Strait of Georgia Every Second Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at Coastal Currents ~ Bridging The Gulf Since 1989 islandtides.com Canadian Publications Mail Product Volume 20 Number 2 February 7—February 20, 2008 $1 at Selected Retailers Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Tide tables 2 Saturna notes 3 Live local 2 Letters 4 What’s on? 5 Ecolabels 6 Valparaíso 10 Bulletin board 11 Salt Spring pathways get a big boost Salt Spring’s Partners Creating Pathways project has reached the target in its fundraising for a pathway running from Wildwood Crescent to Blain Road, parallel to but away from the road. Two contributions put the fund over the top, first a federal New Horizon seniors’ initiative award of $20,000. This grant brought the project just a mere $3,500 from their goal of $90,000. In December, on hearing the good news Salt Photo Christa Grace-Warrick Springs Park & Recreation Commission Log footbridge across Lyall Creek salmon stream on Saturna. The stream has been given a helping hand by voted unanimously to top up the fund by the necessary $3,500. Islanders raising and releasing salmon fry and by the construction of a fish-friendly culvert under the road, As if this good news wasn’t enough, close to this scenic crossing. Island Pathways then learned that Allteck Line Contractors Inc will donate gravel to the project. Sorting out farm taxes Opposition to LNG At Island Pathway’s November 23 AGM, the SSI Lions Club presented Jean Jenny MacLeod Gelwicks from Island Pathways and Zeke In December, Rick Thorpe, Minister of Small farm/ residential designation. Some Saanich tanker port grows Blazeka from Trail and Nature Club with Business and Revenue, ordered a review of farmers’ taxes have risen as much as 260%. Fifteen community groups from around the Strait of a generous donation which increased the farm property tax assessment policy. The policy The BC Assessment formula used to qualify Georgia have banded together to stop a proposed number of partners to a very respectable review is aimed to protect small farms, and in for farm tax status also uses a minimum gross Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project on Texada list. particular small suburban-area farms. revenue of $2,500 for parcels of land between Island. The ‘Alliance To Stop LNG’ is opposing ‘Our financial partners to date include: The ministry’s initiative, in response to two and ten acres. However, farms under two Westpac LNG Corporation’s plan to build an LNG SSI Transportation Commission, CRD, growing popular support for green-based acres must produce $10,000 of gross revenue tanker facility, a gas-fired generation station, as well SSI Foundation, Victoria Foundation, BC action, climate-change adaptation, and eat- to qualify for farm status. as a high voltage power transmission power line on Transmission Commission, PARC, Lions local movements, was welcomed by farmers as Case Study in Coping Texada (from the proposed site at Coho Point to BC Club, Royal Canadian Legion, Allteck Line Contractors, and many individual an opportunity to give needed help to local food In a quirky situation, following a new split Hydro’s existing ‘Cheekye-Dunsmuir’ line). Proposed last year, the project is currently on hold community members,’ says Blazeka. producers and to lend an environmental assessment, on a small farm of 2.78 acres until new provincial climate change directives are ‘We could not do this project if it was perspective to outdated assessment criteria. (where eggs are the main product) only one announced. However, locals do not believe this is the not for the Community Transit and The review involves property tax acre is now classified as farm. This means that end of the project and continue to publicize the issue Transportation Commission who will be assessment on farmland not in the Agricultural this farmer must now make $10,000 gross and the new coalition is a result of their continuing taking on the liability and maintenance Land Reserve (ALR). Its objective is to ensure income from the sale of the eggs. He is left with action. of this project and Gary Holman who has that farm assessment rules are clear and that three options: ‘The known risks that come with this proposed been one of our best supporters,’ adds small-scale farms in BC will not only survive • he would have to increase his flock from 45 project are too great for both the residents of Texada Gelwicks. but thrive. to 180 to meet this revenue requirement; and the surrounding communities,’ says Chuck ‘Work parties were busy last fall and Historically, tax assessments for farms have (impossible as supply management law Childress from Texada Action Now (TAN). ‘We want have cleared the entire length of the been lower than residential assessments. This prevents more than 99 layers without quota); to see this project abandoned before irreparable pathway from Wildwood Crescent to has been to assist farmers in their pursuit of • he could fence off another acre of property damage is done to our region and our way of life.’ Blain Road in the hopes people with food production and agriculture in general. which means cutting down the trees to qualify An LNG terminal brings with it many risks, sturdy shoes can start walking it,’ says However qualifying yearly for the lower taxes the acre as farmland; or asserts the Alliance To Stop LNG, including increased Blazeka. ‘We plan to have at least 4-6 has been onerous. • he could discontinue his egg production tanker traffic and the associated increeased risk of more workbees in the spring when we The ministry’s review was triggered by a business. accident. Increased security around tankers, due to will be preparing the site for the pathway public outcry after a BC Assessment Authority Meeting in Saanich their volatile content would disrupt existing construction and landscaping.’ (BCAA) re-assessment of 204 Saanich On January 18, the Peninsula Agricultural commercial and recreational boating traffic and After the pathway is constructed they properties classified as farms, during 2007. Commission (PAC) met at Prospect Lake impact tourism. Texada residents say that their ferry hope to landscape with saved and donated plants. The group hopes anyone School in Saanich. Lana Popham, in her route and other marine activities will be affected as Split Designations well. who has native plants to donate to the welcome to the participants, noted that the According to John Wilcox, Past President of The Stop LNG Alliance says that the proposed gas- project will hold on to them until May. issues that arise from the farm status Island Growers on Salt Spring Island and of fired electricity generating plant would also The project is also looking for donations assessment review will impact the foundation ‘District A’ Farmers Institutes, to qualify significantly increase BC’s total greenhouse gas of split-rail fencing and large boulders. of agriculture in BC. currently in BC Assessment’s terms ‘food must emissions, which is counter to the provincial ‘We owe a big thank you to the be produced on every square inch of your small She went on to say that she supports looking government’s new Energy Plan and would make it community and all our partners,’ say farm by people allowed to work at nothing else.’ at farm status assessments and she encourages more difficult for the province to reach its reduction Gelwicks and Blazeka, ‘Thank you to all All land not being ‘actively’ farmed is now farmers participating in the process. She called targets. those who have become partners by being considered residential by BCAA. This has for a moratorium on BCAA’s farm ‘At a time when the provincial government is donating money, and time, equipment lead to many reassessed farms falling into a split FARM TAXES please turn to page 11 LNG FACILITY, please turn to page 2 and materials at our work bees.’ ✐ Visit often to read background to current topics. Our advertisers’’ websites are just a click away from our homepage. wwwwww..iissllaannddttiiddeess..ccoomm Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Feb 7, 2008 Commentary ~ Barry O’Neill Local government; local economy According to recent polls, a majority of Canadians believe that change those decisions if enough people disagree. The problem the federal government has too much power. Nearly as many is local governments are facing more challenges to their decision- AT FULFORD HARBOUR believe that local governments—including school boards— making ability, thanks to interference by the other levels of should have more power. According to an Ipsos-Reid poll, government. And frequently, that interference is not good for our FEBRUARY commissioned last fall by CUPE BC, most people trust local communities. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. school boards to make decisions about the education of their The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement children; far more than they trust the provincial government to (TILMA) between BC and Alberta, for example, stops local 0617 11.2 3.4 0039 9.2 2.8 do so. governments and school boards from making decisions for their 6 1117 9.2 2.8 14 0300 8.9 2.7 WE 1452 10.2 3.1 TH 0854 11.2 3.4 Why is it that we place such faith in our local community citizens and children if those deals interfere with the rights of 2236 1.6 0.5 1711 2.3 0.7 leadership—both councils and school boards—to do the right investors. And so-called public-private partnerships (P3s), which 0635 11.2 3.4 0227 10.2 3.1 thing? saddle taxpayers with the burden of debt for contracts that can 7 1143 8.9 2.7 15 0433 9.8 3.0 The main reason is that they are local.