Tag Archives: Sonora Island

Animals

Government protection of Species at Risk ineffective, report says

A new report commissioned by the Wilderness Committee and Sierra Club BC found that Federal and Provincial government policy gaps have rendered their protection of Species at Risk ineffective. 

“Our study looked at terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate species in BC We needed to refine the scope a little bit just because there are so many Species at Risk in BC. In order to do this analysis, we had to narrow in on a few representative species. In total, we chose 64 species. Of the 64 species, only two of them have had their critical habitat mapped by the deadlines. The remaining 97% have experienced critical habitat mapping delays anywhere from 2 to 18 years. Then there’s 16 of the 64 species that still don’t even have their critical habitat mapped,” explained Charlotte Dawe of the Wilderness Committee.

Continue reading Government protection of Species at Risk ineffective, report says →
Politics

Mawhinney prepares to become Area C’s new Director

The inaugural meeting of the new Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board occurs today. All of the incoming and re-elected Directors will be sworn in. Both of the two new Directors from our broadcast area, Mark Vonesch and Robyn Mawhinney, will be among them. Cortes Currents spoke to Mawhinney about her preparations to take office.  

Continue reading Mawhinney prepares to become Area C’s new Director →
Politics

Why Mawhinney would set up an Advisory Council, rather than a Community Association, in Area C

Editors note: This debate over community Governance models is of interest to Cortes Island residents given our past discussions of a Community Association.

The two candidates running for Regional Director of Area C, in the October 15 election, appear to have very different visions of how to govern. Robyn Mawhinney explained:

“I’m very focused on creating a Community Advisory Council to support the Director’s decision making process, a community advisory council with a broad spectrum of community voices. The other candidate, Marc Doll, is really focused on using his directorship as an opportunity to build a Community Association from the ground up. I’d like to talk about the difference between a Community Association and an Advisory Council and why I think there is quite a big difference.” 

Continue reading Why Mawhinney would set up an Advisory Council, rather than a Community Association, in Area C →
Forests

Taxes waived for Lot 302 on Read Island; a brief respite for Cortes Island

Both the Campbell River Mirror and National Observer reported how the tiny Surge Narrows Community Association (SNCA) purchased 20 acres on Read Island in 2019. 

“We just couldn’t bear to see yet another clearcut,” explained Read Island resident Lannie Keller. “It was a beautiful piece of treed land along the main road where people travel to get mail, to the school or the dock.”

Continue reading Taxes waived for Lot 302 on Read Island; a brief respite for Cortes Island →
Politics, Transportation

With the 2024 deadline approaching, SRD defers the CT wharves problem to the next administration

In 2014, Transport Canada (CT) transferred administration of three wharves to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). Owen Bay on Sonora Island, Surge Narrows on Read Island, and Port Neville on the northern shore of the Johnstone Strait are all within Area C. The SRD was also provided with $2.9 million for maintenance and upgrades that were to be completed by 2024. These upgrades have not yet occurred. Nor has a service to carry out operations and maintenance been established for Area C. In the face of local opposition, the SRD deferred discussion of this issue until next January.

Continue reading With the 2024 deadline approaching, SRD defers the CT wharves problem to the next administration →