There was an enormous public response to the city of Campbell River’s proposed Permissive Tax Exemption (PTE) cuts, made at the September 28 Council Meeting. Hundreds of people wrote letters and emails protesting this action and Campbell River was criticized by BC’s MInistry of Housing. Consequently, most of the cuts were rescinded on Friday Oct 12, 2023..
Continue reading Campbell River rescinds Permissive Tax Exemption cutsEditor’s note: Campbell City Council did remove the tax exemptions, but is currently in discussion with the art gallery.
At their September 28 Council meeting, the city of Campbell River took the first steps towards removing the tax exemptions from the Campbell River Art Gallery (CRAG) and Vancouver Island Mental Health. Councillor Ron Kerr made the motions, which were approved, with only Councillor Tanille Johnston voting in opposition. City staff informed council this was a change of direction which affected the budget and there would need to be a second meeting before the exemptions can be removed. This has been scheduled for October 12.
Continue reading Campbell River to remove tax exemptions from Art Gallery and Mental Health
The Directors of Cortes Island (Area B), Areas A and C are opposed to the idea that their ratepayers should help finance renovations to the Strathcona Gardens facility in Campbell River. The Strathcona Regional District’s portion of financing the new aquatic and wellness centre is expected to be around $73 million. Last April the SRD Board approved a bylaw allowing them to borrow $64,670.000. This debt is currently the responsibility of property owners in the City of Campbell River and Electoral Area D, where most of the facility’s users reside. At the June 28 SRD Board meeting, Directors John Rice of Area D and Susan Sinnott of Campbell River brought forward a motion that staff look into the option that ratepayers in Areas A, B, and C pick up part of the tab.
Continue reading Rural Directors opposed to their residents paying for Strathcona Garden renovations
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
B.C. is examining long-standing roadblocks to intercity transportation for rural communities on Vancouver Island and other underserved areas in the province.
The province is spending $2.5 million on in-person and virtual community consultations and online surveys to study passenger transportation gaps faced by rural and remote areas on Vancouver Island and parts of the coastal mainland, as well as B.C.’s north and southern Interior.
Continue reading B.C. rolls out rural transportation surveys but the roadmap for action is unclear
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board passed a resolution to write a letter instructing Sadhu Johnston, President of the Cortes Island Fire Fighting Association (CIFFA), that his communications with them should come through Chief Administration Officer David Leitch.
The SRD has not renewed the Cortes Fire Department’s 5 year contract, and instead has them on a month to month basis.
Johnston requested a meeting with Leitch last month but, as he explained to Cortes Currents earlier this week, still has not had the opportunity.
“We’re not wedded to the way it is, but we don’t really want decisions to be made behind closed doors without the community being able to know about them and have a say. If governance is going to be taken away from Cortes and the decision making for firefighting service is going to be taken away from Cortes, it would be really nice to know that and to be able to be a part of that dialogue,” he said.
Continue reading Cortes Island Fire Department instructed all communication with the SRD must come through CAO David Leitch
