Cortes Currents

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/Folk U Radio - Today’s Folk U Radio is called Board Reality 101. And by board I am referring to a piece of wood. What is a tree? What are our forests to us? On today’s Folk University we look deeper into this question and the incredible partnership between the Klahoose First Nations and non-nation members in creating a forest managed by a community. INterviews with Mark Lombard & Nick Gagnon

Manuel Perdisa / Bear in My Bubble

Manuel Perdisa / Bear in My Bubble

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Curt Cunningham first encountered the Squirrel Cove Bear while it was still a cub. Not knowing where the creature’s mother was, Cunningham took refuge inside the Cove Restaurant. No mother bear appeared and the cub disappeared into the woods. That was a year or more ago.

interviews, by ZOOM, Skype or email, with Nancy Beach, Laurel Bohart, Curt cunningham, Sandy Hoffman, Derek and Lore Mack-Mumford, and Conservation officer Brad Adams.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Curt Cunningham first encountered the Squirrel Cove Bear while it was still a cub. Not knowing where the creature’s mother was, Cunningham took refuge inside the Cove Restaurant. No mother bear appeared and the cub disappeared into the woods. That was a year or more ago.

interviews, by ZOOM, Skype or email, with Nancy Beach, Laurel Bohart, Curt cunningham, Sandy Hoffman, Derek and Lore Mack-Mumford, and Conservation officer Brad Adams.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - There was a COVID 19 outbreak at the Discovery Harbour Care Centre in Campbell River, where a staff person tested positive on Thursday, November 19th.

A press release from Island Health states:

“At this time, no residents are experiencing symptoms. Communication with residents and families is underway. Discovery Harbour is owned and operated by Park Place Seniors Living. The staff member who tested positive is self-isolating at home. The outbreak is limited to one neighbourhood within the facility. Admissions, transfers and visitation to the entire site have been stopped.”

Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures are now in place and all staff and residents are being screened twice a day.

There are no outbreaks currently listed in any other North Vancouver Island care facilities, or schools.

In response to the Province’s November 19th public health order, the city of Campbell River now requires employees and visitors over two years old to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth in all public and common spaces within City facilities. High intensity fitness activities, including Spin and Tabata, have been cancelled. No spectators are permitted at indoor or outdoor sporting events or practices. No outdoor or indoor social bookings or rentals are available.

“We urge everyone to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and appreciate people’s patience and cooperation as we adjust our service levels to comply with evolving public health requirements,” said says city manager Deborah Sargent.

>>> North Vancouver Island

The BC Centre for Disease Control reported 20 new COVID cases in North Vancouver Island in the two weeks between November 6th and 19th.

Some of these people have already recovered because the Island Health Dashboard only shows 12 active cases yesterday.

North Vancouver Island is divided into four Health Areas: The Comox Valley; Greater Campbell River (which includes the Discovery Islands); Vancouver Island West and Vancouver Island North.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - There was a COVID 19 outbreak at the Discovery Harbour Care Centre in Campbell River, where a staff person tested positive on Thursday, November 19th.

A press release from Island Health states:

“At this time, no residents are experiencing symptoms. Communication with residents and families is underway. Discovery Harbour is owned and operated by Park Place Seniors Living. The staff member who tested positive is self-isolating at home. The outbreak is limited to one neighbourhood within the facility. Admissions, transfers and visitation to the entire site have been stopped.”

Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures are now in place and all staff and residents are being screened twice a day.

There are no outbreaks currently listed in any other North Vancouver Island care facilities, or schools.

In response to the Province’s November 19th public health order, the city of Campbell River now requires employees and visitors over two years old to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth in all public and common spaces within City facilities. High intensity fitness activities, including Spin and Tabata, have been cancelled. No spectators are permitted at indoor or outdoor sporting events or practices. No outdoor or indoor social bookings or rentals are available.

“We urge everyone to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and appreciate people’s patience and cooperation as we adjust our service levels to comply with evolving public health requirements,” said says city manager Deborah Sargent.

>>> North Vancouver Island

The BC Centre for Disease Control reported 20 new COVID cases in North Vancouver Island in the two weeks between November 6th and 19th.

Some of these people have already recovered because the Island Health Dashboard only shows 12 active cases yesterday.

North Vancouver Island is divided into four Health Areas: The Comox Valley; Greater Campbell River (which includes the Discovery Islands); Vancouver Island West and Vancouver Island North.

Max Thaysen/Cortes Currents - The Friends of Cortes Island Society held their annual general meeting this past wednesday evening, November 18th.

There were approximately 16 people in attendance.

The meeting was hosted by Max Thaysen, president of the board of directors, and much of the presentation was given by Helen Hall, FOCI's executive director.

In the executive director's report, Helen Hall gave a summary of the past years' activities. A written version is available on their website, friendsofcortes.org.

Max Thaysen/Cortes Currents - The Friends of Cortes Island Society held their annual general meeting this past wednesday evening, November 18th.

There were approximately 16 people in attendance.

The meeting was hosted by Max Thaysen, president of the board of directors, and much of the presentation was given by Helen Hall, FOCI's executive director.

In the executive director's report, Helen Hall gave a summary of the past years' activities. A written version is available on their website, friendsofcortes.org.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Only weeks ago, Canada was on the verge of a Federal election. If the NDP had stood beside the Conservative party, they could have toppled the Trudeau government. Our Member of Parliament, Rachel Blaney, explains why they didn’t and what she thinks the prospects are for a Federal election in 2021.

Shortly after the management of a $900 million student grant to WE Charity was announced, the Federal government came under fire for WE’s alleged connections to both the Trudeau and Morneau families.

Every Canadian party with at least 12 MPs is allotted times to propose motions, for discussion and a vote.

So, Blaney Explained, the NDP proposed, “that we should have a special committee set up to address the We scandal. We could take it out of all the other committees and have one committee come together for a short time, do that work and come back to the House of Commons.”

“The Conservatives took that idea and expanded upon it quite substantively. First of all the language around it was about studying the corruption in the Liberal Government. Of course, the Liberals were not a fan of that title. But it also gave the committee a lot of power. The committee would have been able to call the Prime Minister, or any minister, whenever it felt like - without consulting with them to find out a date that would work for them. It would have really put this committee in a place to decide how everything worked at all times.”

“No Government would ever support that. So we had conversations with the Conservatives and said, ‘Come on, you gotta tone down the motion. We really want to see this work happen, the important part is to address the We scandal and what happened there. It should be addressed. Let’s put it in a special committee … so it doesn’t get in the way of all the other committees and the important work that those committees have to do.”

“The Conservatives did not want to back down and when they formally put forward the motion, the Liberals said this is a confidence motion. If all the opposition parties support this motion, we will go to an election.”

“The NDP had already told the Conservatives,’If you cannot make this a motion that makes sense, that really deals with the issue of we and doesn’t make it a political power grab, we’re just not interested in supporting it.”

The Conservative motion was defeated, 180-146, with the NDP, Greens and Independent MPs all supporting the Liberal governments.

>> A possible 2021 election?

Since that vote, there has been some speculation about a possible 2021 election. A Global News poll found that 47% of Canadians want Trudeau to wait until his term his over. CBC’s poll tracker’s latest projection (Nov 17th) is for another Liberal victory, though not necessarily a majority. There were several references to a possible Spring election in a recent ZOOM call of the North Island Powell River Greens.

Cortes Currents asked Rachel Blaney, what do you think about the probabilities of our having an election in 2021?

“When you are in a minority government, you’re always waiting to see if there is going to be an election around the corner,” said Blaney.

“ … Usually when there is a minority federal government, they last about a year. We’ve just passed the year mark … So I expect there will be an election next year, I’m just not certain when, and I certainly have not heard any gossip yet.”