B.C. legislature should have arts and culture committee

Source: Georgia Straight
by LANA POPHAM on DEC 9, 2013 at 11:38 AM
IT WOULD BE hard to imagine this time of year without the performances and festivals that we look forward to, the books and magazines we curl up with, the museums and galleries we make time to visit, the movies that dazzle us, and the culinary delights that entertain our tastebuds.

This is a time of year when arts and culture are all around us, making the holiday season special and bringing together family, friends, neighbours, and communities.

Every day of the year, people in creative industries across B.C. are making our province a better and more vibrant place. While we know that the arts are essential, we often think less about the impact that our creative industries have on our economy.

That impact is huge. Arts and culture in British Columbia employ more than 87,000 British Columbians, including almost 26,000 artists. In 2007, the creative sector GDP was estimated at $4 billion, and its growth between 2002 and 2007 outpaced the growth of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting combined.

The arts are critical to the tourism strategies of towns and cities across B.C. Cultural festivals, performance, and institutions keep visitors coming back year after year and help support our local and provincial economies.

Yet something important has been missed at the provincial level that would give the creative community the stage it needs to further develop its significant economic contribution.

Art Show & Christmas Party Open House!

Thursday, December 19, 5-7pm at 4085 Quadra. Open to all residents of Saanich South.

Notice: Community Meeting re. Sewage Treatment & Hartland Landfill

Dear Saanich South - and especially those living in the Prospect Lake area,

This will be an important meeting for us to raise our concerns and ask questions about how our area and the Hartland Landfill fits into the region's sewage treatment plans. I'm looking forward to it and hope to see you there. Please share with your friends and family in the area.

Will we look away while the BC government fails children who live in poverty?

Dear Saanich South,

A new report out today by First Call BC again reveals that BC again has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada.

Other grim statistics:

• The province’s youngest children are often the most negatively affected, with more than 20 per cent of children under the age of six currently living in poverty.
• 50% of children in single-mother families in BC lives in poverty! In 2010, it was 22%. 

Clearly this is a crisis and it is getting worse not better.

Exciting plans to restore public access to Saanich Observatory!

Attendees of Initial Stakeholder Meeting Nov 23 2013 

Nov 23 Meeting, Stakeholder attendees

Dear Saanich South,

On Saturday morning I chaired a meeting at the National Research Council (NRC)’s Astrophysics headquarters. 30 stakeholders came together to discuss how best to restore public access to the Saanich Observatory. 

Attendees included Dan Wayner, the NRC Vice President and Greg Fahlman, the General Manager of the Observatory and Herzberg Institute, as well as public school teachers, the Dean of Engineering and an Astrophysics professor from UVIC, a Vice-President from the Royal Museum of BC, public school science teachers, local business people, and six long-time astronomy volunteers with the Royal Astronomy Society of Canada (RASC).

By the end of the 3 hour meeting we had agreement on the outlines of a plan to re-open the Centre of the Universe and restore public access to the Saanich Observatory! 

Of course there is a ton of work left to do, but we are now well on our way.

The NRC agreed to pay for all the infrastructure, maintenance, utility and security costs for the Centre of the Universe. They also agreed to negotiate free public access to the Observatory so regular Saturday night viewings could resume.

Science Venture, the UVIC non-profit which runs popular youth summer science camps, formally proposed at the meeting a six month pilot project of workshops for classroom school tours, and science camps during Professional Development days, spring break and over the summer.

Nelson Walker, the President of the RASC – which has a 95 year history of offering expert volunteers on the Hill – said his organization could take the lead in running the Saturday night viewings.

Two working groups were created at the meeting. The first group will look at practical next steps and will be chaired by Don Moffatt, a Business Analyst and the originator of the online petition to save the Centre of the Universe.

The second group will look at the long-term vision and business case for the Centre and will be chaired by Dale Ryan, Director of Public Relations for Butchart Gardens and Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hotel Grand Pacific. 

I look forward to increased community engagement and ownership of this effort and will keep you updated as we move forward. 

Warm regards,

Lana 

Pensions, Income Security and foot-dragging by the BC government

Dear Saanich South,

This Friday, November 15, at 10 am at the Cook St Activity Centre (380 Cook St), I will join the Leader of the Federal Official Opposition, Thomas Mulcair, as well as Members of Parliament Murray Rankin and Randall Garrison, at a forum to discuss pensions and income security for retirees. The event is free and open to the public.

I thought I might share a little of my research as I prepare.

According to BC Stats, 28% of Saanich in 2013 is over the age of 65. In 20 years, that percentage will rise to 37%!

This significant and rapidly increasing percentage reflects not only that Saanich is a destination for retirees and that baby boomers are entering retirement age, but also that seniors are living longer than ever before.

Victorian Lt. Andrew Nuttall's ultimate sacrifice was in aid of the greater good for Afghans

Soldier felt democracy for Afghans was a goal that was worth the risks

BY LANA POPHAM, TIMES COLONISTNOVEMBER 11, 2012

On Dec. 23, 2009, Lt. Andrew Nuttall was on a joint foot patrol with members of the Afghan National Army in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan.

Just after 4 p.m., the soldiers stopped for a quick water break and then turned back to head home, back to base.

A few hundred metres away, members of the Taliban were lying in wait. They activated a trip wire, arming a buried improvised explosive device.

Nuttall was the leader of 12 Platoon, 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. 

He was at the front of the patrol. The explosion ended his life. He was just 30 years old.

Nuttall had been a resident of Saanich South, and his parents continue to live here. Although I didn't know him or his family, I went to the funeral to offer my condolences as the MLA of their constituency.

Youth train trip to Ottawa: relevant and authentic!

Dear Saanich South,

Please note I am going on holidays next week! The Constituency Office remains open regular hours.

I'm very excited to be joining 50 students from Claremont Secondary’s Institute for Global Solutions (and their teachers!) for an amazing adventure.

Tomorrow we depart Vancouver by train en-route to our nation’s capital!

The MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Elizabeth May, is coming too! We will support SD63 talented teachers as the students learn core components of Social Studies 11 and Sustainabilty 11. There will be lots of time on those long hours across the great expanse of Canada for the kids to appreciate our country and learn how democracy should work.

I've even promised to lecture on the rules of "parliamentary practice in BC" if they misbehave!

Update: Community leaders coming together to reopen Saanich Observatory

Dear Saanich South,

How about some goods news regarding efforts to restore public access to Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and reopen the Centre of the Universe?

I have connected over the last two months with more than a dozen community leaders. As it turns out, they all share the same goal: restore public access to the Saanich Observatory!


I’ve received encouragement and input from a group that includes astronomy buffs, the President of the National Research Council (NRC) and the General Manager of the NRC Herzberg; the Presidents of the Royal Astronomy Society of Canada, Victoria Chapter; the President of the Prospect Lake Community Association; UVIC staff, students, Professors and Deans; elected officials at the school board, municipal, provincial and federal levels; successful business owners, tourist operators and astronomy educators in Saanich and the region; the CEO of the Royal BC Museum; BC Government representatives in the areas of heritage, technology and tourism; and of course teachers, parents and children.

Safety improvements to Sayward & Pat Bay complete!

February 2012 Public Meeting

Dear Saanich South,

It was a privilege to spearhead the process that led to these improvements. Smart and realistic input from the public - especially the Cordova Bay community - and good work by many people in the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) led to this. Thanks to all involved!

The changes made were agreed to by the community and MOT after broad discussion, two well-attended community meetings ...and lots of hard work by the MOT.

Times Colonist: We should reopen observatory to the public

Observatory under construction, circa 1916.
Courtesy of BC Archives, Royal BC Museum. 

Times Colonist, Comment Page, A11, by Lana Popham, 29 Oct 2013

Federal budget cuts closed the Saanich Observatory to the public last summer; public effort can ensure it is reopened.

There may be no better place in Canada to look at the stars than right here in Saanich. That is why, 100 years ago, Little Saanich Mountain was chosen as the site for what became the most powerful telescope in the world.

Construction of the observatory began in 1914 under the leadership of Canada’s top astronomer of the day, John Stanley Plaskett. Two years later, the site was ready for the telescope’s 9.5-tonne polar axis. It took 12 draft horses a day and a half to cart it to the top. The final piece needed was an enormous Belgian-cast glass mirror that was carefully turned on its side and rolled like a dime into the Observatory. There it was silvered and mounted in place and the observatory captured its first images on May 6, 1918.

Pat Bay & Sayward work almost done!

Sayward Rd, Oct 17 2013

Dear Saanich South,

I was doorknocking today in the area and I stopped to check out the progress of safety improvements at Sayward and Pat Bay. 

Things are looking good! Should be done in a couple of weeks at most!

Lana 

A day in the life!

Sept 30, 2013 with MLA Gary Holman, Saanich North.
Meetings done for the day in Cranbrook, about to fly to Trail

Dear Saanich South,

It is an honour to be on the BC Legislative Assembly’s “Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services”.

This Committee began its work on September 10 2013 and we will continue to hold public hearings until mid-October. Our primary role is to seek public input on next year’s provincial budget.

The MLA Members of this Committee are: Dan Ashton (Chair), Mike Farnworth (Deputy Chair), Mable Elmore, Eric Foster, Scott Hamilton, Gary Holman, Marvin Hunt, Jackie Tegart, John Yap and me.

The Committee is holding 22 public hearings all over the province.

BC Liberal Government should not have cancelled the Fall Session of the Legislature

What's this you ask? It's BC's Parliamentary Calendar. Did you
know we have legislation that states the BC Legislature will have
a full Spring session and a full Fall session. In fact, we should be

returning to work in the legislature on 1st Monday in October until

the last Thursday of November

PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR ACT, 2007

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the

Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia,

enacts as follows:

Fixed Calendar Established
1 (1) In each calendar year the Legislative Assembly shall meet:

(a) second Tuesday in February to the last Thursday in May inclusive; and
(b) the first Monday in October to the last Thursday in November inclusive.

Dear Saanich South,

The Finance Minister and House Leader held a news conference today to present a quarterly budget update.

He also stated the Legislature will not sit this Fall.

With respect to the budget update: just a few short months ago the BC Government claimed the Budget would have a $197 million surplus. By this June, that surplus estimate was reduced to $153 million. Today it was again re-adjusted downwards to $136 million. And don’t forget, this razor-thin surplus includes a fire-sale of public assets - a one-time infusion of cash that creates a permanent loss to the BC public. At the same time as the government misses its budget targets, the private sector continues to lose jobs and people continue to leave the province to find work.

Art Show & Open House: this Thursday!

Dear Saanich South,

As you know, the office walls of your Saanich South community office regularly display art by local artists.

Currently gracing the office walls are several pieces by local artist Margo Cooper. I first heard of her in the BARA Bugle and I am now pleased to announce the upcoming Art Show and Open House to view her art.

Margo's acrylic and mixed media works explore a range of textures and she uses colours to examine moods and stories.

THURS, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
5:00pm - 7:00pm
4085 Quadra (corner of Nicholson, just north of McKenzie)

Our community garden will be open and light refreshments will be served.

I look forward to seeing you there and talking about the issues of the day.

For more information, please contact my office at 250-479-4154.

Cheers,

Lana

Broadmead Community Day - this Sunday!

Dear Residents of Broadmead!

This Sunday is BARA's much-loved Community Day. 11am - 2pm - at the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre. I'm looking forward to it - hope to see you there!

Don't let the Centre of the Universe go dark!

Don’t let the Centre of the Universe go dark!

Visit the Centre, see the telescope in action, and:

Demonstrate your support for public access to the Saanich Observatory!

Sat Aug 24

Observatory Hill, 5071 West Saanich Rd.

This is the last day the Centre & Observatory are

scheduled to be open to the public.

Local MLAs and MPs will be there to hear your views about this issue

and with a petition you can sign.

Hours 3:30pm    Centre of the Universe opens 5-7:00pm See the Sun through a telescope* 9:00pm    Plaskett telescope turns on* *Weather willing, limited space - arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Admission: Sliding scale, from $5.75 to $13.50 Children under 4 free Family passes available

For more info:

Saanich South MLA Lana Popham | 250.479.4154 | | lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca

saanichsouth.ca or saanichobservatory.ca

Saanich South: Is it in you to give?

My last donation went well! (Dec 2012)

Dear Saanich South,

A defining characteristic of summer is the changing routines: camping trips, days at the park and out of town visitors all work together to throw usual routines out the window. 

One of the downsides of this change to routine is experienced by the Canadian Blood Services. In the summer months, they often experience cancellations or ‘no-shows’ for donor appointments. But need for blood does not take a summer vacation!

Because Canada has a National Blood Inventory, donation downturns reverberate across the country. For instance, several donor clinics in Alberta were closed because of the recent flood and this has caused a significant drop in the amount of blood in the national inventory.

In addition, did you know that the aging Canadian population will increase the need for blood so much that we need to recruit 80,000 new donors for the 2013/14 year alone?

Please help!

On September 3rd, 4th and 5th I will be sponsoring a donor clinic at the University of Victoria. I will be donating on the first day of that clinic and doing my best to encourage others to donate too. I hope that you will help me fill all of the appointments available. The clinic will run from 11:15am to 4:15pm. 

And to sweeten the deal: visit the clinic and you can enter a draw for a beautiful and delicious box of Rogers Chocolates… lovingly made right here in Saanich.

We have to keep our blood sugar up don't we?!

Call 1-888-236-6283 to make your appointment!

An hour out of your day can mean the difference between life and death for someone else.  I hope to see you there!

If you hear this sound, there is an
increased need for donors!

Warm regards,

Lana

Momentum growing to maintain public access to the Saanich Observatory

The Centre of the Universe is perched atop Observatory Hill, next to the most important astrophysical facility in Canada, the Herzberg Institute, and right beside the Dominion Observatory which holds one of Canada's largest and most powerful telescopes. Soon we'll celebrate this telescope's 100th birthday - but will the public be invited to the party?

The Federal Conservative government has announced it is withdrawing the $250,000 needed annually to keep the Centre open.

I'm also concerned that this change could be a prelude to further cuts to the Observatory's funding and that it could be followed by additional restrictions on the public's access to Observatory Hill.

The Saanich Observatory is an important part of Victoria. It is a strong tourist draw, a regular component of the training routine for many cyclists, a beloved destination for star-lovers and amateur astronomers and -- most importantly -- a place where thousands of students have been awed by space and even inspired to pursue the sciences.

Observatory Hill is located within the provincial Constituency of Saanich South and dozens of residents have contacted me already to ask that I work to maintain public access. I will do my very best!

The value of this asset to the public far exceeds the cost of keeping it open. Our challenge is to make that argument persuasively to both levels of government. With your help I am confident we can do it.

This Global News piece to the right will give you an overview of where things are at right now.

I've also included the complete Hansard video of a Question Period exchange on this subject from last week so you can see for yourself what the Provincial Liberal Government is doing about this situation.

This week I am consulting widely with individuals determined to keep the "Centre of the Universe" open and preserve public access to Observatory Hill. I will share our strategy for moving forward soon.

Warm regards,

Lana

Lana Popham
MLA, Saanich South

Join the fight to save the 'Centre of the Universe'

Thousands of students (and many adults too!) have benefited from visiting the "Centre of the Universe".

And if you haven't, you best not delay as there will be only a few more opportunities to do so if the Federal Government carries through on its misguided plan to shut down the public's access to this interactive education Centre at the end of August 2013.

It is one of the only places on the south Island where the public can directly engage with high-level scientific endeavors. Every year many students visit the Centre and gain an appreciation of the power and awesomeness of outer space. Canada needs new generations of scientists and we know that the Centre has inspired many to pursue education and work in scientific fields. We must increase opportunities for our youth to engage with science. The decision to close the Centre takes us in the opposite direction.

The Official Opposition in Ottawa has released a formal petition calling on the government to keep the Centre open. It will be presented to the Federal Parliament in the Fall. You can sign it at my office, 4085 Quadra, Monday-Thursday 9:30am-5:00pm.

Please contact me at lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca if you would like to help in the fight to keep the Centre open.

Best,

Lana.

PS. You can also download the petition here, print it out and collect your own signatures!

Will the Centre of the Universe go dark?

Here is a statement I made last week in the BC Legislature regarding a decision by the Federal Government to close the Centre of the Universe.

Thank you

Dear Saanich South,

Thank you for re-electing me as your Member of the Provincial Legislature!

The Constituency Office has resumed regular hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:30am-5:00pm. Fridays by appointment.

4085 Quadra St. (North of McKenzie)

Phone: 250.479.4154. Email: lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca

Cheers, Lana

Site Closed

Dear Saanich South,

On April 16 2013, the Lieutenant Governor will issue a "writ of election" which will dissolve the Legislative Assembly of BC and begin a 30 day election period regulated by Elections BC.

After April 16 I will no longer be an MLA and cannot do any work as an MLA. I will be one of several candidates running for re-election in Saanich South.

However, the Saanich South constituency office will remain active and Constituency Assistant Erika Rolston will be available to assist constituents with urgent or emergency issues. She can be reached at 250 479 4154 or erika.rolston@leg.bc.ca. Frequently requested information is available at saanichservices.ca

We did it! 7% decrease in cost of bikes, bike repairs and bike equipment

MLAs Doug Routley and Lana Popham standing in front of
Capital City Bikes at the finish of one of our
‘No HST on BIKES in BC’ rallies

Dear Cyclists,

Thank you for joining with me to fight the government and make cycling more affordable in BC.

Our activism helped highlight a significant problem with the HST and strengthened the larger battle against it.

With the end of BC's HST on April 1 2013, the PST exemption on bikes, bike repairs and bike equipment has been restored. 

Our cycling bills are now 7% less expensive.

A little context:

For almost thirty years, bikes (and bike expenses like repairs, helmets and locks) have been PST exempt. Why? Because successive governments agreed it made no sense to tax such a healthy and environmentally-friendly form of transportation.

This rationale has only become stronger over time as we’ve learned more about the benefits of healthy living and the importance of reducing our carbon emissions. The more we can encourage people to ride bikes rather than drive cars, the better it is for everyone. It means less traffic congestion, less wear and tear on our roads and potentially lower health-care costs.

That was why I took the fight to the government on this issue. With your help we forced them to justify how jacking up the price of a bike is going to help make B.C. more sustainable or encourage more people to make healthy lifestyle choices. We forced them to explain how this action advanced their so-called Climate Action Plan? And of course they couldn’t.

A government that increases taxes on green transportation is a government traveling in the wrong direction.

It was my privilege to work on this issue. I took the lead on everything from creating a network of bike shops and bike enthusiasts across the province, developing and promoting a petition (that gathered 5000+ signatures) and organizing several rallies, one of which brought together hundreds of people at the Legislature and drove a lot of media attention to the issue. 

There is much more that we can and should do to encourage cycling in BC.  I look forward to hearing your views on how this can be done and also to sharing with you my own perspective.

For now let me just say: squeaky wheels got the grease!

Lana Popham

MLA Saanich South

www.saanichsouth.ca | www.squeakywheels.ca

Art Show & Open House: March 28, 2013

Dear Saanich South,

I hope to see you there!

Lana

Practical response to concerns over Smart Meters

Keri Sculland, Alberni Valley Times

Thank you John Horgan!

John Horgan is the MLA for Juan de Fuca and the Official Opposition Energy Critic. His response to Smart Meter concerns is an example of how practical approaches can be taken to address complex problems.

John Horgan and the Opposition have called on the BC Utilities Commission to review Smart Meters. One piece of the puzzle will be to consider options to empower people to opt-out of smart meters altogether. In Quebec, residents can pay a modest amount to offset the cost of a hardwired meter - that seems like a practical idea. It would certainly be preferable than the current situation for many people.

Opposition to GM apple on the rise

Okanagan Specialty Fruits/New York Times

Dear Saanich South,

It is a very busy time at the Legislature - we are trying to get as much business done as possible during the last of our all-too-few sittings for this term. One of an MLAs roles is to present petitions to the Legislative Assembly. Today I will be presenting one that concerns an issue that I know is important to many Saanich South residents.

This petition, signed by more than 5500 BC residents, calls on the BC Legislature to “take urgent action to halt the commercial introduction of a genetically modified apple”.

A small BC company, Okanagan Specialty Fruits has licensed technology it claims produces a “non-browning” apple. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently considering an application to allow this apple to be produced commercially.

Today I again ask the BC Ministry of Agriculture to stop avoiding this issue and listen to the thousands of consumers, farmers and stakeholders who are demanding their government actively oppose growing genetically modified apples in BC.

The effect of this genetic modification is that it will make it harder to see bruises and discolouration - but those are important visual cues people use before deciding to take a bite. It is irresponsible for this government to stand idly by while a single commercial interest risks the excellent reputation of the entire BC fruit industry.

Dear Saanich South,

Many of you know that I was a full-time farmer before entering politics, so I really enjoy reconnecting with farmers and value their ideas for improving agriculture in BC. As the Agriculture Critic, I am very excited to be participating in the Farmer2Farmer conference this Thursday.

This event, allowing farmers to network extensively, was organized by the CR-FAIR (Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable) and features a full day of farmer-focused learning. Some of the items on the agenda include workshops on selecting crops and preserving excess products; discussions exploring farm planning and institutional selling; and expert panels sharing information about organic certification and direct marketing.

I am honoured to be a part of the welcome wagon, along with other officials. From 11:30 – noon, I will host a Q&A session, “Grill Your Agriculture Critic”, before I head back to the Legislative Assembly.

To register, or for more information, check out their website http://farmer2farmer.ca/. Only one more day to register!

Information about CR-FAIR and their programs and projects can be found on their website at www.communitycouncil.ca/initiatives/crfair/index.html 

Lana

'Tis the season to be seeding....

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to send out a quick reminder that it is time to plan and get seeds for your 2013 growing season. 

We are fortunate on southern Vancouver Island to have great growing conditions and several Seedy Saturday (and one Seedy Sunday) options.

These dates are advertised on the website called “Seeds of Diversity” (www.seeds.ca ). If you know of any more southern Vancouver Island Seedy Saturdays, not listed here, please let me know and I will update this page.

Student Employment Opportunity - Summer 2013

Post-secondary students are invited to apply as Summer Tour Guides or as Parliamentary Players.

These positions run from April 29 to September 2, 2013 with the average work week about 30 hours long.

Full job descriptions and application forms can be found at http://www.leg.bc.ca/postings/.