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CRD Releases Details About Our Soon-to-be-Established Local Community Commission
December 9, 2022: As almost no one came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering, the few who came spent the time together swapping stories about our most interesting Salt Spring dramas, none of which will be shared here :). Instead, here is a summary of the just-released Local Community Commission (LCC) Staff Report outlining implementation details. . . .The CRD Board will meet Wednesday, December 14 to discuss a variety of issues, including our soon-to-be-established LCC. For a complete agenda of this meeting and information about connecting virtually, see:https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/crd-document-library/committeedocuments/capitalregionaldistrictboard/20221214/2022-12-14agendapkgrb.pdf?sfvrsn=9d196fce_2. On page 6 of this agenda, there are links to some LCC information including: Some information…
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BC Ferries Managers Come to Salt Spring to Listen and Share – Promising to Come Again Soon!
November 25, 2022: Twenty-five joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Karen Johnson and Emma McWalter from BC Ferries. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned a bit about Karen, Community Engagement Executive Director and Emma, Manager Terminal Strategic Planning, and what excites and delights them. They are both thrilled with the completion of the long-awaited Performance Term 6 (https://www.bcferrycommission.ca/commissioner-begins-price-cap-setting-process-upon-receipt-of-bc-ferries-submission-for-performance-term-6-april-1-2024-to-march-31-2028/). As this is the time for public input, both Karen and Emma encouraged us to add our feedback before March 30, 2023 to help guide those important decisions for Salt Spring’s ferry service. Many of us were not surprised to learn that Salt Spring has been identified as a hot spot,…
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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…