tuesday DECEMBER 31, 2013
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YeAr iN reVieW CONtiNUes
Arts & life Local youth dance their way to Disneyland
Today we look at the news and events from July-September, 2013
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MuniCipal spEnDing
Fiscal restraint Parksville & Qualicum Beach praised AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
Parksville and Qualicum Beach are the most fiscally responsible municipalities on Vancouver Island, according to a new Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) report. “It’s not a one-off or a fluke, it’s the result of ongoing fiscally conservative decisions by council,” Parksville mayor Chris Burger was happy to boast, but he cautioned against putting too much emphasis on the report. “CFIB is a lobby group that’s critical of local government, but as a comparison it’s still valid,” he said. The B.C. Municipal Spending Watch 2013 report looks at what it calls the “sustainability of municipal finances by ranking municipalities based on their operating cost and rate of spending growth over the past decade.” It says that since municipalities cannot run deficits, spending means increasing taxes, “which from past research that CFIB has done, usually gets transferred disproportionately to small business.” Overall tone of the report is that spending is too high in B.C. starting with the claim that the average family of four would have saved $5,300 in municipal taxes over the last 11 years if operating costs had been kept at inflation levels. The report singles out just a few communities for keeping per capita spending at or below the rate of inflation and population growth, lead by Parksville at zero increase from 2000 to 2011 and Qualicum Beach at minus four per cent. Even province wide only Kaslo, in the West Kootenays, beat the local municipalities. “Our fiscal responsibility to our residents is our number one priority,” said Qualicum Beach mayor Teunis Westbroek who hadn’t seen the report, but was happy with the ranking. “That’s one thing this council is in solid agreement on,” he said, pointing out, “Council hasn’t changed the long term financial plans which were established in our 2001 capital projects plan.” Burger said the ranking is also an endorsement of city employees. “I’d put our staff up against any in the province,” he said adding that they have been able to keep a high level of services despite the fiscal restraint. Burger said that some residents still grumble that council is “too generous,” but he also hears people pushing for higher service levels and he’s happy with the current balance.
lissa alEXanDER phOtO
Bayside event coordinator Helen Corcoran (left) shares a toast with Cheryl Hodgson (right) of An Affair to Remember who is hosting the New Year’s celebration at the Quality Resort Bayside. Tickets are still available for the event which will include a casino, DJ, dancing, sushi and oyster bars, endless appies, party favours, a photographer and more. Check page A15 for more on New Year’s.
wilDlifE sightings
Park open after cougar fears CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park has re opened after a five day hiatus following three unusual cougar encounters. “I was up there (yesterday) morning and pulled all the traps,” said conversation officer Steve Ackles, adding that there haven’t been reports of cougar sightings or encounters since the closure Dec. 22. While opening the park, Ackles left warning signs to remind residents that “cougars live in the area.” Ackles said the park was closed as a precaution in response to a-typical behaviour. “Following people for long periods of time de-
spite their yelling and waving their hands is unusual behavior for a cougar,” he said. “But in all three encounters that were reported the people did the right thing.” “Cougars are just like house cats in that if someone would have turned and ran away it would have raised the hazard and possibly triggered a predatory response,” he said. Fortunately, all the individuals who came in contact with the cougar responded properly, said Ackles. The Ministry of Environment ask people to report every encounter to the 24-hour line at 1-877952-7277. Visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/index.htm# for more information.
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