Job seekers Employment fair attracts hundreds looking for work. Page 6 Big donation Hospital auxiliary contributes to equipment at NRGH. Page 21 60 years Yellow Point Drama Group celebrates milestone anniversary. Page 3
Back on the ice Page 29
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TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013
VOL. 24, NO. 149
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election picture nears completion Campaign officially kicks off this week to elect the next provincial government on May 14 By Jenn Mcgarrigle ThE NEwS BULLETIN
The remaining B.C. Liberal Party candidate to run in one of Nanaimo’s three electoral areas will be revealed early this week – just in time for the official start to the election season. Today (April 16), the writ of election – a formal order signed by the Chief Electoral Officer and the Lieutenant Governor calling for an election to be held – marks the start of campaign period and the candidate list in all three Nanaimo ridings is rounding out, with a Liberal candidate for the Nanaimo riding announced Sunday and a candidate for the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding expected to be revealed shortly. Nanaimo-North Cowichan candidates include: John Sherry (Conservative Party of B.C.), Mayo McDonough (Green Party of B.C.), and incumbent Doug Routley (NDP). In Nanaimo, the list includes Bryce Crigger (Conservatives), Ian Gartshore (Green), Brunie Brunie (independent), Walter Anderson (Liberal), and incumbent Leonard Krog (NDP). Ryan Bruce, Vancouver Island regional organizer with the Liberal party, said the Nanaimo riding is the last in the region to fill up with candidates. “It’s taken a little longer than we’ve liked,” he said.
For Parksville-Qualicum, candidates include David Coupland (Conservative), Michelle Stilwell (Liberal) and Barry Avis (NDP). A candidate for the Green Party has yet to be announced. Over the next month until election day on May 14, candidates will ramp their campaigns into high gear. Voter registration closes April 23 so that Elections B.C. can do a final voter’s list – people can go to www.elections.bc.ca/ovr or call 1-800-661-8683 to update their information. And while details are not yet in, there will likely be several all-candidates meetings for residents to attend, including one the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association is hosting for all three ridings on May 8 in Dover Bay Secondary School’s multipurpose room from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The South Wellington and Area Community Association is hosting a meet and greet for all candidates in the NanaimoNorth Cowichan riding tonight starting at 7 p.m. at the South Wellington Community Hall, 1555 Morden Rd. The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, with sponsorship from the News Bulletin, hosts a pre-election business forum for the Nanaimo riding April 23 at the Coast Bastion Inn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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Demonstration in literacy
Moneca Pabbies, left, Deana Uhlmann, Brenda Stewart, Virginia Burns and several other teachers staged a roadside demonstration on the Island Highway in front of Woodgrove Centre Wednesday. Nanaimo District Teachers Association members held signs that together completed the association’s list of poor classroom conditions affecting public education.
Company pulls out of Nanaimo marina deal By Chris haMlyn ThE NEwS BULLETIN
The Pacific Northwest Marina Group has backed out of a proposed 30-year lease of the Nanaimo Boat Basin. The memorandum of agreement signed between the Nanaimo Port Authority and Pacific Northwest in May 2012 expired April 1, and PNMG will not be taking on the revitalization and long-term lease of the Nanaimo marina. “While we are disappointed to lose this opportunity for
needed investment into our marina, we understand and respect the Pacific Northwest Marina Group’s desire to pursue other immediate opportunities,” said Bernie Dumas, CEO of Nanaimo Port Authority, in a press release. The lease agreement was to be finalized in the fall after PNMG had secured the necessary approvals for the redevelopment and satisfied several conditions related to the operation of the marina. The expected total commitment to the project by PNMG
was approximately $9 million and 100 per cent of the capital for the redevelopment was also coming from the developer. The proposal created a storm of controversy with local residents and marina stakeholders such as commercial fishermen, Protection Island residents and Snuneymuxw First Nation members. The port authority also received criticism for choosing a private company to manage what residents see as a public asset before putting it out to tender. u See ‘AGING’ /6
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