Chemainus Residents Association

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  • COVID dominated All-Candidates Forum

    If they came itching to talk about freighters in Stuart Channel, homelessness, the high cost of housing, electoral reform, the state of the economy, climate change, health care and a whole bunch of other issues, the 70 plus people participating in the Chemainus Residents Association’s Sept. 16 All-Candidates Meeting at Waterwheel Park got short-shrift.

    Many of the questions the federal hopefuls might have prepared for in their briefing notes got passing notice at best or weren’t raised at all. What the people at the mic wanted to comment on and know about most were the risks associated with COVID vaccine passport programs, like the one that went into force in B.C. just a few of days before, and the threat to personal freedoms by what was portrayed as enforced vaccinations.

    In most people’s estimation the candidates, whose opening remarks were given in random order, passed or failed based on their responses to those two issues. Alana DeLong, Conservative Party of Canada; Alistair MacGregor, New Democratic Party; Blair Herbert, Liberal Party of Canada; Lia Versaevel, Green Party of Canada; and Mark Hecht, People’s Party of Canada explained repeatedly their parties’ stands on the COVID spectrum between personal freedom and public good.

    “These measures are temporary. We are now at the twelfth variant of this disease,” Versaevel responded. “This is terrifying. This disease is coming to get us, if we are not very careful. We need to understand that this is a dangerous time for people who cannot be vaccinated.” She said the main role of the federal government is to ensure consistency across provinces and territories “to provide short-term measures to ensure that we are all safe.”

    “Canadians have the right to make their own health choices,” DeLong said. “In terms of keeping everyone else safe, yes, vaccines are important, but there are other things that can be done.” She pointed to measures like antibody testing and rapid testing ‘which is still not as widespread as it should be’ to prevent transmission of the COVID virus. “So there are other ways we can stay safe without being heavy-handed.”

    “We’ve been very clear in terms of our policy on vaccine passports,” Hecht said. “We see freedom in Canada as number one, violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is absolutely unacceptable, and we would repeal any sorts of mandatory vaccines or vaccine passports, full stop.”

    MacGregor offered a ‘somewhat technical’ answer. “I find that when people are talking about the Charter, they tend to skip over Section 1,” he said. “Section 1 establishes very clearly that there can be reasonable limits and that rights in the Charter are not absolute.” He concluded, “I regret that this issue has been politicized as much as it has, but again, I have to emphasize that we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible so we can get through this pandemic.”

    Herbert pointed out that there are ‘lots of restrictions’ on our rights and liberties necessary for a functioning society. “We drive on the right hand side of the road,” he said, “and that’s a requirement.” He compared the opposition to vaccination programs to the introduction of seat-belt laws in the 70s. “I remember all the hooah about ‘this is an infringement on my rights’,” he recalled. “And here we are in 2021 and… everyone gets into the car, and the first thing they do is click on the seatbelt.”

    Other topics that did make it to the forum floor were: affordable daycare, old growth logging, policing, and services for Canadians with disabilities. The Chemainus Residents Association videoed the candidates’ responses to questions and will be airing selections of that footage between now and the Federal Election on Sept. 20. Go the the Federal Election 2021 link at CVCAS.ca for more All-Candidates meeting coverage.

  • All-Candidates Forum format

    The following format has been shared with candidates participating in the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford All-Candidates Forum, to be held Sept. 16, starting at 6PM, at the Water Wheel Park bandshell…

    Candidates may arrive early (5:30 pm) and circulate among the public until the questioning period starts. The five candidates and the moderator will be seated at tables on the stage of the bandshell. A timer will be seated on the benches on the ground level in front of them. A corded microphone will be available for each candidate.

    Once we are finished with introductions, each candidate will have two minutes for opening comments. The order of these will have been randomly selected.

    We have previously used with success the lottery ticket system we’ll be employing this evening and believe you’ll find it satisfactory. As people enter the bandstand area, they’ll be told they will have a chance to ask a question if their number is drawn. They will be given one-half of a two-part numbered ticket. A volunteer will also circulate and hand out tickets to anyone who would like to have one. The other half of the ticket goes into a hat and tickets will be drawn by a volunteer.

    When an audience member’s number has been called, he/she will have one minute to pose a question for all the candidates. Candidates will have two minutes to answer the question. The timer will notify you when ten seconds are left and when your two minutes are up.

    When the questioning period is over, each candidate, again in random order, will have two minutes for closing comments.

  • Can we afford not to have Affordable Housing?

    This 36 minute video captures the key points made by John Horn, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association, during an April 8, 2021 presentation and dialogue on homelessness, hosted by the Chemainus Residents’ Association.

    John Horn, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association, said right off the top that $250,000 in operating funding and another $500,000 in capital funding budgeted by the Cowichan Valley Regional District to support affordable housing initiatives, doesn’t sound like a lot.

    “It’s not enough to buy much affordable housing, as you can imagine,” he told participants in an hour long presentation, hosted by the Chemainus Residents’ Association on Zoom April 8. “I think $500,000 is one or two units in today’s market. So it’s really about participating in broader and bigger building schemes.”

    But then he went on to describe how the CHA is leveraging its funding to make low-cost housing solutions available to the homeless and people for who have a place to live, but are facing ‘rent stress’.

    “John Horn has offered many ideas for tackling the housing affordability challenge,” said CRA Chair Bernie Jones after the session. “The Chemainus Residents’ Association will be digesting John’s ideas to see what we can possibly do to address the problem.”

    The 36 minute video above captures the key points made during the meeting.

  • Affordable Housing – How do we do it?

    Housing prices are being driven out of reach by market forces most of us don’t understand. How can we prevent the increase in housing costs from eroding the quality of life for families?

    The alternative to affordable housing is the plague of homelessness in our communities, and hardship for families that can’t afford other life essentials because the cost of housing consumes too much of their monthly income.

    Most would agree that affordable housing is a social priority, but the cost of housing continues to increase and the COVID-19 pandemic has made a bad situation worse. So what steps can be taken to provide the housing that, in turn, puts a livable lifestyle within reach?

    Those are the questions that will be addressed by John Horn, Executive Director of the Cowichan Housing Association in a presentation to the Chemainus Residents’ Association April 8, 6:30 PM on Zoom, when he will talk about one of the most pressing, and complex problems facing communities today: affordable housing.

    Join us and hear what he has to say. There will be an opportunity for people to ask questions after his presentation. If you want to get up to speed beforehand, visit the Cowichan Housing Association website. In April 2019, the CHA completed an Attainable Housing Strategy for the CVRD that identifies priorities and ‘targets for success’. They are also working in conjunction with CVRD’s recently-completed Regional Housing Needs Assessment.

    The meeting can be joined April 8 at 6:15 PM on Zoom.

  • New Board chosen by CRA

    The newly elected board of the Chemainus Residents Association will be rolling up its sleeves Feb. 1, making plans for 2021, which promises to be a challenging and interesting year.

    Positions on the board will be decided at its first meeting. Four members were re-elected: Lia Versaevel, Chair; Bernie Jones, Vice Chair; Craig Spence, Communications and Lorraine Taylor, Membership and Treasurer. Kathy Wachs will join the board and has expressed an interest in liaison with other organizations in the community and region.

    Versaevel recounted a busy last term. On top of everyone’s mind has been the impacts of the COIVD-19 pandemic on the community, and what plans will be in place to help with recovery.

    She also mentioned in her report to the AGM that the Chemainus Residents Association:

    • Organized three forums, connecting voters to candidates in federal, municipal and provincial elections;
    • Participated in the process of developing a new Official Community Plan for the Municipality of North Cowichan;
    • Heightened visibility of the CRA, and awareness of the issues it is tracking through its web site, social media and newsletter.

    Versaevel invited residents to work with the CRA. “Our population is small, and we are at the northern reaches of the Municipality, but we are happy to continue to advocate for the residents of this place,” she said.

  • Zooming in on 2021 AGM

    Wondering what to expect Jan. 13 at the Chemainus Residents Association AGM. This short presentation outlines how the meeting is planned…

    The meeting starts at 7 PM on Zoom. You can register, or sign up on our AGM Registration Page.

  • Forum wrap up

    Congratulations to Doug Routley, who will be Nanaimo – North Cowichan’s MLA in the newly elected B.C. Legislature. Congratulations, too, to Chris Istace and Duck Paterson for representing their perspectives and their parties’ platforms in the Oct 24, 2020 provincial election. Most of all, though, congratulations to the constituents who expressed their preferences in the ballot box.

    The Nanaimo – North Cowichan All-Candidates forum was an attempt to replicate the face-to-face dialogue between voters and candidates that takes place at all-candidate’s meetings. Due to COVID-19, the Chemainus Residents Association, which traditionally holds all-candidates meetings for federal, provincial and municipal elections, could not.

    What was undertaken as an alternative route during a pandemic has developed into a process we feel might be considered an accepted pathway connecting constituents and voters during elections. We’d appreciate hearing your views about that. Please let us know by completing the short survey below.

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  • Programs and assistance for low Income earners

    What will you do for low income couples and seniors, who do not have children but whose minimum wage earnings, Unemployment Insurance or Canada Pension and Old Age Security do not make a reasonable standard of living affordable. This group of Canadians don’t receive any assistance or help with essential expenses like medical prescriptions, dental care, rental costs and so on. But they are struggling as much as others who do have access to programs that help make ends meet?

    Chris Istace

    Part of why I wanted to run for the BC Greens is that we strongly support a universal basic income for ALL citizens. We can ensure a life of dignity, a life where no one should be struggling to pay rent, buy food, pay for needed health care, or meet other necessities of life. The band-aid solutions of raising minimum wage simply do not work. We need our social support networks to ensure our communities thrive. 

    As your BC Greens MLA, I will work tirelessly to:

    Institute a Universal Basic Income

    Introduce a grant program to help make rent more affordable, especially to low-income earners who pay more than 30% of their income in rent. 

    Support action towards resolving the difference between minimum wage and minimum livable income.

    Work towards affordable prescriptions for all citizens.

    What will you do for low income couples and seniors, who do not have children but whose minimum wage earnings, Unemployment Insurance or Canada Pension and Old Age Security do not make a reasonable standard of living affordable. This group of Canadians don’t receive any assistance or help with essential expenses like medical prescriptions, dental care, rental costs and so on. But they are struggling as much as others who do have access to programs that help make ends meet?

    Once these items are adopted we can ensure that everyone in our communities will thrive. Our plan is based on investing in people, investing in communities, and investing in our future. 

    Candidates responses to this question have been added in the order received. Go to the Election Questions list to see questions that have been submitted to the Forum.

  • Marked Chinook Program

    What are your thoughts regarding the Department Of Fisheries marked Chinook Program? In your opinion does the DFO currently have short falls on the West Coast? if so, what are they?

    Doug Routley

    As someone who sat as co-chair to the Wild Salmon Advisory Council, alongside Chief Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk First Nation, this is an issue that I care deeply about. On this 14-member council we worked closely with industry, First Nations, governments, sports fisherman and more.

    From this work we were able to produce a report with recommendations for a made in BC Wild Salmon strategy that secured $105 million in a joint provincial- federal funding agreement to be able to implement the recommendations that will look to protect and revitalize BC Wild salmon stocks.

    Just the other day we announced that if elected we would double our contribution to this funding agreement. While fisheries have typically been under the DFO direction, we do feel that there are gaps and shortfalls in the system, which is why we are investing provincial funding to ensure these shortfalls are addressed.

    To learn more about our council’s work and the recommendations put forward visit www.engage.bc.ca website and type “Wild Salmon” in the search function.

    Candidates responses to this question have been added in the order received. Go to the Election Questions list to see questions that have been submitted to the Forum.

  • Taxation and Income Equity

    In 2017 a Conference Board of Canada report ranked B.C. and Ontario as having the greatest income inequality in the country, placing them ahead of only the “worst-ranked peer countries Australia and the United States”. Do you support revisions in our tax structure so that we come closer to equitably taxing those with the greatest wealth?

    Chris Istace

    Yes.

    We can see the effects of inequality all around us. From the increased numbers of people experiencing homelessness, to those that are just getting by paycheque to paycheque, inequality is here and visible.

    To combat this rising inequality, the BC Greens are committed to creating a fair taxation system. Our current taxation system in BC is complicated and contains too many loopholes and frivolous tax credits that only benefit those who are already ahead. 

    We need to reform sections of our tax code that hurt low and middle income earners.  We also need to establish better tax accountability within the government. Lower taxes doesn’t help people if it means cutting essential services or postponing necessary projects in order to meet that promise.

    Our promise is to invest in people, invest in communities and invest in our future. There are many ways to do that, but ensuring we can all live a life of dignity is a must. 

    Duck Paterson

    The tax structure across all of Canada needs to be updated to make it more equitable and sustainable.  Not everyone likes to pay taxes so governments (all) need to find alternate sources of revenue.  The taxpayer needs a break and working towards an equal and fair taxation system, while investigating other sources of income, is something that I strongly believe in.

    Candidates responses to this question have been added in the order received. Go to the Election Questions list to see questions that have been submitted to the Forum.