NANAIMO REGION
‘Spy’ matches up misfits for fun time
Two top staffers depart from Nanaimo city hall Finance director Brian Clemens retires Friday after 27 years; Terry Hartley, former director of human resources and organizational planning, has also recently left the city. A3
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Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy star in an espionage caper that owes much to their chemistry
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The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Thursday, June 4, 2015
» Canada
CITY
Nanaimo ranked No. 142 in desirable city rankings
Hot, dry weather brings concerns over water SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
A shot of Nanaimo’s beautiful downtown waterfront.
[AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
Parksville comes in at No. 178 out of 209
ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
N
anaimo has slipped in the annual ranking of Canada’s most livable cities. Nanaimo ranked 142nd overall out of 209 cities across Canada in the survey, released this week by the Toronto-based financial magazine MoneySense. Last year, Nanaimo came 126th in the rankings, which take into account variables such as unemployment numbers, average income, housing affordability, access to health care, arts and sports communities, crime rates and weather. Boucherville, Que., topped the rankings, while New Glasgow, N.S., came last. Among the notable statistics for Nanaimo in the report, based on data from a number of sources
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“We’ve been listed as one of the top 10 communities of our size in North America for the cost of doing business.” Sasha Angus, NEDC CEO
including Statistics Canada and Environics Analytics, is that the city’s population grew 2.8 per cent during the past five years and its unemployment rate is currently at 6.5 per cent. Sasha Angus, CEO of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, said he suspects Nanaimo’s decline in the rankings has a lot to do with the increasing number of cities ranked in the report, and ongoing changes in
the data assessed. He said the fact the report indicated Nanaimo’s population is growing shows many people from across Canada and the world are continuing to move here. Angus said MoneySense’s ranking report comes down to the economic opportunities and the quality of life each of the cities listed offers. “Our housing prices are much lower than nearby cities like Victoria and Vancouver and we’ve been listed as one of the top 10 communities of our size in North America for the cost of doing business by the Financial Times of London,” he said. “We also have a great quality of life here so the needs of businesses and their employees are being met here in many areas.” Nanaimo mayor Bill McKay said that with so many rankings
in the report swinging so wildly from last year, it’s hard to find any consistency. “I really don’t think it’s a big deal,” he said. On Vancouver Island,Victoria was ranked 50th and Courtenay 129th. Campbell River came in at No. 166, Duncan at 171 and Parksville 178. Port Alberni, which had the ignominious distinction of coming in last place in the 2014 ranking, came in at 207 of the 209 that were listed in 2015. Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
PM told reconciliation next step for Canada
Top motocross racers in city this weekend
Justice Murray Sinclair, the chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, says a political response is needed in wake of residential school report. » Nation & World, A8
Sunday will see professional motocross racers from around the world take to the tracks in hopes to boost their national standings. » Sports, B2
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First level water restrictions are in effect in Nanaimo ahead of what is predicted to be a hotter, drier-than-average summer, but businesses that rely on H2O for revenue will not face any kinks in their water supply. Under city bylaws, homeowners are only allowed to water on odd or even days of the week outside of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when level one restrictions are in place. The washing of driveways or parking lots is banned and cars or boats can only be washed during times when outdoor watering is allowed. As the restrictions increase to Levels 2, 3 and 4, there are fewer and fewer time residents are allowed to water their lawns, garden and plants. By Level 4 — a worst-case scenario — outdoor watering can only be done once a week and vehicles and boats cannot be washed on a residential property. Although the provisions for outdoor watering apply to commercial properties, the restrictions do not mention other water uses, such as car washes, plant watering at nurseries or other uses on commercial property. John Elliot, manager of utilities for the city, said rules do not apply because a steady water source represents businesses’ livelihoods. “They’re treated differently,” he said, citing car wash stops as an example. “(Businesses) are metered, so they do pay for water they are using,” he said. Elliot said it would be difficult for a business to comply with mid-day watering restrictions, unlike residences. Nanaimo water resources manager Bill Sims said the city is considering harmonizing its water restriction rules with the Regional District of Nanaimo, which has its own system. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255
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