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Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 19 Number 2 January 25—February 7, 2007 50¢ at Selected Retailers Tide tables 2 Shadow profit 2 Saturna 3 Letters 4 Geoduck 5 Strip mining 6 40 questions 7 Bulletin board 7 Littoral 8 Next phase of Swartz Bay Photo: Janine Bandcroft terminal changes: A new view of Swartz Bay terminal. Clearing has begun for new toll booth area (see also story this page). rock blasting Commentary by Peter Carter Commentary on MV Quinsam Incident by Patrick Brown until March Status quo on climate If they’d tell us, we’d feel safer Crews are currently working at Swartz n Tuesday evening, January 7, vehicles resulted in only minor damage to the Sturdies Bay ferry terminal preparing the area change; nuke tar sands, were boarding the ferry MV Quinsam at Bay waiting room.) But ferry users have a right south of the existing toll booths to ONanaimo when the ferry, apparently to be a little worried. Given that safety has to be accommodate a new pre-ticket area and says Lunn without warning, left the dock. The driver of the the first priority in operating any ferry fleet, it new toll booths. Canadian environmentalists may have warmed to the Gabriola-bound truck on the boarding ramp would be reassuring if the ferry corporation As part of the preparation, there will new federal Environment Minister John Baird, who was able to escape, but his truck ended up in would talk about it a bit more. be drilling and blasting near the actually says he believes the climate is changing. I the water. The corporation’s silence has been noted by intersection of Lands End and Swartz would think that National Post journalist Andrew No explanation has been given for this none other than former premier Glen Clark, who Bay Roads. The drilling and blasting Coyne’s take is more accurate when he described Mr incident. The results of various investigations hasn’t said anything political (at least in public) activities will commence on Monday, Baird as ‘The man sent to kill the issue: Baird posting of the sinking of the Queen of the North off Gil for years. He felt moved to point out that when January 22 and are scheduled to is all about appearances.’ Island about a year ago have not been released. he was accountable for ferries, a similar incident continue until the end of March. For the record, Baird gave a rousing anti-Kyoto The results of former Auditor-General George at Departure Bay in which a minivan fell in the Blasting is expected to take place three to speech at a gathering put on by The Canadian Morfitt’s overall review of safety on BC Ferries water, and two people were killed, was four days per week and in some cases Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions. have not been released. BC Ferry Services Inc investigated within four weeks. more than once per day. BC Ferries has The coalition was a lobby group ‘who’s who’ of big has not replied to accusations made by its MLA Gary Coons, the official NDP Critic for former safety director that its safety culture was Ferries and Ports, has asked Transportation established approved ‘windows’ for Canadian greenhouse gas emitters like the Canadian not what it should be. And the acting auditor- Minister Kevin Falcon to provide some blasting and have scheduled them to Association of Oil Well Drilling Contractors, the general recommended in September that BC assurances that any recommendations Morfitt avoid peak traffic times in order to Canadian Petroleum Association, the Canadian Ferries be more open and accountable. makes will be acted on immediately. Coons is minimize delays to the travelling public. Association of Petroleum Producers, the Coal Considering the thousands of individual MLA for North Coast, and his constituents take a Association of Canada and the Cement Association of In accordance with standard safety voyages made by the ferries every year, any lot of ferry trips. He describes ferries, correctly, Canada. In 2002, the coalition ran a $225,000 a week procedures, vehicle traffic and individual’s chances of being involved in an as our ‘marine highways.’ advertising campaign to pressure the Chrétien pedestrians travelling into and out of the incident are small. (In twenty years of regular But back to the Quinsam and its Swartz Bay terminal area will be government not to sign on to Kyoto. ferry travel, I can only recall one incident where unexplained departure. A remarkably similar temporarily stopped while the blasting Judging from its media releases, that coalition Island Tides’ staff was on board an imminent incident occurred at the same Nanaimo procedures are underway. The delays to could also have written the Harper government’s shipwreck; that time the skill of the skipper of terminal on April 13, 2002, when the Bowen traffic and pedestrians are expected to ‘Made in Canada’ anti-Kyoto do-nothing climate ‘C’ Watch on the Queen of Nanaimo performed Queen, substituting for the Quinsam on the change plan. In a press statement April 7, 2006 Rona be no longer than fifteen minutes. a manoeuvre with amazing panache which BC FERRIES, please turn to page 2 A portion of the employee parking lot Ambrose, the previous environment minister, gave and two small buildings will be relocated notice that Canada’s contribution to the Kyoto to provide space for the reconfiguration Protocol would be to set its own ‘easier to meet’ ‘Right to Farm’ Hearing ~ Christa Grace-Warrick of the holding compound for traffic greenhouse gas emissions standards: ‘My A unusual hearing before a 3-member panel of dying over an increasingly large area bound for the Southern Gulf Islands. departmental officials and the department officials the British Columbia Farm Industry Review surrounding the garden. The East Exit Road, which is utilized by from Natural Resources have indicated that it is Board (FIBR) took place January 17 and 18 at An Intervention in the Complaint by a Southern Gulf Island customers when impossible, impossible for Canada to reach its Kyoto Poet’s Cove Resort at Bedwell Harbour on South second neighbouring landholder, Cheryl two ships are unloading simultaneously, target.’ Under new Minister Baird this non-plan Pender Island. The hearing was a milestone event Grunbock, stated in part: will also be realigned during this phase remains, as do the hatchet jobs to Environment in a 3-1⁄2 year farming dispute on North Pender. ‘runoff from Watt’s vineyard is flowing down of construction. Canada’s GHG control measures. In the winter of 2002, a steep wooded onto my property and dramatically affecting ‘This project will create It is interesting to see what the Honourable Gary hillside was clear-cut logged, destumped and the condition of a substantial number of my approximately 320 additional spaces Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources (and Saanich/ terraced to create a steep slope vineyard. At the trees on the better part of an acre of land. The inside the compound, which will greatly Gulf Islands’ MP), has on his mind at the moment. It bottom of the hill, where four properties met, maturing forest of forty to sixty-year-old reduce traffic backing up onto Highway is Alberta’s tar sands. But the tar sands mega-projects was a moist valley bottom with a tiny pond Douglas fir and western red cedar are 17 at peak times,’ said Manuel have a problem. There’s just not enough natural gas to which irrigated a small but very productive showing stress and are in noticeably poor Achadinha, BC Ferries’ vice president of keep melting the tar out of the sand. But have no fear: organic market garden which had been in condition. The needles are chlortic, the tops of operation for more than twenty years. Terminal Operations. i TAR SANDS, please turn to page 5 the trees are drooping and the canopies are In addition to deforesting and reshaping the thinning, showing excessive needle loss with hillside, in the spring of 2002, Keith Watt, the the trees closer to the site of the drainage field owner of Morning Bay Vineyard, also being the worst affected. The symptoms constructed a dugout pond (see photo exhibited by the affected Fir and Cedar are opposite) at the bottom of the slope directly characteristic of drowning trees which occurs adjacent to the Deverell property, operators of because of low oxygen levels endemic to a market garden. constant soil saturation. Reed Canary grass, a In a Complaint filed last October to the FIRB, species tolerant of poorly oxygenated, Tekla Deverell asserts ‘improper farm practices saturated soil, has begun to thrive along the engaged in by Mr Watt which have been path of the drainage.’ deleterious to my business of organic farming.’ Responding to the Complaint, Watt states Since 2002, Deverell’s garden has become gradually waterlogged and unproductive, which that he has done nothing which is not ‘normal she attributes to run-off from the clearcut hillside farm practice,’ which gives him protection and from overflow or leakage from the dug-out under the Right to Farm Act (the legislation Photo: Exhibit from Complainant’s binder through which the Farm Industry Review Excavation of hillside and pond for North Pender vineyard in 2002 (see article to the right). pond next door, and possibly the use of fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides. Cedar trees are also HEARING, please turn to page 3 Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Jan 25, 2007 Special Report by Patrick Brown Ferries’ permitted profit of 14% includes ‘shadow’ taxes C Ferry Commissioner Martin Crilly has announced that AT FULFORD HARBOUR the provincially owned private corporation, BC Ferry Fare-Setting BServices Inc, will be permitted to earn a 14% return on The setting of a return rate is the first step in a process that will JANUARY/FEBRUARY equity during Performance Term 2 (PT2), from April 1, 2008 to conclude with fares set for Performance Term 2 next fall. The Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. March 31, 2012. This rate of return includes an allowance for Coastal Ferries Act requires that the Commissioner must corporate income taxes, which the corporation does not have to publish his preliminary decision on fare caps by March 31, 2007, 0103 3.0 0.9 0542 11.5 3.5 23 0834 11.8 3.6 31 1040 9.8 3.0 pay. probably assuming the present level of provincial government TU 1503 6.2 1.9 WE 1341 10.5 3.2 The Commissioner is instructed by the Coastal Ferries Act contributions in the form of ‘service fees’ for the various routes, MA ME 1950 8.2 2.5 2149 1.3 0.4 to set the ‘pre-tax return on equity’ allowed for BC Ferry Services and current service levels. Following this, the provincial 0141 4.6 1.4 0614 11.5 3.5 Inc. He must consider the yield on 30-year federal government government and BC Ferries have three months to renegotiate 24 0857 11.8 3.6 01 1117 9.5 2.9 WE 1557 4.9 1.5 TH 1439 10.2 3.1 bonds, and to multiply that by a ‘risk premium’ typical of similar these service fees (by June 30, 2007) and then the Commission ME 2146 7.9 2.4 JE 2229 1.3 0.4 regulated businesses elsewhere. has a further three months to calculate and determine the 0221 6.2 1.9 0642 11.5 3.5 The Commissioner has reported that the calculation, which resultant fare caps, which will then be published as the 25 0920 11.5 3.5 02 1154 8.9 2.7 was carried out by the accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Commission’s final decision at the end of September, 2007. TH 1650 3.6 1.1 FR 1534 9.8 3.0 JE VE 2306 2.0 0.6 Coopers, presented certain difficulties: no figures were available No Public Input on the yield on 30-year bonds over the period 2008/12, and the 0004 8.2 2.5 0705 11.2 3.4 The Ferry Commissioner’s terms of reference are limited by the 26 0306 7.9 2.4 03 1232 8.5 2.6 ‘risk premium’ for comparable businesses ‘showed high Coastal Ferries Act to determining fare caps based on the FR 0945 11.5 3.5 SA 1627 9.5 2.9 variances;’ their similarity to BC Ferries was ‘open to question.’ VE 1742 2.6 0.8 SA 2339 2.3 0.7 financial needs of the ferry operators (currently only BC Ferry Nevertheless, the accountants’ best efforts estimated the Services Inc). He has emphasized that he is not required or 0223 9.2 2.8 0724 11.2 3.4 appropriate after-tax return at 9.4%. 27 0415 9.2 2.8 04 1311 7.9 2.4 authorized to consider the impact of increasing ferry fares on SA 1011 11.2 3.4 SU 1723 8.9 2.7 But BC Ferries Services Inc is a tax-exempt corporation under ferry users or their communities. Consequently, there is no SA 1834 2.0 0.6 DI Section 149 (1.3) of the Income Tax Act, by virtue of its 100% provision for public input in the fare-setting process. This 3.2 3.3 0338 10.5 0010 1.0 ownership by the provincial government. (Canadian tax law procedure ensures that fare-setting is a purely political decision. 28 0616 10.2 3.1 05 0741 11.2 3.4 generally accepts the principle that governments should not tax SU 1044 10.8 3.3 MO 1350 6.9 2.1 Current Fares Rise Is As Much as 50% DI 1926 1.6 0.5 LU 1824 8.5 2.6 each other.) Fares for the current Performance Term, which started with the 3.4 4.3 1.3 Some might assume that, if a corporation is not required to 0425 11.2 0040 ‘privatization’ of BC Ferries on April 1, 2003, have risen 2.8% 29 0836 10.5 3.2 06 0755 10.8 3.3 pay taxes, its pre-tax return would equal its after-tax return. MO 1132 10.5 3.2 TU 1429 6.2 1.9 However, the Commission decided that it should be entitled to a annually on the ‘major’ (Mainland to Victoria and Nanaimo) LU 2017 1.3 0.4 MA 1934 8.2 2.5 pre-tax return set as if it were required to pay corporate income routes, and 4.4% annually on all other routes. These fares were 11.5 3.5 1.7 0505 0108 5.6 tax, so it ‘grossed-up’ the permitted return to allow for this, and based on provincial contributions which were determined at 30 0955 10.2 3.1 07 0810 10.8 3.3 TU 1236 10.5 3.2 WE 1507 5.2 1.6 arrived at a ‘pre-tax’ 14%. (Comparable figures have not been the start. Since that time, rapidly increasing fuel costs have led MA 2105 1.0 0.3 ME 2100 7.9 2.4 made available for current years.) The permitted return is thus BC Ferries to apply for a number of ‘extraordinary’ increases, inflated to include ‘shadow’ taxes. which have been granted by the Commissioner. The result is Tides Tables Courtesy of Justification or Spin? that by March 31, 2008, fare levels will have risen over five Island Marine Construction According to the Commission’s own figures, each additional years by 25% on the major routes and nearly 50% on other Floats • Ramps • Moorings • Pile Driving percentage point of permitted return is equivalent to added routes (see Island Tides, June 29, 2006). Ph: 250-537-9710 Email: [email protected] revenues of $1.75 million per year, or an increase in fares of The Role of Subsidies www.islandmarine.ca 0.5%. Thus the decision to ‘gross-up’ the permitted return to Most Islanders regard BC Ferries as properly part of the allow for corporate taxes (which the company does not pay) highway system, where gasoline taxes cover 70% of the costs, costs ferry customers an additional 2.3% in fares. and general provincial revenue the rest. The ferry-financing Visit us at www.islandtides.com The Commission justifies this position as follows: ‘Behind the formula prior to ‘privatization’ recognized ferries as part of decision to gross-up the after-tax figure is the presumption that the highway system by allocating a fixed percentage of legislators (in establishing the governance framework) and the provincial gasoline taxes as a ferry system subsidy. government (in its application of tax policy) intended that the The current provincial government has refused to make Going Somewhere? benefit of BC Ferries’ non-taxable status should go first to the any contribution to fuel cost increases by way of increases in whittome’s travel company and not directly to ferry customers.’ ‘service fees’, with the result that the ferry fares (and other 60 Station Street, Duncan Why Not? revenue) now cover 84% of ferry costs, as calculated by an The reason is clearly that the Commission’s mandate is to ensure Islands Trust study (see Island Tides, November 16, 2006). the financial health of the company, and not to consider the The Islands Trust contrasted this with Translink, where fares public interest. According to the Commission, ‘BC Ferries was cover only 47% of costs, and BC Transit, where fares cover given the opportunity to comment on the methodology and only 37% of costs. findings throughout, via face-to-face meetings with BC Ferries management and in written submissions to the Commission.’ FERRIES PROFIT, please turn to page 7 Other opinions may have been sought, but are not mentioned. 1-800-434-0566 [email protected] BC FERRIES from page 1 Gabriola run, backed off the dock without warning. This incident simultaneously, these instances are comparatively infrequent.’ was the subject of a little-known Transportation Safety Board The TSB concluded that the printed circuit boards in the RAD JAKOBSEN report, released December 17, 2002. control system could be defective, and recommended a regular ASSOCIATES According to the report, the Bowen Queen ‘spontaneously’ replacement schedule for all components in the system. backed off the dock, and then immediately returned, over a time (It’s worth noting that when the Quinsam was first put into period of some 15 seconds. Vehicles were unloading at the time, service, it was referred to locally as the ‘Flying Flounder,’ but alert deck crews halted the operation; no vehicles were Custom designs for Homes, reflecting the difficulty that various helmsmen had in adapting to damaged, and there were no injuries. Renovations, Interiors, the new steering and propulsion systems. However, these RAD- The Bowen Queen, like the Quinsam and seven other ships in and Vacation Homes powered ferries are the workhorses of the inter-island fleet, and the BC Ferries fleet, is powered by four right-angle drive (RAD) have given years of reliable service.) units (like outboard drives), one at each corner. Each drive can So now we know. The ferry corporation is in the process of Keith Jakobsen www.jakobsenassociates.com rotate 360º, is individually powered by a diesel engine, and can 604.261.5619 [email protected] replacing the RADs on these ferries with improved and updated be individually controlled, but most of the time all are controlled units. And we hope that soon they will replace what looks like a by twin joysticks in the wheelhouse. culture of secrecy with one of openness and accountability. We’d When the vessel is in the dock, it is held there by running the all feel safer. engines forward at light throttle. The TSB report concluded that The Transportation Safety Board, as part of the investigation of two of the units (either forward or aft, since all these ferries are the Quinsam incident, suggested (BCFS ‘may wish to take double-ended) had rotated without being so commanded, thus measures’) on January 16 that all of the vessels equipped with RAD first moving the vessel sideways, then back, then sideways, then propulsion units be equipped with audio-visual alarms indicating forward again. when the position of the RAD units differs from that indicated by To quote the TSB report: ‘While the cause of the ferry moving away from the dock and then quickly back toward it again, was the bridge controls. No such recommendation had been made not determined, the automatic steering control system has been following the 2002 Bowen Queen incident. known to behave erratically on several occasions. Interviews BC Ferries made the TSB’s document public ‘consistent with with the crews of British Columbia Ferry Corporation (BC BC Ferries’ commitment to releasing Marine Safety Advisories. Ferries) vessels fitted with similar RADs and steering control ‘BC Ferries supports Transportation Safety Board’s view regarding systems, show that all nine vessels have a similar history. audio-visual alarms and has already made a commitment to install ‘It appears that these RADs will, suddenly and without such devices on the nine vessels in the fleet equipped with RAD warning, spontaneously rotate independently of the command units,’ said David Hahn, BC Ferries' president and CEO. ‘In light signal. Sometimes the RAD legs rotate through 360º and stop of of last week’s incident, BC Ferries is also reviewing tie-up their own accord, although most times they continue turning procedures and arrangements throughout the fleet.’ until the engine is shut down. There have been numerous In the meantime, BC Ferries says that their internal instances where one RAD leg has spontaneously rotated. While investigation into the Quinsam incident is ongoing, and the final it is not unknown for two RADs to spontaneously rotate report is anticipated next week. i ISLAND TIDES, Jan 25, 2007, Page 3 Saturna Notes ~ Priscilla Ewbank hile headlines from afar about our impacts of global warming on the Gulf Islands. PUBLISHER-IN-TRAINING local weather seem like overkill, What we can expect to see, Campbell predicted, W recent windstorms were exceptional. is more rain, dryer hotter summers and more Here’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for the right person to become a leader in an We have not yet cleared up the damage. With intense weather patterns. expanding publication. Island Tides regional newspaper is seeking a responsible, motivated these extreme weather events, Saturna is These changes are already apparent in person with wide experience in production, newspaper circulation, website management and learning a lot about the force of nature and self warmer ocean temperatures. While we don’t advertising. reliance. While predicted annual increases in spend a lot of time swimming in the warmer Us: Circulating throughout the Southern Strait of Georgia and 24/7 online, Island Tides provides temperature seem like tiny numbers on paper, coastal waters that surround us a lot of the in-depth coverage of local, regional and global topics, serious and lighthearted; together with high-visibility advertising. the actual repercussions as we live them are world’s creatures do. Warmer water means that much more of a wake-up. 2007 is predicted to be life cycles are severely and disastrously altered You: Must be a resourceful fast learner, self-starter, eager problem solver, interested in all aspects of publication. You will need excellent telephone, electronic media and people the hottest year ever and maybe we will become for many species in terms of eating and skills. galvanized to make changes on a personal and reproduction and bodily functions. Salmon, a Send your application to: President, Island Tides Publishing Ltd, Box 55, Pender Island, BC governmental level. spiritual and economic icon of the westcoast, are V0N 2M0, or email to: [email protected]. In your letter tell us, in 25 words or less, During these past two weeks the value of under great stress as their food cycles are what a publisher does. With your knowledge of publishing and by researching our business at felt-lined boots, snowpants, and parkas disturbed right down to the microplankton level. www.islandtides.com, be ready to respond to the skill-testing question: ‘What is Island Tides’ became apparent. Gumboots get cold fast and Campbell noted the spread of infectious current annual gross income?’ if the snow is deep enough a little rooster tail diseases, such as Lyme Disease and Hanta virus, action develops with each footfall that fills your would increase; as would pine beetle infestation Do you have a knack for business? Do you have ink in your veins? boots with snow—fast. of trees. Mitigation is urgent and still possible, Do you pay attention to details? Do you have a passionate work ethic? My eldest daughter, Genni, and her family notes Mr Campbell. Recommended reading is www.islandtides.com Do you enjoy the challenge of deadlines? Do you want to lead others? came down from Prince George to spend George Monbiot’s Heat (reviewed in Island Christmas and ended up having an extended Tides, November 16, 2006, available in online Happy 2007! stay as snow storms kept the highway home archives at www.islandtides,com). Don’t miss our updated 2006 photo album online at relatively non-functional. Living in Prince January’s cancelled climate change George has made Genni savvy about cold and presentation by BC Hydro will be rescheduled www.islandtides.com snow and how to outfit kids so that they can stay for March, says Susie. outside and have fun. Tobogganing and sledding Community Gathering down Haggis Hill became quite an Teacher Steve Dunsmuir and others are FUEL-EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE WOOD HEATING entertainment—funny that they would come interested in creating an ecological learning from Prince George and sled on the Gulf Islands! centre. They are looking forward to the Saturna Here on our very quiet Island, I find myself Community Gathering on March 3 and 4 to see if waiting for spring. Pruning and growing others are interested in working on this proposal plants—green growth—are big on my mind with them. That’s just one of the topics that may even though the sun skims the horizon, laced be posted at the two-day Community Gathering, through trees, leaving most of the sky which has the theme of ‘Living Together on unoccupied. I remember though, each day is Saturna: Issues and Opportunities.’ Serving the Gulf Islands & Greater Victoria illuminated for a little longer. The weekend will be organized around For over 25 Years Climate Change Talk Series ‘Open Space Technology’ principles: an Susie Washington Smyth started this series efficient and fluid way to organize a with a showing of the movie An Inconvenient brainstorming meeting of this sort. For Sales / Installations Truth and its update. After the film, guest independent types, like us, the latitude to speaker Colin Campbell of the Sierra Club convene, de-convene and reconvene Ark Solar Products Ltd. discussed with the 50 attendees the potential SATURNA, please turn to page 5 #6 – 1950 Government Street, Victoria, BC HEARING from page 1 Phone: (250) 386-7643 Board operates). The FIRB, however takes into For the sake of time management, counsel account: proximity and impacts on neighbours, for the Complainant, Bill Deverell, said that he neighbours’ land use, as well as types of would be satisfied not to call his lay witnesses, LAND ACT: LAND ACT: LAND ACT: NOTICE OF INTENTION NOTICE OF INTENTION NOTICE OF INTENTION farming in the area. It has stated, ‘What is a leaving their written evidence to stand. Watt, TO APPLY FOR A normal farm practice in some circumstances however, insisted that they be called for cross- TO APPLY FOR A TO APPLY FOR A DISPOSITION OF may not necessarily be ‘proper and accepted’ examination. His rapid-fire cross-examination DISPOSITION OF DISPOSITION OF CROWN LAND when conducted in some other circumstance.’ of the FIRB’s own knowledgeable witness David CROWN LAND CROWN LAND Take notice that Danny Albert Expert witness Derek Masselink testified at Tattam, and three expert and four lay witnesses Take notice that Robert James Gant and Janette Pearl Gant of Take notice that James Robert Mayne Island, B.C., intends to the hearing that the creation of a steep-slope concentrated on their relationships to the Wood and Eileen Margaret Wood Grossman of Salt Spring Island, of B.C., intend to make make application to the Integrated vineyard over a short period in the Gulf Islands Deverells, himself, the vineyard, and the B.C., intends to make application application to the Integrated Land Land Management Bureau (ILMB), climate was not a usual venture. He said that. reliability of their statements and opinions. to the Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB), Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Coast Region office for a 10-year for example, steep-slope vineyards in Italy had In her written submission to the panel, lay Management Bureau (ILMB), Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Agriculture and lease for Residential-Private been created with hand tools over many witness Ellen Willingham concluded: Lands, Coast Region office for a Lands, Coast Region office for a 10-year lease for Residential- Moorage situated on Provincial hundreds of years as subsistence farming and ‘This has, understandably, resulted in her 10-year lease for Residential- Private Moorage situated on Crown Land located in the vicinity of Horton Bay, Mayne Island. that steep-slope vineyards in the Gulf Islands (Deverell’s) withdrawal from agricultural Private Moorage situated on Provincial Crown Land located in The Lands File Number that Provincial Crown Land located the vicinity of Long Harbour, Salt was not necessarily practicable given the outset activities in the wider community, and has been established for this in the vicinity of Welbury Bay. Spring Island, B.C. costs and methods necessary for upkeep. brought an end to a unique way of living in The Lands File Number that application is File #1412916. At the beginning of the hearing, a second partnership with nature, and of serving other The Lands File Number that Written comments concerning this has been established for this has been established for this application is File #1412906. application should be directed to Intervention concerning chemical use at the islanders. application is File #1413890. Written comments concerning this the Section Head, Integrated Land vineyard was filed by 19 neighbourhood I am submitting this in the hope that the Written comments concerning application should be directed to Management Bureau at #142-2080 residents. Spokesperson Terry Chantler reviewers will understand that Tekla Deverell this application should be the Section Head, Integrated Land Labieux Rd., Nanaimo, B.C., V9T stressed that ‘what may be ‘normal,’ proper or has devoted a quarter of a century to building directed to the Section Head, Management Bureau at #142-2080 6J9. Comments will be received by accepted [farm practice] in some areas must be on her agricultural roots and to promoting a Integrated Land Management Labieux Rd., Nanaimo, B.C., V9T ILMB until February 27, 2007. Bureau at #142-2080 Labieux Rd., ILMB may not be able to consider more stringently assessed in the biologically vision of progressive horticultural excellence; 6J9. Comments will be received by Nanaimo, B.C., V9T 6J9. ILMB until February 4, 2007. comments received after this date. highly sensitive Southern Gulf Islands.’ and that she and her husband are now Comments will be received by ILMB may not be able to consider Please visit our website at: Although, as panel chair Christine Elsaesser suffering the outcome of activities and ILMB until March 2, 2007. ILMB comments received after this date. http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/clad/ index.html under Tenure may not be able to consider Please visit our website at: pointed out, the main nature of the complaint is pressures which cross the boundaries of Overview and Program physical water management, insight into the natural justice. The personal impact of this comments received after this http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/clad/ index.html under Tenure Information for more information. possible nature of chemical contamination was calamity can only be imagined.’ date. Please visit our website at: Be advised that any response http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/clad/ Overview and Program given by expert witness Jim Henderson. At the conclusion of Deverell’s almost two Information for more to this advertisement will be index.html under Tenure considered part of the public Henderson explained factors of run-off and hours of testimony, several people in Poets Overview and Program information. Be advised that any response record. For information contact the Information for more perched aquifers on such a deforested slope and Cove’s Seagrass Ballroom were in tears, to this advertisement will be Freedom of Information Advisor added the information that one of the two faults including the Complainant herself. information. considered part of the public at Integrated Land Management on North Pender, the Allison Fault, runs through Be advised that any response record. For information contact Bureau's regional office. Hearing Not Completed to this advertisement will be the area giving run-off greater access to the the Freedom of Information Mr Watt had filed an additional report two days considered part of the public Advisor at Integrated Land underlying deep aquifer which supplies before the hearing and needed to call off-island record. For information contact Management Bureau's regional HORTON BAY surrounding areas. Additionally, expert witness witnesses. And, due to the amount of evidence, the Freedom of Information office. Nori Pope testified that he has observed and felt Advisor at Integrated Land it rapidly became clear that the material could LONG HARBOUR spray drift when he was present on the Deverell Management Bureau's regional not be covered in the two days allocated to the office. SALT SPRING ISLAND property and viewing vineyard spray operations. hearing. In fact, at the end of the second day, Despite the fact that all witnesses had witness testimony for the Complainant has just submitted written statements to the panel, at the been completed, but cross-examination of beginning of the hearing Watt requested that no Tekla Deverell is still to come. Mr Watt’s witnesses be permitted to be in the room until detailed Response to the Complaint, including they had given evidence and been cross- testimony of his witnesses and cross- examined. Though unusual, the panel chair examination by counsel Bill Deverell will be WELBURY BAY allowed exclusion of the lay witnesses but not addressed in an extension of the Hearing at a exclusion of the expert witnesses. date which has yet to be set. i

NANAIMO (Departure Bay) More daily flights home from the Mainland • Eight scheduled flights daily • Newest and fastest Seaplane fleet in Canada For scheduled flight info call VANCOUVER • Departure from Seair Terminal at INT’L AIRPORT Vancouver Int’l Airport 1-800-447-3247 • Free Parking and Free shuttle to Main Terminal • Frequent flyer discounts or visit our website at SEAPLANES • Charter flights available to other destinations seairseaplanes.com Our Islands. Our World. Page 4, ISLAND TIDES, Jan 25, 2007 Editorial

s most readers are probably aware, we are now monopoly on transportation for three-quarters-of-a-million embarked on the year-long process, described in the people on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the North Coast, A Coastal Ferries Act, which will set the fare levels for BC and the Sunshine Coast. There is no provision for public input, Ferries for the four years starting April 1, 2008. This process, public hearings, submissions, representations, discussions, 14,500 copies this issue managed by the Ferries Commissioner, Martin Crilly, focuses on debates, or alternative proposals. There is no consideration of Every Second Thursday ensuring the financial health of ferry operators. the effects on communities and individuals. Despite several efforts to interest other corporations in The Coastal Ferry Act structure, with its convoluted operating ferry runs, no agreements have been signed. BC Ferry procedures, was set up ostensibly to put the ferries at arms SALISH SEA’S ONLY FREE & Services Inc (BCFS), owned 100% by the provincial length from the government. It was claimed at the time that this government, is still the lone operator of major routes, northern MAIL DELIVERY NEWSPAPER would eliminate ‘political interference’ in the ferries. It did routes, and ‘other’ routes. On most of these routes, it has an manage to get the ferries’ debt (apparently) off the government’s effective monopoly. books, but at considerable cost. 8,500 copies delivered to BCFS is nominally a private company, with no equity Southern Islands’ households financing other than the original provincial government But the government is still completely responsible. It owns investment, and the retained earnings it generates. In order to the corporation, and is also responsible to ensure reliable, safe, update the fleet after years of neglect, it expects to borrow a total affordable transportation for millions of residents and visitors. of $1.3 billion by 2009. This type of debt/equity ratio requires It cannot escape that responsibility. But it will try. It’s up to assurance of a healthy and reliable revenue stream, and that is all the citizens of this province to hold the government fully and what the Commission process is intended to ensure. completely accountable. With all due respect to the Ferry The process, however, makes absolutely no allowance for Commissioner, he’s just there to protect the nether regions of our provincial politicians. i 6,000 copies on the Ferry Routes, consideration of anything else. This despite the corporation’s in Sidney,Victoria & north of the Readers’ Letters Malahat to Nanaimo & Horseshoe Bay 4064 Investments at Work in No, the referral to members of this kinder, gentler, most www.islandtides.com desirable community in all of the Gulf Islands should henceforth Kootenays Too be the following appendage: ‘Penderlings’. ISLAND TIDES PUBLISHING Ltd Dear Editor: It was heartening to read your article on the recent legal victory This name will almost certainly evoke visions of an earlier, Box 55, Pender Island, BC, V0N 2M0 of the Denman Conservancy over the rapacious 4064 more desirable sensibility. Of a kinder, gentler people who, when Owner, Publisher & Editor: Christa Grace-Warrick Investments (and Mike Jenks). confronted with an issue, always do the right thing. Souls, who, realizing that we live in a privileged society on a vortex island Contributors: David Boyd, Priscilla Ewbank Here in the Kootenays we too have been the victim of Jenks’ without equal setting, will come to the assistance of those Patrick Brown, Peter Carter, Trysh Ashby-Rolls, activities in the tiny community of Rosebery. Thanks to Mr requiring it without any thought of recompense. Susie Washington Smyth, Janine Bandcroft Jenks we now have a huge bald patch on the side of a mountain directly above the highway. As I understand it, the former owner The name rolls off the tongue easily, without any of the Tel: 250-629-3660 • Fax: 629-3838 of the property sold it to Jenks on the understanding that it not negative connotations of our present designation, while imbuing Email:[email protected] & [email protected] be logged, an agreement he promptly broke. The logging a pleasant aftertaste. Deadline: Wednesday between Publications decimated a micro-ecosystem which was a legendary mushroom Jimmy MacDonald, Proud ‘Penderling,’ Pender Island Ed’s Note: Thanks so much for this great suggestion! I have Off-Island Canadian Subscriptions $42.80 picking patch, as well as providing necessary groundcover to keep a steep slope in place during the heavy spring runoff. For many times had a shudder of dislike if pressed to use Voluntary Mail & Box Pick-up Subscriptions $26.50 decades, the mushrooms had been a source of seasonal income Saturnaite, Galianoite, Penderite, Gabriolaite. Salt Springers US Subscriptions $60.00 for locals. Now it has been virtually strip-mined to sell off its seem to have a better alternative, and Saturnalians comes to Free online in PDF format gravel and become the site of a future housing development. So mind right away as one alternative. Might the inhabitants of yet again, a private businessman gets to profit by ‘rape and run’ Cortez be called Cortesians? Other alternatives might be: www.islandtides.com practices, adding no long-term employment to the region, and Mayne (Mayniacs), Denman (Denmanians), Bowen leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab should the slope destabilize (Bowensians), Lasquetians, Thetonians, Gambians, and come down on the highway. This ‘profit at all costs’ model Hornbonians, Quadratics … we leave it to you, dear readers, to must be stopped, and it was a rare bit of good news to see the send in more suggestions. Butler Gravel & courts rule in favour of sanity and conservation, for once. Too Sorry about the many serious and sometimes grim topics, Concrete…Better bad we can’t follow Jenks’ path of destruction across the Jim. It does seem to be a problematic world but we find most of our readers do not want to bury their heads in the sand; and, from the ground up! province with litigation. A better definition of ‘eco-terrorism’ I have yet to see. after all, the rôle of a newspaper is to bring forward issues and Reliable Service, Quality Products The Island Tides is apparently one of only three independent debate through current events. & Competitive Prices newspapers left in BC, and it shows in the quality of the Looking on the brighter side, ‘Saturna Notes’ keeps in mind reportage. Patrick Brown’s article on TILMA confirms my own the kinds of things that are precious about any Island’s culture. Serving All The Gulf Islands research into that pernicious agreement. It was refreshing to see Our photos reaffirm the coastal landscapes which holds our Phone 250-652-4484 such a well-written, in-depth story on a subject that has been hearts; we also print as much as we can of what people do to deliberately ignored by big media. I commend you for your fix the world’s problems and inspire us. And of course, our Fax 250-652-4486 integrity and, as the song goes, ‘long may you run...’ advertisers tell you about many interesting opportunities. 6700 Butler Crescent, Saanichton, B.C. Art Joyce, New Denver, BC Ferry Fares Must Stop Rising Rapidly Not ‘Penderites’ but ‘Penderlings’ Editors’ Note: This letter was send to Kevin Falcon, Minister of Dear Editor: Transportation and on to ‘Island Tides’ for publication. Throughout the past year your issues have overwhelmed us with Dear Kevin: an unrelenting barrage of controversial items relating to I have lived on Saturna Island since November 2003. In that property rezoning, global warming, globalization, right-wing time the cost of travelling to Vancouver Island or the Mainland government shortcomings, etc, etc. The following suggestion has increased almost 24%. Projections are for higher increases in might lighten up your letters section with a change of pace. the next two years. This trend is already hurting my community It is uncertain how the nomenclature ‘Penderites’ evolved to as a whole and me personally. distinguish residents of North and South Pender Islands. It is my I urge you to reconsider the user pay approach to what is contention that this is a nasty, harsh sounding designation, called a non-major ferry route. If you live here, a ferry trip is the which conjures up visions of the Big Smoke (Vancouverites) or only way to get to other parts of the province. To get to tribes or sects hastily fleeing in Biblical times, and even more Vancouver Island for medical, banking, and other essential recently: Hittites, Israelites, Hutterites, Mennonites. Possibly services not available on this small island, I need to take a ferry. one might think that the name relates to mineral ores such as The user pay policy is grossly unfair to small island scheelite or chalcopyrite, and they would be mistaken. communities—not only to private citizens with low or fixed incomes like myself, but also to commercial businesses who are providing services to residents and tourists. Your government has given us no help with the fuel surcharges, which raised our ferry fares by 18.6% this year! Now both residents and tourists are Saving the world reevaluating whether they can afford to live and/or visit here. People who live in isolated communities in the rest of the one investment province are not forced to pay extra for the use of the highways at a time LETTERS, please turn to facing page


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Home and Away: More Tales of a Heritage Farm LANCE VAESEN ROOFING here is gentleness to Anny Scoones’ writing that makes her perspective from afar on the importance of a place to return to 1184 SUMMIT AVE, VICTORIA books a delight to read. Her first book, Home: Tales of a that is truly home. T Heritage Farm, introduced us to historic Anny writes candidly and colourfully about real STANDING SEAM METAL ROOFING Glamorgan Farm that she bought following a things, about visits from her family, about divorce. It seemed a good place to make a home restoring the historic structures of her farm; about FO R WATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS for all the wonderful old and sick dogs, cats and riding her Russian woolly horse; raising rare ALSO TORCH-ON MEMBRANE, SHAKE & SHINGLE other animals Scoones collected from the SPCA Gloucester Old Spot pigs; about simple pleasures and elsewhere. The North Saanich property is such as arranging fruit in a bowl, hearing owls in 250-381-2157 CELL 250-361-5028 one of the original homesteads on Vancouver the woods at dusk, collecting eggs from her many FAX 250-383-2198 breeds of hens. Some of her stories are sad, others Island, dating back to 1870. Serving the Gulf Islands for 21 Years In her new book, she tells more stories about humorous, yet all tell the truth about living, the joys and sorrows, excitement and mishaps, observing and creating—at home and away. of her farmstead life. This time, however, she Anny Scoones is giving a reading following a takes us further afield as we travel with her to Pender Island Conservancy potluck at Hope Bay other parts of Canada, to New York and Bible Camp on February 2, 5:30pm. Members, overseas to Malaysia and Belarus. The reader friends and those interested in the conservancy becomes a pocket-traveller, privy to the are invited to participate. GULF ISLAND WATER TREATMENT SOLUTIONS author’s up-close and personal observations—seeing what she Anny Scoones, ‘Home and Away: More Tales of a Heritage sees, experiencing what she experiences while away, yet also her Farm,’ 2007, TouchWood Editions, $19.95. i Well Water • Rain Water • Surface Water • BioSand Filters TAR SANDS from page 1 SATURNA from page 3 Minister Lunn has the solution. impromptu sessions on any topic, attending whichever sessions • Reverse Osmosis The Globe and Mail business section this month covered the we please, will be great fun. • Trojan Ultraviolet Systems There is no charge for the event, thanks to a grant-in-aid ‘nuclear options in the tar sands’ and reported that in December, • Whole-House Filters Minister Gary Lunn said nuclear power in the oil sands is a from the CRD but attendees must register to attend the matter of ‘when, not if’, adding that it could ‘play a very complete forum. You can sign up on the inside bulletin board at REMOVE: significant role … I’m very, very keen.’ Which sounds like the Upper Store. Take a look at the expanding list and you’ll Iron / Odour / Bacteria / Hardness / Arsenic know who is coming! Minister Lunn wants as much oil flowing from the tar sands as 320 Mary Street, Victoria (250) 383-4558 possible, come global warming, climate change, Hell, and/or And on that subject, organizers Bev Neff and Judith Rees- Thomas are delighted that the Tsawout First Nation has accepted high water. www.watertiger.net an invitation to attend the Community Gathering. The Tsawout Under Minister Lunn the tar sands are destined to be Canada’s A Division of Pro Star Mechanical Technologies Ltd have always known Saturna as part of their traditional lands and greatest contribution to GHGs. Future generations will be left to (with the Tseycum First Nation) have 350 acres on the Island. cope with more nuclear waste as well as climate catastrophe. Chief Allan Claxton, Gwen Underwood (member of the Band What a crazy combination! Not Lunn and Baird, of course— ONE LEASE SPACE AT HOPE BAY Council), Lou Claxton (member of the Band Council) and Dan ONE LEASE SPACE AT HOPE BAY but nuclear power and tar sands. i Claxton (Fisheries and Environment) will be participating. Oceanfront On Saturna we often don’t have a chance to do anything LETTERS from previous page other than respond or react to problems and crises as they arise. professional space that access their communities. In the Gulf Islands, our ferries are Yet, as a community, it is essential to take time together to on Pender Island. our highways. They should be subsidized the same way as other consider the values we share—in spite of our differences—and essential public transportation networks and infrastructure in the issues and opportunities inherent in living here on our BC. As well, the Coastal Ferry Act needs to be changed to island home. On March 3 and 4, we will do just that. All Saturna eliminate the two-tiered fare system, so that the whole system is residents, full- and part-time, are welcome. i treated as one. The Islands Trust has given the government a well-considered position paper on the Coastal Ferry Act. I urge Call for info on our reasonable rates: you to implement those changes. SPONSOR A "PAYPHONE LADY" 250.629.6490 or email [email protected] Residents and businesses in ferry dependent communities • Empower women in East Africa contribute to all forms of essential public transportation to start their own micro-businesses infrastructure through gas taxes, sales taxes, rural provincial selling cell phone airtime to Why wait? Build green now! property taxes, income taxes and regional district transit levies. the public. CANADIAN WOODEN DOMES We reasonably expect the provincial government to support our • Your donation of C$97.72 sponsors transportation needs as it supports public transportation needs a woman with a mobile phone, a Visit Our domes are ideal for healthy throughout the province. sim card, airtime, promotional www.globaltext.ca materials and training on how to homes, inspiring studios, yoga centres The Gulf Islands are part of BC—a wonderful part. The ferry and tourist or recreational lodges. system must be fair so that Island communities can survive and Tel: 1-250-592-5376 run her phone business. continue to welcome our many visitors. Toll Free: 1-866-592-3627 • Tax receipt available upon request. Beverly Neff, Saturna Island i • Eco-friendly & Energy Efficient IS YOUR • Unique, versatile & aesthetically WELL WATER pleasing SAFE TO DRINK? Call Us Toll Free for Quotes on: • Earthquake & Contamination can occur • Homeowners • Farm Hurricane without changes in colour or Resistant taste. Be safe, test annually. • Commercial • Bed & Breakfasts Salt Spring Island: #1103-115 Fulford-Ganges Road • Simple & Quick Doug Guedes • 1-250-537-5527 to Erect 250-656-1334 Sidney: A2 - 9769 Fifth Street • Cost Effective Jason McCutcheon • 1-866-656-9886 • (656-9886) Brentwood Bay: 7178 W. Saanich Rd For information:1-877-982-3322 Doug Strong • 1-877-655-1141 • (652-1141) www.canadianwoodendomes.ca Anchor Insurance Agencies Ltd. fax: 250-656-0443 Website: www.mblabs.com Saanichton: #2-7855 East Saanich Road VISIT A FINISHED LODGE AT: Email: [email protected] Dan Olive • 1-800-663-0807 WWW.DomeQuixote.COM 2062 Unit 4 Henry Ave. West, Sidney, B.C. V8L 5Y1 www.seafirstinsurance.com autoplan Page 6, ISLAND TIDES, Jan 25, 2007 Get those bills down, help the planet ~ Susie Washington Smyth onserving energy at home is an easy step which can help you do it more than once a month you use more energy than you Water efficient advantage to reverse the impacts of climate change and has the will save. Realtors in the Denver, Colorado area are considering the C added value of saving you money. Things that families do • And, remember what your mother said, ‘keep the oven door development a certification program that would identify homes have a positive effect on the future of our planet. closed.’ A heated oven loses 20% of its heat every time it is opened. for sale (existing, not new construction) that meet water- Here are a few ideas to implement in your home which come • Keep your fireplace or wood burning airtight heater clean. efficiency standards. They are thinking of including strategies from Natural Resources Canada, BC Hydro and An- Burn dry hard wood. Wet wood and soft woods like pine may such as low-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, Inconvenient-Truth.com. snap, crackle and pop but they produce more smoke and as a inspection of irrigation systems for leaks, and xeriscpaping as REFRIGERATORS: result make more emissions. part of the certification. They believe certification would provide • Clear stuff from the top of your fridge. Storing stuff there • You can save 3% per day on your heating bill for every 1°F a marketing advantage to the seller and an educational makes it use more energy. that you lower the thermostat. At night, for example, if you lower opportunity for the buyer. i • Keep it full. It uses less energy to cool a full refrigerator. your thermostat from 70° to 65° at night you can save • Clean the condenser coils once a year. Dust reduces the approximately 5¢ for every heating dollar. For those who heat • harvesting refrigerator’s efficiency. with propane you reduce emissions now. For those of us who use DISHWASHERS: Hydro, reducing demand is an important alternative to Hydro's systems • Using a dishwasher actually uses less energy (and water) plan to build new coal-fired power plants. • design than washing by hand with hot water if you don’t rinse your • You can save between 8–10% of your energy costs by • installation dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. insulating the floor over unheated spaces such as crawlspaces, • Only run your dishwasher when it is completely full and use basements or garages. We did this in our home 8 years ago and • service the economy cycle. it increased the heat retention on our main floor and reduced our BOB BURGESS MICROWAVE: Hydro bills. • Microwaves use 75% less energy than conventional ovens. LIGHT BULBS tel. 250-246-2155 Use one to heat small portions and leftovers. • Replace incandescent light bulbs (and fixtures where [email protected] STOVE AND OVEN: necessary) with compact fluorescents. These light bulbs cost • Place a lid on boiling water to save energy and time, or use more but in the end they are a good deal. They use two-thirds www.rainwaterconnection.com a kettle to heat water, this uses even less energy. less energy and can last up to ten times longer than regular light • Self cleaning ovens have more insulation than other ovens bulbs. They are extremely efficient for high use areas (i.e. outside so they are more energy porch lights) or hard-to-reach fixtures. The newer versions of SHORELINE DESIGN efficient. Use the self cleaning these energy efficient bulbs look like the regular bulbs, have a function sparingly, because if www.shorelinedesign.ca We offer SAVE ENERGY, please turn to facing page visitors a Residents pack meetings on Flathead Valley Hundreds of residents packed public meetings section of hundreds of community members better deal! in BC’s southeast Kootenay, as well as one just expressing such a wide range of concerns about across the border in Kalispell, Montana, in this mine,’ said Casey Brennan, speaking for Our quality accommodation includes: order to express concerns about a proposed ‘Wildsight,’ a local NGO. ‘People are not only strip mine in a remote BC wilderness. worried about the impact a massive coal mine indoor pool, sauna, The BC meetings, held in Elko, Sparwood will have on water quality and wildlife habitat, free parking, in-room coffee, and Fernie, were staged by the provincial but also on quality of life and public safety.’ a convenient location Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) for The public comment period for the Draft and a warm welcome. residents to comment on a plan to strip Terms of Reference, a document that will guide Stay with us. 40,000,000 tonnes of coal from the Flathead which environmental impacts will be studied Valley. prior to a decision on the strip mine’s fate, is open Located approximately 30km south of until February 1. People can submit comments $ * Fernie, the valley is home to North America’s through the BC Environmental Assessment 3945 largest inland population of grizzly bears and Office’s website at www.eao.gov.bc.ca or by going from the pristine Flathead River. to their local library. • fully insured Despite the traditional support of mining ‘It was confirmed by EAO staff at the • excellent 3110 DOUGLAS ST. VICTORIA, BC V8Z 3K4 from the area’s communities, people from all meetings that the ultimate decision on this across from Mayfair Shopping Centre, references sectors of the population have expressed their mine will be political so we encourage anyone Peter Christenson 250-629-8386 1-800-997-6797 wish to keep mining away from this unique with concerns to let the government know, www.blueridgeinn.ca specializing in water access wilderness, considered to be one of the most through this process, and by speaking to their * Single occupancy. Subject to availability. Valid to March 31, 2007. over steep & rugged terrain * Single occupancy. Subject to availability. Valid to March 31, 2003 biologically important places on earth. local elected representatives directly,’ ‘It was very encouraging to see a broad cross commented Brennan. i NOTICE TO ELECTORS WITHIN THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT ELECTOR APPROVAL PROCESS FOR CRD BYLAW NO. 3551 - AMENDMENT TO SOURCE CONTROL LOCAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT BYLAW NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Capital Regional District citizen, have resided in British Columbia for 6 months and in the CRD for at least 30 days ("CRD") proposes to adopt Bylaw No. 3351, "Source Control Local Service Establishment prior to signing the elector response form. Bylaw No. 1, 1996, Amendment Bylaw No. 2, 2006" for the purpose of ensuring that there Non-Resident Property Elector: is fair cost apportionment for the services of the Regional Source Control program (RSCP) throughout the CRD. You may submit an elector response form as a Non-Resident Property Elector if you are 18 years or older on the date of submission of the elector response form, are a Canadian TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the CRD may proceed with Bylaw No. 3351, which citizen, have resided in British Columbia for 6 months, have owned and held registered amends Bylaw No. 2402, to include sewage flows from privately operated sewers or other title to property in the CRD for 30 days and do NOT qualify as a Resident Elector. If facilities that have connections to CRD sewage facilities in the apportionment of RSCP there is more than one registered owner of the property (either as joint tenants or tenants costs to each municipal participating area, unless at least 26,555 electors within the CRD in common) only one individual may, with the written consent of the majority, submit an indicate by signing the elector response forms, that the Board must obtain the assent of elector response form. the electors by way of referendum before proceeding to adopt Bylaw No. 3351. To obtain an elector response form, or for further information, please contact CRD Administration Department, P. O. Box 1000, 625 Fisgard Street, 5th Floor, Victoria, The elector response form must be in the form as established by the CRD and forms are B.C. V8W 2S6 or by telephone at (250)360-3129 from 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Monday to available from the CRD on request. The only persons entitled to sign elector response forms Friday, excluding public holidays. are electors of the area to which the alternative approval process opportunity applies. The alternative approval process opportunity applies within all municipalities and electoral areas of A copy of the elector response form may be downloaded from: the CRD, including Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, http://www.crd.bc.ca/election/ North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria and View Royal and the Electoral Elector response forms may also be obtained at the following CRD offices: Areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Islands. • Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Planning Services Department, #2 - 6868 West Coast Road, Sooke, BC V0S 1N0 (Mon. - Fri., 8:30 am-4:30 pm) The deadline for delivering the original signed elector response forms, in relation • Building Inspection Office, #206-118 Fulford-Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, BC to Bylaw No. 3351, to the CRD is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the 26th day of February, V8K 2S4 (Mon.- Fri., 8:30-10:00 am, 10:30 am-Noon, 1:00-4:30 pm) 2007. Forms must be received by the deadline to be counted. • Building Inspection Office, 4605 Bedwell Harbour Road (Driftwood Centre), Pender Island, BC, V0N 2M0 (Mon., Wed., Fri., 8:30 am-Noon; 1:00-4:30 pm) The CRD has estimated that the total number of electors within the Capital Regional District is 265,553 and that 10% of that number or 26,555 electors must submit elector response forms to prevent the CRD from enacting Bylaw No. 3351 without A copy of Bylaw No. 3351 and a copy of this Notice may be inspected during regular office the assent of the electors by referendum. hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from the date of this notice until the 26th day of February, 2007 at the following locations: Further technical information concerning Bylaw No. 3351, or the RSCP may be obtained • public notice board in the lobby of CRD headquarters @ 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, from Mr. Trevor Smyth, CRD Offices, 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2S6 BC; (Telephone 360-3082) during regular office hours Monday to Friday (excluding public • Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Planning Services Department, Salt Spring Island holidays) from the date of this notice until the 26th day of February, 2007. Information on Building Inspection Office and Pender Island Building Inspection Office (at the the RSCP is also available at: addresses and during the hours listed above); and http://www.crd.bc.ca/es/environmental_programs/source_control/index.htm • on the CRD website: for Bylaw 3351: http://www.crd.bc.ca/bylaws/bylawssubjectto_1/ QUALIFICATIONS FOR RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT for this Notice: http://www.crd.bc.ca/election/ PROPERTY ELECTORS Given under my hand at Victoria, B.C. this 10th day of January, 2007. Carmen Thiel Resident Elector: You are entitled to submit an elector response form as a Resident Elector if you are 18 Corporate Secretary years or older on the date of submission of the elector response form, are a Canadian Capital Regional District This notice is being published in this newspaper as a convenience only and not in accordance with the legal requirements pursuant to the Community Charter and Local Government Act. Commentary by David Boyd ISLAND TIDES, Jan 25, 2007, Page 7 Forty Questions About Canada’s Environmental Record anada’s new Environment Minister John Baird has his Why are mining companies being allowed to use beautiful eliminate harmful lead exposure? work cut out for him, and not just in terms of repairing the Canadian lakes as tailing ponds for their toxic wastes? Why does Canada allow lead levels in juice that are twenty CClean Air Act and grappling with Canada’s legal Why does Canada continue to allow the use of 58 chemicals, times higher than drinking water when children drink the most obligations under Kyoto. Baird claims that he will clean up used in over 1,000 pesticide products, which have been banned juice and are the most vulnerable to neurological damage from Canada’s environment this year, a feat that would require divine by other industrialized nations because of health and lead exposure? intervention. More modestly, Baird could start by answering the environmental concerns? Why has there never been a debate in the House of Commons following vexing questions about Canada’s ongoing failures in Why are Canadian standards for pesticide residues on food about the potential health and environmental hazards of the the realm of environmental protection. weaker than the standards in other nations? rapidly emerging field of nanotechnology (manipulating matter Why does Canada rank 28th out of the 30 nations of the Why are agricultural pesticides exempt from the GST? at the atomic or molecular level)? OECD in environmental stewardship? Why is there so little government support for organic Why is Canada the only nation in the world that actively Why are Scandinavian nations, with stronger environmental agriculture? opposes recognition of the basic human right to water? regulations, higher taxes, and more generous social programs Why is Canada proposing to ban hazardous flame retardants Why does the federal government refuse to recognize that than Canada, ranked by the World Economic Forum as more that have already been phased out by manufacturers while Canadians have a fundamental human right to drink clean economically competitive? allowing the continued use of a widely-used flame retardant that water, breathe clean air, and live in a healthy environment? Why has Canada repeatedly broken its promise to develop a is exponentially increasing in women’s breast milk, wildlife, and Why is Canada the only industrialized nation that exports national sustainability strategy? the environment? large volumes of asbestos to developing countries despite Why is Canada the only western industrialized nation that Why is Canada proposing a new guideline for radon, a overwhelming evidence of the brutal effects on human health? still relies on unenforceable, ineffective, voluntary national substance that kills thousands of Canadians annually, that is Why does Canada oppose international efforts to place guidelines for air quality? Why are the majority of Canada’s weaker than the comparable United States guideline? stronger restrictions on the use of mercury, a heavy metal that voluntary air quality guidelines set at weaker levels than Why is Canada violating federal law by systematically failing can cause extensive damage to human health? mandatory standards in other nations? to identify (let alone protect) the critical habitat of endangered Why is Canada lagging behind Europe and Japan in passing Why does Canada continue to rely on unenforceable, species ranging from the killer whale in BC to the piping plover laws making manufacturers responsible for recycling, reusing, ineffective, voluntary national guidelines for drinking water in Nova Scotia? or remanufacturing their products? despite the recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry? Why is Canada’s system of national parks still incomplete Why is Canada lagging behind Europe in shifting taxes from Why are the majority of Canada’s voluntary drinking water despite repeated promises that it would be finished by 2000? employment and income onto waste and pollution? quality guidelines set at weaker levels than mandatory standards Why has Canada protected so little (less than 0.1%) of its six Why do Canadians keep electing politicians who fail to make in other nations? million square kilometers of ocean? the environment a priority? Why did the Liberals do so little to address climate change? Why is Canada one of a handful of nations that opposes Why are the day-to-day actions of many individual Why are the Conservatives doing so little to address climate international efforts to limit the destructive practice of bottom Canadians at odds with our professed environmental values? change? trawling on the high seas? Answers? Why doesn’t Prime Minister Harper talk about Canada Why, after the notorious collapse of the cod fishery, does Given Stephen Harper’s identification of the environment as one becoming a zero-carbon energy superpower? Canada still allow commercial fisheries to target species for of his five priorities, the selection of Stephane Dion as the leader Why is Canada still subsidizing development of the oil sands? which we have no stock information? of the Liberals, the rise of the Green Party’s fortunes under Why not regulate the energy efficiency of buildings and the Why are major Canadian cities still allowed to dump raw, Elizabeth May, and polls indicating unprecedented levels of fuel efficiency of motor vehicles, given that Canada already untreated sewage directly into the ocean? concern among Canadians for environmental issues, perhaps regulates the energy efficiency of many products, from Why does Canada, unlike the US, Australia, and Europe, have 2007 will be the year when some of these questions get refrigerators to furnaces? no action plan for health and the environment? answered. Why is industry still allowed to dump millions of kilograms of Why has Canada never undertaken a national bio- David R Boyd is an environmental lawyer, author, and carcinogens, hormone disruptors, respiratory toxins, and monitoring study to measure the levels of toxic substances Trudeau Scholar at the University of British Columbia. His reproductive/developmental toxins into Canada’s air, water, and Canadians are being exposed to? books include ‘Unnatural Law: Rethinking Canadian land annually? Why has Canada failed to conduct a national survey of the Environmental Law and Policy,’ 2003, UBC Press, $29.95 Why does Canada refuse to require mandatory disclosure of blood-lead levels of young children since 1979, when more than paperback, order online www.unnaturallaw.com. i toxic substances in consumer products? one million American children are tested annually in an effort to

SAVE ENERGY from previous page FERRIES PROFIT from page 2 two-year warranty, and can be found in most hardware stores. The Commission explains that its ‘interpretation’ (of Over the past five years, ‘service fees’ from the provincial • Energy-efficient holiday light strings (LEDs) use up to 95% less what is meant by ‘pre-tax’ if no taxes are to be paid) ‘makes government have remained unchanged, with the exception of energy, last up to 7 times longer, are more durable with no filaments or it considerably easier for BC Ferries to achieve target levels an additional contribution to the cost of replacing the sunken glass bulbs to break and produce very little heat, reducing the risk of of earnings and build equity, to meet its undertakings for Queen of the North. The company has expressed the carefully fire. The energy cost of operating one of these strings is therefore a maximum leverage and debts and thereby to finance its phrased opinion that the required tariff revenue amounts for fraction of the cost of conventional holiday lights. As they go into wider capital investments. Performance Term 2 ‘will not be earned under the price caps use they have the potential to make a significant dent in the electricity The company, after all, cannot raise more equity on the that will be in effect at the end of performance term one.’ consumed by festive lighting in British Columbia. When purchasing markets, because it is 100% owned by the provincial Determining the trade-off between additional service seasonal LED lighting, look for a product that carries at least a two-year government. It must be entirely financed by borrowings, fees and increased ferry fares will thus be squarely in the i warranty. i which are estimated to reach $1.3 billion by 2009. hands of the provincial government after March 31. Bulletin Board (PAID BY DEADLINE ONLY - VISA ACCEPTED) • Phone 250-629-3660, Fax 250-629-3838 Email: [email protected] • Next DEADLINE: January 31, 2007 BULLETIN BOARD BOXED ADS – 1.5’, 2’ & 3’– $20 per inch+gst— multi-issue discounts BULLETIN BOARD WORD ADS - $16.96 for 25 words or less, 27¢ per additional word AUTOMOTIVE EDUCATION REAL ESTATE HOME & PROPERTY SERVICES Maple and Oak select flooring Long 2-1/4 and 3-1/4 fir flooring. GSA Auto Rentals FREE Furniture builders wood. Heritage SCRAP CAR baseboards, trim, tubs, fixtures, Monthly Rentals doors, windows, bricks and so REMOVAL much more! sydsdemosalvage.com, 00 250-381-1141 from $525. Gulf Islands Mention this ad and Victoria • Sooke Specializing in… D. A. 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For an appointment call TRANSMISSION SERVICE MARINE PROVEN SERVICE the Pender Island Health CERTIFIED Road test by qualified only Centre: 250- 629-3322 COASTAL POWER technician $ .95 COMMITMENT • RESULTS ISLAND 39 * SEPTIC SYSTEMS Cleanand inspect for cars SERVICE LTD. (call for pricing 1-800-774-1417 transmission pan on trucks and CALL 250-383-2536 MARINE motor homes) email:[email protected] Type I & II Systems 40-point driveline WORKSHOPS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES safety check www.island-explorer.com/pender VIHA Approved * Parts, ECO fees and WRITE NOW! presented by Pender taxes extra Writers' Circle. 8-week course for Serving the Nanaimo Docks & Floats • Counter Boxed ads Balance Systems • Pile 1-877-655-3707 HELP WANTED those who long to get their ideas area, Gabriola Island & Driving • Custom Aluminum Local: 655-3707 onto paper, structured into readable other Gulf Islands Ramps and Walkways Publisher-In-Training for Island Tides form. Max 6 participants. Email starting at $30 #3 - 2051 MALAVIEW Ph: 250-537-9710 (ACROSS FROM SLEGGS) regional newspaper. Please see Trysh at [email protected] display ad on page 3 of this issue or or call 629.2085. Course starts 250-756-8781 Email: [email protected] www.islandtides.com for details. Monday, February 19, afternoons. 250-629-3660 www.islandmarine.ca ISLAND TIDES, Jan 25, 2007, Page 8 Littoral: Tales from the Big Island ~ Trysh Ashby-Rolls Sunshine Coast Ferry Adrift The Queen of Surrey recently lost its mooring when an anchor cable tore apart, causing the ship to drift. The incident occurred during one of those wicked winter windstorms that have been Grow your wealth cutting a swath on BC’s west coast. Although the vessel was off-duty when the incident occurred at 11pm, the captain was still aboard and two engineers are always on duty overnight. The captain gave the order to fire up right here at home. the engines and the Surrey was quickly brought under control. Noisy Nights Expected From Nanaimo Terminal Upgrade Some Nanaimo residents who live near the Departure Bay ferry terminal may want to get earplugs to wear to bed. Construction may be noisy during the night from the shore infill project that will allow for a new ticketing building for walk-on passengers. The overall plan will expand the terminal compound and alleviate traffic congestion at peak times on local streets in front of the terminal. However, the shore infill project involves 4.00% placing rock in the foreshore next to the existing foot passenger ticketing building and walkway to make space for the new structure. During the daytime, rock from a local Nanaimo 90 DAY quarry is delivered to the terminal. But positioning the keystone CONVERTIBLE rocks must be done at low low-tide, currently occurring at night. TERM DEPOSIT* This means that there may be night-time noise from heavy machinery from now until mid-February. The work is being done as part of plans to accommodate the new Super C-Class A premium rate, ferries which will be serving major routes between Vancouver convertible at any time. Island and the Lower Mainland. The first of these vessels, Coastal Renaissance, will arrive later this year. Nanaimo Eel Grass Program Snuneymuxw First Nations are working on eelgrass replacement for the Nanaimo River Estuary as part of an overall 4.00% habitat compensation program for the shore infill project at Departure Bay ferry terminal. BC Ferries is contributing to the program through Ducks Unlimited. 1 YEAR Ucluelet Thieves Brazen NON-REDEEMABLE RCMP investigating thefts of scrap metal in Ucluelet and Tofino TERM DEPOSIT* described a set of thieves as ‘brazen’ after they stole bleachers right under the nose of sports fans. The incident took place in An outstanding rate broad daylight at the Ucluelet baseball diamond. Locals thought and security. the burglars were municipal workers repairing the brand new aluminum bleachers. Turned out the public works department was closed for the Christmas holidays. By the time the municipality got to the scene thieves had made off with two sets of bleachers in a truck, and it looked like they’d be back for a partly dismantled third lot. 4.00% The community had raised the money to purchase the seating and, although police estimate that as scrap they’d only generate $70, it would mean fundraising another few thousand dollars to 5 YEAR replace them. Meanwhile, a search warrant executed on a STEP-UP Tofino home netted police $100,000 worth of allegedly stolen TERM DEPOSIT* goods, including the remnants of aluminum bleachers. Three men were arrested and charged with a variety of offences. Scrap Step up to a great rate metal and copper wire theft is on the rise across the province. right from year 1. Nanaimo Roofers Overextended Fourteen storms (and counting) continue to ravage the west coast. Which has meant damage to trees, hydro lines, buildings and homes. In the City of Nanaimo, one roofing company fielded 300 phone calls during the worst of the storms in December. Normally at this time of year there’s barely enough work to go round. This year, Old Man Winter’s brought too much of a good thing. Roofers won’t be taking vacations any time soon. When you invest with Island Savings, you’re building a better future – for Qualicum Beach Folks Brave yourself and for the Islands we call home. Inclement Weather Still on the subject of weather—and who isn’t? Qualicum Beach Better yet, with these special term deposit rates, you get the choice, residents turned out in droves to watch a screening of An fl exibility and security* you want in a powerful investment. One that’s also Inconvenient Truth, a film by Al Gore on climate change. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the Qualicum Beach RRSP-eligible. Take advantage of these limited time rates – and see for Civic Centre East Hall was filled to capacity. (A community hall yourself why it’s good to be here. screening by Pender Island’s Film Group brought out a similar bumper crowd on January 18.) Annette Tanner, director of the Qualicum Beach Environment Committee who presented the film, said a show of hands by audience members has prompted the committee to show Gore’s update to the documentary on January 24. Since the sequel is only 40 minutes long it will allow time for a panel to discuss local issues with the Oceanside audience. ‘I am very encouraged by the tremendous show of community interest and look forward to the screening to receive feedback,’ said Tanner adding that it will help create solutions to the problems of climate change.

* Each ‘Separate Deposit’ as defined by Regulations is guaranteed up to $100,000 by the Credit Union Insurance Corporation. Interest rates subject to change without notice. Port Alberni Hero Inducted May 31 will see Rick Hansen enshrined into the BC Sports Hall of Fame at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Hansen is, of BRENTWOOD 544-4041 CEDAR 722-7073 CHEMAINUS 246-3273 DOUGLAS & BROUGHTON 385-4728 DUNCAN 746-4171 course, the wheelchair athlete who has inspired those with LADYSMITH 245-0456 LAKE COWICHAN 749-6631 MAYFAIR MALL 385-4476 MILL BAY 743-5534 SALT SPRING 537-5587 spinal-cord injuries and raised millions for spinal-cord research. His wheelchair journey around the world, like Terry Fox’s cross- SHAWNIGAN 743-5395 WEST SHORE 474-7262 WOODGROVE CENTRE 390-7070 www.ISCU.com Canada run before him, has raised public awareness that being disabled need not necessarily hold a person back. i

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