Originally Published on Cortes Radio.ca
On June 6, 2019, Chair Michele Babchuk and three members of the Strathcona Regional District staff caught a water taxi from Campbell River to Cortes Island. Around 80 local inhabitants were waiting for them in Mansons Hall. I doubt anyone could have guessed what was to follow. The resulting Cortes Island Hall Tax consultation was refreshing.
Continue reading Hall Tax Consultation RefreshingSRD sent four representatives to Cortes island by water taxi on June 6th to conduct a community consultation meeting on two tax service referenda: the long-delayed and controversial hall tax, and the first-responders training tax. Present at the meeting from SRD were: Chair Michele Babchuk, CAO David Leitch, Tom Yates (Senior Manager), and Aniko Nelson [Parks and Planning Manager]. Present at the meeting from Cortes were approximately 80 community members.
Continue reading Cortes Community Consultation Meeting On Tax Service ReferendaBy Roy L Hales
While a couple of Director Anderson’s actions contributed to the confusion, she was almost invariably on the receiving end of the abuse. The July 24th Electoral Area Service Committee (EASC) meeting was plagued by confusion, misunderstandings and misguided allegations. The principle Cortes topics were cannabis & a FOCI Grant-in-Aid application, but the responses to a report on the BC Rural Economic Forum may provide more insight into how EASC functions .
Continue reading Cannabis & FOCI – The EASC Meeting of July 24, 2019By Roy L Hales
Over the past few months I’ve focused on some of Cortes island’s problems with the Strathcona Regional District. There are times this is needed, but even if my reporting is 100% accurate the resulting impression is inherently flawed because there is always much more to the story than problems. I’ve seen much in the Strathcona Regional District Board that deserves respect.
Continue reading Thank-you Strathcona Regional District Board & StaffThe article that follows was originally published on July 14 and had additional material added July 18, 2019. It is my personal opinion, not necessarily the opinions of the Cortes Radio Society, its’ board, staff, volunteers, or membership.
By Roy L Hales
Regional Director Jim Abram recently accused me of unfairly targeting him, and by extension I would include Director Brenda Leigh, in my posts and radio program. This is a fair question. The legal petitioner’s lawyer claim his clients were “put up to” that frivolous lawsuit, but there is no definitive proof that Abram and/or Leigh were the instigators. Similarly, Director Leigh may have been receiving phone calls and emails from disgruntled Cortes Islanders for the last decade, but this does not prove they warped her ability to carry out her duties. While there are times neither of these two appear to like Director Noba Anderson personally, they are not required to. However they also appear to be continually opposing Anderson as she attempts to carry out her duties as Regional Director of Cortes Island. As Abram and Leigh are the Chair and Vice Chair of the Strathcona Regional District’s four member Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC), can EASC treat Cortes fairly?
Continue reading Can EASC Treat Cortes Fairly?
