Tag Archives: SRD

Confidentiality or Secrecy? A Slippery Slope

(EDITORIAL) – The Board of Directors is committed to performing its functions of office truthfully, faithfully and impartially to the best of its knowledge and ability based on the following values:
(a) to work as a committed team in a spirit of collaboration and community;
(b) to be caring and respectful in all interactions and relationships;
(c) to be open and honest, and to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct;
(d) to deliver effective public service through professionalism and creativity; and
(e) to be accountable to constituents and to the region as a whole.

— From the Strathcona Regional District Code of Conduct

On October 30th, just a few days after the decisive referendum on Area B Bylaws 328 and 341, the Cortes community received quite a shock: SRD (Strathcona Regional District) published on Tideline a press release detailing a motion of censure against Regional Director Noba Anderson. This censure rests on a claim that Director Anderson inappropriately released confidential in camera information (namely, the Craig Peterson report and two legal opinions whose significance is not explained).  Our community’s assessment of this charge against her depends on how we understand in camera privilege and SRD’s use of it.

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Outstanding Cortes Issues

The following letter is my personal opinion and not necessarily shared by the Cortes Radio Board, staff, volunteers or membership.

Dear Chair Babchuk and SRD Board Members:  

I want to thank Mr Yates and SRD staff for the manner in which they oversaw yesterday’s referendum, but need to point out that there are still outstanding Cortes issues to be addressed.

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Hall Tax Consultation Refreshing

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.

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Cortes Community Consultation Meeting On Tax Service Referenda

SRD 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.

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Cannabis & FOCI – The EASC Meeting of July 24, 2019

By 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 .

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