2026 Housing Survey Results

(Part Two of the March 18, 2026 Area B Director’s Report )

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

When we put out the housing survey I was hoping to get at least as many respondents as two years ago. The more people that participate, the better understanding the Cortes Housing Society and I have about the housing reality for people on Cortes and their opinions of how we should move forward.

I am happy to report we received 100 more submissions than two years ago with 361 submissions in total! Thank you to all of you that filled one out.

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Campbell River Not Joining Electoral Area Land Use Planning Service

(Part One of the March 18, 2026 Area B Director’s Report )

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

I’m really excited to share this newsletter with you. I have the results from the housing survey, but before we get to that, Cortes Island just had a big political win.

Continue reading Campbell River Not Joining Electoral Area Land Use Planning Service

Tla’amin Nation set to reclaim forest stewardship with $80M logging licence deal: ‘A generational opportunity’

IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tla’amin Nation set to take back control over a large piece of its territory, after signing a deal to take over a company’s licence to log more than 1,540 square kilometres of forest in their homelands.

The nation agreed to buy the tree-farm license for the massive parcel — about 13 times larger than the City of Vancouver — from Western Forest Products for $80 million on Feb. 19.

The license for the Stillwater Forest Operation covers a vast majority of forest in the qathet (Powell River) area, where Tla’amin is located. 

Continue reading Tla’amin Nation set to reclaim forest stewardship with $80M logging licence deal: ‘A generational opportunity’

On The Threshold of a Liberal Majority

Between the opposition MPs who crossed the floor and three by-elections coming up on April 13, Mark Carney’s Liberal government is on the threshold of forming a majority government.

Neither Tanille Johnston, who is currently running for leadership of the NDP, nor Aaron Gunn, the Member of Parliament for North Island–Powell River, were available for comment.

Jessica Wegg, the Green Party candidate during the last two elections, observed, “We’re two votes away from the Liberals having a majority. I don’t know that it matters that much to Carney. His policies skew so far toward what Conservatives would want anyway, he is getting lots and lots of support. I think it would be risky for him to call a general election because it’s not necessary. As he gets closer and closer to having a majority without a general election, it would be harder and harder to sell to Canadians that it would be necessary to call everybody to the polls again, spend all this money again on a general election when he’s doing everything he wants and just ramming through bills without even having a majority.”

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A SILENT OCEAN – Virtual Community Movie Night – FREE

The North Island – Powell River (NIPR) Electoral District Association of the Green Party of Canada is hosting an online movie night on March 26, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 PM. The two short films for this event are by westcoast Canadian filmmakers: It’s Time to Listen (2020) a 7-minute exploration of how whales respond to a quieter underwater world, produced by the Hakai Institute and Stand (2018), a 45-minute film by Anthony Bonello and Nicolas Teichrob, following local adventurer Norm Hann as he paddleboards along the east coast of Haida Gwaii with visits to Haisla, Bella Bella, and Tofino. (The film has amazing surfing footage!)

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Whats Current on Cortes and Beyond