Trust Ups Property Taxes by Just .96%
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Island Wheels Young @ PAGE B12-15 Heart Focus on seniors INSIDE GULF ISLANDS Wednesday, March 18, 2009 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 49TH YEAR ISSUE 11 $ 25 1(incl. GST) ISLANDS TRUST BC ELECTION Past CRD Trust ups director will be property next NDP candidate taxes by Gary Holman chosen from group of four nominees just .96% BY ELIZABETH NOLAN DRIFTWOOD STAFF A firm belief in the impor- Tough times lightens tance of the social contract has motivated a local politician to islanders’ tax load take the next step. Gary Holman, Salt Spring BY SEAN MCINTYRE director to the Capital Region- DRIFTWOOD STAFF al District for two terms until Islands Trust Council has approved a .96 per he was narrowly defeated by cent Trust-wide property tax increase for the Garth Hendren last fall, was 2009-10 fi scal year. selected from four nominees The increase, passed at council’s quarterly as the NDP candidate for meeting on Gabriola last week, represents an Saanich-Gulf Islands. increase of 55 cents on every $100,000 of assessed A vote among NDP mem- property value. bers in the area saw Holman The hike is considerably lower than a pro- take the lead over fellow nomi- posed 4.5 per cent increase forecast in late nees Mike Roscoe, a forestry 2008. worker, Saanich farmer Robin Linda Adams, the Islands Trust’s chief admin- Herlinveaux and Jagmeet Gre- istrative officer, said the budget process high- wal, a BC Ferries employee. lighted many residents’ concerns about the Because of the meeting loca- long-term impacts of the economic slowdown. tion in Sidney, mail-in ballots “That’s the mood out there,” Adams said. were allowed to include partic- Salt Spring trustee Christine Torgrimson said ipation from the Gulf Islands. the increase was kept to a minimum without Holman said perhaps as many sacrificing any of the Trust’s major initiatives. as two thirds of the 140 ballots “We did not eliminate any complete pro- were mailed in. grams, but rather reduced some funding for offi- PHOTO BY DERRICK LUNDY Although he “studiously CHILLIN’: Busker Daryl Rasmussen uses fi ngerless gloves to combat the persistently cold weather avoided partisan politics” and BUDGET continued on A2 as he plays the guitar and entertains passersby in Ganges had a good working relation- ship with Liberal MLA Mur- INCORPORATION DEBATE ray Coell during his years as CRD director, Holman said, he always held strong opin- Province silent as study deadline passes ions about B.C.’s eroding social state. Hendren ponders ‘plan B’ any clear indication of what may happen next. incumbent CRD director Gary Holman in local Those views led him to fi nal- “No news is bad news,” Hendren said on Tues- elections. ly accept the NDP’s invitation BY SEAN MCINTYRE day afternoon. Undertaking an incorporation study on Salt to run as provincial candidate. DRIFTWOOD STAFF Hendren said calls he placed to the Ministry of Spring Island wasHendren’s focal campaign “My emphasis is on restor- Salt Spring’s Capital Regional District direc- Community Development on Tuesday morning issue. ing the social contract, in tor Garth Hendren wasn’t overly optimistic on were not returned. The province’s delay in providing a response terms of my personal motiva- Tuesday afternoon as the province’s deadline on Last November, Hendren contacted the prov- does not mean the issue is off the table, he tion, because I do feel that over whether or not to approve a formal incorpora- ince’s Ministry of Community Development less added. the past eight years our social tion study for Salt Spring Island expired without than 48 hours after learning that he had defeated STUDY continued on A2 HOLMAN continued on A2 5 YR. FIXED INSERTS INDEX The 4.5% Health ...................................................B11 When can • Country Grocer FISH U GRILL U VIEW Arts ............................................................ B1 Horoscope....................................... A13 • Ganges Pharmasave you start? BRUNCH • Thrifty Foods Classifieds ...................................... A16 Letters .................................................... A9 SAT & SUN 10 am – 4 pm pancakes & french toast • Sears Kenmore Editorial ................................................A8 Sports ................................................... A14 eggs benedict & omelets • Home Hardware Ferry Schedule ........................... A14 What’s On............................................ B6 Arlene 250-537-4090 email: [email protected] website: www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com North End Fitness 250-537-5217 537-5041 NEW SCHEDULE, WITH MID DAY FLIGHTS VALID FROM islanders air. MARCH 1 TO APRIL 30, 2009 the airline saltspring com Direct Ganges to Downtown 7:30 am Mon & 7:40 am Mon-Sat , 10: 30 am & 4:10 pm daily, 4:40 pm Fri .......................................................................................................................................... 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Direct Van airport to Ganges Guaged Slate 250.537.9880 8:45 am Mon-Sat, 11:35 am & 5:15 pm daily ......................................................................................................................................... $ 99 Direct Downtown to Ganges 3 sq.ft. theth islanders airline 8:20 am Mon & 8:30 am Mon-Sat , 11:20 am & 5:00 pm daily, 5:30 pm Fri 250-537-9736 A2 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2009 | GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD CALL GAIL, SEAN OR AMY IF YOU THE NEWSBEAT SEE NEWS HAPPENING 2505379933 Local LiquorLOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY Store OPERATED Save 10% Knowledge gained through CRD experience when HOLMAN Although the NDP has yet the local mayors and council- continued fromA1 to release its full platform in lors,” Holman said. 6 or more are purchased these early pre-election days, “A lot of provincial politi- wine • liquor • liqueur contract has been shredded. Holman said problems such cians come from local poli- This is despite strong eco- as poverty and homelessness tics. Certainly it’s helped me Join our bonus program today. nomic growth, so in the face have roots and solutions at the understand some of the issues It’s fast, free and very of a serious recession, I have provincial level. and given me a sense of how to rewarding. Sign up now! very grave concerns of what The party will focus on pro- deal with them.” #108-149 FULFORD-GANGES RD. 250-537-9463 9 am - 11 pm will happen with another four viding a green infrastructure In the weeks to come before years of Liberal government.” with projects such as afford- the provincial election on Holman pointed out that able housing, public transit May 12, Holman will partici- Joni’s local Investment despite having one of the and renewable energy sourc- pate in several all-candidates Advisory Service has strongest economies over the es. debates, such as one to be an emphasis on the past five years, B.C. has the Holman said the NDP has hosted by the South Island highest quality highest rate of child poverty in also committed to ending Health Coalition. professional advice the country. homelessness in fi ve years. He said he’s looking forward and service along with At the same time, the Lib- He observed that during the to working with provincial integrated wealth erals have devoted billions of 1990s, the NDP continued to NDP leader Carole James. management. dollars to two projects in Van- PHOTO BY DAVID BORROWMAN build affordable housing even “People have been really couver: re-roofing B.C. Place Gary Holman after federal funding was cut. inspired by the election down and building a new conven- As a Gulf Islands resident south, with the election of a Protecting tion centre. seeking to represent a broader black president. Maybe here and growing Holman said local evidence the Lower Mainland, but deal riding, Holman will have to we could have a woman pre- of the eroding social contract with terrible roads at home, work on becoming known on mier with First Nations back- your wealth. includes the four-day school while “the Liberal government the Saanich Peninsula. ground. week, the closure of Lady Minto does not seem to accept that However, Holman’s six years’ “I really do believe it’s time Hospital’s operating room and BC Ferries is part of the high- experience as CRD director for a change.” the tearing up of health work- ways system.” have given him important Offi ces are being set up on ers’ contracts. Affordable ferry “This is what I fi nd very dif- knowledge of the area and Salt Spring at the former Sports travel is another key concern. fi cult to reconcile, that these some of its players. Traders building on McPhillips Island taxpayers contribute to conditions have been allowed “I was on the regional dis- Avenue and on the Saanich Meet Joni Ganderton highway projects benefitting to develop and worsen.” trict board and met many of Peninsula. R. Joni Ganderton MBA CFP MEMBER Investment Advisor and Financial Planner 250-537-1654 Governance study could be May election issue Question? email [email protected] www.joniganderton.com STUDY The delay could make the afternoon deadline. “I’m not going to shrug Áʺ "ÊL>ÀÊÀÕ`iÊÃÞL®»ÊÃÊ>ÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>ÀÊvÊ >ÊvÊÌÀi>]ÊÕÃi`ÊÕ`iÀÊViVi°Êº iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀûÊ>`ʺ "Ê continued from A1 debate about a governance Hendren said estimates iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀÃÊ`Û>ViÊ*À}À>»Ê>ÀiÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>ÀÃÊvÊ "Ê iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀÃÊ À«À>ÌÊÌi`]ÊÕÃi`ÊÕ`iÀÊViVi° study a prominent local issue place study costs to the prov- “I’m not going to shrug my ahead of the provincial elec- ince at roughly $35,000. my shoulders and shoulders and walk away,” he tion in May, Hendren added. The study would consider said. A spokesperson from the forms of incorporation and walk away.” Hendren pushed for work Ministry of Community Devel- compare them with the sta- on an incorporation study opment could not confi rm the tus quo in anticipation of GARTH HENDREN, priced to sell to begin as early as February government’s position in time a possible referendum, he Salt Spring CRD director $23995 2009.