Oceanfront living for seniors
Make SeaSide Lodge your New Home and
SeaSide Lodge
your 4th month is
40% Off
www.seasidelodge.net
250-756-8518
Chronicle The
Since 1908
$1
(plus GST)
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010318
www.ladysmithchronicle.com
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
www.chemainuschronicle.com
Holmes wins arts leadership award
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Orcas break records, set personal bests P. 17
P. 15
North Cowichan candidates focus on taxes, spending Lindsay Chung
THE CHRONICLE
Taxes and municipal spending came up often at the North Cowichan all candidates meeting Nov. 4 in Chemainus. Hundreds of people heard the three mayoral candidates and 18 of the 20 council candidates at the meeting, hosted by the Chemainus and District Chamber of Commerce and the Chemainus Residents Association. First up were the council candidates, who had two minutes to introduce themselves. Incumbent Al Siebring told the crowd he’s not a one-issue candidate, but this is turning into a oneissue campaign, and it’s about property taxes. “If you own a home in North Cowichan, your property taxes have more than doubled in the past 10 years,” he said. “I have a plan to stop that runaway train. It’s a reasonable plan. It’s not a freeze. I’m not going to hack and chop and cut. We need to limit residential property taxes to no more than the rate of inflation in each of the next four years. In order to do that, council’s going to have to set some priorities because it won’t be easy to do that.” Maeve Maguire shared what she believes would make North Cowichan a place where other families like hers would come and stay. “First, as Coun. Maguire, I would work towards a strong, local economy where businesses can succeed and that supports responsible development that respects the environment,” she said.
Incumbent Kate Marsh pointed out that local government is closest to the people it serves. “Our future can only be strong with a healthy, sustainable environment, one that supports jobs and encourages new ones, makes strategic infrastructure investments, preserves greenspace, keeps growth in urban cores, supports affordable housing and local food, protects ALR and watersheds and implements the Climate Action and Energy Plan, which can save residents taxes while creating local jobs,” she said. Rob Douglas would like to see the municipality do more to encourage small business, local ownership and create a truly prosperous economy where young people can find good jobs and stay in Cowichan and Chemainus. He would like North Cowichan to explore participatory budgeting. “With participatory budgeting, you give regular citizens like us more of a direct say in setting spending priorities and voting on them democratically,” he said. George Gates is a Chemainus business owner who spent six years on the board of directors of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. “I am a young, active, communityminded individual who does not want to reinvent the wheel; I just want to make sure the tires are not flat,” he said. Joyce Behnsen says that as a councillor, she will support “reduction of excessive taxes.” “Budgets and priorities should require public approval,” she said. “Economic growth requires a focus See Twenty Page 3
Three-and-a-half-year-old Annika Hanson of Ladysmith pins a poppy on one of the two large white crosses at the Remembrance Day service at the Ladysmith Cenotaph. During the service, all the children were invited to pin their poppies on these crosses. For more photos, please turn to page 10. LINDSAY CHUNG
LIFE IS BUSY. NOW YOU NEED YOUR CAR REPAIRED! LITTLE VALLEY CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT... Collision repairs you can trust
All insurance companies accepted
ICBC Valet Accredited repair facility
Member of the Quality Assured Collision Group
New clean courtesy cars available
Contact Us: 250.245.3022 | 13070 Thomas Road, Ladysmith | littlevalleyrestorations.com