Every Second Strait of Georgia Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at islandtides.com Uniting The Salish Sea ~ From Coast To Coast to Coast Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 21 Number 10 May 21-June 3, 2009 $1 at Selected Retailers Tide tables 2 New road 3 Letters 4 Election results 9 Bulletin board 11 Trust Council on Pender Island The Islands Trust Council will hold its next quarterly business meeting on June 17-19 at the Pender Islands Community Hall. The public meeting starts Wednesday, June 17 at 1pm and finishes by 11am on Friday, June 19. As usual, Trust Council invites members of the public to participate in a town hall session—a regular forum to Photo: Henny Schnare promote informal dialogue between A lone camper beats the rush at Salt Spring’s Ruckle Park. Islanders and trustees—starting at 12:30pm on Thursday, June 18. Persons or organizations wishing to reserve time to make a formal presentation to the Call for Citizens’ Assembly Bute Inlet power project to have federal Islands Trust Council at the beginning of the town hall session must make an on climate policy assessment appointment through the Executive Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice The Agency will make funding available to Committee (contact the Corporate Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC) is announced today that the proposed Bute Inlet assist First Nations and the public to participate Secretary). calling on the Liberals to take immediate steps to Hydroelectric Project located about 150km in the environmental assessment process. On Wednesday Trust Council will convene a citizens’ assembly on climate policy. ‘If we’re north of Powell River in British Columbia will Availability of participant funding will be hold a land use planning session. going to do our share to help cool the planet, we need undergo an environmental assessment by a announced in the coming weeks. Trustees will receive a presentation on to turn down the heat in BC politics,’ said VTACC federal review panel. The Minister’s decision of The Canadian Environmental Assessment community land use planning, followed spokesperson Kevin Washbrook. May 5, 2009, follows a request from the Agency administers the federal environmental by a review of work programs and ‘We’ve just spent a month locked in rancorous Minister of Fisheries and Oceans under the assessment process, which identifies the priorities with trustees and staff from debate over the first small step forward—the carbon Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. environmental effects of proposed projects and the Northern, Southern and Salt Spring tax—when we should have been discussing how we are The federal terms of reference to establish measures to address those effects, in support of planning teams. going to fundamentally transform our society to the review panel and the federal-provincial sustainable development. Thursday’s agenda will include: a reduce emissions and confront the climate crisis.’ guidelines for the preparation of the Bute Hydro Inc is proposing to construct the strategic planning session for Trust VTACC is calling on the government to convene an environmental impact statement are being Bute Inlet Hydroelectric Project. The proposed Council’s current term; a riparian area assembly modeled after the well-regarded Citizens' issued. The documents were finalized following project would consist of 17 run-of-river regulations update on a joint effort of Assembly on Electoral Reform. The group says a recent consultations with First Nations and the hydroelectric facilities in the vicinity of Bute the Islands Trust and the Ministry of representative selection of British Columbians should public. Inlet. Major components include 17 run-of- Environment to fulfill the requirements be given a year to hold public hearings across the The Panel’s terms of reference provide river generating facilities, a substation near the of the Riparian Area Regulation within province and call on testimony from a wide range of information on the scope of the environmental mouth of Southgate River, associated access the Islands Trust Area; the delegations experts, including climate scientists, energy assessment, on the process for conducting the roads and ancillary works, 216km of 230kV and town hall session; an introduction economists, fisheries and forests biologists, industry review, as well as further details on the collector transmission line and 227km of to the role of the Farm Industry Review representatives, and social justice and environmental timelines associated with the key steps of the 500kV trunk transmission line from the Board; information about the advocates. Any changes to climate policy—including panel review. proposed substation near the mouth of partnership of local, state, federal and cuts to the carbon tax—should be put on hold until The federal-provincial guidelines provide Southgate River to the existing 500kV tribal representatives who are working after the citizens’ assembly presents its direction to the proponent and identify the substation at Malaspina. recommendations. information that will be required in the Terms of reference, guidelines, and more TRUST COUNCIL, please turn to page 2 ASSEMBLY, please turn to page 2 environmental impact statement—the key information are available on the Canadian document which will outline the details of the Environmental Assessment Registry Internet project, its anticipated effects on the site at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca, reference number environment and the proposed measures to 09-03-44825. reduce these environmental effects. To obtain information on the review The federal environmental assessment process, or to register as an interested party and process will be coordinated to the extent be kept informed of the developments of the possible with the provincial process in order to environmental review, call 1-866-582-1884 or minimize duplication and increase efficiency visit [email protected]. 0 and effectiveness. Entry fee freeze for national parks Parks Canada has announced a two-year price-freeze on entry to national parks and national historic sites managed by Parks Canada. For individuals, the 2008 rates will stay in place until April 1, 2011. For the travel trade, the 2009 rates, now in effect, will be frozen until April 1, 2012. ‘We are helping to support time-honoured traditions such as the summer family camping trip and the student backpacking adventure,’ said Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. ‘This important economic decision will help make Canada’s best vacation destinations more affordable to Canadians, and will help make our parks more attractive worldwide.’ A just launched advertising campaign will invite Canadians to discover—and rediscover—their national parks and national historic sites, and encourage them to plan their vacations around the great Photo: Gary Moore facilities, services and exciting activities awaiting them throughout the country,’ said the Minister. Erythronium (fawn lily) greets spring sun at Dionisio Point, Galiano In this region, this would apply to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Gulf Islands National Park lsland (Valdes Island in the background). Reserve, Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites, Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site and Fort Langley National Historic Site. 0 is available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the ‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Ave Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza good reading, great coffee — it’s time to get SERIOUS! Campbell River—Island Highway near Larwood Rd Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, May 21, 2009 Elizabeth Constance Harker Tips for an eco-friendly summer (nee Calloway) anadians are taking to ‘One Million Acts of Green,’ open doors in the daytime to create a cooling current of air Betty Harker died April 30, 2009, at Mount Edwards Court already the CBC challenge has topped 1.6 million people through your house. Turn off lamps and other electrical heat Care Home, Victoria, BC. She was born on June 18, 1916 in C logging on to report their green moves. Here are a few sources, wear looser clothing, spend more time outside in the Vernon, BC. Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband more acts to keep you green, or greener, this summer. shade and near vegetation during the day and the evening. Wear Douglas and by her sister Rosemary and brother-in-law Niel 1. Walk or bike instead of driving a swimsuit and take a brief cold shower every couple of hours, Gow and nephew Michael. She is survived and much loved by her step-daughters Most of us get in a car without much thought. Now that the then allow yourself to air dry. If you live in a safe area, try Judith Brown, Jane Slater (and her husband Mark) and weather is pleasantly warm consider if you really need to drive as sleeping outside or on a porch—it’s delightful and much cooler. Gillian Shirreff; grandchildren Diana Pratt-Johnson (and her you reach for those keys? Will walking or riding a bike get you 3. Install a ceiling fan there? Not only will you save money, slow down, get fresh air, husband Brian), Ted Slater (and his wife Christine), Jennifer exercise, and a different point of view, you’ll cut down on car A ceiling fan can reduce your household’s energy consumption Slater, Malcolm Brown (and his wife Lisa), Sarah Forward emissions. by decreasing the use of an air conditioner—they can cool your (and her husband Barry) and Roger Brown (and his wife 2. Keeping cool without air house by a few degrees or more during summer months. Fans Renate); and great-grandchildren Lewis, Lucia, James, cost much less than air conditioners to run.