Tag Archives: North Island-Powell River

Politics

Elizabeth May comes to Campbell River: Why Greens matter

Green Party leader Elizabeth May flew in from Ottawa on Saturday, May 6. She was the feature speaker at the North Island – Powell River Electoral District Association (EDA) AGM at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Campbell River. Around 60 people from Campbell River, Comox, Powell River, Port McNeil, Quadra Island and Cortes Island were in attendance.  

This is an edited transcript of her speech, and a couple of excerpts from the subsequent remarks made by local Green Party candidate Jessica Wegg.

Continue reading Elizabeth May comes to Campbell River: Why Greens matter →
Politics

Elizabeth May coming to Campbell River for local Green AGM; Jessica Wegg to run in next election

Elizabeth May, co-Leader of Canada’s Green Party, will be the guest speaker at the North Island-Powell River riding AGM in Campbell River this Saturday, May 6, 2023.

This is the first riding in Canada to announce its candidate for the next Federal election. Jessica Wegg (JW) was also the Green candidate for this riding in the 2021 election.    

Cortes Currents asked her, “Is this meeting open to the public?” 

JW: “Yes, it’s open to the public. If you want to vote on anything, you have to be a member of the Greens, but you can join today, or tomorrow. If you’re not a member,  you can still come.” 

Continue reading Elizabeth May coming to Campbell River for local Green AGM; Jessica Wegg to run in next election →
Indigenous Nations, Politics

Blaney asks the name of our riding be changed to ‘North Island – qathet’

It has been more than two months since the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission tabled their report for British Columbia in the House of Commons. Their mandate ‘was to propose new boundaries for federal electoral districts in the province to maximize voter parity while taking into consideration social and geographic factors, including respect for communities of interest or identity.’ Yet the commission has not yet responded to First Nations suggestions that they drop the name ‘Powell’ from North Island – Powell River.”

In response to a request from the Tla’amin First Nation, Rachel Blaney is asking the Electoral Boundary Commission to change the name of our riding to ‘North Island qathet.’ 

Continue reading Blaney asks the name of our riding be changed to ‘North Island – qathet’ →
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.

Continue reading Blaney: Seniors living below the poverty line, GST rebates & carbon pricing →
Housing, Politics

Rachel Blaney: Canada needs a ‘Bar of Dignity’

According to data from the 2016 census, 20% of Quadra Island residents and 27% of Cortes Island residents are paying more for their homes in rent or mortgages than they can afford. More recent studies suggest that a significant number of families throughout the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) are so financially stretched that they are at risk of becoming homeless. 75% of the ‘housing insecure’ respondents to the ‘Collecting Stories of Where We Live’ survey on Cortes Island, and 33% on Quadra Island, are working. These are some of the people North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is referring to, when she talks about the need for a bar of dignity.

Continue reading Rachel Blaney: Canada needs a ‘Bar of Dignity’ →