Category Archives: Politics

Community, Politics

A $943,000 Question: Quadra and the Strathcona Gardens Vote

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Originally published in the Bird’s Eye

Did I set out to write a two-page article this week? Nope. Did I anyway? Yup. This is a big deal for our island — and it’s still early in the series. So yes, I’m running the longest two pages in Bird’s Eye history. Sorry, not sorry. Enjoy!

By Melissa McKinney, editor/owner of the Bird’s Eye.

On March 25, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) board voted on whether to add Quadra Island to the Strathcona Gardens recreation service area. Around 80 Area C residents showed up to watch — enough to fill the boardroom, spill out through the open double doors into the lobby, where even standing room was tight. The SRD livestreams their board meetings on YouTube, so small groups of residents huddled around phones watching their own local government meeting from the parking lot outside. Inside the lobby, the meeting’s audio played from multiple phones on a slight delay, making it difficult to follow unless you were actually in the boardroom. 

Continue reading A $943,000 Question: Quadra and the Strathcona Gardens Vote →
Politics

Cortes, Quadra and Read Island items at the March 25th SRD Board Meeting

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At its March 25 SRD Board meeting, Campbell River and its allies passed a resolution to draft a bylaw making the average Quadra Island homeowner pay an additional $588 in property taxes to help fund Campbell River’s Recreate Strathcona Gardens project. (This fight is not over yet.) Whether the proposed bylaw will pass remains to be seen, but a large number of noncontroversial Cortes, Quadra and Read Island items were passed at the same board meeting. They pertained to: 

  • A Quadra Island Right of Way
  • Vacancies in Advisory Planning Commissions for Areas C & D
  • Squirrel Cove Aquaculture 
  • Who Pays Administrative Costs for the Electoral Areas Services Committee
  • Cortes Island’s Active Transportation Plan
  • Funding Opportunities for Active Transportation in Areas B & C
  • Legacy Gifts in Regional District Parks
  • Residency Requirement for Short Term Rentals
  • Proposed Electoral Areas Grant in Aid Service 
  • Waste Pick-up Contract on Cortes Island
  • Renewal of Post Office contract for Read Island
  • Grants-in-Aid for Quadra Island 

As these are all short items, Cortes Currents decided to use them as examples of how the SRD conducts board meetings.

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

‘Carney is at a crossroads’ with First Nations, says AFN national chief

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IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prime Minister Mark Carney has earned a “mixed” report card over his first year in office, according to the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).

Asked to grade the Liberal leader’s performance, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told IndigiNews he “is at a crossroads” if he wants to earn Indigenous people’s trust while also achieving his economic ambitions. 

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Politics

The Liberal Party Resurgence in North Island-Powell River

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Jennifer Lash recently wrote a column in which she compares the Liberal Party’s results in North Island-Powell River (NIPR) during the 2015 federal election to 2025.

“According to Elections Canada, the last time the Liberal candidate had a decent showing in the polls was in 2015 when they won 25% of the vote. In 2025, I won 26.2% of the vote. In 2015 the NDP secured  40% and won the riding however in 2025 they secured only 33% of the vote and lost. Very similar showing for the Liberals, very different results for the NDP.”

Lash’s conclusion was that the Liberals didn’t split the vote in 2025, the NDP could not hold on to their ‘vote share.’

Under Rachel Blaney, the NDP received roughly 38%–40% of the popular vote in three elections (2015, 2019, and 2021). However, Blaney did not run in 2025. With a new NDP candidate and a changing political landscape, the results shifted.

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Politics

Must Quadra Island taxpayers pay for Strathcona Gardens? 

In a 7–6 vote, on March 25th the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board moved to have a bylaw prepared that would add Quadra Island to the catchment area for the Strathcona Gardens Recreational Facility. If the bylaw proceeds, Quadra residents could face an additional $558 in property taxes—slightly more than the $526 Campbell River residents pay for their facility. One SRD director was not present when the vote was taken, which raises the possibility that the proposal could be defeated in a 7–7 tie when all 14 directors are present.

Opposition from Quadra Residents

The board faces fierce opposition from Quadra Island residents. Among the 90 or so Quadra residents who crowded the SRD Boardroom and adjoining lobby for the May 25 board meeting, were some of the 1,226 area C residents who signed a petition opposing inclusion in the Strathcona Gardens catchment. Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney of Area C noted that this number represents about 44% of the adult population of her area.

Continue reading Must Quadra Island taxpayers pay for Strathcona Gardens?  →