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Photo: Toby Snelgrove, SNELGROVEimages.com A family of river otters, lounging on the sea-etched sandstone rocks of the Belle Chain Islets in the Strait of Georgia, perk up for a passing photographer. No marine traffic exclusion zone for News Shorts
Kinder Morgan tankers- Patrick Brown ‘Amalgamation Yes’ Releases Both applications were received in January Kinder Morgan proposal for a moving Current Safety Precautions Study Guidelines 2015 from the two separate but linked projects, proposed by two separate proponents. Both exclusion zone to surround laden Navigation and collision avoidance is typically Action group Amalgamation Yes has come up approvals are required for the project to go tankers has been rejected by Transport managed by adhering to ‘rules of the road’ with a series of guidelines for its proposed ahead. The public is invited to comment Canada’s TERMPOL Review Committee. In its under the well recognised Convention on the study of amalgamation in the Capital Regional A simultaneously on both projects. submission, the pipeline company had International Regulations for Preventing District. In last November’s local elections, 75% The government has the power to extend or proposed that the area around tankers Collisions at Sea. of the Greater Victoria area approved non- vary the deadline dates. Tracey Saxby, co- travelling outbound from Trans Mountain’s In addition, the outbound passage of laden binding questions showing support for founder of My Sea to Sky, in making a formal Westridge loading facility be cleared to reduce tankers from Burrard Inlet is governed by: governance reviews for the 13 municipalities request for a more sensible public comment any chances of collisions. The proposed • tethered and untethered tugs, daylight within the CRD. period, has called the public comment exclusion zone would have travelled with the and tidal restrictions, special vessel trim Amalgamation Yes’s guidelines include: the requirements ‘absurd’. She says that the time ship for the entire 257 kilometres to Buoy Juliet requirements, and two onboard pilots through study team must report to the Minister; the allowed to review the 9,349 pages of the at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Second Narrows (inbound tankers also require study must be inclusive and engage all Woodfibre application, plus the 3,623 pages of Exclusion zones are used to protect ships tug assist); municipal agencies and First Nations; must the FortisBC Eagle Mountain pipeline that could present very serious consequences • an accompanying tethered tug through examine the existing municipal structure and application is completely inadequate. in the event of a collision, or in very hazardous Vancouver Harbour and First Narrows to two recommend changes to achieve good The division of the overall project into two passages. For example, they are typically miles southwest of Point Atkinson, with two governance; must consider at least three options projects by two separate proponents, but both declared around LNG tankers in crowded onboard pilots, and daylight and tidal for municipal governance; must give submitted at the same time, makes meaningful waters. The Saint John Harbour Authority has restrictions. (A request by Kinder Morgan for consideration to commercial, urban, residential public comment difficult. Saxby also questions exclusion zones for crude oil tankers and LNG 24/7 use of the Harbourmaster’s launch to and rural interests; must evaluate the economic, whether, if the applications for the two projects vessels within harbour limits. clear small boats out of the way was left to social and environmental merits of each option; were combined into one, it would have The TERMPOL Review Committee (TRC), Kinder Morgan to negotiate with the must include a plan for public meetings; triggered a federal environmental assessment. in arriving at their decision to reject Kinder Harbourmaster.); prescribe timelines; and must identify However, the federal environmental Morgan’s plan, said that declaring such a zone • from English Bay to Rosenfeld Buoy at the implementation issues that need to be resolved. assessment is being combined with the for over 400 tankers per year could cause entrance to Boundary Pass, a single untethered Woodfibre Public provincial assessment, a procedure which the conflict with existing shipping patterns tug no more than a mile from the tanker, Comments Deadlines federal government says will facilitate through Vancouver Harbour, the Strait of recommended a mile ahead to ‘prevent close Georgia, Boundary Pass, Haro Strait, and the ‘meaningful participation’ by the public. quarter situations from developing’, and a Following public objections, My Sea to Sky has Grizzly Bear Trophy Killing Strait of Juan de Fuca. maximum tanker speed of 11 knots; made a formal request for extension of public The trip takes 14 to 15 hours. The review • from Boundary Pass to Race Rocks, two comment deadlines for the two projects that MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head and Deputy committee felt that such a lengthy application pilots and a tethered tug, plus following the make up the proposed Woodfibre LNG plant. Leader of the BC Green Party, Andrew Weaver, of an exclusion zone was ‘unprecedented’, that rules around Turn Point (see Island Tides May The BC Environmental Assessment Office has tabled a Bill in the Legislature aimed at it presented great ‘complexity of 29, 2014 online); has set up two separate but overlapping Public stopping trophy killing of grizzly bears. The bill implementation’, and that enforcement would • extended pilot disembarkation zone and Comment periods for the two projects: the is Weaver’s first Private Member’s Bill and was be difficult. Its conclusion was that the zone termination of tethered tug west of Race Woodfibre LNG plant itself (comment tabled on March 2. would present many challenges but limited Rocks; deadline March 23, 2015); and the Eagle If enacted, it would increase requirement for benefits to navigation safety. • untethered tug escort from 2 nautical Mountain gas pipeline, which would feed the hunting in BC by removing grizzly bears from TANKERS, please turn to page 6 plant (comment deadline March 27, 2015) NEWS SHORTS, please turn to page 3 JTBUUIFTF6(5,286&2))(( MPDBUJPOT MPPLGPSUIFA*TMBOE5JEFTZFMMPXCPYFTPVUTJEFPSSBDLTJOTJEF 4JEOFZ#FBDPO"WFOVF /BOBJNP7*$POGFSFODF$FOUSF 1BSLTWJMMF)FSJUBHF$FOUSF.BMM 4PVUI%VODBO4VO7BMMFZ.BMM /BOBJNP#FBVGPSU$FOUSF $PVSUFOBZ4PVUIHBUF$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 /BOBJNP4PVUI1BSLXBZ1MB[B $BNQCFMM3JWFS5IF7JMMBHF 8JMMPX1PJOU www.islandtides.com Page 2, Island Tides, March 19, 2015 onceptual drawings of Intermediate Class ferries, now being built in Gdansk, Poland. The double-ended ships feature massive ‘visors’ at each end to deflect spray in Crough weather. BC Ferries says they will take about 30 seconds to lift to allow loading and unloading, hydraulically powered. The pictures also illustrate the main deck, with hatches which permit access to ramps to the lower deck. Following advice from the Ferry Advisory Committee, these will be big enough to accommodate the largest of pickup trucks, including their rear view mirrors. March 27, The hatches will lift in 17 seconds, again Happy Birthday, hydraulically powered. (See additional Patrick Brown! information in our January 22 edition online). Conceptual drawing: BC Ferries
More on Bill C-51, commentary by Patrick Brown Michel Simard International Tax Specialist MINI-ADS! United States Canada Tax Reporting Planning - Consulting Oversight may not be enough ■ BE SEEN & DON’T UNITED STATES CANADA TAX REPORTING SERVICE PO Box 594 to protect citizens’ rights BUST THE BUDGET! Quathiaski Cove. BC, VOP1NO ill C-51, the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act, 2015’ it does not include lawful advocacy, protest, is a complex bill; its implications are not dissent and artistic expression.’ (However, the 250-285-2725 well understood. The words inclusion of the word ‘lawful’ in this exclusion 250.216.2267 1-800-330-2944 ‘unintended consequences’ come to mind. makes the ‘greater certainty’ subject to every law FAX:1-886-298-9429 B Much of the new legislation contained in this and regulation in the nation.) NEXT DEADLINE: [email protected] Bill is unique. Even daily, detailed oversight Criminal Code Amendments www.ameri-cantaxes.com might not be sufficient to prevent its abuse. The necessary Criminal Code amendments Island Tides March 25th takes a second look at just two include the following (underlined text is new): major provisions of the Act which, used in 83.221 (1) Every person who, by combination, have the potential to threaten communicating statements, knowingly many of the freedoms that Canadians presently advocates or promotes the commission enjoy. The Bill (long title: the Security of of terrorism offences in general—other Roasting Fancy Coffee Canada Information Sharing Act) introduces than an offence under this section— for mail orders since 1982 two new pieces of legislation, the Security of while knowing that any of those offences Canada Information Sharing Act will be committed or being reckless as to (accompanied by enabling amendments to five whether any of those offences may be The Water System Experts other Acts); and the Secure Air Travel Act committed, as a result of such Since 1972 (accompanied by enabling amendments to two communication, is guilty of an indictable from Thetis Island to you other Acts). The Bill also includes significant offence and is liable to imprisonment for t Fountains & Watergardens t Rainwater Harvesting amendments to the Criminal Code a term of not more than five years. www.potofgoldcoffee.com Well Pumps & Water Systems Swimming Pools & Spas t t (accompanied by enabling amendments to four Note that under (7) No proceeding under t Waste Water Pumps & Controls t Landscape Lighting other Acts) and amendments to the Canadian t Water Treatment & Filtration tIrrigation this section shall be instituted without the Security Intelligence Service Act, and the Attorney General’s consent. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. (1) Paragraphs 83.3(2)(a) and (b) of This following brief selection of material 461 Dupplin Road Victoria B.C. 250-383-7145 the Act are replaced by the following: from Bill C-51 is not intended to be (a) believes on reasonable grounds comprehensive. However, the clauses quoted • harvesting systems that a terrorist activity may be carried www.vanislewater.com Criminal Code of • design • installation do illustrate that, under the out; and Canada • service , as amended by this Bill, it is possible (b) suspects on reasonable grounds VISIT OUR WEBSITE! for any individual who believes, or fears, that that the imposition of a recognizance someone may, or is likely to, commit a BOB BURGESS with conditions on a person, or the arrest The Simple terrorism offence (using the broad definitions of a person, is likely to prevent the 250-246-2155 under this Security of Canada Information carrying out of the terrorist activity. [email protected] High-Perfoormance Sharing Act) to lay an information before a www.rainwaterconnection.com These paragraphs refer to the judge, who may order the imposition of a conditions under which a ‘peace officer’ Experience Counts! Septic Systeme recognizance. may lay an information. Eljljen GSF…YYouro A orddable bl The Attorney Solution foro Today’s All this with the Attorney General’s General’s consent is required. In paragraph (a), Wasta ewater Challenges! permission, who, under this Act, can obtain ‘will’ has been replaced by ‘may’; in paragraph any information about the ‘defendant’ from (b), ‘necessary’ has been replaced by ‘likely’. any government department, and authorize Evidence has been replaced by suspicion. criminal charges, preventive detention, or 810.011 (1) A person who fears on Ideal for New or impose further restrictions. reasonable grounds that another person Replacement Systems Quoting from the Act: may commit a terrorism offence may, 3. The purpose of this Act is to encourage with the Attorney General’s consent, lay and facilitate the sharing of information an information before a provincial court Innovative Products and Solutions Since 1970 among Government of Canada institutions in judge. 1.888.296.8059 order to protect Canada against activities that (2) The provincial court judge who www.wintonhomes.ca undermine the security of Canada. eljen.com receives an information under You’ll be right at home! 6. For greater certainty, nothing in this Act subsection (1) may cause the parties to prevents a head, or their delegate, who receives appear before a provincial court judge. information under subsection 5(1) from, in (3) If the provincial court judge before accordance with the law, using that whom the parties appear is satisfied by information, or further disclosing it to any the evidence adduced that the informant person, for any purpose. has reasonable grounds for the fear, the Security Threatening judge may order that the defendant Actions enter into a recognizance, with or The Bill’s stated purpose is to deal with any without sureties, to keep the peace and activity which ‘undermines the sovereignty, be of good behaviour for a period of not security or territorial integrity of Canada or the more than 12 months. lives or the security of the people of Canada’. A What are ‘reasonable grounds for fear’? number of activities are named; the more ill- Many of the world’s nations have laws defined ones are: similar to the ‘Security of Canada Information (a) interference with the capability of the Sharing Act’. They are used to enforce Government of Canada in relation to oppressive regimes. Canada must not become intelligence, defence, border operations, public one of them. 0 BUY RAISE MOVE LEVEL safety, the administration of justice, diplomatic RECYCLED INCREASE SUBDIVIDE FIX YOUR or consular relations, or the economic or Did you appreciate this article? HOMES SQ. FOOTAGE YOUR LOT FOUNDATION financial stability of Canada (italics added); Help Island Tides pay for
SALT SPRING ISLAND Licensed & Insured harmful to lungs if large quantities are inhaled. Society has requested a number of plans, Call Ron for free estimate Technical services for Nearly 65 firefighters, including members studies, and protective measures prior to [email protected] • 250.537.8885 Water Wells of hazardous materials teams, were on the carrying out the drilling. scene at one point wearing respiratory The Comox Valley Regional District Aquifers equipment and protective gear. They used requested that no license should be issued, Groundwater three pieces of 33-metre tall aerial equipment saying that past coalmines have ‘left a legacy of (250) 658-1701 to fight the flames from above. environmental damage’. • WATER WELLS [email protected] The fire burnt for more than 24 hours, Shrinking Gull Population • HYDROFRACTURING TO IMPROVE WELL YIELDS www.hy-geo.com before finally being declared extinguished late There are only half as many seagulls on the • DRILLING FOR GEOSOURCE on the night of March 5. The company who southwest coast of BC as there used to be in the owns the containers, DP World, sent an 1980s. A recent University of BC study says that occupational hygienist to the scene on March Happy the gull population started shrinking after 1980, 5 to assess the damage done. A specialist because they couldn’t get their favourite foods. environmental contractor was also on site to wwwdrillwellcom Birthday Gulls prefer to eat an almost completely marine drill@drillwellcom investigate the possible effects on the diet—small fish and shellfish—but if they can’t An Island Family Business Natalie surrounding marine habitat. It is not clear how find that they will consume garbage and even For Years! the fire started. NEWS SHORTS, please turn to page 5 www.islandtides.com Page 4, Island Tides, March 19, 2015 Readers’ Letters On-call Nursing on Galiano and our community into an emergency service that the members of Mayne Islands. Lasqueti community were given no time to review or give input to. Be it also noted that the community is asking for nothing but Every Second Thursday A version of this letter was sent to Island Health CEO Brendan Carr, Premier Christy Clark, Minister of Health Terry Lake, time to understand and decide if this is the right decision for our Strait of Georgia’s only community. Free & Mail-Delivered Newspaper and Saanich North and the Islands’ MLA Gary Holman (see also photo, page 7). Powell River Regional District was informed in June of 2014 that Telus pagers were being fazed out and that this pager 18,900 copies this edition Dear Editor: service is Lasqueti Island’s service for Fire and First Responders. 14,965 print copies delivered to all As one of the RN’s who worked on-call for emergencies, I know Fire and First Response would have to find an alternative households on 14 Gulf Islands first hand how devastating the loss of weekend medical care is system. Then our firechief and a representive from Powell River for the Islands. Regional District started to look into these other solutions. No- Salt Spring • Mayne • Galiano • Pender • Saturna With the loss of on-call weekend nursing there is no access one else in our communitity was notified or told of this until we Gabriola • Denman • Hornby • Quadra • Cortes to medical services on-island. received a letter from Powell River Regional District in our mail, Read • Texada • Lasqueti • Thetis I am particularly concerned about the children who have dated January 27, that arrived in my mail and others’ mail in conditions such as croup, asthma and life threatening allergies. early February. These conditions can require immediate treatment.Waiting up We have approximately 450 full-time residents on the island to two hours for transfer by watertaxi to a higher level of care, and about 1,000 summer residents. A good amount of our full- or depending on air ambulance service in fog or high winds, puts time residents go south for vacations in the winter, so many lives in jeopardy. people have still not seen this notification. Print copies on Ferry Routes and in: People with strokes, respiratory and cardiac symptoms, as The letter was letting us know that we are going to have the Victoria • Saanich • Sidney • Cobble Hill well as trauma, require nursing assessment and, very often, Mill Bay • Crofton • Duncan • Chemainus 911 system and that house numbering will be implemented. Ladysmith • Nanaimo • Bowser • Courtenay stabilizing treatment before transfer to a higher level of care. They are also putting a tower on Mount Trematon. Mount Port Alberni • Campbell River The island physicians are on-call once a month. Expecting Tremation is an Island Trust preserved land area and the 3,000 online readers each edition them to do more is unreasonable; especially as the Galiano communitity was pretty excited and upset about this relevation. physician was hired on the understanding that there would be Our community is completely off-the-grid, and we really like Owner, Publisher & Editor: an on-call nurse. Galiano searched for almost four years for a it this way. We also have many challenges in terms of the terrain Christa Grace-Warrick physician, and having no nurse on-call three weekends a month of the island. It has many hills and valleys and limited road Editorial & Publishing Assistant: Natalie Dunsmuir puts undue pressure on the physician. access. Many homes have no roads—just a path into the bush There needs to be a nurse who is qualified to do critical care to get there, or water access. Accessing cell phones and even Contributors: Priscilla Ewbank, Elizabeth May, Patrick Brown, assessments, use advanced airway devices, start IVs, and give landlines and internet can be really hit and miss. Toby Snelgrove, James Allan Evans, Nettie Adams, David Suzuki, medications. My landline phone was working fine until I went away for a Claire Trevena, Perri Gorrara I urge the government to restore funding for on-call nursing couple of days. I have not had a working phone since and Telus Island Tides Publishing Ltd services. Ultimately the real solution would be to provide did not expect to attend to it until March 12. This situation is not Box 55, Pender Island, BC V0N 2M0 funding for a nurse practitioner to cover on-call on Galiano and Tel: 250.216.2267• News: [email protected] unusual on Lasqueti Island. The 911 system is basing its Advertising: [email protected] Mayne Islands. operation on roads and telephones, which really makes one Advertising Deadline: Wednesday Between Publications I look forward to a prompt response to these concerns. ponder how this is possible given the unreliability of what exists Diana Lilly, Galiano Island Canadian Addressed Subscription: $57.75pa here now. Anti-terror Bill is Dangerous We have a volunteer fire department and first responders For unaddressed copies & online readers: Legislation team and they are awesome and work incredibly hard, all on Suggested Voluntary Subscription is $30pa their own time. I do not begrudge them anything—they deserve US Addressed Subscription: $80.00 Dear Editor: This legislation is sold on the premise of keeping Canadians safe the best that they can get. What I do object to is how we have www.islandtides.com from terrorists. This Bill broadly criminalizes the advocation of been not given any time, and a constant changing of reasons, terrorism in general. It also gives agencies vast information costs and implementation of the 911 service. sharing abilities with no enhanced protection for privacy. What After about a week of community conversations and Harper considers oversight is giving judges the ability to sign- questions, our PRRD Director, Merrick Anderson, called a Your Total off in advance of CSIS breaking Canadian laws. Harper thereby meeting on February 13 with representives of Powell River and turns judges into agents of the government. Isn’t this the 911 Service to give us information. At this meeting we learned Water Solution transformation of CSIS into a secret police? that the tower location had been changed from Mount When C-51 was first proposed, it was said to be supported Trematon to a mountain on Texada Island, which still did not Gulf Islands Water Treatmeent by 4 out of 5 Canadians. Today a poll stated that 93% of cover all of the island but could be counter-covered by another Canadians oppose C-51. John Barber reported in the UK tower on the Parksville side of Lasqueti. ~ Rainwater Harvesting Guardian that ‘more than 100 Canadian law professors have We then found out that our past system had inadequacies ~ Water treatment for wells, warned the prime minister, Stephen Harper, that a sweeping and this apparently would be better, but we also found out that surface supplies & seawater new anti-terror law is a dangerous piece of legislation that will there are other costs that were not quoted from the orginal letter ~ Filtration & Disinfection threaten to undermine the rule of law, human rights and the communitity had received. We also learned that this system was a done deal and we had no say at all about whether it was a ~ Slow sand filtration democracy itself.’ Another group of four former prime ministers, five former fit for us or not. ~ Small systems Health Many communitity members left this meeting very upset. Authority approvals Supreme Court justices and several cabinet ministers signed an open letter advocating scrapping C-51. After a grassroots meeting, a petition was organised to ask Bacteria, Arsenic, Turbidity, Tannins-TOC, Hardnesss, much more! ‘Protecting human rights and protecting public safety are PRRD to rescind the 3rd reading of this bylaw to give the wwww..watertigerr..net complementary objectives, but experience has shown that communitity time to decide if we want this service or not. Our serious human abuses can occur in the name of maintaining representive, Merrick Anderson, took this petition to a February ViServingctoria The GulfBu Islandsrnaby & BC sinceCoourte 1988nay 26 meeting in Powell River. Our petition was declared invalid ([email protected]) 412-1110 (604) 630-111 TF:4 1-855-777-1220(2500) 339-6914 national security. Given the secrecy around national security activities, abuses can go undetected and without remedy. This but we were given until March 19 to make a decision as to whether or not we wish to go with this service or not. (PRRD results not only in devastating personal consequences for the individual, but a profoundly negative impact on Canada’s has to submit a balanced budget by the end of March.) IS YOUR reputation as a rights respecting nation.’ The community had another well-attended meeting on Harper’s anti-terror Bill will invoke terror on the people of March 2. After three hours of discussing a few alternative Canada. Please phone or write your MP if you believe in liberty. systems, we found out that if we do not go with the 911 service, WELLSAFE TO WATER DRINK? Canadians tend to take their freedom for granted. the PRRD is worried about liabilities and lawsuits that could be Inky Mark, Dauphin, Manitoba directed towards the district due to a bylaw that was put forth Contamination can occur Ed’s Note: See also ‘Oversight may not be enough to protect in 2005 stating the promise to merge 911 service with the without changes in colour or citizens’ rights’ commentary by Patrick Brown on page 2. Lasqueti Fire and First Responders—a bylaw neither our PRRD taste. Be safe, test annually. Lasqueti Island 911 Service rep or the fire chief or anyone else knew of until this meeting. The topper of all of this is that we were led to believe that if A version of this letter was sent to Coralee Oakes, Minister of we do not go with the 911 service and the civic numbering Community, Sports and Cultural Development; Michelle 250-656-1334 system, our tax funding for our Fire and First Response would Stilwell, MLA for Lasqueti Island’s electorate; Kim Carter, be refused and Lasqueti’s Fire and First Response will not be Ombudsperson of BC; and Powell River Regional District part of the PRRD ever again. Board member Patrick Brabazon. Sounds ludicrious I’m sure, but this is what was said at the Dear Editor: meeting. Clarification was asked for several times and the same fax: 250-656-0443 Website: www.mblabs.com I live on Lasqueti Island and wish to explain why I feel as though answer was given. Costs are above what we are currently paying, Email: [email protected] the Powell River Regional District Board (PRRD) is rail-roading and keep changing. 2062 Unit 4 Henry Ave. West, Sidney, B.C. V8L 5Y1 LETTERS, please turn to page 6 Doug Routley, MLA SHORELINE Nanaimo~North Cowichan • Specializing in water DESIGN access over steep Unit 112 50 Tenth Street & rugged Nanaimo BC V9R 6L1 & rugged T 250.716.5221 | F 250.716.5222 terrain
Box 269 | #1 – 16 High Street • Fully insured Ladysmith BC V9G 1A2 • Excellent T 250.245.9375 | F 250.245.8164 references
Web: www.dougroutley.ca Email: [email protected] Peter Christenson • 250-858-9575 www.shorelinedesign.ca www.islandtides.com
Vol.34 No.1 | 2015 Published by the Wilderness Committee
FREE REPORT
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PLANS CLASH WITH CLIMATE ACTION Eoin Madden Climate Campaigner, industry will be drilled using the providing the world with a “cleaner- turned a violent red, by an insect that Wilderness Committee 2 @EoinWC destructive technique of hydraulic burning fossil fuel.” thrives in warming temperatures: fracturing, or “fracking.”1 The main idea behind this claim the mountain pine beetle. Our west Fracking has a harmful eff ect on is that less coal will be consumed in coast waters have soaked up climate- our climate and so does the burning Asia when LNG is available from BC. changing gases for decades, making oes anyone else feel like of fossil fuels like LNG. These impacts But there is no independent evidence them much more acidic. Dthe past year has been jam- y in the face of the suggesting Warnings from international packed with promises from the BC BC government’s that BC’s LNG agencies keep rolling in: we need government? The idea is always the claim that LNG is WHAT IS LNG? will replace to cut our societies loose from fossil same: Have no fear, LNG is here. a “clean, green” LNG, or Liquefi ed Natural Gas, Asian coal use. fuels. In the face of these warnings, LNG, or liquefi ed natural gas, has energy source. is gas that has been cooled and Experts have and despite the impacts visible been trumpeted as British Columbia’s BC’s Environment condensed into liquid form for ease also challenged across BC’s landscape, the provincial economic saviour. However, more and Minister brought of storage or transport. To produce the idea that government continues to hype up its LNG, gas is often burned at three more people are coming to realize that this “clean, green fracked gas is dream of a new LNG industry. di erent steps in the process – during this new industry – which is based on LNG” claim to the less harmful to There are many other downsides extraction, production (to power the extraction, production and export world stage in our climate than to the construction of gas export the cooling process) and when the of fossil fuels – will never be as “clean December 2014 at nished product is burned for energy. coal. plants along our west coast – not to and prosperous” as we’ve been led to the international We already mention the multitude of pipelines believe. climate talks in know what that would feed the proposed LNG What troubles me most is that the Peru. There, o cials climate change terminals. Read on to nd out more promise of a gigantic new fossil fuel declared that BC would do its part looks like here in BC. Vast swathes about the climate impacts, learn industry has distracted us from the to address global climate change by of our evergreen forests have been about the LNG-related risks to salmon reality of climate change, and the and communities, and see why other need for immediate action to jurisdictions in North America avoid its worst effects. are taking bold action to stop BC's proposed LNG industry fracking. is guaranteed to add massive We can have a thriving economy amounts of greenhouse gases without fracking and LNG. It’s to the atmosphere, which will time for the BC government to have a serious impact on our face the facts – this industry is climate. This is partly because not a clean, green option for BC. nine out of ten new gas wells required to supply the LNG Cover photo: Lelu Island, proposed site of Pacifi c Northwest LNG (Brian Huntington), Photo left: Haida Gwaii coast, where proposed LNG plants would bring hundreds inset: Pacifi c Northwest LNG illustration of ttankersankers each year, right: Marine invertebrates (Don Johnston). BC’S LNG: NOT CLEAN, NOT GREEN
ore than a dozen LNG facilities extract gas in North America. Lululemon shirts to Okanagan plums, Mhave been proposed along The rst signs that fracking could the carbon tax is applied to almost BC’s west coast, some of which are at cause a large-scale build-up of methane every producer, with one glaring more advanced stages than others.3 came recently from New Mexico. exception: the gas industry is Since the companies involved have yet There, NASA scientists identi ed an exempted from taxes on gases to make nal investment decisions (or enormous methane plume above the that escape during the production “FIDS”) on their proposals, it is di cult vast gas elds in the state’s deserts.6 process. Why is the industry given to anticipate how far each one will go. With discoveries such as this one in a free ride when it has such an However, even if we look at just the New Mexico, many people fear that extreme effect on our climate? ve LNG plants most likely to proceed, the magnitude of fracking’s impact All of the BC LNG destined for Asia
the potential e ects on our climate on our climate has been grossly will be burned for energy. When Photo: Grizzly bear, BC (Roberta Olenick). are disastrous.4 Fracking for gas allows underestimated. burned, it will release the climate- enormous quantities of methane When new gas wells are opened up, changing gases contained within to escape into the atmosphere. dangerous amounts of methane and it. Other sources of energy, such as Methane drives carbon dioxide solar, wind and geothermal, are viable climate change can build up. alternatives for generating that power. WHAT IS FRACKING? at a much higher These buildups The claim that LNG is cleaner than Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) 7 rate than other can happen at coal has been disputed by scientists. is a gas extraction method that climate-changing the wellhead, When you look at the life cycle of LNG involves injecting large amounts greenhouse gases. or anywhere – from gas well to combustion – its of pressurized water, sand and Experts estimate along the overall climate impact begins to rival hazardous chemicals into wells that over the rst production the impact of coal. drilled underground. This process 20 years it is 80 line to the The simple fact remains: “fractures” hard shale rock times more potent LNG tankers LNG is not good for our formations to release trapped gas. Photo: Fracking operation in northern BC than the most (Jeremy Williams). on our west future. well-known climate-changing gas: coast. These gases are often purposely carbon dioxide.5 leaked into the atmosphere in a process Natural gas flows to the surface Concerns about methane emissions known as “venting.” Alternatively, those Storage and Millions of litres of water are Recovered waste water is stored in pits before being treated or processing tanks from gas wells have been building gases may be intentionally burned o at delivered by tanker or pipeline re-injected into aquifers ever since fracking became the the site in a process known as “ aring.” industry’s standard practice. As the In BC, the provincial carbon tax Fresh water table Shale gas well Waste pit older, more conventional gas reserves demands that all companies account Wells are drilled deep below ran out over the last decade, fracking and pay for the climate-changing the earth’s surface, piercing through Water and chemicals are pumped down well became the primary method used to greenhouse gases they create. From pristine aquifers, to reach the shale rock beds. The wells are lined with concrete and steel, after which a perforatingpe gun shoots small holes along the horizontal sesection of the well, through the casing and cement into the shale.shal After the ‘perfing’ is complete, a highly pressurized mixture of water, sand and chemicals is sent down the well CLIMATE CHANGE causing the shale rock to crack. Sand holds the fissures open as gas flflows up the well to be separated from the chemicals HITS HOME IN BC PPhoto:hoto: HHumpbackumpback whale and water. (John E. Marriott). hen it comes to describing change has not just been felt in BC’s Wthe impact of climate interior. The world-renowned shell sh change on local communities, British industry on our west coast has also Columbians can point to some very been feeling the heat. Photo: Gas fl aaringring (Will Koop). signi cant examples. As increasing amounts of climate- Shale rock bed Back in the early 2000s, people changing gases like carbon dioxide Fissures started noticing a strange red hue in build up in our atmosphere, the the interior valleys and mountainsides world’s oceans are forced to absorb of BC. Vast evergreen pine forests them. As a result, coastal waters have were quickly being replaced by dead become much more acidic. and dying trees. The world’s oceans are now The mountain pine beetle, a roughly 30 per cent more acidic black insect about the size of a than what they were prior to the grain of rice, was spreading across industrial revolution, when we the landscape. ramped up our use of fossil fuels.10 Female beetles lay their eggs Ocean acidi cation has a disastrous beneath the bark of pine trees, and e ect on sea creatures like shell sh,
those eggs are much more likely as it hampers their ability to form Photos clockwise from left: Sea otter to survive in the warmer winters hard skeletons and shells. This is eating shellfi sh (Isabelle Groc), Flagging brought to BC by climate change. causing serious problems for seafood tape in beetle-infested forest (Alexis Stoymeno ), Red pines killed by 11 BC’s forests have now lost more businesses on BC’s west coast. mountain pine beetle (Katie Rompala). than 18 million hectares of timber We have su ered enough at the resources8 plus billions of dollars hands of this new, unpredictable in sales and stumpage fees to this climate that has resulted from the troublesome little insect. Since burning of fossil fuels. If we continue 1990, one third of the lumber mills to ignore the realities of climate operating in the interior of BC have change, we risk facing economic ACIDIFYING OCEANS closed down9, primarily because of peril. Setting ourselves up for more Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. the pine beetle – and climate change. damage by producing and exporting When carbon dioxide is dissolved in the ocean, it creates carbonic acid The enormous impact of climate LNG is simply not worth it. – the same substance that is added to soda pop to make it “ zzy.”
SKEENA SALMON HABITAT: NO PLACE FOR LNG
Inset Map - Proposed Pacific Northwest LNG Plant & he mighty Skeena River runs for 610 Prince Rupert & Export Terminal Proposed Prince Rupert Skeena River LNG Plant & Export kilometres across the northwest of BC, from Estuary Te rminal T Prince Shoals and Banks its headwaters high in the mountains at the Rupert Shallow Areas (includes part of Skeena River Kaien 16 Estuary) edge of the Spatsizi Plateau to the Pacific Ocean. Island Its source is known by local First Nations as the Proposed Prince Rupert 012km “Sacred Headwaters” for an important reason: the LNG Plant / Proposed Export Terminal river supports hundreds of populations of all five Highway 16 Spectra Photo: Canoeing near the species of wild salmon, and is the second largest Westcoast Skeena River (Tim Irvin). Connector GT Proposed Yukon Gas Pipeline Port Pacific salmon-producing river in Canada. Ridley Northwest Island Edward Northwest Juvenile salmon (or “smolts”) are born and die Territories LNG Plant / Liard Lelu British Export Terminal Basin in freshwater, but they travel through the Skeena Island Columbia Horn Flora Cordova estuary on their way to the ocean where they Sacred River Bank Skeena River Basin Pacific Skeena Headwaters Fort Basin mature. In this estuary, where the Skeena meets Ocean Proposed Nelson River TransCanada Proposed Alaska Existing the Pacific Ocean, an underwater bed of eelgrass Estuary Prince (USA) TransCanada Spectra Energy known as Flora Banks makes the perfect resting Rupert GT Prince Rupert GT Gas Pipeline Gas Pipeline Gas Pipeline ground for juvenile salmon. It is in the direct path Skeena River Proposed of 331 million juvenile salmon heading to sea Spectra Energy Pacific Westcoast 12 Prince Existing Pacific Northern every year. Ocean Proposed Rupert Gas Ltd Gas Pipeline Connector GT Montney Kitimat LNG See Gas Pipeline Basin Terrace Smithers This very unique place is adjacent to the Plant / Export Prince Rupert Kitimat Terminal Fort proposed sites of two giant new LNG plants Inset Map St. John – Pacific Northwest LNG and Prince Rupert Proposed LNG – as well as the large pipelines needed to 0100200kmDouglas Channel Dawson Creek LNG Barge Plants Proposed Proposed Proposed supply them. When added to a proposed potash / Export Terminals Pacific Northern Chevron TransCanada Gas Looping loading facility and expanded transportation Pacific Trails KSL Prince Coastal GasLink Proposed Pipeline LNG Canada Gas Pipeline George Gas Pipeline corridors in the area, it’s clear the Skeena estuary Plant / Export is slated for a tsunami of industrial activity. Terminal Alberta To build just one of the LNG plants proposed, British Existing millions of cubic metres of sediment would Columbia Spectra Energy Gas Pipeline ks need to be dredged (scooped out and removed from the estuary floor) – enough to fill 2,424 Commercial Mountain Shellfish Pine 13 Campbell hockey rinks with sediment two metres deep. In Tenures Beetle River Salvage addition to removing habitat, dredging can also Area Whistler Kamloops bring buried contaminants from the sediment Tofino Squamish back up to the surface, which has a negative See Howe Sound Nanaimo Inset Map Below impact on fish. Vancouver As a vital part of the ecosystem and a Photo: Sockeye salmon Kelowna (Shel Neufeld). sustainable economic driver for the region, Victoria Nelson the Skeena’s prized salmon, and their habitat, Existing Major Gas Pipelines in BC must be protected from LNG development. Skeena River Cranbrook Commercial Shellfish Tenures Shale Gas Basins - Targeted for Fracking Washington Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Area (USA)
PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS LNG TANKER HAZARD ZONES IN HOWE SOUND FLAMMABLE GAS AND BC COMMUNITIES Proposed Squamish Woodfibre LNG Proposed ronically, the federal government has recommended a response system Plant / Export FortisBC Terminal 99 Eagle Mtn - fought to keep US shipments of LNG with areas of refuge in case of an Woodfibre I Britannia Beach Gas Pipeline out of eastern Canadian waters since incident in these “areas of concern,” Furry Creek 2010. When a number of LNG terminals as well as the development of Howe were proposed in the US state of Maine community warning procedures.16 Sound Porteau Cove Gambier Island 0510km in recent years, our government sent As a result of such military testing, Lions Bay Existing FortisBC Gas Pipeline clear messages to US regulators that it precautions have been taken with regard 99 Gibsons was against the proposals. to LNG shipments in the US. For instance, Coquitlam Bowen West Island Vancouver Proposed LNG Tanker Routes In letters to the US Federal Energy LNG shipments arriving at Boston Sea to Sky Highway 99 Text Areas of Concern Regulatory Commission (FERC), Canada’s Harbour are anked by security boats, Zone 1 - 500 metres Zone 2 - 1600 metres Salish Zone 3 - 2500 metres government stated it was defending a and authorities coordinate ights into Sea VANCOUVER “unique and highly productive marine and out of Boston’s main airport so there ecosystem” near New Brunswick from is no chance of the ships being targeted.17 the threat of LNG tanker tra c. In those Despite its concerns over US LNG same letters, the government also cited shipments in eastern waters, the Canadian “public safety risks” associated with LNG government is supportive of LNG Photo:Photo: Bald eagle (Jakob(Jakob Dulisse). shipments.14 15 shipments in ecologically sensitive areas of Those risks are outlined in a report BC, such as Howe Sound. released in 2008, after US authorities There are some very heavily employed a military laboratory to populated areas along the shores of Photo: Killer whale (Isabelle Groc). look at the safety threat posed by Howe Sound, many of which are linked LNG ships. The lab made conclusions by the busy Sea-to-Sky highway. The on the “areas of concern” surrounding double standard here is obvious: LNG tanker shipments. Within these why does our federal government areas, escaped LNG can represent feel these LNG shipments are safe a threat to the general public – enough for our west coast, but not especially when ignited. The report for our east? Photo: LNG tanker (Creative commons). ALTERNATIVES: FORESTRY FRACKING BANS IN NEW NOT FRACKING YORK AND BEYOND
ontrary to what we may hear from approach has harmed watersheds and n December 2014, the state of New other places where fracking has been Cthe BC government and the oil degraded entire ecosystems. At the same IYork joined a growing list of states, restricted or banned, yet there are no and gas industry, BC’s economy is not time, we’ve seen more unprocessed municipalities and provinces that have signs of a fracking ban being imposed a resource-based one. It certainly may or under-processed timber leave the imposed inde nite moratoriums or here in BC. have been in the past, but our economy province, resulting in a downward spiral of outright bans on fracking. How can an industry practice deemed has followed the natural trajectory of mill closures and layo s. The massive anti-fracking unsafe for New Yorkers be acceptable for most economies and now develops British Columbia lags far behind other campaign in the state of New York the communities of northern BC? mostly knowledge and jurisdictions in terms of started with local activist groups service-based jobs. jobs created per unit pushing their local city governments In 2013, the oil and of timber harvested. to ban fracking within their city gas industry created In BC, to create one limits, using zoning laws or passing just one per cent of full-time, year-round new ones if necessary. Cities, towns all the jobs in BC. The job we must cut 1,189 and villages began using municipal province’s high-tech cubic metres of timber laws to ban fracking locally, and the and service sectors Photo: Raw log exports protest (WC les). – one cubic metre gas industry failed when it tried to continue to grow, and we are fast roughly equals one city telephone pole. overturn those local bans in New becoming a hub for the world’s most In Ontario, the forest industry produces York’s highest court. advanced technologies.18 one job for every 205 cubic metres of Citizens also spoke out frequently When it comes to generating jobs by timber harvested, meaning they can cut to pressure Governor Andrew Cuomo extracting resources in BC, our forests the same amount of trees and employ on the issue of fracking. The head of Having stood beside the toxic remain the best option. If properly almost six times as many people (or cut New York’s Department of Health, wastewater holding ponds that dot the fracked landscape of northern BC, I managed and preserved, they could one-sixth of the trees and provide the Howard Zucker, drove the nal nail in can tell you that the practice here looks provide livelihoods on a potentially same amount of jobs).19 the fracking co n by declaring that and smells just as bad as anywhere else in nite basis – while helping to mitigate Instead of addressing our shortfall he would not want his own family to in North America. - Eoin Madden climate change at the same time. in sustainable forestry jobs, the BC live near fracking operations.20 Unfortunately, the current industrial government is xated on the extraction Ireland, France, Quebec and model that has dominated forestry in and export of lique ed fracked gas. Nova Scotia are just a few of the western Canada is based on endless BC needs to drop fracking and LNG, REFERENCES 1. Par tt, Ben and David Hughes. “LNG’s threat to water extraction and minimal domestic and re-invest in responsible forestry sustainability in BC”. Rabble.ca, Feb. 28, 2014. http://bit.ly/1IYd9x6 processing of timber resources. This for a cleaner economic future. 2. “BC working with other North American climate leaders”. BC Government, Dec. 8, 2014. http://bit.ly/1sS1hL5 3. “LNG Projects in BC”. BC Government, 2015. http://bit.ly/1wk6tT8 4. Bailie, Alison. “Carbon footprint of BC LNG boom could rival Alberta’s oilsands”. Pembina Institute, Jan. 13, 2014. http://bit.ly/1wk6vKD 5. “Short-lived Climate Pollutants in the 5th Assessment Report of the IPCC”. Climate & Clean Air Coalition, Apr. 2014. TAKE ACTION http://bit.ly/1wk6wyf 6. Warrick, Joby. “Methane plume over western US illustrates climate cost of gas leaks”. The Guardian, Jan. 4, 2015. Please write to the Premier of BC and urge the province to: Photo: Anti-fracking protest in http://bit.ly/1GfQyQN New York (Adrian Kinloch). 7. Howarth, Robert et. al. “Methane and the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations”. Climatic Put an end to reckless LNG plans that put our climate, salmon and Change, Apr. 2011. http://bit.ly/15c3KVs 8. “Mountain Pine Beetle”. BC Ministry of Forests, updated communities at risk May 2012. http://bit.ly/1Axu5Gj 9. “Major Primary Timber Processing Facilities in BC”. BC Strengthen the provincial carbon tax to cover ALL greenhouse gas Ministry of Forests, 2011. http://bit.ly/1yvnO2Q 10. “Northwest Ocean Acidi cation”. Sightline Institute, Nov. emissions from the oil and gas industry 2011. http://bit.ly/1eX4efW 11. Harding, John. “10 million scallops are dead”. Parksville- Qualicum Beach News, Feb. 25, 2014. http://bit.ly/1Axungg Prioritize responsible forestry for a stronger, resilient economy 12. “Skeena River Estuary Juvenile Salmon Habitat”. Ocean Photo: Harbour seal on BC coast Ecology, May 21, 2014. http://bit.ly/1Axut7L (John E Marriott). 13. Carr-Harris, Charmaine and Jonathan Moore. “Industrial Development Looming over Salmon Hotspot”. Skeena Wild, Apr. 28, 2014. http://bit.ly/1BPXRuq To sign the petition for a frack-free future in BC, visit 14. Letter from Cdn. Ambassador Gary Doer to US FERC, Feb. Premier of BC 3, 2010. http://bit.ly/1yxgSPA WildernessCommittee.org/fracking 15. Letter from Cdn. Ambassador Gary Doer to US FERC, May 17, 2013. http://bit.ly/1B65zPo PO Box 9041, Stn Prov Govt 16. “Breach and Safety Analysis of Spills Over Water from Large Lique ed Natural Gas Carriers”. Sandia National Laboratories, Victoria, BC V8W 9E1 May 2008. http://1.usa.gov/17XHEI9 250-387-1715 250-387-0087 Keep up with campaign news, events, action opportunities and more! 17. Lundquist, Edward. “US Coast Guard: Countering marine security risk”. Defense Media Network, Jan. 20, 2012. @ [email protected] Sign up for Climate Action E-alerts at http://bit.ly/1ugmRtC 18. “What’s fuelling BC’s economy?”. CRED BC, June 2014. WildernessCommittee.org/climateaction http://bit.ly/1CpqGeW 19. Par tt, Ben. “BC forestry missing out on great green job potential”. Georgia Straight, Aug. 11, 2011. http://bit.ly/14TBfvq 20. Virtanen, Michael. “New York gov. gets kudos, scorn after WildernessCommittee.org t8*-% fracking ban”. Hu ngton Post, Dec. 18, 2014. http://hu .to/1ugXoL1
I WANT CLIMATE CREDITS Writing: Eoin Madden. ACTION, NOT LNG! Editing: Alexis Stoymeno . YES! Graphic Design and Layout: Perry Sky Jack. Mapping: Geo Senichenko. Enclosed is: $25 $50 $100 Other $ ______Wilderness Committee, Vol. 34, No.1, 2015. Fed. reg. charity #11929-3009-RR0001 Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 0900567. clip Posted in Vancouver for free distribution. Printed in Canada Return to the: I want to become a member! Enclosed is my annual fee for a: on recycled newsprint with vegetable-based inks. Wilderness Committee Press Run 20,000 (March 2015) | Original Press Run 46 E. 6th Avenue, $59 Family Membership $35 Individual Membership 22,000 (January 2015) © Wilderness Committee 2015. Vancouver, BC V5T 1J4 All rights reserved. Written material may be used without permission when credit is given. NAME PHONE Published by Wilderness Committee — National Off ice 46 E. 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1J4 604-683-8220 or 1-800-661-9453 604-683-8229 call ADDRESS CITY (604) 683-8220 in the /WildernessCommittee Lower Mainland Yes, add me to your e-mail list. 1-800-661-9453 toll-free PROVINCE POSTAL CODE EMAIL @WilderNews elsewhere in Canada The Wilderness Committee is Canada’s largest membership-based wilderness preservation organization. WILDERNESS COMMITTEE Island Tides, March 19, 2015, Page 5 Saturna Notes - Priscilla Ewbank ith all the moonlight we’ve had in the last weeks, the green surge of growth must be sun and moonlight propelled—spring is barreling along. I find myself Wnot yet in sync with daylight savings time—my desire for dinner and the time for dinner are not meshing yet. Equinox—the world around us is so dramatic with change. Sun in the morning to rise to, moonlight lighting your way at night, and warmer, longer evenings full of stars. Outside is compelling. Focus and self discipline is required to keep indoors, doing the inside-gotta-get-done bits of life. Little ‘siren’ outside chores sing to me. This simply must be done—shovel, clippers! It will just take ten minutes—and it does, too. Then, another perfectly nice little job presents itself and away I go, no longer chained inside to all the tasks that are required. Spring Break & Easter Right now, we have visiting kids and parents from Alberta and other parts of BC, which are already celebrating spring break. And, probably, the first batch of energetic young bicyclists headed down to the campsites at Narvaez Bay. For Saanich-Gulf Islands kids, a later spring break and Easter will run together this year. Soon the community will be bustling with visitors and families who love the homegrown, small-scale Easter events we do year after year. The team that rakes the Canada goose poop off the vast Easter egg hunt lawn is waking up and looking for volunteers. Fresh, wet goose poop does not rake very well and there is a new batch every night. The strategy is to rake up all that can be gathered before the event and right before it rains hard so that the streaks and left overs ‘melt’ into the lawn before the big day. Photo: Nettie Adams Community members are thinking up what kinds of elaborate cakes to bake for the Cake Walk at the Easter Bake Saturna Island in the fog. Sale—there are about 30 astounding confections every year for the winners to choose from. Ecological Eduation Center kids who came to join us. The there any new ways of thinking about our current experience or Dian Johnstone, our new Saturna Lamb BBQ chair, has had speaker was Ben Dunsmuir, one of our former students who any old ways that would help us shift our trajectory? Do we two formal meetings and many ‘planning encounters’ with graduated from University of Victoria last August with a degree know anything or can we imagine anything?’ community members to start nailing down the many details in mechanical engineering. I was pretty uncomfortable and uneasy! In contrast, hearing that go into the huge Canada Day event. If she has your name Right after graduating, Ben headed over to Scotland to attend the details of the Summit experience, answering some questions on it, you do it. the New Story Summit at Findhorn Ecovillage with 350 other that Ben posed, and hearing what Ben did afterward—went The Rec Centre had a big outside cleanup last weekend, and people from around the world. Ben has also spent much of his south to Africa through Spain—was a relief. It seems to me that there is one planned for the Community Hall. The grounds of time at UVic involved with meditation, ecology, and discussing we are sitting with our darkest, deepest concern together, with the firehall look tidy and the General Store is full of daffodils how to embody a new way of looking at us in our world. no answer. and freshly pruned-back landscaping. The Saturna Lodge and Right off, he offered eight commonly presented rationales As always, some people spoke and most were silent. We 50 the Lighthouse Pub are hiring for the coming tourist season— (we all have our favourite one) about how we will collectively people experienced that we do not have the answer or a we are ready to roll! cope with our changing world as our population increases and framework to formulate a way forward, but we are engaged and New Story Evening and Potluck as we diminish our natural world. Each rationale emphasizes we know we care. And the next step might be…? 0 some part of this unfolding drama and also leaves out other vital About 50 people attended a vegetarian potluck dinner last week. parts. Potlucks on Saturna are common—vegetarian is not. Yearly we Did you appreciate this article? Help Island Tides The question Ben posed seemed to be: what can we do to host a salmon BBQ, a lamb BBQ, and twice yearly pig roasts. pay for publishing it! Mail or phone in your $30 lead ourselves from today to the future in the face of all that we < After potluck dinner we set chairs in a huge circle so that 50 annual subscription today: 250-216-2267. Don’t experience in the natural world that is dying around us? Are people were looking at each other, including all the Saturna delay—be part of the Island Tides team. Thank you!
NEWS SHORTS from page 3 particularly uncertain. NOTICE OF NOMINATION earthworms. If the supply of marine critters Gibsons Counts Eco-Assets SALT SPRING ISLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT declines, there will be less seagulls. The town of Gibsons, on the Sunshine Coast, Third Baby Orca Seen ELECTION OF TRUSTEES is now including its natural capital in the town’s Notice is hereby given to the owners of land within the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection Another new baby orca has been observed, financial accounts. Not just the roads, District that nominations for trustee (4 positions) will be received between: travelling with L-pod; its mother is probably L- sidewalks, sewers, etc, that the town built and 9:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. 94. Following the tradition of cute names given paid for, but also the natural assets that the Tuesday March 3rd, 2015 to baby whales, this one is named L-121. It is town was endowed with, and must now Friday March 13th, 2015 reported to be ‘really energetic’ by observers. operate and maintain. It may be the first During which period the nomination documents shall only be received during the office It’s two metres long and likely weighs about municipal government ever to list assets such hours of Monday through Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Ganges Fire Hall or 180kg. as wetlands, forests, aquifers, and foreshores. arrangements may be made to file nomination documents by phoning Thomas Moore at After nearly three years without a successful Gibsons taxpayers pay to manage and (250) 472 0059. birth, there have been four new babies this maintain all of these, and in turn reap the Three (3) Trustee positions are for a three year term commencing at the end of the Annual year—three now survive. The whales feed on benefits of having them. General Meeting to be held on April 20th, 2015 and terminating at the end of the Annual Chinook salmon, and may each eat up to 150kg Canadian municipal accounting standards General Meeting to be held in the year 2018 and one Trustee position is for a one year term a day. don’t recognize these assets, but that hasn’t commencing at the end of the end of the Annual General Meeting to be held on April 20th, There were about 90 Southern Resident stopped Gibsons from recognizing their value. 2015 and terminating at the Annual General Meeting to be held in the year 2016. orcas in 2000, but since then the local They are cheaper to operate and maintain, may The Election to be held on Saturday, April 18th, 2015 at the Salt Spring Island Public population has slipped to about 77. Many babies provide ‘free’ services, such as rainwater Library,129 McPhillips Avenue from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. An Advance Voting don’t survive their first year, so all the new management, storm protection, etc, as well as opportunity will be held at the Salt Spring Island Public Library,129 McPhillips Avenue youngsters will be watched closely, both by their being carbon neutral or even carbon positive. on Wednesday, April 15th 2015 between the hours of 11:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.. relatives and us humans. A fundamental part of the town’s Candidates shall be nominated by two duly qualified electors of the Salt Spring Island Fire An autopsy report is expected this month infrastructure, they are managed using Protection District. Nomination forms may be obtained at the Fire Hall or from Thomas F. on J-32, an orca, carrying a full term fetus, approaches that are customarily used to Moore, Returning Officer (250)472 0059. found dead near Courtenay on December 4. manage engineered assets. Those persons eligible to vote at this election will have the following qualifications: Herring Fisheries Health Risks Info Denied 1. Be a Canadian Citizen A bumper harvest of herring has been hauled The BC government has conducted research 2. Be eighteen years of age or older in by the roe fishery in the Strait of Georgia. concerning the health risks of the oil and gas 3. Be a resident in the Province of British Columbia for at least six months prior to this election Brian Kingzett, of Vancouver Island extraction industry in northeastern BC. 4. Be an owner of land within the boundaries of the Salt Spring Island Fire Protection University’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station, Phase–2 of the assessment was completed in District estimated that there were more than 70,000 the summer of 2014, but has not yet been tonnes of herring in the Strait this year. DFO 5. One vote is also allowed for each board or corporation that owns land within the Fire released. Protection District. The Board or Corporation must designate one person in writing to act as quotas allowed a catch of 15,440 tonnes for Independent MLA Vicki Huntington filed a seiners, and 13,975 tonnes for gillnetters. an authorized agent to vote on its behalf. freedom of information request, but it was If more than one person is registered on title as owner of land then those owners may Fishers extract the roe from female herring, denied on the basis that disclosing the records vote providing they meet the qualifications set out above. No persons may vote more than for sale to the Japanese market. The remainder could harm the financial or economic interests once with the exception that they may vote as an authorized agent and personally if they of the females, and the male herring, are used of a public body. own land on a personal basis. for fish meal or animal feed. Phase–1 of the assessment, released in Any that aren’t caught by humans are the Dated at Ganges, B.C. Thomas F. Moore 2012, found that many residents ‘attributed this 2nd day of March 2015 Returning Officer foundation food for salmon, seabirds, and personal health problems—such as asthma, sealions. So, some fishers feel that the quotas bronchitis, cancer, stress and sleep might be too generous to ensure that enough deprivation—directly to exposure to oil and gas Your $30 annual voluntary subscription makes a big herring survive for future years. Herring operations.’ There was also concern about difference! Phone 250-216-2267. Thank you! supplies on the west coast of Vancouver Island, contaminated water, spills, and leakage. 0 the Central Coast, and Haida Gwaii are www.islandtides.com Page 6, Island Tides, March 19, 2015 A Women's Coalition Cabinet - Elizabeth May could claim ‘last night I had the number of portfolios, but I think she’d like Inaction Now? strangest dream...’. It had to do with ‘So, given the chance, Trade. Low prices on the Stock Exchange celebrating International Women’s I get to assemble the best For Agriculture, Megan Leslie with a Day on Sunday, March 8. new focus on local and sustainable food Can bring quite monumental change; I Cabinet I can. And I decide to put Suddenly Canada’s male leadership had production. Now that the Big Oil’s guns are spiked together Canada’s first all-woman, I must say that I would have liked decided it had really made too big a mess of Fisheries currently has a woman all-party Cabinet. (It’s only fair. To see discussed what does it mean things to be able to continue in good minister, and, while I like Gail Shea, I think For boosting energy that’s clean, conscience. Political parties vapourized at Through most of our history Canada the legacy of the decisions she defended in And if, perhaps, in Canada too the astonishing voluntary surrendering of had all male Cabinets). And the nice the Harper regime mean we should get a The environment will get its due. power... and with no parties... somehow the thing is, there is no shortage of new minister. Judy Foote from House of Commons reconvened—with me talent right now in the House Newfoundland and Labrador knows how But that is not so easy when as Prime Minister. important sustainable fisheries are to this of Commons.’ ‘The environment’ is on page 10; So, given the chance, I get to assemble country, so I’d give her a chance to repair And Big Oil’s allies think it’s cool the best Cabinet I can. And I decide to put the department and reinstate habitat To keep on pushing fossil-fuel; together Canada’s first all-woman, all-party protections eliminated under Bill C-38. While media outlets often pander Cabinet. (It’s only fair. Throughout most of I’d keep Kerry-Lynne Findlay in Even with the current Parliament, I To what is outright propaganda. our history Canada had all male Cabinets). National Revenue. She has a heart of gold know we could do so much better without There’re lots of obstacles in sight And the nice thing is, there is no shortage and a legal background. With consensus hyper-partisanship, through consensus ‘Ere clean-oil prospects work out right. of talent right now in the House of decision-making to actually run a fair tax decision-making. Of course, it’s hard to plan what is required Commons. system, she’d be great. Of course, I’d have many more women When all your eminent scientists are fired. Justice Minister is obvious—Francoise Minister of Foreign Affairs Hélène too—Jo-Ann Roberts for Heritage (Green Perhaps my queries now seem too intense— Boivin, whip-smart lawyer. I would beg Laverdière, former foreign service officer, is candidate in Victoria) to plan the re- But—why do the Feds just sit upon the fence? Libby Davies not to leave so I could get her someone who could reverse the disastrous establishment of our national public Perhaps they think with climate-change we’re led on to take over Employment and Social efforts to eliminate Canada’s legendary broadcaster CBC. The fateful, rocky road to Armageddon; Development and set up a new national professional diplomat civil service. Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi (future Green MP Whate’er they think, their action plan is clear— housing programme. The Health Minister Rona Ambrose did a solid job in Public in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) to take With global warming just don’t interfere! should be Dr Carolyn Bennett, a medical Works, running one of the cleanest over Aboriginal and Northern Affairs and doctor and former Minister of Public procurement processes in Canada’s history. create the education programme for And yet, it seems, non-governmental peers Health. Minister of Environment should be So, I’d ask her to go to PWC again. aboriginal children that Canada needs. Don’t lack in the appropriate ideas a scientist who has served on the IPCC—Dr Joy Smith could head a new division of Dr Lynne Quarmby, Simon Fraser That should be tried. Also—so I’ve been taught— Kirsty Duncan. justice to end human trafficking. And Diane University head of the Molecular Biology ‘Do nothing’ is only good as last resort; That other Duncan dynamo, Linda Ablonczy, who is the most able of and Biochemistry Department and first MP And actually might seem to denigrate Duncan of the NDP, also has great Conservative MPs relegated to minor posts for the new riding of Burnaby-North The economic stability of our state. credentials to run Environment Canada as in the old Harper Regime, would be a good Seymour, setting up the renewed scientific And inaction against Bill C-51? she was once director of prosecutions there. reformer at Treasury Board. We could start capacity of the Government of Canada. Wouldn’t Stephen Harper think that’s fun! Her expertise should be just as valuable in by ensuring equal pay for work of equal Frances Litman (Green MP for H Barry Cotton Natural Resources, working through a new value in the federal civil service. Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke) for Transport mandate in sustainability. For Minister of Finance I pick Peggy and newly Green Deborah Coyne, who has Nash, who has a better grip on finance than served on Immigration and Refugee Joe Oliver, sticking to facts against a chorus boards, should take over that department. of expectations that says any NDP idea will Don’t worry. The Green Party does not Southern be loopy by definition. have an agenda to eliminate men from Lisa Raitt is a sensible grounded decision-making. How could we exclude pragmatist. I’d ask her to fix the mess in half our population? But just for fun on Gulf Islands Public Safety and put in place real International Women’s Day, it’s a nice accountability with parliamentary dream. 0 oversight. Did you appreciate this article? COMMUNITYY I think Michelle Rempel would be great Help Island Tides pay for as minister for International Development
FOGARTY ACCOUNTING & If you advertise from March 19 to April 18, 2015 in the non-election assent voting known as TAX SERVICES LTD the Hornby Island Fire Hall Referendum, you have rules to follow under the Local Elections CANADIAN & AMERICAN Campaign Financing Act. TAX PREPARATION & CONSULTATION ■ You must register with Elections BC as a non-election assent voting advertising sponsor PERSONAL • CORPORATE before conducting any advertising. tel (250) 653-4692 fax (250) 653-9221 ■ You must include your name and contact information on all advertising. [email protected] ■ You must file a disclosure statement with Elections BC by July 17. Fulford Village office on Salt Spring Island To learn more about the rules and ask for registration forms, contact Elections BC at 1-855-952-0280. Providing Canadian and American tax services since 1978 This non-election assent voting takes place in Baynes-Sound - Denman/Hornby Island (Electoral Area ‘A’ of the Comox Valley Regional District).
Butler Gravel & Media outlets cannot publish or transmit non-election assent voting advertising on Concrete…Better General Voting Day, Saturday, April 18, 2015. from the ground up! Reliable Service, Quality Products & Competitive Prices elections.bc.ca/lecfa Serving All The Gulf Islands Phone 250-652-4484 1-855-952-0280 Fax 250-652-4486 6700 Butler Crescent, Saanichton, B.C. www.islandtides.com
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Page 8, Island Tides, March 19, 2015 Photo: Perri Gorrara Notes From Denman Island Perri Gorrara Denman Island Filmmakers Denman Island filmmakers had a big February. Jori Phillips previewed her web series, ‘Oddly Audley’ at a well-attended screening at the Activity Centre, cheered on by her Denman Islander parents, Shirley and Del Phillips. Jori wrote, directed, filmed and edited the series on Denman Island. She is also the star. We wish her great success in her LA-based career. Francois la Liberte previewed his latest documentary, ‘Touching Life’, a film that documents the challenges of two visually impaired parents raising a sighted child. The film will be seen on a major network later this year. Congrats to Francois A group of Denman Islanders have an election campaign already on the go, see story left. and Jocelyn on their latest achievement. I guess our campaign was effective. Kudos to everyone at ‘Walking’ The Canada Trail Gearing Up For The Federal Election DOC and Coalwatch.com for their efforts to save our Dr Ron Wilson continues to lead the walking group every The ‘Stop Harper, Dump Duncan’ campaign is gathering steam. environment. We have a win in the short term, but we will Tuesday and they have covered, kilometre-wise, over 1,200km The Facebook page is up and a satirical, serious and funny video remain vigilant. Patty Willis, Mike Morell and Keith Porteous, of the Trans Canada Trail. The trail is over 17,000km long and is gradually being shot. It will feature many Denman Islanders we love you. Dr Ron is asking individual walkers and runners to contribute offering their opinions in a broad range of expression. We hope Denman Growers and Producers to the tally of kilometers on the website: it will be brilliant and go viral. The Denman Island Growers and Producers are putting on a denmanislandwalkinggroup.com This is a Denman Island series of workshops at the Community School in March. They The Denman Conservancy Association venture across the country and is great fun. Thanks, Dr Ron, for range from: ‘Pruning Older Trees’ to ‘Organics—What does it helping us up our fitness levels. Andrew Fyson is supervising the removal of invasive, alien Mean?’ and ‘Types of Greenhouses’. Each workshop costs $10. Spanish Conversation Practice plants and the clearing of trails in the Lindsay Dickson Nature Thanks for organizing the workshops goes to Veronica Laurie Rendon is leading a Spanish conversation group every Reserve and the Morrison Marsh Nature Reserve. Our thanks Timmons of the H/DGPA. Sunday at 2pm at the Denman Island Guesthouse Bistro. go out to Andrew and all the volunteers who give their time to Table Tennis Tournament Spanish speakers with levels of fluency from 0-100% are this important task. The Sixth Annual Table Tennis Tournament took place at the welcome. It is a fun time, full of laughter, connection and Denman Opposes Coal (DOC) Activity Centre on March 7 and 8. It was completely open learning. Thanks go out to Donna, Sheldon and the Bistro staff Great news on this front. Compliance Coal has withdrawn its (anyone could choose to play) and highly competitive. Great for providing the group with a great environment and excellent Environmental Assessment Application (see more, News food was offered for sale and all proceeds went to the Denman coffee, tea and food on their menu. Shorts, page 3). In their own words ‘we received some Island Memorial Society to support our natural burial cemetery, Well, another small taste of life on Denman Island. There is misinformation that is circulating in some communities which will open later this year. Thanks go out to Peter Marshall, so much more to share with our Island Tides’ community. regarding the Raven Project and believe it is appropriate that Louise Bell, Stephanie Slater and all the members of DIMS for Until the next time... ciao for now from Denman Island in we withdraw the project from the screening process at this time’. their efforts. ‘oh so beautiful’ British Columbia. 0 MLA Report Claire Trevena, North Island This year’s BC budget is, in the main, a budget funding to private education. It is wrong that that gives to the rich through tax cuts, and parents have to fundraise at public schools for takes away from everyone else through textbooks or equipment while public money increases in fees. goes into elite, private schools. If a parent The top 2% of income earners receive a tax wants to opt out of public education for their break, which will cost the province $230 children, that is their right. But they should not million. A millionaire will have $17,000 extra then expect public money to subsidize the a year to play with. And yet most people will private education at Shawnigan Lake, St see no relief. Instead they are faced with ever Georges or Glenlyon Norfolk. Yet this budget increasing hydro bills (another 6% planned for saw a 33% increase in money going to these this year), with never-ending ferry fare hikes private establishments. (another 4% planned for this year), and with There was no mention in the budget of the MSP fees that are going up again. Premier’s prosperity fund, no talk now of In my response to the budget I questioned getting rid of the PST. The concept of a debt- why BC continues to charge MSP to pay for our free BC seems to have evaporated like a gas. healthcare. The flat tax, which costs the same But that is because the liquefied natural gas whether you earn $50,000 or $150,000, pipe dream on which it was all built has proven brings in more than $2 billion a year to the to be a fantasy. public coffers and is one of the main sources of The BC Liberals described this as being a revenue for the BC government. No wonder it budget with a surplus. However, when you does not want to do what other provinces have have child poverty, an overburdened education done for years and roll MSP into the system, seniors without proper care, progressive income tax structure. crumbling infrastructure and citizens Student fees will also bring in more than struggling to get by, you have a deficit not a $1.3 billion. This is an extraordinary amount. surplus. A government’s first priority is to Students are struggling to pay for an education. ensure all people’s well-being and security. 0 To add to their difficulties, BC is the only Did you appreciate this article? Help province without a grant system to assist Island Tides pay for publishing it! students. + = Greenhouse Gardening Starts Here! Halls English Greenhouses are known for high quality & affordability. Five models, 6 or 8ft wide, 4 to14ft long. Easy to assemble kits. See our website for details. Russell Nursery, Island Agent for Halls Greenhouses 1370 Wain Road, North Saanich, BC (first exit off ferry) 250-656-0384 www.russellnursery.com/greenhouses If you wish you had been reading Island Tides for years—you can! Visit our online archive at www.islandtides.com www.islandtides.com