Workload worries Bargaining underway for nurses across province. PAGE 7 Families helped Major donation a boost to Habitat for Humanity effort. PAGE 26 New schedule Raiders fans win with changes to BCFC regular season. PAGE 6
Date rape targeted PAGE 3
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT NOW
DR. ANITA LAU, Optometrist
NANAIMO
Judged the the Judged Judg community aper bbest newsp best newspaper in B.C.in B.C.
250-390-2444 SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012
www.nanaimobulletin.com
VOL. 23, NO. 138
www.visionsoptical.com
Day of Gathering
Woodlands Secondary School students Madeline Ewanyshwin, left, Sydney Howlett, and Hailey Fielden from Dover Bay Secondary School, hold signs asking for change to achieve sustainable living at an Environmental Day of Gathering in Maffeo Sutton Park Friday morning. About 100 students attended the event, organized by students at Dover Bay, which coincided with other Day of Gatherings planned worldwide March 16-25 to raise awareness of environmental issues, sustainable living and poverty in developing countries. CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Provincewide review of transit rolled out BY CHRIS HAMLYN THE NEWSBULLETIN
STANHOPE ... minister listens to concerns and takes action.
After months of talks with municipal representatives, the province has launched an independent review of B.C. Transit. Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, on Thursday appointed a three-member panel to conduct the study. The panel includes: Chris Trumpy, former chairman of
the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation; Catherine Holt, owner of Sage Group Management Consultants; and John King, chairman of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. Local government representatives raised concerns about B.C. Transit last September, citing a 100-per cent increase in management fees, breakdowns in communication and a lack of funding as some of the worries.
Lekstrom emphasized the review will look for efficiencies, and is not a prelude to adding more provincial money to increase service. The province covers 47 per cent of bus service costs for most communities served by B.C. Transit, with the rest coming from bus fares and local property taxes. Lekstrom called that funding formula the most generous of any Canadian province, and said any service improvements would be up to municipalities
who must decide on local tax levels. “We have a good public transit system, but we think we have a number of ideas on how we can get better,” he said. Joe Stanhope, Regional District of Nanaimo chairman, said Lekstrom listened to the concerns and addressed them clearly. “It’s all about improving communication and this is what we asked for,” he said. “Decisions can’t be made
without consultation with the people who put the rubber on the road – the local governments.” Stanhope said the goal is to double ridership by 2018. The service currently operates with 58 local governments and carried more than 50 million passengers in 2010-11. The panel is to report its findings back to Lekstrom by the end of August. news@nanaimobulletin.com – with files from Tom Fletcher
MARCH SPECIAL $10.00 Off Any Fuel Filter
Did you know that even the smallest piece of dirt can damage a fuel injector? This can cause erratic performance and poor gas mileage. A fuel filter screens dirt and rust particles and protects the fuel pump from contamination. It’s recommended to be changed about once a year. This offer expires March 31, 2012.
Country Club Centre 250-729-3666
Hours: Mon-Sat. 8-6 Sun 10-5
aiq
FLEET CARDS ACCEPTED Call for details!