Childcare letter
qathet Regional District’s committee of the whole has voted to send a letter regarding $10 a day childcare to the social action and planning advisory committee (SAPAC).
At its meeting on Thursday, January 16, the committee received a letter from Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, addressed to provincial minister of children and family development Katrine Conroy, requesting the province expedite the $10 a day childcare plan implementation universally.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said it may be worthwhile for SAPAC to consider the request and see if it makes sense.
Electoral Area D director Clay Brander said there is huge gap between childcare requirements and childcare spaces in qathet Regional District.
“It’s a big issue everywhere,” said Brander. “It’s not just the cost, but the lack of early childhood educators."
Expresses thanks
The regional district committee of the whole has received a letter from Kim Barton-Bridges, thanking the regional board for its letter of apology over her appearance as a delegation before the board on November 28, 2019. The apology pertained to comments made by Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne during the delegation, over investigation of using City of Powell River as a water source for regional district residents in Area B. Barton-Bridges thanked the board for the letter. She also stated she had received an apology from Gisborne, but it did not seem “heartfelt” or “sincere.”
Grant application
Committee of the whole has authorized a partnership with City of Powell River to make application for a $50,000 Union of British Columbia Municipalities poverty reduction planning and action program grant. The committee also voted that the regional board support the city as the primary applicant to apply for, receive and manage the grant funding to complete a qathet region poverty reduction plan.
Flood mapping
Committee of the whole recommended that the regional board endorse an application to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ community emergency preparedness fund flood risk assessment, flood mapping and flood mitigation planning funding stream for coastal flood mapping for island communities within the qRD. The committee also recommended the board endorse qRD providing overall grant management for this project. According to a staff report, the funding stream will fund up to $150,000, which will cover more than 90 per cent of the estimated project costs, not including staff time. The proposed mapping project will provide qRD with an understanding of future sea level rise and storm surges on the region’s island communities. The project will assist qRD to meet its strategic priorities pertaining to climate change and public safety.
Terminate tenure
Committee of the whole members will recommend the regional board authorizes staff to terminate the tenure for the Blubber Bay boat launch. The current licence of occupation for constructing, operating and maintaining a ramp for public small boat launching purposes expired on January 4, 2020. According to a staff report, the site is full of industrial debris and building ruins, which would be hazardous to any crews working on the site. The report further states that remediation of the site in order for it to be usable would be prohibitively expensive.
