New

ssta

nds

$1

Vol. 11 Issue 1March 2014

Serving Port RenfrewJordan RiverOtter PointEast SookeMalahatShirley

Cove

r Pho

to by

John

Wall

s of S

hirley

Why Worry About GMOs?

A Forest for the Community

Tax Tips for Farmers

Tankers in the Strait

Rural OBSERVERCelebrating Our Rural Community Lifestyle

2 March 2014

A group of Juan de Fuca residents formed a non-profit society to launch a news and advertising publication for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.

We provide a forum for our rural communities to share news, exchange ideas and develop a sense of community. At the same time the publication gives businesses within and outside the electoral area an opportunity to promote their products and services and reach potential customers. We also hope to make current information about the region and its services available to the many tourists who visit the area each year. Our goal is to protect, preserve and enhance rural life.

The publication will rely on community members to share their interests and points of view through articles, correspondence and photographs. We welcome articles and letters reflecting the very diverse interests of our member communities and expressing all points of view. The editorial committee reserves the right to edit for brevity, accuracy, clarity and taste. Though every reasonable precaution will be made to verify the accuracy of material submitted, the editorial committee assumes no responsibility for the content of published articles. The responsibility is that of the writers. References and descriptions of products or services are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. We’re online! www.ruralobserver.comIf you wish to submit an article for an upcoming issue of the Rural Observer, please email it to:

submissions@ruralobserver.com

Or mail to: Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society 2617 Seaside Drive, Shirley, BC V9Z 1G7

BECOME A MEMBER or RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!Celebrate our rural community lifestyle by helping us share stories and information about our region. Become a member of the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society today. Our fee structure is as follows - you may renew/join at the basic level of $20, become a “Supporter” for $50, or a “Lifetime Member” for only $100. We recommend the lifetime membership - you won’t need to remember to renew each year! The Rural Observer needs your support to keep it strong, viable and independent. Please make out cheques to the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society and mail to: 6602 Tideview Rd, Sooke, BC, V9Z 1A6

* MEMBERSHIP FORM ON BACK COVER *

The Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society Mission Statement

Mailing Services

Vivi CurutchetAdvertising Sales

Ph: (250) 642-1714Email: advertise@ruralobserver.com

3 March 2014

Buying A Forested Park For The Community by Arnie Campbell

“If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise.” Recall those lyrics from the Teddy Bear’s Picnic? What a great tune and

remembered by many of us from our younger years. Written in 1907 by John Bratton with lyrics added later by Jim Kennedy, it playfully describes how teddy bears meet-up for their annual holiday picnic in the woods. Fortunately we’re not in danger of losing teddy bears, but the woods they should be playing in are becoming less and less available as familiar forested areas in our community are closed to public access, sold - or are no longer wooded. One local organization is trying to do something about that.

The Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust was registered as a non-profit society in May, 2013. Its goal is to acquire land in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area for the benefit of the community. Its first objective is to raise enough money to make an offer on a 70 acre mature second growth forest in Otter Point. If successful the property would either be donated to the Juan de Fuca Parks & Recreation Commission for use as a forested park or held by the Land Trust with public access permitted.

The property operated as a Private Managed Forest for decades with only selective logging permitted. As trails were created to access the forest they were shared with neighbours who hiked and rode horses through the forest. Now the forest is coming-up for sale. The seller has not released an asking price but we estimate that we’ll need to raise $700,000 to cover the purchase and related real estate costs. The Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust has arranged for contributions towards the purchase of the forest to be held in a fund administered by the Victoria Foundation.

Why, when surrounded by forest, should anyone bother buying a forest for the community? Truth is, most of the remaining forests in our area are either:

• Private property owned by major forest companies;• Held by land development companies for possible

future residential development;• Provincial Crown Land intended for First Nations

Land Treaty settlement; or• Protected watersheds owned by the CRD’s Greater

Victoria Water Commission.

Public access to these forests is restricted; using them requires trespass - and whatever consequences that may bring. While visitors from Greater Victoria, or afar, may not realize this, locals living in the area around Sooke know that forested lands are diminishing and access to the remainder is limited. Locals also know that all the green they’re seeing is not always forest; treed rural properties are not forests.

At one time forests were logged and replanted; today they are often logged and left as bare land or used for residential

Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust

Make change happen: more public green space for conservation and

recreation

A new non-profit society for our area

Visit our web site: www.jdflandtrust.ca

Contact us: jdflandtrust@gmail.com

development. In the past 10 years, in Otter Point, for example, TimberWest has sold three separate parcels of their timberlands to development companies. Over 200 acres has already been logged and subdivided for housing and another 556 acre property was logged and then sold to a national land development company. Two years ago Western Forest Products sold 560 acres to another development company which logged the land and then prepared a layout for a phased residential development. The issue is not whether someone has a right to clear cut a forest. Landowners have rights including logging, selling or applying to rezone and subdivide their property. This means that

continued on page 4

4 March 2014

Email: jdfepc@crd.bc.ca

Spring Fling Craft FairAn old fashioned community hall filled to the brim with handmade crafts,

work from local artists, one of a kind gift ideas and good cheer. Have lunch at the concession in support of the Metchosin Hall.

Free admission, wheelchair accessible.April 12th and 13th, 2014. 10:00am - 4:30pm daily.Metchosin Community Hall 4401 William Head Rd.

For info call Janet at 250-478-5066 email metchosinhall@yahoo.ca http://metchosinhall.com/

if a community wants to retain forested lands as community parkland then it needs to do something. The Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust wants to do something. We want to buy the Admiral’s Forest! We have a vision for the forest. Some of its many wonderful features are:

• Proximity to a public road and residential areas which allows accessibility for children and those with some mobility problems.

• Established trails for hikers, horse riders and bicycles.• Suitability of some parts of the forest for adventure

training and as an outdoor classroom.

• Wildlife habitat.

We need financial help. If you share our vision to save this forest for the community consider a donation. Donations made through the Victoria Foundation will receive a charitable tax receipt. You can donate:

By phone: Call 250.381.5532 to make a donation by credit card directly via the Victoria Foundation.

By cheque: This is the preferred away to donate as there are no transaction fees. Send cheques to the Victoria Foundation at #109 – 645 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1G2. Please ensure they are made out to The Victoria Foundation. Note the name of the Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust Admirals Forest Fund in the memo line or in a cover letter.

Online: The Victoria Foundation’s mechanism for online donations is CanadaHelps. There will be a 3.9% transaction fee deducted from your donation. Please allocate your gift to the Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust Admiral’s Forest Fund on the drop down menu. The steps to make an online gift are:

• Go to the Victoria Foundation web site: www.victoriafoundation.bc.ca

• Click on the Make a Donation button and then on the CanadaHelps link. This will take you to their page on the CanadaHelps web site.

• Click to indicate whether you want to donate now or monthly and you will be taken through the steps to make your donation.

Thank you for considering support for this community cause. Oh, and remember to hug your teddy bear!

President: Margot SwinburnsonVice-President: Anne BellSecretary: Heather Phillips Treasurer: Arnie CampbelMembership Chair: Sid JornaDirector: Denyse Koo

More information about the Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust is available on their web site: jdflandtrust.ca or contact them by email at: jdflandtrust@gmail.com

5 March 2014

Randall Garrison, MPESQUIMALT–JUAN DE FUCAA2 – 100 Aldersmith Place View Royal, BC V9A 7M8 M–Th, 10–4 / 250-405-6550 Randall.Garrison@parl.gc.ca www.randallgarrison.ndp.ca

Helping constituents with Federal government programs and services.

RG-RuralObserver-1311.indd 1 2013-11-06 12:35 PM

Permaculture: Care for the Earth, Care for People, Share the Surplusby Susan Nelson

For a long time humans have been taking the world apart and eating it in one way or another. First there was agriculture that allowed for the beginning of permanent settlements. Metals became important for farming tools and then for arms to guard the stored food and land where it was grown. Mining became necessary to satisfy the appetite for power and control.

Our numbers and appetites started fairly small, but even in the early days of city settlements and agriculture on the scale that would support a few thousand people, we repeatedly, in various parts of the world, depleted, used up, consumed to the last drop the resources needed to support life. In the past the response was to move on to another place or in some instances, like Easter Island, it was to simply die. Fortunately in these last few decades it seems that more and more people are becoming aware of our self destructive tendencies and have begun various movements toward putting ourselves and our planet back together again. Permaculture is one of those initiatives, and it has been gaining more and more ground, so to speak, for the last 25 or so years.

After the Permaculture Design Course graduation ceremony we were presented with a diploma and a comfrey plant. It was a true permaculture event. Comfrey exemplifies some of the most important principles of perma-culture (permanent culture/permanent agriculture). It has multiple functions; every part of the plant can be used for food and medicinal purposes; there is no waste as composted comfrey adds great nutrients and mulching cover; it is an exceedingly resilient perennial - cut one comfrey root and there will be at least 2 new comfrey plants. And it’s true that permaculture is spreading. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia developed the ideas, and then coined the word in 1975. Mollison created and copyrighted a course based on the text, “An Introduction to Permaculture”. When my partner and I took the course in 1999 in Argentina, courses were not so common then even in North America. If you look up permaculture courses today, just in BC there are multiple possibilities. The rising popularity of permaculture goes right along with the dawning realization that something on our planet is amiss. The gamut of ills is mounting, from continuing pollution caused by the way we feed, transport, care for and entertain ourselves to disappearing soil and nutrients therein to climate madness with rising oceans turned hot tubs. The central ethical base of the philosophy is care for the Earth; care for people; share the surplus. All the principles and techniques stem from those three noble credos.

The practice of permaculture integrates healthy treatment of the soil, water, plants

and animals with more of the same for humans. Our species is definitely not left out of the permacultural equation. The trick is to learn to balance the needs and health of the planet with our own. Instead of trying to control nature we would do well to learn our place in the “grand scheme of things”.

First on the list of principles is to observe. Let’s say that you just acquired a few acres of land and you have decided to use permaculture to design how you will live there. For the first year or so you would watch what is happening there in each season. What is nature doing? Where is the wind coming from? What grows there? How does water figure in – rainfall runoff or shallow springs, stream or well? What’s the angle of sun and shade? Animal habitat? As many as 50 principles have been included in Permaculture Design. The following are ones that were redefined by David Holmgren, the co-founder:

“Permaculture principles are brief statements or slogans that can be remembered as a checklist when considering the complex options for design and evolution of ecological support systems. These principles can be seen as universal, although the methods that express them will vary greatly according to place and situation. Fundamentally, permaculture design principles arise from a way of perceiving the world that is often described as ‘systems thinking’ and ‘design thinking.’”

1. Observe and interact. 2. Capture & store energy. 3. Get a yield. 4. Apply self-regulation & accept feedback. 5. Use & value renewable resources & services. 6. Produce no waste. 7. Design from patterns to details. 8. Integrate rather than segregate. 9. Use small and slow solutions. 10. Use and value diversity. 11. Use edges and value the marginal. 12. Creatively use and respond to change.

These Permaculture principles may be applied in a very practical way to all areas of life. We are participating in an interesting study group that is focusing on a book called “People and Permaculture”, that looks at social systems and how we might use these principles in our relationships in various social groupings.

Perhaps the most important contribution of Permaculture is to inspire us to develop a way of perceiving the world and our lives holistically so that we take in the relationships between all the elements and are more able to recognize both the force of our impact and our vulnerability as a species. If you would like more information about Permaculture, there are many websites, books and institutes. Some of the recommended ones include: People and Permaculture by Looby Macnamara; Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison; and Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway.

6 March 2014

Tankers in Juan de Fuca Strait -- Some Thoughtsby Fred Roots

One topic that arises persistently, in the past five years or so, whenever there is any in-depth discussion among persons who are concerned about the advantages and potential perils of living in the Juan de Fuca region is that of a projected increase of petroleum-industry tanker traffic in the Strait and adjacent Salish Sea.

Just as every wide-awake citizen these days is her or his own amateur economist or politician, so each in this area has, or feels that she or he should have, an opinion about increased tanker traffic off our shores. Many of us in this region have strong feelings, some positive, some negative, about the topic and some of the projected plans or threats we hear about. Others are more passive, but are worried about the very fact that they don’t know what to think and are concerned that incremental developments, which could have major consequences, may occur without anyone in authority making a definite policy decision or the public having a real opportunity for input.

This complex topic, which is itself but a small link in a chain of issues surrounding national and international developments and problems dealing with energy policy, the economy in the short and very long term, and the environment and its natural and human-driven inevitable changes, is not a topic that can be summarized into simple questions. This topic is entangled with the geographical distribution and quantities and costs of Canada’s natural resources, and with the geography, economy, and politics of world markets for petroleum and natural gas. It also involves the adequacies, shortcomings, and pace of new developments of technologies, and the evolution of new management and investment systems, etc. All these factors and developments have a direct bearing on the future of oil and gas tankers off our coasts. But there is no shortage of strong opinions, blind philosophies, or wishful thinking when confronting these issues, or of political or quasi-political policies about decisions that should be taken.

The whole subject of developing our fossil fuel resources and selling them on the world market is so complex and inter-locked that some may feel that it may be irrational, pointless, or even counter-productive to focus on one small part of it, like tanker traffic. And yet, for many of the proposals that have been put forward to boost the national Canadian economy -- and the plans of the oil companies to continue to make money -- carrying petroleum products by tanker vessel in the Strait of Juan de Fuca is an essential link in the chain of actions designed to make money out of petroleum resources in Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana. Everyone knows that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

So what opinions should a responsible person living in the Juan de Fuca area have about the

prospect of increased oil and gas tankers off our coast? And what, if anything, should each of us be doing about it?

The first and obvious thing is to become as knowledgeable as possible, not just emotional or prejudiced, about the whole issue and its problems -- although there is also, still, a real place for our emotions. The residents in the Juan de Fuca area will not profit directly, economically or in terms of management and control, from increased tanker traffic in the Strait; although we would no doubt benefit indirectly through its contribution to the national and world short-term economy (some feel that the benefits to the long-term economy may be questioned), and from the increased profits of the petroleum and shipping industries. But we happen to live in a region that is particularly vulnerable to severe and possibly very long-term environmental damage and health effects from oil spills or gas-leak contamination, which will surely occur, somehow, sometime, in this area if traffic is increased and continues to the extent that has been proposed.

Such mishaps can have consequences ranging from destroyed property values to distribution of toxic allergens to damaged marine and terrestrial ecosystems. We already have pretty convincing evidence that underwater noise and chronic day-to-day pollution have even at present had a deleterious effect on sea mammals in the area and perhaps on the migration routes and the volume of salmon runs -- it is reasonable to expect that a significant increase of traffic would make these effects much worse. Therefore, we in this area are involved in this subject whether we like it or not, and have a responsibility to ourselves and to the future and to the Nature (however you define it) that makes this area so special, and thus we have a responsibility to have a say in the weighing of the costs and benefits of increased tanker traffic.

If we are going to say something, or have a useful opinion, about the proposals for increased tanker traffic, we should as a background have information about the present traffic through the Strait. We need to find out how much of it is oil tankers, and what are their typical routes throughout the year following currents inbound and outbound, etc. We need information about

Photo of Sheringham Pointby John Walls of Shirley

On site coffee roasting.On site bakery.Everything’s better when someone else makes it!

MONDAY to FRIDAY 6-6SATURDAY & SUNDAY 7:30-6

7 March 2014

frequency of mishaps in the past, where and from what cause. Although mercifully the incidents and the environmental effects to date have been small or passed off as negligible, nevertheless, what information about what has been spilled, and the locations and effects of the spilled material should be gathered and made available. Present regulations about tanker construction, crewing, specifics of navigation applicable to passage through the Strait, and the terms of insurance, must be part of the basis upon which we make any criticisms or judgements. With as firm a background as possible, one might have a basis for assessing the plausible need for tankers if and when the present proposals for delivery of oil and liquified gas (LNG) from the interior of North America to ports on the Salish Sea or Puget Sound should materialize.

The published statements and promotional material released by the oil companies and shipping interests are, as can be expected, very optimistic. One has to examine carefully what might be the realistic potential volume of possible exports of oil and LNG from western Canada and the US over a reasonable period, given that construction of new tankers, if needed, like new pipelines, is an enormous long-tern investment that has, in the past, almost always led to calls for government subsidy. And then-- someone has to decide, and the public must demand to be informed, what kinds of tankers, how big and how many, navigated how (and this is trickier than it seems), and at what times of year and with what navigation aids whose establishment and maintenance, as well as search and rescue facilities will be the responsibility of which country -- and so on. All this shows the enormous difference between a simple passage through the Juan de Fuca Strait by passenger ship or commercial freighter, and the establishment of a year-round commercial corridor for a continuing stream of petroleum-carrying tankers in the same waters.

Because the proposal for tankers is a part of a large and complex plan for development and investment, it is necessary for anyone truly concerned about the proposal to be able to identify and consider alternatives to the presently proposed plan. There is clearly no point for a group of concerned persons or residents, no matter how determined or well-informed, to mount a campaign opposing tankers, as such, if the flow of oil down the pipes from the interior is approved and acted upon. What then is one to do with the stuff that comes out of the end of the pipe? In the oil industry, as in the environment, “You cannot do only one thing”. If you don’t want tankers, then you musn’t have pipes full of oil coming this way.

There are so many facets just to consider tankers in the Strait:-- Perhaps one of the most important, and one that cannot be escaped, is that the Strait of Juan de Fuca contains the territorial seas of two different nations, each with sovereign rights and jurisdictions. Each country has regulations and means of enforcement which, while generally compatible and cooperative in practice when all things are going well, are still distinct. If anything untoward should happen, each nation must take its own responsibility in its own way. But the Strait is also an International Waterway, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and thus is

open to innocent passage by vessels of any nation as long as it does not infringe of the rights or either territory. This, in the event of an accident, could lead to real complications. To what country should the tankers belong or be registered? The marine insurance companies are very much aware of this situation.

-- The boundary between the United States and Canada in mid-strait follows the rules established by King Canute in the English Channel in the year 1017 CE. It causes no official trouble between the countries, and is also a convenient way to define “air space” for civil and military aviation. However, shipping, including tanker traffic, pays little attention to the precise boundary, but instead follows the favourable surface currents which are generally but not always up-strait (to the southeast) closer to the U.S. side and down-strait (to the northwest) in mid-channel or nearer the Canadian side. Thus in the event of increased tanker traffic the full heavily-laden tankers will most often be mid-channel nearer the Canadian side and the lighter empty ships nearer the U.S. side. This situation has implications for the location of possible sources of pollution in the event of a mishap, and for the authorities, responsibilities, and financial obligations connected with clean-up or rescue activities.

-- The surface water currents in the Strait of Juan de Fuca are quite well known; they are complex and confusingly variable, as anyone with waterfront between Sooke and Port Renfrew can testify that the tide changes from once-a-day to twice-a-day and back again at short notice. This complexity means that oil spilled on the surface from any point on the shipping routes may take a very confusing path to either shore. Much less is known about the three-dimensional currents and water structure. Anyone who sails on these waters will have noticed, quite frequently here and there, temporary concentrations of seagulls which indicate evanescent columns of water rising from depth, bringing nutrients and small fish to the surface. This vertical turbulence means that in the event of a spill of oil or dilbit (the diluting chemical added to bitumen), an unknown amount of the contaminant will become mixed at depth in the water column, and carried goodness-knows-where; the surface extent or “trace” of the spill may be quite misleading as to the whereabouts of the total contamination. There does not appear to be a situation anywhere else in the world quite like the Strait of Juan de Fuca in this respect, except possibly in Alaska -- and there it is also, as yet, poorly studied.

--The issues of the potential effects on fisheries have very large economic and policy implications, but the information upon which to base future speculations or make recommendations is very incomplete. The Strait has a coastal and benthic (sea

Your Rural Voice in the Legislature#122–2806 Jacklin Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 5A4250-391-2801john.horgan.mla@leg.bc.ca www.johnhorgan.ca

John Horgan MLA Juan de Fuca

JH-RurObs-1311.indd 1 2013-11-06 12:56 PM

continued on page 16

8 March 2014

Tax Tips For Farmersby Felix Irwin

Some time ago Vivi Curutchet asked me if I would like to write an article for the Rural Observer. “Sure”, I said. “Do you have any ideas?” Vivi suggested I write something about myself and my business, which, for most people isn’t all that interesting (I’m a local bean counter). But I thought about it for a while, and decided that readers might be interested in a few tax tips, especially those applicable to a rural audience.

The Juan de Fuca electoral area encompasses pretty much every community west of Sooke. Vancouver Island has just 2% of the overall agricultural land reserve in the province (about 94,000 of 4.7 million hectares), but a fair chunk of this, about 2,800 hectares, is within our area, although less than 4% of this is used for commercial farming.1

Farmers, like the rest of us, pay income taxes. Unlike most of us, however, farmers get special treatment when it comes to calculating and paying income taxes. According to a discussion paper published by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service, these exclusive tax measures exist “because governments accept that the application of normal tax rules to the farm sector would cause undue hardship.”2 The special treatment includes tax deferral on intergenerational transfers of qualified farm property, cash method accounting, and the ability to deduct net farm losses from all sources of income.

The ability to deduct net losses from non-farm income is not unique to farmers, since individuals with net business losses are similarly able to deduct these losses from non-business income. However, farm losses get special treatment under the Canadian Income Tax Act. Incidentally, the word “farming” is a defined term in the Income Tax Act and comprises: tillage of the soil, the raising or showing of livestock, maintaining of horses for racing, poultry raising, fur farming, dairy farming, fruit growing and the keeping of bees (this is not an exhaustive list3). Once you determine that your activity falls into the definition of farming, the next step is to figure out what class of farmer you are, since not all

farmers (and therefore not all farm losses) are treated equally.

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) discusses three types of farmers in their interpretation bulletin IT-322R “Farm Losses”: a full-time farmer, a part-time farmer, and a hobby farmer. CRA doesn’t explicitly use these terms but instead looks to whether the income from farming is an individual taxpayer’s “chief source of income”. Factors to consider when gauging whether farming is the chief source of income for a taxpayer include looking at: gross income, net income, capital invested, cash flow, personal involvement, profitability, and the intentions and actions of the farmer to maintain or grow the farm. An individual who has farming as his or her chief source of income (i.e. a full-time farmer), whether alone or in combination with some other (subordinate) source of income, may fully deduct farm losses against other types of income. At the other extreme, where an individual, who may be otherwise occupied full-time in some other non-farm activity, undertakes a farming activity but without any reasonable expectation of profit (i.e. a hobby farmer), any losses are personal and are not deductible.

As you might expect, it is the grey area in-between the full-time and hobby farmer that generates the most discussion in tax rulings and court cases. CRA describes a part-time farmer as a taxpayer whose chief source of income is not farming or a combination of farming and some other source of income, but who still carries on a farming business.4 In other words, unless farming is the primary activity of an individual taxpayer, any farm loss will be restricted by Section 31 of the Income Tax Act. The calculation of the “restricted farm loss” is actually quite complicated, but before 2013, the maximum farm loss that could be claimed by a part-time farmer in one year was $8,750, with the restricted portion available to be applied only against positive net farming income of the next twenty (or past three) years.5 This situation was especially perplexing for farmers who devoted significant time and resources to their farming activities, and who had a reasonable expectation of profit, but who primarily supported themselves with non-farming sources of income.

continued on page 11

9 March 2014

Calendar of Events for ShirleyUnless otherwise indicated, events are held at the Shirley Community Hall

Shirley Fire DepartmentPractices held Thursdays7:00 – 9:00 p.m.To volunteer –250-646-2107

Shukokai Karate for all agesMondays 6:30-8:00 p.m.Alida – 642-4631

PilatesMondays, 10:00 -11:00 a.m.Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m.svakayoga@gmail.com(250) 646-2651

Nia Dance/Movement Thursdays, 6:45-8:00 p.m. Sundays 11:00 a.m -12:15 p.m.movingmelody@gmail.comor 250-646-2995

Shirley Quilters and CraftersThursdays, 10:00 a.m.

Shirley Women’s Institute 3rd Tuesday of the month: 10:30 a.m.stephaniecroft@hotmail.com

Shirley Fire Commission Meeting3rd Wednesday of the month7:00 p.m.

Shirley Community Association Annual General MeetingWednesday, March 12, 20147:30 p.m.

Soup LunchSaturday, March 8, 2014Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Yoga Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Book SaleSunday, March 16, 2014Noon – 5:00 p.m.Info: Robin Flemingrobincfleming@shaw.ca250-646-2652

Shirley BoogieArtist: John Mann of “Spirit of the West”Friday, March 21,2014Door: 7:00 p.m., Tickets $25Contact: James Powellwx732@shaw.ca

Spring Craft FairSunday, April 6, 201410:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Contact: Fern Dunn250-646-2009 or marydunn@shaw.ca

SEASHelp make certain Shirley stays a rural community..

10 years of service, and a new dedication to the principle of “Stay Rural” focusing on watershed protection

Join SEAS today: go to our newly revitalized website andjoin the effort to Stay Rural.

www.seasbc.org or stayrural.org

Shirley Education and Action SocietyMAKE A DIFFERENCE

‘PARISIEN LEFT BANK’ Ooh La La - Book Sale by Robin Fleming With spring on its way, time to sort and clean out books, CDs, DVDs and Vinyl records you no longer need. Join in to sell them at this event. WHEN: Sunday March 16 12:00 to 5:00 PM At SHIRLEY COMMUNITY HALL Soft Cover Books: $1.00, Hard Cover Books: $2.00, Table-style photo and art books: $10 and under, CDs/DVDs, Vinyl Records: $5:00 and under. * All items to be clean and in presentable condition * Vendors may keep proceeds from their sales or donate to Shirley Community Association * Unsold items to be removed from the Hall immediately following the event To rent a table or for more information, please contact Robin Fleming at robincfleming@shaw.ca or 250-646-2652

CONTRIBUTE TO THE RURAL OBSERVER If you have an activity of a rural nature in the Juan de Fuca area that you would like covered, please send it to us. We cannot promise to print every article, but we try to, if and when space allows. Email us! submissions@ruralobserver.com

10 March 2014

Doug Read Licensed Realtor26 years experience~19 years *Selling* in *East Sooke* Benefit from my LOCAL EXPERIENCE and LOCAL SERVICE.

Doug ReadPemberton Holmes Real Estate250-361-7939 or 250-642-2705 or toll free 1-866-536-7169email: info@dougread.com web site: www.dougread.com

Classes and Cougars at Marine Rescue Facility by Stan Warlow

This has been the first winter that staff at the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue training centre in East Sooke have been in their new home. We have enjoyed watching the seasons change at the historic Glenairley farm. Mist on Sooke Basin, frost on the fields, ice on Anderson Cove, and creeks running high have been some of the signs of winter here. The old stone fireplace in the Glenairley Lodge has been brought back to life and is a favourite spot for team meetings on cold East Sooke mornings.

Technology has given us a reminder of the wildness of this place. We placed a night vision camera along one of our trails. It captured images of dogs, deer, and birds. Until one night when it captured a startling site: the clear outline of a cougar, up close and personal. It has us looking around a bit more carefully as we move around the grounds.

As we head into the spring, we will see lots of activity here. We are in final approvals for our new training building to house the fast rescue craft simulator used for training volunteer crews from our rescue stations throughout BC. We are very excited about the design created by noted architect and East Sooke resident Paul Merrick. Construction will start in the next few weeks.

Meantime we have built a new deck for the old lodge. The building needed a proper emergency exit, so we have installed two new doors leading out to a large deck and stairs. The deck was funded in part by the federal Western Economic Diversification program, and we are pleased with the added safety and functionality.

Even though construction on the new training building has not yet begun, we have held several courses here including Marine Advanced First Aid and Critical Incident Stress Management. We have also used our meeting space for sessions with our 12-member board of governors and liaison meetings with our partners at the Canadian Coast Guard. Our visitors always remark on the beauty of our East Sooke surroundings and the foresight we had to acquire this property to serve our members.

We welcome volunteers from the community who may be interested in helping out around the grounds, and we are also looking for skilled trades people to assist with building construction. If you are interested, please get in touch at 778-352-1780 or info@rcmsar.com

Stan Warlow is the Executive Officer at Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.

Photo: A silhouette of cougar that triggered a night vision camera at the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue training facility in East Sooke.

Are you interested in forming a Rug Hooking group for Sooke, East Sooke, Metchosin, Otter Point and Shirley? Gatherings are to be held the last Sunday of the month 1:30-4:00 pm. Beginners are welcome!! Call 250-642-0583 or email: dalemorrison@shaw.ca for more info.

11 March 2014

East Sooke Community Calendar Unless otherwise indicated all events in the ES Fire Hall meeting room

East Sooke Volunteer Fire Department1397 Coppermine RoadFire Practice Thursdays 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.Volunteers Welcome

East Sooke Fire Protection &Emergency Services CommissionThird Monday night 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Pure Confident FitnessCardio & Strength ClassDrop in welcome all classesMonday - Friday MorningsInstructor Vanessa Harms250-589-4877pureconfidencefitness@hotmail.com

Hatha Yoga ClassesDrop in welcome Wednesday night 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. Instructor: Connie Rose (250).889-0753connieroseyoga@gmail.com

Karate Classes For All AgesTuesday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.Instructor: Armin Sielopp 250-642-3926asielopp@telus.net

Gentle Yoga Morning ClassDrop in welcome Tuesdays 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Instructor: Sarah Richer250-642-2142eastsookeyoga.com

Seniors’ Lunches To ContinueWe are delighted that a group of East Sooke seniors came to join us for the first try-out of our lunches for seniors. Once we have fine-tuned the location, time and delivery of the lunch we very much hope it will be a fixture on your calendar. Go to the Sooke Region Resources Directory Calendar (sookeregionresources.com) under - East Sooke Seniors lunch - for updates, and we will put posters up in the East Sooke Grocer and on the mail box posts confirming the date and place of the next lunches, in February and March.

Tax Tips... continued from page 7

In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada heard a case6 involving a taxpayer (a lawyer) whose primary source of income was from his law practice, but who had a secondary source of income from farming, in this case maintaining race horses. Unfortunately, CRA holds a bias against professionals who raise horses for racing7, and so was inclined to restrict the farm losses in accordance with their interpretation bulletin. However, the taxpayer was successful in overturning CRA’s interpretation, and for a short while it seemed that part-time farmers who similarly devoted significant time and resources to their farming activities could deduct farm losses without restriction.

Ever the sore loser, in 2013 the Department of Finance recommended a revision to Section 31, soon to be enacted by Parliament, to make it clear that if a farmer has any other source of income, it must be subordinate to the farming income in order for the taxpayer to escape treatment of any farm loss as a restricted farm loss. To mollify taxpayers, it has now been proposed that the statute be amended to double the maximum farm loss claimable by a part-time farmer from $8,750 to $17,500.8

So, what’s the tax tip? Well, first off, make sure to avoid being classified as a hobby farmer. You can do this by putting the necessary time and resources into making your farm profitable and running it in a business-like manner. Also, keep in mind that just because a provincial authority has classified your land as farm property doesn’t mean that you are automatically a farmer for income tax purposes (more about BC Assessment and farm land classifications in a future article). Finally, if you do have a restricted farm loss, make sure to keep track of it as it may come in handy down the road (CRA will notify you of unexpired restricted farm losses each year after you file your tax return).

Felix Irwin is a chartered professional accountant and has owned and operated his accounting practice in Sooke since 2004. The comments in this article are for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax advice.

(Endnotes)1 British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture. (2011). Agricultural Land Use Inventory: Juan de Fuca Electoral Area. Retrieved from http://www.crd.bc.ca/jdf/documents/JDFOtter_LUI2009.pdf2 Canada. Parliamentary Information and Research Service. (2006). Federal Taxation of Farmers: Discussion of Issues. Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/lop/researchpublications/prb05102-e.htm3 Canada Revenue Agency. (2013.) What is Farming Income? Retrieved from http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/sgmnts/frmng/nf/wht-eng.html4 Canada Revenue Agency. (1978.) IT-322R “Farm Losses”. Retrieved from http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it322r/it322r-e.html5 Before 2013, a part-time farmer could deduct the lesser of (a) the farming loss for the year; (b) $2,500 plus the lesser of (i) one-half of the amount by which the farming loss for the year exceeds $2,500, and (ii) $6,250. For example, only $8,750 of a $15,000 farming loss would be allowed in one year to a part-time farmer.6 Canada v. Craig, 2012 SCC 43, [2012] 2 S.C.R. 489. Retrieved from http://scc-csc.lexum.com/decisia-scc-csc/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/10004/index.do7 Canada Revenue Agency. (2004.) Income Tax Technical News, No. 30. Retrieved from http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/itnews-30/itnews-30-e.html. CRA comments that “when a full-time employee, or professional, starts raising horses for racing, there is likely a strong personal or ‘hobby’ element to such activities.”8 After 2012, a part-time farmer can deduct the lesser of (a) the farming loss for the year; (b) $2,500 plus the lesser of (i) one-half of the amount by which the farming loss for the year exceeds $2,500, and (ii) $15,000. For example, only $17,500 of a $32,500 farming loss would be allowed in one year to a part-time farmer.

12 March 2014

Kemp Lake Music Café: Fresh Food and a Strong Music Vibeby Michael Doerfler

Kemp Lake Music Café, a popular historic landmark on twisting and scenic West Coast Road in the heart of Otter Point, dates back to the depression era, providing restaurant service to war camp workers with barracks on the site. Its colourful history also includes being a campsite, gas station and a variety of cafes. Adding to the heritage atmosphere is Coke served in traditional retro glass bottles, and a gorgeous antique bar dating back to a Victoria candy store from over 100 years ago.

Upon entering the cafe, I was approached by a gracious hostess behind a beautiful retro store counter with old glass windows. Looking around, the lovely charm of the store area became apparent, offering basic grocery items, snacks and even a music department with a large selection of vintage and new-release vinyl record albums, musical instruments and accessories.

The cafe seats 24 with some lucky customers getting tables by the cozy fireplace. The menu includes breakfast, lunch and early dinner items made with love from scratch. One particular dish of many popular choices praised by customers is the Chicken Poutine. This amazing and fresh tasting dish is a meal in itself featuring bacon, grilled chicken breast, caramelized onions, real cheese curds, and it’s heavenly! Chef Aaron Shelkey, a local since 1998, has been in the restaurant industry for over 10 years including fine dining establishments.

Sitting & enjoying a meal or buying a bundle of local firewood, you realize that it’s really not just about the restaurant or store but the atmosphere itself. Its relaxed vibe adds to the popularity of the thriving weekly music jams on Sunday afternoons. This place makes a visitor want to come back, enticing anyone to come out to perform or listen to the locals performing with their amazing musical talents. In the warmer months, the cafe hosts a Farmer’s Market outside in the shady garden area offering a large variety of choices from local produce to handmade crafts. The current owners, Eric Shelkey and Wendy Palynchuk sum it all up in these words: “We want it to be a friendly place where the community can get together, with excellent, fresh made food and a strong music vibe, because that’s us.” Future plans will likely include more live music, music jams, and live music evenings. Kemp Lake Music Café is located at 7875 West Coast Rd in Otter Point. It’s open 7 days a week and Eric and Wendy can be reached at 250-642-7875. Michael Doerfler, Otter Point Bulletin Board founder, is an enthusiastic resident of Otter Point who loves working on the land and photography. Contact Michael at mdoerfler@shaw.ca

13 March 2014

Rear Admiral John Charlesby Sid Jorna

John Alexander Charles was born in Rouleau, Saskatchewan in March of 1918 towards the end of World War I. During his illustrious 37 year career with the Royal Canadian Navy, he earned the rank of Admiral. He began his career in 1937, and served aboard seagoing warships during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Among many significant appointments, he commanded HMCS Haida in the Korean conflict and then the Canadian Destroyers Squadron Far East.

On his return to British Columbia, he served as the Commandant of Royal Roads Military College from (1954-1957) before heading to Ottawa as the Director of Naval Operations. Returning to Esquimalt, he served as the Commander 2nd Escort Squadron and later as the Commodore of the Royal Canadian Navy Barracks (HMCS Naden). He was appointed to a series of senior posts including: Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Assistant Chief of Defense Staff Plans and Chief of Maritime Operations. He retired in the rank of Rear Admiral from the post of Deputy Chief of Defense Staff in 1974. He was a recipient of the Order of Military Merit (CMM), the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) and, in his time, was mentioned in dispatches (MID).

Throughout his eventful career his wife Mary was by his side. In an era of kid gloves and calling cards and a general attitude that “if the Navy wanted you to have a wife, they’d have issued you one”, his acknowledgement of her contribution was typical of his thoughtful nature. She managed the home front, raising their children, managing the more than 25 moves between 1945 and 1974 and juggling the social aspects of being the wife of a rising Naval Officer. The Admiral’s respect for his wife was obvious in his tone when he related that she could go from “sink to mink” in five minutes when he called, “Come on, Mary.” Mary held a degree in geography from University of Toronto and used her knowledge to research the lands they would purchase including that in Otter Point. She recognized the potential of this land despite the damage it had sustained by forest fire and logging.

In retirement, they turned to building their home, to developing a privately managed Forest in Otter Point. Before the forest regenerated the clear view of naval ships operating in the Straits of Juan de Fuca allowed the Admiral to signal those ships with his flashing Aldis Lamp. We can only speculate as to the messages he may have sent. He set about reforesting, grooming the land and managing a forest in transition. He built skid roads and trails to bring logs to a central area to be cut into prime lumber he would sell to support his forest. He built sheds to cure and store his lumber. He brought his grandchildren out in the summer to help and would allow his friends and neighbours to ride their horses or walk in his forest. The trails are all marked with the names of his children and grandchildren.

When John did not have a chain saw in his hands he made time for important engagements. In 1976, shortly after retirement, he was called to take command of a Fast Trans-Atlantic convoy under the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) for exercise Ocean Express. He continued as a lecturer on convoy procedures to the USN until 1980. He worked to establish the Maritime Museum in Bastion Square, Victoria. He helped ensure that Royal Roads Military College was successfully transferred to civilian hands as Royal Roads University. He founded the Friends of Hatley Park Society which now works with Royal Roads University to preserve the grounds and gardens. It was during his time as President of that society that a successful effort was made to have Hatley Park declared a federal historic site. Rear Admiral John Charles received an honorary doctorate from the Royal Roads Military College in 1991 and an honorary doctorate from Royal Roads University in 2008.

Always supportive of local community, John was a director of the Otter Point, Shirley Residents and Ratepayers Association and actively involved in the development of a community vision. The resulting document, Strategic Vision for Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River, provided fundamental input to the preparation of Official Community Plans. He was a staunch supporter and member of the Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society, the Private Managed Forest Council and other community organizations. He was a good friend and neighbour.

Rear Admiral John Alexander Charles passed away at his home in Otter Point, British Columbia, on Saturday, 25 September, 2010. He is survived by eight children and seven grandchildren. He left his beloved forest in trust for a period of five years in the hope that the community would find a way to purchase the land, look after it, and turn it to public use. It was typical of his public spirit balanced with a good sense of reality and fairness that he preceded in this way.

The Juan de Fuca Community Land Trust Society has been formed to raise funds and acquire lands for the public use. The Admiral’s Forest is the first of its objectives; to make good on the Admiral’s wish for his forest.

NEW WEBSITE! otterpointe lectr ic .com

otterpointelectric@gmail.com

bonded • licensed • insured

OTTER POINTELECTRIC

CLAYTON F ISCHERELECTRICIAN/OWNER

T h a n k s f o r h i r i n g l o c a l t r a d e s p e o p l e

EC Lic. No.99330 FSR No.98873

250.588.4324

14 March 2014

Why worry about GMO? It’s only our food. by Darren Alexander

Who am I to offer any advice about genetically modified organisms in our foods? I am a writer and researcher, a media producer, and an educator. But I am not a farmer, or a geneticist, or a biotech engineer. I’m not even a scientist. But here is an indisputable fact: I am human. And, so it goes, I must eat. In fact, this same truth applies to all my family, and friends, and I will even go so far as to insist (despite my having no scientific credibility to back this claim) that the same is true of every last one of you reading this article.

Whether or not one is a scientist--capable of really grasping the implications of genetic engineering on the molecular and cellular development of organisms, or the biochemical constitutions and directives of herbicides and pesticides, or modifications to the aggregate compositions of soils—we all share a huge stake in this matter. And so the imperative is upon us to do the best we can to understand the phenomenon. After all, in the end we are not talking science; we’re talking about the food we eat. Right?

A hundred years ago that might have been fair to say. Even twenty years ago, that might have been mostly true. But today, with the innovation of genetically modified crops, our most advanced sciences and our foods have converged. If you have any doubt about that, consider that every modified corn, cotton, soybean or beet has a unique, registered patent that applies to it.

This is important to note. The most obvious and practical implications being that the very process of our food production no longer begins with a seed in the hand of a farmer. It rather begins in a laboratory, under a micron telescope, with a gene gun. And the latest, greatest, breakthroughs in the realms of science--such as the genome mapping project--are being applied to our foods, as we speak. Even as we are just beginning to get our heads

around the implications of these new, and extremely complex discoveries.

Already, GMO products are ubiquitous in the general diet. Nearly all of the world’s corn, soy and canola yields are now genetically modified. All the fructose and sucrose, those sugars that are rife in just about everything, are from GM beets and corn. It is a feature of almost every packaged and processed food you eat, unless you are shopping and selecting with persistent caution.1 So don’t be fooled into thinking that you are not ingesting any GMO foods if you eat only organic vegetables, for instance.

Fair to say, then, that due diligence and attention to the food we eat is in order. Especially when it comes to distinguishing a safe and nutritional food from something toxic, or otherwise alien and unwelcome. In fact, as a society we have already agreed on this. That is why we contribute, via our taxes (and so invisibly, mostly unawares) to a system of governmental departments, overseeing food, drug, and environmental registries and agencies. As well as to a host of compliance codes, labels, processes, monitoring and examinations. All this to ensure, presumably, that the foods we purchase, and the products we consume, are inspected and deemed to be sound and safe.

But we live in the real world, and we are not stupid, and we are not so forgetful. And so we remember how, on so many occasions, those very same agencies and registries which are meant to serve our best interests have seriously failed us instead.

We know that industries via their corporations have a long history of leveraging their wealth and influence in order to skew political support and research in their favour. Take asbestos, for example. Published research clearly linked asbestos to cancer in the 1930s,2 but that didn’t deter the industry from growing, with federal approval. To this day, Canada is one of the biggest international players in the mining and export of asbestos--a substance that is banned for health safety reasons here, in Canada and the US--to markets around the world.

The tobacco industry is another good example3 of the historical tyranny of industrious corporations, their willingness not only to deny sound science but to strategically challenge the findings and misinform the public. Time and again they have shown us how they are prepared—through channels that include legal challenges and appeals, advertising, PR, lobby groups, think tanks, and general upper-eschelon, elitist camaraderie--to deny, refute, minimize, obfuscate, and subvert very serious health and safety concerns, in favour of shareholder profits.

Neurotoxic lead in paint on the baby’s rattle. Hormone-disrupting Bisphenol A (BPA) leeching through plastics water bottles. Oops. More distressing examples of those territories and boundaries where harmful chemicals or other toxic agents have trespassed into our respiratory and digestive tracts. Despite all the checks in place.

So what are we to do, if those agencies, and their enforcers, can no longer be trusted? One might choose to listen carefully to someone like Dr. Thierry Vrain. Dr. Vrain worked for 30 years as a genetic engineer and soil biologist with Agriculture Canada. Throughout his tenure he applied his research toward verifying and confirming the safety of genetically modified crops. Since retiring ten years ago, he has been influenced by a wider body of related research, enough to come out as a whistleblower, calling into question serious concerns about the application of this new

Endnotes:1GMO Food List http://thegoldenlightchannel.com/gmo-food-list-to-avoid-monsanto-companies-the-dangers-of-gmo-food/2History of Knowledge of Asbestos Health Hazards as Reported in the Scientific and Medical Literature: http://www.mesothel.com/asbestos-cancer/epidemiology/history_medical_knowledge.htm3The Truth About the Tobacco Industry: A World Health Organization Report: www.who.int/tobacco/media/en/TobaccoExplained.pdf

4Gut Bacteria Might Guide The Workings Of Our Mindshttp://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds?sc=17&f=1001

More reading and information:

GMO Myths and Truths: An evidence-based examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops (This PDF document offers a comprehensive overview of the science and reports around GMO’s; it’s a collaboration between genetic engineers Dr. Michael Antoniou and Dr. John Fagan with

Claire Robinson, an investigative journalist.)http://earthopensource.org/files/pdfs/GMO_Myths_and_Truths/GMO_Myths_and_Truths_1.3b.pdf

Dr. Thierry Vrain:

video:http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/The-Gene-Revolution-The-Future

video:http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/fr/video/gmos-explained-dr-thierry-vrain-gene-revolution/18165

article: Dr. Thierry Vrain GMO whistleblowerhttp://commonground.ca/2013/10/dr-thierry-vrain-gmo-whistleblower/

Further interest:

The Society for a GE Free B.C.http://gefreebc.wordpress.com/

Grocery manufacturers disclose big donors to anti-GMO labeling campaign in Washingtonhttp://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2013/10/grocery_manufacturers_disclose.html

The Atlantic: The Very Real Danger of Genetically Modified Foodshttp://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/the-very-real-danger-of-genetically-modified-foods/251051/

15 March 2014

250-642-3596

science and the hidden health safety issues which it manifests.

In his talks, Dr. Vrain does his best to translate the science into layperson’s terms. He explains how, remarkably, since the genetic manipulation process was declared safe, no GMO products are actually tested for health safety. It’s kind of like they’ve been grandfathered on board.

He explains how, in the GMO science world, there are two distinct bodies of research. One that is funded (or should we say sponsored?) by those same bio-tech agencies, such as Monsanto; the other a comprehensive collection of research carried out by foreign (mostly European) independent agencies with no ties to the GMO industry.

For his work with the Canadian government, Dr. Vrain and his colleagues drew solely from the first. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is from this second body of research where he discovered and reviewed dozens of prominently published, peer-reviewed, research findings that conclusively reveal a connection between GMO foods and organ damage, including a deterioration of the stomach linings in rats, moving on to kidney failure, liver failure, and premature death by cancers.

Other studies find GMOs to be the source of protein pesticides responsible for severe allergenic responses. And that these proteins may be effecting or altering our very DNA. And there’s a number of serious correlations cited, between GMO diets and a myriad of resultant nervous, gastrointestinal, and autoimmune disorders—all rooting back to what appears to suggest a most dangerous tampering with the essential microbe bio-ecology that is so critical to our overall health and wellbeing.4

Have a listen to Dr. Vrain. And read some of the report, GMO Myths and Truths (See below for resources and links.) Decide for yourself how you feel about this critical matter. Remember, we’re talking about the food we eat. And while I may not be a scientist, I’ve just got to tell you: I’ve got a gut feeling about this.

Darren Alexander teaches as associate faculty with Royal Roads University, and he is active with Transition Sooke (transitionsooke.org). Contact: http://about.me/darren.alexander

16 March 2014

floor and bottom waters) habitat in its own right, and is also of course a passageway and feeding ground for populations of a whole variety of migratory, and transient creatures that make up the Salish Sea ecosystem and indeed the regional ecosystem of the entire Pacific drainage area of southern British Columbia and northwest Washington. The benthic productivity of the Strait and much of the Salish Sea is today less than it was a half-century ago, due at least in part to disturbance of the sea floors; this may be a factor in the recently observed changes in the size of the “runs” and migration routes of different species of salmon on either side of Vancouver Island, and thus the consequent distribution of feeding grounds and prosperity of populations of orcas. To add to these problems, the orcas -- indeed all sea mammals in the area -- are already carrying distressingly heavy loads of industrial pollutants in their bodies. What an additional inadvertent increase of petroleum pollution in any part of this region would do to this already finely-tuned and stressed ecosystem requires very careful thought; but there are big gaps in our information on which to base such thinking.

There is very big money at stake, and major Canadian and U.S. Federal and Provincial/State policies are all tangled up with the fisheries questions and a major increase of tankers in the Strait; and those of us who live on its shores should do our best to ensure that all these issues are put into context.

-- A very important aspect of the whole question of increased tanker traffic in the Strait of Juan de Fuca is the role and responsibility, the effect on, and input from the indigenous people. This is “native” territory. The eight or so distinct bands who live and still reside along both sides of the Strait had developed an advanced maritime civilization, with varied complex successful societies before the advent of Europeans a couple of centuries ago. Unlike the history of most of the rest of the Americas, in every major first encounter with the visiting Europeans, from what is now Oregon up to Nootka, the visitors were welcomed, not opposed; and despite the hardships and disease that came as trading visits became a wholesale invasion with imposition of overwhelming governments and new economic systems, the First Nations in the region have retained their identity and their values. They took no part, and were even not formally informed, when their Strait -- their home --was arbitrarily divided into two countries. Today, albeit from a disadvantaged position, they share with all other residents of the area the economic, social, and political problems and issues, but on the whole have managed to keep a longer-term perspective about what is happening. This perspective is very valuable and much needed when considering the questions of a possible major increase in industrial tankers through their front yard. We owe it to the people who have lived here for more than a thousand years, to ourselves, and to our respective countries, to find a way for the First Nations to have an important say in the discussion.

Tankers... continued from page 7Emergency Preparedness and Waterby Jeri Grant, JDF Emergency Coordinator

Water - have you given any thought to your water supply after an emergency or disaster strikes? Earthquakes can destroy waterlines, and shifting earth can change water sources leaving a once viable well dry. If tap water is still available immediately after the earthquake, fill a bathtub and other containers in case the supply gets cut off. If there is no running water, remember that you may have water available in a hot water tank. Flood water can be heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants. It can cause sickness and infections. If through colour, odour or taste you suspect that your drinking water has been contaminated don’t drink it.

Water QuantityWater is a necessity of life, a basic amount to survive is at least two litres of water per person per day. The truth is you need closer to four litres per person per day- for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene and dishwashing. So for example, if you have three family members, you should have 12 litres a day for at least a three-day period, i.e. 36 litres of bottled water in a cool, dark place, in washed and disinfected plastic bottles that are easy to carry.Record the date that you bottled or stored the water on the label. Replace stored water every six months and store-bought bottled water every year.

Water Treatment You should treat all water of uncertain purity before using it for drinking, food preparation or hygiene. Treatment can vary depending on the nature of the contamination, but when in doubt, do not drink water you suspect may be contaminated. There are many ways to treat water and none are perfect. Often the best solution is a combination of methods. Boiling and disinfection will kill most microbes but only distillation will remove other contaminants such as heavy metals, salts and most other chemicals. Before treating, let any suspended particles settle to the bottom, or strain them through layers of paper towel or clean cloth.

• Boiling Water: Boiling is the safest method of treating water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 10 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking.

• Disinfection: You can use household liquid bleach to kill micro-organisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient. Do not use scented bleaches, colour-safe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners. Add one to two drops of bleach per litre of clear water. If the water is cloudy, treat with three to four drops of bleach per litre. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odour, repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes.

• Distillation: Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapour that condenses back to water. The condensed vapour will not include salt and other impurities. To distil, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down. Make sure the cup is not hanging into the water and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.

*For instructions on how to disinfect and restore wells and cisterns, contact your local or provincial health authorities or emergency management organization.

Many of you may have read my comments before Christmas and most recently about the BC Liberal government’s plans to reduce the Agricultural Land Commission’s independence and its ability to protect the Agricultural Land Reserve. Their scheme

gives control of land use decisions for nearly half of our province to the Oil and Gas Commission, and allows for the government to take over the rest of the Commission’s independent responsibilities.

Initially, when the Agricultural Land Commission was established in 1973, it was a controversial decision. Then Premier Dave Barrett recognized the need to permanently protect our province’s valuable agricultural land – some of the most fertile in all of Canada. The Commission then established a special land use zone, the Agricultural Land Reserve, to protect BC’s supply of agricultural land. This has all led to an agriculture industry that brings billions of dollars a year to our province’s economy. Eventually both farmers and the general public became strong supporters of this program, and the BC Liberal government’s recent plans have evoked an outcry of anger and astonishment.

My colleague and Environment critic, Spencer Chandra Herbert, and I recently sent a letter to Energy Minister Bill Bennett calling on the government to restore independent oversight over the Site C Dam project and expand public hearings. I am deeply concerned about the lack of oversight by independent agencies such as the BC Utilities Commission and the Agricultural Land Commission when it comes to BC Hydro. With close to 4,000 hectares of prime BC farmland at stake, I think everyone has cause for concern. Accountability at BC Hydro is essential if we are to contain the runaway rate increases forecast for the coming 5 years.

If Site C is the right project for the province, it will withstand oversight by these independent agencies and scrutiny from people across the entire province, not just those in the north. The government’s track record is sketchy when it comes to listening to experts and the result is more costs for consumers and business at a time when most can least afford it.

Without access to nutritious food we are all toast, pardon the pun. The evidence around the importance of food and food production is clear. According to the 2012 report from the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability, if things continue as they are, the world will need at least 50 per cent more food by 2030. In British Columbia, only five per cent of our land base is productive farmland and we produce only about half as much food as we consume. And here on Vancouver Island, it’s even worse. We simply do not produce enough food to be self-sufficient for more than a few days. Our food supply is further compromised due to our loss of food processing and food storage facilities. We are beginning to realize that food security and

watershed protection is as serious an issue for us locally as it is internationally.

The new Legislative session has begun and you can count on me to be working with my colleagues to hold government to account on these important issues. It has been seven months since the government called MLAs together to work on solving the challenges in our communities and across the province. With these statistics and a province so rich with agricultural potential, I’ll be asking why our government is looking to dismantle our protective agencies and lessen safeguards for our province’s food supply.

We need to protect our valuable food producing regions and the industries they support, not have government undermine the independence of the Agricultural Land Commission. I urge you to let Ministers Pimm and Bennett know your views. You can send them your thoughts at:

Minister Pat PimmMinistry of AgriculturePO BOX 9043, STN PROV GOVTVictoria, BC V8W9E2E-Mail: AGR.Minister@gov.bc.caTel: 250 387-1023

Minister Bill BennettMinistry of Energy and MinesPO Box 9060 Stn Prov Govt V8W9E2E-Mail: MEM.Minister@gov.bc.caTel: 250-387-5896

Here in Juan de Fuca, our population is increasing at a rapid rate. More and more people are taking an interest in purchasing locally grown food and are understanding the increasing need for food security now and into the future. Quite simply, we are beginning to comprehend the consequences; once our agricultural land has been developed, we won’t be able to get it back. The land use decisions we make today are ones that we, and many generations to come, will have to live with.

March 201417

From the desk of John Horgan, MLA Juan de Fuca

March 201418

Greetings to residents of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca and especially to those in the Metchosin, Sooke, Shirley, Jordan River areas. Happy New Year and thank you for the honour and privilege of being your representative in Ottawa.

With the resumption of the House of Commons in late January I am carrying on with my duties as Official Opposition critic responsible for Public Safety and LGBTQ issues, but I have also taken on an additional responsibility for this sitting. I am now sitting on the House of Commons Agriculture Committee, which has responsibility for Agriculture and Food issues and legislation. Agriculture is an important business in our area. Many farmers and farm gate producers in the riding are affected by changes being brought in by the Conservative government in Ottawa. I look forward to having the opportunity of raising local food and agriculture concerns in the committee.

For example, recently the government introduced Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act. If passed, this Bill will give multi-

national agri-business corporations much more power, money and control while increasing farmers’ costs and reducing farmers’ autonomy and Canadian sovereignty. The National Farmers Union has identified several weaknesses in C-18:• increasing corporate control of seeds and increased farmers’

seed costs;• loss of the right of farmers to save seed for replanting; • expanding the role private seed breeders that serve corporate

interests and decreasing the role of plant breeders who work in the public interest; and

• empowering the Harper government to give third parties the ability to make and change rules that govern Canada’s agriculture and food systems without public input.

Bill C-18 proposes to amend several Bills with the cumulative effect of accelerating harmonization with trading partners with a stated goal of facilitating commerce. While there are some positive measures in the bill, I am concerned that, in fact, the bill will primarily benefit powerful global corporations by giving them more control over our regulations, instead of safeguarding Canada’s food and agriculture system for the benefit of Canadians.

Instead of making all these changes that threaten local control of local farms, the Agriculture Minister should re-orient Canada’s agricultural laws towards the principles of food sovereignty and sustainability, toward promotion of healthy food, ecological sustainability and democratic control.

As the Official Opposition, the NDP recently introduced Motion M-480 which calls for mandatory labeling of food products containing ingredients that have been genetically modified. Sixty-four other countries already do this, and 90% of Canadians polled support the labelling of genetically modified foods. And yet the Conservatives have failed to act on this straight forward proposal to label these modified foods. We can do better.Local food production is increasingly important and in demand by

consumers. Yet the government does nothing that will lead toward more local food production. Contrast the potential threats to local food and farming sustainability in Bill C-18 with the growth and popularity of the Sooke Food CHI, which promotes the growth and supply of locally grown, healthy food in the Sooke Region. They have their Seedy Saturday event in Sooke on February 22nd at the Sooke Community Hall from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. I hope to see many of you there.

From the desk of Randall Garrison, MP Esquimalt Juan de Fuca

A Sea Of Bloom Floral Designs p.3 250-642-3952

Alice McLean Pottery p.11 250-642-3522

Aristos Mail Tech Inc. p.2 250-384-7678

Coastal Crunch Granola p.12 250-642-7908

Custom Digging p.18 250-413-7685

Digital Direct Printing Ltd. p.2 250-388-7082

Dom’s Water Service p.15 250-646-2528

Doug Read - Pemberton Holmes Realty p.10 250-642-2705

Felix Irwin - Chartered Accountant p.8 250-642-5277

Honestly Tea p.14 250-646-2425

Hugh Gregory Fine Painting p.17 250-480-8295

James Craven & Associates p.18 250-744-9455

JdF Community Land Trust p.3

JdF Emergency Program pp.5, 19 250-642-2266

John Horgan - MLA, JdF p.7 250-391-2801

Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic p.15 250-478-0422

Kemp Lake Music Cafe p.12 250-642-7875

Kimmel Massage Therapist p.9 250-646-2865

Markus’ Bistro & Dinner Club p.15 250-642-3596

Marlene Bowman - Seagirt Pottery p.17 250-642-7620

Noella LeDrew, Graphic & Web Design p.2 778-352-2070

Numa Farms p.14 250-474-6005

Otter Point Electric p.13 250-588-4324

Perfect Grade Plumbing p.12 250-532-8678

Race Rocks Automotive p.4 250-478-1920

Randall Garrison, MP p.5 250-405-6550

Rural Observer - Advertising p.2 250-642-1714

Sheringham Point Lighthouse Pres. Soc. p. 20 250-646-2528

Shirley Education & Action Society p.9 seasbc.org

Shirley Delicious Cafe p.8 778-528-2888

Spring Fling Craft Fair p.4 250-478-5066

The Stick In The Mud Cafe p.6 250-642-5635

Victoria Alarm Service p.12 250-721-0266

Vivi Curutchet - Architectural Drawings p.10 250-624-1714

Walk, Sit & Stay - Dog Walking p.10 250-642-0458

Westside InstaPrint p.8 250-478-5533

March 201419

The Rural Observer’s Publication Schedule for 2014:

May Issue - May 1, 2014July/August Issue - June 26, 2014October Issue - October 2, 2014December Issue - December 4, 2014

FREEINFORMATION FOR THE ASKINGOur advertisers are happy to provide any information about their products or services. Please feel free to use the phone numbers below to contact them directly.

Public MeetingThursday March 20, 2014 at 7:00 pmJuan de Fuca Local Services Building

#3-7450 Butler Rd, Sooke (Otter Point)Guest Speakers:

Teron Moore- EMBC Anne McCarthy- Environment Canada

Follow @JdFemerg

TSUNAMI 101 WORKSHOP

March 201420

Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society2014 MEMBERSHIP / RENEWAL FORM

Name ____________________________________

Address _______________________________________

______________________________________________

Phone ____________ E-mail ______________________

Are you able to help? _____________________________

Return to: JdF Rural Publication Society, 6602 Tideview Rd, East Sooke BC V9Z 1A6

Jo in UsBECOME A MEMBER or RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

Celebrate our rural community lifestyle by helping us share stories and information about our region. Become a member of the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society today. Our fee structure is as follows - you may renew/join at the basic level of $20, become a “Supporter” for $50, or a “Lifetime Member” for only $100. We recommend the lifetime membership - you won’t need to remember to renew each year! The Rural Observer needs your support to keep it strong, viable and independent. Please make out cheques to the Juan de Fuca Rural Publication Society and mail to: 6602 Tideview Rd, Sooke, BC, V9Z 1A6

The federal government is in process of making decisions about heritage status of the lighthouse, land and access for Sheringham Point. Without your immediate action, the site may be lost forever. The Society has submitted all the proper paperwork and now it is up to the Federal Government to decide whether or not the land and structure are protected under the Lighthouse Heritage Act.

Please go to: www.sheringhamlighthouse.org and click on “Take Action”. Send an email to the decision makers. It’s easy, fast, and will help make the difference.

YOUR HELP TODAY WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

SHERINGHAMLIGHTHOUSE.ORG

CRITICAL TIMES REQUIRE QUICK ACTION

Please act today to Preserve and Protect our Lighthouse at Sheringham Point.

BC Lighthouse Channel