Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - According to a November 9th report from Island Health, there are now 8 active COVID cases in that part of Vancouver Island stretching north from Courtenay and the Comox Valley. While the number is trivial, most of us probably haven’t even seen one of those eight people, the trajectory is not. It wasn’t so long ago that the reports were of one to three new cases in a week.

Data for the Campbell River Health Area

The BC Centre Disease Control releases statistics for the Campbell River Health Area on a monthly basis. The most current report displays data to the end of September, at which point there were not any new cases since July. We know that at least two people in Campbell River, itself, caught the virus since then. The statistics up until the end of October should be released this week.

Vancouver Island

There is no cause for panic. There are currently only 39 confirmed cases of COVID on Vancouver island and none of them are in the hospital or ICU.

Second wave more than three times worse

However: the number of active cases province wide has grown to 4,891. According to the British Columbia COVID situation report, the first wave peaked in mid March, at which point there were 9 cases for every 100,000 people in the province. As of the end of October, the percentage of infected people has more than tripled.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - COVID has not had a negative impact on the SRD’s Electoral areas finances. The accounts carry a surplus forward every year, and 2020 is not an exception. SRD staff just released a preliminary surplus report for the electoral areas during 2020.

In the podcast above, Chief Administration officer David Leach explains this year’s $325,529 surplus for planning to Regional Director Jim Abram. While this is technically a surplus, it is right on budget and should not be spent.

There are areas where the electoral areas did save money because of work not done and services not performed, due to COVID.

Close to $75,000 was saved, compared to last year, for administration of the four electoral areas.

Most of the items for Cortes Island are on budget, and there are also several surpluses:

The Cortes Fire Department deferred implementing First Responder program until 2021 due to COVID

There was a $43,149 surplus for community parks.

close to $19,000 available for feasibility studies on Cortes was not spent

A $2,660 budget for heritage conservation, carried forward from 2019, remains unspent.

Gorge and Mansons Halls were recently given their annual stipend. For comparative purposes, it is interesting to note that this is a little more than half of the subsidy given to the Quadra Island Community Hall.

There were a number of unspent items in the Discovery Islands budget

More than $56,000 of the budget for parks remains unspent

Close to $42,000 of work on the Quathiaski Cove sewer was deferred

$20,000 allotted for feasibility studies was not used.

More than $7,000 of the Grants in Aid budget is still available

The Quadra Island Community Hall did not spend .

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - COVID has not had a negative impact on the SRD’s Electoral areas finances. The accounts carry a surplus forward every year, and 2020 is not an exception. SRD staff just released a preliminary surplus report for the electoral areas during 2020.

In the podcast above, Chief Administration officer David Leach explains this year’s $325,529 surplus for planning to Regional Director Jim Abram. While this is technically a surplus, it is right on budget and should not be spent.

There are areas where the electoral areas did save money because of work not done and services not performed, due to COVID.

Close to $75,000 was saved, compared to last year, for administration of the four electoral areas.

Most of the items for Cortes Island are on budget, and there are also several surpluses:

The Cortes Fire Department deferred implementing First Responder program until 2021 due to COVID

There was a $43,149 surplus for community parks.

close to $19,000 available for feasibility studies on Cortes was not spent

A $2,660 budget for heritage conservation, carried forward from 2019, remains unspent.

Gorge and Mansons Halls were recently given their annual stipend. For comparative purposes, it is interesting to note that this is a little more than half of the subsidy given to the Quadra Island Community Hall.

There were a number of unspent items in the Discovery Islands budget

More than $56,000 of the budget for parks remains unspent

Close to $42,000 of work on the Quathiaski Cove sewer was deferred

$20,000 allotted for feasibility studies was not used.

More than $7,000 of the Grants in Aid budget is still available

The Quadra Island Community Hall did not spend .

Tan Mei Xi/Vancouver Co-op Radio, Local Journalism Initiative - For Vancouverites, the drastic increase in unaffordability in the city only became an issue in the last 15 years, but an urban affairs reporter says the crisis has its roots in decades of housing policy.

According to The Tyee urban sociology reporter Chris Cheung, before the 1970s, the federal and provincial governments were building thousands of affordable housing units every year.

"Even before the 1970s, [there was] a consensus that housing is something the government needs to be involved in," said Cheung.

The federal, provincial, and municipal governments would team up to provide non-market housing, such as social housing and co-op housing, said Cheung.

"Up until the 90s, we saw this partnership work out very well with providing housing for people," said Cheung. "But in 1993, Paul Martin's [federal] Liberals... cut funding for all new social housing units."

That halt in funding caused almost all provinces to cut back significantly on the construction of social housing, said Cheung, except for BC.

However, he noted, when the BC Liberals took power in 2001, they cut back on funding for new social housing.

Tan Mei Xi/Vancouver Co-op Radio, Local Journalism Initiative - For Vancouverites, the drastic increase in unaffordability in the city only became an issue in the last 15 years, but an urban affairs reporter says the crisis has its roots in decades of housing policy.

According to The Tyee urban sociology reporter Chris Cheung, before the 1970s, the federal and provincial governments were building thousands of affordable housing units every year.

"Even before the 1970s, [there was] a consensus that housing is something the government needs to be involved in," said Cheung.

The federal, provincial, and municipal governments would team up to provide non-market housing, such as social housing and co-op housing, said Cheung.

"Up until the 90s, we saw this partnership work out very well with providing housing for people," said Cheung. "But in 1993, Paul Martin's [federal] Liberals... cut funding for all new social housing units."

That halt in funding caused almost all provinces to cut back significantly on the construction of social housing, said Cheung, except for BC.

However, he noted, when the BC Liberals took power in 2001, they cut back on funding for new social housing.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - After 24 minutes of debate, the SRD passed Rainbow Ridge’s application to have a six acre portion of land rezoned to facilitate the development of up to 22 seniors' and affordable housing units.

At one point it looked like the whole issue could be put on hold until an accidentally omitted January 10th letter from Island Health was made available to every director. The resulting vote was split along very familiar lines, to anyone who has been observing the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board in action. The motion to defer the issue was evenly split, 6 to 6, which means it did not pass. 

There were moments of magnanimity. Cortes Island’s Alternate Director, Corry Dow, said that if it would put the minds of her fellow rural directors at ease, the matter should be deferred until the missing letter was available. Regional Director Jim Abram's response was to suggest staff simply read the letter out loud.

After this was done, Regional Director Brenda Leigh revealed that her opposition stemmed from additional concerns.

“This proposal is for 25 units on 6 acres and unless there is a lot of money put into high end sewage systems and, you know, Cortes will be looking for grants and monies to do that probably. I do not think it is wise to put that kind of density in an area that has no water, no sewer, and Hague Lake - which is their main source of drinking water - right down hill, about a quarter mile from this location. I do not think this is a wise move and it is going to lead to a lot more people asking for more money, more money to make this work,” she said.

Fact Check: The application is to rezone 6.95 acres of a 51.3 acre property for the development of 20 units, plus 2 flex studio units.

“That was a major concern of many residents of Mansons Landing, when the project was first proposed. The engineers and wastewater specialists they have dealt with have reassured people that they can deal with it. They have a whole team working on grant applications and philanthropic donations in order to make this happen because the Cortes Community so passionately believes in having a little bit more affordable housing on the island. I appreciate the concern for the water quality, but due diligence has been done and the applicant has replied to this more than one time as we have looked at this over the past few months,” said Dow.

All of the Cortes residents that attended the public hearing for this project, either in person or virtually, spoke in favour of it.

The SRD received more than 100 letters regarding Rainbow Ridge and, according to Dow, all but two expressed support.

When the issue was finally voted on, it passed with a single voice (Director Brenda Leigh) raised in opposition.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - After 24 minutes of debate, the SRD passed Rainbow Ridge’s application to have a six acre portion of land rezoned to facilitate the development of up to 22 seniors' and affordable housing units.

At one point it looked like the whole issue could be put on hold until an accidentally omitted January 10th letter from Island Health was made available to every director. The resulting vote was split along very familiar lines, to anyone who has been observing the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board in action. The motion to defer the issue was evenly split, 6 to 6, which means it did not pass. 

There were moments of magnanimity. Cortes Island’s Alternate Director, Corry Dow, said that if it would put the minds of her fellow rural directors at ease, the matter should be deferred until the missing letter was available. Regional Director Jim Abram's response was to suggest staff simply read the letter out loud.

After this was done, Regional Director Brenda Leigh revealed that her opposition stemmed from additional concerns.

“This proposal is for 25 units on 6 acres and unless there is a lot of money put into high end sewage systems and, you know, Cortes will be looking for grants and monies to do that probably. I do not think it is wise to put that kind of density in an area that has no water, no sewer, and Hague Lake - which is their main source of drinking water - right down hill, about a quarter mile from this location. I do not think this is a wise move and it is going to lead to a lot more people asking for more money, more money to make this work,” she said.

Fact Check: The application is to rezone 6.95 acres of a 51.3 acre property for the development of 20 units, plus 2 flex studio units.

“That was a major concern of many residents of Mansons Landing, when the project was first proposed. The engineers and wastewater specialists they have dealt with have reassured people that they can deal with it. They have a whole team working on grant applications and philanthropic donations in order to make this happen because the Cortes Community so passionately believes in having a little bit more affordable housing on the island. I appreciate the concern for the water quality, but due diligence has been done and the applicant has replied to this more than one time as we have looked at this over the past few months,” said Dow.

All of the Cortes residents that attended the public hearing for this project, either in person or virtually, spoke in favour of it.

The SRD received more than 100 letters regarding Rainbow Ridge and, according to Dow, all but two expressed support.

When the issue was finally voted on, it passed with a single voice (Director Brenda Leigh) raised in opposition.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - There is a false report about the Quadra Island RCMP detachment circulating on Cortes Island. I was recently informed they are shutting down.

So Cortes Currents emailed the head of the Quadra detachment, Cpl. Sean Bulford, the following questions.

1. Is it true?

Cpl. Bulford - “No.  However, with continued budget constraints and minimal increases in resources for several consecutive years, the RCMP in E-Division (BC) have been looking at ways to maximize the man power we have.  They have been looking at many options, one of them is hubbing or regionalising Detachments.  They have been looking at areas that this could work.” 

“I can say that when I first arrived on Quadra Island in the spring of 2018, Quadra Island was mentioned as a possible Detachment that could be hubbed.  That being said, Senior Management acknowledged that there would be significant logistical hurdles to hubbing Quadra Island Detachment specifically, as we cover several Islands and respond 24/7 by police vessel.” 

“There are many other Detachments on Vancouver Island that they would try this with first, and so far they haven't moved in that direction at all.  There has been no further discussion about hubbing Quadra Island Detachment.  I have been told there would definitely be public consultation before any such measures were considered.”

2. If so, do you have a date for when this is expected to occur?

Cpl. Bulford - “This is an unlikely scenario and if it does happen, will likely not occur for several years, if at all. If (big if) this were to happen, I imagine members would be assigned to some type of Campbell River Rural section that would have to be created.  Members would have to be trained in operating a police vessel so they could respond at any time.  I can only speculate on how this would eventually play out if they went this route, as this idea hasn't even moved to preliminary planning stage.”

“Hope this helps clear the air.  I've heard this rumour on Cortes myself, and I've tried to clear things up when it pops up.” 

“I personally don't feel like Quadra Island would be an option for this type of plan simply because of the geographical area we cover.  As you know, a trip from Quadra to Cortes in the middle of a stormy night is a challenge.  The waters around the south end of Quadra Island near the Cape Mudge lighthouse can be incredibly treacherous in those conditions, and would impact response times too much, as well as jeopardize officer safety if they were required to attend from Campbell River.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - There is a false report about the Quadra Island RCMP detachment circulating on Cortes Island. I was recently informed they are shutting down.

So Cortes Currents emailed the head of the Quadra detachment, Cpl. Sean Bulford, the following questions.

1. Is it true?

Cpl. Bulford - “No.  However, with continued budget constraints and minimal increases in resources for several consecutive years, the RCMP in E-Division (BC) have been looking at ways to maximize the man power we have.  They have been looking at many options, one of them is hubbing or regionalising Detachments.  They have been looking at areas that this could work.” 

“I can say that when I first arrived on Quadra Island in the spring of 2018, Quadra Island was mentioned as a possible Detachment that could be hubbed.  That being said, Senior Management acknowledged that there would be significant logistical hurdles to hubbing Quadra Island Detachment specifically, as we cover several Islands and respond 24/7 by police vessel.” 

“There are many other Detachments on Vancouver Island that they would try this with first, and so far they haven't moved in that direction at all.  There has been no further discussion about hubbing Quadra Island Detachment.  I have been told there would definitely be public consultation before any such measures were considered.”

2. If so, do you have a date for when this is expected to occur?

Cpl. Bulford - “This is an unlikely scenario and if it does happen, will likely not occur for several years, if at all. If (big if) this were to happen, I imagine members would be assigned to some type of Campbell River Rural section that would have to be created.  Members would have to be trained in operating a police vessel so they could respond at any time.  I can only speculate on how this would eventually play out if they went this route, as this idea hasn't even moved to preliminary planning stage.”

“Hope this helps clear the air.  I've heard this rumour on Cortes myself, and I've tried to clear things up when it pops up.” 

“I personally don't feel like Quadra Island would be an option for this type of plan simply because of the geographical area we cover.  As you know, a trip from Quadra to Cortes in the middle of a stormy night is a challenge.  The waters around the south end of Quadra Island near the Cape Mudge lighthouse can be incredibly treacherous in those conditions, and would impact response times too much, as well as jeopardize officer safety if they were required to attend from Campbell River.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - A 2014 study estimates there are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the ocean. There is also a great deal of polystyrene. These are two of the most prevalent types of ocean debris washing up on our beaches. The Ocean Legacy Foundation decided to do something about it and partnered with the qathet Regional District to open up BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot in Powell River.

This is the first of a series of two interviews with Abby McLennan from Let’s Talk Trash in Powell River. Let’s Talk Trash is both an hour long monthly radio program broadcast over Power River Community Radio, CJMP 90.1 FM, and, since 2011, also the qathet Regional District’s Waste Reduction Education Program.

The quathet Regional District stretches from the ferry terminal at Saltry Bay, north along the coast to Toba Inlet. Hernando, Texada, Savary, and Lasqueti islands are all within its boundaries. More than 65% of the inhabitants live in Powell River (2016 pop: 13,157).

Savary Island, the village of Lund and smoke from the mill at Powell River can all be seen from the eastern shore of Cortes Island. They are also within the broadcast area of Cortes Radio, CKTZ, 89.5 FM.

The Ghost Fear Fund

“The $8.3 million Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program, known as the Ghost Gear Fund will fund 22 projects in Canada and four internationally over the next two years. All projects fall into at least one of four categories: gear retrieval, responsible disposal, acquisition and piloting of available gear technology, and international leadership.” - press release from Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada.

The First Ocean Plastic Depots

“The Ocean Legacy Foundation was successful is getting some funding, we partnered with them and that is how this Ocean Plastic Depot came into being. It’s really a vision of the Ocean Legacy Foundation. They want to have these satellite depots all up and down the coast, so there is a place to bring the material for recycling, and not just disposal, when [beach] clean-up efforts happen. This is the first depot in BC, and I believe in Canada … A second one has just been installed in Tofino,” said McLennan.