Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Rural Directors against Municipalities taking over the Electoral Areas Planning Service

The City of Campbell River is considering taking control of the Strathcona Regional District’s (SRD) Electoral Areas Planning Service away from rural directors.

Currently, the members of that planning service are the four Regional Directors of : Area A (Kyuquot/Nootka-Sayward), Area B (Cortes Island), and Area C (Discovery Islands and Mainland Inlets) and Area D (Oyster Bay – Buttle Lake ).

Campbell River’s five Directors are looking at joining the service, though it would cost the city’s taxpayers close to $500,000 per year for its share of the service’s assessments. They asked the other incorporated municipalities in the SRD—Tahsis, Zeballos, Gold River, and Sayward—to consider joining as well.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Regional Directors of Areas A, B and C issued a joint press release rejecting the idea. In today’s story they outline why they believe the planning service must remain in the hands of the rural areas.

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Emily Lowan sweeps BC Greens leadership, takes aim at NDP

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The BC Green Party has a new leader — 25-year-old Emily Lowan. Lowan cast her win as a generational transformation based on energy and optimism that will reshape politics in the province. 

At the announcement event on Wednesday, Lowan described her campaign as a “lightning rod of hope.” The climate advocate and organizer from Victoria won the leadership by a landslide, dominating the first ballot with 3,189 votes, followed by Jonathan Kerr with 1,908, and Adam Bremner-Akins trailing with 128 votes. 

Continue reading Emily Lowan sweeps BC Greens leadership, takes aim at NDP

Feds, BC are shifting LNG risks to public purse, report claims

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ottawa and the British Columbia government are shifting financial risks of LNG companies onto the public purse while weakening commitment to the “polluter pays” principle, a new report suggests.

The federal and provincial governments are on track to provide almost $4 billion in support for fuel expansion of LNG exports on the West Coast, despite forecasts that global demand for the fossil fuel will peak well before most projects come online. 

Continue reading Feds, BC are shifting LNG risks to public purse, report claims

Campbell River Joins Nationwide ‘Draw the Line’ Demonstrations

On September 20th, Campbell River joined thousands across Canada calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney and the various provincial governments to ‘Draw the Line’ for urgent climate action, justice, and peace. CBC News states there were 2,000 demonstrators in Toronto, Vancouver CityNews reported ‘thousands’ in Vancouver and turnouts numbering in the hundreds were reported in Victoria and Ottawa. While major urban centres drew crowds in the hundreds and thousands, smaller communities across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands also had gatherings. Between 60 and 70 people turned out at Campbell River’s Spirit Square. At least 10 of these came from Quadra Island and 7 from Cortes Island. 

Continue reading Campbell River Joins Nationwide ‘Draw the Line’ Demonstrations

Saturday, September 20: Drawing the Line in Campbell River

People from 93 nations will be calling upon their governments to Draw the Line – For People, for Peace, for the Planet – on Saturday, September 20. Demonstrations are planned in major cities across Europe, Asia, Latin America, the United States  and Canada. More than 200 organizations, including 350 Canada, the Council of Canadians and the Migrant Rights Network are participating. 

On Vancouver Island, there will be demonstrations in Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Courtenay and Duncan as well as the neighbouring communities of Denman Island, Salt Spring Island and Powell River. 

Former North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney will be among the Speakers for the event starting at 2 PM in Campbell River’s Spirit Square.

Continue reading Saturday, September 20: Drawing the Line in Campbell River