FRIDAY September 7, 2012 Vol. 27 No. 72 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
ARTS
SPORTS
G.P. Vanier grad Brian Howes is really ‘blowing up’ as a music producer. page B1
Canada reclaims demolition derby crown from American drivers at Saratoga Speedway. page B7
RECORD A division of
Your community. Your newspaper.
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com m
Larger portfolio for Valley’s MLA Scott Stanfield
Finance Minister Mike de Jong. “It comes down to makComox Valley MLA Don ing sure that government McRae has a much larger sets priorities, and basibudget to administer in cally with policies that get his role as part of Premier carried out, because you have to balance what you Christy Clark’s cabinet. McRae was named edu- can afford to do,” McRae cation minister in Wednes- said. “Balancing the budget day’s cabinet shuffle. He is still the No. 1 priority inherits a $5.3-billion for next year, and we’re on portfolio — substantially track to do so.” Vanier gradhigher than uate Colin Hanthe $60-milsen, who served lion budget for as finance minwhich he was ister under forresponsible mer premier as agriculture Gordon Campminister. bell, is another “I think P&P committee my colleague member. HanGeorge Abbott sen will also who was (edusit on the Treacation) minissury Board. ter before me “We’re very did a lot of DON McRAE lucky to have the heavy lifting,” said McRae, a former people like Colin. He’s very teacher at Vanier Second- wise, he’s been around a ary in Courtenay. “I don’t long time. Nice to have see labour issues as being another Comox Valley confront and centre in the com- nection there,” said McRae, who is also on the Cabinet ing year. “I’m looking forward to Working Group on Family seeing how we can work Affordability and Cabinet with the stakeholders to Committee on Families see how we can allow the First. “Which I really enjoy system to evolve and reflect the needs of a modern soci- because I always bring ety. And also bring a teach- a lens to caucus or to a committee. My wife and er lens to it.” Along with overseeing I, we’re a working family, the new ministry, McRae is we’re budgeting time and also a first-time member of money, and trying to raise the priorities and planning two young girls the best we committee that includes can. I think government, if Clark, newly-appointed you can make the jobs of Deputy Premier Rich Cole- families easier, it’s good for man and newly appointed ... see HE’S ALONE ■ A2
Record Staff
LAWYERS CLIVE ANSLEY and Scott Bernsetin are joined by Dali and Jin Lin (left to right) at a news conference at Maple Pool campsite. PHOTO BY SCOTT STANFIELD
Lawsuit called‘perverse,’ ‘ill-advised’ Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Pivot Legal Society has waded into the legal battle between the City of Courtenay and the owners of Maple Pool Campsite. The City initiated legal action in 2011 against Dali and Jin Lin, seeking to shut down the campground that houses 54 low-income tenants. City CAO Sandy Gray says the issue is zoning, which does not allow the couple to house people on the property, which sits on a floodplain. The site flooded in 2009 and 2010. Advocates fear most tenants would become homeless if evicted. “We are interested because we want to raise the issue of what the impact of this decision by the City
to close this campground would mean to the people who live here,” Pivot lawyer Scott Bernstein said at a Thursday press conference at Maple Pool. The mandate of the Vancouver-based, non-profit society is to use the law to create social change. Pivot will apply to the court to consider whether evicting Maple Pool tenants violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bernstein noted a parallel case in Victoria where homeless people camped in a park. The City there wanted to shut down the shelters by enforcing bylaws, which were found to breach the Charter. For decades, Maple Pool has provided housing for homeless and marginalized individuals.
“It’s become abundantly clear in recent weeks that the overwhelming majority of this community is adamantly opposed to the lawsuit that the City is pursuing,” said Clive Ansley, legal counsel for the Lins. He considers the lawsuit as being “perverse” and “wrong-headed, ill-advised and mean-spirited” in nature. Ansley also feels City council is reluctant to move forward. “I don’t think there are many people on council who feel good about it. But what we’re dealing with here is a kind of disease that I think is endemic in municipal government across the country. That’s what I call the tail wagging the dog,” said Ansley, noting “career administrators” run the
VERA-DE WINDOWS
city year after year while elected councillors come and go. “They find themselves heavily dependent on administration. I think the problem with this lawsuit is that it is being driven by one man in city hall, and that one man has never been elected.” Ansley said the City annexed the Maple Pool area in 2002. Until 2010, he said the City treated the site as “legally non-conforming,” which essentially means grandfathering. “The Local Government Act gives sweeping powers to municipalities. If this goes to court, we anticipate that we will be successful in our argument that the property was legally nonconforming. But if the City ... see MILLION-DOLLAR ■ A8
Toyota cmyk
www. v e rad ewindows.com
M a k e Yo u r H o u s e , a Ve r a - D e W i n d o w s H o m e
•
2940 Moray Ave., Courtenay
•
250-334-9819