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COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE
as of March 7, 2014
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
1. Letter from New Westminster City Council dated February 18 to Minister of Transport regarding Canada Post.
February 18, 2014
2. Email with picture from R Krausz dated February 21 regarding offer to give presentation on Zero Waste Initiatives.
February 21, 2014
3. Newsletter from Davis Bay Parkway Society dated February 21.
February 21, 2014
4. Email from D Murray dated February 23, 2014 regarding Immigration Watch Canada.
February 23, 2014
5. Copy of letter from RCMP to SIB dated February 26 regarding Real Property Management Unit.
February 26, 2014
6. Letter from District of West Kelowna to Coralee Oakes dated February 28 regarding Medical Marihuana Farm Status Designation.
February 28, 2014
7. Letter from C Camm dated March 3 regarding Vancouver Coastal Health announcing New President and CEO.
March 3, 2014
4A ' M J I ? ti T O
IT I r T x
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Wayne Wright Mayor February 18, 2014
Honourable Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport 307 Confederation Building House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A0A6
Dear Honourable Lisa Raitt:
Re: Concerns Regarding Recent Amendments to the Canada Postal System
At a meeting February 3; 2014, New Westminster City Council passed the following resolution;
WHEREAS local governments in Canada have a direct financial interest in the security and stability of Canada's postal system, to ensure reliable communications with rate-payers and certainty in the timely payment of taxes and other fees;
AND WHEREAS Canada Post, a consistently profitable Crown Corporation, has announced its intention to eliminate residential door-to-door mail delivery in Canada, calling into question the stability of Canada's postal system, the certainty of communications and payments, and the reliability of business transactions;
AND WHEREAS this proposed change would entail the downloading of responsibilities, costs, and liabilities to local governments, including requirements for municipal land and rights-of-way, infrastructure such as paving and lighting, and policing related to vandalism, graffiti and mail theft;
AND WHEREAS this fundamental change to Canada's communications system is unprecedented in the G7 countries and has been announced in the absence of any meaningful consultation with local governments, Canada Post customers or postal workers;
Office of the Mayor Corporation of the City of New Westminster
511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC • Canada V3L1H9 T (604) 527 4522 F (604) 527 4594 www.newwestcity.ca Doc # 519850 Page 1
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of New Westminster request that the Federal Government direct Canada Post to maintain the current system of residential door-to-door postal delivery in Canada.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to forward this resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Lower Mainland Local Government Association, and other local governments in Canada for whom contact information is readily available, requesting favourable consideration of this resolution.
As noted above, the City of New Westminster requests that the Federal Government direct Canada Post to maintain the current system of residential door-to-door postal delivery in Canada. We look forward to your action on this matter.
Sincerely,
Wayne Wright M A Y O R
Cc: Federation of Canadian Municipalities Lower Mainland Local Government Association Union of BC Municipalities Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Association of Manitoba Municipalities Association of Yukon Communities Northwest Territories Association of Communities Nunavut Association of Municipalities Association of Municipalities of Ontario Union des munipalites du Quebec Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador
Doc #519850 Page 2
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From: Robert Krausz [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: February-21-14 7:53 AM To: Sanath Bandara Cc: Mayor John Henderson Subject: Offer to give presentation on Local Government Zero Waste Initiatives, to the District of Sechelt
All for naught? Why Zero Waste init iatives consistently fail, how they might succeed, and what this tells us about local government's need for a rethink on sustainability
A presentation by Robert Krausz - Civil Engineer, PhD Environmental Policy and Planning
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(Photo by Messere, 2008)
Hello Sanath, My name is Robert Krausz - I am a civil engineer and PhD in Environmental Policy and Planning, with professional applied and research experience in Canada and overseas.
I recently completed a three-year study at Lincoln University in New Zealand, on the subject of Zero Waste to Landfill initiatives launched by local governments around the world, including a focus on municipalities across Canada. I began the study on the premise that I would identify the significant drivers which led to outcomes along the success/failure spectrum, for these ambitious campaigns. My initial findings, however, confirmed that in reality there have not been any cases of successful attainment of 100% diversion of waste from landfill, nor have any such initiatives even come close to reaching their declared goals. As a result, this research eventually turned to the larger questions of why zero waste is a chronically elusive target, what changes would be necessary to make success possible, and how this particular issue informs the wider discourse about environmental management and sustainability - particularly as it is applied at the local, community level.
I would like to know if you would be interested in having me come and deliver a presentation on this study's findings to the District of Sechelt's staff and/or Council. My presentation would include a focus on the following topics:
• The modern waste problem, and how local governments are left to deal with this global issue.
• Why zero waste and other sustainability-themed initiatives are launched at the municipal level.
• Key factors to addressing zero waste on a local scale. • Technological solutions vs. fundamental behaviour change. • Critical assessment of existing waste-reduction strategies - recycling in particular. • Unacknowledged Supermegaprojects: what they are, why they happen, and how local
governments can avoid getting burned by them. • How does the zero waste story relate to other environmental/sustainability issues,
particularly as they impact upon municipal governments and communities?
For your information, here is a link to the study report: http://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/handle/10182/5301. I have also attached a document with details about my Zero Waste-related work, and recent publications and presentations, for your perusal.
Please let me know whether you would be interested in such a presentation - and if you have any questions or requests about how such a presentation could be tailored for your audience, I would be happy to discuss this with you. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely, Rob
Robert Krausz
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
T: (506) 455-2211 E: [email protected]
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From: DAVIS BAY PARKWAY SOCIETY [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: February-21-14 4:19 PM Subject: FEBRUARY Newsletter Attached please find the latest Newsletter for your information. The Davis Bay Parkway Society (Unincorporated)
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Davis Bay Parkway Society Newsletter February 2014
We’ve been very fortunate to have artist Jan Poynter design the re-worked Davis Bay Parkway signs and installation is still planned for early spring! Look for another email shortly with the new graphics. Our Chairman, Lockie Brock, is a subcommittee member of the local Community Association that is looking at usage of Lot 1 that was purchased by the District. The District is expected to have all community input by September this year. The Parkway Society will also be submitting, and reviewing, our Vision Statement to/with the District within the next few months; this review will include how we believe Lot 1 would be best utilized based on input from our membership. A paved walkway from Bay Road to Pier 17, on the non-ocean side, continues to be discussed with MoTI and a couple of Directors from our group will meet with the local MoTI rep and the Regional Manager within the next month or so to get a status update on where it fits in MoTI’s budget and planning process. Our group met with two environmentalists recently to better understand how to increase the sandy beach at Davis Bay without
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putting sea life at risk. The next step would be to involve a marine engineer to detail options and this will need to be discussed with the District. The website for the Davis Bay Parkway Society is in progress and we expect it will be up and running by April this year. We will then be posting newsletters and any membership information on that site. We’ve been extremely lucky to have one of our new members, Barbara Webb, take on this project for us! As reported in the Coast Reporter, fund raising is going very well for the Davis Bay Wharf Restoration project; further application to the Community Forest (Legacy Fund) will be necessary to seek the bulk of the balance of funds needed. Opportunities to contribute to the project are still available; for more information please contact: Email: [email protected] or phone: 604-885-2752 We are always in need of more volunteers on the Davis Bay Parkway Society’s group of Directors, and encourage you to consider coming to one of our upcoming meetings and learning more about the Society. You can respond to this email to let us know of your interest. Email: [email protected]
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From: re-take [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: February-23-14 12:44 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Hamilton's Foolish Sanctuary City Declaration Betrays Residents Attention Mayor and Councillors (BC10bc): For your information, Immigration Watch Canada sends you our latest bulletin : "Hamilton's Foolish Sanctuary City Declaration Betrays Residents" Respectfully, Daniel Murray www.ImmigrationWatchCanada.org ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hamilton's Foolish Sanctuary City Declaration Betrays Residents In a Valentine's Day declaration, Hamilton City Council (16 members) voted unanimously to make Hamilton a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants. At the very least, this has to be a very foolish act. At worst, it is a hypocritical signal to illegals that even a city, that is on the ropes economically and that should be paying special attention to its own people, will betray its own population. The number of illegals in Hamilton and the purpose of this declaration are unclear but Hamilton City Council's intent appears to be a desire to hold itself up as a model of nobility to the public and to curry favour from the corrupt immigration lobby and its supporters. Because Canada has no exit tracking, the number of illegals in Canada is unknown, but could be as high as one million. Hamilton's declaration is also a reminder that the corruption which has allowed both illegal and completely unnecessary legal immigration to continue is widespread in Canada. With notable exceptions, many elected representatives from the municipal level to the Prime Minister continue to delude themselves into believing that they should be congratulated for marginalizing and betraying Canadians. Here are some important matters for both Hamilton City Council and all Canadians to consider : (1) Hamilton (population 500,000) has a boarded-up downtown which makes it look like the Skid Roads of many other cities. City Councils are supposed to look after the legal residents of their communities. But like many other governments in Canada, this Council seems to think that its primary duty is to distract attention from reality and focus on the world's downtrodden, not Hamilton's home-grown down-trodden.
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Hamilton Councillor Sam Merulla has said as much. "The Sanctuary City declaration aims to protect the most vulnerable. An undocumented woman suffering abuse by her husband should be able to call the police without fear of being deported. We're sending a message that there is no need for fear in this city. It's not Hamilton's responsibility to enforce a federal (immigration) law." Merulla said that Hamilton City Council has pledged not to report anyone to federal authorities. "If people are living here undocumented, it's not the fault of the city, and if the federal government doesn't like it, they should do something about it," he said. Canada's immigration minister has responded by saying that Hamilton's sanctuary declaration, which is also policy in (Toronto and ) several American cities, ("is flat-out wrong" and) creates incentives for people to abuse Canada's immigration system". (2) Merulla and fellow councillors ignore the fact that a significant percentage of Hamilton's population has been struggling to find employment and make ends meet. As of January 2014, Hamilton had 24,100 unemployed. If a municipal council is going to do anything, it should be trying to improve the economic well-being of its electors. Allowing even one illegal immigrant to displace one Hamilton resident in a job is a serious matter. Failing to acknowledge that illegal residents need to survive and that desperation will inevitably cause them to search for illegal work is a serious mistake. (3) Hamilton, Ontario used to be a city with a very large number of well-paying manufacturing jobs. As a result of free trade and globalization, those jobs have disappeared, some to other parts of Canada and some to other parts of the world. Hamilton is now a de-industrialized shadow of its former self. It was once the location of much of Canada's steel-production, and a large number of spin-off industries. Although Dofasco (now called Arcelormittal) is still operating, the steel industry which used to employ tens of thousands has been decimated. The same thing has happened to most of its manufacturing base. Tire manufacturer Firestone, appliance-makers Camco and Westinghouse, tractor-maker Harvester, Elevator-producer Otis, and Beer-maker Lakeport, all have disappeared. The same applies to Hoover, Lifesavers, Crisco, Proctor and Gamble, Rheem vacuums, Levi, Canadian Canners, Dominion Glass and many other employers. (4) As a result of losing most of its manufacturing tax-base, Hamilton has to depend on individual property owners to provide operating revenue for the city. It has one of the higher property tax rates in Ontario. (5) Most people in Hamilton, including property owners, know that it is very hard to find work in Hamilton. According to one resident, not long ago, the Mayor himself stated that only half of the able-bodied adults in his own electoral district actually work. According to other residents, very few good jobs are available outside the government sector. (6) Hamilton's hospitals and health services, which are connected to Hamilton's McMaster University Medical School, provide some of the few positive employment prospects. That's because Hamilton's psychiatric hospital is one of the two largest such
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hospitals in Ontario. According to sources, Hamilton now has one of the largest proportions of mentally ill in the province. (7) According to City of Hamilton statistics, as of January 2014, the number of caseloads (individuals and families) per month who receive Ontario Works temporary financial and employment assistance (welfare) in the City of Hamilton was 12,619. This amounted to 28,523 individuals. In 2013, the total cost of welfare in Hamilton was $135 million. The Province of Ontario pays over 80% of this total while the City of Hamilton manages the program and pays the remainder. (8) As of December 2013, the Number of children on the wait-list to receive a subsidy from the City of Hamilton for Child Care Fees stands at 1,028 children We repeat : This is the number on a wait-list, not a total of those receiving a subsidy. (9) As of January, 2013, the number of caseloads (individuals or families) per month who receive Ontario Disability Support benefits was close to 18,000. This is a permanent support program. The Province of Ontario manages and pays for it. The cost of this program is well into the millions per year. (10) The Social Housing Wait-list for December 2013 stood at 5,466 households. We repeat : this is just the Wait-List, not a total of those actually receiving subsidized social housing. Individuals who are currently receiving such housing are supposed to be responsible for a portion of rent. Some are working and have an income. The total cost of this program in 2013 was $64 million. CONCLUSION : MANY OF HAMILTON'S CURRENT RESIDENTS HAVE SEVERE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE TO LOOK AFTER ITS OWN PEOPLE, NOT TO ENGAGE IN A FOOLISH "SANCTUARY CITY" DECLARATION.
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February 26,2014
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ROYAJ. CANADiAN MOUNTED POLICE • GENDARMERIE RI
Barbara JoeChief Administrative OfficerSecheltP.O. Box 740-5555 Sunshine Coast HighwaySecheft, B.C.VON 3A0
Dear Barbara:
The RCMP enjoys a long-standing relationship with many Municipalities throughout the province insupport of the RCMP Detachment. We have recently restructured the Asset and ProcurementManagement Section to enhance our client service and increase financial accountability.
The new Client Service Model will optimize resources, create centers of expertise, leverage technology,and realize efficiencies and savings. This streamlining of functions has brought about the newly formedReal Property Management Unit (formerly Assets Management Unit).
The new RCMP Real Property Management Unit oversees the operation and maintenance throughoutthe lifecycle of a building, including when the asset needs to be replaced. Reviews by OccupationalHealth and Safety and Physical Security may indicate that a building has deficiencies or reaches the endif its life [may not be necessary]. The Real Property Management Unit will work with you and theDetachment Commander to develop a long-term strategy for the lifecycle of the building.
As your first point of contact, the Real Property Management Unit will be your liaison and will providedirection regarding required policies and procedures concerning either owned or leased property. TheRCMP Owned Property Manager will be responsible for all Crown-owned buildings, such as Detachments
, Royal Canadian Gendarmerie royaleMounted Police du Canada
Regional DirectorAssets & ProcurementManagement Section
Canad13
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ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POUCE • GENDARMERIE ROYALE DU CANADA
or accommodation. The Leased Property Manager will be responsible for those properties we lease,such as office space or parking lots.
Additionally, there have been a couple of recent initiatives, including the Cell Retrofit and CCVE, wherethe RCMP is required to ensure that all RCMP Detachments adhere to National and Provincial policies,Departmental Security Standards, and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
We will continue to foster a positive working relationship with our Municipal partners. While the jobtitle is new, the Managers in these positions have a wealth of experience in their respective areas. Thenew structure places the emphasis on the property, not the district, enhancing our communication withall our clients.
I have included the Manager’s names and contact information for your reference. They will be in contactwith you to introduce themselves and to reinforce a line of clear communication. I ask that you contactthem if you have any questions or require information regarding detachments, housing, cell retrofit,CCVE or general RCMP building standards:
• Maureen Chow, Leased Property Portfolio: 778-290-2795 maureen.chowrcmp-grc.gc.ca
• Michelle Miller, RCMP Owned Portfolio: 778-290-2798 [email protected]
• Mike Colpitts, CCVE/ Cell Retrofit 778-290-2813 [email protected]
Best Regards,
Irene Lin
Regional Director, Asset & Procurement Management SectionCorporate Management & Comptrollership BranchE & M Division, RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceMailstop #90914200 Green Timbers WaySurrey, BC V3T 6P3
c.c. Robert Jorssen, CMO, Corporate Management & Comptrollership Branch, E & M Division, RCMPMax Xiao, Regional Director, CMCB Finance, E & M Division, RCMPPerry Clark, Executive Director, Corp Services & Policing Tech, Ministry of Public Safety and SolicitorGeneralLisa Godenzie, Director, Contract Policing, Policing, Security and Law Enforcement Infrastructure andFinance, BC GovernmentMayor John Henderson, Dist of Sechelt
r0s’ Canad14
WESTKELOWNA
0fñce of the Mayor
2760 (ameron Road, West Kelowna, British Columbia V1Z 2T6
Iel (778) 797.2210 Fax (778) 797.1001
February 28,2014 File No.:Zoning Bylaw
3360.01
Honourable Coralee OakesMinister of Community, Sport and Cultural DevelopmentProvince of British ColumbiaP.O. Box 9056, Stn Prov GovtVictoria, BC VBW 9E2
Dear Honourable Minister Oakes:
Re: Medical Marihuana - Farm Status Des ignation
West Kelowna Council gave first and second reading to a Zoning Amendment Bylaw that wouldallow commercial Medical Marihuana production in the District of West Kêlowna's Lightlndustrial Zone. This draft bylaw will be taken to public hearing on March 11, 20i4.
West Kelowna faces significant financial implications as BC Assessment Authority has indicatedthat the commercial production of Medical Marihuana may qualify for farm status under theclassification of "medicinal plant culture". Medical Marihuana operators may apply to BCAssessment for farm status, even if the operation is not located on agricultural land. lf anoperation is granted farm status, the operation will have a reduced tax rate compared to what iscurrently applied to industrial land. Farm status is classified as class 9.
West Kelowna objects to the classification of the commercial production of Medical Marihuanaas Class 9, as these operations are industrial in nature due to the Federal Licensingrequirements and should be assigned an industrial classification.
Health Canada has improved its Marihuana for Medical Purposes regulations to meet publicsafety concerns. West Kelowna requests the Province of British Columbia to remove thedesignation to allow municipalities to ensure public health and safety of its residents, to reducethe costly demands on our local RCMP and impact to the municipal tax base.
Yours truly,
Doug FindlaterMayor
West Kelowna CouncilChristy Clark, Premier/MLA Westside-KelownaJudy Rogers, Chair, BC Assessment AuthorityDan Albas, MP Okanagan-CoquihallaRhona Martin, President, UBCMCivicinfo, eDistributionJim Zaffino, Chief Administrative OfficerNancy Henderson, General Manager of Development Services
www.districtofwestkelowna.ca
cc
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From: Camm, Clive [CORP] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: March-03-14 2:05 PM Subject: Vancouver Coastal Health announces new President and CEO Hello, The Board of Vancouver Coastal Health today confirmed the appointment of Mary Ackenhusen as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 14, 2014. Ackenhusen is an existing member of the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Senior Executive Team, having joined the organization from Fraser Health in 2007. Her appointment will follow the retirement of current President and CEO Dr. David Ostrow on April 11, 2014. In announcing the appointment to staff and physicians, VCH Chair Kip Woodward said Ackenhusen has shown outstanding leadership and a commitment to innovation, efficiency and productivity to support the organization’s True North goals and strategies. “When Dr. David Ostrow announced his intention to retire, the Board commenced a search for outstanding candidates to lead our complex $3.2 billion organization,” Woodward said. “While we knew that finding the level of experience, expertise and commitment necessary to lead VCH into the future would be challenging, we also knew that a wealth of competency existed within the current executive leadership group. To be able to hand the reins over to an “internal” candidate speaks volumes for the quality of leadership already in VCH”. Ackenhusen is a Master`s graduate of Harvard Business School and West Virginia University, and was a Vice President at Fraser Health for seven years prior to joining VCH as Chief Operating Officer for the Coastal Community of Care. In 2010 she accepted the role of Chief Operating Officer for Vancouver, with one of her first challenges being the integration of Vancouver Acute and Vancouver Community into a single, unified Community of Care. She also accepted the duties as acting Chief Financial Officer and VP of Systems Development & Performance of VCH in 2013 while recruitment was underway for that role. I have attached a copy of the news release. Please contact me if you have any questions about this announcement or the services offered by Vancouver Coastal Health. I can be reached at the 604-230-2672 or at [email protected]. Thank you, Clive
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