowledging community plan are fully implemented through the land-use fax: 250-656-0443 Website: www.mblabs.com this support and giving back to the Salt Spring community. bylaw and other regulations.’ ‘We can identify with people in our community who are The Local Trust Committee initiated a review of the island’s Email: [email protected] homeless or living in substandard housing,’ said Rose Official Community Plan in February 2006. After community 2062 Unit 4 Henry Ave. West, Sidney, B.C. V8L 5Y1 Murakami. ‘We were forced to live in degrading, dehumanizing consultation, a number of focus groups were established, and and even life-threatening situations. With the support of many they reported in the spring of 2007. partners Murakami Gardens Community Housing is now built, Following more public consultation on their • harvesting providing housing for citizens whose incomes do not permit recommendations, the first draft of a revised OCP was prepared systems them access to appropriate rental housing currently available on in early 2008. The LTC received further community input in • design Salt Spring Island.’ April and made other revisions to the plan. A public hearing was • installation Provincial funding help to incorporate energy-efficient held on July 10, and the OCP received second and third readings features. Murakami Gardens Community Housing will be on July 23. ✐ • service operated by Salt Spring Island Community Services and also links residents to appropriate community, social and health services. BOB BURGESS ‘Today we are celebrating a milestone—the opening of the tel. 250-246-2155 first affordable housing for families on Salt Spring,’ said Rob Whoops! [email protected] Grant, executive director of Salt Spring Island Community In the last edition, those gremlins got into Wendy Hacking’s www.rainwaterconnection.com Services. ‘It would not have been possible without bringing article on appreciating our firefighters, a large chunk was together so many different partners to work towards a common missing! However the full version can be viewed online in our goal. Affordable housing will continue to be a community ‘Good Life’ archive: www.islandtides.com, (Archives). challenge but now we know it can be done if we pull together.’ ✐ Apologies all round and thanks Wendy for a great article! Jay E. Electric LAND ACT: LETTERS from page 5 NOTICE OF INTENTION Jeff Edwards working together for the children of all species. TO APPLY FOR A How to Join The Gulf Islands Alliance It’s time to cut the crap, therefore I want to DISPOSITION OF suggest (so that I can face my niece and my Serving Pender Island and the CROWN LAND Dear Editor: grandchildren when the climate shit hits the Southern Gulf Islands Responding to several requests I have had, it fan) some draconian measures that would Take notice that Gary Dale seems most people do not know how to join the Wine of Welbury Bay, BC actually be quite revolutionary and 250-629-3973 [email protected] Gulf Islands Alliance. One way to do so is by transformative. intends to make application to logging on to www.gulfislandsalliance.ca and 250-217-9500 cell Integrated Land Management 1. All homes will be fitted with a fixed Bureau (ILMB), Ministry of click on ‘Join Us’ at the left side of the page to thermostat. No more heating our homes to Agriculture and Lands, Coast download a printable membership form. For temperatures above what we set (or would like Region office for a Specific people without internet access write to: Gulf to set) our air conditioners in summer. That If the power goes out, will you be ready? Permission - Moorage situated Islands Alliance, PO Box 795, Ganges, BC, V8K means wearing long johns and woolen socks on Provincial Crown Land 2W3. around the house in winter. It won’t kill • located in the vicinity of Cheryl Bastedo, Galiano Island Residential, Industrial Welbury Bay, Saltspring anyone. All humans prior to the last generation • Automatic Standby & Island, BC Don’t Wait Till You Smell the made do like this and survived, so it’s good enough for us too. And let’s bring back the art Portable generators The Lands File Number Methane • Sales, parts, service that has been established for Dear Editor: of snuggling to keep warm! this application is # 1413958. I cried today. I cried because it looks like the 2. All flights and road trips are cancelled, Written comments concerning methane climate bomb that I have worried except for people travelling to do good work on this application should be about since 1990 has blown (Arctic scientists climate change. (I know that seems ironic, but directed to the Section Head, have witnessed gas bubbling up it’ll stop a whack of carbon from entering the Coastal Power Service Integrated Land Management through ‘methane chimneys’ from the thawing already overburdened atmosphere since there (250) 383-2536 www.coastalpower.ca Bureau at # 142-2080 Labieux are so few out of almost seven billion on the Road, Nanaimo, B.C V9T 6J9. ocean floor), and that probably means runaway planet doing work on climate change.) Comments will be received by global climate change has begun. I cried ILMB until October 31, 2008. because we’re still acting as though nothing has 3. No more meat allowed. That’s it. End of ILMB may not be able to changed. I cried because so few of us flesh-eating era. We’re all vegetarian—better consider comments received are working so hard to get the word out—but yet, vegan—now. Whiners get less veggie after this date. Please visit our people’s eyes still glaze over when we talk about lasagna. (Hey, eat money if you get really website at it or they change the topic. I cried today and I’m hungry. Stephen Harper says it’s good for you.) http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/clad tired of crying. Get that winter garden growing. /land_prog_services/program 4. From now on, the future is more s.html under Tenure But I cry even more when I read about what important than the present. Children’s survival Overview and Program candidates are campaigning on in North Information for more American elections. They are less is more important than cars. Period. information. worried about global climate change now than 5. Only people who understand the urgency of the planetary climate crisis can vote. (The Be advised that any people were worried about global warming response to this advertisement back in 1990. They are campaigning on rest had their chance to make democracy work will be considered part of the business and politics as usual. Not a hint from for future generations, and screwed up. Big public record. For information, any of them of the truth of what this is doing to time.) contact the Freedom of the future of all life on Earth. 6. Doesn’t matter who you are, if you’ve got Information Advisor at Imagine McCain and Obama in the US investments, you are to put them into Integrated Land Management renewable energy. That’s how we’ll turn this Bureau’s regional office. getting together on climate change instead of getting together to bail out the irresponsible around, by changing the economics of climate banks. Or Harper inviting Dion, May and change—ourselves. And government subsidies Duceppe (sorry, Layton has miffed me once too to the fossil fuel industries will end at midnight often) to create a coalition government instead tonight. Enough of Exxon making obscene of calling an election now so that he can avoid record profits while the Earth burns. the fall-out from the American financial crisis. 7. No more wars (or illegal invasions). All That’s why I keep crying. They keep blowing soldiers everywhere must kiss and make up, opportunities to save the future, and then get to work building clean, perpetual, degenerate into partisan politics instead of LETTERS, please turn to page 11 UBCM says no to coalbed methane drilling ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008, Page 9 The Union of BC Municipalities today passed a resolution at its Randal Macnair. convention in Penticton urging Gordon Campbell to suspend ‘Our provincial government has brought, and will continue to Ferry fares public input needed Shell’s coalbed methane drilling plans in the Sacred Headwaters, bring, worthwhile initiatives and innovations to our province— At a public hearing in Courtenay, Tony Law, representing the the source of BC’s Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers. The City of and in particular to our community. However, sanctioning Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs (FACC) recommended to the Prince Rupert sponsored the resolution. coalbed methane exploration and development is not one of Select Committee on Finance and Government Services that the ‘We hope Gordon Campbell will hear the thousands of BC them,’ said Mayor of Princeton Randy McLean. ‘Independent 2009 provincial budget allocate sufficient ongoing funding to residents who have voiced strong opposition to Shell’s activities,’ scientific experts advise us that we are putting our water rescue the coastal communities from increasingly unaffordable said Doug Donaldson, a Hazelton, BC councillor, who voted for resources at risk for the sake of a couple full-time jobs and a ferry fares, resulting from the government’s nine-year freeze on the resolution. ‘Northwest residents do not want Shell small amount of government revenue.’ the transportation subsidy at a time when operating costs have conducting a risky experiment at the headwaters of our wild Opponents of coalbed methane development cite habitat soared beyond all expectations. salmon rivers.’ fragmentation, risks to water, ineffective regulations, and a lack The FACC presentation states that fares on some coastal ‘Shell’s project lacks social license from the region’s residents, of local economic benefits as primary concerns. To date, coalbed routes have more than doubled since 2003. ‘These increases are including First Nations,’ added Donaldson. ‘The province’s methane has never been developed in a wild salmon watershed. far in excess of what is happening with other modes of decision-making process must include a clear role for Praise for UBCM transportation,’ say FACC. communities in deciding whether these kinds of projects move Meanwhile, a coalition of 14 leading British Columbia The amount the province contributes to these routes is ahead.’ environmental organizations are applauding the passage of scheduled to remain virtually unchanged from 2003 to 2012. Other municipal leaders say the resolution is equally relevant several important environmental protection resolutions at the The submission proposes a cash infusion that will enable a roll in other areas of BC where coalbed methane drilling has been convention in Penticton, including the moratorium and a ban on back in fares. FAC chairpersons strongly encourage ferry users to proposed, such as the Elk Valley near Fernie and the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker traffic in Georgia Strait. support this submission by providing their own input to the Similkameen Valley near Princeton. ‘UBCM communities demonstrated real leadership by finance committee. This can take the form of a Word or PDF ‘The fact that coalbed methane has met with serious concern supporting resolutions based on sound principles and practices document attached to an email sent to and opposition in communities across BC highlights the urgent for sustainability in BC,’ said Deborah Conner, Georgia Strait [email protected]. Submissions can also be faxed to need for the province to take a second look at this industry. It is Alliance executive director and spokesperson for Priorities for 250-356-8172. The deadline is October 24. Full information is inconsistent to legislate greenhouse gas reductions while Environmental Leadership. ✐ available at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations. ✐ subsidizing this kind of fossil fuel extraction,’ said Fernie Mayor

FERRIES from page 1 increases, insisting that the ‘user pay’ principle apply. As a result, has been designed specifically for the service it provides, and Islanders) have insisted that the ferry service be compared to a fare surcharges have suddenly raised the cost of travel well substitute vessels are generally not available. highway—transportation infrastructure—available when needed. beyond that anticipated in the original business plan, and the This is where the objectives of any private company conflict Reductions in service amount to closing the road, an entirely resultant decreases in traffic threaten the profitability of both the with the responsibilities of one owned by the government, no unreasonable and unforeseen action. It is possible that new minor routes (which were subsidized to the extent of some $100 matter who is managing it. Thus it is that the Minister of approaches to providing an equivalent service can be initiated, million per year by the government) and possibly the major Transportation has suggested cutbacks in service, to better but they would generally require capital expenditures for routes (which were previously said to be profitable). Following match capacity with demand. This strategy is similar to that vehicles and terminals. The planning has not been done; the substantial increases in fares in August, traffic in September was adopted for the major routes. consultation has not occurred. Ships are not buses, where said to be down by as much as 12%. The Situation is Different reductions in frequency of service or size of vehicle are relatively Following ‘private sector’ practice, BC Ferries Services has The residents and businesses on the Islands are there because easy to accomplish. announced the discontinuation of some less-utilized voyages, the government, for decades, have provided scheduled ferry A Coastal Insult and the assignment of smaller vessels to others. This appears to services at reasonable cost. This is, in fact, both a contractual and The government, of course, is responsible for highways, no have extended even to the parking of some of the new German a moral obligation on the part of the government, much as matter how they are paid for. Thus it was that, a couple of weeks built ‘Super-C’ ships (which were said to be more economical British Columbia itself is part of Canada because a railroad was ago, Premier Gordon Campbell, anticipating a provincial than their predecessor ‘C’ class ferries) in favour of the older committed to and built. Cutbacks of any sort represent a breach election, and with his eye on the possible loss of seats in the BC ships (which are now said to be cheaper to run). of faith on the part of the government. interior, suddenly decided to lift the tolls on the Coquihalla All of this is entirely consistent with the privatization of a public Islanders are not unreasonable when it may come to changes highway, a total of $57 million per year. service, particularly one dependent on an adequate government in how this service is provided, but there is no doubt that it is a This was a political insult. We know that the premier had subsidy. Indeed, the government has increased the subsidy to the continuing entitlement. Islanders have chosen to live where they political motives in mind because apparently the relevant Northern Routes, when it earlier became evident that the live, do what they do, shop where they shop, and work where Ministry had just spent $100,000 on building additions to the necessary fare increases would completely kill the business. they work, based on this moral and financial commitment by the toll booths, which the premier happily helped to destroy the Its stubborn refusal to increase the subsidy to the ‘minor provincial government. These are their rights as citizens of following day. routes’ has raised the possibility that services to the Gulf Islands British Columbia. The Coquihalla highway carries about 3.4 million vehicles per will be cut back as well. In fact, the government refused to And, indeed, they have little choice. While many users of the year; BC Ferries’ minor routes (not counting Horseshoe recognize that the increase in fares, and resulting reduction in main route ferries can choose not to travel so often, many Bay/Langdale and the North Coast) carry about 3.6 million. The traffic, so changed the situation that the business plan needed to Islanders must travel—it’s not an option. Thus it is that in the Saanich North and the Islands provincial seat is currently be changed and the subsidy increased. face of savage rises in ferry fares that clearly break the occupied by Murray Coell, a cabinet minister. Ferry users (at Conflicting Objectives commitment, and threatened cutbacks in service, Islanders are least 750,000 of them) would appreciate a substantial rollback in When a transportation company providing a scheduled service entitled to expect that the service will continue, and at reasonable fares, and a committed contribution by the provincial faces overcapacity (or declining traffic) it has two choices: to run fares. And the provincial government cannot continue to escape government to fuel costs. Instead, they have been ignored and less often, or to use smaller vehicles (as is proposed for ferries on the responsibility to keep them reasonable. insulted by the government. major routes). In the case of BC Ferries’ minor routes, each ferry It is significant that Islanders (and this includes Vancouver Over to you, Mr Campbell and Mr Coell. ✐

B.C.’s Personal Income Tax Reductions since 2001

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100% 100% Average Household Incomes Page 10, ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008 Nurse practitioners BC’s first group of nurse practitioners graduated in May 2005, provide comprehensive health care and positively affect patient Full speed ahead for oil and the province now has 100 practising nurse practitioners with outcomes.’ the capacity to graduate up to 45 more each year. Nurse Experienced nurses can step into this innovative role in and gas practitioner education programs are offered at three British British Columbia’s health-care system in two ways: by obtaining The BC government proclaimed October 5-11 as Oil and Gas Columbia universities: the University of British Columbia, the a master of science in nursing degree from an approved nurse Week in ‘recognition of the record-breaking year in positive University of Victoria and the University of Northern BC. practitioner program or by demonstrating an equivalent level of revenue and industry growth,’ announced Energy, Mines and Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with the additional education and accumulated experience by participating in a Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld. Oil and Gas education and skills to provide a broad range of health-care prior learning assessment and recognition process. Week coincided with the 2008 Oil and Gas Conference which services. They perform a full range of nursing duties as well as Nurse practitioners are a part of the Province’s overall took place in Fort St John. some functions similar to physicians, such as diagnosing and nursing strategy, which has created new educational spaces, ‘Since 2001, the oil and gas industry in BC has seen managing common acute and chronic illnesses, prescribing continuing education for nurses presently in the workforce, and unprecedented growth and investment,’ said Neufeld. ‘During medications, ordering diagnostic tests and referring to programs to retain nurses currently in the health system and to the 1990s the province averaged $464 million dollars in revenue, specialists. attract nurses from across Canada and around the world. today we are generating $2billion in direct revenue from our oil ‘Their unique knowledge and clinical expertise enables nurse As of April 2008, British Columbia had 41,269 licensed and gas industry. Capital investment was approximately $1.1 practitioners to give patients a high level of care,’ said Dr Sally practising nurses, up by more than 10% from 2001. That total billion in the 1990s and today it’s $4 billion.’ Thorne, University of BC nursing school director. ‘As includes 32,225 registered nurses, 6,741 licensed practical Revenue from oil and gas land right sales have topped $2 independent practitioners who overlap with physicians and nurses and 2,202 registered psychiatric nurses and 100 nurse billion in fiscal year 2008 which is almost double what was nurses as part of a collaborative team, nurse practitioners practitioners. ✐ received in 2007. July’s oil and gas land rights sales shattered 10 key oil and gas land rights sales records. OCTOBER GARDEN from page 3 BC is estimated to have 60 TcF (trillion cubic feet) of potential seeds you sowed in July will now be large enough to plant out for This Year’s Special - Green Tomato marketable conventional natural gas resources, including north- winter flowering, and the ones you bought from the nursery in Chutney eastern BC and offshore. Onshore unconventional resources are summer will make good cuttings, if taken now, for a extra spring Version 1 estimated to be at least five times the conventional ones, with the show. 6 lbs chopped tomatoes, Horn River Basin being the largest shale gas play in Canada. Some plants are naturally frost hardy and some are not. 3 lbs chopped sour apples ‘Our government is committed to encouraging growth in the When a leaf freezes, ice will form inside the cells causing the cell 4 oz salt (I think this is too much salt. I would cut the salt and oil and gas industry, and is continuing to work with companies, wall to break and consequently killing it. Tropical plants like add chilli peppers.), industry, First Nations and local governments to ensure that the nasturtiums keel over at the first mention of frost. Hardy plants 8 oz brown sugar, future provides access to jobs, economic growth and however, have a cunning technique that allows them to survive opportunities for all British Columbians,’ added Neufeld. 3 pints vinegar, otherwise damaging frost. When they begin to ‘feel’ cold, they For more information on oil and gas land rights sales or 6 cloves garlic, will move water from the leaf cells into the interstitial space additional statistics on oil and gas, visit Ministry of Energy, 6 oz ground ginger, between the cells. This activity greatly increases the salt Mines and Petroleum Resources website: www.em.gov.bc.ca/. ✐ 1 oz mustard seed concentration and osmotic pressure within the cell so it requires Put all the ingredients in a pot and boil gently for about 20 a greater degree of cold for ice to form. Ice crystals may develop minutes. Pour the contents into an earthenware jar, cover, and in the space outside the cell but this is relatively harmless. store in a warm place for three days. Return to a cooking pot, Many temperate-zoned plants will wilt during frost because bring to a boil, and bottle in the usual way. Sultanas or candied the cells are short of water, but once the temperature returns to ginger may also be added for extra flavour. normal they reverse the operation and perk right up again. Some plants may not appear to wilt at all because they are supported Mrs Beeton’s Household Management, 1861 by a framework of lignin that helps maintain shape, even though Version 2 Corporate Retreats they are dry. 1 quart cider vinegar, 1-½ oz mustard seed, 1 oz ground Looking for a new place for your retreat? So what has all this to do with me, you ask? If you have plants nutmeg, ½ oz ground cloves, tsp ground black pepper, 1 oz outside vulnerable to damage by frost, the best treatment short ground cinnamon, pinch of cayenne Clam Bay Island Retreat offers you a special place of moving them indoors, is to cover them and allow them to dry Add all of the above to a large kettle, bring to a boil, then add: ½ away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, yet only out. Drying, by definition, removes water from the leaf cells, lb sugar, fresh horseradish to taste, about ½ gallon of chopped 25 minutes flying time from Vancouver. increases the cell sap concentration, and makes them more tomatoes. Boil and reduce until well cooked, then can in the resistant to frost damage. They might wilt, but that can be usual way. Located by the ocean on Pender Island in BC’s Southern Gulf Islands. Popular Gardening, 1912 ✐ remedied by watering at a later, safer date. That way the chances Website: www.clambay.com of survival are much better. A plant that has fresh lush growth is This article can be found at www.islandtides.com, in the Contact Lesley: 250-629-6313 far more liable to frost damage than a crusty withered specimen. Reprints section of our online archive, go through ‘Salish Sea For reservations or further information Maybe too, that is another of nature’s ways of providing apt Good Life,’ box in left column. It is a easy size to email to a Email: [email protected] metaphors for some of us sexagenarians. friend.

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LETTERS from page 8 renewable energy infrastructure using the last Findlay Clark for his letter in your last issue. What’s a living wage in your community? fossil fuels we’re going to burn in a long while. Although he used innuendo to paint me in a Candian Centre for Policy Alternatives 8. Think a climate change Manhattan rather dark colour the letter was very valuable Project. Think mobilization. Think Rosie the insofar as it has kept the debate going. I deeply amilies who work for low wages often became a living wage employer. And London’s Riveter and Victory Gardens and turning regret that admitting my mistake and my face impossible choices: buy clothes or new Conservative mayor has declared that armaments factories into wind turbine and appeal to follow the rules of common courtesy Fheat the house, feed the children or paying the living wage is good for business and solar panel manufacturing plants. on the road has enraged Findlay so much. pay the rent. The result can be spiralling good for the London economy. We’ve got to turn this economy around in But to those good folks who do want to debt, constant anxiety and long-term health A growing number of UK corporate just a couple of years, or we can kiss our only respect their fellow travellers on the road I have problems. Parents not earning a living wage employers have also adopted the living wage, planet goodbye. an idea that I feel is constructive. work long hours, often at two or three jobs, including HSBC Bank, KPMG, and Price Julie Johnston, The Future Generations There already exists a number of turn-offs or just to pay for basic necessities, leaving little Waterhouse Coopers. And the 2012 London Party of Canada, Pender Island pull-overs on our roads. Perhaps they could be time to spend with family or participate fully Games will be the first living wage Olympics. Foot Passenger made more accessible to drivers and cyclists by in their communities. These employers have found important marking them and maybe leveling them out a Reservations In BC, the contradiction between a strong benefits to paying a living wage: improved little bit. It would make it easier for people to economy and growing economic insecurity is The following letter was in response to a recruitment and retention; higher pull over to let people by or to talk on the cell especially stark. BC has the highest child reader’s letter in our last edition showing how productivity; and being able to market oneself phone or in my case I could nap. It may just poverty rate in Canada, and over half of BC’s a lack of foot passenger reservations was as a living wage employer. unfair and inconvenient. make the island a happier and safer place. poor children live in families where at least But the living wage is not just about Dear Mr Buchanan: Kim Davis, Pender Island one person works full-time. employers. Government policies and I am writing in response to your letter of July Evolution Revolution A living wage is one of the most powerful programs also have an impact on our standard 31, addressed to Mr David Hahn, President and Dear Editor: tools available to address this troubling state CEO of BC Ferries. Mr Hahn was unsuccessful What are we doing? Falling into the same old of poverty amid plenty. of living, and as a result, on the living wage. in reaching you by phone and has asked me to pattern again. An election is called coinciding The living wage is not the same as the Direct government transfers can put money follow up with you on his behalf. We regret the with the prescribed mania to the south. legislated minimum wage. Rather, it is a into the pockets of low-income families. delay in our response. Our minority prime minister who, with only challenge to those who are able, especially However, most government transfers and Offering foot passenger reservations is +/- 25% of the population having selected him, large public and private sector employers—to subsidies are reduced or eliminated once a definitely in our future plans, for many of the is behaving as his handlers have directed. pay their direct staff and major contractors a family reaches an income well below the living reasons you have suggested. We are currently Canada is not at war with Afghanistan yet there wage that is based on the actual costs of living wage. engaged in a review of requests for proposals to we are defending the oil corporations. For what and raising children in a specific community. The living wage is also affected by public provide BC Ferries with a new, more flexible purpose? So a handful of oligarchs can CCPA’s report, ‘Working for a Living Wage services. A public child care system, affordable reservation system that will allow us to provide manipulate us to their ends. 2008’, calculates that the living wage for housing and lower public transit fares would The imminent collapse of the ‘market’ is this and other services more easily. Vancouver is $16.74 per hour, and for all decrease the amount employers need to We hope to have the new system in place in upon us. The ‘market’, what is that truly about? Victoria, $16.39. The calculation includes pay in order to provide a living wage. time for the 2010 Olympics. Thank you for Think about that. Manufactured debt and basic expenses for a family of two parents and pollution/poison for the world’s population by If employers feel unable to pay the living contacting us and for the opportunity to two children, where both parents are working a handful of faceless individuals for their benefit wage, but remain committed to ending child respond to your suggestions. full time, and incorporates government taxes, with blatant disregard for the planet’s well- poverty, then they should become advocates Karen Chrabasz Customer Relations, BC Ferries credits and subsidies. Our living wage being. Isn’t this a clear demonstration of for these kinds of policy changes. calculation is also enough for a single parent Pullovers, Pull-outs or Nap sociopathy? with one child, although a single parent with ‘Working for a Living Wage: Making Paid Spots We are not Americans. There is nothing to two children would have a much tougher time. Work Meet Basic Family Needs in Vancouver Dear Editor: fear. Less is more. The living wage is a bare-bones budget, and Victoria - 2008’ was published recently I would like to thank you for creating a forum Why do we tolerate this? It’s up to us! We without the extras many of us take for by the Canadian Centre for Policy for debate on issues important to Islanders. can walk away from this foolishness. We are granted—such as debt payments, or savings Alternatives, First Call: BC Child and Youth When you published my letter in your late blessed and the planet is looking to us for for retirement or education. And the amounts Advocacy Coalition, and the Community September issue that dealt with people who leadership. It’s time people—not for revolution budgeted for recreation and emergencies are Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria. drove well below the speed limit I was but for evolution. We need to wake up and not very modest. The report, part of the CCPA/Simon astounded at the feedback from the tolerate or march to the same old music community. Over thirty people regaled me with anymore. Living Wage Movement Fraser University Economic Security Project, dozens of recent stories analogous to the one I It’s time to truly listen and love our mother Living wage movements have been gaining is available at www.policyalternatives.ca wrote. The level of frustration and even anger Earth. ‘In Lae’ech’—I am another you (Mayan ground over the past 20 years in the UK, the (also posted is an on-line guide for other greeting). US and a number of Canadian cities. communities wishing to replicate the was palpable. u.r. emortil, Hornby Island ✐ I would also like to express my gratitude to In 2004, the city of London, England calculation). ✐ Page 12, ISLAND TIDES, Oct 16, 2008 Saturna Notes ~ Priscilla Ewbank Our first power outage of the season on October 7! Our home is sheltered from the south-southwest blow and we hardly knew it was happening—but lots of islanders did. The road down to the ferry dock is cinnamon brown and green and smells wonderful adorned with all the tree cones and branches blown out of the firs and cedars. A friend was entertained/horrified by watching the transformer pole attached to the hydro power engulfed in a firework show, shooting out a cloud of turquoise sparks. This is the power line that comes underwater from Pender and reaches land at Breezy Bay. In the light of day it is quite charred! The Mayne Queen was late for Saturna’s 6:30am departure because she stopped at Pender to adjusted the ramp with ship- to-shore power so that the Queen of Nanaimo could get in to pick up Pender’s Vancouver-bound traffic. In the power out, people got a chance to shake-down their generators, remember where coffee can still be found on the Island, and to think about battery-powered radios. This is early for the reminder but the weather was better for these tasks than doing an initial run-through during snow! We had one extraordinarily warm rainy day and night last Photo & Story: Richard Boyce week. It was about 16ºC (60ºF). Rough skinned newts were out On Sunday October 5, approximately 50 people rallied at Cathedral Grove calling for a stop to Island Timberlands’ logging on Narvaez Bay Road making their death defying crossing. directly adjacent to the provincial park. The next day at 8am, contractors working for Island Timberlands were met by Death defying, not because there is a lot of traffic but because it members of Friends of Cathedral Grove (FROG). The falling crew stated they would not be logging that day and returned to takes them so long. In the hours of the traverse there is likely to be at least one car with four chances to end the migration in Port Alberni. A second rally was held on the Island Highway just south of Parksville at the main terminal of operations for tragedy! Island Timberlands, countless passers-by honked to support 40 sign-waving protesters. In the evening, when it was still raining, there was hop- While the logging company claims that there is a buffer of 300 metres between the falling area and the hopping Pacific tree frogs outlined in the car lights—for some reason I find their method of mobility very funny! Not one of the internationally renowned park, protesters state that the buffer is actually the Cameron River which meanders along the larger red-legged frogs was to be seen. bottom of the Valley at that point just before flowing into Cameron Lake. This water then flows into the Little Qualicum River SATURNA, next column this page which is the source of drinking water for thousands of residents of Whiskey Creek and the Town of Qualicum Beach. Proportional vegetation and soil from the area and installing Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project shale that came from another part of the Island Representation to level and to meet building site requirements. Our Canadian federal election has had a huge They hope to begin building soon. UPDATE MARINE CONSTRUCTION – amount of coverage: all-candidates meetings, national and local debates, editorial School News STRAIT OF GEORGIA commentaries, and much discussion on the Our School is doing marvelously—we have 19 election process itself. Only the BC provincial students attending this fall. As before, each of September and October 2008 level is utterly silent as the reigning government the younger learners has a ‘big buddy’ who under Gordon Campbell chose to not have the helps with work, assists learning and is a role Legislature sit this fall—as there is nothing to model. Our big kids gain by being leaders and discuss in his government’s view. reliving the kid part of themselves. Some of the At Saturna’s federal all-candidate meeting teens commute to Saturna on the water taxi and the first question asked was, ‘What is the some are staying with local families from Meeting the electricity position of each of the candidates on a system of Monday to Wednesday. election to achieve proportional So we have nineteen students, our needs of growing communities on representation?’ All of our candidates easily principal/teacher Steve Dunsmuir, our new Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands agreed that structural changes will be necessary elementary teacher Jennifer Lucke, Corinne if parliament in Ottawa is to become more House as custodian, our enthusiastic parent group, inspired school trustee Susanne BC Transmission Corporation (BCTC) is replacing and upgrading the existing 138 kV democratic—the first-past-the-post method is Middleditch, and, thanks to Steve, a pivotal overhead transmission lines and one of the existing submarine cable circuits connecting not in the best interest of our country and needs program—Saturna Environmental Education southern Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland with new 230 kV infrastructure. to be changed. (SEEC). Through late October, crews will continue the installation of three new 230 kV submarine New Firehall ‘Downtown’ Through SEEC, teachers and students have cables in the Strait of Georgia (between Galiano Island and Roberts Bank). During this The Saturna Fire Protection Society (SFPS) has already hosted Salt Spring Home Learners for period, there will be a cable-laying vessel, barges with equipment, tugboats and workboats decided to put the new firehall on a portion of two days. The kids and their families were with in the water along the cable route and also near the cable terminal stations on Salt Spring what is presently land owned by the Rec Centre us through the power outage and the storm, Island, Parker Island and Galiano Island. and which will be sold to the SFPS for $1. The staying at the Long House at East Point after a area is in ‘downtown Saturna’ across from the To ensure the safety of the public and workers, the contractor will restrict public access full day of observing and studying at Island general store and the recycling depot. They beaches. ✐ around the active work sites. We thank you for your patience and co-operation while spent several days trucking off the trees, we undertake this important project. CABLE INSTALLATION SCHEDULE – Strait of Georgia Kim Davis Construction Activity Schedule (subject to change) 250-629-3762 Installation of cables in the Strait of Georgia continuing through late October 2008

Construction work at cable terminal stations on continuing through late October 2008 Salt Spring Island, Parker Island and Galiano Island

For more information, please visit: www.bctc.com Contact BCTC Community Relations: Phone: 604.699.7456 Toll-free: 1.866.647.3334 Email: [email protected]

Structural & Artistic Design BC Transmission Corporation is the Crown corporation that plans, operates Fabrication & Repairs and maintains the province’s publicly-owned electrical transmission system. BCTC 08-88 Mobile Service