THURSDAY MAY 29, 2014
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QUALICUM BOUNDARY ISSUE
RDN seeks legal advice Nanaimo director says she’s concerned about liability CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
Changes to Qualicum Beach’s Growth Containment Boundary are in a holding pattern. At Tuesday night’s standing-room-only Regional District of Nanaimo board meeting, directors decided to seek legal counsel before proceeding through the process of approving a minor amendment to the town’s Regional Growth Strategy. Looming changes to the RGS have spurred contention within the town, as some allege residents were not properly informed by the town about changes they fear could lead to overdevelopment and overpopulation. “They (the RDN board) made the right decision,” said Scott Tanner, a Qualicum Beach town councillor who is trying to stop the changes that his own council recently endorsed. “I certainly tip my hat to those members of the public who spent their time doing their homework and asking questions — that is democracy at its best,” said Tanner, one of 10 people who spoke at the meeting Tuesday. Fellow Qualicum Beach Coun. Dave Willie, the town’s representative on the RDN board, said the decision was “disappointing.” “We have a (RDN) board here that wants to participate in land-use decisions in Qualicum Beach,” he said after the meeting. “If everyone in Qualicum Beach thought the new place to have public meetings was at the RDN, perhaps there would have been other people at (Tuesday night’s) meeting rather than the 10 we hear from on a regular basis.” Bruce Fleming-Smith, a Qualicum Beach resident who has been vocal on the issue, said Tuesday it’s a question of interpretation. See MOTION SHOULD RETURN, page A7
AUREN RUVINSKY PHOTO
Teachers and supporters were picketing District 69 schools on Wednesday as part of job action by B.C. teachers.
CLASSES CANCELLED WEDNESDAY
Schools behind picket lines AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
While both the government and teachers lament the current labour conflict and impact of rotating strikes, they are still at the table looking for a negotiated settlement. School District 69 teachers were on the picket lines Wednesday, with CUPE support, as part of the job ac-
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tion rotating through the province this week. Local schools were closed for one day as part of stage two job action approved by B.C. Teachers’ Federation members last month. At a news conference in Victoria, Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the government wouldn’t force a resolution. “I have said consistently, (and) the
premier has, we want a negotiated settlement. To rush to legislation is not where we’re going to go,” Fassbender told media outlets. BCTF president Jim Iker said he hoped the increased action would help push the bargaining process, but added that it is not what teachers want to be doing. See MORE CLOSURES, page A4
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