News

HAPPY VAISAKHI!

I invite all Victorians to join me in wishing our Sikh friends and neighbours a very happy Vaisakhi!

Across Canada and around the world, Sikhs celebrate on April 13th the anniversary of Khalsa’s creation – the formal foundation of the Sikh faith.

Members of the faith enrich Canada and enrich our community through their vibrant traditions and commitment to equality and peace.

Happy Vaisakhi!

Denise Savoie, MP

The Honourable John Baird
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
441S Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

RE: Canada Post announcement of operational realignment at Victoria sorting facility

Dear Minister:

I am writing to express my concern about Canada Post’s “operational realignment” in Victoria and would appreciate some further information.

Victoria's Member of Parliament says, when it comes to the mega yacht marina, it's a question of balance.

Speaking on CFAX 1070 with Adam Stirling, Denise Savoie says she's seen the plans that used to be there for a marina and they were never of this magnitude.

While it might help boost profits, the dangers aren't worth the risk
BY BARRY HOBBIS, SPECIAL TO TIMES COLONIST

There are any number of views on the merits of a "mega-yacht" facility being built on the north shore of Victoria's harbour. As a director of Victoria Harbour Ferry Co., I feel compelled to once again voice my concerns with respect to the compromised safety of air and marine operations in the harbour should the project proceed. Our business makes more than 95,000 trips, in excess of 60,000 kilometres, all within harbour waters, in a single season.

The CRD's park plan for the new Sea to Sea regional park has been rejected by the Municipality of Sooke, following requests for access by users of ATVs and other off-road motorized vehicles. The petition below was created by mountain bike activist Daniel Cammiade, a member of the South Island Mountian Bike Society.

The Petition;
We, the undersigned, are opposed to allowing off road motorised vehicle access to the upcoming Sea to Sea Regional Park (Harbourview Rd.).

Sincerely,

http://www.petitiononline.com/not4ohv/petition.html

We the People

On the Soapbox
James Bay Beacon

By Doreen Marion Gee

Marina decision imminent, opposition still strong

The proposal for a mega yacht marina in Victoria's Inner Harbour continues to move through the approval process at all three levels of government.

Victoria MP Denise Savoie says after speaking with Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure John Baird, she thinks a federal decision on use of the waterway is imminent.

The federal decision on the Navigable Waters Protection Act is only one layer of approvals the marina developers would need for the project to go ahead. Municipal and provincial approvals would still be required.

Proposal to have sorting done on mainland will cost jobs, union says
By Lindsay Kines
The Times Colonist

A Canada Post proposal to truck mail from Victoria to Vancouver for sorting and then bring it back here for delivery will lead to job losses and service delays on Vancouver Island, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers warned yesterday.

Union spokesman John Bail urged the public and elected representatives to speak out against the "convoluted" plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Corporation’s scheme to take Island mail to Vancouver expected to result in lost jobs and senseless delays

VICTORIA – Canada Post’s plan to move mail processing from its Victoria plant to the mainland has Victorians fearing job losses and longer wait-times for their mail, and MP Denise Savoie wants the Corporation to reconsider.

By Judith Lavoie
The Times Colonist

Massive opposition by First Nations to Enbridge's proposed pipeline from Alberta to Kitimat means a lawsuit is likely if the project proceeds, lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law warned yesterday.
An unprecedented alliance of more than 150 First Nations, environmental groups, unions and businesses significantly increases legal risks and uncertainty facing the Enbridge project, said Jessica Clogg, executive director of the group.