FRIDAY January 25, 2013 Vol. 28•No. 8 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
ARTS
SPORTS
John Hiatt is the first headliner announced for the 2013 Vancouver Island MusicFest. page B1
A Coal Hills threesome came up big at an American BMX event. page B9
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BCTF criticizes gov’t proposal Renee Andor
10-year labour agreement is reached. The proposed bargaining The Province announced process would allow teachThursday a proposed frame- ers the right to strike if work in the hopes of reach- negotiations — which are ing a 10-year agreement set to begin March 1 — fail with B.C.’s public school to produce an agreement. teachers, but their union Teachers would need to criticized the announce- issue strike notice by Aug. 31, and if they did, school ment. “The goal of a 10-year would not start in Septemagreement is simple and ber unless teachers agreed to not disambitious rupt school — give With a 10-year operations. Grade 2 Educastudents a agreement, we can chance to go move past the strife and tion Minister and their entire Comox Vals c h o o l disruption of the past career with- and focus on what mat- ley MLA Don McRae out a dis- ters most — working noted his ruption,” experience said Pre- together for students as a teachmier Chris- and families across er, highty Clark British Columbia. lighting the in a news Don McRae importance release. of teachers The proposal, Working Together having a say in the future For Students: A Framework of education. “Through this frameFor Long Term Stability In Education, outlines a new work, we can strengthen Education Policy Council that voice in matters such which would include mem- as funding and policy decibers of the B.C. Teachers’ sions. With a 10-year agreeFederation, government ment, we can move past representatives and school the strife and disruption of board trustees; indexing the past and focus on what teachers’ compensation to matters most — working an average of other major together for students and public sector increases; a families across British new bargaining process; Columbia.” Comox Valley District and $100 million dedicatAssociation ed to a Priority Education Teachers’ president Steve Stanley Investment Fund. However, the fund- said Thursday morning he ing, salary indexing and needs some time to study the creation of the coun- the details of the proposed cil are promised only if a ... see TIMING ■ A2
Record Staff
A GRAPHIC DESIGN (hand holding a feather) created by Comox Valley artist Andy Everson is seen here during an Idle No More rally in the Czech Republic. PHOTO BY DAVID SPÍCÍ MEDV D LAHODA
Idle No More grows beyond natives Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Participants at the next Idle No More rally will line Dyke Road on Monday at noon, following several other local demonstrations concerning aboriginal treaties, Omnibus bills C-45 and C-38, and other issues affecting First Nations in Canada. More than 300 people attended the first rally late December at Simms Millennium Park in Courtenay. Further rallies were held at the corner of Cliffe Avenue and 17th Street, and at the office of North Island MP John Duncan, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. A Teach In was held last weekend at the K’ómoks First Nation Big House.
Idle No More is a grassroots movement among First Nations people in Canada. Protests have been held in numerous cities in support of Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence, who this week reached her 50th day of a hunger strike. Spence plans to continue fasting until Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to meet with her and other First Nations leaders. The movement, which takes particular issue with the Jobs and Growth Act (Bill C-45), has evolved into an international movement. Andy Everson notes the diversity of crowds at local protests. “There’s a lot of nonindigenous people that are taking part in the rally,” said Everson, a KFN
member. “The attitude is really positive. The whole premise behind it is as a peaceful demonstration.” He said the issues are “far-reaching,” with many aspects affecting First Nations and all Canadians, such as the Navigable Waters Protection Act, and the “softening” of environmental protections. “For native people, a lot of our communities are in remote areas. These waterways are crucial for the very survival for some of these communities ... It all comes down to the emphasis that the government’s putting on making way for large corporations to do what they want in these territories. “It’s going to be the First Nations people in these rural communities
that are going to be affected first, and eventually it’s going to trickle down to everybody, all in the name of profits. Everson created a logo that has been used on a placard at a demonstration in the Czech Republic. “It’s literally everywhere,” said Everson, who created a design for the Simms Park rally. Through Facebook, the logo “found a life of its own. I released it as a design for anybody to use for the movement.” Protesters are asked to gather at noon Monday near the Big House. The design is also part of a new application for mobiles that lists Idle No More events anywhere in the world. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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