Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales /Cortes Currents - Noba Anderson vs the SRD was not heard last week. Though the suit was scheduled for the assize week starting November 23, 2020, the courts are dealing with a heavy backlog of cases and it now seems possible the hearing will not take place until next January.

The origins of this suit go back to a legal petition that fourteen Cortes residents filed a legal petition against Regional Director Anderson for an alleged conflict of interest in the manner she carried out some of her duties. When the case reached court, the lawyers from both sides made a joint submission stating, “There is no basis for the declarations sought by the petitioners” and Director Anderson “did not accept a gift contrary to section 105 of the Community Charter.”

The current suit arose because the Strathcona Regional District subsequently refused to pay Director Anderson’s legal costs.

Last month, the SRD’s lawyer, James H Goulden, filed a response in which he argued, “The Disqualification Petition is not a ‘claim, action or prosecution’ and was brought against Director Anderson in respect of the alleged receipt of gifts that were not in connection with the exercise of her powers or the intended exercise of her powers or, the performance, or intended performance of her duties or functions. The SRD is therefore not required to indemnify Director Anderson for the legal costs incurred.”

The SRD Board also censured Director Anderson for showing confidential documents to her lawyer, while seeking his legal advice.

According to the SRD’s Code of Conduct Bylaw, “information discussed or disclosed at closed meeting or the board” or marked as confidential “must not be disclosed or released to anyone.”

Roy L Hales /Cortes Currents - Noba Anderson vs the SRD was not heard last week. Though the suit was scheduled for the assize week starting November 23, 2020, the courts are dealing with a heavy backlog of cases and it now seems possible the hearing will not take place until next January.

The origins of this suit go back to a legal petition that fourteen Cortes residents filed a legal petition against Regional Director Anderson for an alleged conflict of interest in the manner she carried out some of her duties. When the case reached court, the lawyers from both sides made a joint submission stating, “There is no basis for the declarations sought by the petitioners” and Director Anderson “did not accept a gift contrary to section 105 of the Community Charter.”

The current suit arose because the Strathcona Regional District subsequently refused to pay Director Anderson’s legal costs.

Last month, the SRD’s lawyer, James H Goulden, filed a response in which he argued, “The Disqualification Petition is not a ‘claim, action or prosecution’ and was brought against Director Anderson in respect of the alleged receipt of gifts that were not in connection with the exercise of her powers or the intended exercise of her powers or, the performance, or intended performance of her duties or functions. The SRD is therefore not required to indemnify Director Anderson for the legal costs incurred.”

The SRD Board also censured Director Anderson for showing confidential documents to her lawyer, while seeking his legal advice.

According to the SRD’s Code of Conduct Bylaw, “information discussed or disclosed at closed meeting or the board” or marked as confidential “must not be disclosed or released to anyone.”

Roy L Hales /Cortes Currents - Noba Anderson vs the SRD was not heard last week. Though the suit was scheduled for the assize week starting November 23, 2020, the courts are dealing with a heavy backlog of cases and it now seems possible the hearing will not take place until next January.

The origins of this suit go back to a legal petition that fourteen Cortes residents filed a legal petition against Regional Director Anderson for an alleged conflict of interest in the manner she carried out some of her duties. When the case reached court, the lawyers from both sides made a joint submission stating, “There is no basis for the declarations sought by the petitioners” and Director Anderson “did not accept a gift contrary to section 105 of the Community Charter.”

The current suit arose because the Strathcona Regional District subsequently refused to pay Director Anderson’s legal costs.

Last month, the SRD’s lawyer, James H Goulden, filed a response in which he argued, “The Disqualification Petition is not a ‘claim, action or prosecution’ and was brought against Director Anderson in respect of the alleged receipt of gifts that were not in connection with the exercise of her powers or the intended exercise of her powers or, the performance, or intended performance of her duties or functions. The SRD is therefore not required to indemnify Director Anderson for the legal costs incurred.”

The SRD Board also censured Director Anderson for showing confidential documents to her lawyer, while seeking his legal advice.

According to the SRD’s Code of Conduct Bylaw, “information discussed or disclosed at closed meeting or the board” or marked as confidential “must not be disclosed or released to anyone.”

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - On or around November 22nd, the 30-ish foot wooden sloop Hoy Hoy sank while tied to the Gorge Harbour Public Dock.

Hoy Hoy has made more than one ocean crossing, but most recently belonged to an American who seems to be known locally only as “Earle.” He visited Cortes in 2019 for an extended period, living aboard with his young son on the Gorge Harbour Marina dock. He left the country in the Fall, prepaying four months’ moorage and intending to return in February or March of 2020.

Over the winter of 2019/20, Hoy Hoy took on water slowly but steadily and had to be pumped out regularly by neighbour Rodney Pohl. Then along came a pandemic, and Earle was unable to travel to Canada. Unfortunately, he also didn’t pay any more moorage (after February).

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - On or around November 22nd, the 30-ish foot wooden sloop Hoy Hoy sank while tied to the Gorge Harbour Public Dock.

Hoy Hoy has made more than one ocean crossing, but most recently belonged to an American who seems to be known locally only as “Earle.” He visited Cortes in 2019 for an extended period, living aboard with his young son on the Gorge Harbour Marina dock. He left the country in the Fall, prepaying four months’ moorage and intending to return in February or March of 2020.

Over the winter of 2019/20, Hoy Hoy took on water slowly but steadily and had to be pumped out regularly by neighbour Rodney Pohl. Then along came a pandemic, and Earle was unable to travel to Canada. Unfortunately, he also didn’t pay any more moorage (after February).

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - On or around November 22nd, the 30-ish foot wooden sloop Hoy Hoy sank while tied to the Gorge Harbour Public Dock.

Hoy Hoy has made more than one ocean crossing, but most recently belonged to an American who seems to be known locally only as “Earle.” He visited Cortes in 2019 for an extended period, living aboard with his young son on the Gorge Harbour Marina dock. He left the country in the Fall, prepaying four months’ moorage and intending to return in February or March of 2020.

Over the winter of 2019/20, Hoy Hoy took on water slowly but steadily and had to be pumped out regularly by neighbour Rodney Pohl. Then along came a pandemic, and Earle was unable to travel to Canada. Unfortunately, he also didn’t pay any more moorage (after February).

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The first known active case of COVID on Cortes Island was announced this morning. Chief Kevin Peacey posted the following notice on the Tideline,

“I received the call today that no chief wants to hear that one of our elders here at Klahoose tested positive for COVID-19. We have a COVID team in place that is already working on our response to this. We are asking all reserve residents to stay at home “shelter in place” especially as contact tracing is still happening. No visiting households. No off reserve visitors. We are asking everyone to wear masks if having to leave the home. Food and supplies are being delivered to each household. We will be having a security team at the entrance to Tork Rd that monitors traffic at Klahoose which should be limited to only emergency and essential trips on and off reserve at this time. We are staying calm, supporting each other and following the guidelines. We are letting the wider island community know our situation to get ahead of the gossip and we will keep people updated as this unfolds. With everybody’s help, working together, we will get through this. We are praying for everyone’s protection and healing. Thank you. Emote.”

The number of confirmed cases in North Vancouver Island has been escalating rapidly in the past month. As of yesterday there were 15 active cases. One of which is presumably the health care worker who tested positive at Discovery Harbour long-term care home, in Campbell River, last week.

According to the British Columbia COVID 19 Dashboard, as of 4:30 yesterday there were 173 active cases on Vancouver Island, three of which are hospitalized.

The numbers are far worse province wide: there are 7,816 active cases, 371 of which are in hospitals.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The first known active case of COVID on Cortes Island was announced this morning. Chief Kevin Peacey posted the following notice on the Tideline,

“I received the call today that no chief wants to hear that one of our elders here at Klahoose tested positive for COVID-19. We have a COVID team in place that is already working on our response to this. We are asking all reserve residents to stay at home “shelter in place” especially as contact tracing is still happening. No visiting households. No off reserve visitors. We are asking everyone to wear masks if having to leave the home. Food and supplies are being delivered to each household. We will be having a security team at the entrance to Tork Rd that monitors traffic at Klahoose which should be limited to only emergency and essential trips on and off reserve at this time. We are staying calm, supporting each other and following the guidelines. We are letting the wider island community know our situation to get ahead of the gossip and we will keep people updated as this unfolds. With everybody’s help, working together, we will get through this. We are praying for everyone’s protection and healing. Thank you. Emote.”

The number of confirmed cases in North Vancouver Island has been escalating rapidly in the past month. As of yesterday there were 15 active cases. One of which is presumably the health care worker who tested positive at Discovery Harbour long-term care home, in Campbell River, last week.

According to the British Columbia COVID 19 Dashboard, as of 4:30 yesterday there were 173 active cases on Vancouver Island, three of which are hospitalized.

The numbers are far worse province wide: there are 7,816 active cases, 371 of which are in hospitals.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The first known active case of COVID on Cortes Island was announced this morning. Chief Kevin Peacey posted the following notice on the Tideline,

“I received the call today that no chief wants to hear that one of our elders here at Klahoose tested positive for COVID-19. We have a COVID team in place that is already working on our response to this. We are asking all reserve residents to stay at home “shelter in place” especially as contact tracing is still happening. No visiting households. No off reserve visitors. We are asking everyone to wear masks if having to leave the home. Food and supplies are being delivered to each household. We will be having a security team at the entrance to Tork Rd that monitors traffic at Klahoose which should be limited to only emergency and essential trips on and off reserve at this time. We are staying calm, supporting each other and following the guidelines. We are letting the wider island community know our situation to get ahead of the gossip and we will keep people updated as this unfolds. With everybody’s help, working together, we will get through this. We are praying for everyone’s protection and healing. Thank you. Emote.”

The number of confirmed cases in North Vancouver Island has been escalating rapidly in the past month. As of yesterday there were 15 active cases. One of which is presumably the health care worker who tested positive at Discovery Harbour long-term care home, in Campbell River, last week.

According to the British Columbia COVID 19 Dashboard, as of 4:30 yesterday there were 173 active cases on Vancouver Island, three of which are hospitalized.

The numbers are far worse province wide: there are 7,816 active cases, 371 of which are in hospitals.

Max Thaysen/Cortes Currents - A report from the meeting: presentations and questions.