TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2015
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
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CAT COLONY HAS TO GO
BRINGING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE
Catspan asking for help with 30-cat colony in Nanoose Bay
Qualicum Beach artist Ingrid de Jong takes her inspiration from nature
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WOMEN’S DAY SUNDAY
The first debate Federal candidates meet to discuss women’s issues JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Local residents will get their first opportunity to see and hear from the people who want to represent them in the House of Commons through an International Women’s Day-inspired forum Sunday in Parksville. Organized by the Parksville Qualicum branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), the forum will feature three candidates for the new riding of Courtenay-Alberni, but not Conservative John Duncan. Gord Johns (NDP), Carrie Powell-Davidson (Liberal) and Glenn Sollitt (Green) have confirmed their attendance, said local CFUW president Perry Perry. “They will be asked to define the issues they think women and girls in our riding face,” said Perry. “And then they will be asked what investments should be made to address these issues.” The forum will be moderated by Mary Ellen Campbell. Qualicum First Nation Chief Michael Recalma will provide introductions and there will be an opportunity for questions from the floor, said Perry. The forum starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8 — International Women’s Day — at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre. Duncan’s campaign manager Dick Clancy confirmed Duncan, the government whip, will not attend. Perry said Duncan is welcome to participate in the forum if his schedule changes. The local branch of the CFUW has 75 members, said Perry, who also identified some issues affecting local women. “Women (here) face tremendous challenges in their lives as parents finding affordable child care,” said Perry. “And Canada is not a leader in putting women in Parliament.”
CANDACE WU PHOTO
HERRING ARE HERE: A commercial fishing fleet took to the waters lining Deep Bay Saturday afternoon vying with hundreds of birds flocking to the ocean as the annual herring spawn looked to be starting. Test boats were doing their work the last few days in anticipation of the opening. Seepqbnews.com and Thursday’s editon of The NEWS for more.
LOCAL MOUNTIES FACING CHARGES
Should they still be on the job? CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
The head of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association is questioning why three local Mounties are still on active duty nearly two years after an alleged incident in Oceanside cells that has the officers facing charges. “Police are entitled to a fair process, but when they are being actively investigated for crimes, they should not be responsible for enforcing the law,” Josh Paterson, BCCLA executive director/lawyer, told The NEWS in an
e-mail. “When an officer is being investigated for potential criminality, they should not be on public-facing enforcement duties because it raises a question in the public’s mind as to whether they can appropriately do their job in upholding the law.” Last Tuesday, the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Justice approved charges against three Oceanside RCMP officers — Const. Scott Kennedy Jones, Cpl. Michelle Rene Lebrun and Const. Mick Don-
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ald White — for assault with a weapon. The incident is alleged to have happened June 10, 2013 in Parksville’s detachment cells, where the police officers allegedly used oleoresin capsicum spray, commonly known as pepper spray, in a manner that allegedly constituted excessive force. Paterson said “it’s important that the police be held accountable if they break the law.”
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