Local government directly affects you
For most people, the federal government represents the big picture. How our country compares in the world. The provincial government gets closer to home. It manages ferries, health care issues and more. But local governments most directly impact an individual’s life. Local governments control land use through zoning, property taxes and manage everything from area roads to schools. On this page, you’ll find stories about what local governments are doing and how well they are performing.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Read all the stories here
LINKS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
On Merville groundwater extraction it’s deja vu all over again
Regional district staff recommend approving an amended application for groundwater extraction in Merville as a “home occupation,” but rural area directors want more clarity on its legal definition
Merville water bottling issue returns to the CVRD, highlights provincial water policies
The Comox Valley Electoral Areas Service Commission will consider on Monday an amended application for water bottling operations in Merville and draw attention to larger water policy issues in British Columbia
The Week: Ken Grant fined by Elections BC and Parksville confronted by development, water issues
Another Comox Councillor was fined by Elections BC for violating BC elections laws, plus Parksville’s water supply is unable to meet provincial requirements for summer water flow in the Englishman River let alone provide water for a proposed 800-unit development
Courtenay Council announces its regional district line-up and other appointments
Courtenay City Council’s annual appointments announced after a short delay
The Week: Comox, Cumberland appointments pass, but no word on Courtenay … yet
Cumberland and Comox municipal councils approve their mayor’s annual appointments, but Courtenay was a no show at its inaugural meeting. Is there conflict behind the scenes?
No fireworks as Comox Council approves mayors’ appointments
The newly-elected and the recently re-elected members of the Comox Council were all on the same page at its inaugural meeting this week and confirmed first-time Mayor Nicole Minions’ appointments to the regional board
The Week: Valley councils begin new terms, but will Comox ignore voters?
Dr. Jonathan Kerr topped the polls with voters, but will that resonate at the Comox Town Council as it is poised to approve new Mayor Nicole Minions’ appointments and assignments?
Comox Valley local government elections ramping up for Oct. 15 vote
Comox Valley voters will elect new councilors, mayors, regional district representatives, school board members and Island Trust reps on Oct. 15. Find out who’s running for what … and why. Decafnation returns to shine more light on local government issues and candidates
Blowing smoke: Campaign to overturn wood stove bylaws called misleading, ineffective
The woodstove industry has launched a campaign to overturn restrictive bylaws in the Comox Valley, but local government leaders say they are unmoved and a new study suggests woodstove testing is fatally flawed.
CV Regional District adopts a statement of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
The Comox Valley Regional District has formally recognized its commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in a statement adopted by the board last week
Local governments start their 2021 budgets; who is the CVs highest-paid official?
Decafnation volunteers have compiled key financial information from Comox Valley local government reporting. Are tax increases, policing costs and accumulated surpluses in line with other communities?
Another environmental dilemma: Do biosolids pose a public health risk?
Comox Valley electoral area directors told land applications of biosolids pose a danger to humans and a legal risk for the regional district, but the CVRD has invested heavily to produce a more highly treated Class A composting product
Stotan Falls petition called “trojan horse,” 3L serves notice of logging Jan. 21
Anonymous petition launched to convince Courtenay Council to annex 3L Developments property to save Stotan Falls; critics call the petition a “trojan horse” and urge people not to sign. Meanwhile, 3L notices homeowners it will start logging in two weeks
B.C.’s 150th anniversary provides an opportunity to right a historic wrong
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Paul Manly writes that British Columbia could advance reconciliation with First Nations on southern Vancouver Island next year and at the same time protect watersheds, endangered species and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Comox Valley receives $9.251 million to offset COVID-19 pandemic economic impact
Four Comox Valley local governments received a total of $9.251 million as part of the $425 million BC Restart Grant Program
CVRD starts the process to create a regional parks service, it could take until 2022
With logging threatening several large natural assets, the Comox Valley Regional District voted this week to begin a process to re-activate a regional parks service. It could 12 months or more.
CV governments apply for infrastructure funds to ease pandemic economic recovery
All four Comox Valley governments apply for one-time, 100% provincial funds for ready-to-go infrastructure projects that can create immediate jobs and help communities recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
3L Developments prefers to sell Riverwood land but vows to log it and extract gravel
3L Developments signalled to the Comox Valley Regional District today that it would like to sell its nearly 500 acres of property in the Puntledge Triangle and warned that there was only a small window of opportunity before it proceeds to log the timber and extract gravel from the site