Tag Archives: Jim Abram

Health

Hospital Board Fears Island Health Is Ignoring Local Wishes

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(Editor’s note: The following article mentions matters of concern to residents of the entire Greater Campbell River Health Area, which includes Cortes, Quadra and other Discovery Islands.)

The Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital District board (CSRHB) wants consultation of clinical pathology samples to remain in the Comox and Campbell River hospitals. It notified Island Health, twice, and received no answer. Now, with the current pathology contracts coming up for renewal at the end of this month, the hospital board fears Island Health is ignoring local wishes to retain pathology services. 

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Development, Housing

Quadra Island’s New Senior Residence: Construction Starts Next Week

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The prefabricated modules for Quadra Island’s largest ever community-driven building project were barged over from Middle Point barge terminal, north of Campbell River, last week. There are 22 of them waiting on the building site at 688 Harper Road. Construction starts next week.

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Fire

Impending Survey: Do North Quadra Residents Want Fire Protection?

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Two years ago, many North Quadra Island residents woke up to the sound of explosions. The pre-dusk sky had turned red. A house on Bold Point was engulfed in flames. When the RCMP arrived, they discovered the main power line was down. Three of the occupants were sent to the hospital with smoke inhalation. As this part of the island is protected by BC Wildfire Service, whose mandate does not include structures, no fire department came to their rescue. All that remained of their home was a chimney. While this is an area better known for its forests and abundant marine life, there are more than 250 properties. At their January 29, 2020, board meeting, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board authorized a survey to determine if North Quadra residents want fire protection. 

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Politics

The SRD Board Is Collectively Responsible

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A quick perusal of the Agenda was sufficient. I knew I had to attend the next meeting. Chair Michele Babchuk was bringing a Cortes Island resident’s complaints before the SRD Board. On Thursday December 4, more than a half dozen Cortesians filed into the new SRD Boardroom to listen. Though seemingly humbled, Babchuk pointed to the SRD’s accomplishments and stated that Sue Ellingsen was wrong to single out Directors Jim Abram and Brenda Leigh for criticism: the SRD Board is collectively responsible. 

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Politics

What is going on within the SRD?

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Cortes Island’s Regional Director, Noba Anderson, has been under attack throughout 2019. The first that many of us heard of this was probably in January, when one of the silliest lawsuits ever was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. I almost felt sorry for the plaintiffs’ lawyer on June 10, as he sat in court listening while the random gossip that his clients brought forward as evidence was torn apart.

He did not dispute a single argument, and in fact filed a joint submission with the defendants’ lawyer admitting there was no basis for the allegations made in his clients’ legal petition. The only excuse he offered was that his clients “were put up to it.” He did not say who was the real instigator of the legal petition; but we know that something odd has been happening within the Strathcona Regional District Board for more than a year, in addition to partisan shenanigans on Cortes Island. Are the two somehow related? What is going on within the SRD Board?

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