Pitcher drafted Page 29
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014
Fish tales VIU’s aquaculture program at edge of emerging industry. Page 11 Book release Nanaimo author Chevy Stevens has new title on shelves. Page 26 Society celebrates Multicultural organization marks 35 years. Page 7
www.nanaimobulletin.com
VOL. 26, NO. 11
Conservation delays water source search
No movement in teacher talks By Karl yu ThE NEwS BULLETiN
Despite bargaining throughout the weekend, a deal had yet to be announced Monday morning to avert a full-scale strike from teachers in B.C. this week. Nanaimo teachers participated in a study session Monday and held rallies throughout Nanaimo school district. Schools were expected to be behind picket lines today (June 17). Negotiations were ongoing as of press time Monday. B.C. teachers’ union members gave a clear mandate for the strike with 86 per cent voting in favour of job action escalation last week. Mike Ball, Nanaimo union local president, said the union has made concessions in its latest proposal, with what he calls “significant reductions.” “The proposal that we’ll put in front of government will be one that should make them think twice rather than just saying, ‘No,’” Ball said. “So we’re hopeful that they’ll look at it seriously this time instead of their usual ‘No’ and we’ll actually bargain and try to come to a deal to avoid any further escalation.” In a letter addressed to parents, John Blain, Nanaimo school district deputy superintendent, is asking parents to keep their children home Monday and Tuesday, as buses won’t be running and teachers will not be working. There won’t be adequate supervision, he said. See ‘STUDENTS’ /4
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CouNCIl AdoPTS strategy to save money by putting off efforts to tap into additional supply. By Tamara Cunningham ThE NEwS BULLETiN
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
Driver’s seat
Iyla Christie, left, and Aislyn Hill, both 5, check out the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike in the Port Place Shopping Centre parking lot while waiting for the next team of riders to take their turn Thursday. Nineteen teams from businesses and organizations raised nearly $50,000 for a chance to ride the bike downtown Thursday and at Woodgrove Centre on Friday.
Water conservation measures are a sound investment, according to Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan, who says efforts will delay the multimillion dollar cost of tapping into additional supply. Nanaimo city council recently adopted a new Water Conservation Strategy aimed at cutting back consumption rates by 10 per cent each decade. The $16,000 plan reveals 11 ways to help reach the target, from an expanded toilet rebate program to an education campaign and more detailed water bills. There are also measures like a watershed forecasting model, new bulk water metering replacement plan and leak detection surveys – estimated to total $465,000 over the next three years. Another $10,000 would be spent on an audit in 2019. Ruttan said the investment “pales in comparison” with what it’s going to cost to increase the city’s water supply, and the conservation costs could help delay the multimillion-dollar expense for another three to five years. The city has been facing a need to bolster its water supply since 2011 when a staff report estimated that demand would exceed supply by 2020. That immediacy has since been pushed back to 2024. “The longer we can hold off on doing that the better we all are as a community and the way we can hold off on that is to try to encourage taxpayers and residents of Nanaimo to demonstrate conservation as effectively as they can,” Ruttan said. See ‘INVESTMENT’ /6
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