National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Humans are simply following evolutionary instinct as they escalate the climate change crisis and push biodiversity to the brink of collapse, says a noted environmentalist and co-founder of Greenpeace International.
Continue reading Rex Weyler says Overconsuming Is In Our DNAOn Saturday March 14th, the monthly Cortes Currents news/talk show featured an interview with Mark Lombard, contract manager for the Cortes Forestry General Partnership. This podcast explores what the “Community Forest” is, and how it works. Did you know that CFGP’s license now covers far more hectares of Cortes Island than the MMB/IT/Mosaic license? This and many other interesting details are discussed in our program (such as what “MMB” and “IT” mean).
Continue reading Interview with Mark LombardIn theory, Cortes Island receives a portion of the Provincial Gas Tax. A recent Strathcona Regional District report states, “as of January 1, 2020, the balance of Electoral Area B’s Gas Tax Reserve is approximately $565,325 and (this year) is expected to receive a 2020 transfer of $58,155 in addition to any interest earned on the balance.” According to Regional Director Noba Anderson, the amount keeps growing because Cortes has not been able to access these funds. “The SRD has still not developed any kind of application guide or internal policy around Gas Tax spending, although it has been on the CFO’s work plan I believe for at least five years.” On March 11, 2020, EASC turned down Linnaea’s application for $44,520 in Gas Tax dollars to purchase a heat pump.
Continue reading EASC Turned Down Linnaea’s Application For Funds To Purchase A Heat PumpWhen Noba Anderson was re-elected, on October 20, 2018, most of Cortes Island thought she was our representative to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board. Since then, we have discovered there is a sense in which Cortes Island has three directors.
Continue reading Cortes Island Has Three DirectorsMore than 125,000 people have been infected with COVID-19, and 4,613 have died, since the virus was first identified last November. While the first reports are from abroad, on January 27 a Vancouver man returning from a business trip to China tested positive. As of yesterday, March 12, there were 53 confirmed cases in British Columbia. One of these is on Vancouver Island, where a man in his 60s is currently quarantined in his home. He and two other confirmed victims, from the Fraser Health Region, just returned from a tour in Egypt. With these reports moving closer, the Discovery Islands area is preparing for COVID-19
Continue reading Our Area Is Preparing For COVID-19
