THURSDAY April 10, 2014 Vol. 29• No. 29 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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Pilot project recognized Mandy Larade Record Staff
A letter of federal recognition was given to the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society on the Blue Carbon Pilot Project from federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq. “Your organization’s contribution is an essential part of the environmental agenda. I wish the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society every success in carrying out this important initiative for a healthy environment,” writes the minister. In March, the Blue Carbon Pilot Project received $230,000 through the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) grant program of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). They also accepted a $10,000 grant from the Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions to hire a student summer intern from a university — a first for the Blue Carbon Pilot Project. Paul Horgen, chair of the board of the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society, is pleased with the minister’s recognition of the initiative, and hopes that both local and federal politicians will give ear to the cause. “I want to encourage politicians who don’t think about it to think about it,” Horgen says.
The Blue Carbon Pilot Project’s overall objective is to reduce the amounts of carbon dioxide damage in the environment, which is predicted to reduce climate change. The main goals include growing the estuarine habitat, restoring shorelines, and fostering a community understanding and action about the issue. In total, British Columbia has 27,200 kilometres of shoreline and 422 estuaries. Coastal vegetation such as marshes and seagrasses are incredibly efficient at absorbing and storing the carbon dioxide. The carbon stored within these aquatic environments is known as blue carbon. Eelgrass, also known as Zostera marina, is one of the seagrasses that is able to hold the carbon. The education, preservation and expansion of eelgrass growth is a key component to the success of the project. One of the next steps for the Blue Carbon Pilot Project is to figure out how to measure the carbon in these aquatic environments. “We need to measure what’s in the current sediments now, and take samples from a non-eelgrass location and an eelgrass location to measure the carbon,” Horgen says. Comox Valley MLA Don
... see PROJECT ■ A5
WINDOW FOR ALL A stained glass window dedicated to the Boomer’s Legacy Foundation was officially unveiled Tuesday afternoon at the Comox Valley Airport. The window (inset) was created by local glass artist Jan Lindstrom (left) and depicts the foundation logo and a yellow ribbon, the well-known symbol of support for Canada’s troops. Next to her was Dave Mellin, honorary colonel of the 407 Squadron; Boomer’s Legacy founder Maureen Eykelenboom; airport CEO Fred Bigelow; and 19 Wing commander Col. Jim Benninger. PHOTOS BY ERIN HALUSCHAK
Relief sought for costs for RCMP Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Like the past few fiscal years, the local police force is set to remain at 30.4 members, though it had appeared the force would increase by one member. The RCMP had requested an additional member, but Courtenay council has opted to maintain the status quo.
Comox council also chose to maintain its established police strength at 11.6 members after the Town had also been asked to bump its force by a member. The 2014/15 police budget is estimated to exceed $5.3 million. Courtenay funds 90 per cent of the budget — nearly $4.8 million — which is about 20 per cent of the City’s annu-
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al operating budget. Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula is irked by an RCMP funding formula that makes Courtenay pay the lion’s share of local policing costs. For Courtenay and other towns with populations exceeding 15,000, municipalities fund 90 per cent of a policing budget while the federal government kicks in 10 per cent of costs. The
municipal/federal split is 70/30 for populations between 5,000 and 15,000 people. Coun. Starr Winchester suggests meeting with the Province to discuss the fairness, or lack thereof, in the funding split. “We need to ask government to take a second look at how police funding is
... see RCMP ■ A5