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CRD’s Gary Holman Offers LCC 101 – Answers About our Local Community Commission
November 18, 2022: Twenty Salt Springers joined us for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring conversation with CRD’s Gary Holman with a focus on our soon-to-be-established Local Community Commission (LCC). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spoke briefly about some news from the CRD Board. He noted that our recent local election had resulted in a great deal of turnover, resulting in many new faces around the CRD Board table. Concerning our proposed budget requisition, to be approved March 2023, in addition to those already announced, the CRD/Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) negotiations may result in additional requisition increases:https://cupe.ca/capital-regional-district-workers-bc-reach-tentative-agreement). Homeowner assessments…
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Anchored Freighters, Review of the Islands Trust Act, and Housing Woes – A Conversation with Adam
November 4, 2022: Fourteen gathered to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and his team, Constituent Advocate William Kelly, and BC Green Caucus team member Federico Cerani. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam told us that the Legislature was closed for two weeks, allowing him to focus on his constituent activities. We learned that Adam was not surprised by the outcome of the BC NDP leadership race: (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/david-eby-bc-premier-first-100-days-1.6624944), but he was not pleased by the process, resulting, in his opinion, in a confused and chaotic legislative session. With a limited time before the Fall legislative session adjourns, the BC NDP House Leader, Hon. Mike…
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Whatever is the Salt Spring Active Transportation Network Plan and Why Should You Care?
October 28, 2022: Although it took a while for all to gather, 14 joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation welcoming CRD’s Transportation Manager, John Hicks. He came to tell us about the soon-to-be-released SSI Active Transportation Plan as well as listening to our concerns about cycling and pedestrian safety in our village. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began to learn about this plan. John is the perfect one to help us to better understand it for a variety of reasons: We learned that the goal of this plan is to offer clear, actionable recommendations to improve the safety for pedestrians and cyclists in…
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Election 2022 Behind Us. . . .Where to From Here?
October 21, 2022: A different gathering, we did not welcome any guests this week as our scheduled guest, Trustee Laura Patrick, was on a well-earned holiday. Despite missing Islands Trust input, this ASK Salt Spring gathering resulted in a rich conversation about the recent local election and our hopes for Salt Spring’s next four years. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began by discussing the Islands Trust. While some were surprised by the election of Jamie Harris, others reminded us that he represents a very important segment of our island population, a voice that may not have been previously adequately represented. Participants saw the…
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HarbourWalk and Better BC Ferries Service. . . Progress in the Near Future?
October 14, 2022: Only 11 came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming all three CRD candidates, Jesse Brown, Kylie Coates, and incumbent Gary Holman. Was it our new location? Maybe the lovely sunny day was too tempting for too many? Or – had folks already decided how to cast their vote for our next Electoral Director? Despite the low numbers, our time together touched a variety of our most important issues, and participants had plenty of questions to fill the time :). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, each candidate began by telling us a bit about themselves and why they thought that they…
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ASK Salt Spring: A Year in Retrospect
October 7, 2022: Why: ASK Salt Spring, born with a big bang of a party on October 4, 2019, is now beginning its third year of weekly gatherings. Born from the clear frustrations experienced by too many when seeking answers to even simple questions, its mission is to give Islanders the opportunity to ask questions, listen to those of others, and engage in respectful conversations about the issues most important to them. Our complex governance has resulted in confusion about who does what as well as too many areas of either gaps, overlap, or duplication. ASK Salt Spring is an attempt to bridge silos by providing…
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Is MLA Adam Olsen Right – Is the Province Ignoring Salt Spring?
October 7, 2022: While 11:00 came with very few gathered in our new location – the Lobby of the Middle School – to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and his able staff, Laura Parker and Emily Bishop, soon 17 had arrived to ask Adam questions and discuss the issues most important to them. When we began by asking Adam to tell us what excites and delights him, we learned about the joy of his reconnection to the sea. He spoke with pleasure of his Day of Truth and Reconciliation spent with his father fishing and rekindling that long tradition of a deep connection to…
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Climate Action Report 2023: A Wake-Up Call for Salt Spring
October 3, 2023: In our recent ASK Salt Spring gathering, 16 community members welcomed Transition Salt Spring (TSS) volunteers Bryan Young (Chair) and Mary Ackenhusen, who shared their findings on the Salt Spring Island Climate Action Report Card 2023/24. Their insights shed light on our community’s critical challenges regarding climate change. Mary Ackenhusen began by welcoming everyone and setting the stage by reminding us of the significant groundwork TSS laid between 2019 and 2021 with the Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP). Mary underscored the importance of more than just having a plan; it’s about putting it into practice and assessing its real impact. Bryan Young…
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Roads 101 – a Conversation with our Ministry Area Manager
September 23, 2022: Fourteen gathered in the United Church Meadow (for the last time: see below for news of our new location!) to welcome our Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) Area Manager, Owen Page. Although he has only been our Area Manager since this spring, he offered us a wealth of information at this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned a bit about Owen’s scope of responsibility as our Roads Area Manager. While we all believe that Salt Spring should be his most important responsibility, we learned that he coordinates MoTI initiatives for a large area, including all the…
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Five Candidates’ Solutions for Weighty Islands Trust Issues
September 16, 2022: Twenty-five, including five of the seven candidates for Salt Spring’s two Islands Trustee positions, gathered in the United Church Meadow to discuss the Islands Trust and candidates’ plans if they are elected. (Note: Election day is Saturday, October 15, but you also have two advanced polling opportunities on Wednesday, October 5 and 12, 8-8 at the Library, Community Gospel Chapel, and a Saanich location 🙁https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/how-we-are-governed/elections-other-voting/how-and-where-to-vote). Candidates Islands Trust for our local election are: If you would like to see the nomination documents and some biographies of our Islands Trust candidates, please see: (https://islandstrust.bc.ca/about-us/governance/2022-local-election/).(Note: While only five of the seven…