Category Archives: Technology

Transportation

Transport Canada Responds To Questions About Renovations Underway on Cortes Airstrip

Given the amount of neighbourhood concern about the renovations underway at the Cortes Island airstrip, Cortes Currents asked Transport Canada: 

  1. Do the owners of private airstrips have a duty to consult with their communities before undertaking extensive expansions?  
  2. What will Transport Canada do when, as appears to be the case on Cortes Island, this does not occur? 

Sau Sau Liu, Senior Communications Advisor at Transport Canada, replied, 

“All aerodromes on private property are required to meet the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), regardless of their registration status. Aerodromes that are building a new runway, or increasing the length of a runway by more than 100m or 10%, are required to consult communities, as per Canadian Aviation Regulations 307and the related Advisory Circular 307.01.” 

Continue reading Transport Canada Responds To Questions About Renovations Underway on Cortes Airstrip →
Cost of Climate Change, Transportation

The need for more electricity in an expanding EV market

British Columbia is feeling the strain of a rapidly expanding EV market.  

On January 11, 2024, BC Hydro stated there are more than 150,000 EVs on the province’’s roads. While It is more difficult to access local data, ICBC figures show that in 2022 there were 11 EVs registered on Cortes Island, 19 in Quathiaski Cove, 172 in Powell River, 190 in Campbell River, 228 in Comox, and 370 in Courtenay. 

In addition to being hailed as a partial solution to the climate crisis, an increasing number of drivers find they prefer EVs to gas cars. 96% of the EV owners who responded to a BCAA survey last year stated they found EVs to be more affordable and intend to purchase another in the future. 

Continue reading The need for more electricity in an expanding EV market →
Energy

The Expanding Local Market For Solar Power

A Cortes Island based solar company has been installing more systems that tie into the grid. 

There is a lot of potential for solar energy production in British Columbia. It has been largely untouched because of the province’s reliance on hydro-power and natural gas. As of October 2023, BC Hydro had 8,500 net metering customers with a combined solar capacity of 71 MW. This was only a fraction of the 4,609.5 MW of solar capacity tied to Canada’s grid that year. 

Continue reading The Expanding Local Market For Solar Power →
Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Carrie Saxifrage’s Climate Mitigation Presentation To The SRD Board

1 Comment

Cortes Island author Carrie Saxifrage made a climate mitigation presentation at the May 22 SRD Board meeting. This is an abridged version of that talk. 

She began with a simple admission, “This is my first time. Thank you so much for having me. If I were to do it again, I’d do it a little differently, but here we are. We’re going to whisk through some slides, and I’m going to emphasize what I think is most important.”

Continue reading Carrie Saxifrage’s Climate Mitigation Presentation To The SRD Board →
Politics, Transportation

SRD Asking Transport Canada About The Cortes Island Landing Strip

2 Comments

There were questions about what can be accomplished, but the SRD will be asking Transport Canada about the safety requirements, noise levels and frequency of planes using the Cortes Island Airstrip.

At their May 22 meeting, Cortes Island Director Mark Vonesch told the SRD Board:

“There is an airstrip on Cortes Island that’s been there for a long time. A new buyer bought the land and has  been upgrading the runway significantly.  I’ve heard numbers: allegedly a thousand gravel trucks. They’re paving it and  there’s a big concern from the community regarding: safety issues, what kind of planes can now land, frequency of planes that can now land,  whether they need permission from the owner to be able to land. And also further gentrification of Cortes Island as it becomes more accessible.”

Continue reading SRD Asking Transport Canada About The Cortes Island Landing Strip →