Sept. 30

Hospital goings on

Jim Taylor

Too bad none of the local media is following up on what a head nurse from NRGH reported at the Nanaimo Town Hall last May. Listening to what she says is going on at NRGH and Dufferin Place. Then ask Eby what he and Dix have been doing. Until a few weeks ago free drug stuff was in a vending machine at the hospital entrance, still would be if the NDP didn't find it embarassing during an election cycle. If you haven't heard this nurses story, give it a listen. It will piss you off. See it HERE

Support for forestry
Kathy Anderson

What a misleading headline. It should read: "Nanaimo votes against dismissing forestry regulations." Unregulated industry is nothing we should support.

Amber Walker

Infuriating but not surprising coming from those councillors. They need to be voted out yesterday.

Sept. 27, 2024

Readers respond to election campaign

Norene Cragg

And where will they get all the nurses to staff the new tower. Hopefully by then they will have enough trained nruses?

Brad Rozzano
I hope the good people of Nanaimo don’t get sucked into voting for Eby and his latest bribe of a new patient tower at NRGH - in ten years.

JC Tirone
Isn’t it a selection with the false pretense of voting will make a difference? As long as elections BC is involved the outcome has no bearing on how many people voted. It’s who’s selected not elected. So let’s stop this nonsense

William Rollier

Politics in BC have always been a blood sport but I don't remember it being this bad. Pretty sad when you really have no plans on either side and it results in bashing the other guy. Both sides have no real ideas on how to move forward and after 40 years are now suggesting a solution for the homeless in the form of safe secure treatment centres and mandatory treatment and meanwhile thousands and thousands have died and billions have been wasted on failed programs and both sides are equally to blame. Our system is badly broken but as I have suggested more and more people have given up on the badly broken party system and have chosen to run independently and if we are lucky these people will hold the balance of power in the next election. How dismal is that when that is the only answer to good governance?

Mac Berry

It has taken 8 years for the “Future home of the Cancer centre" sign to be erected at NRGH, so it’s full steam ahead. Perhaps the Patient Tower could be gifted to our grandchildren, but don ‘t be surprised if the “Future home of” sign appears in time for the election.

Melina Dayne

I will say this as nicely as I can - NDP have failed the BC citizens on many counts. They had opportunities for years, and failed. Time for them to go.

Prescription advertising wastes patient time

Gary Korpan

Everyone, except pharmaceutical companies, know that patient consultation time with overworked and understaffed doctors is limited and restricted – if you can get an appointment at all. 

  And yet, drug companies constantly advertise incomprehensible drugs without any explanation of what illness is involved, or how their drug purportedly helps. They say: "Ask your doctor about Rybelsus," etc. ad nauseam.

  It all adds more stress to our clearly over-stressed health care system.

All pertinent authorities need to put a stop to scaring people and wasting doctors' time. Don't pass the buck, do your jobs, all of you.

Harm reduction:

there is no such thing

Heather Kevin Miller

The harm reduction sites are not harm reduction sites! I prefer to call them Harm PROduction sites. Because that is all they are doing! Causing harm to every community they land in. NDP has got to go. So does decriminalization and destigmatization! We should not be incentivizing people to become drug addicts. We are the only province in Canada doing what is happening now on illicit drugs. Unsafe supply is only building this industry. This government is inviting every addict across Canada to come to B.C. to enjoy all the freebies, the enabling and of course the free unsafe supply. Our Province is Mardi Gras one a month. People are getting their hands chopped off but we should continue to allow these addicted/brain injured/mentally-ill folks to wander amongst us. Yea. Good idea!

Jennifer Willoughby

Please help find

Jennifer Willoughby

Nanaimo RCMP seek assistance in locating 47-year-old Jennifer Willoughby. She is 5’4” and140- lbs. She has blue eyes and sandy brown hair. Jennifer was last seen in Nanaimo on Sept. 5. The police are asking anyone who may have seen her or have information that may assist in locating her, to contact the Nanaimo RCMP 250-754-2345 and reference RCMP file # 2024-31491.

Sarah Oranchuck

Help needed to find Ladysmith woman

The Ladysmith RCMP seek help in finding 36-year-old Sarah Oranchuk who was last seen in Ladysmith on Aug. 28. She was reported missing to police on Sept. 24. Police are concerned for her health and well-being. Sarah is 5’6” and weighs 122 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes. If you know her whereabouts, call your local police or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Sept. 30, 2024

City Council says no to

forestry lobby support

Nanaimo was once a forestry town, but that appears to be history. A council majority has denied support for the forestry industry. Councillors Tyler Brown, Hillary Eastmure, Ben Geselbracht, Erin Hemmens and Paul Manly voted against writing a letter of support for the industry. This was the second time they rebuffed the Forestry Works for B.C. campaign which sought a letter of support opposing forestry regulations. The campaign represents forest-based organizations and companies, including Coastland Wood Industries, Nanaimo Forest Products, Jones Marine Group and the Truck Loggers Association. Nanaimo Forest Products CEO Paul Sadler, told city council that the industry's future is uncertain. Mayor Leonard Krog and councillors Armstrong, Perrino, and Thorpe voted to support the industry request. Campbell River and Terrace have issued letters of support. MORE

YOUR COMMENT

Wildfires are still with us with evacuations. Christina Lake in the Kootenay Boundary region has evacuated residents from 42 homes. The regional district says inthat an emergency operation centre has been activated, and 208 homes in the area are on alert to leave on short notice. MORE

It's a slow news day on a fabulous fall day, so enjoy before you return to the regular grind tomorrow.

WEB QUOTE – You will get way less concerned with what others think of you when you realize how seldom they do.

Sept. 29, 2024

It's a conspiracy,

that’s my theory 

Premier David Eby is conspiring to determine who can qualify as a B.C. Conservative candidate and wants to cancel those whose views he determines to be conspiracy theorists and any number of other labels. It’s pushing his self-instituted superior morality, shutting out all others. 

It shows how we have lost the ability to have civil discourse, we’ve lost the ability to disagree, we can’t think for ourselves any more. A recent study concluded that 61 per cent now “self silence” for fear of losing friends. Politics has created walls around open discourse, we’re biting our tongues when we should not have to.

I have friends in more than one political party, and we agree to disagree. Differing views are no reason to shut someone out. They have their beliefs and they should be respected and entitled to them without fear of retribution. That forms the backbone of our freedoms of belief and expression.

There’s been a history of dismissiveness of others’ views by labelling them without counter argument or evidence. It always winds up with demands to muzzle them. We’re familiar with the labels and stigmas ­– racist, bigot, supremacist, extremist, phobias, and now conspirators. Eby wants them censored, denying candidates who have views that don’t pass his ideological standards. 

He's entitled to his own self-superiority, but not to the point of imposing it on others. How about “self silencing” and sticking to your own knitting, Mr. Premier, and worrying about your own house? Never mind that he reportedly got the dirt on the Consevatives from B.C. United. Isn't that collusion? The voters are smart enough to decide for themselves about those crazy right-wing outhouse rats.

Sept. 29, 2024

Co-op gas bars raise $43,000 for Hospital

Mid Island Co-op has a Fuel Good Day fundraiser in September at which its gas stations across the country donate at least five cents a litre to a local community organization. This year’s big winner Sept. 17 in Nanaimo is the 12-bed high-acuity unit at the NRGH. In Nanaimo we do things a little differently than the rest of the country. Instead of donating a nickel a litre they doubled it to a dime for each litre pumped by the 16 gas bars throughout the central Vancouver Island region. That netted $54,0000 for the Hospital Foundation. MORE

The Tour de Rock cycles into Nanaimo today with stops throughout the city in support of pediatric cancer search and camp experiences for kids and families battling the disease. Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Ian George is expected to lead the group as it moves into the downtown. There’s a fund raiser in Nanaimo tonight with an early start to Ladysmith tomorrow morning. The Tour de Rock has raised millions for pediatric cancer research over the last two decades, with $366,000 so far on this year’s ride. MORE

We know the feeling of long ferry sailing waits on long weekends so you can share the frustration of Lower Mainland travellers heading to the U.S. Wait times ballooned to three hours on Saturday at both the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings as of noon. Usually that takes 74 minutes or less. The Lynden border crossing in Aldergrove had a lineup of 75 minutes, more than double the average of 35 minutes. Things were a lot better at the Sumas crossing in Abbotsford with waits down to 25 minutes. And remember, it will likely be the same on the return trip. MORE

Remember winter tires will be mandatory on some highways on Vancouver Island starting Tuesday. You will have to ride on winter tires on sections of highways 4, 14, 18, 19 and 28, as well as on the Malahat. Winter tires are defined as having the mountain/snowflake symbol on them, or all-season Mud and Snow (M+S) tires. If you are using M+S tires, they must have a tread depth of at least 3.5 millimetres. Check with ICBC. 

WEB QUOTE – Just a thought. Why didn’t Noah kill those two mosquitoes?

Sept.  28, 2024

'Show me the money' for hospital tower

There are promises and then there are election promises. The Fair Care Alliance wants more details after Premier David Eby's promise of a new patient tower at NRGH. The alliance of health care workers, business leaders, elected officials and others has been advocating for a full-service patient tower and cardiac cath lab. Donna Hais, head of the group, said they're looking for more details, like scope, scale and dates, the how, when and where. It is estimated that the tower will cost about $1.7 billion, with 40 per cent paid by regional hospital district taxpayers and could take between eight to 10 years to build.

While it’s an election promise, it got double strength when Conservative Leader John Rustad gave CHEK News a “me too” reply. He said there’s no question the hospital facilities on the Island are in serious need, adding the new tower in Nanaimo will certainly go ahead under a Conservative government. MORE

The Independent Investigations Office has begun an investigation after a woman was injured while in the custody of Nanaimo RCMP this week. In a news release, the IIO stated the incident involved an arrest on Thursday. A well-being check was initiated at 9 p.m. for a woman on the suspicion she could be harming herself. She was also believed to be violating a release order. She was arrested and taken to the detachment where there was an interaction as police attempted to move her into a cell and she suffered an injury was taken to hospital. MORE

Don’t let the construction activity deter you from downtown. To make up for any inconvenience, the city is removing some parking fees beginning on Oct. 1. It’s the initiative of city and the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association. Free two-hour parking will apply to streets and does not include parkades or parking lots. Signage will be updated where the free parking is applicable. Specific free street parking includes Commercial Street, Front Street, Chapel Street, Church Street, Bastion Street, Anchor Way and Cameron Road. MORE

A huge north end housing project has a development permit for the second time. It calls for an 86-unit, six-storey multi-family rental building on the south end of 6330 McRobb Ave. It was originally approved in 2022 but lapsed, and now the developer wants to go ahead. This adds to a number of new residential developments in the area, including another multi-family apartment building at 6340 McRobb Ave. MORE

Scammers are using emails to extort money from victims by threatening to reveal compromising photos, videos and personal information to their friends and family members. Coquitlam RCMP got 18 reports of the scam in the past week, with the perpetrators often sending a photo of the victim's home to suggest they have personal information about them. The photos are sourced from online searches like Google Streetview. The intended victims are instructed to send money to a Bitcoin wallet or risk the allegedly compromising images and information being sent to their loved ones. MORE

Spicing up city council meetings. Kamloops City Council meeting got an eye-popping display when a pornographic video popped up on the chamber television monitors. The incident happened during the public inquiry portion of the meeting, where residents attend the podium or dial in via video conference. When a person joined on Zoom, a disturbing, pornographic video was aired across the livestream instead. City Council moved too end to the public inquiry sessions, similar to Prince George. MORE

WEB QUOTE – It’s important to look closely at election signs. Last time I almost voted for a real estate agent.

Sept. 27, 2024

New patient tower promised for Hospital

Premier David Eby came to town bearing great news of a new patient tower at Nanaimo Regional Hospital. An NDP campaign news release quoted the premier as saying: “We are building a new cancer care centre right here and I’m committing today to continue improving access to quality health care in this community with a new tower for the hospital.” The news release did not contain details about shovels in the ground or completion timelines.

So what does $90 million get you in a public works alternative approval process? City Public Works Director Bill Sims has a breakdown. It is interesting to note of the amount spent that is not actually on physical structures – contingency fund and an inflation fund as well as consultants. Those first two should buffer any possible cost overruns. Then we should all be able to rejoice when the project comes in under budget.
$16 million Public works yard.
$21 million Operations Center.
$11 million for sewer and environmental.
$18 million contingency fund.
$10 million inflation fund.
$12 million for consultants.

Thursday was a great day for Ethan Katzberg, eclipsed only by winning Olympic gold at the Paris games. The Olympic hammer throw champion was welcomed home with open arms and a city’s pride. Mayor Leonard Krog’s message was simple. “Ethan, thank you, thank you, thank you,” the mayor told Katzberg and the hundreds gathered at Rotary Bowl. Making it a true homecoming, Ethan spent hours high-fiving students from his former Nanaimo schools.MORE

City councillors and staff spent most of last week at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver. They met with the Minister of Health, Minister of Housing, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. A range of topics were discussed including the need for a cath lab and new patient tower at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital; the need for more complex care, detox and recovery spaces; and provincial support in responding to RCMP resource challenges and increased costs. MORE

Now is a great time to get out the pruning equipment and take a run at some of those trees and shrubs that have been going unchecked. Winter weather is on the way, increasing the chance of serious power outages, advises B.C. Hydro. Vegetation management is a main part of Hydro’s work through the summer and early fall, clipping branches and clearing space away from lines. That’s good advice for your own property as well.

WEB QUOTE – Sometimes I amaze myself with the things I say and do, then there are the times when I try to get out of the car with my seatbelt on.

Sept. 26, 2024

Man sentenced to six years for sexual assault

A homeless man will have a home in jail for the next six years after he was sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman and preventing her from getting away. Carl Michael Francis, 36, was judge guilty by a jury of sexual assault causing bodily harm, assault causing bodily harm and unlawful confinement. The crimes occurred three years ago at Bowen Park.The 19-year-old victim was experiencing numerous mental health issues, but was not a regular user of illicit drugs. MORE

The investigation continues after one person died at a construction site on Shenton Road Wednesday afternoon. No further detail are available. RCMP, Nanaimo Fire Rescue and the Coroners Service were at the scene shortly after 2 p.m. MORE

All that recent rain will still not meet the needs in some areas. Water resources in parts of the Oceanside region remains scarce. Parksville has instituted stage four water restrictions due to average flows in the Englishman River falling below 1.20 cubic metres per second. MORE

We’ve got two long weekends coming up in short order putting the pinch on ferry travel plans. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Thanksgiving are a good reminder to set your ferry travel planned in advance. The Queen of New Westminster is still in the workshop, reducing overall capacity making advance travel planning essential. BC Ferries will offer Saver fares at off-peak times on select sailings. Check the ferry schedules to make sure you get what you’re looking for.

Would you like to be a director on the Nanaimo Port Authority? The City is accepting applications for a director opening. The term is three years with an option for two extensions - a total of up to nine years. Having served as the city’s representative, I found this to be a very rewarding opportunity for anyone wanting to make an impact on our city and community. The successful candidate will have experience in business, community service, financial sector, legal/governance, marine operations, marine transportation, port operations and Indigenous relations. For more information about the role on the Port Authority, check it out HERE

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock bike trek across Vancouver Island will arrive in Nanaimo Sunday for its annual gala dinner at the Coast Bastion Hotel Hotel hosted by the Tour de Rock Nanaimo Committee. Riders are making the 1,200-kilometre trek from Port Alice to Victoria, stopping in communities along the way. MORE

You like it here? Well, you can stay if you live in a recreational vehicle. The Regional District is suspending length-of-stay regulations in some campgrounds and resorts in the rural electoral areas between Cedar and Bowser. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Life expectancy for men is 76 years and for women it’s 82 years. I figure if I transition I get an extra half dozen years.

Sept. 25, 2024

Another sign of the changing seasons is ICBC’s reminder about your tires. Winter tires are mandatory on many provincial highways starting on Oct. 1. That’s the same day Road Safety at Work launches its annual Shift into Winter safety awareness campaign. Designated Island highways require winter tires or chains from October 1 to March 31. The timeline extends to April 30 for select highways, such as mountain passes and rural routes in high snowfall areas. Tires displaying the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol provide better traction and stopping distances when temperature drops below 7C. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Free advice for older people. Don’t eat health foods, you need all the preservatives you can get.

Sept. 24, 2024

Charges laid after raid

on harm reduction site

Two people face a total of 33 charges after a raid at a harm reduction site in Nanaimo. Gerid James Gregory-Allen and Sara Lynn Koshman were arrested in drug busts Sept. 12, including at the overdose prevention site operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association. Gregory-Allen faces 14 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and eight weapons offences. Koshman was charged with six possession for the purpose of trafficking counts and five weapons offences. Insp. Andrew Burton of the Nanaimo RCMP said this was a significant seizure and it removed large quantities of illicit and harmful drugs, as well as dangerous weapons from the streets. MORE

Reader comments - Heather Kevin Miller – These are not harm reduction sites! I prefer to call them ‘Harm PROduction’ sites. Because that is all they are doing! Causing harm to every community they land in. NDP has got to go. So does decriminalization and destigmatization. We should not be incentivizing people to become drug addicts.

A boater’s calls for help near Nanoose alerted residents along the waterfront to call emergency services on Monday evening. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre combined with a water taxi operator and residents on shore to find the capsized 12-foot aluminum skiff. Robb Wilson of the water taxi said they found a man clinging to the boat trying to hang on. They tossed the man a life ring and pulled him aboard. MORE

Enough of the dangerous bikers in Nanaimo. RCMP are cracking down after an alarming increase in motorcycle drivers pulling wheelies, video recording themselves, and generally riding in a dangerous manner. There were 73 incidents reported in 2023 including motorcyclists riding two and three abreast, riding on the wrong side of the road, driving at night with no lights, cutting in and out of traffic and speeding on sidewalks with no regard for the safety of pedestrians. R/Const. Gary O’Brien said an officer witnessed a motorcyclist near the University Village mall stunting and driving recklessly, appearing to try to bait the officer into a pursuit. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Particularly appropriate at this time, don’t call politicians liars, they are purveyors of misinformation.

There’s a new way to get around, starting Wednesday, connecting Northfield Road to Rosstown Road. Powder Works Road, between the two roads is part of the Midtown Gateway revitalization of the Bowen Road-Beban Park area. The No. 30 Transit bus will also use the new route along with pedestrians and cyclists. MORE

Sept. 23, 2024

Good morning. The Vancouver Island Exhibition is in the books for another year. We look forward to seeing the attendance numbers after the fair was set back to September this year.

RCMP are investigating after a woman was hit by a car while dropping her child off at school this morning. The woman was taken to hospital after she was pinned under the car at the Hammond Bay Road and Morningside Drive intersection during the school drop-off rush. MORE

The Coastal Fire Centre is responding to a wildfire which was discovered on Mount Arrowsmith overnight. It covers about two hectares as of this morning. Information officer Kimberly Kelly said it is burning in slash. There are two initial attack crews, a response officer, a unit crew responding, as well as Mosaic support with a water tender and personnel. MORE

WEB QUOTE – People who wonder if the glass is half empty or half full, miss the point. The glass is refillable.

Sept. 22, 2024

A body found near the Curling Club last week has been determined a homicide. The body was found in a wooded area near the railway tracks. Police identified the victim as Lee Harland, 42, of no fixed address. The body was found beside the railroad tracks and police stated he had been living in Nanaimo for some time as a transient and frequented homeless encampments. MORE

Two families escaped a house fire in the northend Saturday morning. Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to a house fire on Turner Road. Two families were living in the home and all escaped without injury. MORE

There will be no need to blink, you’ll really be seeing things when a new colour scheme hits transit buses this fall. BC Transit is adding 81 new light-duty buses and eight heavy-duty buses painted “vibrant green livery.” The buses are coming to areas across the province and are meant to express BC Transit’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Transit claims the new colors will be easier to maintain, install and repair. MORE

To wrap up this edition, a reminder that today is the first day of fall and we have exactly 90 days left until winter. Enjoy the colors of the changing season.

WEB QUOTE – My level of sarcasm has got to the point that even I don’t know if I’m kidding.

Sept. 21, 2024

They’re about to hit the road – 16 riders have kicked off the 2024 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, including Nanaimo RCMP’s Cst. Ian George who is carrying the colors of the Nanaimo RCMP. The riders and their entourage are on their way to the north Island to launch the 13-day, 1,200-kilometre tour through Island communities. MORE

The 130th annual Vancouver Island Exhibition kicked off Friday and continues today and Sunday. The gates at Beban Park open at 10 every morning, shutting down at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night, and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Despite all the changes and challenges this year, it’s going to be really good and we can’t wait to see everyone, says Michelle Solloway of the VIEX, adding there’s a lot of anticipation and a little uncertainly around a modified park layout and a later schedule. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

Sept. 20 2024

Good morning. Let’s start off with a salute to the News Bulletin for capturing major awards at the News Media Canada Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. The News Bulletin earned three awards in the 10,000-and-over circulation class, including third place in the Best Community Newspaper Website category. Reporter/photographer Chris Bush earned third place in the Best Feature Story category. The News Bulletin also took third place in the Best Sports Coverage category for articles about baseball, football and lacrosse.

Whooping cough (pertussis), is circulating in the region leading Island Health Public Health to urge everyone to get up to date with their vaccinations. Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way to protect yourself and your family from many preventable and potentially serious diseases. Whooping cough is an infection of the airways caused by pertussis bacteria. Symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, mild fever and possibly a mild cough in the beginning, resembling a cold. Rates of whooping cough increased across Canada in 2024, including within the Island Health region. As of August 2024, in the Island Health region, 17 people have been ill; the majority of them were not vaccinated. 

Nanaimo RCMP have been absolved of blame for a knee injury suffered by a man during his arrests. B.C.'s police watchdog has ruled there was no criminality involved. The man was arrested after failing to leave the parkade when asked by a security guard, the IIO stated, and suffered the knee injury. He was transported from the police detachment to the hospital the following day. The investigation included statements from the man, the security guard, two paramedics, four jail guards and two police officers, as well as video footage from the detachment.

RCMP seek help in finding a missing man who often frequents downtown Nanaimo and Gabriola Island. Duggan O'Hara, 29, is 6-foot-1 and weighs 177 pounds. He is Caucasian with green eyes and wavy, shoulder-length brown hair. If you have  aseen O’Hara, or has information that may assist in locating him, contact the Nanaimo RCMP's non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and reference file No. 2024-30088.

WEB QUOTE – Rumours are carried by haters, spread by fools and accepted by idiots.

Sept. 19, 2024

Emergency Response Team ends mental health case

The RCMP Emergency Response Team was brought in to help diffuse a mental health event in central Nanaimo on Tuesday. R/Cst. Gary O’Brien said Mounties did a wellness check at a home off Meredith Road and were met by a very confrontational man, who ran back into the house. An officer spotted the man through a window and saw he was armed with a machete. He came out with minimal resistance and was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to hospital for a psychiatric assessment, said O’Brien. No charges are pending against the man in his 30s since the case is not criminal, but a mental health issue. MORE

A car crash through a condemned building at Beban Park won’t impact the VIEX this weekend. The driver said the car accelerated rather than reversed, crashed through the building and into a mini donuts concession stand. The building had been used for storage. No one was injured. MORE

Former Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools assistant superintendent Robyn Gray is returning to the top job here replacing superintendent Scott Saywell. Gray had moved to the Cowichan Valley school district as superintendent in 2019 after 25 years in Nanaimo. Here she had held roles as vice-principal, principal, district principal of Aboriginal education and director of instruction, in addition to assistant superintendent. MORE

A federal election is not likely to be triggered next week when Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brings in a non-confidence motion. The motion will simply say “the House has no confidence in the prime minister and the government.” That puts the NDP and Bloc Quebecois between a rock and a hard place. It’s a dare to the New Democrats who haven’t said which way they will vote but Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet said his MPs will vote confidence in the government. The combined Liberal and Bloc votes would quash the motion. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Sometimes you just have to sit back, drink your beer and accept that some people are just idiots.

COMMENT on any of these topics.

Sept. 19 2024

Third alternate approval

process gets under way

A third Alternative Approval Process to borrow up to $90 million for a new fleet maintenance and administration building begins today. Voters have 42 days to oppose the borrowing bylaw by filling out an elector response form which can be picked up at City Hall or the City's website. If you are okay with the project, no action is required. Completed forms must be received by the Corporate Officer no later than by 4:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Details on how to submit a completed form can be found on the City’s Alternative Approval Process page.

Keep your doors locked even when you are home. A brazen burglar stole car keys and other items after entering an unlocked home, and then stole a getaway vehicle, too. A BMW sport utility vehicle, new golf clubs and a computer were stolen from a rural residence in Cedar last weekend. A man and his son arrived at their home at Farrar Road in Cedar around 1 a.m. Sunday and when they awoke later that day, they noticed numerous items missing. A credit card was used to buy gas at a station near the residence at approximately 2 a.m. and an airtag stopped tracking at Parksville. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP's non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, citing file No. 2024-30288. MORE

Get ready for the Vancouver Island Exhibition which kicks off its 130th fair on Friday and continues until Sunday. Aside from the tons of entertainment there are the usual midway rides and food trucks galore. Global FMX freestyle motocross, Superdogs and Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling are some of the other attractions. Parking could be a challenge as the fair competes with youth sports  at Beban Park, but organizers have come up with a solution. Parking is first-come, first-serve and limited. The fair has a deal with Clay Tree Society and Nanaimo North Town Centre for free parking at the shopping centre and a free shuttle to and from the fair. MORE

Campfires are allowed again after open-fire restrictions are lifted for the Coastal Fire region – all category 2 and 3 fires permitted. That includes tiki torches, fireworks and firecrackers, sky lanterns, burn barrels or burn cages so long as they are under three metres in width and two metres in height – and outdoor stoves again, everyone must still be cautious when lighting fires of any size. MORE

Goodbye Tupperware? Virtually every home has that food storage item but that could fade after the company filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday in the face of mounting losses and poor demand for its once-iconic food storage containers. Tupperware’s popularity exploded in the 1950s as women of the post-war generation held Tupperware parties to sell food storage containers. Over the years it has lost its edge to rivals making cheaper and more environmentally friendly containers. MORE

WEB QUOTE – “Raising the ceiling on guaranteed mortgages to $1.5 million from $1 million will allow many more young people to enter the housing market,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. How many young people can carry a $1.5 million mortgage?

COMMENT on any of these topics.

Sept. 17, 2024

A stinky situation. Residents in a wide are of the north end held their noses while emergency crews determined the source of a gas leak in the Nanaimo transit yard. It happened just after 2 p.m. on Monday in the area behind Costco. Nanaimo Fire Rescue tracked a leak to a pipe in the transit yard. RCMP closed Calinda Street at both Applecross and Hammond Bay Road as a precaution. A number of buses were delayed from their routes. MORE

The mid-Island is not the only region making noises about health care. Emergency room doctors at Surrey Memorial Hospital have warned Fraser Health that deteriorating conditions are leading to substandard care. The letter is signed by the emergency department’s entire staff of physicians, is addressed to Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee. The doctors say they’ve made repeated and urgent attempts to alert Fraser Health and provincial health leadership of worsening conditions in the emergency department, but have received little response. MORE

Out with the old and in with the new appears to be the theme at BC Ferries moves ahead to build seven new vessels. The procurement for the first five ferries is now under way, with the remaining two to be built in a later phase. The corporation still needs approval from the ferry commissioner.The new ships are designed to to carry up to 2,100 passengers and 360 standard-sized vehicles. The current vessels can hold up to 1,500 passengers and 310 vehicles. Ferries says the goal is to address projected population growth. The first ship is expected to start service in 2029, with all five in service by 2031. MORE

The collapse of the BC United Party has left a lingering odor – taxpayers may have to pick up the tab for caucus staff severance pay. Those are the staffers in the Legislature as opposed to the party offices. Two dozen caucus staffers are being laid off and there is some doubt whether there is enough money in the BC United caucus funds to pay that severance. An all-party committee at the legislature met Monday to determine where the funds will come from. They committee voted to have it come primarily from the BC United caucus funds. If there’s still a shortfall, it would come from constituency coffers, and if there is still not enough, the remainder will come from the legislative assembly. MORE

Two people walked away uninjured after the A small plane in crashed and burst into flames on landing at the Qualicum Beach Airport on Monday afternoon. The two people in the plane were not injured. The 1977 Piper Arrow crashed after an issue during landing and the fire was easily extinguished. MORE

WEB QUOTE – David Eby is calling John Rustad a liar and Rustad is calling Eby a liar. Until definitive fact checking, our best option is to believe both of them.

Sept. 16, 2024

Drug treatment:

will it be real this time?

Many are dubious about Premier David Eby’s commitment to involuntary treatment for severe drug addicts and metal illness. Eby announced the move on Sunday to come into being “in the months to come.” What raises questions is his promise during his NDP leadership bid to do exactly that, and then backed out. There are questions about whether this is another ploy only to be abandoned after October 19 provincial election. Watch out for weasel words in political announcements. Give us YOUR VIEW.

Commercial Street reconstruction has created upheaval for downtown so street parking will be free with a two-hour time limit during Commercial Street reconstruction. The revitalization for the area is expected to continue until May. This includes a curb-less street, buried structural soil cells for trees so their roots don't damage the sidewalk, street furnishings with integrated artwork, and retractable bollards along the gutter line. The Downtown Nanaimo Business Association has asked for the parking change after the loss of about 30 parking space on Commercial Street. MORE

Another Nanaimo icon is fading into history with a gutter ball. Brechin Lanes, Nanaimo’s only five-pin alley is closing. Owners Ray and Tianna Brittain said the decision was actually very logical, but emotionally, it was very hard. The bowling alley started in 1956  with six lanes. John and Louise bought it in 1967, eventually building 16 lanes. bowling alleys were the rage in the late 1970s and early ’80s. John says property taxes went up 55 per cent  this year and when your product is bowling at $6.99, that’s a lot of games of bowling. MORE

As earthquakes go, 6.5 magnitude rattles the ground pretty good. The Haida Gwaii region rumbled just after 2 p.m. Sunday, 276 km from Port McNeill and 421.8 km from Campbell River. A second quake was reported about an hour later. The U.S. Geological Survey did not issue any tsunami alerts and no damage reports were expected.

WEB QUOTE – Turn signals come free with vehicles. Use them.

Sept. 15, 2024

Eby approves involuntary drug treatment centre

After extended public pressure, British Columbia will place people with severe addictions in involuntary care under the Mental Health Act. In making the announcement, Premier David Eby says the first site will also provide care for people with mental illness and brain injuries. It will be located at the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in Maple Ridge in the coming months with plans to expand throughout the province. The move comes three months after Eby appointed Dr. Daniel Vigo as chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders. MORE

A Packed house at a Fair Care Alliance rally on Thursday heard calls for government to fund a catheterization lab and a new patient tower at NRGH but NDP candidates were nowhere in sight. Conservative, Green Party and independent candidates were there to support the cause. Isn’t that strange in view that there’s a provincial election going on? Our hospital has 346 in-patient beds and about 70 specialists ranging from cardiology and gastrointestinal care, to respiratory and psychiatric. Two hospitals south of the Malahat feature a combined 844 in-patient beds and nearly 290 specialists. Alliance chair Donna Hais said it’s not about what political party you belong to, what race you are or gender, it’s about you as a human being. MORE

Tim Harris won the School District 68 byelectiion on Saturday. He won 594 to 224 over the only other candidate, Joan Brown. He is a former teacher, educational assistant and principal. MORE

Okay, you can resume air travel plans – Air Canada and its pilots have negotiated a new labour deal and averted a countrywide shutdown. The deal ended the possibility that the 5,200 Air Canada pilots could be locked out or walk off the job. Any such move would have forced the airline to suspend nearly all operations, a prospect that raised concerns among business groups, and passengers. MORE

Have you seen anyone staggering around with a 180-pound cast-iron dragon? One was stolen from a Nanaimo home last week. Police have interviewed neighbours and reviewedsurveillance footage but haven’t found any evidence, so they are turning to the public for tips. If you know anything about this case call Nanaimo RCMP's non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, citing file No. 2024-18813. MORE

Carl Michael Francis, 36, has been sentenced to six years in jail for violently sexually assaulting and forcibly confining a 19-year-old woman three years ago. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Carla Forth said Francis showed no remorse and she was unsure if he would be open to attending rehabilitation programs while incarcerated.Francis was found guilty of three offences during an eight-day jury trial over the summer: unlawful confinement, sexual assault causing bodily harm, and assault causing bodily harm. MORE

Just a Minute.  Voters in Monday’s federal byelection in Montreal will have a lot of candidates to choose from – there are 91 names on the metre-long ballot. Most of the candidates appear aligned to a group protesting Canada’s first-past-the-post voting system. Limited polling shows a three-way race between the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Québécois. A Mainstreet Research poll this week put the Bloc in the lead. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Once you’ve matured you will realize that silence is more important than proving a point.

Sept 14, 2024

Third approval process

starts for works yard

Will the third time be a charm? The city is launching its third attempt Wednesday to get approval for a public works facility. Voters have a 42 days to oppose the borrowing bylaw by filling out an elector response form which they can pick up at City Hall or the City's website. If you are in favour of borrowing for this project, no action is required. The City is conducting tours of the Public Works Yard. Register for a 45-minute guided tour online at recreation.nanaimo.ca – click "Register for a Program" and search "Public Works" or call 250-756-5200. Tours take place Wednesday, Oct. 2, Saturday, Oct. 5 and Wednesday, Oct. 23 between, all 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. MORE

It's time for fun at the fair, but the VIEX needs volunteer ticket sellers. The fair will donate donate $700 to community groups that volunteer. VIEX runs next Friday to Sunday at Beban Park. Groups manning ticket booths will be responsible for providing at least two peopleat all timesfrom 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 20-21 and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 22. Shifts can vary depending on the number of volunteers available but plan for shits between four to sixhours per person. MORE

What has become a summer tradition on Vancouver Island, the Tour de Rock takes off next week. This year’s 1,200 km. ride will begin on Sept. 21 in Port Alice and end on Oct. 4th in Greater Victoria. First responders ride to raise money for life-saving childhood cancer research. Tour de Rock began in 1997 as part of Cops for Cancer, raising more than $54 million since then, surpassing $1 million last year. Donations for this year’s tour can be made here.

The federal government is kicking in $230,000 for a travelling exhibit with theNanaimo and District Museum Society. The bilingual exhibit, calledEsquimalt & Nanaimo (E&N) Railway Land Grants: 140 Years Later, will cover the effects and history of the E&N Railway and associated land grants on Vancouver Island. MORE

HMCS Yellowknife and U.S. Coast Guard officers seized more than 1,400 kilograms of cocaine during an anti-drug-trafficking operation in Central America. The haul southwest of Acapulco, Mexico last week is estimated to be worth US$44.2 million. MORE

My heart-felt appreciation for all the well wishes after my cancer diagnosis. I've undergone five sessions of chemotherapy – two more and then a 21-day hiatus before starting all over again. The cancer clinic staff have been fabulous and I can’t say enough about the Volunteer Cancer Driver program. They have been great. I am feeling good and don’t expect any major changes in the next little while. It’s the long run that I have to contend with. The next blood test on Sunday will be revealing.

WEB QUOTE – The greatest threat to society is the gullibility of many among us.

Sept. 13, 2024

Politics as usual is turning off voters

Voter turnouts for all elections have been dwindling for years and that should concern all of us. We’re not getting the best possible participation in what we call a democracy when only a proportion of us take part. Many voters are simply disgusted and don't bother voting.

Take a look at the U.S. presidential election and you may figure out what the reason is for people staying home. The campaign is nothing but bull manure tossed by both sides. Lying is now an accepted part of campaigning.

We’re seeing the same right here at home for the October 19 provincial election campaign. We’ve got misrepresentation, outright lying and character smearing as part of the campaign diet. Some would be libelous if it were not part of an election campaign.

A good example is the NDP dragging out the old abortion canard, accusing their opponents of planning to restrict abortion access. That is a lie because it’s a federal issue, the government in Ottawa controls abortion. B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad has stated emphatically that there will be no changes.

This type of distraction from the real issues turns people off, no wonder they stay at home on election day. Eby has something positive he can tout about women’s health that his party have accomplished. He can take pride for providing free birth control, invitro fertilization assistance and more. That’s something positive to lay out there.

To lay all the cards on the table, the Conservatives are little or no better with the incendiary language spattered throughout their election communications.

The NDP have a lot to answer for, not the least of which is the health care crisis we’re in with emergency departments closed on a regular basis. And they have to admit failure in the homeless and mental health portfolios.

The NDP needs to come clean about the housing shortages caused in part by government actions like development red tape, property transfer taxes and sales tax on housing materials.

There’s a lot more, so voters have to decide on more of the same, or live on the wild side and vote for something different.

I thought I saw a ray of hope in an NDP campaign brochure that arrived in the mail today. It featured Premier David Eby, but devoted about one third of a page focussing on Conservative leader John Rustad’s platform. That's so generous of them, especially since some of what they ascribe to him will actually encourage some people to vote for Rustad.

As well, the NDP now appear on the same page as Conservatives about the carbon tax, both Eby and federal leader Jagmeet Singh say they're ready to shut it down. But it's not as easy as flicking a switch. It is also under federal government control. Only if the federal Conservativew win the 2025 election will government axe the tax.

That's also misleading in that whenever government eliminates a revenue source they've got to find another one. Where are they going to get the billions in replacement funds if they cancel the carbon tax? It means new taxes, just shuffling the figures in the federal budget. In the end, it is we who have to make up the difference, so what would we be gaining?

For all parties, a dose of truth serum every morning, paired with decency, could improve the way we chose our elected representatives. Stick to the issues, quit impugning your opponents. More of us might turn out at the polls.

Sept. 13, 2024

Rally for health care

attracts 350 reidents

Residents spoke out loud and clear Thursday about the need for access to healthcare, equal to the south Island. About 350 people attended a rally on Thursday, organized by Fair Care Alliance, which is advocating for funding a catheterization lab (cardiac care) and a new patient tower at NRGH. Alliance chair Donna Hais said areas north of the Malahat get about one-fifth of Island healthcare funding, despite being home to more than half the Island’s population. She said it’s not about political parties, race or gender, but you as a human being. It’s about us, speaking with one voice, Hais said. MORE

Olympic gold deserves recognition, and that’s what’s in store for Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg as the city marks his achievements at the games in Paris. It’s on Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the Rotary Bowl honoring the men’s hammer throw gold medalist. Here's Mayor Leonard Krog's invitation.

The Moon Cake Festival is a tradition more than 3,000 years old marking the post-harvest moon on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. In China, it’s a statutory holiday that people celebrate by lighting lanterns, eating moon cakes and spending the time with family and friends. Nanaimo is having its first Mid-Autumn Festival with moon cakes, lanterns and lion dancing on Saturday, at various locations in Maffeo Sutton Park. The Festival is a joint effort of the Nanaimo Chinese Cultural Society and Nanaimo Masonic Lodge. They hope to make this an annual event. MORE

Nanaimo RCMP are investigating after a body was discovered near the curling rink in a treed area at the edge of Bowen Park Thursday afternoon. Investigators interviewed people who appear to have been living in the park as well as two paramedics from BC Ambulance. No other details are available. MORE

Snuneymuxw First Nation is planning to build 59 new affordable rental units on Warpath Road. They form part of 1,600 affordable rental homes through a partnership between B.C. Housing and Indigenous non-profit housing providers. Chief Mike Wyse said the announcement that marks a big moment in the band’s housing work, adding it addresses a long-standing on-reserve housing shortage. Wyse added that the units will be fast-tracked and ready for use in approximately two years. MORE

A former Nanaimo maid won’t spend any time in jail but was given a suspended sentence and 18 months probation for stealing jewellery and cash from three homes. The probation was part of a joint submission from Crown and defence. Penny Lee Hof, 54, had been cleaning three Nanaimo area homes for two days in February, 2023, where she stole three wedding rings, a necklace, diamond earring studs and $500 cash. The wedding rings were recovered from a Nanaimo pawn shop. MORE

The province has removed harm reduction vending machines across British Columbia while the Health Ministry reviews the low-barrier distribution model. Local Conservative candidate Gwen O’Mahony and party leader John Rustad claimed harm reduction supplies like sterile injection and snorting kits enabled addiction. The vending machines also distribute naloxone kits, which can be used to temporarily reverse an overdose; testing strips to check drugs for fentanyl or benzodiazepine contamination; and safer sex supplies and sharps containers. MORE

Premier David Eby and national NDP leader Jagmeet Singh are both on board to end of the carbon tax, but it’s a lot more difficult than it appears on the surface. If the province were to do away with the tax the federal government would have to approve. However, that fly in the ointment could disappear if the federal Conservatives win the next federal election. Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to cancel the tax, and provincial Conservative leader John Rustad is singing the same tune. MORE

Web Quote – Stigmatization is just another fancier word to promote victimhood.

Sept. 12, 2024

South end homeless project gets council OK

City council has given the green light to what the province calls a 60-bed homeless navigation centre on Victoria Road over the opposition of councillors Thorpe, Armstrong, Eastmure and Brown. A proposed good neighbour agreement and community advisory committee have been replaced with a neighbourhood integration plan. The facility will provide accommodation, meals, health services such as referrals to mental-health and substance-use programs,stabilization services and connections to housing. MORE

A small fire west of the city is not expected to grow any larger under current conditions. Crews from the Coastal Fire Centre, along with Mosaic Forestry Management, responded to fire near Fourth Lake, around 35 kilometres west-southwest of Nanaimo. Nick Donnelly of the Coastal Fire Centre, said they learned of the fire around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. MORE

Olympic gold deserves recognition, and that’s what’s in store for Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg as the city marks his achievements at the games in Paris. It’s on Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the Rotary Bowl honoring the men’s hammer throw gold medalist. See the invitation from Mayor Leonard Krog.

The Moon Cake Festival is a tradition more than 3,000 years old marking the post-harvest moon on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. In China, it’s a statutory holiday that people celebrate by lighting lanterns, eating moon cakes and spending the time with family and friends. Nanaimo is having its first Mid-Autumn Festival with moon cakes, lanterns and lion dancing on Saturday, at various locations in Maffeo Sutton Park. The Festival isa joint effort of theNanaimo Chinese Cultural Society and Nanaimo Masonic Lodge. They hope to make this an annual event. MORE

B.C. Family doctors say offering paid sick days, vacation coverage, extended health and dental benefits and a pension plan would attract more doctors to work in the province. The BC College of Family Physicians and BC Family Doctors published a series of requests for whichever party forms the next government after the provincial election, including a call for access to basic employment standards and benefits like other health-care workers. Dr. Tahmeena Ali, a past president of BC Family Doctors said it can be hard for doctors to access high-quality benefits because each of them qualifies as self-employed rather than part of a larger group. MORE

WEB QUOTE – A socialist is someone who wants everything you have . . . except your job.

Sept. 11, 2024

Snuneymuxw buy Casino in Victoria

Snuneymuxw are expanding their holdings, buying a second casino on Vancouver Island. Chief Mike Wyse called it a steady, sustainable cash flow. The sale comes on the heels of buying Casino Nanaimo a couple of months ago, through it’s Petroglyph Development Group Ltd. This latest addition is the Elements Casino Victoria. Wyse said it will create a lot of opportunity for Snuneymuxw people. MORE

Vancouver Island marmots are lovin’ it here. They had a record number of pups to far this year, and the count continues. The Marmot Recovery Foundation says that number is expected to climb by the end of the year. Adam Taylor, the foundation's executive director, said 89 marmots have been born in the wild this year, whereas in the past, the most pups ever counted in one year was 75. MORE

A  reminder that the school board byelection is this Saturday. Joan Brown and Tim Harris are the two candidates to fill the vacancy after Charlene McKay resigned in spring. You can cast ballots at McGirr Elementary School, Cedar Secondary School, Ladysmith Secondary School, or the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools administration centre on Wakesiah Avenue. Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. You can also vote in advance Thursday from 3-7 p.m. at Gabriola Elementary School, and on Friday, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the school district admin building. MORE

Check this out, you can make a big difference. HERE

In case you missed the great U.S. presidential debate last night, I can sum it up for you precisely. “You’re a liar.” “No, you’re a liar.”

WEB QUOTE – Celebrate your beliefs, just don’t try to impose them on others.

Sept. 10, 2024

No one knows what the future holds

I launched the Daily Buzz nearly seven years ago, about 2,500 daily columns, seven days a week. It’s been a labour of love, certainly not a successful financial venture. I could never bring myself to hit the pavement to sell advertising. I have posted non-profit community promotions at no charge.

It has been an avenue to deliver comprehensive news links to the original stories from other media. It has also allowed me to express my Perspective on the world we live in, and add a couple of commentators – my good friend, former Newfoundland Premier Hon. Brian Peckford and John Feldsted.

As in anything else, circumstances change and I don’t know what lies ahead. I recently heard the words nobody ever wants to hear – “you have cancer.” I have begun chemotherapy treatment to fight an incurable invader – MDS blood cancer. It has no cure, although friends keep assuring me that new treatments are being discovered every day.

Despite its warts, our health system is really coming through when it comes to cancer. When first diagnosed, I was sent for a bone marrow biopsy within days, and then an almost-immediate appointment with the hematologist to set up the chemotherapy, all in a matter of a couple of weeks.

I’m not bitter, I’ve loved life for 83 years, and I’ll face whatever lies ahead with satisfaction that it’s been a good ride. I don’t know how the daily chemo injections will affect my quality of life, I’m hoping to be able to continue informing you another day, one at a time.

“Life is what we do until we die, so we might as well do a good job of it.” – Donald J. Trump

Sept. 10, 2024

Upper Lantzville property owners have firmly rejected a plan to connect to the district’s water supply. The owners of 141 properties in The Winds neighbourhood petitioned 67 per cent against the plan by the Sept. 7 deadline. The project had $5.7 million in provincial and federal financial support. MORE

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit has a suspect as it continues to investigating the death of Tavis Cragg of Nanaimo in Lake Cowichan. Police responded to a home on Cowichan Lake Road on Sept. 3, and found Cragg’s body. He had was reported missing from Nanaimo earlier in the day. The investigation remains in its early stages but investigators believe this is an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to community safety. MORE

The St. John Ambulance Nanaimo Cadet Division is having registration nights – tonight and next Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 7-8 p.m. They expect a great intake of new members. Parents, guardians or adult friends who are interested in helping volunteer as training assistants can contact Divisional Superintendent William Gilbert by email: William.gilbert@sjabcy.ca for for more information. There is a need for adults with basic first aid knowledge, any teaching knowledge.

The Paralympic Games in Paris brought a bonanza of 29 medals for the Canadian team with one third coming from Vancouver Island athletes, with 11 eleven medals. Parksville’s Nicholas Bennett was the star for Canada with three medals. He got a silver in the 200m freestyle S14, a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke SB14. He earned a second gold as part of the 200m individual medley S14. The three-medal haul earned Bennett the honour of co-flag bearer along with canoeist Brianna Hennessy.

Air Canada flights could be grounded by Friday. The airline is finalizing plans to suspend most of its operations as talks with the pilot union are nearing an impasse over inflexible wage demands. Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, operate nearly 670 flights per day. A shutdown could affect 110,000 passengers daily. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Things you don’t say after age 50: I don’t care if it doesn’t look fashionable, it’s comfortable.

Sept. 9, 2024

Rally to stir election

focus on health care

The Fair Care Alliance is trying to influence politicians to make Nanaimo Regional General Hospital an election priority with a public rally on Thursday. Organizer Kim Smythe said the purpose is to get everybody's attention, everybody in the room at the same time and challenge candidates to sign a pledge to support fair care. The Alliance was formed earlier this year to advocate for a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab and demand equitable health care north of the Malahat. Donna Hais, head of the alliance, said there's a standard of care in Canada for cardiac patients that we don't have access to. As people become informed they're having more of a voice and we're hoping they'll use that voice in this election, Hais said. The rally is at Beban Park Social Centre on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m.  MORE

The school year in Nanaimo started with 96 new childcare spaces for before and after school, as part of a provincial pilot program at four elementary schools. The ministry of education is providing $720,000 to operate the program at Gabriola Elementary, École Hammond Bay and Pleasant Valley Elementary. The existing 24-space before-and-after school program at Fairview Elementary has also been adopted into the program. MORE

There’s a whole bunch of Liberals in our town today as they plan for their future in government, so be kind if you see them around town. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is sailing a stormy sea with a strained caucus as MPs await his plan to address their political future. Last week they saw the bail out of the NDP from their sweetheart deal that prevented an early election, and the resignation of the Liberals’ national campaign director. Liberal MP Wayne Long of New Brunswick said Canadians appear to have tuned out the prime minister. MORE

Justin Trudeau is Canada’s worst prime minister of the last 50 or so years, new Research Co. survey shows. Thirty-eight per cent of those polled say Trudeau is their least favourite leader since 1968, more than double the 14 per cent showing their dislike for Stephen Harper, who placed second on the list. Behind them is Pierre Trudeau, with seven per cent followed by Kim Campbell. MORE

PEEVE FOR THE DAY – Businesses that don’t answer their phones and ask you to leave a number and they will return your call, but they never do. That's total disrespect for cutomers.

Sept. 7 & 8, 2024

Queen of New West

out for six months

The Queen of New Westminster will be out of service for about six months after its propeller fell off. The ferry was pulled from service Tuesday morning due to engine troubles, and divers discovered that its starboard propeller had sheared off from its propulsion shaft. It is not known how the ferry’s absence from the fleet will affect the Nanaimo and other routes as ships get moved around. The detached propeller was recovered from the ocean floor Saturday morning.

Premier David Eby says mental health care for those committed to involuntary cre needs to be “dignified and humane” to be effective. Eby says the 2012 closure of Riverview mental health hospital in Coquitlam put vulnerable people on the streets without adequate supports. He says there’s still a place for that but warehousing people isn’t enough and any measures taken to address the needs of people in mental health crises must be humane and respectful.MORE

Brendan Colin McBride, the man accused of killing one man and assaulting another in downtown Vancouver Wednesday, was identified by the courts as requiring counselling and forensic psychiatric services as part of a probation order in 2022. Court records also show McBride was convicted of another assault in 2023. The justice stayed his related charge of resisting or obstructing the local RCMP officer who tried to arrest him. MORE

Canadians are seeing cheaper gas prices heading into the fall, including on Vancouver Island, when compared to the same time last year. Fuel analysis website GasBuddy reported the average price in Canada on Friday was $1.519 per litre, about 11 cents cheaper than last week, and down more than 14 cents from last year. Prices on the Island are still well above the national average. The B.C. average is about $1.70 per litre. The average price in Nanaimo on Friday was $1.699. MORE

They are not going away. The United party still plans to run some candidates in the Oct. 19 election, despite suspending its campaign last week to support the BC Conservative Party. A letter to party members says despite last week’s suspension “we intend on running a select number of candidates” in the fall election. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Electric vehicle owners should be allowed to charge their cars only with solar or wind power. Otherwise it’s just pretend.

Sept. 6, 2024

Random attacks bring calls

for involuntary treatment

Mayor Leonard Krog has repeated his calls for involuntary care in a facility for people at risk to themselves or others, without their consent. His call came after two apparent stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver left one man dead and another man's hand severed. “Violent random attacks will continue until we accept as a society that there are people on our streets who should be in secure, involuntary care,” Krog said Thursday. Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West echoes that call pointing to the need to reopen Riverview Hospital, the Coquitlam mental health facility that once housed thousands, but was shut down in 2012. “We need people like this to be off the streets and in an institution,” West said. Public safety linked to drugs, mental health and bail reform is an issue during the present election campaign. MORE

Cell phones put on hold. Students in local schools have new rules for cell phone use throughout the school day. Secondary students have to turn off, or mute, digital devices – mobile phones, tablets and any device with internet access – before going to class. Elementary students have stiffer rules as digital device usage will be restricted from the start to end of the day, lunch and recess included. Devices must be kept in school bags for the whole day. Rules are not cut and dried, however, as some allowances will be made for learning, accessibility, medical and health needs. MORE

Out with the stinky port-a-potties. Flush toilets will be mandatory for construction sites beginning Oct. 1. Job sites with 25 or more workers will be required to provide flush toilets and hand-washing facilities. The rules will require toilets that are connected to a sewer system or holding tank, the use of a flow of clean water or mixture of clean water and chemicals to flush the toilet, and hand washing stations. MORE

A growing cluster of out-of-control wildfires in the British Columbia Interior has forced officials to place residents in the area under an evacuation alert. The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako says people in a remote area about 80 km south of Burns Lake, should be prepared to leave on short notice. The BC Wildfire Service says fire behaviour at the nearby Oootsa Lake complex including the Sabina Lake blaze has shown increased behaviour and remains out-of-control. MORE

Web Quote - Remember, all election promises made by politicians have to be paid by you.

Sept. 5, 2024

Foremen at B.C. ports

vote to go on strike

Foreman at B.C. Ports have voted overwhelmingly to strike in an ongoing dispute with port employers. International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Ship and Dock Foremen Local 514 says in a statement that members voted 96 per cent industry-wide in favour of authorizing a strike. No 72-hour strike or lockout notice has been issued. MORE

Parksville’s Nicholas Bennett has captured his second Paralympic gold medal, this time in the men’s 200-metre S14 individual medley. And there was no doubt as he finished 2.5 seconds faster than second-place Great Britain at two minutes 6.05 seconds. That is his third medal of the 2024 Games. MORE

So how was your summer? August was a pretty well average for much of eastern Vancouver Island. The August mean temperature in Nanaimo was 18.6 degrees, about half a degree above the norm. Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor said even with long stretches of hot weather, enough rain fell to level things off. Total precipitation was 37.8 mm compared to the normal 28.4, a bit wetter than normal in the Nanaimo area. MORE

Federal Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre dropped in to Nanaimo Wednesday and did what politicians do. He said it’s not up to him whether the end of the NDP-Liberal governance agreement will lead to an early election. Earlier in the day, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh ended the supply agreement with the Liberals saying the Liberals have let people down and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau always caves to corporate interests. Poilievre said the next steps will depend partly on this fall's parliamentary schedule. Tomorrow all three will be in different venues saying the same thing all over again. MORE

The Coombs Rodeo is under investigation by the BC SPCA after video claiming animal abuse was shared with the Vancouver Humane Society. Two instances are being investigated: the use of an electric prod on a bull and a horse being kicked in the head after it collapsed. They claim the clips showed prodding of the same animal, which is not acceptable under provincial regulations Federal regulations also forbid the use of electric prods on animals that can not move due to physical barriers. MORE

Great move, but what took so long? The B.C. government is handing out free, standardized designs for small-scale, multi-unit dwellings in an effort to cut costs and build times on new housing. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says people will be able to build homes faster than ever. The new designs will draw parallels to the iconic “Vancouver special” cookie-cutter single-family home design built in large numbers between the 1960s and 1980s with low build cost and quick permit turnaround at city hall. MORE

WEB QUOTE – It’s not the stab in the back that hurts you. It’s when you turn around and see who who’s holding the knife.

Sept. 4, 2024

Many sailings cancelled

on Swartz Bay runs

Nanaimo ferry sailings should not be affected much by the cancellation of nearly 30 scheduled sailings on the Swartz Bay - Tsawwassen route in the coming days. Some travellers might be tempted to drive to Nanaimo to avoid the lineups. A problem with the engine on the Queen of New Westminster was discovered Tuesday morning and the vessel was returned to the mainland for repairs. As a result, seven scheduled sailings were called off. Last night, BC Ferries announced further cancellations starting Wednesday and lasting until at least Sunday. MORE

Dale Parker has been chosen to replace Viraat Thammanna as the B.C. Conservative candidate for Nanaimo-Gabriola. Parker was the B.C. United candidate before the party’s implosion. He said United was a conservative party with similar values to the B.C. Conservatives, so it's not a big shift for him.

Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone is stepping down at the end of this month, forcing a byelection next spring. He was elected mayor in 2014, and ran unopposed in the 2018 and 2022 municipal elections. He said it was a difficult decision to step down as mayor and chairman of the Island Coastal Economic Trust and co-chair of the Cowichan Watershed board. He did not provide details but said he has an opportunity that he could not pass up. MORE

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto has a novel idea for overnight encampments – church parking lots and non-profits. Her proposal comes with reservations, but she says there’s a lot to like. She says there are giant parking lots that are not used all the time. Her motion goes in front of Victoria’s committee of the whole on Thursday asking council to explore the idea of turning portions of large parking lots into temporary overnight sheltering areas. MORE

We British Columbians apparently like to throw out weight around. Greg Stewart of Kamloops has won a Paralympic Games gold medal in shot put. The 38-year-old threw 16.38 metres on Wednesday to win the men's F46 class at the Stade de France. He defended the gold medal he won in Tokyo's Paralympics three years ago. Nanaimo’s Ethan Katz won a gold in shotput at the Paris Olympics last month. MORE

Home owners with variable-rate mortgages got good news this morning as the Bank of Canada’s cut its interest rate for the third consecutive month. For them, mortgage payments could be going down. The bank cut the key lending rate to 4.25 per cent in reaction to easing inflation. Bank Governor Tiff Macklem says if the economy continues to improve, Canadians can expect more rate cuts later this year. The next rate update is scheduled for Oct. 23.A variable-rate mortgage could drop approximately $15 per month less per $100,000 of mortgage. MORE

WEB QUOTE – The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

Sept. 3, 2024

Rustad has a mess

to clean up in a hurry

Laurel and Hardy, Kevin Falcon style – “Now that’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into.”

BC United leader Kevin Falcon’s move to pull his party out of the Oct. 19 general election has created a mess with a lot of question about who will run where in the election.

United candidates are left hanging as to what will happen to their aspirations. Some Conservative candidates who invested a lot of time and effort have been told to take a hike.

One United MLA says he will run, and the way he understands it, his name will appear on ballots in his riding, but there will be no party designation.

It’s all about optics.

Time is running short but Conservative leader John Rustad needs to get a handle on this as soon as possible. Granted, with a virtually new party it’s a major chore to form Electoral District associations in order to hold nominations.

Appointing candidates is not the democratic way of going about it, grassroots party members must have a voice on who will represent them. Backroom annointing doesn't cut the mustard.

Surely with the stakes this high – winning the election – some fast footwork could set up nomination meetings in EDAs where both Conservative and United candidates have an interest in running. If not, the chances of winning those seats are a lot lower, especially when homeless United candidates run against Conservative candidates. After all, that’s what this was all about, getting rid of vote splitting.

Sept 3. 2024

Paralympian Bennett brings gold to Parksville

Gold is where it's at, and Parksville’s Nicholas Bennett snared a gold medal at the Paralympic Games on Monday. It’s the first time O Canada has played at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Nicholas finished first in the men's 100-metre breaststroke for his second medal in Paris, topping the silver he won in the 200-metre freestyle. Nicholas was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three. He races in the S14 class for athletes with intellectual impairment. MORE

The first Nanaimo Family Day on Sunday could become an annual event. If you measure success by the amount of ice cream, it checked all the boxes. Sips & Sliders Food Truck sold 25 gallons of ice cream in milk shakes. Organizer Kim Smyth it was smooth sailing for a first-time event. Lots of happy families and the vendors and food trucks were smiling too. On top of that, it boosted the Rotary Club’s fund raising efforts and they want to look at making it an annual event.

It's been thus for ages, the worst offenders in speeding in school zones are parents. The 30 kilometre-per-hour school zones are in effect 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day class is in session. Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien says once parents drop off their children the seem to be in a rush and forget about the reduced speeds in school zones. MORE

More rate relief is expected to come tomorrow with a Bank of Canada rate reduction as inflationary forces continue to cool on both sides of the Canada-United States border. Markets are also calling for the U.S. Federal Reserve  to start its own easing cycle later this month, a move that will help set its Canadian counterpart up for more rate cuts to come. Both the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Fed are expected to cut the rate by a quarter point in September. MORE

A French Creek short term rental property owner has been fined $10,500 Regional District land use bylaw infractions in relation to short term rentals. The owner, registered as 0770522 B.C. Ltd. illegally operated a waterfront property on Glenhale Cres. in French Creek as an STR last summer.The sentencing hearing in Nanaimo heard last week heard the five of the counts against the were for illegal short-term rentals. MORE

Health Minister Adrian Dix says everything possible is being done to fix the weekend emergency department closures throughout the province. Five ERs were shut down over the Labor Day weekend due to labor shortages. Dix said the province has hired hundreds of qualified doctors and nurses, but in many parts of B.C., those facilities are still seeing diversions. Dr. Aimee Kenrick, president of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, said they are struggling across the system with failures across the board in all specialties. Data compiled by Global News shows emergency departments run by Interior Health and Northern Health closed 54 times in August. MORE

WEB QUOTE – What if we stopped recognizing race and judged people only by their character?

Sept. 2, 2024

There is no middle

road in B.C. politics

The illusion of a middle road in British Columbia politics has been shattered with the implosion of the Liberal/BC United party. The concept of a middle in politics has always been an illusion, it’s either left or right with a little lane wandering from the main parties. It also clears the picture for voters, they have a choice either way. Here's my PERSPECTIVE.

Sunshine wipes away the darkness. Best wishes to Sharon Krog after enduring a medical issue that saw her transferred to Victoria by air ambulance last week. Leonard tells us after the utter darkness she came through a major medical procedure with flying colors and is now in recovery. That lady has gone through more than anyone’s share of challenges. Keep on fighting Sharon, and we’ll see you home soon. If you want to send Sharon a message of cheer, send it to Dailybuzz@shaw.ca and we'll make sure she gets it.

It's back to school tomorrow but it’s no piece of cake for a lot of parents as they face the economic battle of getting ready for the classrooms. Many parents are turning to thrift stores this year, hoping to save where they can. The Vancouver Island Thrift Store estimates sales have doubled as kids prepare to go back to school. It’s a similar story at Loaves & Fishes Food Bank which had a 30-per-cent increase in people using their food banks in July compared to last year from Duncan all the way up to Port Hardy. A recent survey by the Retail Council of Canada found that 85 per cent of parents expect to maintain or increase back-to-school spending this year. See the starting day schedule HERE.

Kaden Nelson Brooks, 21, was sentenced to nine month in jail after pleading guilty to charges in a March, 2023 incident where he sped through a late-night construction zone and crashed. An agreed statement of facts stated Brooks was clocked at 131 km an hour by a Nanaimo RCMP officer’s radar gun as he sped south on the Nanaimo Parkway past the Third Street exit just after 12:30 a.m. ending in the crash. There was no explanation for his behavior. Judge Chris Churchill recommended that Brooks serve his sentence at Nanaimo Correctional Centre and encouraged him to partake in the highly-regarded Guthrie Therapeutic Community program. MORE

WEB QUOTE – I have to drive to work today to earn enough to afford the gas to drive to work again tomorrow.

Sept. 1, 2024

It's family fun today

at Maffeo-Sutton Park

Sunday morning, and a great day for Family Fun today at Maffeo-Sutton Park with non-stop live entertainment, tons of attractions, games, sports demos, and educational booths. There’ll be a food truck circle, community kiosks highlighting opportunities in sports, art, education, and community services. It’s all free but you can donate to Nanaimo Rotary North Club who will have a traditional corn roast. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Full details are HERE

Who is in and who is out? That’s the big question for voters in Nanaimo-Gabriola. What we know for sure is Sheila Malcolmson is the NDP candidate, and then it becomes confusing. Previously-named BC Conservative candidate Viraat BK Thammanna was asked by the party to suspend his campaign. And B.C. United candidate Dale Parker said he would represent the Conservatives if asked. Parker expects the candidate review over the long weekend, with an announcement early this week. Shirley Lambrecht is the candidate for the BC Greens. MORE

A new Angus Reid poll shows the BC Conservatives are neck-and-neck with the NDP after BC United dropped out of the race. The poll found the Conservative Party in the lead with 44 per cent of decided and leaning voters, with the NDP at 43. Eleven per cent of voters are still undecided. NDP Leader David Eby remains the most popular at 43 per cent, compared to Conservatives leader John Rustad’s 33 per cent. Support for Eby is trailing Rustad’s in recent weeks, with nine per cent saying their opinion of Eby has improved, compared to Rustad’s 18 per cent. About 68 per cent of people who voted for the BC Liberals in 2020 say they will now vote for the BC Conservatives. MORE

Areas of  west coast Vancouver Island will be without hydro power as B.C. Hydro performs maintenance work on a transmission line near Port Alberni. During the work period, Tofino, Ucluelet, Ahousaht, and Port Albion will be connected directly to electricity from the Ash River Generating Station on Great Central Lake, instead of through the main power grid, in a process known as islanding.

The RCMP Special Investigation Targeted Enforcement – SITE –wrapped up a short-term enforcement campaign last week targeting Wesley Street and the surrounding area. That led to a number of criminal and provincial investigations.

• An adult man was located and arrested for possession and distribution of unstamped cigarettes which are illegal under the Excise Act

• A vehicle associated to a known drug trafficker was l found with no insurance. A ticket for $598 was issued under the Motor Vehicle Act and the vehicle was towed.

• Another vehicle associated to drug trafficking was located and the driver was unlicensed. A ticket of $109 for Driving without a valid license was issued the Motor Vehicle Act.

• A suspect from a recent robbery was arrested. During the arrest, a search of the his belongings located 27 grams of methamphetamine which equates to approximately 270 individual doses.

QUOTABLE – Hate speech is a deliberately all-encompassing term to silence any views we don’t like. Just because you disagree with someone does not make it hate.

Aug. 31, 2024

Conservatives drop candidate in Nanaimo-Gabriola riding

The B.C. Conservative party has suspended the campaign of Viraat Thammanna as its candidate for Nanaimo-Gabriola in the provincial election. He said he got a call from the party saying he might have to hold on the campaign. Thammanna told the News Bulletin he didn't know if it was related to the recent suspension of B.C. United's provincial election campaign. His name and candidate profile have been removed from the Conservative Party website. MORE

Earthquake warnings are going to be a lot quicker now that we have a new tool to help warn us. The Earthquake Early Warning system was unveiled this week. It will detect greater than 5.0 magnitude earthquakes and send alerts through the National Public Alerting System to cellphones, radio and television stations. The alert will give people seconds to tens of seconds before strong shaking starts with more time to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” MORE

All of a sudden portable classrooms are not portables any more. Wellington Secondary School is getting a six-classroom extension for 150 students. The high school which was built for 900 students had 1,066 enrolled last September. District Secretary Treasurer Mark Walsh said the province is providing quick builds with modular, pre-made units that are full classrooms, not portables. He said the district will lay a slab, and do the civil work while all the other components are built elsewhere and then delivered in a relatively timely fashion. MORE

The number of deaths due to toxic drugs dropped to 192 in July, 6.2 per day but the number of women dying has increased. Island Health and Northern Health had the highest rates of women dying at 29 per 100,000 in Island Health and 56 per 100,000 in Northern Health. The Coroner Service reports the over all decrease in death is a 15 per cent decrease from July last year. Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan said toxic drugs continue to cause more loss of life in British Columbia than homicides, motor-vehicle incidents, suicides and natural disease combined. MORE

JUST A MINUTE ­ – It’s astounding that we can put people on the moon but Telus and Rogers are unable to put a stop to scam phone calls through ghosted phone numbers. It’s was past time to do something about this. I’m getting dozens of calls a day, and they’re not funny any more.

Sept. 29, 2024

All candidate forums

The provincial election is in high gear with all-candidate forums for the public.

The Nanaimo Climate Action Hub

Nanaimo-Lantzville candidates on Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. at Wellington Hall.

The Regional District and the Hospital District are holding all-candidates meetings in three of the region’s ridings.

Nanaimo-Lantzville candidates, next Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. at Wellington Secondary School.

Nanaimo-Gabriola candidates, Thursday 7-9 p.m., at the Nanaimo Curling Centre.

The RDN forums will be video recorded and posted on the regional district’s YouTube channel.

The VIU Students’ Union and the VIU political studies department has a forum on Oct. 8 from 4-6 p.m. at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre.

Sept. 28, 2024

Health care tops candidates forum

A planned all-candidates meeting for the Ladysmith-Oceanside riding turned into a town hall featuring the NDP candidate and the former NDP MLA. Health care was the top of the list for the packed room in Parksville Thursday night. Independent candidate Adam Walker and NDP candidate Stephanie Higginson were there but the BC Conservative and BC Green candidates were AWOL. More than a dozen resident-submitted questions were asked, including access to health care options in a riding which loops around Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. MORE

Election going high-tech

The October 19 provincial election will be a high tech exercise in democracy. Elections BC is streamlining the election with technology it says will make voting faster and vote-counting much faster. It involves the use of laptops to check people in, comparing their ID to digital voter rolls. Maximum wait times will be five minutes. Not only will the new system make voting faster, it's also going to make counting the ballots a lot faster. Elections BC predicts 98 per cent of all votes cast will be reported within one hour of polls closing. MORE

Sept. 27, 2024

Leaving the bullshit to the professionals

  I had dedicated this section of Nanaimonet to cover news about the provincial election but that went by the wayside after the disgusting gutter politics of the main parties. It’s outright lies, mud slinging, fear mongering, bullying and personal attacks. And more lies.

   Where are the issues without personal insults? It's bordering on crossing the legal line of character assassination. Remember in order to sling mud first you have to stoop to the gutter to pick it up. The parties are doing a lot of stooping these days. There are more than enough real issues that need addressing.

  The NDP announced a new patient tower for Nanaimo Hospital and then devoted half of the news release to blaming Conservative Leader John Rustad for the sorry state of health care in B.C. Note that Rustad was never party leader or health minister for the former B.C. Liberals.

  The NDP television campaign is most disgusting crossing every line of decency. The Conservatives Party communications folks are not far behind. If that’s the moral and ethical standards of the people seeking to form the next government we’re in deep doo doo. We have an Advertising Standards Council in this country, but where are they?

  I will use this space to post candidate meetings, election day information, where to vote and so on and stash the rest on the manure pile where it belongs.

I welcome your comments HERE, but be nice. 

Political debates set

for mid-Island ridings

Here you go, it’s political debate time for central Island candidates in the provincial election. Health care, housing and public safety top the list for debates over the next few weeks. NRGH is sponsoring the first one tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville. Ladysmith-Oceanside candidates Stephanie Higginson (NDP) and Adam Walker (Independent) are slated to be on stage. A Nanaimo debate will take place Oct. 2 for Nanaimo-Lantzville candidates at Wellington Secondary School at 7 p.m. George Anderson (NDP), Gwen O’Mahoney (CON) and Lia Versaevel (GREEN) are slated to attend. MORE 24-09-26

Opposing views on

drug supply in province

  Drug use is front and centre in the election race. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad wants to eliminate all overdose prevention sites and replace them with mental health and addictions treatment centres instead.
  Meanwhile, B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau pledged to expand safer supply of opioids and other drugs to deal with the province's deadly overdose crisis. She supports a broader system of prescribed safer supply of drugs, including fentanyl, as well as reducing stigma and barriers in the current system. Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe has added her support to the Green campaign. 
  Rustad said inhalation and injection sites are not safe. “Enough of the drug dens. We need to be converting them over to make sure they’re connected with recovery. MORE

24-09-34

Leaders set to debate

The three party leaders will face off in a televised debate ahead of the provincial election at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 8. David Eby, John Rustad and Sonia Furstenau will debate in the broadcast on television and streamed online including CTV News Vancouver. MORE

Not meaning what

they are saying

  Weasel words are the backbone of political discourse. Politicians use words that negate what is really being said. 

   Premier David Eby's floating the tantalizing lure of eliminating the carbon tax in B.C. actually said he would eliminate the "consumer" carbon tax, "if the federal government agrees."

   The Premier knows full well that Prime Minister Trudeau will never give up a tax source. As well, Eby has said he would "adjust" the tax scheme to apply it elsewhere. Still a tax, just shifted.

   Therefore the alternative is to wait for the election of a federal Conservative government which has vowed to cancel the carbon tax outright.

 Now that's temptation. 24-09-21