23-12-02 

Christmas is a time for giving, and what better than to double your donation by having it matched? The Nanaimo Hospital Foundation has a target of $150,000 to help buy state-of-the-art incubators. Your opportunity is now ­­– Giving Tuesday tomorrow, Dec. 3. You don’t have to wait until Tuesday, you can contribute online, by phone at 250-755-7690, or in-person at the NDHF office near the front entrance NRGH. MORE

A newly-bought lithium battery exploded in the home of Dashwood fire chief Nick Acciavatti on Saturday, starting a small fire. The family was home at the time and responded to the alarm. The battery had been bought for an airsoft gun, and was removed from the gun when it had run out of charge, and 15 minutes later, it exploded. It was not charging or plugged in at the time, said Acciavatti. MORE

Canada Post has presented a framework for negotiations with the union representing some 55,000 striking postal workers. It includes proposals to bring greater flexibility to the Canada Post delivery model and shows movement on other key issues. The labour dispute has turned Christmas mailing season into shambles. The framework was presented to the the Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Sunday. A union spokesman for did not respond when asked about the framework. MORE

WEB QUOTE – Senior to a traffic cop. “I am speeding because I have to get there before I forget where I’m going.”

Nov. 30, 2024

What next?

Pulbic works project needs to be

a priority, delay will cost more

The alternative approval process for public spending has never been my cup of tea. It’s virtually impossible to get 10 per cent of electors to vote against any project, not because so few are opposed but it takes a massive mobilization to round up that many signatures against anything.

With that in mind, the success of the opposition campaign on this one is a real lesson in participatory democracy, a tribute to the volunteers who spent hundreds of hours collecting opposition forms.

It's also a wakeup call for city council as it looks at the next steps because there’s no argument about the need for a new public works facility. It has been for years, and will continue as a major need for the city. It was top of mind when I was on city council, and that was in 2005 and it had been needed for years before then.

One of the things at the top of the list will be whether the plans for the facility were too grandiose and need a sharp pencil on the $90 million price tag. That much for a “garage”?

Council and city management will have to do a better job selling the idea to taxpayers, possibly by portioning the job into multiple stages. With inflation it certainly won’t get any less expensive.

A referendum is no guarantee it would pass, nor would other direct spending. Not to be ruled out is a privatized project, leased back to the city. It’s a thought worth considering, especially since we have experts in this field in our city.

Had it been done 15 years ago it would have cost less. More delay will only increase the cost. Delay makes waste, and the clock is ticking.

Letter to City Council

There is a new concrete curb extending too far into the road traffic lane creating a dangerous road obstruction on the 5100 block of Hammond Bay Road.

Injury and death are possible. Whoever authorized this will be liable in any ensuing legal action.

So-called traffic calming has become ridiculous and hazardous.

Gary Korpan