Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Province of British Columbia will be bringing fast reliable internet to remote communities like Cortes Island, Quadra Island and Zeballos by the fall of 2021.

>>> Fast reliable internet

“Fast reliable internet is more important than ever. In fact we couldn’t be here today without it,” said Lisa Beare, BC’s Minister of Citizens’ Services. “Today I can tell you that the Connecting British Columbia program is approving more than $10.5 million in grants to improve internet speeds on BC’s coasts. This means that people in places like Zeballos and Quadra Island and Bella Coola will soon see improved internet speed and reliability. People benefitting from these projects are members of several indigenous projects as well: the Haida, the Nuxalk, Ehattesaht and the Klahoose Nation.”

>>> Strathcona Regional District

More than $4 million of this money will go to the Strathcona Regional District.

According to Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson, “Internet connectivity at a regional scale has been one of the key priorities of the Regional District for a little shy of a decade.”

The provincial government press release mentions three north Quadra Island Sites - Granite Bay, Bold Point and Open Bay, as well as he village of Zeballos.

Anderson spoke about the three Cortes locations: Whaletown, Squirrel Cove and Mansons Landing.

Telus has been looking at potential sites for communication towers, but a number of Cortes residents expressed their opposition to this kind of idea when Connected Coast came to Manson’s Hall two years ago. They were concerned about electromagnetic waves emanating from wireless communication towers.

“When the Regional District did outreach about our last mile priorities couple of years ago, it was really clear that people wanted fibre (cables) to their homes,” explained Anderson. “We will get fibre active cable that will connect into that subsea cable, run along the telephone poles and into people’s homes. As far as I understand, we need to have this project completed by the Fall.”

She made it clear that this is not a business case that Telus or any other internet provider would have used, it was only financially feasible possible because of government funding.

“I really want to say thank-you to everybody who helped make the investment in coastal communities come to fruition. So many people in my constituency are looking forward to the Connected Coast project. It brings such great benefits to the North Vancouver Island, whether it be just connecting to government services (Tia health), distance education, emergency management BC, or to create those economic diversification portfolios for those small communities that are trying to transition through our new economy,” said North Island MLA Michele Babchuk, who was Chair of the Strathcona Regional District during the latter phase of negotiations.

She added, “Struggling with those slow download speeds and unreliable connections has been (difficult) for people in the North Island.”

Photo credit: Connected Coast

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District is preparing a bylaw for cannabis production and/or sale on Cortes Island.

Although recreational cannabis was officially legalized by the federal government in 2018, there is no provision for this in Cortes Island’s existing bylaws.

As Regional Director Noba Anderson explained, “This is a long tie coming. We’ve got zoning updates for cannabis production and sale in both areas C and D and this is just wanting to come into alignment with the Federal allowances that are, I think, over two and a half years old now. I’m just asking that a bylaw be prepared so that we are not criminalize otherwise legal behaviour.”

There was only one dissenting vote.

Gerald Whalley, the Regional Director for Area A, explained, “I recognize that the Federal and Regional governments legalized this. In my way of thinking, that doesn’t make it right.

The SRD is also recommending the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issue a non-medical cannabis retail store license to Pacific Seaweed in Oyster River.

There was only one opposing vote, so that motion also carried.

photo credit: cannabis by www.marketeeringgroup.com via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District is preparing a bylaw for cannabis production and/or sale on Cortes Island.

Although recreational cannabis was officially legalized by the federal government in 2018, there is no provision for this in Cortes Island’s existing bylaws.

As Regional Director Noba Anderson explained, “This is a long tie coming. We’ve got zoning updates for cannabis production and sale in both areas C and D and this is just wanting to come into alignment with the Federal allowances that are, I think, over two and a half years old now. I’m just asking that a bylaw be prepared so that we are not criminalize otherwise legal behaviour.”

There was only one dissenting vote.

Gerald Whalley, the Regional Director for Area A, explained, “I recognize that the Federal and Regional governments legalized this. In my way of thinking, that doesn’t make it right.

The SRD is also recommending the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issue a non-medical cannabis retail store license to Pacific Seaweed in Oyster River.

There was only one opposing vote, so that motion also carried.

photo credit: cannabis by www.marketeeringgroup.com via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - BC Ferries will be holding a Virtual Community Meeting regarding upcoming changes to Campbell River - Quadra Island run from

6:00 - 7:30pm on Wednesday April 7 via Webex.

You will find links to make a reservation on Cortes Radio.ca, Cortes Currents and the Tideline.

https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/islandclass/survey_tools/rt23rsvp

There is also a link to an online survey:

https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/islandclass/survey_tools/rt23survey

Two new Island Class hybrid e-ferris vessels will be taking over BC Ferries Campbell River - Quadra Island route in early 2022.

One vessel will be in service 16 hour hours a day.

The other will be in operation during the peak hours, starting at 7:30am

Both vessels will tie up at Quathiaski Cove, on Quadra Island, when not in service.

BC Ferries has drawn up a proposed schedule which icincludes

- Up to 59% more capacity in peak times

- No changes to the Heriot Bay - Whaletown schedule

- Short breaks in the schedule in the morning and evening to provide crew on both vessels with their required meal breaks

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - BC Ferries will be holding a Virtual Community Meeting regarding upcoming changes to Campbell River - Quadra Island run from

6:00 - 7:30pm on Wednesday April 7 via Webex.

You will find links to make a reservation on Cortes Radio.ca, Cortes Currents and the Tideline.

https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/islandclass/survey_tools/rt23rsvp

There is also a link to an online survey:

https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/islandclass/survey_tools/rt23survey

Two new Island Class hybrid e-ferris vessels will be taking over BC Ferries Campbell River - Quadra Island route in early 2022.

One vessel will be in service 16 hour hours a day.

The other will be in operation during the peak hours, starting at 7:30am

Both vessels will tie up at Quathiaski Cove, on Quadra Island, when not in service.

BC Ferries has drawn up a proposed schedule which icincludes

- Up to 59% more capacity in peak times

- No changes to the Heriot Bay - Whaletown schedule

- Short breaks in the schedule in the morning and evening to provide crew on both vessels with their required meal breaks

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents -

Three recent academic papers suggest that salmon farms pose more than a minimal risk to wild salmon migrating through the Discovery Islands.

In response, the BC Salmon Farmers Association emailed Cortes Currents that these studies reported the presence of viruses, but did not show they were causing disease in farmed or wild salmon.

Today’s program largely consists of interviews with Dr Andrew Bateman from the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF)’s Strategic Salmon Health Initiative (SSHI), one of the scientists involved in these studies and readings from the industries response.

Photo Credit: Sockeye Salmon by Ingrid Taylar via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents -

Three recent academic papers suggest that salmon farms pose more than a minimal risk to wild salmon migrating through the Discovery Islands.

In response, the BC Salmon Farmers Association emailed Cortes Currents that these studies reported the presence of viruses, but did not show they were causing disease in farmed or wild salmon.

Today’s program largely consists of interviews with Dr Andrew Bateman from the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF)’s Strategic Salmon Health Initiative (SSHI), one of the scientists involved in these studies and readings from the industries response.

Photo Credit: Sockeye Salmon by Ingrid Taylar via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - The virtual injunction hearing, for three fish farms in the Discovery Islands, began yesterday.

On December 17, 2020, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan announced that no new fish, of any size, can be introduced to the Discovery Islands.

Mowi Canada West, Cermaq Canada, Grieg Seafood BC and an independent company called 622335 B.C. Ltd., owned by Saltstream Engineering, are seeking a judicial review to overturn the MInister’s decision.

But the immediate battle is for a court order permitting MOWI Canada West to transfer juvenile fish to its Phillips Arm and Harwicke fish farms and 622335 B.C. Ltd to restock the Doctor Bay Farm and adjacent hatchery.

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - The virtual injunction hearing, for three fish farms in the Discovery Islands, began yesterday.

On December 17, 2020, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan announced that no new fish, of any size, can be introduced to the Discovery Islands.

Mowi Canada West, Cermaq Canada, Grieg Seafood BC and an independent company called 622335 B.C. Ltd., owned by Saltstream Engineering, are seeking a judicial review to overturn the MInister’s decision.

But the immediate battle is for a court order permitting MOWI Canada West to transfer juvenile fish to its Phillips Arm and Harwicke fish farms and 622335 B.C. Ltd to restock the Doctor Bay Farm and adjacent hatchery.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - While the number of active COVID cases in British Columbia has reached heights not seen since the beginning of this year, they continue to fall in North Vancouver Island.

At the On March 1st, there were 71 active cases. Yesterday, Island Health reported 17.

However the epi-Week report for the week ending on Saturday March 20th still shows 18 cases in the Greater Campbell River Health Area.

There are two specific reports.

On March 12th, the Quadra Island Medical Clinic posted a notice that “Today Public Health have informed us of positive cases of Covid-19 on Quadra Island.”*

On March 18th, Penfield elementary in Campbell River alerted parents that “a member of the school community has tested positive for COVID 19. . They are isolating and are being followed by Island Health. Dates of potential exposure in the school community occurred: March 15, 2021.”

>>> Vaccinations on Quadra, Read and Cortes Islands

Vaccinations for  Indigenous Quadra Island residents aged 65+ and non-Indigenous people aged 80+, started Monday.

The entire adult population of Read Island is eligible to receive vaccinations on March 31.

The whole island vaccination on Cortes Island start this morning, at Gorge Hall, and will continue until Saturday.

>>> Answers about vaccines

In light of recent media attention, the Cortes Medical Clinic posted some answers about COVID vaccines on the Tideline. Here are some highlights:

“Health Canada has determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine meets the stringent, safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada.”

“Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are similar in their effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.”

“Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccine products require two does for the series. You will be contacted by a public health professional to schedule your second dose.”

In the letter it says this will take place after 35-42 days, but this has been amended to 4 months.

The review for AstraZeneca is not yet complete.

There is much more, including an explanation of how the vaccines work, in the letter.