THURSDAYSEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
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General Excellence
THE RIGHT TO DIE
THEY ARE SO UGLY THEY ARE CUTE
A5
A24
Wild ‘N Free columnist Sylvia Campbell tells us all about turkey vultures
Federal election candidates discuss physician-assisted suicide
REGIONAL WATER DISCUSSION
Seeking solutions Qualicum Beach mayor questions RDN direction CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
The communities stretching from Nanaimo to Deep Bay are experiencing different struggles and successes with water, making for a heated debate Tuesday evening about collectively dealing with the precious resource. At Tuesday evening’s regular Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) meeting, staff received tentative approval from the board for a number of initiatives associated with water resource management. The decision needs to be ratified at the next regular RDN meeting slated for Sept. 29. Board members were split when presented with a report proposing the RDN: work with municipalities and First Nations to develop a regional water governance model; develop water pricing and regulation changes to RDN-operated water service areas reflecting conservation priorities; update water requirements for subdivision and development; and work with member municipalities and water purveyors to review standardized drought protocols. “Governance? Regional approach? Standardized pricing?” said Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek. “Qualicum Beach has bought its well fields. They are natural recharge areas and the monitoring well is showing actually that it’s recharging. So I feel like we’ve managed well and… planned accordingly, which is a result of good planning and now I feel like, ‘OK, you’ve done so well, we want what you have. You looked after your resources’ and now you want us to pipe into other areas who’ve had growth,” said Westbroek. “Now we’re going to share resources? I don’t think that’s quite fair.” See A SLIPPERY SLOPE, page A9
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY VIU
ORIENTATION DAY: Ballenas Secondary School graduate Elisabeth Steinmeyer, right, is shown here with Keisha Beardy of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Alberta. The two young women were among 1,100 students who attended a New Student Orientation at Vancouver Island University last week.
FEDERAL ELECTION NEWS IN PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH
Tory campaign signs destroyed CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
Conservative candidate John Duncan is the sole victim of political vandalism in this riding. Ten of Duncan’s large campaign signs that read “re-elect John Duncan” over the classic Conservative blue backdrop have been run over, tampered with by cutting the centre out of the frame or stolen all together,
the candidate told The NEWS Tuesday morning. “It’s not fair play,” Duncan said. “It’s contrary to freedom of expression.” Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman confirmed at least seven Conservative campaign signs have been cut down with a knife and discarded in nearby bushes in the last two weeks in Parksville and French Creek. “Our membership is keeping this in
mind during patrols,” said Foreman. “This is mischief and an additional offence under the Elections Act.” Asked if the vandalism was frustrating, Duncan, a 22-year veteran politician who is currently the MP for Vancouver Island North and government whip said “it’s just another thing you have to deal with” in politics. “The reason you’re not seeing signs is because of the damage,” he said. See IT’S NOTHING NEW, page A8
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