Tag Archives: GIS

Housing, Politics, Seniors

Blaney: Seniors living below the poverty line, GST rebates & carbon pricing

More than a third of the ‘housing insecure’ respondents to the survey on Quadra Island and 15% on Cortes Island were seniors. The percentage was lower throughout the Strathcona Regional District, but a significant number of residents are paying more for rent or mortgages than they can afford.  In the second half of an interview with North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney, she talks about ways the government can help seniors living below the poverty line.

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Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

DFO provides $30 million for salmon restoration projects

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Gold River, BC – In April Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced over $30 million dollars in support for 22 projects under the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF).

The investment from the federal and provincial governments is designed to support monitoring, research and planning to better understand what’s impacting wild salmon populations.

Of the 22 projects, 18 will be led by or conducted in partnership with Indigenous organizations and communities, according to the province. 

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Politics

2021 as seen by Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island-Powell River

Rachel Blaney, Member of Parliament for North Island – Powell River, gave Cortes Currents an overview of the important political issues and her family life during this past year. 

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Seniors

88,000 Seniors cut off from GIS

According to North Island – Powell River MP Rachel Blaney more than 88,000 seniors are being cut off from the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) they received prior to the pandemic. She said this statistic originated with the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Hundreds of people have called Blaney’s office about this, including “people from Campbell River, Comox Valley, Powell River, Quadra Island, Port McNeill.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s every community. This is a widespread issue,” explained Blaney.

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Seniors

Federal budget: The forgotten seniors (Aged 65-74)

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More than 28% of the population of Cortes and Quadra Islands are seniors. The Federal budget has provisions for the estimated 3.3 million Canadian seniors aged 75 years and older, but nothing for those between 65-74. Rachel Blaney, the MP for North Island – Powell River, asks what are we going to do for the forgotten seniors?

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