NANAIMO REGION
New greenhouses set for Beban Park Nanaimo Community Gardens Centre is moving ahead with the project after securing a 10-year lease. 3
NATION & WORLD
A Green visit
Coalition talks come up during tight election
Green Party leader Elizabeth May slams trade agreements
Polls suggesting a federal minority government is coming forced leaders to confront the scenario. 5
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The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Wednesday, September 9, 2015 EDUCATION
Parents unhappy with closures Woodlands Secondary students slated to head to neighbouring schools following current year ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
Parents at Woodlands Secondary School are concerned about plans to close their school in June. The recently adopted facilities plan for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district is recommending the closure of the aging Woodlands school this June, with its students heading to neighbouring schools, including Nanaimo District and Wellington secondary schools, next fall. The original plan called for the closure of Woodlands school in 2017 with most of its students going to a new school that
“We’re facing declining enrolment in the district and we need to work towards fixing our capacity issues before the government will seriously consider giving us the funding for a new high school.” Steve Rae, school board chairman
would be built on the NDSS site. But the school district’s staff have suggested to the board that the process of receiving
approval and funding from the Ministry of Education for a new high school would be assisted if the district moved forward to reduce some of the approximately 1,000 empty seats in its secondary system. Ann Rahme, a member of the parent advisory council at Woodlands, said many parents at the school were “comfortable” with the old plan that would have seen their children attending a newly built school. “But a lot are disappointed with this new plan to close Woodlands before the new high school is constructed,” Rahme said. “We’ll be holding a PAC meet-
ing at Woodlands (7 p.m. on Sept. 21) to discuss the new plan and what we want to do.” School board chairman Steve Rae said the recommendation to close Woodlands in June is just a recommendation at this stage, and no final decisions will be made until after a 60-day public consultation process that begins on Sept. 16. But he said it’s a fact that many school districts in the province are having difficulties in getting funding for new schools. “We’re facing declining enrolment in the district and we need to work towards fixing our capacity issues before the gov-
ernment will seriously consider giving us the funding for a new high school,” Rae said. “It’s a stressful time for many of our students and parents and I get that. We’re just about ready to enter public consultations and we want the public to know that we’re hear to listen and we’re open to suggestions.” Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to youretters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
» Driving
Tougher penalties coming for on-road scofflaws “Distracted driving must be stopped so families don’t have to endure the preventable tragedies it can cause,”
SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
B
.C.’s attorney general and minister of justice is poised to introduce tougher distracted driving penalties following a formal review of the province’s regulations over the summer. Suzanne Anton told reporters during at an event promoting safe driving in school zones Tuesday that more severe penalties would be coming within months for drivers who use cell phones while behind the wheel. Anton announced the launch of the review in June, spurred by an increase of 2,000 tickets handed out to drivers in 2014 for using electronic devices while driving. At the time, she told media: “The problem is not going away.” The review by the province garnered more than 10,000 responses from residents, many of whom advocated for stiffer penalties. Through a statement provided from the media, Anton repeated her concerns. “Distracted driving must be stopped so families don’t have to endure the preventable tragedies it can cause,” she said. “We know our penalties are too low – thousands of British Columbians stated as much during our month-long consultation – and our government is going to fix this.” “This fall we will be completing
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Variably cloudy High 20, Low 12 Details A2
Suzanne Anton, B.C. attorney general
B.C. drivers using their cellphones while driving will face stiffer penalties. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
our analysis of the over 10,000 submissions we received and our goal is to have tough, fair, and effective measures in place by the spring of 2016,” Anton said. “We are considering increased fines and other sanctions – such as vehicle impoundments or
licence suspensions – to make people put away their phones and focus on the road.” In Nanaimo, the RCMP hand out on average 300 tickets a year due to distracted driving. In March, the local mounties wrapped up a month-long
enforcement blitz with support from the province and ICBC. In a single day, RCMP officers nabbed 10 people for distracted driving. Cpl. Norm Smith, head of traffic division for the Nanaimo RCMP, voiced frustration with the practice of using mobile
B.C. offers $1 million to support Syrian refugees
Mariners captain goes for glory in final year
Premier Christy Clark delivered a teary address Tuesday as she announced $1 million in support for refugees from Syria settling in British Columbia. » Nation & World, 5
Chris Arnett is back for the VIU men’s soccer team, which along with the women’s side opens league play today against the Quest Kermodes in Nanaimo. » Sports, 6
Local news ............................. 3 Markets ................................... 2 Nation & World ................... 5
Editorials and letters ........ 4 Sports ..................................... 6 Scoreboard ............................ 7
Classified ............................... 9 Obituaries .............................. 9 Comics .................................... 8
phones while driving, calling it “a continuing issue” despite enforcement efforts. He said the ever-increasing use of the devices make them hard to ignore behind the wheel. “Especially for young drivers, they’ve grown up with these phones, they have a hard time putting (them) down even for an hour,” he said. Smith said older drivers are not immune from the temptation either. He cited a recent collision at the Northfield Road and Nanaimo Parkway intersection, where a woman had been talking with a family member at a red light and had turned into traffic. “The trauma of all that because somebody couldn’t wait to make a phone call,” Smith said. Smith said increased fines may be needed to dissuade other drivers. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255
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