THURSDAY March 27, 2014 Vol. 29• No. 25 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
THIS PUBLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE AT comoxvalley record.com
COMOX VALLEY
Enter to Win!
ARTS
SPORTS
Comox Valley musicians earned nearly one-third of the 2014 Vancouver Island Music Awards. page B3
Age group records fell during the weekend in the Comox Valley Half Marathon. page B11
RECORD
NOw U
all first
Ntil th
e eNd O
time cu s
tomers
10% Off .......
349 B 5 th courten St, ay 250-334 -2043 Offer
.......
f Marc
h
will rec e
ive comple te eyewea r Purcha ses
.......
.
ends Mar
ch 31 st.
Your community. Your newspaper.
A division of
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
comoxvalleyrecord.com/contests
Union appealing cable ferry ruling
Renee Andor Record Staff
Ferry workers will seek an appeal of the BC Ferry commissioner’s decision approving major spending to build a cable ferry for the route between Vancouver Island and Denman Island. The BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union told its members Monday it will “seek leave to appeal at the BC Court of Appeal, on the grounds that the BC Ferry commissioner erred in approving the proposed major capital expenditure for a new cable ferry and associated infrastructure.” Ferry commissioner Gord Macatee approved in late February BC Ferries’ application for major capital expense to build the cable ferry and associated terminal infrastructure. The commissioner concluded the project was “reasonable, prudent, and consistent with the current Coastal Ferry Services Contract, and the long-term capital plan established by BC Ferries,” according to a BC Ferry Commission news release at the time. Macatee noted expected savings of $2 million per year over the 40-year life of the vessel, totalling $80 million, in his order. However, he would not divulge the associated initial capital expense, noting the procurement process was not yet complete and releasing that information could have put BC Ferries at a disadvantage. BC Ferries has since announced contracts to build the cable ferry and two terminals for the route between Vancouver Island and Denman Island.
The two contracts for $15.2 million each to build the terminals and a $15-million contract to build the vessel total more than $45 million in initial capital expenses. “Given that (initial capital expense is) half the cost of the projected savings how is that going to work out? How is that going to be prudent or reasonable?” questions Denman Island ferry employee Laura Pope. “The basis of the financial decision is what we’ve questioned as reasonable and prudent, and that is what we’re appealing,” she continues. Union Ships’ Officers’ Component president Michael McNevin says his main concern is around union member job loss — as some of the savings BC Ferries expects would be via crew reductions on the route. “The members that are going to be most impacted by the cable ferry are the ship’s officers because the plan is to remove all of the ship’s officers from the vessel,” says McNevin, adding the union also has concerns around the safety and viability of the project. BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall says BC Ferries won’t comment because the matter is before the courts, but she said construction will continue as planned. Termination construction is expected to be complete this fall and the cable ferry is expected to be in operation by summer 2015. The cable ferry would be a first in BC Ferries’ fleet, and would be the longest saltwater cable ferry in the world. writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
BRIAN C
M LEAN
CHEVROLET • BUICK • GMC
www.brianmclean.ca
DL8379
2145 Cliffe Avenue • Courtenay • 250-334-2425
A CAR BELONGING to the Hornby Island deputy fire chief was vandalized after he responded to a report of a backyard burn. PHOTO BY RACHELLE CHINNERY
Mental health support needed Erin Haluschak Record Staff
0
The deputy fire chief of the Hornby Island Fire Department hopes a recent violent attack during a call will bring attention to mental health and support needed in small communities. Last week, Doug Chinnery and another member of the volunteer fire service responded to a call of a backyard burn and were chased off the property by a man throwing an axe. Chinnery said when he attended the call he was aware the individual whose property he was visiting was someone who had a history of mental health issues and violence, but wasn’t prepared for what would come next. RCMP made their way to the
island and told Chinnery — who took his private vehicle to the call — his car had been wired with improvised explosive devices comprised of gas cans and propane cylinders by the individual. “They weren’t high-tech, but he had hooked them up to a car battery. When I picked up the car in the morning, he had spraypainted the car,” he explained. Although Chinnery said there is no specific training in the fire department to work with mental health situations, he noted he is prepared for a variety of incidents. “In the fire service during training we are being constantly drilled to read the scene 360 degrees and have situational awareness; it’s always about making sure the scene is safe. This
was a case of where rubber meets the road,” Chinnery noted. “As a volunteer firefighter, we do it because we want to help.” Chinnery said the incident brings attention to the limited amount of infrastructure for those suffering with mental health issues on Hornby Island and other isolated areas. “I hope this might start a discussion about it, and how we could diffuse a situation before it gets to that level (last week). In a remote place … there really isn’t anything in place for someone to be monitored by professionals.” He encourages the community to come together and members to take a role in looking after their neighbours. “The community can really ... see DEBRIEF ■ A2
FINANCING & LEASING % on most 2014 MODELS Toyota
cmyk CASH discounts up to $10,000 40¢ OFF per litre fuel SAVING CARD For details see their 4 page insert on page B13