Category Archives: Politics

Why Re-elect George Sirk As Regional Director?

By Roy L Hales

In my second interview with the candidates for Cortes Island’s Regional Director, I became aware that they have a very different vision of how the island should be governed. The current Director, Noba Anderson, portrays herself as an instigator, who “convenes conversations that would not otherwise happen.” Many of the island’s best known projects came about through her direct intervention. Though George Sirk chalked up a similar list of accomplishments during the nine years he represented the island (1996 – 2005), he stresses the idea that there should be more of a separation between the Regional Director and specific business projects. In this morning’s episode, I ask, why re-elect George Sirk as Regional Director? 

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Why Re-elect Noba Anderson As Cortes Island’s Regional Director?

By Roy L Hales

Cortes Islanders will choose their next regional Director on October 20, 2018. There is a sense in which both candidates are seeking re-election. George Sirk was our representative from 1996 until 2005. Our current director, Noba Anderson, has been in office since 2008. In the first of two interviews with the candidates, I ask why re-elect Noba Anderson as our Regional Director?

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Should the BC & Canadian Governments Honour Treaties?

By Roy L Hales

Premier John Horgan blamed the former Liberal Government last month, “They got to the point of no return … It wasn’t about public policy, it wasn’t about energy policy, it wasn’t about the best interests of British Columbians, it was about getting a project past the point of no return.” He approved the Site C Dam project anyway. In so doing, he joined the Canadian Government in sidestepping what may turn out to be the most crucial point in this debate. Should the BC & Canadian governments honour treaties?

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The Upside Down World of Global Competitiveness

What are the most important factors that make a nation thrive? What is more important: the welfare of a people or corporate interest? Will Donald Trump’s fossil-fueled America First policies plunge the world’s leading economy into mediocrity? Which nations are best poised to lead the world into a more sustainable future? These are a few of the questions that Sol Ability’s 2017 guide to the upside-down world of Sustainable Competitiveness deals with.

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Greater Victoria’s Common Vision For Social & Ecological Change

According to Paul Cheoketen Wagner colonial society has ruled over this land for the blink of an eye and brought it to the precipice of a climate that is ready to collapse. That’s because we, “have not paid attention to natural law.”  We need to step back and take a look at how we can govern a place that holds regard for every aspect of [life]. For a government that only seeks to profit from the things around it, “will continue upon those lines.” He was one of the speakers at a weekend conference dedicated to finding  Victoria’s common vision for social & ecological change.

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