Out and About with Stewart

Sunbathing and swimming for some......muskrat, Mallards, Coot, Turtles, GoldenEye

Michael's Musings

Political earthquake may loom as British Columbia voters decide fate of BC Liberals

By Michael J. Morris

Premier Christy Clark may have been trying  to avoid a political earthquake for the BC Liberals when she commented recently that "earthquakes don't wait until elections are over."  According to media reports, the premier made the statement when asked why it was so important to provide funds to improve earthquake resistance at eight schools in British Columbia just days before the May 14 provincial election is called.

As is usual prior to elections, cabinet ministers were also fanning out across the province with "good news" announcements using the benefit of incumbency, perhaps, to help the BC Liberals get re-elected.

Perhaps, because if the results of the most recent Angus Reid poll hold showing the BC Liberals trailing the BC NDP led by Adrian Dix by 20 points, and if Ms Clark fails to improve her own popularity which shows her tied with the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador with 25 per cent approval ratings, the BC Liberals may indeed suffer from an earthquake as the voters turf them out.

Whatever happens, I am fascinated by BC politics and was before I moved here almost 24 years ago. Before I moved friends cautioned me, depending on their political persuasion with statements such as "Someone is always on strike out there"; "The socialist hordes want to take over"; "The Bible belters run the province"; "If you are NDP, they won't even speak to you", "Politics is a blood sport there" and so on.

Well, my friends were at partially correct on all counts as I have heard those and more since my arrival.

Just the other day someone tweeted regarding the upcoming election, "It will be brutal, nasty and ugly."

Mr. Dix has promised to run a positive campaign  but we shall see what happens.

Let me comment on the statements above as I have experienced them.

Shortly after I joined the faculty at College of the Rockies, then East Kootenay Community College, an NDP provincial government was elected, and selfish person I am, I breathed a sigh of relief -- no strikes I thought. Wrong!

I was elected as the first faculty representative to the college board of governors, and soon was faced with a monumental decision. The faculty was going on strike as it could not reach an agreement with the NDP government. I had been elected to the board of governors by the faculty but once there walked a thin line between my responsibility to those who put me there and the broader interests of the college.

After much soul searching I decided to support the faculty and my colleagues on the board understood -- all of whom had been appointed by the NDP government. I also made the same decision when the CUPE local went on strike.

So much for love affairs between the BC NDP and public sector unions.

I have never been sure exactly who those "socialist hordes" were, but I can only conclude they may include the "NDP turds" to whom Bill Bennett, the current Member of the Legislature for Kootenay East was referring in a much reported tweet by most media, except in his own riding.

The Huffington Post, based in the United States,  even reported on it, including the full text" "I am with the BCL caucus tonight. Strange everyone seems to be getting along OK. Come on ndp turds. Bring it".  Mr. Bennett was forced to apologize in the legislature.

I really don't know if the Bible belters run the province but I assume that if they at least have a prominent say, they include Stockwell Day, former Alberta and federal cabinet minister who announced he was endorsing the BC Liberals for re-election. Apparently, some MLAs drop by to see their pastors when they screw up on political matters.

As far as being NDP and not having people speak to me, I wouldn't know not being a member of any political party since I moved here. I much prefer to live on Bruce Hutchison's "far side of the street". Interestingly though, Hutchison, a really great Canadian journalist, from Ontario, moved to Victoria and wrote about the "unknown country" that is Canada.

Yes, I believe politics in the province is more or less a blood sport. You are either "one of us" as Mr. Bennett's campaign ads suggests, or I assume you are not, and never the twain shall meet. The ad says that "Bill is one of us" whoever us is, but it is assuredly not them!

I leave you with a thought from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: "'But I don't want to go among mad people,' said Alice. 'Oh, you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here.'"

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

What's Happening

Thursday April 11th

Film | The Clean Bin Project

April 11th at 7:30 pm, COTR Lecture Theatre, Cranbrook, By Donation

In this award-winning film, partners Jen and Grant go head to head in a competition to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least garbage. Their light-hearted competition is set against a darker examination of the problem waste. Wildsight brings the Clean Bin Challenge to Cranbrook in May so this is your chance to see the film that started it all.

Friday April 12

Official Opening of Norma Blissett's NDP Campaign Office

Everyone Welcome, Begins at 3:30pm

16A-11th Avenue South

Office # 250-426-0014

Cake and refreshments

Enchanted April
Cranbrook Community Theatre is presented 
Enchanted April directed b Terry Miller.
Beings April 12&13, 17-20, and 24-27
Studio Stage Door, 11-11th Avenue South
Tickets are available at Studio Stage Door

The Cranbrook and District Restorative Justice Society 
is sponsoring a workshop April 12, 13, &14 on Mediation Skills Level 1.
Contact Bill Barger for costs and course details.
250-919-5533

Sunday, April 14

East Kootenay Historical Association Meeting
Heritage Inn, Noon
Guest Speaker - Angus Davis

Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary Pancake Breakfast
8:30-11am
711 Kootenay St., Cranbrook
All proceeds to the Cancer Society

Tuesday, April 16

David and Patricia Stock present their 2012 travelogue
"Lost Kingdoms of Nepal, Burma, and Cambodia"
College of the Rockies Lecture Theatre
Admission by donation
Proceeds to Canadian Friends of Nepal support group

The Clean Bin Project Screens in Cranbrook this Thursday

The Clean Bin Project Screens in Cranbrook on Thursday

Is it possible to live completely waste free? Wildsight invites Cranbrook to learn the answer to that question in the entertaining documentary The Clean Bin Project this Thursday. This award-winning documentary tells the story of a young Vancouver couple who challenge themselves to live waste free for an entire year.
“The film speaks to the problem of waste in North America and the responsibility every citizen has to do something about waste - but it’s done in a humorous, optimistic way that leaves you feeling empowered to make a change in your own life,” says Skye McDougall, Wildsight’s Clean Bin Project Coordinator.
In this festival favourite, Jen and Grant go head to head in a competition to swear off consumerism and produce the least garbage. Their light-hearted competition is set against a darker examination of the problem waste. Even as Grant and Jen start to garner interest in their project, they struggle to find meaning in their minuscule influence on the large-scale environmental impacts of our “throw-away society”.
The film will be shown at the College of the Rockies Lecture Theatre on Thursday April 11th at 7:30pm. It is suitable for all ages and admission is by donation .
Described as An Inconvenient Truth meets Super Size Me, The Clean Bin Project features laugh out loud moments, stop motion animations, and unforgettable imagery. Captivating interviews with renowned artist Chris Jordan and TED Lecturer Captain Charles Moore make this film a fun and inspiring call to individual action that speaks to crowds of all ages.
The North Superior Film Association described the film as “Engaging not lecturing. Surprising and delicious humour. Really, really well shot and edited. Ultimately challenging and deeply moving”. They recommend that everyone go “out of your way, way out of your way to see this.”
The film is being shown in advance of Cranbrook’s own Clean Bin Challenge, where participants will compete to reduce their waste and keep their own bins clean during the month of May. Come get inspired to join the challenge!
More information about the film and the project is available at wildsight.ca/cleanbin or by contacting Skye McDougall at Skye@wildsight.ca or 250 427-2535 ext 2.

Sustainability Award

The City of Cranbrook is partnering with Cranbrook Connected and the Cranbrook and District Community Foundation to recognize those who have made an outstanding contribution to the social, arts/cultural, economic or environmental sustainability of our community.

Visit www.cranbrookconnected.ca to link to the application form and eligibility criteria.

Congratulations Good Ol' Goats

Way to Go Goats

It's down to 2

Keep Voting

Go West

Vote Goats
You have until Thursday April 11th
http://music.cbc.ca/#/Searchlight
click graphic to enlarge

graphic from the CBC website

Get Ready for the Clean Bin Project

Waste is a Weighty Issue

The average Cranbrook-area resident produces more than six pounds of garbage every day - that’s more than one tonne per year! Packaging makes up 33 per cent of what we all throw away. Composting can reduce everyday waste by fifty per cent. And if you want to save a tree? Recycle 120lbs of newspaper!

With big numbers like that, reducing our waste is not so hard. Skye McDougall, coodinator for Cranbrook's upcoming Clean Bin project said if residents were aware of the simple things we all can do to help reduce what ends up in landfill, our efforts would make a big impact. “With the three Rs and one C - that’s composting” said McDougall, “we can make huge reductions in our garbage production.”

“As a consumer myself, I know that we all create a lot of garbage,” said McDougall. “The excess packaging used for most products means that tons and tons of garbage ends up in our landfill.”

Wildsight will be showing the film on April 11 at 7:30pm in the COTR lecture theatre to kick of the project.

Pre Notes for the Council Meeting of April 8th, 6:00pm

Delegations

• David Wilks MP Update on 2013 Budget
• Christian Hirn Proposal for a GoCart Facility adjacent to Western Financial Place
• Skye McDougall Climate Solutions for the Kootenays

Administration Updates

https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2898

Corporation

Beekeeping within City Limits

Engineering

Emergency pipeline Repair, Spray Irrigation site

Leisure Services

Bike Skills park progress

Senior Games bid with Kimberley

Public Skating at Western Financial Place

Mount Baker tennis Courts

Special Events Western Financial Place Mixed Martial Arts

Options for Canada Day

Library Services

National Poetry Month

Correspondence

12 items beginning:

9.1 RDEK highlights https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2899

9.10 https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2908

from the Auditor general for Local Government

9.11 https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2909

signage Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Proclamations

National Volunteer Week

Public Works Week

MS Awareness Week

Refugee Rights Day and World Refugee Week

Committee Recommendation

Environment & Utilities Committee

The Environment & Utilities Committee recommends Council direct each Department to review its

Relevant infrastructure capital needs as detailed in the 2012 Asset Management Infrastructure Plan model (AMIP) for inclusiveness, accuracy, cost, service life and priority and to prepare a Strategy Infrastructure Capital Investment Plan covering the 15 year period 2015 to 2029 (SIICIP: 2015-2029) together with a prioritized 3 year Capital Infrastructure Implementation Plan for the period 2015 through 2017 (3CIIP: 2-15-2017); and further, that Council That E&U Committee use the departmental SCIIP and 3CIIP information to generate an integrated 15 year Strategic Infrastructure Investment Capital Plan for the period 2015 through 2029 and 3 year Capital Infrastructure Investment Plan for the period 2015 to 2017.

New Business

12.1 Mayor’s Brown Bag Lunch

https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2916

12.2 To consider a referral from the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch regarding the application of Key City Theatre Society for a Liquor Primary License to serve liquor prior to an event and during intermission

at 20 - 14th Avenue South.

12.3 To consider a referral from the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) to change the home based business regulations in the Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw, Moyie Land Use Bylaw, Fort Steele-Bull River Land Use Bylaw and Wycliffe Zoning Bylaw area of Electoral Area C. The amendments will introduce Minor Home Based Business (Bylaws 2453, 2455, 2457, and 2459) and Major Home Base Business (Bylaws 2454, 2456, 2458 and 2460) categories with associated regulations into each zoning

and land use bylaw.

12.4 To consider renewal of the Cranbrook Transit System Annual Operating Agreement.

12.5 To seek Council's approval of 2013 Council Priorities AND 2013 Administration Initiatives.

https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2920

Bylaws

13.1 To present the Five Year Financial Plan for 2013 to 2017 to Council for three readings.

https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=2921

Real Talk on Climate Change

In the Garden

What's up...

Scilla

Hellebore

Hellebore

Scilla

As the rhubarb emerges it is a good idea to place a large flower pot over the plant.  The leaf stems are drawn to the light source in the bottom (now top) of the pot and it will produce the most tender and delicious stalks of the season.

Rhubarb