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A Party in the Meadow to Welcome Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming and Staff
June 2, 2023: The atmosphere at the ASK Salt Spring gathering in the Mouat’s Meadow (one time location) had a celebratory party atmosphere, markedly-different from our more serious times together each Friday. Energized by enthusiastic cyclists, led by the Island Pathways Cycling Group, there were toddlers and preschoolers on tiny bikes cavorting, smoothies, and a huge carrot cake graciously-donated by County Grocer and proclaiming The Chamber Welcomes ASK Salt Spring. What was different? Once again, our MLA, Adam Olsen, brought a special guest to his regular monthly visit to us: Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI), Rob Fleming. Normally accurately reporting how many gather…
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Are We Actually on the Verge of Crafting a Solution to our Housing Crisis?
May 26, 2023: Thirty gathered to welcome Salt Spring Solutions board members, Elizabeth FitzZaland and Mairi Welman, for a discussion of their recently-released housing paper, Homes for Islanders — An Integrated Housing Solutions Framework for Salt Spring Island (https://www.saltspringsolutions.com/). After their Territorial Acknowledgement, we were all asked: How many of you have read our report? A significant number had, in fact, read it. Mairi then offered the context around the creation of Homes for Islanders. Last year, despite a rather significant effort by the volunteers of Salt Spring Solutions to raise public awareness about the housing issues on our island and actively campaigning for Bylaw 530 approval,…
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Ten Local Community Commission Candidates: Ten Opinions and a Rich Conversation
May 19, 2023: Thirty – including 10 Local Community Commission (LCC) candidates – came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to discuss LCC and CRD issues. Candidates who joined us were: Gayle Baker, Kylie Coates, Ben Corno, David Courtney, Lloyd Cudmore, Nejmah Guermoudi, Eric G. Marsh, Jenny McClean, Earl Rook, and Brian Webster. *** Ben and Jenny needed to leave for work before 1:00.*** (Each of these candidates had an opportunity to review the comments attributed to them and edit as needed. They all understand that this ASK Salt Spring report with their comments will be published on the Exchange.) After her Territorial Acknowledgement, our facilitator,…
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Trash, Effluent, and Biosolids. . . Lots to Learn About this Dirty Topic
May 12, 2023: Eleven welcomed CRD Electoral Director, Gary Holman, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary begin by telling us about three recent decisions by the CRD Board that have implications for Salt Spring. 1) Housing: Some of you may recall that there was a late proposal at the CRD Board to further increase the 2023 requisition by $85 million for regional affordable housing initiatives. The current CRD Regional Housing budget of $40 million – increased to $120 million through leveraged partnerships with BC Housing and CMHC – has all been committed. (This funding created 1,700-1,800 new units, about 350…
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Adam Speaks With Us About Housing. . .Will Provincial Legislation Impact Salt Spring?
May 5, 2023: Seventeen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Adam Olsen. We were also pleased to welcome his staff, Laura Parker, Outreach Coordinator, and legislative assembly Interns Kayla Brent and Jacob Schoeber. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam spoke briefly about interns Jacob and Kayla, telling us that they are integral parts of the BC Green Caucus team, often participating in and contributing to highly confidential conversations. When we began by asking Adam what excites and delights him, he responded that there were only four days left in the Legislative session, beginning the longest break in the year. While he welcomes…
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Workforce Housing. . . How Can we “Work as One to Get it Done?”
April 28, 2023: After ourTerritorial Acknowledgement, we dove into a rich conversation about Workforce Housing, with no single special guest but all 18 of us offering differing levels of expertise, passion, and creative thinking. It was a rich conversation! We began by agreeing not to discuss Islands Trust bylaws and initiatives as Trustee Laura Patrick was disappointed not to be able to join us. While we also spoke with appreciation about the recently-released Salt Spring Solutions’ housing study, we also agreed to postpone a more detailed discussion until the ASK Salt Spring gathering May 26, 11-1, when Salt Spring Solutions Directors will join us as our…
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So Adam, Why Doesn’t the Province Give Us Everything We Think We Deserve?
April 21, 2023: Twelve gathered to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and William Kelly to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. In his Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam also spoke briefly of his joy with all the connections he observes at SIMS – the Saltspring Island Multi-Space, the former Middle School. He loves to see all the children activities and is excited by all the different groups sharing space – and making those invaluable connections. Speaking of invaluable connections, Adam told us a bit about his visit with Green Party MLA colleague Sonia Furstenau to Red Fish Healing Centre, offering co-located mental health and addiction programs, (http://www.bcmhsus.ca/our-services/provincial-integrated-mental-health-addiction-programs/red-fish-healing-centre/model-of-care). Seemingly…
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Can We “Work as One and Get it Done?”
April 14, 2023: Only nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming CRD’s Gary Holman. In response to my apologies for low numbers, Gary wryly responded that he would take this as an acknowledgement that CRD was, well. . . .quite perfect :). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, which concluded in Gary noting that he was hopeful for the trend of reverting management of large tracts of Crown land to First Nations, we asked him what excited and delighted him. While he would not go so far as characterizing it as delight, it was clear that the just-concluded Fulford Water District meeting was on his mind.…
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Navigating Challenges and Changes at Lady Minto Hospital with Courage and Enthusiasm
March 17, 2023: A total of 15 joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering for all or part of the time to welcome , Erin Price-Lindstrom, recently replacing Sara Gogo, (now leading the Tofino hospital) as the Site Director of Lady Minto Hospital, (https://ladymintofoundation.com/news/the-road-ahead-lady-minto-hospitals-new-site-director-discusses-challenges-and-opportunities/). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Erin spoke briefly of the challenges and opportunities in her multi-hat position, stretching to include, the operational oversight of our hospital, the outer Gulf Islands, and ensuring critical liaison with Island Health initiatives. Beginning with her first day, in September 2022, this position has been marked by change as well as the recognition that her leadership through much…
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Details of a Worrisome CRD Budget Increase of 5.6% that Could Soar to 7.6%. Why? Keep Reading. . . .
March 10, 2023: Twelve Salt Springers joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome CRD Director Gary Holman. While participants could ask anything, the focus of our conversation was the CRD 2023 Budget. (For details, see below: CRD Requisition Summary 2023.) After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spent a considerable time walking us through some of the most important details of the $7.6 million dollar Salt Spring 2023 tax requisition (excluding fees for some services such as transit, and also data for area-specific water and sewer utilities). Provisionally approved in September 2022, the final budget – with some increases in the intervening months – is…