Every Second Strait of Georgia Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at islandtides.com The Gulf Islands & Eastern Vancouver Island ~ Bridging The Gulf Since 1989 Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 18 Number 24 Your Coastal Community Newspaper December 14, 2006—January 10, 2007 Tide tables 2 Littoral 3 Lanternfest 4 Letters 4 What’s on? 5 Bluebirds 6 Bulletin board 7 Saturna notes 8 Fresh voices on Galiano and Island Trust-wide Four enterprising women on Galiano have taken on a huge task, the publication of a newsletter giving voice to ideas and opinions on Galiano. The publication has a particular theme; the current review of Galiano’s Forest Photo: Helen Elizabeth Schnare Bylaws. Helena Chambers, Pam Frier, Winter comes to sandstone galleries at Retreat Cove, Galiano Island. Cheryl Bastedo and Sue Turner’s mission statement is, ‘Galiano is at a crossroads. Decisions will be made in the near future about land use issues Breakthrough Green vote in London North Centre; Dion’s green that will affect every aspect of our ~ Patrick Brown experience of Galiano. Our purpose is to Liberal breakthrough open up communication and establish a Green Party leader Elizabeth May finished a Leadership candidate Dion was Environment was that winner Pearson endorsed planks of the dialogue in the community … there is a strong second in the November 27 London North Minister in the Martin government and a strong Green Party platform in his campaign. need for truthful, transparent sharing of Centre federal by-election, capturing 25.8% of the supporter of Kyoto. His leadership campaign May finished a remarkably strong second, information in an attempt to reexamine vote and trailing Liberal Glen Pearson by only heavily emphasized environmental issues, with 9,845 votes. Her 25.8% showing beat the the long held beliefs held by members of 9.1%. The Ontario by-election demonstrated that particularly climate change. London elected MP Conservative candidate, former mayor Dianne the Galiano community. ’ the Green Party platform and May’s style of Glen Pearson, had endorsed Dion in the Liberal Haskett, by 518 votes, and the NDP’s Megan Galiano Voices, which is bulk-mailed leadership appeal to a substantial number of leadership race. Dion visited London during the Walker by 4,480 votes. to Island addresses, does not side-step London voters. election. Compared to the January 2006 general important issues and differences and This Green breakthrough in a Liberal Election Results even adds a little humour. Its second election, the Green Party took votes from all the stronghold (the seat has been Liberal for 18 years) In London North Centre, it’s hardly surprising that edition, out November 29, has an other parties; the Green share of the vote has had an immediate and significant impact on the by-election was won by Liberal Glen Pearson; analysis of the impacts of the recent quintupled from 5.4% to 25.8%; the Liberals share the national political scene; the green message longtime Liberal MP Joe Fontana was an Private Managed Forest Land Act, was cut from 40.1% to 34.9%; the Conservatives being sent by the electorate may have been a legislation which has wider relevance institution (he had resigned to pursue a bid for dropped from 29.9% to 23.8%, and the NDP factor in Stephane Dion’s win as new Liberal London’s mayor). Pearson garnered 13,285 votes, that Galiano alone. Luckily, Galiano ELECTIONS, please turn to page 3 Voices can now be downloaded at leader at their December 2 Convention. some 34.9% of those cast. What was interesting www.galianovoices.shawbiz.ca. If you wonder what’s happening on Galiano it’s well worth the read. For Galianoites TILMA: the Trojan horse ~ ‘Island Tides’ Special Report by Patrick Brown who missed theirs in the mail this time, check store counters or contact one of The Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) between Property Rights Supreme the editors. British Columbia and Alberta, signed last April in Edmonton, could be a But little has been mentioned about TILMA’s provision for any investor to A New ‘Alliance’ 'Trojan horse’ to create an opportunity for the addition of property rights to challenge ‘any matter regarding the interpretation or application of this the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a key part of Canada’s constitution. agreement’ which an investor may characterize as operating ‘to restrict or to Support the This would trigger a massive change in Canadian law and government. impair’ trade, investment or labour mobility. Islands Trust Until recently, the Agreement has received scant attention in the two There are few regulations or pieces of legislation, provincial or municipal, Another new group of concerned provinces involved, and even less across Canada. The low-key government which could not be seen under some circumstances as restricting citizens from across the southern Gulf explanations so far published have centred on ‘regulatory harmonization’ investment. This would clearly include land-use regulations, provincial or Islands has formed to support the between the two provinces to ease the ability of individuals and businesses municipal, and provides a mechanism for massive deregulation. The effect ‘preserve and protect’ goals of the based in one province to do business in the other; and on government is to establish a basis for the exercise of untrammeled ‘property rights.’ Islands Trust Act. The inauguration of procurement regulations which would open bidding on contracts at virtually TILMA allows some exceptions, but even in those areas, measures may Gulf Islands Alliance was announced at all government levels to proposals from the other province. still be challenged if they are ‘more trade restrictive than necessary’ to Islands Trust Council in Victoria on All of this, it has been said, is backed up by a well-defined procedure for accomplish the stated objective. (A ‘measure’ is broadly defined as any December 9. dispute settlement, culminating in a three-person non-elected, non-judicial ‘legislation, regulation, standard, directive, requirement, guideline, ‘We want to ensure the full panel that would have the power to exact penalties up to $5 million per case. program, policy, administrative practice or other procedure’.) TRUST SUPPORT, please turn to page 6 TILMA, please turn to page 2 , Happy Holidays & An Exciting New Year from Everyone at Island Tides ... PHOTO: HELEN ELIZABETH SCHNARE Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Dec 14, 2006 Electoral boundaries Langford Councillor commission wraps up Denise Blackwell elected AT FULFORD HARBOUR initial consultations CRD Chair DECEMBER British Columbia’s Electoral Boundaries Commission appreciates After a tie-breaker vote Langford Councillor, Denise Blackwell the submissions it has received and heard during 34 consultation was declared Capital Regional District chair. The result came Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. sessions around BC, says Commission Chair Bruce Cohen. after two tied votes of the CRD Board between Denise Blackwell 0256 4.6 1.4 0657 11.8 3.6 ‘Between mid-September and the end of November, we and the former chair Alan Lowe. Esquimalt Mayor Chris 12 1103 11.2 3.4 20 1145 10.5 3.2 visited communities throughout the province, we listened to the TU 1848 6.2 1.9 WE 1410 10.8 3.3 Clements was acclaimed as vice-chair. MA 2308 6.9 2.1 ME 2240 0.3 0.1 information citizens gave us and we carefully documented that ‘I am very pleased with the results, I feel my experience as 0334 5.9 1.8 0732 11.8 3.6 input,’ Cohen said. ‘Now we will begin the detailed process of vice-chair during the past year will serve me well in my new 13 1123 10.8 3.3 21 1229 10.5 3.2 considering the feedback, reviewing the maps and developing position,’ said Blackwell, ‘ I look forward to moving forward WE 1912 5.2 1.6 TH 1452 10.8 3.3 ME JE 2320 0.3 0.1 boundary recommendations.’ with innovative solutions to the challenges facing the region.’ More than 500 people attended consultation sessions across Denise Blackwell is a long time resident of Langford and has 0158 7.2 2.2 0805 11.8 3.6 14 0420 7.2 2.2 22 1314 10.2 3.1 the province—from Nelson to Fort Nelson, Surrey to Smithers served on its council since 1992. She is the chair of the Parks and TH 1142 10.8 3.3 FR 1538 10.5 3.2 and Port Hardy to Prince George. Recreation Committee, vice-chair of the Affordable Housing JE VE 1936 4.3 1.3 The commission’s preliminary report must be filed with the and Langford Beautification and Festival committees. 0346 8.5 2.6 0001 0.7 0.2 Speaker of the Legislative Assembly by August 15 next year. The Councillor Blackwell also sits on the Langford Emergency Plan 15 0538 8.2 2.5 23 0837 11.8 3.6 FR 1201 10.5 3.2 SA 1409 9.8 3.0 commission will hold public hearings in the fall of 2007 on the Executive, Protective Services and Transportation, and Public VE 2002 3.3 1.0 SA 1630 10.2 3.1 boundaries proposed in the preliminary report. The final report Works Committees. She was also chair of the CRD Regional 0435 9.5 2.9 0043 1.0 0.3 must be delivered to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Hospital Board during 2006, vice-chair Chris Clements will now 16 0707 9.2 2.8 24 0908 11.8 3.6 February, 2008. be appointed to this position.