NANAIMO REGION
Farm markets return with the good weather The popular market on the Nanaimo waterfront, selling fresh veggies and more, opens on Friday. A5
NATION & WORLD
Mad Max returns rns
Tory minister weighs in on sexist taunts
Charlize Theron steals the show in the grim vision n of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice, says those shouting obscenities at TV reporters should be charged. A8
Movies, B1
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Thursday, May 14, 2015 CITY
Councillors prep for core review Process needs to address city’s financial position which is ‘not sustainable’ in the long run: Yoachim SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
Nanaimo council members were hammering out the framework for an impending core review of the city and its operations at a special meeting Wednesday. The meeting was led by consultant Roshan Danesh, whom the city hired in March to help define the terms and scope for the review. A core review has been pegged
by city council as the number one priority for the city. Danesh is a lawyer and has worked as a facilitator in conflict-ridden parts of the world like Bosnia, as well as municipalities in B.C. and other parts if the country. He warned council that core reviews can trip up due to a lack of consensus among elected officials as well as a failure to follow through on recommendations stemming from a review. “They either fail right at the
beginning . . . or they fail at the lynchpin point later on,” Danesh said. “Today is about giving the substance to what that review will be looking at,” he said at the outset of the meeting, which began and 9 a.m. and went well into the afternoon. Core reviews have had varying success in B.C. Prince George is often cited as an example where the core review ‘failed,’ after that city opted not to implement any
of the cost-cutting measures. But as Danesh and some council members said, each review is can be crafted to meet each city’s needs depending on where the focus lies. Getting agreement on what the review should focus on appeared to be the main challenge that came out of Wednesday’s meeting. “I’m not seeing huge gaps that need to be addressed,” Coun. Wendy Pratt said. Coun. Bill Yoachim, however,
said the review needs to address the city’s financial position, which he said “is not sustainable (in the) long run.” 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.
» Animal welfare Jordan Yantz acquired by the Blue Bombers Former Vancouver Island Raiders quarterback on Tuesday night got the call from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who had acquired his rights after the draft. » Sports, B2
Allergy sufferers feel the arrival of spring An early spring after an unusually mild winter is cited by weather agencies as a signal pollen counts will rise faster than usual. » Nanaimo Region, A3
First Nation rejects offer of $1.5B in LNG deal Lax Kw’alaams members voted against the Pacific NorthWest LNG project during three separate community meetings. » British Columbia, A7
» Use your smartphone to jump to our website for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.
Mainly cloudy High 18, Low 11 Details A2
Proposal would give vets the ability to euthanize ‘critically distressed’ animals SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
A
proposal to give veterinarians the authority to euthanize an “critically distressed” animal without first getting approval from an SPCA constable has won praise from both the local SPCA and Nanaimo vets. The legislature recently voted to give third reading to amend the Cruelty to Animals Act to ensure that vets alone can decide to put an animal to sleep if it is in “critical distress.” Currently, if an animal that comes into the care of a vet with a severe injury or ailment, that vet cannot humanely end the animal’s life until the sign-off is given from one of 24 SPCA constables working in the province. In some cases, it can take hours for a vet’s office to get in touch with an SPCA constable, especially if an animal comes in for care after regular office hours, late at night, or on a weekend. Dr. Ken Langelier, a vet at Nanaimo’s Island Veterinary Hospital, said his clinic face this scenario up to five times a week. “It’s not something anyone likes to do,” he said of euthanizing an animal. “But what is even worse if watching an animal suffer.” He said when an animal is brought into the clinic and is severely injured, vets will notify the SPCA so that the animal can be entered into the records and the owners can be contacted, if there are any. However, often vets will have to wait until they receive the OK from an SPCA officer. “They do their best,” said Langelier of the SPCA. “I think it (causes frustration) on both sides.”
Local news .................... A3-5 Markets ................................A2 B.C. news ............................. A7
Jamie Wintemute checks the heart of five-year-old shih tzu, Max, at the Island Veterinary Hospital. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
Dr. Jamie Wintemute, who also works at the clinic, says that vets can administer painkillers, but that can only go so far in some cases. “It’s emotionally draining for sure,” she said. The BCSPCA has lent its support to the measure. Nanaimo & District SPCA branch manager Leon Davis said “it really isn’t fair” to either a vet or animal that has been severely hurt to have to wait for a sign-off from an SPCA officer.
Editorials and letters ..... A4 Sports .................................. B2 Scoreboard ........................ B4
He said he personally receives calls late at night from people who have found an injured animal. “A lot of times I’m getting phone calls with these kinds of situations,” Davis said. Davis said he cannot authorize a vet to put down an animal. The best he can do is tell a vet to treat an animal for pain and bill the SPCA. But that is only a stopgap measure. “I’m totally in support (of the change),” he said.
Classified ............................ B6 Obituaries ........................... B6 Comics ................................. B5
The new law allowing vets to euthanize “critically distressed” animals will come into effect once it receives royal assent in the coming weeks. 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.
Crossword .......................... B5 Sudoku ................................. A2 Horoscope .......................... B7
$1.25 TAX INCLUDED
Nanaimo Daily News, nanaimodailynews.com and Harbour City Star reach more than 60,000 readers each week in print and online. General inquires: 250-729-4200 | Newsroom: 250-729-4224 | To subscribe: 250-729-4266 | Copyright 2015. All rights reserved
THERE’S A SPECIAL OFFER COMING YOUR WAY! T The Nanaimo Daily News has contracted circulation sales representatives John & Chad to conduct a subscription drive.
THIS E OFFER IV S U L C X E
ONLY E L B A L I AGH JOHN & CHAD ATV HROU
John & Chad will be calling on you to offer subscription prices for the Nanaimo Daily News at TREMENDOUS SAVINGS over regular subscription prices!
CALL TODAY, 250-729-4248 CHAD BERTUCCI JOHN SLOAN Circulation Sales Representatives