SRD sent four representatives to Cortes island by water taxi on June 6th to conduct a community consultation meeting on two tax service referenda: the long-delayed and controversial hall tax, and the first-responders training tax. Present at the meeting from SRD were: Chair Michele Babchuk, CAO David Leitch, Tom Yates (Senior Manager), and Aniko Nelson [Parks and Planning Manager]. Present at the meeting from Cortes were approximately 80 community members.
Continue reading Cortes Community Consultation Meeting On Tax Service ReferendaTag Archives: Cortes Island Hall Tax
Civilization And Other Stuff – a Parable
By Roy L Hales
For the sake of argument, let’s say that the prehistoric mammoth hunters who followed the herds into Europe possessed one unit worth of stuff.
Continue reading Civilization And Other Stuff – a ParableIs Gorge Hall A Private Club?
In the segment of the March 13, 2019, Strathcona Regional District board meeting devoted to correspondence, Campbell River Mayor Andy Adams asked staff for clarification about a phrase used by one of Cortes Island’s better known anti-hall tax advocates. She described the proposed hall tax as using “public funds for private organizations.” It is good to see this kind of communication in the public record, where inaccuracies can be dealt with. The answers he received were adequate, but one of the island’s two hall managers was actually sitting in the spectator section directly behind Mayor Adams. Had he been given the opportunity to speak, this is how Howie Roman would have responded to the question, ” is Gorge Hall a private club?”
Continue reading Is Gorge Hall A Private Club?Cortes Referenda Are Moving Forward
There was a surprise waiting in minutes of the February 28th session. After all the spectators went home, the Strathcona Regional District Board briefly reconvened in public to make an announcement. The Cortes referenda are moving forward for consideration at the next board meeting.
Continue reading Cortes Referenda Are Moving ForwardWhat Is A Lobbyist?
By Roy L Hales
There has been a lot of talk about lobbyists lately. Much of it centres around two Cortes residents who attend Strathcona Regional District regularly board meetings on a fairly regular basis. Are there others? What is a lobbyist?
Continue reading What Is A Lobbyist?