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By Richard Hughes, on April 28, 2013, at 3:18 pm Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger
Our South Cowichan CVRD Directors, Gerry Giles, Mike Walker and Bruce Fraser have embarked on a foolish tact regarding the unorthodox methods being used to implement the enabling bylaws for the South Cowichan OCP.
The Bylaws are to be brought before the residents for consideration, discussion, in some cases rejection, in others acceptance.
As it stands now the bylaws are being tweaked, yanked, expanded and altered to the point that the residents do not have a clear picture of what is in fact the their status, what has been changed and how it does or does (Read more…)
By Richard Hughes, on April 17, 2013, at 1:20 pm Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes- Political Blogger
“You Are Being Rezoned”
CVRD Bylaws Change Will Reduce Your Property Use Options!
Shawna Meade caught wind of drastic CVRD rezoning efforts that were being undertaken to bring the zoning into compliance with the South Cowichan Official Community Plan.
That was enough for her and soon she was going door to door passing out a leaflet spelling out the drastic changes that would take the rural out of South Cowichan.
South Cowichan Zoning Was Going To Ban Roosters!
It was not long before the phones were ringing and the emails were flying.A
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Hey CVRD! KEEP IT RURAL eh!
By Richard Hughes, on March 30, 2013, at 7:27 pm
Dave Hutchinson of the ‘Shawnigan Focus’ sent this gem along
Yesterday, a friend mentioned Robert Baden-Powell, the man who founded the Scouting Movement in the early 1900s. We were discussing community diversity and wondering what motivates people to act during times of crisis. She reminded me of the core values of that organization, which are enduringly appropriate.
We all need to do our best, be true to ourselves, and to take action for a better world.Thank you to everyone who attended the Protest Rally today in the Village at 1pm. Your presence will make a difference.
Happy Easter
By Richard Hughes, on March 29, 2013, at 3:01 am Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes- Political Blogger
The ‘Friends of the Shawnigan Watershed’ a Cowichan BC Liberal Front Group, is trying to elbow its’ way into an already crowded field of those protesting the threat faced to the Shawnigan Watershed, Creek, Lake and drinking water.
This latest threat has loomed over the Shawnigan residents and environment for over a year and has grabbed the attention of CT Group, The Shawnigan Ratepayers, The Shawnigan Creek Protection Association, One Cowichan, the Shawnigan Watershed Roundtable, and the Shawnigan Basin Society and of course the residents of Shawnigan.
So , Kazam! Overnight they form a group. I wonder why they
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: BC Liberal Front Group Led by Chamber President Mke Hanson Is A Last Gasp Effort
By Richard Hughes, on March 23, 2013, at 8:52 pm
By Richard Hughes, on March 9, 2013, at 2:37 pm The CVRD has the authority over land use. They failed to enforce their bylaw or draw up another to protect the Shawnigan Watershed.
Word has it that the Ministry of Environment has announced that a draft approval of the SIA proposal to dump five million tonnes of contaminated soil into the Shawnigan Lake Watershed is about to be issued.
The CVRD fumbled, bumbled and embraced the illusion that they could, as Shawnigan Director Bruce Fraser insisted, collaborate with Liberal Environment Minister Terry Lake to resolve the threat to the Shawnigan Watershed.
For reasons incomphrehensible to everyone but those who cluster around the
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Shawnigan Watershed Threatened While Director Fraser Fiddles
By Richard Hughes, on February 19, 2013, at 6:25 pm Richard Hughes-Political Blogger
The other day I wrote a piece about cell phone reception, dead spots, and the controversy that can swirl around these things.
I later learned that Director Giles had come out swinging at a ‘Electoral Area Services Meeting’ as she had done some time back, against such a proposal citing health risks and the unpleasant aesthetics of the towers.
Soon shoppers will be able to call home on their cell phones from Country Grocer!
Well that was then but surprise, surprise a change of heart and an endorsement for a smaller tower to be installed behind Rona’s Hardware
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: CVRD Director Gerry Giles Has Endorsed A Cell Phone Tower For Cobble Hill!
By Richard Hughes, on February 6, 2013, at 5:19 pm Richard Hughes-Political Blogger
I heard that Shawnigan’s Director Bruce Fraser held a little meeting at the Shawnigan Community Centre the other night, ostensibly to discuss the future of the old ‘Williams Farm property’ situated on Cameron Taggart Road.
About 30 residents showed up to see a another farce of public process take place, thinly disguised as ‘consultation.’ The CVRD controlled the answers and choices available in what appears to be a ‘hurry up’ move to liquidate the lands and put it behind them.
Honest to God, have these CVRD Director’s learned nothing from their prolonged cock up over the
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Why is the CVRD in a rush to sell off Eco Depot Lands on Cameron Taggart Road?
By Richard Hughes, on February 4, 2013, at 5:03 pm
Time To Put The Past Behind Us And Move On
The Citizen
Friday, February 01, 2013
With the process now underway to sell off the property that was bought in anticipation of building the now-defunct Eco Depot in the South End, we hope civility can reign.
The fight over the Eco Depot got ugly.
Very, very ugly. Lines were drawn between the Cowichan Valley Regional District and a group of residents passionately against the plan.
There were angry words and letters and even vandalism.
A lawsuit added to the swirling miasma of mistrust and adversarial relationships. A slate of anti-Eco
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Out of Touch Cowichan Citizen Editorial Shows Callous Disregard For The Community
By Richard Hughes, on January 6, 2013, at 8:13 pm Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
Our local CVRD government has often been the target of this blog. Their performance has been costly and dismal. I had a front row seat as an elected regional director representing Cobble Hill at the Cowichan Valley Regional District Board Table from 1993 until I stepped down in 2002.
I offer my cut of things from the perspective of having been there.
As a past director I can tell you that it was often a loud and noisy forum of exchange between competing notions and values it was a comparatively functional democratic body that is a marked contrast
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Cowichan Valley Residents Deserve Better!
By Richard Hughes, on January 3, 2013, at 8:43 pm The hottest selling shirt in the Cowichan Valley
Dara Quast – Community Activist
The bitter sweet victory of the court decision confirming that the CVRD did not have the legal authority to erect a waste transfer station on agricultural land in the bucolic area of Cameron Taggart is rewarding for the community that had to work so hard to get it. From the very beginning there was no question that the proposed ECO DEPOT project was a misguided attempt to circumvent the wishes of the people, the bylaws of the area and the CVRD Board’s responsibilities to the people they
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: The CVRD Eco Depot Court Case-A Bittersweet Victory
By Richard Hughes, on January 3, 2013, at 3:28 am Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger
There will be much said and much written about our out of touch CVRD Politicians and their misdirected staff over their blatant misuse of public funds and their arrogant conduct regarding the ill fated Eco Depot project.
For tonight here is Peter Rusland’s account in the Cowichan News Leader.
Cowichan Conversations will unravel the story and the shine the light on the shameful conduct of the majority of CVRD Director’s led by former Chair of the CVRD-Cobble Hill Director Gerry Giles and the highly paid CVRD CAO and Adminstrator Warren Jones.
Heads should roll over this, heads
By Richard Hughes, on December 12, 2012, at 3:39 pm Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
The BC Community Charter provides an Alternative Approval Process for local government to essentially do an end run around taxpayers for projects that appeal to the elected officials but that require some form of consent. It is a sham of the first order and everyone, especially those affected taxpayers know it. The very ‘Orwellian’ name is a lie because in fact it is a petition of sorts but the named process could easily be misunderstood to mean that it is a process of approval rather than disapproval, opposition or dissent.
Have you ever heard a politician when
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Alternative Approval Process (AAP) Is A Disgraceful Assault Against Taxpayers
By Richard Hughes, on December 2, 2012, at 7:25 pm Don Maroc
Journalists and bloggers spend a lot of time tearing the hide off politicians for doing what seem to be (and often are) stupid things with taxpayers money.
Being elected to be in change of the public treasury sometimes seems to cause an instant virtual lobotomy, but then sometimes we are pleasantly surprised to find we have made a mistake and our choices at the ballot box show signs of being remarkably responsible and far- sighted.
Our Regional Board politicians have been told by the planning staff that they must make plans for replacing or seriously renovating our much
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: The Brilliance of Regional Politics
By Richard Hughes, on November 25, 2012, at 5:45 pm When you recall the cavalier attitude displayed by the North Cowichan Mayor and Council when it came to the North Cowichan Municipal Hall upgrades and the associated costs it is difficult to accept their tight fisted response to a staff call to condu… . . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: North Cowichan Council as Christmas Grinches
By Richard Hughes, on November 6, 2012, at 11:26 am Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes – Political Blogger The CVRD spending has shown what happens when happens when our elected officials are allowed to freely spend our tax dollars without meaningful restraint or accountability. The lack of accounta… . . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: CVRD Spending Is Out Of Control!
By SharonJ, on September 24, 2012, at 3:35 pm It is time for all of us to stand up and start screaming, “We aren’t going to take it any more!”
Last Tuesday, September 18th, the CVRD was notified of an application to bring 1,450 truck loads of contaminated soil from the Canadian Forces Base in Esquimalt to The Evans Pit on Koksilah Road near Duncan. Without waiting for a local response, the application was approved on Friday the 21st. Three days. Three freaking days.
Upon examination of the application, it states that the soil relocation start date was August 15th and it is due to be completed
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: More Victoria Contaminated Soil Dumped in Cowichan
By Richard Hughes, on September 15, 2012, at 2:29 pm The CVRD has the authority over land use. Will they draw up a bylaw that protects the Shawnigan Watershed, or not?
The Assistand Deputy Minister of Environment Jim Standiford has written what appears to be a form letter to those who inquire South Island Aggregates (SIA) application to dump 5 million tons of contaminated soil in the Shawnigan Watershed.
Here it is in part…
…the Ministry will not endorse a Contaminated Soil Relocation Agreement unless the soil to be relocated meets the applicable land use standards in the Contaminated Sites Regulation for the receiving site.
While the Cowichan Valley
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: CVRD Bylaws Will Not Protect the Shawnigan Watershed! So Bring In A New One!
By Richard Hughes, on September 11, 2012, at 6:39 pm Joseph (Larry) Gollner-CT Group
On 27 June, Warren Jones, the Chief Administrative Officer of the CVRD finally delivered his report on the failure of the CVRD Eco Depot venture. The report largely blamed the failure on public opposition with attention paid to the Citizens Together Group (CT Group) and earlier F.A.R.M.S Group, and padded these accusations with lame excuses.
The Cowichan Valley taxpayer has cause for concern with the use of tax dollars to pursue such ventures. The land that the CVRD purchased on Cameron Taggart Road was zoned ‘agriculture’ and not for industrial use. More
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: CT Group Comment on the CVRD’s Ill Fated Eco-Depot Controversy
By Richard Hughes, on September 5, 2012, at 12:39 am Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger
Larry Woodruff is a Shawnigan Resident with strong feelings and opinions about local governance. He has sent them along to Cowichan Conversations, Cowichan Valley Citizen and the Cowichan News Leader.
In two years no one in our political arena of the CVRD or North Cowichan wants to face reality. It makes me sick to hear the rhetoric at election time only to see the short term memories of politicians prevail when decisions have to be made.
North Cowichan and Duncan made a decision to build a new pool, they gave a price, and their voters
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Enough Cowichan Regional Nonsense
By Richard Hughes, on August 27, 2012, at 4:53 pm Rob Douglas is a Cowichan Valley activist very instrumental in organizing a series of meetings regarding Cooperatives in the Valley. Here is his latest column written for the Cowichan News Leader and reproduced here with his permission.
Participatory Democracy has been practiced in many areas throughout the world and was the foundation of the Rossland City Council deliberations for many years.
Could it work here? Of course, but do not expect the present crop of politicians to embrace it. Can you imagine the CVRD Board actually asking taxpayer residents what they would like to spend money on?
Perhaps in North
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: North Cowichan Budgeting Should Be Participatory
By Richard Hughes, on August 22, 2012, at 5:46 pm Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger
I’ll betcha that the lawyers just love this litigious CVRD Board. Now they are suing Fisher Road Recycling for allowing commercial packers to bring in recyclables and compostables which of course contribute to reducing the waste stream.
Wasn’t that the CVRD Directors pitch, driving towards Zero Waste? Oh yes but that was only if they did it and got credit for it.
Never forget that there are some around that CVRD Board Table with the goal to drive Fisher Road Recycling out of business so that they can once again piss away millions of our tax dollars and build their
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: The Lawyers Just Love Our CVRD Directors!
By Richard Hughes, on August 2, 2012, at 11:42 pm Shawnigan CVRD Director Bruce Fraser
Well that is what this lengthy treatise says, here and there, when you search for it, sort of.
So now staff must cobble together a bylaw which should not take them long, and jam it through with the same force that was employed with their Eco Depot effort.
Every effort should be made to have it passed before MOE deliberates on the South Island Aggregate Application August 20th.
Will the CVRD’s slow bicycle race approach result in MOE deciding on the 20th to award the licence to SIA to bring in 5 million tons of
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: CVRD Sends message to the BC Government.-Keep your contaminated soil out of our watershed.
By Richard Hughes, on August 1, 2012, at 11:46 am Uncovered, unattended & abandoned!
Richard Hughes Poitical Blogger
Is it possible for this group of CVRD politicians to actually get it right for a change? The community has once again had to organize in efforts to wake this sleepy crew from sleepwalking through yet another debacle.
Are they actually trying to protect the communities Shawnigan Watershed, Creek and of course Shawnigan Lake or are they bobbing and weaving in efforts to accommodate the South Island Aggregates application to dump 5 million tons of contaminate waste on their Stebbings Road property?
So far they have once again shown us a level of incompetence,
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: The CVRD Must Stop Contaminated Waste Being Dumped In Our Watershed! Will They?
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