All posts by Roy Hales

Politics

Cortes Island All Candidates Meeting

Originally Published on Cortes Radio.ca

On Monday October 21st, Canadians will head to the polls in what some believe may be one of the most important elections of our time. Though Conservative candidate Shelley Downey declined the invitation, our incumbent MP Rachel Blaney (NDP), Green candidate Mark De Bruijn and Liberal candidate Peter Schwarzhoff came to the first ever Cortes Island All Candidates Meeting in Mansons Hall, on Saturday October 12.

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Community, Finances

Why Should We Support Mansons Hall?

By Roy L Hales

On October 26 Cortes Islanders will be having a referendum to decide two important tax issues. While there is little doubt that the proposal to fund first responders will pass, the debate about public funding of Cortes Island’s community halls has been going on for the past decade. For a house like mine, sitting on a one acre lot in Squirrel Cove, this will cost about $60 a year. Yet while a large number of Cortesians regard their halls as the heart of the community, where you go for public meetings, entertainment and a variety of ongoing services, another segment of the community does not believe they are worth the extra money. My guest this morning, Julian Ayres, President of the Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA), explains why we should support Mansons Hall. 

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Politics

Editorial: This is not what Democracy looks like

Local resident Ashley Zarbatany posted in Tideline a fierce remonstrance with vandals who have been removing or destroying campaign signs on the island:

You have now destroyed at least three NDP signs that I’m aware of. You have also destroyed Green signs. You drove into at least two and you were obviously motivated to destroy this newest one.  […] This intolerant and antidemocratic behaviour is part of the breakdown of civil discourse. Civil discourse or debate is essential in a democracy and without it people are unable to make informed or wise choices. 

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Tourism, Transportation

CorilAir serves Campbell River and the Discovery Islands

Cortes Island Air was based in Gorge Harbour in the 1990s. That was before Richard Godfrey sold the company to Mike Farrel in 2000. Farrel relocated to Campbell River, but preserved the company’s origins in its new name. CorilAir is short for Cortes Island Airlines. 

While the airline now flies out of Campbell River, it still serves Cortes and the other Discovery Islands. 

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Politics

NDP Surge Forward In Vancouver Island Voter Projections

By Roy L Hales

A week ago, 338Canada’s projections showed Green candidates leading in five of Vancouver Island’s seven ridings. The situation map displayed two colours: green and (Conservative) blue. As of October 7, orange is once again prominent as the NDP surge forward to take the lead in three ridings.

Continue reading NDP Surge Forward In Vancouver Island Voter Projections →