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The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Wednesday, April 29, 2015 POLITICS
Two Lantzville councillors resign ‘I do not see that the situation will improve. In fact, it continues to deteriorate,’ states Jennifer Millbank SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
District of Lantzville councillors Jennifer Millbank and Rod Negrave, citing their concerns over council’s ability to function, resigned their seats on Monday. Millbank and Negrave’s announcements follow resignations from two longtime senior staff members at the district, including chief administrative officer Twyla Graff. The reason for the staff departures are not clear. However, a March 26 leaked internal memo to council,
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signed by five senior staff members, cited “ridicule and criticism” at council meetings as a concern and called for a standard of conduct to be implemented at meetings. Following the release of that memo, Millbank, Negrave and councillors Graham Savage and Dave Scott signed a letter that was mailed out to the community stating they “do not condone” alleged inappropriate behaviour from “some members of council.” The district was also preparing to bring in a mediator.
A request to Negrave for comment was not returned on Wednesday. But in his resignation letter, Negrave said a lack of action on staff concerns was a main factor in his decision. “Over this matter, if nothing else, I would resign in protest and in sympathy with both Lantzville residents and staff,” he said, calling council “broken.” Millbank provided a copy of her resignation letter but declined further comment. In it, she says that “this new council has been unable to move forward on
issues in a productive fashion that respects the role of council and the democratic process. I do not see that the situation will improve. In fact, it continues to deteriorate.” Mayor Colin Haime said he was surprised by the resignations, adding it was unclear exactly what the concerns of Millbank and Negrave are. “When it comes to the (staff) memo itself, we’re still not a hundred per cent sure what it is we’re trying to deal with,” he said. Haime also said nei-
ther councillor raised points of order on how council was being conducted. “So now to kind of criticize the process is a resignation letter is a little bit strange,” Haime said. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
» Labour Day of Mourning is a reminder that workplace deaths remain a tragic a reality for Canadians ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
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endy Pratt has vivid memories of when her father’s cousin was killed on the job at the Harmac pulp mill when she was a teenager. The Nanaimo city councillor told a crowd of approximately 70 people Tuesday that the accident was “hard” on her family and the impacts of the tragedy were felt all across the community at the time. Death in the workplace is not uncommon in Canada. In fact, about four workers died in the workplace in B.C. each week in 2014, and more than three workers died each day across Canada last year, according to labour groups. To commemorate those workers, and the thousands who are injured on the job each year, workers and labour leaders gathered in downtown Nanaimo as part of the annual National Day of Mourning, which is held each April 28 across the country. The day began with a motion passed in 1984 by the Canadian Labour Congress, and was official adopted by the federal government in 1991. WCB’s Mike Milne said the day is set aside to raise awareness and help prevent fatalities and injuries in the workplace, as well as to commemorate the fallen. “Employers have a responsibility to provide safe and healthy workplaces and workers have the right to be properly trained for their jobs and to refuse to work in unsafe work conditions,” he said. “Safety in the workplace needs to become a priority.” Mike Ball, president of the Nanaimo District Teachers’
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Sally Rye, chairwoman of the B.C. Government & Service Employees’ Union Local 402, leads the flag-waving at the annual Day of Mourning commemoration in Nanaimo on Tuesday. [ROBERT BARRON/DAILY NEWS]
“We’re seeing a lot of deregulation in industry these days, so government needs to be held accountable so that workplace accidents can be avoided.” Mike Ball, NDTA president
Association, said no one should die just because they go to work one morning. “About three to four schools in
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the province have to deal with this tragedy every week in B.C., and the impacts it has on the children of these families,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of deregulation in industry these days, so government needs to be held accountable so that workplace accidents can be avoided.” Sheila Malcolmson, the NDP federal candidate for NanaimoLadysmith, said the largest mining accident in B.C. happened in Nanaimo 125 years ago. “More than 150 children lost their fathers in that accident,” she said.
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Shawna Walsh, from the B.C. Ferry and marine Workers’ Union, encouraged people to ensure that the safety issues spoken about at the gathering should become the “highest priority” in their workplaces. “Four workers in this province will leave for work this week and won’t come home, and thousands more will be injured on the job. There isn’t enough safety on our workplaces. One worker not going home affects all workers.” Robert.Barron@ nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234
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