FRIDAY December 7, 2012 Vol. 27•No. 98 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
SPORTS
BUILDING
Wrestlers are going to the mat to help Sebastian. page B11
Salvation Army is collecting its kettles and preparing hampers. page B31
RECORD A division of
Your community. Your newspaper.
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com m
Judge considers dog diversion Record Staff No decision was made Thursday in a Courtenay courtroom about two dogs facing death. That’s because a third alternative was presented to the judge, who will announce his decision Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. Instead of ordering Newfoundland dogs Chum and Champ destroyed because they are dangerous or releasing them to their Black Creek owner Jacques Manseau, it was suggested the judge could order them returned to their breeder in Saskatchewan, who is willing to accept them — or to a third-party home in Comox.
CHILDREN HELPING HUNGRY École Puntledge Park Elementary students drop off their donations at the Comox Valley Food Bank. The entire school (about 500 people including parent supervisors), walked from the school to the food bank Wednesday to donate food. The food bank (1491 McPhee Ave.) gladly accepts donations of non-perishable and perishable foods as well as personal hygiene products.
Hospital cancels scans
PHOTO BY RENEE ANDOR
Cumberland spending for good reason Scott Stanfield Record Staff
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business claims municipal spending in B.C. has far outpaced population growth and inflation rates over the past decade. However, the association of small- and medium-size businesses sees some light on the horizon when it considers data from 2009 to 2010. Provincewide, the group claims municipal operat-
ing spending increased by 49 per cent — nearly four times the growth in population — during the decade, but by just one per cent from 2009 to 2010. Comox and Courtenay are near the top of CFIB’s Municipal Spending Watch for Vancouver Island, but Cumberland ranks poorly in operating spending per capita from 2000 to 2010. The report says spending in the Village increased by 76 per while population growth was 23 per cent during the decade.
BRIAN
“We spent money on our infrastructure that we haven’t done in the past,” Mayor Leslie Baird said. “You have to be careful when you look at these graphs and charts that you’re not taking it out of context. When you’re not spending anything on certain parts of the community, and when you start spending money, then it looks like it throws everything out of whack, essentially. The reality is you’re putting it where it’s needed. “We’ve run such a tight
The dogs were held for months at the Comox Valley SPCA while the court considered an application to destroy them that was brought forth by the Comox Valley Regional District in July. The application arose from an incident in January in which it was alleged the dogs attacked a neighbouring Jack Russell terrier. In a three-day hearing that began in March, court heard from various witnesses, including neighbours, former tenants and the regional district’s animal control officer. One the dogs’ owners, Edith Manseau, passed away in late October.
Record Staff
ship over the years, and we haven’t had the money to spend, so we’ve been very careful, and we continue to be very careful on what we’re spending our money on.” Baird notes ongoing work on a well and on the Dunsmuir Avenue waterline. The CFIB states: “Small business owners have a particular interest in municipal spending as studies show that they bear a disproportionate share of the municipal tax burden.” ... see ALL ■ A2
St. Joseph’s General Hospital has cancelled about 70 diagnostic imaging scans today (Friday) due to medical imaging technicians’ job action. The essential-serviceonly job action is expected to last 24 hours and Jane Murphy, St. Joseph’s president and CEO, notes only non-urgent outpatient tests have been cancelled; urgent and inpatient tests have not been cancelled. Diagnostic imaging is “a very busy department and of course we know that this is an inconvenience to our patients — we’re very sorry
for that. However, this job action has just necessitated that we must do this,” Murphy said Thursday afternoon. “Of course we’re contacting people and our goal is looking to have them rebooked as soon as possible.” Medical imaging technologists perform X-rays, CT and MRI scans and other imaging procedures. Hospital pharmacists performed only essential services during a day-long strike Thursday. Murphy noted staffing in the hospital pharmacy was reduced but the hospital was able to keep things running as usual.
MAKES ALL MODELS PRE-OWNED VEHICLES ALL 2004
DL8379 L8379
McLEAN
2006 Ford
M6420A
F-150 XLT
2007 GMC
M6158A
Sierra SLT
cmyk Crew Cab Matching Canopy 4x4, Alloys, 5.7L, Great Shape
PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
2145 Cliffe Avenue • Courtenay
M6034A
Dodge Ram Toyota 1500
•
SALE
250-334-2425
11,877
$
•
4x4, Crew rew Cab, C 5.4 L, Allows
SALE
12,556
$
4 Crew Cab, 4x4, ated Leather, Heated Seats, Z71, Sunroof
www.brianmclean.ca/used-inventory/
SALE
17,966
$