Hope Dallas

From: Bowen Island Municipality Sent: May 12, 2016 3:45 PM To: Hope Dallas Subject: FW: TeleHealth Attachments: IslandTides(1).pdf

From: Susanna Braund Sent: May 8, 2016 5:38 PM To: Mayor Council Subject: TeleHealth

Dear Mayor and Councillors

I was reading in Island Times about TeleHealth available now on Salt Spring and Mayne (see pages 1 and 3 of the attached). I expect you are already aware of this, but in case you are not, I would like to see this discussed by the appropriate committee.

Sincerely, Susanna Braund --

Susanna Braund Professor of Latin Poetry and its Reception (Canada Research Chair)

Killam Research Fellow (national competition), 2016-18 http://killamprogram.canadacouncil.ca/

Associate Head 2015-16 Dept of Classical, Near Eastern & Religious Studies, UBC Buchanan C, 1866 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC Unceded Musqueam territory V6T 1Z1 Canada Email: [email protected]

For info about CAWES on Bowen Island, please go to cawes.org

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Canadian Publications Mail Product Volume 28 Number 9 May 5—May 18 2016 $57.75 Addressed Subscription Sales Agreement Nº 40020421

Photo: Toby Snelgrove, SNELGROVEimages.com Springtime swimmers brave the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean at Miners Bay on Mayne Island. Island Health – welcome to Malahat First Nation LNG project - Adam Olsen n August 20, 2015, Steelhead LNG and Malahat First poses a risk to Canada’s climate action targets. Fracking also the future - Frants Attorp Nation announced a 25-year lease agreement for scars the landscape, leaves behind toxic tailings ponds, Malahat’s newly purchased Bamberton lands on the threatens groundwater, and is proven to cause earthquakes. growing number of islanders with appointments to see SaanichO Inlet, and a partnership agreement to explore the Gas liquefaction plants also damage the local environment. health care specialists in Victoria, Vancouver and other potential of installing a floating gas liquefaction plant at the site A number of questions are posed about the design of the urban centres are not setting aside a whole day for of the former cement plant. Malahat LNG proposal. Will they burn gas to power their Atravel. That’s because travel is not always necessary. In October 2015, the National Energy Board approved a six project? Will they use chemically treated ocean water at a rate A program introduced several years ago at Lady Minto million tonne (per year) export licence for the proposed Malahat of thousands of litres per hour to cool the gas to liquefy it? Will Hospital on Salt Spring Island makes it possible for some LNG project. Since then the partnership has hired consulting they discharge that heated, treated water back into the inlet? patients to connect with their specialist physicians at a distance companies to collect background data of the site and How much excess gas will they flare? How will the gas plant and via Telehealth. surrounding area and to draft technical design details for the pipeline disrupt the Goldstream salmon run and other ‘It’s a great way to save on travel time and deliver quality infrastructure. important fisheries and recreation activities? What will be the health care to people in rural areas,’ says Bill Relph, Island Williams Companies, an energy infrastructure company impact of increased shipping in the Saanich Inlet and the Salish Health’s rural site director for the Southern Gulf Islands. from Oklahoma, is partnering with Steelhead LNG to explore Sea? What security measures will have to be put in place and Telehealth is the use of communication technologies such as constructing a 130km pipeline called the Island Gas Connector, how will that limit access to the inlet? video and audio over a secure, high-speed provincial network which will run from Sumas to Cherry Point, in Washington, at Social Impacts to enable virtual clinical conferencing. At Lady Minto, patients which point the pipeline will run along the ocean floor through The Malahat LNG project would come at significant social cost will find a quiet room where there is a sophisticated remote the Southern Gulf Islands and the Salish Sea to Bamberton. The to the communities around the Saanich Inlet. The hopes that control camera and a large screen that makes physicians appear project is similar to the Georgia Straight Crossing (GSX) that the inlet could recover from the years of industrial use by the as if they are in the room. was approved by the Canadian government in 2003. Bamberton cement plant would be dashed by another heavy If a doctor needs specific clinical information, such as heart Steelhead LNG and Williams are currently preparing their industrial operation there. rate or blood pressure, arrangements can be made to have a gas plant and pipeline project descriptions, and will require The Saanich Inlet is in the heart of W̱SÁNEĆ territory and health care professional attend to such matters. Additionally, approvals from the BC Environmental Assessment Office, while Steelhead has partnered with Malahat First Nation, the the Telehealth room is equipped with a digital stethoscope Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, NEB, and the US company has damaged their relationships with the other which transmits heart and lung sounds, and an exam camera Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, that transmits detailed skin, ear, nose and throat images to The general feeling around the Saanich Inlet is that the Tseycum and Malahat First Nations are all descendants of the specialists. project is so absurd that it will never happen. However, despite signatories of the Douglas Treaties. All the communities except ‘The program is still evolving, but it looks very promising,’ significant challenges, the proponents continue to move the Malahat have expressed strong opposition to the project and says Relph. ‘There has been a positive response from specialists.’ project forward and intend to apply to the regulators later this even some Malahat members have publicly expressed their Telehealth, which is provided free of extra charge to patients, year. concerns about the proposal. Yet First Nations’ concerns have is voluntary and aims to create a similar experience to in-person Despite the provincial government labelling LNG ‘clean’, been ignored. consultations. Patients are encouraged to bring family and there are high environmental and social costs to the gas Economic Challenges support members to their Telehealth sessions. They are not industry, from extraction to consumption. required to operate the Telehealth equipment. In addition to the environmental and social impacts, this project In , gas is ‘fracked’ in the northeast of the Typically, physicians provide the service from Island Health faces formidable economic challenges. With the depressed oil province and piped to tidewater. Fracking is an energy intensive Telehealth rooms. In the near future however, the Telehealth industry and escaped methane from extraction and piping MALAHAT LNG, please turn to page 6 ISLAND HEALTH, please turn to page 3 JTBUUIFTF6(5,286&2))(( MPDBUJPOT MPPLGPSUIFA*TMBOE5JEFTZFMMPXCPYFTPVUTJEFPSSBDLTJOTJEF 4JEOFZ#FBDPO"WFOVF /BOBJNP7*$POGFSFODF$FOUSF 1BSLTWJMMF)FSJUBHF$FOUSF.BMM 4PVUI%VODBO4VO7BMMFZ.BMM /BOBJNP#FBVGPSU$FOUSF4PVUI1BSLXBZ1MB[B $PVSUFOBZ4PVUIHBUF$FOUSF $MJòF"WFOVF %VODBO$PXJDIBO$PNNPOT.BMM /BOBJNP$PSOFS*TMBOE)XZ!)BNNPOE#BZ3E 1PSU"MCFSOJ4IPQQFST%SVH.BSU1MB[B UI"WF .JMM#BZ*TMBOE)JHIXBZ!'SBZOF3E 1PXFMM3JWFS1BDJöD1PJOU.BSLFU 5IVOEFS#BZ4U $BNQCFMM3JWFS5IF7JMMBHF 8JMMPX1PJOU www.islandtides.com Page 2, Island Tides, May 5, 2016 Readers’ Letters Cost of Alberta’s Oil Spree Watch a popular Danish TV drama series call ‘Borgen’— Dear Editor: subtitled, with freestreaming online—to see how a politician Alberta Premier Notley should spend some time studying our struggles in this system to keep her integrity amidst the endless Every Second Thursday economic history before shooting herself in the foot. Alberta’s jockeying and deal-making. In Germany, which uses a form of Strait of Georgia’s only past 15 years of relying on oil to the exclusion of other economic Mixed Member Proportional Representation, the ruling party Free & Mail-Delivered Newspaper factors has been pulling the Canadian dollar up to the level of has run the country for decades, through bullying coalitions and the US dollar (oil is traded in US dollars), allowing the tar sands with no hope in sight for another party to win the lead. The 24,000 copies this edition to be exploited during high oil prices while having a negative system entrenches parties more deeply than FPTP alone. impact on almost every other aspect of our economy, especially All this is to say that there’s proportional representation for 13,393 print copies delivered to all manufacturing. Former Canadian Imperial Bank chief parties and there’s straight-forward proportional representation households on 12 Gulf Islands economist Jeff Rubin has documented this impact in his latest for voters. If we continue to frame elections in party terms, that’s book. Alberta’s oil policy has cost the rest of Canadians billions all we’re going to get. We can do better. Winston Churchill will be cheering. Salt Spring • Mayne • Galiano • Pender • Saturna of dollars. Brenda Guiled, Salt Spring Island Gabriola • Denman • Hornby • Read • Texada • Then there is the $600 billion-plus yearly taxpayer subsidy Lasqueti • Thetis to the fossil fuel industry that has allowed oil corporations to Enbridge and the Climate Wars bank obscene profits while living off the rest of us. Corporate Dear Editor: welfare is what real NDP activists used to call it. Canadians have failed to adequately respond to dangerous And we shouldn’t forget the increased climate change costs climate change because global warming is not yet a life and of spruce budworm, forest fires, crop failures, floods, increases death issue in Canada. 4,107 print copies on Ferry Routes and in: in diseases, and loss of wildlife and ecosystem diversity. Nor the Like First World War generals resting comfortably in a Victoria • Saanich • Sidney • Cobble Hill physical accidents to workers in the oil industry. chateau far behind the front lines, we hear of distant battles— Mill Bay • Crofton • Duncan • Chemainus flash floods in Bangladesh, deadly heatwaves in Europe, Ladysmith • Nanaimo • Bowser • Courtenay Fortunately, the fossil fuel industry is dying. The rest of Port Alberni • Campbell River • Powell River Canada should get aboard the clean and sustainable energy Ethiopian farmers dying by the hundreds of thousands and industry. Pacific Islanders fleeing their homes—but that is not our reality. 6,500 online readers each edition Jim Erkiletian, Nanaimo We see the enemy growing stronger—oceans acidifying and Owner, Publisher & Editor: BC Government Advertisement Blitz coral reefs dying, thawing permafrost spewing methane into the atmosphere and melting ice sheets hastening to raise Christa Grace-Warrick Dear Editor: oceans—but in our garden, spring is as beautiful as it has always Contributors: Patrick Brown, Elizabeth May, Priscilla Ewbank, Peter Has anyone else noticed how many BC Liberal government ads been. Nix, Frants Attorp, Toby Snelgrove, Henny Schnare, are running on local media lately? One more extreme example And so we plan new offensives—Enbridge, Kinder Morgan, Barbara Julian, Keiko Taylor, Adam Olsen, Brian Crumblehulme, of shameless self-promotion at taxpayer expense. It’s more Energy East, LNG—delaying until the front inevitably reaches us, Colin Grainger, Mike Bell, Miles Ritter, Natalie Dunsmuir, reinforcement for Premier Clark and her recent budget agenda. drowning our coastal cities, torching forests, turning wheatfields Davy Rippner, David Borrowman, Mike Yip Does anyone know what all this blatant propaganda really into dustbowls and our grandchildren into climate refugees. Island Tides Publishing Ltd costs? This is only the latest attempt to propagate a distorted Canadians must seek peace with nature while they still can Box 55, Pender Island, BC V0N 2M0 view of reality. Continually repeating a lie will not make it true. Tel: 250.216.2267• News: [email protected] by reducing the volume of fossil fuels we produce and consume The budget for this would buy a lot of bus passes for those on Advertising: [email protected] each year, and by ensuring that 80 per cent of our known disabilty who have had them taken away by a heartless/souless Advertising Deadline: Wednesday Between Publications reserves remain in the ground. government. I am very clear on how I feel about this abuse. Stop Canadian Addressed Subscription: $57.75pa There is no other path to victory, nor to a habitable planet. US Addressed Subscription: $80.00pa this waste. Mike Ward, Duncan For unaddressed delivery & online readers: David L Merke, Salt Spring Island Don’t Expect Taxes from BC LNG Representation By Population Suggested Voluntary Subscription is $30pa Dear Editor: www.islandtides.com Dear Editor: Canada has no LNG export plants at present, though there are Cheers for Frants Attorps’ article championing proportional more than 20 proposed LNG export plants for BC. Neither BC Follow us on twitter at @islandtides Island Tides’ representation in March 24 edition, which he nor Canada is likely to receive much tax from these companies, illustrates by using Denmark’s national government. however. Margaret Griffiths - 1920-2015 His article doesn’t take us deep enough, however, because it The hopeful LNG companies are all multi-nationals who will demonstrates only proportional representation for parties. True Margaret died peacefully on the morning of April 11th in likely structure their corporations in similar ways as Woodfibre democracy is representation by population, for which parties Nanaimo Regional Hospital with her son by her side. LNG, a plant proposed for Howe Sound. Margaret was born in England in 1920 and moved to have become our proxies. Woodfibre LNG doesn’t pay taxes because it is structured to Canada in 1953 after serving in the British Women’s Rather than focus on fairness to parties as the be-all and end- avoid them. There are two Woodfibre LNG companies, both Auxillary Air Force in the Second World War. Before and all, we need to start from the objective of elections. The fairest owned by Singapore-based Pacific Oil & Gas: Woodfibre LNG during the Battle of Britain she worked on the first system ensures that every elected member wins a seat with Ltd, registered in Canada, which will liquefy and store the gas; experimental radar, stationed in Ventnor on the English approximately the same number of votes as every other and Woodfibre LNG Export Pte Ltd, registered in Singapore, Channel. After retiring from a career as a social worker, she member. That’s the nub of rep-by-pop. which will own, ship, and sell the gas. lived fulltime on Galiano until her failing eyesight required How to achieve this? The simplest, purest way is to devise a Canadian corporations do pay taxes—on Canadian profits. her to move closer to her family. system that builds this in from the start. Take the total number The trouble is that Canadian-registered Woodfibre LNG Ltd She was a respected community leader, activist and of voters, which was 17-million in the 2015 Canadian election. isn’t likely to ever make a profit. Under the proposed writer. Morning Light; Triumph at Sea & Tragedy on There are 338 seats to fill, so each representative will need about structure,Woodfibre LNG Ltd (the Canadian corp) won’t ever Everest was her first book, written in her mid-eighties after 50,000 votes to win a seat. own the gas. The other same-owner company—Singapore- her last term as Galiano Island Trustee (2002). As none of us wants to vote for the full team of 338 possible registered Woodfibre LNG Export Pte. Ltd—will. The Story Of Galiano Island: Across Thirty Important members (although that would ensure perfect proportionality), Singapore-registered Woodfibre will have a contract (via a Yearswas her legacy (www.galianostory.com). Of it, she said ridings are pared down to about 150,000 to 350,000 voters ‘tolling agreement’) with Canadian-registered Woodfibre to ‘I have written this in thanks and tribute to those islanders each. We each get to elect three to seven members. liquefy and store the gas. If, as expected, the contract pricing is who have given their time and energy through the years in In a three-member district, 66 per cent of voters will elect a for cost-recovery only, there will be no profits for the Canadian support of wise planning for an island of great beauty and candidate that is their top choice. In a seven-member district, company and therefore no income or LNG taxes payable to limited resources. Those seeking the facts will read it.’ more than 85 per cent of voters send their top choice to govern. Canada or BC. This is called transfer pricing and is quite he woods are lovely, dark and deep. This system is called Single Transferable Vote, although it regularly used by multi-nationals to move profits away to a low- She has kept her promises and earned her sleep. would be better called multi-member inclusive representation. tax company/country. At herT request a dogwood tree will be planted in The Heritage Winston Churchill pushed hard for it—against an adamantly If these companies don’t use transfer pricing, they would pay Forest in her memory. opposed party establishment—saying ‘I’d rather be one fifth of BC LNG taxes, eventually. However, this would be tax on A memorial for Margaret will be held this summer on the members for all of Leeds than one member for a fifth of profits. Capital costs are written off. With the present low price Galiano. Look for notice of the date and place in Island Tides. Leeds.’ of LNG (expected to last for years), there would be no profits Teacher Thomas Wright Hill devised this system in 1821. He for many years. A 2014 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy got students to choose a committee of seven to represent their Alternatives estimates that if LNG sells for $12/mmBTU, it class by having them stand beside their first pick. They all would be 14 years before capital costs are recovered and taxes bunched around one or two, then realized that they had to incurred. At the present $6/mmBTU, no plant could make a spread themselves out—transfer their single vote—until the full profit, so no BC LNG taxes would be paid in any case. team had equal numbers of votes. Only one or two students Woodfibre LNG says they would pay $84-87 million a year weren’t satisfied with the results, and all agreed that it was fair. in taxes. That’s a bit mystifying. Due to transfer pricing, they In the modern version, each voter gets one ballot with a list could legally pay no BC or federal tax. of the candidates by party or as independents. Yes, parties are BC does not charge PST on natural gas that is exported. Since important, and voters can choose entirely by them, if they wish, Woodfibre LNG would run mostly on electricity, they would pay or by other criteria such as key issues, work experience, about $300,000 PST per year. LNG corporations that burn a lot background, gender, etcetera. Use of this inclusive voting of natural gas would pay quite a bit of PST. system is growing, happily adopted by local governments, Woodfibre LNG would pay $4.4 million a year carbon taxes, nation-wide organizations like health boards, and elected upper but would get back a tax credit of $5 million a year for offsets. chambers of parliament. It is also used in Ireland—where it’s This leaves property taxes, which would easily be eaten up by the credited with preventing all-out war. emergency and social services the District of Squamish would Denmark and a number of other countries use an entirely provide if Woodfibre is built, and payroll taxes. Payroll taxes on Margaret celebrates her 95th birthday last September different system to achieve parity in votes-per-seat. It’s called 100 long term employees would be less than $100,000 a year. with Debbie Holmes. Mixed Member Proportional Representation. Ballots have two This functionally adds up to Woodfibre LNG paying about votes, the first for the old First-Past-the-Post system, which $400,000 a year in taxes. produces unacceptably skewed results for parties. The second Woodfibre LNG (and other LNG corporations) may have to is now on vote is for additional members to rectify the FPTP results. pay excise tax on equipment built overseas that they will use for Setting up this correction involves making 15-16 subjective the lifetime of the plant. They are haggling with the federal twitter. Follow us at @islandtides. choices, all of which are readily manipulated by benefactors, government over this. Laurie Parkinson, North Vancouver 0 www.islandtides.com politicians, and their parties. Island Tides, May 5 2016, Page 3 Applying Soil Science to Gardens Canada’s environmental Brian Crumblehulme report card is out his is the second article on the soil microbiome. We e know more about the celestial universe Canada has poor environmental performance, according to The know that in addition to rocks and roots, the soil in our than the soil beneath our feet.’ gardens has a vast population of microbes that include Conference Board of Canada’s first How Canada Performs: ‘W —Leonardo da Vinci, 1500 CE Environment viruses, bacteria, fungi and a host of diminutive creatures. This report card. Canada scored a ‘D’ grade overall T when compared to 16 other countries and ranked 14th, with population, or microbiome as it is now called, is essential for the Take some properly rotted compost and mix with an equal only the United States and Australia graded lower. well-being of everything that grows on it, from forest and field, volume of garden soil or soil taken from a deciduous treed area The grading system was based on climate change action, air to cabbages and rose gardens. Breaking up this soil layer by nearby. A soil enriched with synthetic fertilizer will suppress pollution, and freshwater management. With 20.7 tonnes of building roads and houses, or simply by tilling it massively, fungal mycorrhizal growth because it is already nutrient rich CO2 equivalent per capita, Canada scored low on its greenhouse damages this ecosystem. The twentieth century response to this and the microbes will remain dormant. Sieve out rocks and gas emissions, though it recieved an ‘A’ for low-emitting was a technological fix with lots of fertilizer and irrigation, both larger roots. Then mix again with an equal volume of electricity generation. Nearly 80% of Canada’s power is of which also suppress this micro-population. vermiculite or peat moss; fill one litre pots and either sow with generated using hydro or nuclear, which are relatively low Plants need nutrition in the form of soluble minerals, and a cover crop or spread the mix over a garden bed and sow emitters. Canada’s air pollution has improved between 1990 synthetic fertilizers can supply this need very quickly. In the wild directly into it. and 2014, but according to the conference board, it is still one there are no fertilizers and the soluble minerals are provided by Douds used a cover crop of tropical Bahia grass because it of the worse of the 16 peer countries that were examined. the microbiome in a very finely tuned supply/demand system grew fast and was killed by the frost. I am using annual winter Canada got a ‘B’ on freshwater management, ranking 9th for such as we have with our own nutritional needs. In a perfect field peas available from West Coast Seeds because I want a fast wastewater treatment and 10th on water withdrawals. growing legume that will not take over the garden. If you plan world it should not be necessary to add any fertilizers at all, but The Canadian provinces were also graded. Ontario scored to leave the cover crop for the summer, crimson clover is a very best out of the provinces, recieving a ‘B’ grade. British Columbia, the reality is that we are not hunter/gatherers living in a pretty alternative. Quebec and PEI scored ‘C’, while Manitoba got a ‘D’. All other wilderness and some compromise may be required. So how can The microbes naturally present in the soil will colonize the provinces were graded with a ‘D-’, the lowest possible grade. I apply this new science to growing vegetables, fruit and flowers young seedling roots and quickly spread through your soil mix. The Conference Board of Canada will also be releasing report in my garden in an ecologically respectful way? Remove any larger weeds to allow the seedlings to grow, and cards on economy, education and skills, innovation, health and If you do not have a cultivated garden, the bush will take care water as necessary. According to Douds, this produces a 7,000- society. 0 of itself and after a few years any damage caused by constructing fold increase in fungi in the soil after about five weeks when the your house will be naturally remediated and the forest will grow plants are growing vigorously, and by using a local soil starter, Did you appreciate this article? Help Island Tides back. Then if all you aspire to is a small clearing with a little grass the microbes will be native and more effective in promoting pay for publishing it! Mail or phone in your $30 to walk on and perhaps a few ornamental trees, these too can be plant growth.

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AROUND THE ISLANDS ThePenderIslandBakeryCafehasturnedoveranewleaf!VANILLA LEAF BAKERY CAFE Pole Blessing Ceremony at SIMS Newname,newowners,new - Keiko Taylor menuitems,expandedhours, withthesameamazingstaff! Saltspring Island Middle School has been given the unique ComemeetDanandErinatthe opportunity and rare honour to help carve a welcome pole in VanillaLeafBakeryCafeand the Coast Salish tradition on our school grounds. Poles act as mtryournewmenuoptions- representations and embodiments of the thoughts and values tincludingvegetarianandvegan of peoples, place, and time. After it is completed, the pole will vitems-plusallofyouroldmenu be raised at SIMS as an acknowledgement of the rich traditions cfavourites.Stillconveniently of the Coast Salish peoples and a symbol of welcome to all locatedintheDriftwoodCentre. visitors to our school. Quentin Harris, a First Nations carver, will oversee the project, with help from our students and staff. Salt Spring Island community members will also be invited to help to carve the pole. On March 14, Coast Salish elders performed a ceremony to begin the carving process. Ron George, Tousilim as he is known Photo: Davy Rippner to his people, along with local elder Jim Spencer performed the Islanders sort beach litter during the Pender ceremony. Its purpose is to acknowledge that the cedar that was once a growing tree will be undergoing a transformation into a Islands Conservancy Association beach clean-up Now accepting applications for Sept. 2016 1 year diploma course welcome pole. Through song and drumming, Tousilim cleansed on April 23. and blessed the pole. The ceremony also granted permission for the carvers to work on the pole and they were blessed as the CRD Seeks Public Input on Draft Plan for keepers of the traditions of the Coast Salish people. All of our students and staff were in attendance at the Island View Park ceremony that took place on the future site of the pole carving— The Capital Regional District is looking for feedback on the Draft a flat piece of land adjacent to the upper parking area. Student Management Plan for Island View Regional Park, located in Central Saanich. Highlights of the new plan include a proposal to reconfigure the campground in order to reduce ecological footprint, a plan to designate part of the park as an on-leash- only area for dogs, construct a boardwalk on the loop trail to protect the ecosystem, and assess the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on the park’s facilities. The park’s last plan was written in 1989 and the new plan was deemed necessary due to an increased number of visitors, a larger area of land included in the park, and the addition of a campground. Public consultation of the draft plan is the final step in the process of creating a new plan. Input was also sought in 2015 during the initial stages of writing the plan. Townhalls are being held on May 26 and 28 in Victoria and Saanich. For more information, go to www.crd.bc.ca/project/island-view-beach- What’sOn? management-plan. VANCOUVER ISLAND & ALL THE GULF ISLANDS May Music On Galiano Single-venue (50 words): $39.90 includes image • Galiano-born singer-songwriter Tamara Nile will be performing Multi-venue (70 words): $52.50 includes image two island-style gigs on Galiano Payment with order by Visa or MasterCard, please • at the end of May. At the [email protected] or 250.216.2267 season’s first Galiano Saturday Market on May 21, she will be Friday, April 29 to Wednesday, June 1 debuting new songs. The Red Tree Gallery Art Show—‘Romancing Nature’, following Tuesday, May 24, she paintings by Sally Robinson and ‘Honouring Trees’, will perform a Bob Dylan song photography by Guest Artist, Kathi Diewert D Hope at Galiano’s annual Bob Dylan Bay Centre D Opening Reception on Saturday, April Photo: David Borrowman 30 D Wed to Sun, 11am to 4pm D Info: 250.629.6800, Birthday Party, an event at redtreegallery.ca D PENDER which performers from across Students at SIMS take part in a pole blessing Saturday, May 21 the region—and further afield— ceremony with Coast Salish elders. SeaFest 2016 ‘The Oyster Festival’—Oysters gather to perform Dylan’s songs raw, gourmet and barbecue with good music, in celebration of his birthday. free shuttle meets every Cortes ferry D Gorge representatives from each class took part by helping to Dylan is 75 this year. Last year, Harbour Marina Resort D Serving starts 11:30am symbolically cleanse the pole by brushing it with cedar boughs. Island TidesTV made two short D Tickets: Adults $20; kids’ menu & prices D Info: We thank the Coast Salish peoples and the elders for [email protected] D CORTES movies about the event. You Photo: Henny Schnare granting us the right and honour of having the experience of can view them on Island Saturday, May 21 carving this pole at SIMS. 0 Tamara Nile Solar PV Installation Workshop—Reduce your hydro costs! Join TidesTV’s YouTube channel. 29-year solar veteran and instructor Dave Neads; benefit from the solar revolution with this practical, hands-on course that makes solar make sense D Cost: $125 D Info/registration: Island School of Ferry News Building Arts, 250.247.8922 or [email protected] D Concrete This Summer, Tsawwassen–Gulf Islands Ferry Queen of Cumberland Returns After Upgrade Countertop workshop, July 23-24 D GABRIOLA Saturday & Sunday, May 21 and 22 Allows Foot Passenger Reservations The Queen of Cumberland returned to serving the Swartz 29th Annual Pottery Studio Tour—10 unique From April 11 to September 5, foot passengers travelling Bay-Southern Gulf Islands route on April 22 with some new venues featuring functional wares and between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands will be able upgrades. The changes include the installation of a pet area, decorative items for indoor and outdoor display to make reservations in either direction, thus guaranteeing their complete overhaul of the elevator system, and a new overhead D Free maps @ Buckley Bay ferry booth & the space on the boat. walkway access to the upper deck for walk-on passengers. The Denman Island Craft Shop D Studios open Reservations can be made up to two hours before sailing time 24-year-old vessel also got an electrical system overhaul, a 10am-5pm D Info: www.denmanpottery2016.blogspot.ca D and must be claimed at least half an hour before sailing time. To new alarm and monitoring system, and a renewed sea water DENMAN cooling system. make a reservation, phone 1-888-223-3779. There is no charge Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22 Schedules on the Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Island and for reservations, but fares must be paid in advance. Fares are non- Mayne Island Victoria Day Weekend events—SAT, MAY 21: MI refundable, but are transferable to another sailing. Swartz Bay-Fulford Harbour routes returned to normal with Conservancy’s 11th Mad May Day; start at MV Tenaka Ferry Sold to Port Alberni Company the Queen of Cumberland back in service. Farmers Market; prize draw, face painting, MV Tenaka Federal Government Supports Atlantic Ferries wand/garland making; Morris Dancers, Mad BC Ferries has sold off the 52-year-old ferry to Procession, Maypole, Queen’s coronation, Lady Rose Marine Services, a Port Alberni ferry and freight As part of the 2016 budget, the federal government has dancing, games, refreshments; Free, company. The vessel previously served the Quadra Island- committed $51.9 million to supporting ferry services between everyone welcome; Info: Helen O’Brian, 250.539.5619 D SUN, MAY Cortes Island route, but last sailed the route in December of ports in the Atlantic provinces. The funding will support 22: Mayne School PAC Carnival; games, silent auction, 2014. Lady Rose will take possession of the ship in mid-May operations, repairs and maintenance, and will also dispose of refreshments; Info: Rachel Lane, [email protected] D MAYNE and will put the vessel into service by the end of the year. The the MV Princess of Acadia, which was replaced in 2015 by the Tuesday, May 24 MV Tenaka will sail from the Alberni Inlet. MV Fundy Rose. 21st Annual Bob Dylan Birthday Party—An BC Ferries sold the vessel after a competitive biding Interprovincial ferry contracts will be extended for one year evening listening to or performing your favourite Bob Dylan tunes D Galiano Community Hall D Show at 7pm, process, but will not reveal the sale price. Two more ferries between Saint John, NB, and Digby, NS; between Wood Bob’s cake at 8:30pm D Admission: donation to Galiano will be retired and sold soon, and the company says it ‘needs Islands, PEI, and Caribou, NS; and between Iles-de-la Community Land & Housing Trust D Performers or to protext the competitive bid processes for those sales and Madeleine, QC, and Souris, PEI. general info, please call Tom 250.539.2960 D GALIANO maximize the price received for those ships’. The federal government has invested approximately $240 Sunday, June 5 The MV Tenaka takes 24 vehicles and 100 passengers and million to support these ferry services. Transport Canada owns Oceans Day—Come celebrate our marine environment D crew, and was built in 1964 at the Victoria Machinery Depot. four vessels and six ferry facilities in the region, leased to private Descanso Bay Regional Park D For more information, please operators at nominal cost. 0 contact: 250.247.8335 D GABRIOLA Voluntary Subscriptions Can Make A Big Difference! Next Deadline: May 11 www.islandtides.com Page 6, Island Tides, May 5, 2016 Global rallies urge government to break from Electricity could fossil fuels - Natalie Dunsmuir allies are taking place this May across the world to call ‘The goal is to push government to take real climate action,’ drive change in BC for an end to fossil fuel use and a transition to renewable said Melina Laboucan-Massimo, a climate and energy energy. campaigner for . ‘The federal government is Colin Grainger Break Free is a movement designed to mobilize people from committing to very ambitious targets for limiting climate lectric vehicle popularity is racing ahead in Norway, and R across the globe. Rallies are so far scheduled to take place in 12 change, which is a pledge to limit the global temperatures to a report by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions at different countries, on six continents. Canada’s demonstration 1.5ºC. But what this actually means is that it requires sustained the University of Victoria has suggestions for how BC can will happen on May 13 and 14 in Vancouver, near the terminal action that actually is in line with what global climate scientists Ecatch up. for the Kinder Morgan pipeline project. Ralliers will march and are telling us. And what climate scientists have told us is that it’s According to the report, ‘Could a Norway-style electric kayak towards the terminal to show opposition to the pipeline time to go 100 per cent renewable.’ vehicle revolution happen in BC?’, Norway has much in project. A decision is expected on the Kinder Morgan pipeline project common with BC, including similar population size, ‘It will be just a few days before the [National Energy Board] by the end of this year from the federal government. Climate mountainous geography, and hydroelectric power. Norway is will publish its recommendation on the Kinder Morgan activists are hoping the Liberals in Ottawa will turn the pipeline also a heavy oil producer, and ‘like BC, something on the order pipeline,’ said Greenpeace campaigner Rania Massoud. ‘People away, and they’re hoping their voices will help sway the of 40 per cent of their emissions come from transportation,’ from all walks of life will be mobilizing. We’re expecting government. according to PICS executive director Tom Pedersen. hundreds of people.’ ‘Kinder Morgan pipeline could be approved by the end of ‘They’re doing two things,’ Pedersen says. ‘They’re trying to Break Free events around the globe will focus on site-specific this year, 2016, which would actually potentially set precedent reduce their emissions while continuing to produce a lot of oil, fossil fuel projects in the area, from coal plants in Turkey and for other tarsands’ pipelines,’ said Laboucan-Massimo. ‘It’s and some people accuse them of hypocrisy, but that’s not fair; the Philippines, to mines in Germany, to fracking and oil wells basically the climate movement’s commitment to scale enough they’re using their natural resource base to construct a different in Nigeria. The protests will come just weeks after the signing resistance to face the fossil fuel industry. And I think then it will future for the nation.’ of the Paris Agreement in New York by 175 of the world’s change.’0 Norway being 100 per cent hydroelectric, the obvious answer leaders. to their emissions problem was to use electricity for transportation, Pedersen says. BC has the highest electric vehicle sales in Canada, mostly News Digest thanks to a provincial Clean Energy Vehicle Program which Electric Vehicles Survey offers a $5,000 rebate off the cost of a new electric vehicle. Canada Elected to UN Commission on Status of Women Almost 50% of Canadians would consider purchasing an electric However, since Norway began encouraging the use of vehicle for their next car, according to a new survey by electric vehicles in 2009, they now have over 74,000 electric Canada announced its intention to seek a seat for the first time Kanetix.ca. The survey polled 3,769 people living across Canada, vehicles on the road, over 30 times more than BC’s 2,400. So since 2007 at the 60th United Nations Commission on the in BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, asking them how did Norway accomplish this in such a short time? Status of Women session in New York on March 14 to 24, and if they would consider buying an electric or hybrid car. The Surveys showed that ‘range anxiety’ was the biggest has now been elected to a seat on the commission. Canada will results showed that provinces with purchase incentives and apprehension when it came to making the switch to electric, so serve as a member from 2017 to 2021. The mission of the United increased investment in charging stations had higher the Norwegian government funded charging stations across the Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) is to percentages of potential EV buyers. BC, which recently country. Norway now has over 5,600 public charging stations, promote women’s rights on a global scale. Prime Minister Justin reintroduced its Clean Energy Vehicle program, was the top whereas BC has under 600 public charging stations to date, the Trudeau was also designated a ‘champion’ by the UN’s province for potential EV drivers, with 54.9% of residents report says. HeForShe campaign, a solidarity movement that works to considering purchase. Alberta had the lowest percentage, with This was complemented by perks given to electric vehicle involve men in standing up for women’s rights. only 44.9%. drivers, including use of bus lanes, free parking anywhere in the BCHydro Mica Dam Adds Two Generators For more on electric vehicles, see story, left. 0 country, road toll exemption, and—wait for it—free ferry rides. Unlike BC’s tax incentive program, which ends when the A $714 million expansion of the Mica Dam on the Columbia money runs out, Norway’s tax-free new electric car incentive is River is complete. It will increase the installed generating open-ended. capacity of the dam from 1,800 MW to about 2,800 MW. The report’s recommendations for BC include public-sector The Mica Dam was originally commissioned in 1970 with charging infrastructure, highly desirable perks, and open-ended four units. Unit Nº5 began generating in early 2015 and Unit tax relief. The report cautions that municipal cooperation would Nº6 in December, 2015. The project also included replacement be necessary to deliver the perks and cross-party consensus of the dam’s original switchgear, and the installation of a new would be needed to maintain support should the government capacitor station on the transmission line. change. Also, Canada would need legislation at the federal level A new high voltage transmission line from the interior to the for tax incentives on imported vehicles. lower mainland was completed in November; it was the first Pedersen points out that these incentives are a large 500kV line added to the system in 30 years. The new generators investment for a government, but once significant penetration and transmission equipment are to meet increased peak winter ALL-ELECTRIC NISSAN LEAF in the market is achieved, the incentives become unnecessary. demand. ‘Once you get over a certain threshold, these things become self-sustaining,’ Pedersen said. ‘You don’t need to maintain that MALAHAT LNG from page 1 level of incentive.’ and gas markets it currently costs more to produce LNG in BC Commentary The full report can be read at www.pics.uvic.ca. 0 than it can be sold for. And with the glut in the market, with It seems absurd that in spite of what appears to be so many countries like the United States, Australia and Qatar already insurmountable obstacles, Steelhead LNG still pushes ahead. BRING YOUR RECYCLABLES TO US exceeding the world demand, our nascent LNG industry, led by Perhaps it is because the BC our government, is a mere government continues to push their We’lltakeanythingwitha afterthought in the global 2013 election promise to get BC depositforafullrefund. market. methane to foreign markets at any Steelhead LNG is selling itself environmental, social and economic Opendaily9amto6pmon a promise that the project will cost. create 400 short-term and 200 Who would have thought we 250.539.2936 long-term jobs. They say it will would face an LNG proposal in the indirectly support many more Saanich Inlet and the Gulf Islands? SATURNAGENERALSTORE throughout the region. They also It is easy to fall into the trap of 101NARVAEZBAYROAD,SATURNAISLAND state that the project could thinking the whole thing is so absurd generate millions or billions of that it will go away on its own. It economic benefit. won’t. This heavy industrial proposal Claire Trevena, MLA North Island Who will see that benefit, and is inappropriate for the Saanich Inlet at what cost? What will be the and as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Office: 908 Island Hwy impact on the value of local real said ‘even though [it is] governments estate? How will introducing that grant permits, ultimately it is only Campbell River heavy industrial activities impact communities that grant permission.’ V9W 2C3 the 21,000 tourism and service The Saanich Inlet Network is a related jobs in the region? How community group tracking this 866-387-5100 will it affect the tourism industry? project closely and working to How will the industrialization of increase community awareness of the the Saanich Inlet affect the [email protected] proposal. Learn more about the choices of potential visitors? Saanich Inlet Network and join the www.clairetrevena.ca There are over 20 LNG mailing list to stay informed at projects proposed in BC, but in www.saanichinlet.net/. spite of the political promises Adam Olsen is a member of Tsartlip SHORELINE • Specializing in water that LNG plants would be First Nation, the founder of the DESIGN access over steep operational by now, none have Saanich Inlet Network and Deputy- & rugged even received a ‘final investment Leader of the BC Green Party. 0 decision’. The BC LNG industry terrain is struggling to get off the ground despite the provincial Did you appreciate this article? Help Island Tides • Fully insured government’s concessions, such as relaxing the regulatory pay for publishing it! 250-216-2267. Thank You! environment and reducing royalties and taxes. < • Excellent references Voluntary subscriptions can make a big difference. Mail Peter Christenson • 250-858-9575 www.shorelinedesign.ca or phone in your $30 annual subscription today! www.islandtides.com Island Tides, May 5, 2016, Page 7 Raven Coal Mine: A Citizen Autopsy Photo: Miles Ritter Mike Bell t is fitting that we are celebrating the demise of opposed by First Nations and some local communities. Compliance Energy and its Raven Coal Mine project. So what can we do? We can help the transition away Members of our community and our First Nations from fossil fuels by supporting local and provincial foughtI the project tooth and nail for more than five years. businesses specializing in green energy. But there is It is indeed time for a celebration. But it is also time for something more immediate, work that more of us can a citizen autopsy. What have we learned? get involved in: changing our political systems. As we take a closer look and sort through the entrails In our last local elections we elected some very good of Compliance and the Raven project to find the cause people. But they find themselves impotent in an of death, there are other influences besides our impotent system. Because of existing legislation, they opposition, such as the economy and the decline in coal have no authority over resource developments in the prices. But we also come to a disturbing conclusion. Our Comox Valley. They can just make suggestions. examination of the project reveals that Compliance was In the last provincial election the only party to speak only a symptom of a much greater problem: a coalition out about the Raven Coal Mine was the Green Party. BC of multinational corporations and governments that Liberals, of course, were supporting the project. The BC Proclaims June as together form a carbon conglomerate. NDP’s local candidate was not allowed to come out - Barbara Julian It is held together with international trade agreements against the mine for fear that word would get around in Orca Month that allow companies from Korea and Japan to have other communities that the party was opposed to mines. ne of the delights of the Gulf University tells us that whale more say over the future of our home than we have; huge The real problem is staring us in the face—the power Islands is iconic orca pods off- vocalization ‘illuminates the oceans’. tax dollar subsidies for oil and gas companies and of the carbon conglomerate. It’s almost as if the carbon shore. In recognition, BC has Whales’ hunting, migration and projects; millions of dollars for lobbyists; and, as has multinationals are operating a global spaceship that sucks Odesignated June as ‘Orca Awareness socializing depends on this become increasingly apparent, strong global opposition up government leaders, brainwashing them, changing Month’. soundscape, but sonar and to green energy project and, in some cases, funding of their economic systems, eviscerating their environmental The 84-member Southern mechanical shipping noise double climate-denial organizations. Compliance might be dead regulations and damaging their social systems. Then they Resident Killer Whale pods are multi- every decade. but the carbon club is still very much alive. From the get- dump them back on earth programmed to follow the generational groups that live in tightly- The other threats to orcas are go the BC government has been a card-carrying member. approved resource extraction plan. knit families, communicating over reduction in Chinook salmon stocks, As part of her original election campaign, Christy Though that last bit may seem a tad over the top, in hundreds of miles by sending pulses pollution, and the danger of collision Clark promised to develop nine new mines and help this case it is nothing compared to what multinational from specialized organs in their heads, with shipping vessels. whose returning echoes map the How might Orca Month help? expand 10 more. She has opened up provincial parks to carbon companies are doing to countries and world. Their communicative, social Proclaiming June a special time for resource development projects, provided major communities around the world. lifestyles still go beyond what humans orcas will focus attention on how subsidies for carbon projects and either removed So now the autopsy is completed and the coroner has can fully grasp. policy-makers and citizens could ‘unnecessary’ environmental legislation or refused to filed his report. Though the incompetency of That there were once thousands change their habits. Politicians must enforce it. Courts have found her remiss in trying to fob- Compliance was a contributing factor, the real cause of living here, which humans have enact laws to protect salmon stocks off on the federal government her responsibility for the problem was the system that gave rise to the project reduced to a few dozen, is a tragedy and reduce pollution, underwater environmental reviews, and they have cited her for and guided it from the beginning. that Orca Month—proclaimed on noise, and marine traffic. refusing to consult First Nations. Recently, Bill Bennet, Where do we stand? We still have those new April 5 by Lieutenant Governor Judith Events are being planned across her government’s energy minister, said that clean energy companies with 10 new leases wafting in the breezes Guichon—may help reverse. Vancouver Island, and organizers projects are not a priority. above our home waiting to swoop down if and when the One of the worst threats to orcas is hope residents of the Gulf Islands will The BC government’s priority, of course, is the Site C winds of change raise the value of coal. underwater sonar from military and come up with their own. There will be dam in northeastern BC. It is an $8.3 billion project, an Though we have not destroyed or reformed the commercial shipping, as well as engine beach-side picnics, library displays economically risky venture opposed by farmers and First system, we’ve got a start. We understand much more and propeller noise. Naval ships use and cafe art displays, plus open-mic Nations. Among other things it is designed to provide than before about aspects of a system that threatens our low- and mid-frequency active sonar readings and question-and-answer huge amounts of water to slake the unquenchable thirst home. And we have learned to mobilize a community. to broadcast sound and listen for sessions with a panel of experts and of fracking operations. Part of the project is a give-away Now we must deal with the system itself. echoes. The whales, living in a sound politicians. in term of tax benefits and cutbacks in environmental We citizens must find our voice, help adapt the world and exquisitely sensitive to Orca Month is for everyone. requirements to Petronas, the Malaysian multi-national system and lead our political leaders through the long vibration, suffer disorientation, Volunteers and participants are oil and gas company. Petronas will supposedly oversee transition from the carbon world into a valley of clean hearing loss and rupture of welcome, and groups are encouraged the building of a pipeline to transport the fuel from energy. We didn’t elect our political leaders to give them membranes as a result of active sonar. to invent their own orca and marine 0 northeastern BC to the Pacific coast where it will also power. We elected them to empower us. Bioacoustics researcher events. 0 build an LNG terminal. This project is currently being Christopher Clark of Cornell

Fossil Fuel News- Patrick Brown School District Nº 64 17 States Investigate Oil Industry reject the Kyoto protocol, and overhaul government four LNG tankers each month, which cross several (Gulf Islands) Spending $115m Per Year On research into climate change. ferry routes on their way to the ocean. Applicationsareinvited ‘Climate Obstruction’ US Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude The environmental review was conducted by forthetemporary ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch/Shell and three industry Walker pointed out that the islands are particularly British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment contractpositionofEarly associations combined are spending $115 million susceptible to climate change and sea level rise. Branch on behalf of both governments. There ChildhoodEducator remains considerable public opposition. annually on ‘obstructing’ climate change policy, Detection System Misses Keystone Spill (ECE)fortheMayne according to InfluenceMap, a British nonprofit Two More Months To Cabinet On April 2, a leak was discovered on Trans Canada’s Decision On North West LNG IslandStrongStartBC research organization. Keystone pipeline in South Dakota. It was not outreachpilotproject. InfluenceMap’s figures indicate that some $40 detected by the company’s computerized ‘high-tech Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister TheclosingdateisMay million annually was spent by ExxonMobil, Shell, oil control centre’, but by a passerby. The leak was Catherine McKenna has referred a final decision on 12,2016.Pleasereferto and the American Petroleum Institute (API) on staff near the Freeman pump station, in a remote area of the Pacific North West LNG project to the federal SchoolDistrictNo.64 costs, $53 million on advertising, $345,000 on direct cabinet. Cabinet has asked for another three months Hutchinson County. websiteat political contributions, and $12 million on direct to gather additional information and consider its The company indicated that it was pleased that http://www.sd64.bc.ca/st lobbying costs. The Western States Petroleum the rancher who detected the leak reported it position. This would appear to put off any decision aff.htmlforfurther Association (WSPA) and the Australian Petroleum promptly ‘because it demonstrated that Trans until the end of June. information. Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Canada’s public awareness programs are working’. The LNG project, led by Malaysia’s Petronas, has were estimated to spend about $9 million together. However, the rancher was less happy with being been touted by the BC government as the leading The release of the InfluenceMap report follows recruited as part of the company’s leak detection investment in BC’s LNG industry. The project closely on a declaration by 17 state attorneys general system. According to Faith Spotted Eagle, the involves a liquefaction plant on Lelu Island, near that they are investigating ExxonMobile for fraud. Yankton Dakota Sioux tribal elder who posted a Prince Rupert, a ship-loading facility over Flora Bank Their allegations are that ExxonMobil knew in the video of the spill on Facebook, ‘[The rancher] said he (an important eelgrass Skeena River salmon late 1970s from its own research that fossil fuel does not have time to be looking for leaks, that this spawning area), gas pipelines across northern BC, combustion produced emissions that were harmful should not be his job.’ and extensive and continuous fracking operations in to the planet, yet from the 1980s on it has ignored Trans Canada shut down the line—laid in 2010— northeast BC. that research and concentrated its efforts on while it looked for the source of the leak. The pipeline Cabinet must now consider the trade-off between persuading the public and the government that was restarted on April 11 at low pressure, according the project’s economic development and climate change was an unproven theory and should to the company. Trans Canada estimated that the environmental consequences, which include not only be ignored by policymakers. pipeline spilled 63,000 litres of oil, and stated that its effect on Skeena River salmon, but also the very The states involved are California, Connecticut, ‘on-site specialists and regulators have not observed significant greenhouse gas emissions from fracking, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, any significant environmental impact.’ transportation, and liquefaction of natural gas. Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Woodfibre LNG Plant Gets Federal Nod This is the first major project to be judged on New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, upstream emissions. Vermont, Washington, and the US Virgin Islands. The first LNG export plant on the BC coast has been Meanwhile, John Helin, Mayor of Lax Former US vice-president Al Gore supported the approved by the federal minister of environment and Kw’alaams, a First Nations band which had initiative. climate change, Catherine McKenna. The proposed previously taken a strong position as opposing the Two weeks ago, the Competitive Enterprise plant at Woodfibre, on north-eastern Howe Sound project and which claimed land rights over Lelu Institute, a think tank supported by the oil industry, is ‘unlikely to cause significant adverse effects,’ she Island, has indicated that the band is now willing to revealed that its records of work for the industry says. support the development. This support is from 1997–2007 had been acquired by writ by the The liquefaction facility will be powered by conditional to being included in a committee to attorney general of the US Virgin Islands. The writ electricity and get gas from FortisBC through the enforce environmental standards. However, some of focuses particularly on CEI’s role in persuading the Eagle Mountain pipeline. The plant will also be the hereditary chiefs from the band claim ‘sovereign incoming Bush/Cheney US administration to seawater-cooled, with chlorinated wastewater rights’ over the site, and continue to oppose the project. 0 reverse the Clinton/Gore policies on climate change, discharged into Howe Sound. It is expected to fill www.islandtides.com Page 8, Island Tides, May 5, 2016 Moon Dates New: May 6 • Full: May 21

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Costal dealers - Nicholby’s Building & Ins spection S wintoonhomes.ca Photo Toby Snelgrove, SNELGROVEimages.com. āċĉĉĉċĂĊćċĉĀĆĊƫƫƫƫƫƫƫƫ Pigeons bill and coo on the edge of a dock.

Earth Day at the United Nations - Elizabeth May nowing how many Island Tides readers are keen lying island states such as Tuvalu, Maldives and the Marshall Climate Change observers of the climate issue, as well as the impressive Islands. The biggest news was likely that the Peoples’ Republic - Peter Nix number of you who are climate activists, I wanted to of China committed to ratification before the G20 Summit in Refugees Kgive you a more in-depth report than that found in mainstream September. The USA committed as well, with Secretary of State he refugee tsunami media about the special United Nations signing ceremony for John Kerry signing the agreement with his granddaughter in flowing onto Greek the Paris Agreement. tow. Our Prime Minister committed to table the treaty soon shores is the first Why the Ceremony? before Parliament with the goal of a ratification vote within the Twave of climate change The Paris Agreement is not the deal that saves the world from year. (As a note to parliamentary procedure wonks, it is not human migrations likely to climate chaos. It is the deal that gives us a chance to save technically necessary to take the treaty to Parliament. Recall occur as a result of ourselves. former PM Harper ratifying the Canada-China Investment increasing global warming We know that all current commitments by all nations, in Treaty by Order-in-Council with no vote in Parliament at all? weather events—Syria aggregate, if achieved in full and on target, spell global disaster. Treaty-making powers are ‘Royal Prerogative’ and could be experienced an acute 10- We will shoot right past the Paris Agreement goal of holding done by a secret Cabinet vote.) The debate in Parliament is year dry spell, bankrupting global average temperature to no more than 1.5ºC higher than helpful; it should help keep the attention of Canadians and farmers and contributing to what it was before the Industrial Revolution. We will shoot right media on what is at stake. ethnic tensions and civil past the outer limit target of 2ºC. In fact, if all countries achieve Despite Popularity Canada Using war. their current targets we end up 2.7-3.5ºC above the global Weak Targets Canadians need to learn how to respond, because average pre-Industrial Revolution temperature. Canada is very popular at the UN these days. I think winning a climate change is So there was a huge risk in accepting an agreement that seat on the Security Council in the next vote is looking like a sure happening, and parts of this depends for success on ratcheting up in pushing for more thing. Trudeau’s speech was interrupted by applause more often planet will be evacuated. reduction commitments. than any other speaker in the Greek volunteers make food for refugees inside Moria, a Anyone working on the General Assembly. His Greek refugee camp for about 3,000 people on the island of climate issue knows how fickle willingness to embrace basic Lesbos. And international volunteers, like my family from the media is and how short-lived principles of climate justice Vancouver Island, come to help them. the attention span of the average resonated as he explained Our Greek friends start cooking in an open area with many politician. So to keep up pressure Canada was committed to hungry families and bored young men, no crowd control except in the aftermath of Paris, the assisting developing countries shouting, under a hot sun with no shade. I decide, nervously, decision of the Conference of ‘since they should not be to organize the men’s food line, and keep it separate from the Parties (a different document punished for a problem they did women’s. than the Paris Agreement itself) not create’. I place my 69-year-old body between the two seething called for the UN Secretary On the other hand, our target sweaty conga-lines converging at the food table, raising my General to organize a high-level remains the one tabled last year clasped hands in, I hope, the calming position of a buddhist signing ceremony at the United by the previous government— monk. Nations headquarters in New 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. It’s chaos from the get-go: aggressive pushing, kids running York to be held on April 22, 2016. Yet, there has been a weak between legs and repeated misunderstandings regarding the No doubt about the plan— environmental movement cultural concept of ‘queuing’. Earth Day at the UN with heads response to this sad reality. I get Young men jump the queue, tempers flare, old ladies give of government in attendance was it. After 10 years of Harper, the reproving glances and kids gleefully avoid my simple intended to keep focus on movement is grateful to have a instruction of ‘Wait!’ I see real ethnic hostility—glaring eyes and climate and pull all governments new Liberal government that is flying fists. But unexpectedly, I have a six-and-half-foot back into the spotlight to report Elizabeth May in New York with former Danish environment in favour of climate action. Pakistani helper who throws out some rowdies. on their plans. Our only minister and former EU climate negotiator Connie For months, mainstream Hey, these young men are full of testosterone, many enforcement mechanism is Hedegaard (left), and Union of Concerned Scientists veteran media has been falsely reporting experiencing huge personal loss and suffering, only to find media exposure, global peer that Trudeau adopted that target climate campaginer Alden Myer. themselves cooped up with nothing to do. Under these pressure, and the risk of political in Paris. Internally, the circumstances, I too would be rowdy. embarrassment. bureaucracy is pressing the environment minister so hard that I am surrounded by yelling and a multitude of strange What Did it Achieve? even the Harper target will be hard to reach. swirling faces, from Somalian to Syrian. For several hours, I The April 22 signing ceremony event broke records for United The worrying line in Trudeau’s speech was that Canada ‘will sway and sweat between the two wavy lines, maybe exerting a Nations agreements. By opening the treaty for signature, with meet or exceed our target’. That sounds really good, but it is the calming effect. Maybe. pressure to get as many countries as possible to commit to it, first time the Prime Minister has associated himself at all with Where are those PhDs in human migration policy? Where the Paris Agreement is launched and appears headed for speedy the Harper target. To keep our commitment to avoiding 1.5ºC are the trauma counsellors? ratification. we need to make our target reflect doing our fair share in the I do admit to being angry immediately after this exhausting Contrary to a disturbingly large number of reports in world. And that one isn’t it. It cannot be ‘meet or exceed’. To exposure to chaos. But my wife Margaret and I talk our way to Canadian media, the treaty is legally binding. To enter into keep our promises in Paris, it can only be ‘exceed’—and by a lot. composure, taking deep breaths in the meagre shade of the force, countries must first sign and then ratify. The ratification In response to my questions in Environment Committee, prison wall. formula is the same as under Kyoto: 55 countries must sign and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine On leaving, I see workers whitewashing that same wall. Just ratify and their total emissions must be equal to 55 per cent of McKenna confirmed she will be recommending a new target to the right soothing metaphor, I thought, to match the camp current global GHG emissions. the Prime Minister after six months of consultations with the commander’s preparations for the Pope on his arrival the next The record of 175 nations signing an agreement on the first provinces and territories wrap-up. I understood her answer to day. day it was open for signatures was big. More significant were be six months from early March when those talks started; in The shores of Lesbos—much smaller than Vancouver Island the number of signing countries also tabling their articles of September. —received an unbelievable half million refugees this past year. ratification. The first up on ratification were, movingly, the low- The other news is that the government is now asking Wrecked rubber boats litter its beaches. My son Roan uses his Canadians for solutions and ideas. The website is open for your strong body to cut them up and carry them to disposal areas. comments until June. Let’s get busy. Sharpen pencils. Fire up In my village of Scala Sikamenaes, a Greek fisherman named your calculators. We cannot hit our targets if we expand the oil Stratis Valiamosis humbly rides by us on a bicycle. He is sands or build an LNG industry. And remember to point out to • docks • ramps / nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. How great is that? our new government that we can invest in developing countries gangways • anchoring Governments, including Canada, are failing to look after to reduce greenhouse gas at far lower costs per tonne than what BUY | RAISE | MOVE | LEVEL systems • floating these refugees adequately. But international volunteers are break waters • we can manage domestically. 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