www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
18 HOLES • PAR 3 1239 Anderton Road, Comox 250-339-6363 Course Open 8:30am-5pm
www.longlandsgolf.com
COMOX VALLEY RECORD • Thursday, April 24, 2014
LUNCH EVERY DAY
BREAKFAST
GREEN FEES ON SALE
Benny ’s, Omelettes, Pancakes & More!
Every Day After 12 Noon with this coupon, expires May 15/2014
ON WEEKENDS
Ya G ot ta T ry O ur Se a f o od C ho w der !
Visit us on Facebook
A3
18 Holes for $15
Casino staff surprise co-worker with cash Online fundraising campaign brings in $6,000 to assist cancer-stricken associate Scott Stanfield Record Staff
An online campaign generated about $6,000 to assist Donald Playfair in his battle against Myelodysplastic Syndrome, also known as pre-leukemia. The 63-year-old Merville resident has undergone a successful stem-cell transplant and chemotherapy at Vancouver General
Hospital. Before returning home, he needs to spend another three months at the Jean C. Barber Lodge near VGH. At the end of his four-month stay, the bill will be $5,500. But thanks to the efforts of friends, he could be going home with about $1,000, which will help pay for a home care nurse. Playfair’s former Courte-
nay casino co-workers Lindsy McLaughlin, Sid Hamel and Barb Mills initiated the fundraising campaign. “It’s simply amazing,” Playfair said. “The company did really well by me.” In addition to online donations, Playtime Gaming Courtenay (Chances) hosted a couple of fundraisers. Patrons at Courtenay Return It Depot also chipped in.
Playfair last worked at the casino in August but he plans to eventually resume his job. He also plans to volunteer with a cancer support group. “What goes around comes around,” Playfair said. “The future looks bright so far. As long as there’s no major side efforts from the chemo, I should be OK.” reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Donald Playfair
MMBC opponents heading to court
Blood moon rising
Jeff Nagel Black Press
Local photographer Ashley Roberts produced this multi-frame shot of last week’s blood moon as it rose over the Comox Valley. The April 15 phenomenon is the first of four consecutive full lunar eclipses that will occur in 2014-2015. Photo by Ashley Roberts
Business opponents of Multi Material BC are planning a court challenge to reverse the takeover of B.C.’s curbside recycling system by the stewardship agency. They continue to urge the provincial government to freeze the new MMBC system before it takes effect May 19, but are also laying the groundwork for a legal battle. Kelvin McCulloch, CEO of the Buckerfield’s chain of farm supply stores, is urging other businesses to sign and submit their MMBC contract but then give notice to the government that they won’t pay fees or otherwise cooperate with the new system to collect packaging and printed paper. McCulloch intends to gather opt-out letters from numerous businesses across B.C. and deliver them to the province. If the MMBC rollout continues, he said, they will argue in court that the MMBC contracts were invalid and they were coerced to
join the government-created recycling monopoly. “We’re fairly confident at this point it will be struck down,” McCulloch said. “No company in their right mind would sign that contract of their own free will.” The Province contends MMBC is voluntary and various industries could instead form their own separate waste-collecting organization. That option is not practical or reasonable, McCulloch said. “The suggestion that we are able to launch our own stewardship program independent of MMBC is a sham.” The MMBC program aims to transfer recycling costs from municipal taxpayers to the producers who generate packaging and printed paper, while collecting more containers and material types than before. But many businesses argue they’re unfairly compelled to pay far higher fees than a similar system run in Ontario. Continued on page A10
Comox council approves slight tax increase in 2014 financial plan Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Comox council approved first, second and third reading to the 2014 financial plan, which sees a general tax increase of 1.1 per
cent on top of 2013 taxes. Subsequent years still budget an overall 2.7-per-cent general taxation increase. There will be no tax increase for businesses within the Town this year. In March, Don Jacquest, director of finance for the Town, stated
in his report to council core expenditures are increasing between one and two per cent for 2012. A two-per-cent increase would mean the Town would have to find $215,000 more revenue. He also added another critical factor in the financial plan
are the Town’s proposed capital expenditures. In the past, large capital budgets were generally funded around $1 million per year from general revenue (property taxes). This year, Jacquest said the Town has focused on projects
PADDLE SPORTS & SPRING FASHIONS
identified in the transportation study, with the total proposed capital expenditures from general revenue are more than $9 million for 2012-2016, averaging more than $1.8 million per year. photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com
...ARRIVING DAILY!
Over 70 Kayaks & Surf Skis Now In Stock
See us now for lifestyle, sportswear, yoga/multisport wear, swim wear, travel wear & more
• Singles & Doubles • Recreational 9.0 - 13.0 • Sport Touring 13.0 - 16.0 • Touring to Fitness Racing 17.0 - 21.0 Ask about Lessons & Demos Necky • Think • Riot Seaward • Ocean Kayak
NEW FOOTWEAR BRANDS: Olukai • Cushe • Vans Salomon • Sanuk • Merrell Teva • Chaco • Reef
333 Fifth Street, Courtenay • 250-338-8844
skiandsurf.ca •
M-SAT 9:30-5:30; SUN 12-4