FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017 VOL. 43, NO. 16
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Campaign contributions
Parties state their willingness to reform donations system
Earth Day Action
Report from Bowen Roads, cleaner now than they were before
This week in sports
The future of Bowen FC & gymnastics meet at BICS
Black Eyes leaves Mannion Bay MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Old School Marine and Bowen Taxi towing Black Eyes out of Mannion Bay on Sunday. Bruce Russell, photo
After more than two decades, the 95 foot boat Black Eyes made a permanent departure from Mannion Bay last Sunday. This was a long awaited event for waterfront property owner and founder of the “Friends of Mannion Bay,” Bruce Russell, who says he’s been watching the boat deteriorate for years. “I don’t think people really understand the threat of it sinking,” says Russell. “And if it did sink under the Municipality’s watch, people would be asking why they weren’t more proactive about preventing that.” He adds that based on his conversations with salvage and marine insurance companies, he estimates that if the boat had sunk in Mannion Bay, it would’ve cost close to
$100,000 to salvage and clean up. The municipality’s Manager of Parks and Environment, Bonny Brokenshire, says she cannot confirm that estimate, but from experience she knows that the cost of dealing with a boat once it has sunk is three to four times more expensive than dealing with it when it is still floating. “That part of Mannion Bay, in particular is very deep,” says Brokenshire. “And I would think given the size and weight of the boat you would likely need a special crane to hoist it up from the sea-floor.” Brokenshire adds that while the boat has been a mainstay in the Bay at least since the mid-1990s, reports about the boat dragging anchor and sitting increasingly lower in the water created a sense of urgency around preventing the boat from sinking. continued P3
NDP candidate on housing, LNG, ferries
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
For years, NDP Sea to Sky candidate Michelle Livaja commuted to a full-time job and taking on university courses. “So I feel the pain of the commuter,” she says, adding that she also understands the struggle just to make life work here. “It’s really hard if you’re both commuting. I used to work at the Ruddy Potato and Steve worked ‘the real job.’ You can’t really make it on Bowen wages.” With this perspective, she says what excites her about the NDP platform is their plans for the economy and jobs. “Our jobs plan ties in with affordable housing, we’re planning on building 114,000 units,” says Livaja. “A mix of rental, social, co-ops and market units... just to get people into homes.” The NDP jobs plan, she adds, sees the construction business booming as under their leadership, the government would invest in a host of new infrastructure projects including hospitals, roads and schools. When it comes to the liquid natural gas (LNG) export industry in BC, Livaja says her
party is on-board, and has also said yes to the Woodfibre project. “This is with the recognition that there are stringent conditions that have been set by the Squamish Nation that need to be met on the project,” she says. “If not, then it is a no-go. I do suspect that they will be met, as the company has been working very respectfully with the Nation.” When questioned on the economic viability of LNG, and amount of jobs the Woodfibre project would actually bring to for people in the Sea to Sky region, Livaja says she does not see these factors impacting the NDP decision. “There are no guarantees in there that jobs will be for British Columbians,” says Livaja. “I would hope this would impact whether the project moves forward, but I don’t think so. I wouldn’t want to give false hope to the people in this riding.” When asked about ferry services, Livaja points to the NDPs plan to reduce rates on all minor routes by 15%. When asked whether the NDP would re-instate service to its 2014 levels, she said she hadn’t heard any conversation on that particular topic.
On Monday evening, Julie Vik (right) hosted an open-house for Sea to Sky NDP candidate Michelle Livaja. Livaja’s husband Steve, is on the left. Meribeth Deen, photo