Tag Archives: Michele Babchuk

Politics

Election 2020: Michele Babchuk NDP candidate in North Island riding

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A seasoned municipal politician will be the NDP candidate in the North Island riding in the upcoming B.C. election.

Michele Babchuk, councillor for the city of Campbell River and chair of the Strathcona Regional District, was acclaimed as the candidate — named as winner with no contest — on Tuesday. She is running in the riding recently vacated by former Transportation Minister Claire Trevena, who is not seeking re-election.

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Politics

Election 2020: Candidates on Vancouver Island

While none of the other candidates in our riding (North Island) are known as of yet, Michele Babchuk is the NDP candidate. (Cortes Currents will interview her later this week). The NDP have held this riding since 2005 and obtained 47.54% of the vote in 2017. Babchuk’s most serious opposition will most likely come from the Liberal candidate (35.57%), though it is also noteworthy that 14.75% of the electorate went Green in 2017. 338Canada describes North Island as an “NDP safe” seat. Here are some of the other candidates on Vancouver Island and guesstimates of their chances. 

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Finances, Politics

One step closer: Community Halls and First Responders

There was little discussion. The Strathcona Regional District Board approved the agreements at their August 19th meeting. Cortes Island’s two community halls and first responders are one step closer to receiving funding.  

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Food Security

SRD Delivered to 230 Households

The ‘Sayward Futures Society‘ application was turned down because they proposed to use the funding to hire a coordinator. Emergency Management BC (EMBC) did not feel the COVID situation on Vancouver Island was sufficiently desperate, but they did approve a study to see how the SRD Delivers program could be implemented on Cortes Island. More than 80% of the $10,370 obtained from the province was forwarded to organizations that “offered assistance with grocery shopping, the delivery of food, prescriptions and other essentials for the benefit of the elderly (65+) and other vulnerable persons.” The SRD delivered to 230 households in Campbell River, Read Island, Gold River and Tahsis. 

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Housing, Poverty

Campbell River’s Homeless Camp

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Complaints about a homeless camp at the end of Quinsam Road were discussed at the August 17th Campbell River city council meeting. The number of tents has expanded to the point they are now visible from the road. RCMP now respond to calls from the area on a regular basis. Canada Post notified residents that it considers the area ‘unsafe’ and will no longer deliver to their mail boxes. 

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