Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Telus intends to erect a a 73-meter tall cel phone tower on land owned by the Wei Wai Kai Nation at Drew Harbour, on Quadra Island.

They announced this in the Bird’s Eye on April 21 and April 28, stating “any person may comment by close of business on June 4th.” Interested parties are to email Brian Gregg of SitePath Consulting at [email protected]

Gregg emailed the Strathcona Regional District that “As you know, the land use authority in this instance is the First Nation however we wanted to send your team a copy of the upcoming newspaper notice as a courtesy to keep the SRD aware of TELUS’ plans in the area. We have full support of the We Wai Kai Nation Chief and Council and wanted to ensure that your team is in receipt of this notification as a courtesy.”

In response, the SRD Board is writing a protest to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to say they are opposed to this project until the community has been properly consulted.

According to Regional Director Jim Abram, the SRD lost out on Connected Coast funding because Telus gave the government incorrect information. The SRD had to borrow the money.

Regional Director Jim Abram said Telus has been trying to impede Quadra Island’s involvement in the Connected Coast project.

He said the more developed southern part of Quadra Island was not able to obtain funding through the Connected Coast because Telus gave the government misleading information about their internet connection speed.

” … That we were covered to a degree of 50 megabytes down, 10 megabytes up. That is untrue and we (subsequently) proved it with our screenshots. The highest one was 38. most of them were down around the 10s,” said Abram.

“They cut out a huge amount of our funding for the Connected Coast, which we are all involved in. We just passed a motion to borrow a bunch of money and that is because of what Telus has done. in this situation”

“Now they are trying to further impede our movement on the Connected Coast by putting up cell towers that will provide cell service … Also telling people that they can get high speed internet from those cell towers, which I believe they can – at a great deal of cost. That they are not telling us.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - It has been a year since the The Campbell River Business Recovery Task Force described fish farms as one of the city’s three key first dollar industries. Mayor Andy Adams said they are Campbell River’s largest economic driver. This is also a sector being phased out over the course of the next year. In the last of a series about the 2021 Federal Budget, North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney talks about funding for salmon farms

She began by acknowledging that indigenous communities and wild salmon stewards have been raising concerns about sea lice from fish farms for some time.

“Recently, in the fisheries and oceans committee, I was reading some pretty powerful testimony about the impact sea lice is having on wild salmon stock. We have to recognize that,” saiid Blaney.

Funding for salmon farms

That said, prior to this budget $55.5 billion was already allocated to a sustainable aquaculture program.

“That is something that is being worked out with the Parliamentary Officer for the DFO, Terry Beech. He promised that this Spring he would have a report that would talk about what sustainable aquaculture would look like into the future. We are still waiting for that.”

“In this budget, the 2021 budget, another $20 million over the next two years was designated for more engagement work, support for Indigenous communities, communities at large, the industry and looking into how the sector can move forward. Of course there is also another $3 million invested, for the next two years, to look at pilot area based management approaches to planning management and monitoring activities of aquaculture on the BC coast.”

“So there are some resources coming, but what we really need to see is what is the plan?”

The government is currently meeting with industry, communities and indigenous leaders.

“We need to see some support for people as we go through this transition and, of course, I have been a longstanding advocate for closed containment so we don’t lose those aquaculture jobs, they just have a period of time when they transition into something else."

Photo credit: Parliament Hill in Ottawa by tsaiproject via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - It has been a year since the The Campbell River Business Recovery Task Force described fish farms as one of the city’s three key first dollar industries. Mayor Andy Adams said they are Campbell River’s largest economic driver. This is also a sector being phased out over the course of the next year. In the last of a series about the 2021 Federal Budget, North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney talks about funding for salmon farms

She began by acknowledging that indigenous communities and wild salmon stewards have been raising concerns about sea lice from fish farms for some time.

“Recently, in the fisheries and oceans committee, I was reading some pretty powerful testimony about the impact sea lice is having on wild salmon stock. We have to recognize that,” saiid Blaney.

Funding for salmon farms

That said, prior to this budget $55.5 billion was already allocated to a sustainable aquaculture program.

“That is something that is being worked out with the Parliamentary Officer for the DFO, Terry Beech. He promised that this Spring he would have a report that would talk about what sustainable aquaculture would look like into the future. We are still waiting for that.”

“In this budget, the 2021 budget, another $20 million over the next two years was designated for more engagement work, support for Indigenous communities, communities at large, the industry and looking into how the sector can move forward. Of course there is also another $3 million invested, for the next two years, to look at pilot area based management approaches to planning management and monitoring activities of aquaculture on the BC coast.”

“So there are some resources coming, but what we really need to see is what is the plan?”

The government is currently meeting with industry, communities and indigenous leaders.

“We need to see some support for people as we go through this transition and, of course, I have been a longstanding advocate for closed containment so we don’t lose those aquaculture jobs, they just have a period of time when they transition into something else."

Photo credit: Parliament Hill in Ottawa by tsaiproject via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - At the April 28th meeting, The Wilderness Tourism Association (WTA) of BC asked the SRD Board to support DFO’s decision to remove fish farms from the Discovery Islands.

WTA President Breanne Quesnel, of Spirit of the West Adventures on Quadra Island, reminded the board that they also represent the interests of 15 of its member companies operating within the Strathcona Regional District.

“Our ask is that threats to wild salmon, which in turn are a threat to our business and this industry, are removed, and our specific ask for the board is that you do not come out with a letter in support of fish farms,” she said.

If the Board does write a letter, Quesnel asked that it be in support of the DFO and the consultations that occurred.

Four SRD Directors have come out in support of the Aquaculture sector: Mayor Brad Unger of Gold River, who is also Chair of the SRD Board; Mayor Andy Adams of Campbell River; Mayor Mark Baker of Sayward; and Campbell River Director Charlie Cornfield.

Subsequent to that, the entire SRD Board signed on to a letter protesting the DFO’s failure to consult them on a decision that will have immense economic impacts on the region.

“My memory on this one, is that in January we passed a resolution stating our concern about the lack of process. I do not believe this board has taken a position one way or the other,” said Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson.

Jim Abram, Regional Director for most of the Discovery Islands, pointed out that two of the three WTA presenters – Breanne Quesnel and Ross Campbell – were his constituents.

Jamie Boulding, President of the Strathcona Park Lodge, intended to inform the board how important wild salmon were to his business, but was not able to speak due to connection problems.

Quesnel told the SRD board, “We speak to you today as business owners within the community, as Wilderness Tourism Association members as well as owner/operators of thriving eco-tourism companies. We are coming before you for several reasons. We want to ensure that the board is appraised of the value of the wilderness and adventure tourism sector in this region … We ask that the SRD work with various governments and levels of government to assist with the transition of the net pens out of the Discovery Islands.

“The Wilderness tourism operators in the region include lodges, whale and wildlife watching tours, bear viewing companies, kayaking companies, boat charters, sport fishing and many others. These companies depend on and thrive when there is healthy wild salmon stock and are considered part of the wild salmon economy.”

(There is much more in the podcast)

She added, “The removal of these farms from the Discovery Islands will benefit the communities and wild salmon economy up and down the coast, including here is the Strathcona Regional District.”

Quesnel reminded the SRD that while the aquaculture and fishing sectors contribute $3.3 billion in GDP to the province, tourism brings in more than $8.7 billion.

More than 5.5 million tourists come to Vancouver Island every year, spending over $2.2 billion. This translates into over 60,000 jobs.

“Within the Discovery Islands, there are over 60 tourism businesses that directly depend on wilderness and wildlife and these businesses of course provide many spin-off benefits to the community. The tourism industry in this region is estimated at between $40 and $50 million per year,” she said.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - At the April 28th meeting, The Wilderness Tourism Association (WTA) of BC asked the SRD Board to support DFO’s decision to remove fish farms from the Discovery Islands.

WTA President Breanne Quesnel, of Spirit of the West Adventures on Quadra Island, reminded the board that they also represent the interests of 15 of its member companies operating within the Strathcona Regional District.

“Our ask is that threats to wild salmon, which in turn are a threat to our business and this industry, are removed, and our specific ask for the board is that you do not come out with a letter in support of fish farms,” she said.

If the Board does write a letter, Quesnel asked that it be in support of the DFO and the consultations that occurred.

Four SRD Directors have come out in support of the Aquaculture sector: Mayor Brad Unger of Gold River, who is also Chair of the SRD Board; Mayor Andy Adams of Campbell River; Mayor Mark Baker of Sayward; and Campbell River Director Charlie Cornfield.

Subsequent to that, the entire SRD Board signed on to a letter protesting the DFO’s failure to consult them on a decision that will have immense economic impacts on the region.

“My memory on this one, is that in January we passed a resolution stating our concern about the lack of process. I do not believe this board has taken a position one way or the other,” said Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson.

Jim Abram, Regional Director for most of the Discovery Islands, pointed out that two of the three WTA presenters – Breanne Quesnel and Ross Campbell – were his constituents.

Jamie Boulding, President of the Strathcona Park Lodge, intended to inform the board how important wild salmon were to his business, but was not able to speak due to connection problems.

Quesnel told the SRD board, “We speak to you today as business owners within the community, as Wilderness Tourism Association members as well as owner/operators of thriving eco-tourism companies. We are coming before you for several reasons. We want to ensure that the board is appraised of the value of the wilderness and adventure tourism sector in this region … We ask that the SRD work with various governments and levels of government to assist with the transition of the net pens out of the Discovery Islands.

“The Wilderness tourism operators in the region include lodges, whale and wildlife watching tours, bear viewing companies, kayaking companies, boat charters, sport fishing and many others. These companies depend on and thrive when there is healthy wild salmon stock and are considered part of the wild salmon economy.”

(There is much more in the podcast)

She added, “The removal of these farms from the Discovery Islands will benefit the communities and wild salmon economy up and down the coast, including here is the Strathcona Regional District.”

Quesnel reminded the SRD that while the aquaculture and fishing sectors contribute $3.3 billion in GDP to the province, tourism brings in more than $8.7 billion.

More than 5.5 million tourists come to Vancouver Island every year, spending over $2.2 billion. This translates into over 60,000 jobs.

“Within the Discovery Islands, there are over 60 tourism businesses that directly depend on wilderness and wildlife and these businesses of course provide many spin-off benefits to the community. The tourism industry in this region is estimated at between $40 and $50 million per year,” she said.

Max Thaysen/ Cortes Currents - Cortes Currents has received several reports of drivers passing cyclists without due care.

Currents sought to increase clarity on what is expected of cyclists and drivers who wish to operate their vehicles safely and follow the laws of British Columbia. And so we reached Corporal Chris Voller at the Quadra island detachment of the RCMP for advice on the matter.

Corporal Voller was pleased to discuss legal and safety matters around cyclist-driver interactions.

To begin, Corporal Voller recommends that bicycles make themselves as visible as possible, he says “visibility is everything”. In addition to high-visibility outerwear – he suggests riding defensively.

Visibility isn’t just about colour and brightness – but also bicycle position on the road. “If you’re in the middle of a straight stretch, one meter off the side of the road is great.” Voller says. But on a sharp corner, he recommends riding more toward the centre or left-of-centre of the right-hand lane in order to give other vehicles a chance to see you earlier and adjust their speed appropriately in response.

Voller says bicycles are allowed to ‘take the lane’ – and as far as the motor vehicle act is concerned, they are treated just like a car or truck. Corporal Voller points out that cyclists are expected to follow all the rules of signaling and obeying traffic signs that are required by the regulations affecting vehicles in the Motor Vehicle Act of BC.

Passing a bicycle

Similarly, passing a bicycle is really no different than passing a car – you may pass with caution, when it is safe to do so, on our single-yellow-line, two-lane highways.

If it is not safe to pass, that is a violation of the motor-vehicle act and may result in a ticket and points on your license.

The Motor Vehicle Act has several ticket-able offences related to passing other vehicles.

Max Thaysen/ Cortes Currents - Cortes Currents has received several reports of drivers passing cyclists without due care.

Currents sought to increase clarity on what is expected of cyclists and drivers who wish to operate their vehicles safely and follow the laws of British Columbia. And so we reached Corporal Chris Voller at the Quadra island detachment of the RCMP for advice on the matter.

Corporal Voller was pleased to discuss legal and safety matters around cyclist-driver interactions.

To begin, Corporal Voller recommends that bicycles make themselves as visible as possible, he says “visibility is everything”. In addition to high-visibility outerwear – he suggests riding defensively.

Visibility isn’t just about colour and brightness – but also bicycle position on the road. “If you’re in the middle of a straight stretch, one meter off the side of the road is great.” Voller says. But on a sharp corner, he recommends riding more toward the centre or left-of-centre of the right-hand lane in order to give other vehicles a chance to see you earlier and adjust their speed appropriately in response.

Voller says bicycles are allowed to ‘take the lane’ – and as far as the motor vehicle act is concerned, they are treated just like a car or truck. Corporal Voller points out that cyclists are expected to follow all the rules of signaling and obeying traffic signs that are required by the regulations affecting vehicles in the Motor Vehicle Act of BC.

Passing a bicycle

Similarly, passing a bicycle is really no different than passing a car – you may pass with caution, when it is safe to do so, on our single-yellow-line, two-lane highways.

If it is not safe to pass, that is a violation of the motor-vehicle act and may result in a ticket and points on your license.

The Motor Vehicle Act has several ticket-able offences related to passing other vehicles.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - In the fourth in a series of programs about Canada’s 2021 Budget, Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island Powell River talks about the temporary COVID Relief subsidies and benefits.

More than half a million Canadians have lost their jobs since the pandemic began.

According to the Canadian government, the vast majority were working poor.

Local people would have normally worked in the aquaculture sector, or the marine tourism, or places like Hollyhock were unemployed.

The Canadian government responded to this situation with a number of temporary COVID relief programs such as the recovery benefits, rent and other subsidies in which are currently in place until early next fall.

One of these programs, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy helped more than 5.3 million Canadians keep working. A significant number of them are on Cortes Island, Quadra Island and Campbell River. This subsidy was set to expired in June, but the new Federal Budget proposes to extend it until September 25, 2021.

“I am happy to see the extension for some of the programs that really support businesses, but it does only go to that date in September, The most stressful thing I hear from constituents, all the time, is we do not know when it is going to get better. We see it is extended, but this government has the flexibility to respond if things don’t get better,” said Rachel Blaney.

She continued, “As for Canada Recovery Benefits for individuals, it is a little concerning. For those folks, it can be a lot concerning. Right now they qualify for $500 a week to support their families and the government is going to be cutting it down to $300 a week. That’s a big difference if that is what is keeping your lights on, your rent paid and again it is not knowing when it going to get better. Not knowing when you r area of work is going to get better.”

She would like to see a more substantive support for tourism because they cannot invite people to take advantage of opportunities.

“Hotels are literally calling people and saying you cannot come if you are from this area or that area. That’s BC jurisdiction, I understand that, but the impact on these places is going to be profound - especially for local tourism operators and hotels.”

“If we do not have these businesses here, able to pick up when the pandemic ends, we are going to be in a lot of trouble. How do you rebuild? How do you get the economy moving if everybody is starting from scratch? We need these businesses here to get through the next part.”

“They were viable to this, they will be viable after. We need to support them through this tough time.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - In the fourth in a series of programs about Canada’s 2021 Budget, Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island Powell River talks about the temporary COVID Relief subsidies and benefits.

More than half a million Canadians have lost their jobs since the pandemic began.

According to the Canadian government, the vast majority were working poor.

Local people would have normally worked in the aquaculture sector, or the marine tourism, or places like Hollyhock were unemployed.

The Canadian government responded to this situation with a number of temporary COVID relief programs such as the recovery benefits, rent and other subsidies in which are currently in place until early next fall.

One of these programs, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy helped more than 5.3 million Canadians keep working. A significant number of them are on Cortes Island, Quadra Island and Campbell River. This subsidy was set to expired in June, but the new Federal Budget proposes to extend it until September 25, 2021.

“I am happy to see the extension for some of the programs that really support businesses, but it does only go to that date in September, The most stressful thing I hear from constituents, all the time, is we do not know when it is going to get better. We see it is extended, but this government has the flexibility to respond if things don’t get better,” said Rachel Blaney.

She continued, “As for Canada Recovery Benefits for individuals, it is a little concerning. For those folks, it can be a lot concerning. Right now they qualify for $500 a week to support their families and the government is going to be cutting it down to $300 a week. That’s a big difference if that is what is keeping your lights on, your rent paid and again it is not knowing when it going to get better. Not knowing when you r area of work is going to get better.”

She would like to see a more substantive support for tourism because they cannot invite people to take advantage of opportunities.

“Hotels are literally calling people and saying you cannot come if you are from this area or that area. That’s BC jurisdiction, I understand that, but the impact on these places is going to be profound - especially for local tourism operators and hotels.”

“If we do not have these businesses here, able to pick up when the pandemic ends, we are going to be in a lot of trouble. How do you rebuild? How do you get the economy moving if everybody is starting from scratch? We need these businesses here to get through the next part.”

“They were viable to this, they will be viable after. We need to support them through this tough time.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - This is a COVID 19 update for Thursday April 29, 2021: The numbers of active cases in North Vancouver Island are continuing to fall.

>>> Travel Restrictions

It has been six days since the province issued restrictions on non-essential travel between Vancouver Island and the Mainland.

At that time, Dr Bonnie Henry said, “Community transmission and COVID-19 cases – including variants of concern – have increased in our health authorities, with many cases being linked to non-essential travel within BC.”

In their joint statement yesterday, Wednesday, April 28th, Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health said, “Each week, more and more vaccine is arriving in our province, and with each person who gets their vaccine, we are all a little safer.”

Yesterday, 5,645 doses of vaccine were administered on Vancouver Island. Six of these were AstraZeneca, 1,068 were Moderna and 4,571 were Pfizer.

More than 1.7 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered across the province and close to 90,000 of these are second doses.

There were 18 active cases in North Vancouver Island yesterday, as compared to 35 the same day last week.

No North Vancouver Island schools are listed on the school exposure page.

While the data for the Greater Campbell River Health area is already five days old, it shows a similar decrease. There were 4 cases in the epi-week ending on Saturday, April 24th, and 11 the week before.

Similar drops have occurred throughout the rest of North Vancouver Island. There were no cases in Vancouver Island West and 2 in Vancouver Island North.

Higher numbers are only persisting in the Comox Valley Local Health Area, which borders on Central Vancouver Island. There were 16 cases during the epi-week ending April 24.