PENINSULA
NEWS REVIEW
A life teaching others
Elvis is in town
At 82, Margaret Sarah Woltz has never considered leaving behind what she has always loved to do, page 3
Randy ‘Elvis’ Friskie brings his Vegas Show Band to the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney, page 11
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Friday, January 18, 2013
Fast track permits for Central Saanich Proposal would only apply to building permits Devon MacKenzie News staff
At their committee meeting on Monday night, Central Saanich district staff read a memorandum on the benefits of offering a ‘fast track’ residential building permit process that would see a faster turnaround on permits within the district. Currently Langford, Sooke, Colwood and North Saanich offer quick-turnaround permits, in some cases both two-day and five-day permits, and staff said the process would offer an increased level of service to developers, contractors and homeowners. “It comes down to educating (applicants) ahead of time and telling them exactly what we need on the applications,� said Director of Planning and Building Services, Bruce Greig. The fast-track permits would require applicants to ensure the highest level of detail is included on the application, thus making the job of reviewing and approving applications faster, he explained. Applications status can already be viewed on the district’s website, he added. The general consensus from staff on the fast-track process was positive, and councillors seemed receptive to the idea of offering an increased level of service to applicants. “I want to applaud staff on this initiative,� said Councillor Carl Jensen. “This seems like a great step forward for the district.� The fast-track process only pertains to building permits and does not pertain to rezoning applications. reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
Steven Heywood/News staff
Idle No More protesters from Saanich Peninsula First Nations communities blocked traffic on the Pat Bay Highway Wednesday.
First Nations event stops traffic Idle No More protest comes to Saanich Peninsula, shutting down the highway Steven Heywood News staff
Four First Nations communities on the Saanich Peninsula joined the nation-wide Idle No More movement Wednesday with a protest march that closed down the Pat Bay Highway for about an hour. Marching from the Tsawout First Nation in Central Saanich close to 200 people entered the highway at Mount Newton X Road. Police and traffic services crews were ready for the planned event and at 11 a.m. had re-routed most traffic onto alternate routes, such as West Saanich Road.
Organizer elder Eric Pelkey from the Tsawout Nation, addressed the crowd, stating the federal government’s recent budget legislation infringed on indigenous land and resource rights as outlined in treaties across the country. “Today, we are hoping that people recognize that we are still here,� Pelkey said, “and we’re still angry and we want to be able to go to the table and negotiate with (various levels of government).� The event and Idle No More movement in general, is an awareness campaign about the conditions on First Nations reserves and the impact decisions being made at
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various levels of government are having on their communities. Locally, Pelkey said his community has trouble with access and economic development issues that they negotiate with the province. As well, he said he wants the local village sites for the area First Nations communities recognized under treaty. For many other people who came out to the event, it was a way to add their voice and support efforts at increasing First Nations participation among the decisionmakers. PLEASE SEE: Area First Nations turn out, page 4
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