Common use of From Coast To Coast to Coast Clause in Contracts

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 Number 3 February 18-March 3, 2010 $1 at Selected Retailers Supreme court 2 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 4 What’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 Bulletin board 7 Reform water act, say groups Following the collapse of Fraser River sockeye stocks and a previous government promise to make BC’s water system ‘the best, bar none,’ an Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls have trouble telling when it’s daylight in winter; barred owl on Xxxxxxx Island. No mining in the New coalmine at Fanny Bay coalition of citizen groups has issued recommendations for modernizing the BC’s Water Act. A total of 29 non-profit organizations have endorsed a joint ‘Statement of Expectations on the Reform of the BC Water Act.’ The statement is in response to the BC government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water law, and offers a comprehensive set of guidelines covering surface water health, public transparency, equitable water allocation, and groundwater and stream protection. ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followed, BC would move from worst to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into the 2009 collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7% of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye in the Fraser River summer run arrived, making it one of the worst years on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valley. The The Province of British Columbia’s ban satisfies a major goal which public groups have been working toward for protection of the globally- significant values of the valley. The announcement ,on the eve of the Olympics, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske said. ‘We applaud the government for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valley. ‘We hope governments continue to listen to British Columbians and soon takes action to protect the Flathead permanently—in the form of a National Park and Wildlife Management Area,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx Xxx. The Flathead/Crown of the Continent ecosystem contains the world’s first international peace park, and a biological richness which has scientists around the world supporting its protection. The next step, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through the spine of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejects, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint is expected to be approximately 200 hectares, in the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grant, and the project would impact several First Nations. operated from 1875–77 (abandoned) and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated in Union Bay around 1900. Originally, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railway, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viable.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking the coal on the Inland Island Highway to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Point. It is estimated that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have to be barged to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in August, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on them.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘cap’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the century-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one-third of BC’s Flathead River Valley,’ she said. ‘This park would complete the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations in the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in Island Tides’ circulation area: Church of the Good Shepherd on South Xxxxxx; St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Station. 0 In a submission to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forces, BC’s independent power producers (IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industries, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil and gas, and electrochemical plants. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by run-of-river hydro, wind turbines, and other ‘green’ power sources into firm power, which can then be sold on for higher prices in longterm contracts with export customers.

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 Number 3 February 18March 4-March 317, 2010 $1 at Selected Retailers Supreme court 2 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 4 What’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 Bulletin board 7 Reform water actMarch Trust Council on Hornby The 26-member Islands Trust Council, say groups Following which makes decisions about overall policy, staff resources and financial management for the collapse Islands Trust, will hold its next quarterly business meeting March 23-25, 2010 on Hornby Island. The public meeting starts Tuesday, March 23 at 3:30pm and is expected to finish by approximately 10:30am on Thursday, March 25. Trust Council invites members of Fraser River sockeye stocks the public to participate in a townhall session, a regular forum to promote informal dialogue between islanders and a previous government promise trustees starting at 10:15am on Wednesday, March 24. Persons or organizations wishing to reserve time to make BCa formal delegation to the Islands Trust Council at the beginning of the town hall session must receive an appointment through the Executive Committee. The Islands Trust’s water system ‘Financial Planning Committee will present its overall budget recommendations, along with a more detailed explanation of projected revenues, staffing levels, expenses and implications of the best, bar none,’ an proposed budget for Trust Council’s Strategic Plan on March 23. Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls have trouble telling when it’s daylight in winter; barred owl on Xxxxxxx Island. No mining Xxxxxxxxx A break in the New coalmine rain captured at Fanny Bay coalition Xxxxxx Point, South Xxxxxx Island What’s up? Ferry fares, of citizen groups has issued recommendations course Commentary by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx Xxxxx-Xxxxxxx The conundrum of Site-C Budget discusions will figure large in this meeting of council. On March 24, trustees will discuss the proposed budget for modernizing council’s core operations and potential special projects; they will consider the BCpublic input received and discuss options for amending the proposed budget. Council will then finalize and approve the Islands Trust’s Water Act2010-2011 budget and consider its annual Financial Plan Bylaw. A total Following budget adoption, trustees will consider and adopt an amended Strategic Plan, on March 24 & 25. During the meeting, trustees will also receive presentations on riparian area regulations, sensitive ecosystems mapping, GHG emissions reduction, a report by the Community Housing Task Force, and a review of 29 non-profit organizations work programs and priorities with trustees and staff from the Northern, Southern and Salt Spring planning teams. Decision highlights will include expansion of the Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program to Hornby and Xxxxxx Islands, options to address concerns about freighter traffic, new bylaw enforcement tools, and planning initiatives related to community housing and food security. ✐ BC Ferries Services Inc have endorsed a joint announced ‘Statement of Expectations annual’ fare increases on all routes except north coast fares, which were last adjusted in October. The increases, effective April 1, will be about 3.8% on the Reform of the BC Water Act.’ The statement is in response to the BC government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water lawmain routes, and offers a comprehensive set of guidelines covering surface water healthrange from 5.7%–6.25% on Gulf Island routes. Typical return fares, public transparencyfor car and driver are: Tsawwassen–Xxxxxx Bay: now $117, equitable water allocationwill be $121.50; Tsawwassen–Southern Gulf Islands: ‘Regular’ season was $108.30, will be $114.50, ‘Off Peak’ season: now $90.30, will be $95.45 (note that the SGI ‘peak’ season has been renamed the ‘regular’ season, and groundwater and stream protectionthe ‘regular’ season has been renamed the ‘off peak’ season); Xxxxxx Bay–Southern Gulf Islands: now $40.80, will be $43.35; Horseshoe Bay–Langdale: now $51.75, will be $56.05; Xxxxxxxx River–Quadra Island: now $26.40, will be $27.90. Discounts are available on many routes to travelers using BC Ferries’ ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst Experience card’, which requires payment in advance. Astronomical Rises The fare index, calculated by the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followedCommission on the basis of price caps, BC would move from worst to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into shows that fare levels on the 2009 collapse main routes as of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7April 1, 2010 will be 142% of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye in April 1, 2003 levels (the Fraser River summer run arrivedpoint at which BC Ferries was ‘privatized’). Fare levels on minor routes will be 161% of 2003 levels, making it one of the worst years on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valley. The The Province of British Columbia’s ban satisfies a major goal which public groups have been working toward for protection of the globally- significant values of the valley. The announcement ,on the eve of the OlympicsHorseshoe Bay–Langdale route, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which160%. These figures include fuel surcharges and rebates. FARES, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske said. ‘We applaud the government for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valley. ‘We hope governments continue please turn to listen to British Columbians and soon takes action to protect the Flathead permanently—in the form of a National Park and Wildlife Management Area,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx Xxx. The Flathead/Crown of the Continent ecosystem contains the world’s first international peace park, and a biological richness which has scientists around the world supporting page 7 In its protection. The next step, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through the spine of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejects, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint is expected to be approximately 200 hectares, in the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grant, and the project would impact several First Nations. operated from 1875–77 (abandoned) and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated in Union Bay around 1900. Originally, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railway, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viable.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking the coal on the Inland Island Highway to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Point. It is estimated that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have to be barged to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in August, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on them.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘cap’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the century-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one-third of BC’s Flathead River Valley,’ she said. ‘This park would complete the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations in the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in Island Tides’ circulation area: Church of the Good Shepherd on South Xxxxxx; St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Station. 0 In a submission to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forcesrecent Throne Speech, BC’s independent provincial government confirmed that it is once again working on plans to build a hydroelectric dam at Site-C on the Peace River. The dam would be downstream from the WAC Xxxxxxx and Peace Canyon dams. Its reservoir would cover 5,300 hectares, much of it currently farmland. Its generators would produce a maximum of 900Megawatts of firm, controllable power. BC Dam Advantage Water held behind the existing hydroelectric dams, built in the ‘50s, has been BC’s clever way of ‘storing’ power. It’s power on demand. This is because a hydroelectric dam’s penstocks can be opened, allowing water flow to drive generators, at any hour that power is required and shut off again when demand drops. The water behind the dams acts as a kind of gigantic ‘battery’ where no battery can do the job. BC’s legacy hydroelectric power provides a unique ‘clean’ power advantage which BC citizen’s paid for and enjoy. Avoiding the Cost of Site-C A few years ago, contracting out to private power producers (called IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industries, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil and gas, and electrochemical plants. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by build run-of-river hydroof- river, wind turbineswind, and other ‘green’ power sources into generation was presented as the government’s solution to avoid the $8 billion (current estimate) cost of adding Site-C to BC Hydro’s portfolio of dams. But there is a fault in the scheme; although useful and ‘green’, each and every alternative power addition to the province’s generation capacity must be backed up by a percentage of firm power. Most of the new power is generated only intermittently or seasonally—it can only be produced at certain times and must be used at those times. For example, many observers have commented that run-of-river power potential is at its height during the spring freshet period, and that is out of phase with BC’s demand peaks (for winter heating and lighting) or export demand (for summer air- conditioning) in warmer climates. No matter how ‘green’ BC’s private power may be, it must be consumed when it is produced and won’t be produceable at other times. It has no shelf life—not only is it more expensive, it precludes the usage of cheap dam power which can then must be sold on held back for higher prices when power is in longterm contracts with export customersshort supply.

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 21 Number 3 February 1811 June 4-March 3June 17, 2010 2009 $1 at Selected Retailers Supreme court Tide tables 2 June garden 2 Letters 4 On your plate 5 View of Ottawa 6 Attack ads 8 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 4 What’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 7 Bulletin board 7 Reform water act11 BC Rail judge changed? The never-ending pre-trial maneuvers in the Xxxx-Xxxx court case have a new source of delay—the possibility of an entirely new judge. Madame Justice Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, say groups Following who has presided over the collapse case for some three-and-a-half years and through two complete provincial elections, has been promoted to the BC Court of Fraser River sockeye stocks and a previous government promise to make BC’s water system ‘Appeal. The appointment was made by the best, bar none,’ an federal Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Summer round the corner. Islands travel reveals wonderful sights. Sandstone ‘mushroom’ rock on Xxxxxxx. BC Rail experience ignored in CN takeover Washington State Governor initiates climate action Minister of Justice on March 15. Special Prosecutor Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx says he wants a new judge as soon as possible. Defence counsel Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx wants her to complete the case and preside over the actual trial, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls whenever it occurs. There are currently over 300,000 pages of evidence, and the defence is still asking for more disclosure, getting closer and closer to the involvement of cabinet ministers and possibly the premier in a scheme which may have trouble telling when it’s daylight in winter; barred owl on Xxxxxxx Island. No mining given CN Rail an unfair advantage in the New coalmine at Fanny Bay coalition bidding for BC Rail. Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor has taken his request for secrecy over the testimony of citizen groups an unidentified witness to the Supreme Court of Canada, and Madame Justice Xxxxxxx has issued recommendations for modernizing indicated that the BC’s Water Actdecision on this may not be brought down until the end of October. A total of 29 non-profit organizations have endorsed But she says that if she were replaced, this would lead to a joint ‘Statement of Expectations on the Reform further delay of the BC Water Act.’ The statement is in response to the BC government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water lawtrial, and offers a comprehensive set she ‘would not be The sale of guidelines covering surface water health, public transparency, equitable water allocation, and groundwater and stream protection. ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst BC Rail to CN Rail by the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followed, BC would move from worst provincial government may have given CN access to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into the 2009 collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7% of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye in the Fraser River summer run arrived, making it one of the worst years on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, new customers in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valley. The The Province of British Columbia’s ban satisfies a major goal which public groups have been working toward for protection of the globally- significant values of the valley. The announcement ,on the eve of the Olympics, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw but it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske said. ‘We applaud the government for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valley. ‘We hope governments continue also presented new operating challenges to listen to British Columbians and soon takes action to protect the Flathead permanently—CN in the form of BC Rail’s steep grades and sharp curves. In fact, a National Park recent Transportation Safety Board (TSB) report suggests that the wholesale adoption of CN’s previous operating practices, and Wildlife its failure to follow its own Safety Management Area,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx XxxSystem, has contributed to several serious accidents since CN took over. The Flathead/Crown report, released last week, blames a fatal train crash, near Lillooet in June, 2006, on a decision by CN Rail to change the locomotives formerly used on the line by BC Rail to locomotives with an older, and inadequate, braking system. The TSB said that, despite employee concerns, CN did not carry out a risk assessment before replacing locomotives equipped with ‘dynamic braking’ with locomotives equipped only with friction brakes. ‘Dynamic braking’ (DB) is essentially engine braking, and is used to limit the speed of the Continent ecosystem contains locomotive when going down steep grades. Without it, the worldlocomotive freewheels down grades, and can only be slowed by the friction of brake shoes on the wheels; if used excessively, the friction materials heat up and Faced with a state legislature that refused to pass legislation authorizing a cap-&-trade system for greenhouse gases, Governor Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx of Washington State has made an Executive Order directing state agencies to take specific actions to reduce GHG emissions, increase transportation and fuel-conservation options for state residents, and to protect water supplies and coastal areas. Specifically, the Order directs all state agencies to: • continue work on the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) with six other states and four Canadian provinces (including BC) to develop a regional emissions reduction program design; • work with the US federal government to help design a national emissions reduction program that is strong, and reflects state priorities; • develop emissions reduction strategies and industry emissions benchmarks to meet the state’s first international peace park2020 reduction targets; • work with TransAlta to reduce emissions from the company’s coal-fired power plant near Centralia by more than half (this is the state’s only coal-fired generating plant.); • create financial incentives for the forestry industry to ensure that the state has enough trees to capture carbon; • work on low-carbon fuel standards to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector; • with other west coast states and the private sector, develop and implement a west coast highway accessible to electric and alternative fuel vehicles; • address rising sea levels and the risks to water supplies; and • increase transit options, such as buses, light rail, and ride share programs. All this action is in advance of expected US federal government legislation to establish a national cap-&-trade system. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx set a target for such a system in his budget, but the resultant Xxxxxx-Xxxxxx American Clean Energy and Security Act has been, and is still, subject to a great deal of negotiation in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and a biological richness which has scientists around the world supporting its protection. The next step, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through the spine number of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejectstheir committees, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint is expected its eventual CLIMATE ACTION, please turn to be approximately 200 hectares, in the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface page 10 prepared to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grant, and the project would impact several First Nations. operated from 1875–77 (abandoned) and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated in Union Bay around 1900. Originally, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railway, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viabledo that.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking ‘I’m the coal on the Inland Island Highway only person who knows best how to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Point. It is estimated that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have to be barged to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in August, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on them.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘cap’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the century-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one-third of BC’s Flathead River Valleyproceed,’ she said. It appears that the rules of court leave that decision up to the judge herself. are no longer effective. The crash involved a four-axle switching locomotive and one fully loaded lumber car, descending a steep grade. The locomotive weighed about 130 tons; the loaded lumber car about the same. Looking beyond recession, smart planning for businesses and trainees It seems unlikely that the Minister of Justice would have made the decision to promote Madame Justice Xxxxxxx without being aware of her ongoing involvement in the complex and politically sensitive BC Rail case. Her performance through over 100 days of pre-trial hearings could have had some bearing on her promotion. Whatever happens with the BC Supreme Court trial, the eventual judgment may well be appealed to the BC Court of Appeal, raising the question of whether Madame Justice Xxxxxxx would then have to recuse herself from Appeal Court hearings. She has been put in a most difficult position. 0 The crew could not slow the train using the locomotive brakes (the car air-brakes were found to be not operating properly), and it picked up speed; the crew applied the locomotive emergency brakes and decoupled the lumber car, and the conductor climbed on to it and started to make his way to the car’s hand brake at the other end of the car. The car, traveling at an estimated speed of 50 mph, derailed on a sharp curve, and the conductor was killed. The locomotive, with speed estimated at 60 mph, derailed on another sharp curve, sliding about 800 feet down the mountainside, killing the trainman and severely injuring the engineer. It then caught fire. The TSB report leaves no doubt that the accident could have been avoided had the locomotive been DB- equipped. BC Rail had always used DB-equipped locomotives for this work because of the steep grades involved. However, after CN acquired BC Rail, CN TRAIN CRASHES, please turn to page 2 A broad coalition of organizations with a stake in the province’s industry training system has come together to deliver the message that, with the downturn in the economy, now’s the time for an intensified focus on the training of apprentices. ‘BC lost nearly two-thirds of its trades apprentices to the recession of the early ’80s,’ says Xxxxx Xxxxx, CEO of BC’s Industry Training Authority (ITA), a provincial crown agency. ‘With labour shortages still on the horizon, the province cannot afford to let that happen again.’ At the end of May, the ITA and its partners today launched an information campaign called ‘Now’s the Time’ to reinforce with employers the business case for taking advantage of the current recession to retain and hire apprentices, and to encourage apprentices to catch up on their technical in-class training. Close to 5,000 of BC’s second-year apprentices have yet to take any in-class components of their training required for trades certification. When the economy was booming, many apprentices were staying on the job and postponing their technical training. ‘This park would complete period of slower economic activity is exactly the Watertontime when employers and their apprentices should be skilling-Glacier International Peace Park up to be ready for the better times ahead,’ Xxxxx says. Both industry and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations education institutions are backing the ‘Now’s the Time’ campaign, which stresses that while the recession is temporary, future skilled labour shortages are not. The province’s demographics are leading to an increase in retirements that, by 2015, will result APRENTICESHIPS, please turn to page 2 is available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in ‘Island Tides’ circulation areayellow boxes or racks inside! Xxxxxx—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital Nanaimo—Xxxxxxx Bay Rd Nanaimo—Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Xxx—Island Highway @ Xxxxxx Xx South Xxxxxx—Sun Valley Mall Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall good reading, great coffee — it’s time to get SERIOUS! Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall Courtenay—Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Xxxxxxxx River—Island Highway near Xxxxxxx Xx Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, June 4, 2009 2009 election nearly final As Island Tides go to press, it’s all over but the judicial recount in Delta South. The score: Church BCLiberals 49, NDP 35, Independents 1. The Independent, of course, is Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx who, on recount of Delta South, appears to have defeated BCLiberal Xxxxx Xxxxx, by 9,977 votes to 9,945 votes, a margin of 32 votes. On election night, Oppal led by 2, and then 3, votes. This seat is the only one to be subjected to a judicial recount, which starts on Monday, June 1. The other race that was close enough for a recount was in Cariboo-Chilcotin, where NDP candidate Xxxxxxx Xxxx, leading on election night, was eventually defeated by BCLiberal Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, 6,259 votes to 6,171. Final figures on some close Vancouver Island races showed no changes in who won. Xxxxxx Xxxxx in Saanich North and the Islands saw his 395 vote lead cut back to 245 votes over NDP challenger Xxxx Xxxxxx; Xxx Xxxxx in Oak Bay–Xxxxxx Head increased her 530 vote lead over NDP challenger Xxxxxxx Van der Veen to 561 votes; and NDP candidate Xxxx Xxxxxx in Saanich South increased her 413 vote lead over BCLiberal Xxxxx Xxxxx to 482 votes. The two Routleys—Xxxx and Xxxx—confirmed their wins in Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo North Cowichan respectively. They are not related but both NDP. The new riding of Cowichan Valley contains part of the Good Shepherd old Cowichan—Ladysmith riding, which elected Xxxx Xxxxxxx in the 2005 election. (Xxxxxx Xxxxx will have to make them nametags.) The final results of the STV referendum were 60.9% for the existing ‘first-past-the-post’ system, and 39.1% for the STV proposal. There were 56,246 rejected ballots. BC-STV was supported by over 50% of the voters in only seven of the 85 electoral districts. There were 94,209 absentee ballots, bringing the total vote up to 51% of eligible voters. While the total percentage voting shows a definite downward trend (the figure was 58% in the 2005 election and 55% in the 2001 election), the number of absentee voters was up from 84,434 in 2005 and 75,934 in 2001. 0 June Gardening Calendar~Xxxxx Crumblehulme 000-000-0000 • 000- 000-0000 • 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Victoria 000-000-0000 Comox Valley xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx GULF ISLANDS WATER TREATMENT SOLUTIONS Well Water • Rain Water • Surface Water • Whole-house Treatment • Self-cleaning Sediment Filters • Media Filters • Ultraviolet Systems REMOVE: Iron / Odour / Bacteria / Hardness / Arsenic I AT POINT XXXXXXXX XXXX 2 0034 14.8 4.5 10 0127 11.5 3.5 TU 0754 4.9 1.5 WE 0519 12.8 3.9 1434 11.8 3.6 1252 2.6 0.8 1913 9.5 2.9 2036 14.8 4.5 3 0109 14.4 4.4 11 0215 11.2 3.4 WE 0836 3.9 1.2 TH 0558 12.1 3.7 1550 12.8 3.9 1325 3.3 1.0 2027 10.5 3.2 2108 14.8 4.5 4 0144 13.8 4.2 12 0308 10.8 3.3 0915 3.3 1.0 0643 11.8 3.6 TH 1648 13.8 4.2 FR 1359 3.9 1.2 2132 11.2 3.4 2139 14.8 4.5 5 0220 13.5 4.1 13 0403 10.2 3.1 FR 0953 2.6 0.8 XX 0000 11.2 3.4 1735 14.4 4.4 1434 4.9 1.5 2229 11.5 3.5 2208 14.8 4.5 6 0255 13.5 4.1 14 0456 9.2 2.8 XX 0000 2.3 0.7 SU 0848 10.5 3.2 1815 14.8 4.5 1512 5.9 1.8 2317 11.5 3.5 2236 14.4 4.4 7 0331 13.1 4.0 15 0543 8.2 2.5 1107 2.3 0.7 1017 10.2 3.1 SU 1852 14.8 4.5 MO 1556 7.2 2.2 2305 14.4 4.4 8 0000 11.5 3.5 16 0625 7.2 2.2 MO 0407 13.1 4.0 TU 1205 10.2 3. 1143 2.3 0.7 1649 8.5 2.6 1927 14.8 4.5 2336 14.1 4.3 9 0043 11.5 3.5 17 0706 5.9 1.8 TU 0442 12.8 3.9 WE 1347 11.2 3.4 1218 2.3 0.7 1756 9.8 3.0 2002 14.8 4.5 ADD ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME Tide Table Courtesy of the extra room you wish you had xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx n 1393 an elderly business man living in Paris married a teenage girl. He did it for companionship knowing he would soon die. His young wife had some education but knew nothing about running the affairs of a household and told him so, thereupon the elderly gentleman set about to write a manual of domestic instructions. He was very kind to her and a few years later died leaving his house, money and a (now) priceless manuscript of several volumes to his young widow. It is a marvelous read; in the section on South Xxxxxx; gardening here are just a few of his observations about June. ‘Aways sow, plant or graft in damp weather, at the waning of the moon, and in the evening or early morning before the heat of day.’ ‘Rainy weather is good for planting, but not for sowing seed, for the seeds will cling to the rake.’ ‘Sow [winter] greens up to the end of June.’ ‘On the eve of the feast of St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Stationthe Baptist (24th June), plant parsley. 0 In a submission When it rains, plant cabbages for winter.’ And so should we. Besides going to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forcesbeach or enjoying that cool drink on the deck, this is the time to plan for winter. All the hardy root crops (carrots, parsnips, beets, etc) can be sown now so they will mature by fall. It might cost you a couple of dollars for seed and about one hour of work, then if the vegetables are left in the ground until needed they will taste as fresh and sweet as spring even in December. Commercial crops that are picked for storage rapidly loose their flavour and will convert all their available sugar into starch and so taste flat. Winter cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, celery, peas and beans should be sown at about four APPRENTICESHIPS from page 1 in an estimated shortfall of more than 110,000 skilled workers. The Industry Training Authority is the provincial crown agency responsible for overseeing BC’s independent power producers (IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industriesindustry training and apprenticeship system, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil providing a skilled workforce for industry and gas, and electrochemical plantscareer development opportunities for British Columbians. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by runDurable dock systems for exposed locations Xxxx Xxxxxx 250-of537-river hydro, wind turbines, and other ‘green’ power sources into firm power, which can then be sold on for higher prices in longterm contracts with export customers.9710 Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx Tide Table Courtesy of ADD ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME AT XXXXXXX HARBOUR JUNE Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time On Time & On Budget 2 0005 0729 10.8 3.6 3.3 1.1 10 0134 0406 9.2 9.5 2.8 2.9 TU 1432 WE 7.9 2.4 1208 1.3 0.4 1814 7.2 2.2 2042 10.8 3.3 3 0030 0805 10.5 2.6 3.2 0.8 11 0227 0441 8.9 9.2 2.7 2.8 WE 1554 TH 8.9 2.7 1243 1.6 0.5 1928 8.2 2.5 2110 10.8 3.3 4 0054 0839 10.2 2.0 3.1 0.6 12 0322 0522 8.5 8.5 2.6 2.6 XX 0000 XX 9.8 3.0 1318 2.3 0.7 2043 8.9 2.7 2136 10.8 3.3 5 0119 0913 9.8 1.6 3.0 0.5 13 0415 0614 7.9 7.9 2.4 2.4 FR 1739 SA 10.5 3.2 1352 3.0 0.9 2155 9.2 2.8 2159 10.5 3.2 6 0148 0946 9.8 1.3 3.0 0.4 14 0459 0731 7.2 7.2 2.2 2.2 XX 0000 SU 10.8 3.3 1428 3.9 1.2 2259 9.2 2.8 2223 10.5 3.2 7 0220 1021 9.8 1.0 3.0 0.3 15 0535 0925 6.2 6.9 1.9 2.1 SU 1859 MI 10.8 3.3 1506 4.9 1.5 2354 9.5 2.9 2245 10.5 3.2 8 0255 1056 9.8 1.0 3.0 0.3 16 0608 1141 5.2 6.9 1.6 2.1 MO 1937 TU

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 23 Number 3 2 January 27-February 18-March 39, 2010 2011 $1 2 at Selected Retailers Supreme court 2 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 4 WhatPhoto:Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Caught in the headlights. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx-Xxxxxxx (Island Tides owner, publisher, editor and teagirl) and contributor Xxxxxxx Xxxxx dancing the winter blahs away at the PI Jazz dance (See article page 6). Dam regulations swamp Xxxxxx Pond license Commentary by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx ement could holders Xxxxxx Pond is a tiny lake behind an earth dam in the Harbour Hills subdivision on North Xxxxxx Island. It serves the water supply of houses on Razor Point Road, below the dam, and fire protection for the subdivision. It was created by building a dam across an existing wetland in 1977, during the subdivision’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 Bulletin board 7 Reform water actcreation. June, say groups Following 2010, saw the collapse of Fraser River sockeye stocks an 80-year-old earthen dam on Testalinden Creek, near Oliver. The resultant mudslide destroyed five homes and orchards and covered part of Highway 97. A few days after the Testalinden incident, the provincial government announced plans to carry out a previous ‘precautionary’ check on as many as 2,000 other dams in the province. The Ministry of the Environment stated at that time that dam maintenance and inspection was the responsibility of the holder of the water licence, but that ‘auditing’ the maintenance was the Ministry’s responsibility. The amount of inspection and maintenance required is dependent on the Ministry’s assessment of the danger of the dam failing, and the consequences if it does (which depends on houses, highways, etc, below the dam). A number of dams in BC as listed as ‘very high’consequence; the Xxxxxx Pond dam is listed as ‘high’ consequence along with Buck Lake (the Magic Lake Estates 1200-lot subdivision water supply) and Greenburn Lake (South Xxxxxx), and many others. The water licenses for Xxxxxx Pond were issued in 1996 to the owners of the five properties on its shoreline (including one lot held by TWAM Developments for the remainder lot in the next phase of Harbour Hills) and the Xxxxxx Island Parks Commission. The Razor Point Improvement District opted not to apply for a water license. In 2009, the license holders were advised that they would be liable for the completion of a dam safety review every ten years. A review is due by August 2011, at a cost of $15,000, plus any needed repairs or modifications. The Xxxxxx Island Conservancy Association is supporting the license holders’ application for a grant to help with these costs. This recognizes that the pond may have a number of public benefits, including environmental and hydrological advantages. At a meeting on January 9, attended by about 30 Penderites (mainly from Harbour Hills and Razor Point), the license holders appealed for public support. ✐ Undebated trade agre turn Canada into a petrostate The Canadian federal government promise has, since 2002, been negotiating yet another ‘free trade’ agreement—this time with the European Union. The sixth round of negotiations, in Brussels, was scheduled for January 17–21. These negotiations have been carried out in ‘under the radar’ fashion, with almost no information provided by the federal government. A minimum of announcements have been made about the Canada- European Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Leaked early drafts resemble the stillborn MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) and NAFTA; globalization still has momentum. Tariffs on trade with the European Union (EU) range from low to make BCnonexistent, so why negotiate? The answers lie in the Prime Minister’s water system tar sands-centric view of Canada’s economic priorities. Europe Can’t Ban Tar Sands Products The proposed agreement would prevent the EU from using its proposed low-carbon fuel regulations to bar imports of tar-sands petroleum products. It’s not that a lot of tar sands oil is exported to the EU; but the Xxxxxx government wouldn’t want to encourage any such bans. (California is already proposing a low-carbon fuel standard, and environmental groups in the US are lobbying hard against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport tar sands bitumen to the US Gulf Coast for refining.) In addition, CETA would safeguard the tar sands investments of EU- based oil companies from any Canadian environmental laws that might restrict development, production, or profits. Provisions similar to NAFTA’s Chapter 11 might permit foreign corporations to sue Canadian governments for ‘lost’ revenues. The proposed CETA would also oppose agricultural subsidies and CETA, please turn to page 2 is available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the best‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital Nanaimo—Xxxxxxx Bay Rd Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Xxxxxx Xx South Xxxxxx—Sun Valley Mall Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Nanaimo—Xxxxxxx Bay Rd, bar noneCO-OP Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Ave Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Xxxxxxxx River—Island Highway near Xxxxxxx Xx Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Jan 27, 2011 New seaplane hub for downtown Vancouver Vancouver’s commercial seaplane operators are applying to Port Metro Vancouver to construct a new multi-modal passenger terminal in Vancouver Harbour to serve seaplanes, helicopters and any future passenger ferries. The application is being spearheaded by the Vancouver Commercial Seaplane Operators’ Association (VCSOA) representing eight seaplane companies who together transport 350,000 passengers to and from Vancouver Harbour annually. The proposed Harbour proposed by a private developer, but we will build it for substantially less,’ said XxXxxxxxx. ‘We can build Vancouver a new tourist attraction and at the same time insulate our customers and operators from unnecessary fees and rate hikes.’ The Harbour Hub will be located on the eastern side of Canada Place, connecting directly to all aspects of Vancouver’s public transit system, including the Canada Line, and Vancouver International Airport. Hub is an Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxalternative to the proposed construction of a $22- million seaplane and marina facility at the north end of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre Expansion. The Convention Centre proposal would add at AREA ALPHA EXISTING TERMINAL CONVENTION CENTER CANADA PLACE SEABUS TERMINAL HARBOUR HUB CONTAINER DOCKS AREA CHARLIE SEAPLANE OPERATING AREA ‘Seaplane operators just can’t absorb the unnecessary costs of the $22-million terminal now being proposed by a private developer at the Convention Centre site,’ said Xxxx Xxxxx, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls have trouble telling when it’s daylight Vice-president of the VCOSA and owner of Whistler Air. ‘Our industry believes the Harbour Hub is a better solution for British AT POINT XXXXXXXX JANUARY/FEBRUARY least $24 to ticket prices for every passenger taking a return Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. 26 0339 0952 9.2 15.4 2.8 4.7 3 0630 1210 15.1 9.8 4.6 3.0 WE 1724 4.3 1.3 TH 1705 2352 13.1 3.6 4.0 1.1 27 0041 0448 12.5 10.8 3.8 3.3 4 0653 1247 15.1 9.2 4.6 2.8 TH 1034 1823 14.8 3.6 4.5 1.1 FR 1750 12.8 3.9 28 0219 0621 13.1 11.8 4.0 3.6 5 0024 0715 4.3 15.1 1.3 4.6 FR 1122 14.1 4.3 SA 1323 8.5 2.6 1924 3.3 1.0 1836 12.5 3.8 29 0331 0759 14.1 12.1 4.3 3.7 6 0053 0736 5.2 14.8 1.6 4.5 SA 1222 13.8 4.2 SU 1359 7.9 2.4 2022 3.0 0.9 1925 12.1 3.7 30 0424 0917 14.4 12.1 4.4 3.7 7 0123 0758 6.6 14.8 2.0 4.5 SU 1328 13.5 4.1 MO 1437 7.2 2.2 2115 2.6 0.8 2019 11.8 3.6 31 0505 1011 14.8 11.5 4.5 3.5 8 0153 0819 7.5 14.4 2.3 4.4 MO 1433 13.5 4.1 TU 1516 6.6 2.0 2202 2.6 0.8 2123 11.5 3.5 1 0538 1054 15.1 11.2 4.6 3.4 9 0226 0843 8.9 14.1 2.7 4.3 TU 1529 13.5 4.1 WE 1559 5.9 1.8 2243 2.6 0.8 2245 11.5 3.5 2 0606 1133 15.1 10.5 4.6 3.2 10 0303 0909 10.2 14.1 3.1 4.3 WE 1619 2319 13.5 3.0 4.1 0.9 TH 1646 5.6 1.7 seaplane trip to and from Vancouver Harbour in winter; barred owl order to create profits for the private-sector developer, says VCSOA. That proposal also offers no viable passenger pick-up and drop-off and has no immediate connection to public transit. ‘The Harbour Hub will be one of the most innovative and integrated seaplane terminals on Xxxxxxx Islandthe continent,’ said Xxxx XxXxxxxxx, CEO of Harbour Air and President of the VCSOA. No mining in the New coalmine at Fanny Bay coalition of citizen groups has issued recommendations for modernizing the BC’s Water Act. A total of 29 ‘We will operate cooperatively as a non-profit organizations have endorsed society. Our terminal will not only provide a joint better passenger experience than the $22-million terminal being Columbians and the seaplane industry.’ Despite being slated for development for over five years, the developer of the proposed for-profit terminal at the Convention Centre has to date been unable to secure any seaplane industry tenants. ‘Statement Anything that adds unnecessary costs to floatplane travel hurts the residents of Expectations the Gulf Islands and the island economy,’ said Xxxxxx Xxxxx, director of Salt Spring Air. ‘The Harbour Hub is the solution to keeping ticket prices affordable.’ ✐ ‘Oil spi ls do not stop at international boundaries’ This is the message in a letter sent by the Islands Trust and Washington State’s San Juan County to the Canadian and US governments requesting action on the Reform prevention of the BC Water Act.’ The statement is in and response to the BC government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water law, and offers a comprehensive set of guidelines covering surface water health, public transparency, equitable water allocation, and groundwater and stream protection. ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followed, BC would move from worst to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into the 2009 collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7% of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye oil spills in the Fraser River summer run arrivedtransboundary waters that surround the Gulf Islands and the San Xxxx Islands. Currently, making it one of contact between the worst years on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valley. The The Province of British Columbia’s ban satisfies a major goal which public groups have been working toward for protection of the globally- significant values of the valley. The announcement ,on the eve of the Olympics, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske said. ‘We applaud the government for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valley. ‘We hope governments continue to listen to British Columbians and soon two nations takes action to protect the Flathead permanently—in the form of a National Park and Wildlife Management Area,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx Xxx. The Flathead/Crown Co-operative Vessel Traffic Service agreement covering Puget Sound, the Strait of the Continent ecosystem contains the world’s first international peace parkGeorgia, and a biological richness which has scientists around the world supporting its protection. The next stepXxxx Xxxxxx, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through the spine of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejects, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint is expected to be approximately 200 hectares, in the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grantXxxxxxx Xxxxxx, and the project would impact several First NationsStrait of Xxxx xx Xxxx. operated from 1875–77 (abandoned) The letter proposes building on that agreement, and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated on US legislation in Union Bay around 1900. Originally2010 that places special emphasis on reviewing with Canada: tug escorts for oil tankers, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railwayemergency towing, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viable.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking the coal on the Inland Island Highway to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Pointand spill response. It is estimated urges that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 two Coast Guards place ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have to be barged to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in August, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on them.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘captop priority’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits addressing these issues in 2011/2012. AT XXXXXXX HARBOUR JANUARY/FEBRUARY Tide Table Courtesy of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns Durable dock systems for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the centuryexposed locations Xxxx Xxxxxx 250-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one537-third of BC’s Flathead River Valley,’ she said. ‘This park would complete the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations in the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in Island Tides’ circulation area9710 Email: Church of the Good Shepherd on South Xxxxxx; St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Station. 0 In a submission to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forces, BC’s independent power producers (IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industries, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil and gas, and electrochemical plants. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by run-of-river hydro, wind turbines, and other ‘green’ power sources into firm power, which can then be sold on for higher prices in longterm contracts with export customers.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx On Time & On Budget 26 0240 0919 7.2 11.5 2.2 3.5 3 0627 1148 11.2 8.2 3.4 2.5 WE 1701 3.0 0.9 TH 1603 2309 9.5 2.6 2.9 0.8 27 0059 0340 8.9 8.5 2.7 2.6 4 0648 1224 10.8 7.5 3.3 2.3 TH 0951 11.2 3.4 FR 1655 9.2 2.8 1758 2.3 0.7 2341 3.3 1.0 28 0238 0514 9.8 9.5 3.0 2.9 5 0706 1301 10.8 6.9 3.3 2.1 FR 1030 1834 10.8 2.0 3.3 0.6 SA 1749 8.9 2.7 29 0339 0720 10.5 9.8 3.2 3.0 6 0012 0723 3.9 10.8 1.2 3.3 SA 1118 10.5 3.2 SU 1338 6.2 1.9 1947 2.0 0.6 1848 8.5 2.6 30 0424 0856 10.8 9.8 3.3 3.0 7 0042 0740 4.9 10.8 1.5 3.3 SU 1218 10.5 3.2 MO 1416 5.6 1.7 2036 1.6 0.5 1954 8.2 2.5 31 0502 0953 11.2 9.5 3.4 2.9 8 0111 0758 5.9 10.5 1.8 3.2 MO 1319 10.2 3.1 TU 1456 4.9 1.5 2119 1.6 0.5 2113 8.2 2.5 1 0535 1035 11.2 9.2 3.4 2.8 9 0139 0816 6.9 10.5 2.1 3.2 TU 1417 10.2 3.1 WE 1538 4.6 1.4 2159 2.0 0.6 2257 8.2 2.5 2 0603 1112 11.2 8.9 3.4 2.7 10 0206 0835 7.9 10.5 2.4 3.2 WE 1511 2235 9.8 2.3 3.0 0.7 TH 1625

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 23 Number 3 4 February 1824-March 310, 2010 2011 $1 2 at Selected Retailers Supreme court 2 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 4 What’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 Bulletin board 7 Reform water act, say groups Following the collapse of Fraser River sockeye stocks and a previous government promise to make BC’s water system ‘the best, bar none,’ an Photo: Xxxxx XxxxxxxXxxxxxxxx, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls have trouble telling when xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xx Winter sailing. Finisterre racing with two reefs in the main and a bone in her teeth. Central Sa nich growth threatens regional strategy Inlets under pres ure There is an old saying in urban planning: follow the watermains. Proposed watermain building in Central Saanich not only threatens the rural nature of the municipality, but also the integrity of the Regional Growth Strategy and official community plans throughout the Capital Regional District. What’s happening in Central Saanich is typical of how urban sprawl, automobile-centred, fragmented development takes place. And it’s daylight profitable for land developers. There are several developments in winter; barred owl Central Saanich that illustrate how this is done. They are all outside the designated Urban Containment Areas of the regional plan and Central Saanich’s Official Community Plan, which emphasizes rural farmland. The Vantreight Farm The most prominent proposal is the Vantreight farm development, of some 57 strata-lots on Xxxxxxx Island. No mining 33 acres, in the New coalmine at Fanny Bay coalition of citizen groups has issued recommendations for modernizing the BC’s Water Act. A total of 29 non-profit organizations have endorsed a joint ‘Statement of Expectations on the Reform middle of the BC Water Act.’ farm. The statement rationale for this development, isolated from any of the existing areas defined by the Regional Growth Strategy’s Urban Containment Boundaries, is in response to that the BC government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water lawsite is an outgrowth of rocky land, unsuitable for agriculture, and offers a comprehensive set of guidelines covering surface water health, public transparency, equitable water allocation, and groundwater and stream protection. ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followed, BC would move from worst to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into the 2009 collapse sale of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7% building lots concentrated there will enable the remainder of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye in the Fraser River summer run arrivedland, making historically used to grow daffodils, to continue as a family farm. Well, it used to be a family farm. It’s now owned by one of the worst years Vantreight sons, with a minority participation by his brother. And clearly, if part of the farm has to be sold to guarantee the continued operation of the remainder, this business plan is akin to a hungry dragon dining on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valleyits own tail; there are anatomical limits. The The Province of British Columbiaproposed subdivision is on Central Saanich’s ban satisfies a major goal boundary with North Saanich, which public groups have been working toward makes it even more difficult for protection of either municipal council to enforce their respective OCPs. But about following the globally- significant values of the valleywatermains. The announcement ,on the eve of the Olympics, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske said. ‘We applaud the government for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valley. ‘We hope governments continue to listen to British Columbians and soon takes action to protect the Flathead permanently—in the form of a National Park and Wildlife Management Area,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx Xxx. The Flathead/Crown of the Continent ecosystem contains the world’s first international peace park, and a biological richness which has scientists around the world supporting its protection. The next step, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through the spine of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejects, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint subdivision is expected to be approximately 200 hectares, in draw its water from xxxxx on the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grantsite, and is thus independent of watermains. However, there is some difference of opinion about the project would impact several First Nationsability of xxxxx to satisfy the water needs of 57 luxury houses in a small area. operated from 1875–77 And Xxxxxxxxxx has applied for a very large (abandoned8”) and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated in Union Bay around 1900. Originally, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railway, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viable.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking the coal on the Inland Island Highway to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Point. It is estimated that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have watermain to be barged built to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in Augustsupply his vegetable stand, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on themnot far away.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘cap’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the century-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one-third of BC’s Flathead River Valley,’ she said. ‘This park would complete the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations in the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in Island Tides’ circulation area: Church of the Good Shepherd on South Xxxxxx; St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Station. 0 In a submission to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forces, BC’s independent power producers (IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industries, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil and gas, and electrochemical plants. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by run-of-river hydro, wind turbines, and other ‘green’ power sources into firm power, which can then be sold on for higher prices in longterm contracts with export customers.

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 21 Number 3 February 185 March 12-March 325, 2010 2009 $1 at Selected Retailers Supreme court 2 Tide tables 3 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 5 Letters 4 What’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 Bulletin board 7 Reform water actXxxx xx Xxxx bylaws to stand during appeal The BC Supreme Court has granted a stay of proceedings to the Capital Regional District regarding the Xxxx xx Xxxx Electoral Area (JDFEA) local area planning bylaws, say groups Following which will allow recently passed bylaws concerning rural resource lands to remain in place while the collapse case is heard. The Capital Regional District also launched an appeal of Fraser River sockeye stocks the Court’s December 2008 decision. The stay of proceedings pertains to the bylaws, not the current voting arrangement, and a previous government promise to make BC’s water system ‘the best, bar none,’ an is effective immediately. Quadra Islanders oppose Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls have trouble telling when it’s daylight in winter; barred owl on Xxxxxxx IslandXxxxxxxxx Orca whales watch the ferries go by. No mining in the New coalmine at Fanny Bay coalition of citizen groups has issued recommendations for modernizing the BC’s Water Act. A total of 29 non-profit organizations have endorsed a joint ‘Statement of Expectations on the Reform of the BC Water Act.’ Canada to protect endangered killer whales The statement is bylaws were passed in response to the unexpected release of 28,000 hectares of land from Tree Farm Licenses 6, 19 and 25 on Vancouver Island by the Minister of Forests. The land, owned by Western Forest Products, included approximately 9,000 hectares in the JDFEA. The bylaws were passed in order to give more time for planning and development decisions by the Xxxx xx Xxxx Planning Department. ‘Responsible, sustainable decisions for the Xxxx xx Xxxx Forest Lands are imperative for the protection of our region’s rural resource lands,’ said CRD Board Chair Xxxxx Xxxxx. ‘My expectation is that this appeal will uphold the CRD’s interpretation of the Local Government Act, revalidating bylaws which were created to prevent unregulated growth in Xxxx xx Xxxx.’ The CRD Board has amended the BYLAWS, please turn to page 2 Bute Inlet power project A standing-room-only crowd packed the Quadra Island Community Centre on Sunday, March 1, proving the value and importance of a public process that almost didn’t happen. The town hall meeting was hosted by the BC Environmental Assessment Office and chaired by local Strathcona Regional District Director Xxx Xxxxx. Dozens of speakers came forward from the 340 local residents of many of the nearby islands that are most impacted by the Bute Inlet hydroelectric project proposal; each expressed concern for the Plutonic Power project. As the meeting progressed a show of hands declared unanimous opposition to the project. Many speakers questioned the economic justification for the project and called for alternative approaches to BC’s Energy Plan with more emphasis on conservation and reductions in consumption. An experienced mountain guide gave a slide show that demonstrated the world-class grandeur of the area and voiced apprehension about permanent visual impacts. Local fisherman spoke about the difficulty of determining existing fish populations in silt-laden waters and the need for multi-year baseline studies. Local loggers provided vivid descriptions about the hazards and challenges of operating in such rugged terrain with frequent catastrophic events and extreme Since British Columbians celebrated the unexpected sighting of two newborn Orca whales in mid-February, there is another cause for hope for BC’s imperilled whale population— now down to 85 whales. This week, the federal government issued an order that will provide legal protection for the endangered species’ habitat. The new regulation has environmental groups cheering; they claim the policy reversal follows a lawsuit they launched in 2008. The order is the first one that Canada has ever issued under the Species at Risk Act to protect critical habitat. Lawsuit Last year’s lawsuit was filed by Ecojustice, (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund) on behalf of nine of Canada and BC’s leading environmental organizations. It alleged that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans had failed to require much-needed legal protection for the killer whales’ critical habitat. DFO had claimed instead that existing laws and voluntary guidelines were sufficient to protect the orcas’ habitat from serious threats such as toxic contamination, acoustic degradation and declining salmon stocks. Action Plan Needed Environmental groups, however have some reservations about the next step. ‘To recover, killer whales need more than the status quo from the federal government and so we’re thrilled our lawsuit forced it to issue this habitat protection Order,’ claims Ecojustice lawyer Xxxx Xxxxxxx. ‘Now we’ll be pushing to ensure this Order leads to action.’ However, the order does not reference threats to critical habitat documented by scientists in the government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water law, and offers a comprehensive set of guidelines covering surface water health, public transparency, equitable water allocation, and groundwater and stream protection. ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followed, BC would move from worst to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into the 2009 collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7% of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye in the Fraser River summer run arrived, making it one of the worst years on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valley. The The Province of British Columbia’s ban satisfies a major goal which public groups have been working toward for protection of the globally- significant values of the valley. The announcement ,on the eve of the Olympics, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske saidResident Killer Whale Recovery Strategy. ‘We applaud know we need to change the government way we care for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valleyour marine environment to protect killer whales and their habitat,’ said Xxxxx Xxxxx, Marine Scientist with Raincoast Conservation. ‘We hope governments continue to listen work with DFO to British Columbians incorporate the needs of killer whales into the management of our salmon fisheries.’ ‘To give this Order teeth, DFO must keep killer whales’ critical habitat free of tanker traffic and soon takes action the risk of catastrophic oil spills,’ adds Will Xxxxxx of Dogwood Initiative. WHALES, please turn to protect page 2 Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx On the Flathead permanently—in last day of February, Xxxxxx children made 26 nestboxes for Violet- green Swallows and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. The 2nd annual event was hosted by Xxxxxx Island Conservancy Association. weather conditions. Disappointment was conveyed that the form proponent, Plutonic Power declined to attend or send any representative to present the proposal or answer Local groups lobby for Trust Area exemption from PMFL questions from the community most affected. ‘What is needed is a land use plan for the Sunshine Coast to be completed and there needs to be a comprehensive alternative energy planning process to determine the need, the best technology and the siting of a National Park any alternative power projects. There are better technologies that produce more power and Wildlife Management Areamore jobs while reducing our dependance on fossil fuels globally,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx Xxx. The Flathead/Crown Xxx Xxxxx, Director for the islands and inlets of the Continent ecosystem contains Strathcona Regional District. There are many questions still to be answered. Will this power generation actually reduce the world’s first international peace park, use of fossil fuels as claimed rather than allow more demand? Will the loss of wilderness and a biological richness which has scientists existing jobs in the tourism and recreation sector be offset by the jobs created? There are also concerns around the world supporting its protection. The next stepprivatization and industrialization of XX xxxxxx, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through effects of NAFTA; and the spine cumulative effects of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so past and future projects that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments being proposed. Currently the EAO (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejects, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint is expected to be approximately 200 hectares, in the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grant, and the project would impact several First Nations. operated from 1875–77 (abandonedEnvironmental Assessment Office) and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated in Union Bay around 1900. OriginallyCEAA (Canadian Environmental BUTE INLET, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railway, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viable.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking the coal on the Inland Island Highway please turn to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Point. It is estimated that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have to be barged to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in August, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on them.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘cap’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the century-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one-third of BC’s Flathead River Valley,’ she said. ‘This park would complete the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations in the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in Island Tides’ circulation area: Church of the Good Shepherd on South Xxxxxx; St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Station. 0 In a submission to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forces, BC’s independent power producers (IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industries, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil and gas, and electrochemical plants. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by run-of-river hydro, wind turbines, and other ‘green’ power sources into firm power, which can then be sold on for higher prices in longterm contracts with export customers.page 3

From Coast To Coast to Coast. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Volume 22 23 Number 3 2 January 27-February 18-March 39, 2010 2011 $1 2 at Selected Retailers Supreme court 2 Saturna notes 3 Editorial 4 RTI 4 WhatPhoto:Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Caught in the headlights. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx-Xxxxxxx (Island Tides owner, publisher, editor and teagirl) and contributor Xxxxxxx Xxxxx dancing the winter blahs away at the PI Jazz dance (See article page 6). Dam regulations swamp Xxxxxx Pond license Commentary by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx ement could holders Xxxxxx Pond is a tiny lake behind an earth dam in the Harbour Hills subdivision on North Xxxxxx Island. It serves the water supply of houses on Razor Point Road, below the dam, and fire protection for the subdivision. It was created by building a dam across an existing wetland in 1977, during the subdivision’s on? 5 US trade deal 6 Bulletin board 7 Reform water actcreation. June, say groups Following 2010, saw the collapse of Fraser River sockeye stocks an 80-year-old earthen dam on Testalinden Creek, near Oliver. The resultant mudslide destroyed five homes and orchards and covered part of Highway 97. A few days after the Testalinden incident, the provincial government announced plans to carry out a previous ‘precautionary’ check on as many as 2,000 other dams in the province. The Ministry of the Environment stated at that time that dam maintenance and inspection was the responsibility of the holder of the water licence, but that ‘auditing’ the maintenance was the Ministry’s responsibility. The amount of inspection and maintenance required is dependent on the Ministry’s assessment of the danger of the dam failing, and the consequences if it does (which depends on houses, highways, etc, below the dam). A number of dams in BC as listed as ‘very high’consequence; the Xxxxxx Pond dam is listed as ‘high’ consequence along with Buck Lake (the Magic Lake Estates 1200-lot subdivision water supply) and Greenburn Lake (South Xxxxxx), and many others. The water licenses for Xxxxxx Pond were issued in 1996 to the owners of the five properties on its shoreline (including one lot held by TWAM Developments for the remainder lot in the next phase of Harbour Hills) and the Xxxxxx Island Parks Commission. The Razor Point Improvement District opted not to apply for a water license. In 2009, the license holders were advised that they would be liable for the completion of a dam safety review every ten years. A review is due by August 2011, at a cost of $15,000, plus any needed repairs or modifications. The Xxxxxx Island Conservancy Association is supporting the license holders’ application for a grant to help with these costs. This recognizes that the pond may have a number of public benefits, including environmental and hydrological advantages. At a meeting on January 9, attended by about 30 Penderites (mainly from Harbour Hills and Razor Point), the license holders appealed for public support. ✐ Undebated trade agre turn Canada into a petrostate The Canadian federal government promise has, since 2002, been negotiating yet another ‘free trade’ agreement—this time with the European Union. The sixth round of negotiations, in Brussels, was scheduled for January 17–21. These negotiations have been carried out in ‘under the radar’ fashion, with almost no information provided by the federal government. A minimum of announcements have been made about the Canada- European Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Leaked early drafts resemble the stillborn MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) and NAFTA; globalization still has momentum. Tariffs on trade with the European Union (EU) range from low to make BCnonexistent, so why negotiate? The answers lie in the Prime Minister’s water system tar sands-centric view of Canada’s economic priorities. Europe Can’t Ban Tar Sands Products The proposed agreement would prevent the EU from using its proposed low-carbon fuel regulations to bar imports of tar-sands petroleum products. It’s not that a lot of tar sands oil is exported to the EU; but the Xxxxxx government wouldn’t want to encourage any such bans. (California is already proposing a low-carbon fuel standard, and environmental groups in the US are lobbying hard against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport tar sands bitumen to the US Gulf Coast for refining.) In addition, CETA would safeguard the tar sands investments of EU- based oil companies from any Canadian environmental laws that might restrict development, production, or profits. Provisions similar to NAFTA’s Chapter 11 might permit foreign corporations to sue Canadian governments for ‘lost’ revenues. The proposed CETA would also oppose agricultural subsidies and CETA, please turn to page 2 is available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the best‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital Nanaimo—Xxxxxxx Bay Rd Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Xxxxxx Xx South Xxxxxx—Sun Valley Mall Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Nanaimo—Xxxxxxx Bay Rd, bar noneCO-OP Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Ave Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Xxxxxxxx River—Island Highway near Xxxxxxx Xx Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, Jan 27, 2011 New seaplane hub for downtown Vancouver Vancouver’s commercial seaplane operators are applying to Port Metro Vancouver to construct a new multi-modal passenger terminal in Vancouver Harbour to serve seaplanes, helicopters and any future passenger ferries. The application is being spearheaded by the Vancouver Commercial Seaplane Operators’ Association (VCSOA) representing eight seaplane companies who together transport 350,000 passengers to and from Vancouver Harbour annually. The proposed Harbour proposed by a private developer, but we will build it for substantially less,’ said XxXxxxxxx. ‘We can build Vancouver a new tourist attraction and at the same time insulate our customers and operators from unnecessary fees and rate hikes.’ The Harbour Hub will be located on the eastern side of Canada Place, connecting directly to all aspects of Vancouver’s public transit system, including the Canada Line, and Vancouver International Airport. Hub is an Photo: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxalternative to the proposed construction of a $22- million seaplane and marina facility at the north end of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre Expansion. The Convention Centre proposal would add at AREA ALPHA EXISTING TERMINAL CONVENTION CENTER CANADA PLACE SEABUS TERMINAL HARBOUR HUB CONTAINER DOCKS AREA CHARLIE SEAPLANE OPERATING AREA ‘Seaplane operators just can’t absorb the unnecessary costs of the $22-million terminal now being proposed by a private developer at the Convention Centre site,’ said Xxxx Xxxxx, xxx.xxxxx.ca Even owls have trouble telling when it’s daylight Vice-president of the VCOSA and owner of Whistler Air. ‘Our industry believes the Harbour Hub is a better solution for British AT POINT XXXXXXXX JANUARY/FEBRUARY least $24 to ticket prices for every passenger taking a return Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. 26 0339 0952 9.2 15.4 2.8 4.7 3 0630 1210 15.1 9.8 4.6 3.0 WE 1724 4.3 1.3 TH 1705 2352 13.1 3.6 4.0 1.1 27 0041 0448 12.5 10.8 3.8 3.3 4 0653 1247 15.1 9.2 4.6 2.8 TH 1034 1823 14.8 3.6 4.5 1.1 FR 1750 12.8 3.9 28 0219 0621 13.1 11.8 4.0 3.6 5 0024 0715 4.3 15.1 1.3 4.6 FR 1122 14.1 4.3 SA 1323 8.5 2.6 1924 3.3 1.0 1836 12.5 3.8 29 0331 0759 14.1 12.1 4.3 3.7 6 0053 0736 5.2 14.8 1.6 4.5 SA 1222 13.8 4.2 SU 1359 7.9 2.4 2022 3.0 0.9 1925 12.1 3.7 30 0424 0917 14.4 12.1 4.4 3.7 7 0123 0758 6.6 14.8 2.0 4.5 SU 1328 13.5 4.1 MO 1437 7.2 2.2 2115 2.6 0.8 2019 11.8 3.6 31 0505 1011 14.8 11.5 4.5 3.5 8 0153 0819 7.5 14.4 2.3 4.4 MO 1433 13.5 4.1 TU 1516 6.6 2.0 2202 2.6 0.8 2123 11.5 3.5 1 0538 1054 15.1 11.2 4.6 3.4 9 0226 0843 8.9 14.1 2.7 4.3 TU 1529 13.5 4.1 WE 1559 5.9 1.8 2243 2.6 0.8 2245 11.5 3.5 2 0606 1133 15.1 10.5 4.6 3.2 10 0303 0909 10.2 14.1 3.1 4.3 WE 1619 2319 13.5 3.0 4.1 0.9 TH 1646 5.6 1.7 seaplane trip to and from Vancouver Harbour in winter; barred owl order to create profits for the private-sector developer, says VCSOA. That proposal also offers no viable passenger pick-up and drop-off and has no immediate connection to public transit. ‘The Harbour Hub will be one of the most innovative and integrated seaplane terminals on Xxxxxxx Islandthe continent,’ said Xxxx XxXxxxxxx, CEO of Harbour Air and President of the VCSOA. No mining in the New coalmine at Fanny Bay coalition of citizen groups has issued recommendations for modernizing the BC’s Water Act. A total of 29 ‘We will operate cooperatively as a non-profit organizations have endorsed society. Our terminal will not only provide a joint better passenger experience than the $22-million terminal being Columbians and the seaplane industry.’ Despite being slated for development for over five years, the developer of the proposed for-profit terminal at the Convention Centre has to date been unable to secure any seaplane industry tenants. ‘Statement Anything that adds unnecessary costs to floatplane travel hurts the residents of Expectations the Gulf Islands and the island economy,’ said Xxxxxx Xxxxx, director of Salt Spring Air. ‘The Harbour Hub is the solution to keeping ticket prices affordable.’ ✐ ‘Oil spi ls do not stop at international boundaries’ This is the message in a letter sent by the Islands Trust and Washington State’s San Xxxx County to the Canadian and US governments requesting action on the Reform prevention of the BC Water Act.’ The statement is in and response to the BC government’s 2008 pledge to modernize antiquated provincial water law, and offers a comprehensive set of guidelines covering surface water health, public transparency, equitable water allocation, and groundwater and stream protection. ‘BC’s current water management system ranks amongst the worst in North America,’ says Ecojustice Staff Lawyer Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx. ‘If these recommendations are followed, BC would move from worst to first in responsible water management.’ Reccommendations The statement was issued after a federal government inquiry into the 2009 collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon was announced. (Only 7% of the predicted 8.7 million sockeye oil spills in the Fraser River summer run arrivedtransboundary waters that surround the Gulf Islands and the San Xxxx Islands. Currently, making it one of contact between the worst years on record for both sockeye and people who Flathead Valley The news was unexpected—and it was big, say NGOs. On February 9, in BC’s Throne Speech Lt-Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Point announced a ban on all further mining, oil and gas development in BC’s Flathead River Valley. The The Province of British Columbia’s ban satisfies a major goal which public groups have been working toward for protection of the globally- significant values of the valley. The announcement ,on the eve of the Olympics, followed a UNESCO assessment last fall which, in part, suggested just the same move. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, executive director of NGO Wildsight saw it as a first step in protecting the Flathead. ‘This is an important announcement,’ Bergenske said. ‘We applaud the government for doing the right thing for the Flathead River Valley. ‘We hope governments continue to listen to British Columbians and soon two nations takes action to protect the Flathead permanently—in the form of a National Park and Wildlife Management Area,’ said Sierra Club BC spokesperson Xxxxx Xxx. The Flathead/Crown Co-operative Vessel Traffic Service agreement covering Puget Sound, the Strait of the Continent ecosystem contains the world’s first international peace parkGeorgia, and a biological richness which has scientists around the world supporting its protection. The next stepXxxx Xxxxxx, say groups, is to connect the Flathead through the spine of the Rockies as a provincial wildlife management area so that wildlife values are adequately managed from Waterton- Compliance Coal Corporation, with partners Itochu Corporation and LG International Investments (Canada) Ltd, have formed a Joint Venture to manage 31,000 hectares of coal rights in the Comox Coal Basin, including the Raven and Bear metallurgical coal deposits. The Joint Venture proposes to develop an underground mine in the Raven metallurgical coal deposit, located about five kilometers west of Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island. The Raven property is about 3,100 hectares. The project would be three kilometers west of the Inland Island Highway at an elevation somewhat over 100 metres, about 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, xxx 00xx xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxxx. The Raven deposit would yield approximately 44 million tones over a 20-year period. The plan anticipates a coal-wash plant, piles for earth and coarse and fine rejects, and ponds for water management. The total project footprint is expected to be approximately 200 hectares, in the Tsable River/Cowie Creek watersheds. The property is owned fee simple, with most mineral rights, by the joint venture, except for about 142 hectares held through a Crown coal licence. The Raven deposits range from near the surface to 480 metres underground. The land was originally part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway grantXxxxxxx Xxxxxx, and the project would impact several First NationsStrait of Xxxx xx Xxxx. operated from 1875–77 (abandoned) The letter proposes building on that agreement, and the underground Tsable River Mine produced approximately 2 million tones of coking coal from 1949-66. A coal-wash plant was operated on US legislation in Union Bay around 1900. Originally2010 that places special emphasis on reviewing with Canada: tug escorts for oil tankers, transportation options for the new mine included a spur line from the E&N Railwayemergency towing, but this idea has been abandoned as ‘not environmentally or economically viable.’ The remaining options still under consideration all involve trucking the coal on the Inland Island Highway to Port Alberni, Middle Point, or Duke Pointand spill response. It is estimated urges that the production volume of 2.2 million tones per year would require over 70 two Coast Guards place ‘B-train’ (semi- trailer + trailer) truckloads per day. At Port Alberni or Duke Point, coal could be loaded directly into Panamax size ships (bulk carriers of maximum: length 294 metres, beam 32 metres, and draft 12 metres). From Middle Point, the coal would have to be barged to Texada Island for loading into ships. The project first came to light in August, 2009. Since that time, concerned residents have held a number of meetings in the area, some with representatives of the company. A sit-in was also held at the office of Xxxx Xxxx, MP in December. Feelings are running high and meetings are being organized. Information is available at xxx.XxxxXxxxx.xx and on Twitter at @xxxxxxxxx.xx. 0 depend on them.) Xx Xxxxx Xxx, an ecologist with Watershed Watch, commented that, ‘Without strong rules Glacier in the south to Banff/Jasper/Xxxx/Kootenay in the north.’ Xxxxx X’Xxxxxxx, Executive Director of CPAWS- In the area, the Xxxxxx Sound Mine was IPPs propose Hydro sells them cheap power on water use and the health of water systems, even more salmon will be in trouble in the near future.’ Among the key recommendations made by the groups are for the legal protection of instream or environmental flows and a ‘captop priority’ on water withdrawals to protect the physical, biological and chemical benefits addressing these issues in 2011/2012. AT XXXXXXX HARBOUR JANUARY/FEBRUARY Tide Table Courtesy of a healthy water system. Adequate water temperature and volume are also key concerns Durable dock systems for salmon health, they report. Higher water temperatures associated with low flows and loss of cooling groundwater is a major threat to salmon, especially those that rear young in the hot interior regions of BC. 0 BC, highlighted the centuryexposed locations Xxxx Xxxxxx 250-old idea to create a Canadian national park in a portion of the Flathead River Valley. ‘We believe it’s time for the government to create a national park in the lower one537-third of BC’s Flathead River Valley,’ she said. ‘This park would complete the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and maintain healthy wildlife populations in the face of climate change and habitat degradation.’ 0 Islands’ churches to close The Anglican Church’s Diocesan Transformation Team has recommends closure of some 14 churches on Vancouver Island, including the following churches in Island Tides’ circulation area9710 Email: Church of the Good Shepherd on South Xxxxxx; St Xxxx and St Xxxx on Salt Spring and St Xxxxxx in Cowichan Station. 0 In a submission to the BC government’s Green Energy Task Forces, BC’s independent power producers (IPPs) propose that BC Hydro sell its heritage hydroelectric power to them at the same preferential rates as other BC export resource industries, such as mines, pulp xxxxx, oil and gas, and electrochemical plants. They would then use this power to fill in the gaps in the intermittent and seasonal power produced by run-of-river hydro, wind turbines, and other ‘green’ power sources into firm power, which can then be sold on for higher prices in longterm contracts with export customers.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx On Time & On Budget 26 0240 0919 7.2 11.5 2.2 3.5 3 0627 1148 11.2 8.2 3.4 2.5 WE 1701 3.0 0.9 TH 1603 2309 9.5 2.6 2.9 0.8 27 0059 0340 8.9 8.5 2.7 2.6 4 0648 1224 10.8 7.5 3.3 2.3 TH 0951 11.2 3.4 FR 1655 9.2 2.8 1758 2.3 0.7 2341 3.3 1.0 28 0238 0514 9.8 9.5 3.0 2.9 5 0706 1301 10.8 6.9 3.3 2.1 FR 1030 1834 10.8 2.0 3.3 0.6 SA 1749 8.9 2.7 29 0339 0720 10.5 9.8 3.2 3.0 6 0012 0723 3.9 10.8 1.2 3.3 SA 1118 10.5 3.2 SU 1338 6.2 1.9 1947 2.0 0.6 1848 8.5 2.6 30 0424 0856 10.8 9.8 3.3 3.0 7 0042 0740 4.9 10.8 1.5 3.3 SU 1218 10.5 3.2 MO 1416 5.6 1.7 2036 1.6 0.5 1954 8.2 2.5 31 0502 0953 11.2 9.5 3.4 2.9 8 0111 0758 5.9 10.5 1.8 3.2 MO 1319 10.2 3.1 TU 1456 4.9 1.5 2119 1.6 0.5 2113 8.2 2.5 1 0535 1035 11.2 9.2 3.4 2.8 9 0139 0816 6.9 10.5 2.1 3.2 TU 1417 10.2 3.1 WE 1538 4.6 1.4 2159 2.0 0.6 2257 8.2 2.5 2 0603 1112 11.2 8.9 3.4 2.7 10 0206 0835 7.9 10.5 2.4 3.2 WE 1511 2235 9.8 2.3 3.0 0.7 TH 1625