by Larry McCumsey | Aug 1, 2023 | News and Events
As usual, the NIPR riding has a number of festivals of various kinds during the summer months. Your EDA executive is taking advantage of these events to get out and meet people, spread the Green message and just have some fun. On Canada Day we manned the recycling station at the Campbell River pancake breakfast and the kids had a chance to “Go Green”. We also had a booth at the Powell River Canada Day festivities. Look for us at the August 18 Blackberry Festival in Powell River and on August 19 at OrcaFest in Port McNeill. Drop by and say hello. If you’d like to volunteer a bit of your time and help us man our booth at either location shoot us a note at...
by Larry McCumsey | Apr 1, 2023 | News and Events
Spring greetings to you all! Spring is such a time of renewal and, as many gardeners agree at this time of year, ‘last year’s season is over and there’s nothing but potential ahead!’ This past year NIPR Greens, along with Greens across the country, have been thoughtfully planting seeds to ensure the Green values we appreciate and uphold in our lives, have increasing representation in Parliament. These values, along with your participation and support, are needed now more than ever! Please join us in person for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. (please arrive 10 minutes early) at the beautiful Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 Island Hwy, Campbell River. The meeting will be chaired by our CEO, Mark de Bruijn. Our Special Guest Speaker - IN PERSON, following our brief business meeting, is Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. We look forward to greeting you all in person, but for those who can’t make it to the Maritime Heritage Centre, Zoom access will be available online for registrants. The AGM is open to anyone, but only Members are able to vote. Any member can join the Executive team. If you are interested, please contact Mark de Bruijn before April 28. We encourage you to join us! If you are not already a member, this is an excellent opportunity to join or to renew your membership. In order to vote at the AGM, you must be a member for at least 30 days prior, so memberships must be in place before Thursday, April 6, 2023. Buy or renew...
by Larry McCumsey | Feb 3, 2023 | News and Events
It’s cold out there. And on February 25 the Green Party Comox Valley team is going to do something about it. Together with thousands of Canadians across the country, we’re walking and fundraising to support and serve people and families experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger in our community. Please, give generously. We are supporting the Comox Valley Transition Society and Dawn to Dawn. Please support Green Party Comox...
by Larry McCumsey | Jan 16, 2023 | News and Events
Groups announce Feb. 25 rally at provincial legislature, issue declaration calling on the Province to accelerate action for threatened forests. UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES/VICTORIA – More than 160 organizations across British Columbia have issued a declaration called United We Stand for Old-Growth Forests, calling on Premier David Eby and his government to fulfill their commitments on old-growth. Signatories of the declaration, including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the Climate Caucus network of municipal elected leaders, and BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), are urging Eby to follow through on his October 2022 promise to “accelerate” action to protect old-growth forests within 100 days, and implement a paradigm-shift in forest stewardship to safeguard biodiversity. The organizers announced plans for a mass mobilization to hold the province accountable, with a march and rally scheduled for February 25, Eby’s 100th day. “The government’s continued negligence and stonewalling on truly protecting old-growth and elder trees is endemic in its approach to climate change and the stewardship of our environment,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “This feigned ignorance of what is happening to our forests by government and industry will be our downfall, and the impacts of this inaction will prevent us from leaving our future generations with a rich legacy of vibrant, healthy and productive forest lands.” Phillip added. “We must do everything in our power to protect these ancient giants and we cannot stop putting pressure on our governments to do their jobs: to protect us and the environment, not act as timber barons whose only concern is this year’s financial statements.” Despite promising to...
by Larry McCumsey | Jan 13, 2023 | News and Events
In October of this year the Save Our Forests Team highlighted our concern about clear-cutting of the original / old growth forest adjacent to the Mount Washington Parkway at Ramparts Creek / Browns River area with a Letter to the Editor in the COMOX VALLEY RECORD. Mosaic Forest Management is doing the clearcutting and is the forestry arm of Timberwest who actually owns the land. Mosaic has shown itself adept at side stepping issues of biodiversity and sustainability of forests / watersheds by indicating its participation in the industry led Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI). Ecojustice and eight environmental groups have just filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau requesting it conduct an inquiry into false and misleading ‘sustainability’ claims made by the SFI about its sustainable forest certification scheme. Devon Page, executive director, Ecojustice said: “The Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s standard is a greenwashed certification that misleads consumers and fails to protect forests and the environment. This deception needs to stop immediately.” We cannot wait, we must stop this old growth logging NOW. Timberwest was bought in 2011 by provincial pension plans managed by BC Investment Management Corporation (BCi) (teachers, ICBC, BC Hydro, provincial employees) and federal pension plans managed by Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) (civil servants, RCMP, military) for just over $1 billion. This is only a very small proportion of their more than $350 billion invested. These pension plans can afford to take a slightly lower return on this investment to ensure the continued existence of these old growth forests and their associated species. If you are a retired or ongoing member of any of these...
by Larry McCumsey | Oct 26, 2022 | News and Events
Local resident and member of the NIPR Green Party electoral district association executive, Jay Van Oostdam, offers this opinion piece in the Comox Valley Record. He raises the alarm about logging of old growth forest in the Ramparts Creek area beside the Mount Washington road and notes the many impacts that this will have, including putting Comox Valley water security at risk. Comox Valley Record - Sounding the alarm about clearcutting old-growth forests in the Comox...
Current News from the Green Party of Canada