Tag Archives: Duncan

Health, Politics

NDP leader’s health-care concerns front and centre during Vancouver Island tour

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Hot off a week-long Vancouver Island tour on the state of health care, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says protecting Canada’s public health system is a top priority in the coming year.

As Parliament returned Monday, Singh said he expects to have a one-on-one conversation with Justin Trudeau to raise concerns about the threat of privatization and the acute lack of health-care workers that are hobbling communities and hospitals across the country.

Continue reading NDP leader’s health-care concerns front and centre during Vancouver Island tour →
Housing, Politics, Poverty

Housing on Cortes: an Interview with Mark Vonesch (part two)

Currents interviewed Mark Vonesch in early December. This is the second half of that interview, in which we dig a lot more deeply into issues related to housing on Cortes and in the local area: homelessness, employment, property values, AirBnB and much more.

We present here some excerpts from nearly 30 minutes of audio. Our interview covered quite a bit more ground: homelessness in Campbell River, and their approach to it; property tax structures and how they could be made more equitable; the related issue of a real estate market in which, as with rent, locals cannot compete with tourists and rusticators; the fundamental problem of treating housing as a speculative investment commodity. We recommend listening to the entire podcast for the most complete information.

Continue reading Housing on Cortes: an Interview with Mark Vonesch (part two) →
Housing, Poverty

A New Approach to Homelessness: Housing First

As Currents recently reported, homelessness is not just “an American thing,” or “a big-city thing,” or even “a Vancouver Island thing.”  Homelessness is also here on Cortes, where a recent survey found that about 50 people rated their housing situation as “unstable,” and 11 were living rough (with no permanent shelter, in tents or other makeshift accommodation).

Although “housing” might sound like a single issue, it has has knock-on effects throughout our community.

Continue reading A New Approach to Homelessness: Housing First →
Indigenous Nations, Tourism

Strengthening Indigenous youth wellness through the sport of climbing, one step at a time

By Philip McLachlan, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Robyn Rice sits down in the rainforest and takes off her moccasins. From out of her bag comes a pair of climbing shoes, and she begins to lace up. It’s a warm morning on Mount Ts’uwxilum (Tzouhalem), a dense forested area in Quw’utsun homelands. A slight breeze is blowing, birds chirp high up in the forest canopy, and squirrels jump from tree to tree. She’s new to climbing outdoors, and she’s doing so with a group that’s helping introduce Indigenous youth on “Vancouver Island” to the sport. 

Continue reading Strengthening Indigenous youth wellness through the sport of climbing, one step at a time →
Politics

Green Party of Canada Interim Leader Amita Kuttner tours West Coast communities

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Interim federal Green Party leader Amita Kuttner is looking to heal wounds and revive relationships with grassroots members after public infighting at the leadership level led to dismal outcomes during the last election. 

Continue reading Green Party of Canada Interim Leader Amita Kuttner tours West Coast communities →