On stage: Canada’s fiddling bad boy in fine form for local show Artists: Cowichan POGS find the fine art in the fine print
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Friday, October 26, 2012
CVRD taxpayers all aboard E&N train
Two hundred rally in Duncan pipeline protest
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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Oil slick: Group marches through downtown to state opposition to Northern Gateway project Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
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early 200 people marched, chanted and joined hands in unity in Duncan Wednesday afternoon in opposition to a proposed pipeline project that will carry Alberta oil from the tar sands to the B.C. coast. After a massive rally in Victoria Monday (see related story, A5), demonstrations at the community level reached MLA of¿ces throughout the province. The valley gathering began at noon at Cowichan Valley MLA Bill Routley’s constituency of¿ce on Trunk Road with speeches and songs, and then project protestors marched from there into downtown Duncan and assembled at MP Jean Crowder’s of¿ce on Ingram Street. At Routley’s of¿ce, the demonstrators were very much preaching to the converted. “We’re supportive of what your group is all about,’’ said the NDP’s Routley. “We’re absolutely opposed to what’s happening right now.’’ Routley had some other business to attend to, but otherwise lent an ear to the messages coming from the crowd. “I’m used to being outside myself doing these protests,’’ he said. People from all walks of life, age groups and interest levels were there to express their discontent. “My people are suffering right now from the devastation of all the tar sands,’’ said Vivian Seegers, an Athabasca Chipewyan now living in Vancouver. “It’s so amazing to see the support we have. “We can no longer live in our territories,’’ added Seegers, who called her people ecological refugees. “We live in homelessness and poverty in the urban centres of Canada.’’ “I’ve been standing up for this kind of stuff for over three decades,’’ said valley resident Eileen Nielsen. “We will support First Nations leaders and let them be the ones to guide us. We have a unity
Andrew Leong
Holly Gilbertson, Peter Nix and Kerry Davis rally against the Northern Gateway pipeline project Wednesday outside MP Jean Crowder’s ofÄce in downtown Duncan. that’s building that I have not felt. I’ve been praying for it. I’ve been drumming for it. “Go with love, go with respect and go with what the First Nations leaders are asking us. They’re the ones that are going to get us there.’’ Somae Osler carried a placard reading “Defend Our Coast’’ that has become the motto for the campaign. “I don’t do a lot of protests,’’ she said. “I’ve seen what the oil sands have done in Alberta. I worry for our environment out here. If we can change the course of things even a little bit, I believe that can change momentum. “Hopefully we can generate some inspiration,
new ideas of doing things.’’ A demonstrator living on Mudge Island outside of Nanaimo handed out CDs of a protest song called Quit Smokin’ Oil In Yer Hookah by PieAnnie and Squeezebox. Many of the protestors assembling in Duncan had been to Monday’s demonstration in Victoria, calling it an amazing experience and empowering to see the cause gaining momentum. One person likened it to last year’s Occupy movement that spread from city to city. “It was really inspiring to be there,’’ said Dr. Brenda Bernhardt of Lake Cowichan. more on A5
owichan homeowners will pay about $9 next year to get island intercity passenger-rail service back on track, a committee of regional directors unanimously decided Wednesday. That $9 breaks down to $3.12 per $100,000 of assessed property value, so owners of a $300,000 home would chip $9.12 into ¿xing 48 bridges on the decaying E&N line between Courtenay and Victoria. In total, Cowichanians will contribute $488,100 as a one-time grant-in-aid for $3.2 million in bridge renovations by owner, the Island Corridor Foundation. Approval of the valley’s portion is expected by the Cowichan Valley Regional District board on Nov. 14, chairman Rob Hutchins said. He cited economic opportunities, reduced oil use, and saving the corridor for future generations as reasons for Cowichan’s nod. “With peak oil, we know the Graham Bruce: price of gas won’t be going spring start? down. As population and density increases, trains become a very viable means of moving people and goods.” Three other districts voting about the tax request, totalling $2 million, include Nanaimo, Comox, and Alberni. Comox and Alberni have also approved their share in principal, ICF’s Graham Bruce said. The capital regional is being asked for $1.2 million. “I’d like to get the work started by spring,” said Bruce. “Our best chance for passenger service is fall of 2013. We’ve still got the capital and Nanaimo regions to deal with, and negotiating a new train system with Via.” Tax hikes could span ¿ve years. CVRD is targeting its tax hit for 2013 to duck delays and interest charges, staff explained Wednesday. The $3.2 million will join $15 million from provincial and federal coffers to repair tracks and other stuff on the E&N on which passenger service was sidetracked last year due to safety issues. Freight rail still runs slowly on the 225-kilometre line. A return of passenger service would spell long-promised passenger, excursion, and tourist runs between Victoria and Courtenay, plus more freight hauling. A total of about $104 million is ultimately needed to bring the train corridor up to full snuff, ICF brass has said. more on A6
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