Greens dropped ridings to avoid vote splitting … ???

by George Le Masurier | Apr 16, 2025

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Greens dropped ridings to avoid vote splitting … ???

C omox Valley voters will have several opportunities to watch and listen to the candidates for the Oct. 17 local government election

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A grassroots movement to form neighbourhood associations is growing in Comox

Last year’s process to update the Town of Comox’s Official Community Plan has spawned several new neighbourhood associations determined to protect their character and quality of life from inappropriate developments. And it has energized individuals to participate in the current municipal elections

Our recommendations for Cumberland, CVRD and CV Schools trustees

Comox Valley voters started casting their ballots yesterday, the first day of advance voting for the Oct. 17 municipal election. Voting continues today on Denman and Hornby and on Saturday in Comox. Decafnation has published its list of recommended candidates in all jurisdictions of Comox Valley races. Click the banner at the top of this page.

Courtenay challengers finally clam up about city finances

Challengers for City of Courtenay council seats have wailed for months about taxes and over spending. Finally, they clammed up.

Four first-time candidates seek council positions in Comox

From a law firm partner, to the DFO Regional Manager, to a Certified Change Agent to an architectural firm manager, four first-time well-qualified candidates seek council seats in the Town of Comox. These are the new faces hoping to win seats in the Oct. 17 municipal election.

Courtenay, Cumberland candidates respond to our seven-part questionnaire

So many candidates, so little time and opportunity to get to know them. With 47 people seeking mayors’s chairs or council seats, deciding who to vote for can boggle the mind. Don’t worry. The Decafnation traditional candidate questionnaire continues today with the responses from Courtenay and Cumberland candidates.

Municipal candidates hear about Comox Valley’s most pressing social issues

Candidates running in the Oct. 17 local government elections had the opportunity to hear first-hand from Comox Valley organizations on the front line of our most pressing social issues.

What does your vision of Comox look like? Six storey buildings down Comox Avenue?

Citizen concerns about increasing allowable building heights to six storeys are fueling this year’s emerging Town of Comox election issues — growth and community identity. Will the Comox of the future still have a small town feel or will it look like White Rock?

The City of Courtenay has chopped its total debt in half from 2012 to 2026

Here’s yet another way to understand the City of Courtenay’s financial management. The incumbent council has cut the the city’s total debt in half since 2012 and reduced its debt per capital by 64.7 percent during the same period. That’s fewer tax dollars spent on debt payments.

Provincial general election feels imminent — will the writ drop this week?

There are lots of signs pointing to Premier David Ebby calling for a BC general election as early as later this week. MLA Brennan Day will make an announcement in the next few days about whether he’ll run as an independent. And Courtenay Councillor Will Cole-Hamiltion withdrew his municipal re-election bid last Friday.

Courtenay’s controversial Sixth Street Bridge: Whose idea was it?

The idea for a pedestrian and cycling bridge at Sixth Street originated about 40 years ago and followed a roller coaster ride to completion. It might have never been built without the persuasive pleading from Downtown businesses in 2019. An effusive thumbs up from mayoral candidate Manno Theos might have helped, too.

Island group urges NDP vote to stop Conservatives

by George Le Masurier | Apr 13, 2025

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Island group urges NDP vote to stop Conservatives

A growing coalition of over 140 Vancouver Island residents has called for strategic voting in the North Island-Powell River and Courtenay-Alberni ridings to block the Conservatives and reject Aaron Gunn’s divisive politics.

The coalition says in a new release that they encourage voters to stop the Conservatives by voting for the NDP who are the incumbent party in both ridings and are historically strong on Vancouver Island. This recommendation is backed by independent strategic-voting sites such as votewell.ca and smartvoting.ca.

The release was signed by a diverse group of community members, organizations, and Indigenous leaders from across North Island-Powell River and Courtenay-Alberni ridings.

National media narratives may lead people to assume that voting Liberal will stop the Conservatives. However, this assumption does not reflect the local realities on Vancouver Island. Increased support for the Liberals on Vancouver Island will split the progressive vote. If the Liberals do well this will most likely elect Gunn.

The network encourages Liberal, Green, Conservative, and non-voters from the last election to vote NDP.

In the coming weeks, members of the grassroots network say they will mobilize to get out the vote through door knocking, phone calling, and peer-to-peer engagement.

To get involved, the public can go here, or here.