One heck of a week!

Dear Saanich South,

I hope you are all well and are finding time to enjoy the weekend. Last week was super busy for me and I would like to share a few of the highlights with you.

But first: I'm pleased to invite you to join me in welcoming Alexandra Morton to Saanich on Saturday May the 8th.

Alex is a renowned biologist and a leading expert on BC salmon. She is completing a 500 km walk from the northern part of Vancouver island to Victoria in order to raise awareness about the need to improve fish farming practices in order to save our rapidly disappearing wild salmon stocks.

Click here to read a Globe and Mail article about her. And you can watch a very interesting news story about the walk on /A\ Channel by clicking here. The beautiful picture you see is a young Nimpkish Dancer during a ceremony this week at the start of Alex's walk.

My event takes place at 12:30pm on Saturday, May the 8th at my office, 4085 Quadra St. (.5 km North of Mackenzie). We will welcome Alex and the other walkers on the last day of their "migration". And then those who are able will join with her and walk the final six kilometers to downtown Victoria. A great way to get some exercise!

There will be a free barbecue salmon at 2pm at Centennial Square and rally at the Legislature at 4pm. Let’s make sure Sockeye are around for our grandchildren. Find out more at salmonaresacred.org

Ok, my week! Let me just start by saying I had a miserable cold the whole time! Anyway, I'm feeling better now and here is what I've been up to as your MLA....

I started the week off on Sunday with some fun: I attended a 5 km walk at Beaver Lake in support of families raising children with autism. I had a great time chatting and enjoying the passion of the crowd. What a dedicated group! Please check out my website, autismstories.ca, to read about the personal impact of cuts to intensive therapy for children with autism. You can connect with the local group working on this issue by visiting their facebook page.

After the walk, I went to the Sikh Temple on Topaz Street – it was Vasaki after all! Best wishes to all the celebrants. I enjoyed a wonderful meal in the Temple dining room. (This is a meal that is provided free every Sunday to everyone. It was delicious!)

On Monday, I started receiving more calls about booming cannons in the Blenkinsop Valley. It seems a local farm is firing off canons to scare away the Canadian Geese. They are eating the new foliage on a very large blueberry farms – this can severely damage and even kill new plants. However, the noise is also really upsetting a lot of their neighbours. If you are one of them, please visit my website, blenkinsopvalley.ca to register your complaint. I am collecting information to better understand what is happening and to look for opportunities to improve the situation.

Early in the week I met with colleagues and Ministry staff regarding a number of issues including significant legislative or regulatory changes to the way in which Veterinarians and Optometrists are regulated in B.C. The Veterinarians Act falls under my critic portfolio so I am preparing for debate by studying the proposed amendments to the act, section by section by section. It's very interesting!

In the House, I presented a Private Member’s Motion calling for a made-in-BC food security plan. You watch that by clicking here.

On Thursday, coughing and sniffling, I travelled to Vancouver for a 7 am breakfast meeting with real estate leaders about the ALR. It was a forum on topical issues confronting the commercial development industry. It was quite interesting to hear the tug of war between panel members. Did you know the Fraser Institute blames the ALR for unaffordable housing? And they think 'local food is a fad' and that the environmental and nutritional benefits of organic food are myths. Hmmmmm......

Speaking of the ALR! It was the ALR 37th birthday this week and I joined other supporters of agriculture in celebrating this milestone and calling for renewed vigilance to protect our precious and dwindling farmland.

After the breakfast, I rushed back to Victoria in time to speak at a tree-planting and memorial on Shelbourne Street. It was a moving experience as we grieved and acknowledged the loss to Canada of Myles Mansell and Lt. Richard Nuttal, both of whom are loved and remembered by many in Saanich. They died fighting in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2009, respectively. I attended the funeral of Lt. Andrew Nuttall back in December and was struck by the strength of his family. I was very fortunate to meet his mom and dad at the tree planting this week. They are wonderful people.

With my kleenex box in tow, I met mid-week with the Saanich School Board Trustees. They have to make some harsh budgeting decisions in the next ten days. After our meeting, I rose in the House and raised the issue of inadequate funding for our schools with the Minister of Education during Question Period. I believe we need to do a better job at working collaboratively with education professionals in the schools. At current budget levels our children will lose library hours and kids with special needs will lose important teaching aids. Music programs are even at risk. At this rate I wonder what will become of our public education system......

With my cold at a high point, I gave a half hour speech opposing the HST. (Not my most energetic performance!) I focused on my experience of the debate in the House and the impact of the HST in the Comox Valley and Quadra Island, where I grew up. You can watch that by clicking here. I will have another 30 minute opportunity to speak about the HST and will be focusing on the effects we will feel in Saanich South.

On Wednesday we also finalized a few details for a public forum on “Highway Safety at the intersection of Sayward Road and the Pat Bay highway". This event will take place June 15, 2010, 7-8:30pm at Cordova Bay Elementary School. All are welcome. More details to be announced. Please help me learn about your experiences at this dangerous intersection by taking a few minutes to complete my short survey.

On Wednesday I also taped my Constituency Report with Shaw TV. (It will air Saturday May 8 at 5:30 pm and Sunday May 9, at 3 pm.) Why so much TV action when I could barely breath is beyond me! But I think it turned out well and I was able to toss a salad "live" and talk about what is available from our local farms and gardens at this time of year. I have included the recipe I used on the show. You can look for these local ingredients at farmers markets starting now.

BC Spring Kale Salad

• Bunch of Kale
• Bunch Flat Leaf Parsley
• 2 BC Apples
• Handful Toasted BC Hazelnuts/Filberts
• Cup of cubed local cheese (your choice)

Chop Kale finely in strips. De-stem and Chop Parsley. Cube apple. Cube Cheese. Toast nuts. Toss! Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Eat your kale it is good for you!

Thursday night after the session ended, I drank a strong coffee and drove to Campbell River. In the morning I met up with Fin Donnelly, a MP in New Westminster/Coquitlam/Port Moody. Fin is the Federal Aquaculture Critic. We were there to learn more about fish farms. This is the second such tour I have done in less than a year. We visited an open-net fish farm and a closed containment fish farm. I learned a lot!

Whew! So now it's the weekend and I'm feeling all better! And yes, this weekend I got a little down time with my family and even planted a few seeds in my garden.

Thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Cheers, Lana

PS. I usually send this update out to my email list but because of a computer break-down, I can`t do that today. If you would share this with your friends and families I would be grateful. Thanks.

Walk for Wild Salmon - May 8th

Hi,

Happy Earth Day!

You are invited to my office and gardens on Saturday May 8th at 12:30 pm for a welcoming celebration and walk for Alexandra Morton.

There will be refreshments, and those who choose will walk the final six kilometers along Quadra St with Alexandra to a barbecue salmon reception at Centennial Square at 2 pm and then a rally at the Legislature at 4pm.

Alexandra Morton is a powerful voice speaking out against industrial aquaculture and its harmful effects on wild salmon. For almost 30 years, she has studied the impact of fish farming on wild salmon and her research has been published in 17 journals. Last month she received an honourary doctorate from Simon Fraser University, and she is recognized internationally as an expert on BC's wild salmon. She recently won a lawsuit against the government, forcing the Federal government to live up to its constitutional duty to protect our waters and regulate fish farms. Her goal is ensure that our wild BC salmon does not end up like the destroyed Atlantic Cod stocks - but instead that the wild stocks are a vibrant part of a healthy ecosystem.

On May 8th, Alex will complete her walk from the top part of Vancouver island all the way to Victoria. Her goal is simple: “If we want wild salmon, British Columbians need to send government a very clear message: this nonsense is over, get salmon farms out of the ocean and let Canadians reinvent this industry on land.”

Please RSVP to lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca

All the best,

Lana,

Lana Popham, MLA
Saanich South

RAIN OR SHINE

For more information, please visit saanichsouth.ca or salmonaresacred.org.

--

The Get Out Migration Begins
A people’s movement to protect the fish that built BC – wild salmon

(April 22, 2010, Sointula, BC) After 20 years of expressing concern to governments that won’t listen and have shielded Norwegian salmon farms from the laws of Canada, the public of British Columbia is taking to the streets to get industrial salmon farming out of the ocean and away from their wild salmon.

The Get Out Migration begins today with an evening send-off from the fishing village of Sointula. Tomorrow morning the Namgis First Nation will perform a ceremony at the Nimpkish River at 10am for the group walking into the mountains.

 “Get Out for Wild Salmon” released today on www.salmonaresacred.org org> shows Biologist Alexandra Morton leaving the Meetup River with the young wild salmon and the send off by the Broughton First Nation village Gwa'yasdams Village. “When International companies come in here and lay waste to our territory we have a problem with that,” said elected chief Bob Chamberlin.

Anissa Reed of Ocean Aura and one of the planners says, “people absolutely hold salmon sacred. The outpouring to the Get Out Migration of artwork, volunteers organizing awesome events in every town, offering us shelter in their homes is a demonstration of the attachment British Columbians have to wild salmon. We expect thousands to participate.”

“Government has ignored its own studies on salmon farming since 1989. This is exactly how we lost the food security, thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars that the North Atlantic cod brought to Canada.  “We in BC do not intend to play out this tragedy again,” says Alexandra Morton, “government must support the families dependant on this industry as it is removed from the ocean onto land.”

On April 16, 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) had to instruct DFO to lay charges against Norwegian fish farm company Marine Harvest, for unlawful possession of wild salmon and herring.  “This offence was reported to DFO last year, why did it require the DOJ to lay a straightforward charge?” asks Morton. “If we want wild salmon, British Columbians need to send government a very clear message this nonsense is over, get salmon farms out of the ocean and let Canadians reinvent this industry on land.”
 The Get Out Migration has spread to other towns. For details http://www.salmonaresacred.org/itinerary

Private Member's Motion in the Legislature: We need a food security plan for BC!

We need a made-in-B.C. food security plan right now.

Private Member's Motion, April 19, 2010.

If the video isn't available above, click here.

Private Members' Motions

FOOD SECURITY
AND PRODUCTION PLAN FOR B.C.

L. Popham: I move: 

Be it resolved that this House debate and discuss a made in BC food security and production plan.

What is a food security plan? A food security plan refers to the availability of food, one's access to it and a comprehensive plan to make sure these things are addressed. The necessity of having such a plan is becoming more crucial year by year, as we understand the effects of climate change on agricultural capacity around the world. 

In B.C. we have been neglecting our food security plan because we have had easy access to imported food. As a result, up to this point we have almost abandoned our potential for self-sufficiency. We are becoming more and more reliant on imports. 

The places we are importing from are regions that will be first affected by the devastating impacts of climate change. In fact, we see this happening already. We see California facing water shortages, the salinity issue. We see Florida wrestling with temperature fluctuations that destroy their crops. In other areas of the world we are seeing extreme weather as well. 

B.C. is not immune to climate change effects, but we have resilience, given our diverse topographies. This doesn't mean, however, that we have the luxury of sitting back and doing nothing. We should be taking the time to develop a made-in-B.C. food security and production plan. 

The government released a study in 2006 called B.C.'s Food Self-Reliance. The goal of this study was to get a perspective on total food production and food self-reliance using farm-gate production values. There was an interesting disclaimer at the beginning of this report which states that this "report is an information piece and does not necessarily represent current or future policy direction." 

It continues to establish that "the statistical data in the report is factual and will be used to develop benchmarks for further research and study." This disclaimer is relevant to my motion, because there is information in this report that leads me to question why the B.C. government is not fully committed to making sure B.C. has a food security plan in place. 

Sustainable B.C. is a vision of our province. As B.C. politicians, we need to be dedicated to building a sustainable society that nurtures us, and food security is a large part of that vision. Healthful food for consumers and increased local and provincial food self-sufficiency are essential for a sustainable society. This requires a protected agricultural land base, environmentally sustainable farm practices and economic viability for B.C. food producers. 

To produce a healthy diet for the projected B.C. population in 2025, B.C. farmers will need to have 2.78 million hectares in production, of which 281,000 will need access to irrigation. This means that to produce a healthy diet for B.C. in 2025, given existing production technology, the farmland with access to irrigation will have to increase by 92,000 hectares, or 49 percent over the 2005 levels. That's one of the undisputed facts from the report that this government released. 

Where should we look for leadership, and what ministry should we work with in order to make a food security plan a reality here in B.C.? We could look at our communities, we could look at our grass-roots organizations, and we could look at our consumers for leadership. They are demanding more priority be put on local food production. 

It seems we cannot look at the current government. This government fails to make food production a priority, even though they commissioned a study to prove it was critical for British Columbia. The budget for agriculture in B.C. has dropped year after year, and it's at a level now that I believe makes the Ministry of Agriculture ineffective. When we look at a massive decision in our province that we are facing right now — all decisions — we need to continually visit our food security situation as a province. A decision to take away most fertile land at a time when the facts tell us we need to add to our land base works against the idea of food security. 

When will food security be a priority? Sadly, food security around the world becomes important when food supplies are not secure and access to food is threatened. The B.C. government has an opportunity to plan for our future, and this should be a future where food security is not in doubt. We need a made-in-B.C. food security plan right now. 

http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/39th2nd/H00419x.htm

Autism Awareness Walk - Sunday April 18

Please join me!

saanichservices.ca

As your Saanich South MLA, I am happy to introduce saanichservices.ca.

The goal of this website is to provide an easy to use and up-to-date list of contacts for the most commonly used services in our community.

I created this site because the dizzying variety of inquiries at my constituency office has demonstrated how difficult it is to find key numbers and addresses for federal, provincial, regional and local services. It can feel like a maze but it doesn't need to. On this site you will find the contact information that is most requested by Saanich residents.

It is a privilege to serve the people of Saanich South.

Kind regards,

Lana.

Community Ride on the Shelbourne Corridor!

Calling all Cyclists!

Join me for a fun community bike ride to celebrate cycling on the Shelbourne corridor!

Sunday April 11. Meet at Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Road.

Depart: 11:00 am.

Cycle from Gordon Head Rec Centre to Shelbourne Plaza (Pear St.)

Slow pace, suitable for families and children.

Police will give us an escort and provide a rolling road closure!

The event continues until 2 pm and includes a bike rodeo and prizes such as a draw for a bike trailer!

Special thanks to the District of Saanich, Rider’s Cycles, UVIC and the Saanich Police.

Hope to see you there!

Lana

Loss of autism program is devastating

[Catherine: thank you for writing this personal and powerful statement. Lana.]


Parents helpless as children regress, thanks to government's decision

BY CATHERINE CLARK-TURNQUIST, SPECIAL TO TIMES COLONIST

April 2 2010

On the last day of Queen Alexandra's early intervention program for preschool-aged children with autism, a little boy gave me a spontaneous hug. He was about four years old, the same age as my son, and equally non-verbal. I'd noticed him before. He's a very cute child. I had never seen him make eye contact or touch anyone. I certainly hadn't imagined he'd ever noticed me. Yet here he was, squeezing my knees with an abandon that moved me to tears. He may not have been able to talk to me, but I felt as though I were hearing the quiet voice of the divine.

What is happening to these small, fragile voices now that Queen Alexandra's program closed its doors due to the decisions of Children and Family Development Minister Mary Polak?

This is what's happening: Parents are watching helplessly as their children, who had just begun to speak (at age five), gradually slip back into grunting. Parents are gritting their teeth as children who had finally mastered toilet training are falling back into incontinence.
They're having to take time off work or quit altogether because their children have been asked to leave preschool due to aggressive anti-social behaviour -- behaviour that had been improving before Queen Alexandra's program closure.

Families are suffering because they cannot afford to pay private agencies for the treatment their children need. There is no longer a publicly funded option. Marriages are faltering as the financial and emotional stress grinds them relentlessly downward, day after discouraging day.

The siblings of these children are constantly starved for their parents' attention. Spouses have no time for each other. Daily life is so exhausting and overwhelming that even the laundry backlog can make them sit down and cry.
Any spare moment is often spent saying a silent prayer that somehow their children will find a way to cope with kindergarten in September. Never mind blossoming, thriving, making new friends and being happy. Just let them survive. Please God keep the bullies away.

Minister Polak and her cabinet colleagues know that these families are permanently pushed to the limit. They are fully aware that parents have precious little time to spare for political wrangling. They rely on this, waiting them out, wearing them down and hoping they'll get so tired they'll just go away.

We're still here.

Queen Alexandra and other centres around B.C. may have lost their early intensive autism treatment programs, but the fight is not over. We, the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will continue to advocate for children with autism, those yet to be diagnosed and those still unborn.

Our commitment will outlast any cabinet stint or election cycle. Minister Polak may eventually wonder if dealing such a damaging blow to children and families was really worth saving a few dollars.

The adorable little boy who was so full of affection just a couple of months ago recently came to a reunion playdate at a park. He was unable to get out of the wagon his mom had brought him in, or to stop crying. He couldn't play with any of his former school friends. He simply couldn't cope with the social situation. It was heartbreaking.

Minister Polak is failing children in this province, supposedly in the name of deficit reduction. Where was she when government announced a new $145-million program to help homeowners outside Victoria and the Lower Mainland? Desperate parents this minister has abandoned will now be subsidizing owners of $2-million homes in Whistler. Compare this to her argument of "fairness" when she axed our children's treatment.

Responsible government MLAs, and they do exist, need to speak up quickly to help this government regain its moral compass and ability to govern.

Is your MLA speaking up? Phone or e-mail today and ask.
[Tell the Premier to fund EIBI now: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca]

Catherine Clark-Turnquist is a Victoria mother of two boys, one of whom had been in the early intensive behavioural intervention program.

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Comment+Loss+autism+program+devastating/2756096/story.htm

The Top Four Reasons I Oppose the HST

• First, the HST will shift 1.9 billion dollars onto consumers and small businesses. The HST will increase the taxes on all sorts of things including funerals, hydro bills, restaurant meals, a cup of coffee, and a haircut. The list goes on and on and the cost to you will be significant. For those on a fixed or low income, this additional burden may be devastating. Everyone will have to pay the same tax, regardless of their income or  ability to pay. 
• Second, the government does not have a mandate from the public for such a profound change to our tax system. During the last election, they promised not to introduce an HST. The HST is a betrayal of the public trust. In addition, the government has failed to convince the public that such a tax is necessary or hold a debate on taxation options. It defies common sense that what is now being touted by the government as the single biggest thing we can do to help the economy of BC, was not even on the radar of the government before the election. It is a question of trust and respect for the citizens of the province. 
• Third, the HST is part of an agreement with the federal government that limits and restricts the province's ability to make its own taxation decisions. This is an important power that our MLAs should not sign away. 
• Fourth, the HST is not grounded in the principles of sustainability. We need tax policy that addresses the environmental crisis we are in…and this tax fails that test. A government that raises taxes on green transportation choices like bicycles is a government travelling in the wrong direction. 

Can we learn from our mistakes?

Today is the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, one of the worst environmental disasters in human history. At the same time, the B.C. government is continuing to push a plan that would see tankers filled with Alberta’s dirty tar sand oil traveling past our beautiful wilderness, and travelling B.C. waters. We all know how dangerous these waters can be. An accident is inevitable and the repercussions would be catastrophic.

THEN
On March 24, 1989, the ExxonMobil tanker, the Exxon Valdez, struck a reef and in less than six hours it released more than forty million litres of crude oil into the pristine waters off Alaska’s shore. The oil eventually covered more than 3400 sq kilometres of ocean with devastating consequences. There was mass mortality of mammals and seabirds, including twenty two Orca whales, an estimated two hundred thousand seabirds and untold millions of fish. More than two thousand kilometres of coastline were contaminated with oil. Even today, tens of thousands of litres of oil remain on the shoreline and many animals – including Cormorants, Harbor seals and Pacific Herring – have not recovered.

AND NOW
The B.C. government is refusing to support a moratorium on oil tanker traffic in coastal waters like the Hectate Strait or our own inland passage. We all know how dangerous the coastal BC waters can be. It was just four years ago that the BC Ferry Queen of the North went down. Human error is inevitable and if oil tankers travel our waters it is just a matter of time before there is an accident – and that could result in millions of litres of oil washing up on our shores.

And yet, the government is pushing for the creation of a massive pipeline from the Alberta tar sands to Kitimat, just north of Vancouver Island. From there, the oil would be loaded onto tankers and begin their perilous journey.

All the First Nations in the area are unanimously opposed: the potential for a catastrophic accident is simply too great. Oil would be moved across pristine rainforest ecosystems, over one thousand streams and rivers. Most of the land endangered is traditional First Nations land. And then the oil would have to be moved through fragile ocean waterways.

To get a sense of what an accident would look like try to imagine hundreds of litres of oil washing up on Cordova Bay or Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Imagine the cost of cleaning this up. Imagine the impact on tourism and wildlife, on our health and on our quality of life.

To make matters worse, the BC government is cheer-leading a plan that is all about using Alberta’s tar sand oil. This is the stuff that Al Gore calls the ‘dirtiest possible alternative’ for producing fuel. The proposed pipeline would increase tar sands oil production by thirty percent. Tar sands oil creates three to four times more greenhouse gas emissions than regular oil.

The plan makes a mockery of the government’s climate change goals. At a time when we desperately need to control emissions and slow down global warming, this could not be a more irresponsible choice.

Please join me in letting the government know that you are opposed to this plan. Contact Premier Cambell at premier@gov.bc.ca or (250) 387-1715.

You can also find out more information and contact Enbridge directly by visiting this website: www.pipeupagainstenbridge.ca/

Lana.

B.C. premier Gordon Campbell’s new bike clothes

Georgia Straight, March 18, 2010
By Lana Popham

We all know the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about the self-absorbed emperor who foolishly believes he is wearing a suit made of cloth that is visible only to those who are intelligent and upstanding. He can’t see the cloth himself, but pretends otherwise so as to not lose face. As he parades naked through the town, a child calls out “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!” and the obvious truth is revealed.

I was reminded of this story recently while watching a video clip from 2008 on the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Web site. Premier Gordon Campbell is dressed in his finest cycling outfit and proudly announcing $31 million for cycling infrastructure.

The video is still featured on the government’s site, and the press release of $31 million is still trumpeted as news. Their promise is exciting:

Cyclists throughout British Columbia will benefit from new, safe and high-quality cycling trails, bike lanes, bike lockers and more, thanks to Bike BC, a $31-million program for cycling infrastructure.


Bike BC is one of the largest investments the Province has ever made in building and improving cycling infrastructure in communities across the province. This will enhance cycling as an option for people to commute, run errands or spend their leisure time.


The program is a strategic investment to build important cycling corridors of regional and provincial significance and will be awarded province wide over the next three years. Some possible projects are new bike trails and cycling lanes, improvements to existing cycling infrastructure, and providing for bike lockers and other equipment that makes cycling a safer and more convenient option for travelers.


Cycling is a key component of the Province’s strategy for encouraging healthy living and addressing climate change, in conjunction with the Climate Action Plan and the Provincial Transit Plan.

This was an exciting moment for cyclists, cycling advocacy groups, people who support green transportation, and people who believe fighting climate change should be a priority. And it was a moment of relief: the government promised three years of support for initiatives that could address so many things for so many people.

But it was not to be.

No matter how long they continue to try and take credit for this progressive step, the fact is it is a step that was never taken.

The $31 million was cancelled just as surely as the cycling infrastructure was never completed. In fact, funding for cycling support was cut in the budget this month by more than 66 percent. Another broken promise.

And to add insult to injury, the HST will create a seven-percent increase in the cost of bikes, bike gear, and bike repairs. For 30 years there was a PST exemption for these expenses, with successive governments recognizing the health and environmental benefits of cycling. With the imposition of the HST, this government is creating a new disincentive to cycling.

So here is the problem for the government. And believe me it’s a big problem. They have disappointed and deceived a very potent constituency in British Columbia. This is a group who is not necessarily defined by their political stripes, by their age, by their income level, or by any other demographic. This is a group that spans the political spectrum and the province, and they are frustrated and bewildered by this flip flop. It’s three years until the next election—and these people are going to remember.

I think everybody understands our province is going through a period of economic turmoil. We get that. What we don’t understand is how a government can change its values. Values should not be affected by the economy.

In the case of this government, they have gone from touting cycling as key component of the province’s strategy for encouraging healthy living and addressing climate change, to creating a new tax and pretending it’s to fund healthcare.

So it is left for me to say it: the bike clothes are gone and this premier isn’t wearing anything at all.

Lana Popham is a avid cyclist and the MLA for Saanich South on Vancouver Island. Her Web site www.squeakywheels.ca is bringing together cyclists who want the B.C. government to be bike-friendly again.


Original article: http://www.straight.com/article-298838/vancouver/lana-popham-bc-premier-gordon-campbells-new-bike-clothes

CrossRoads: Transportation Forum on Wednesday March 31

Dear Friends,

A few months ago, I attended an event in Vancouver and heard Gordon Price, the Director of the City Program at SFU. He is very knowledgeable and an amazing communicator. I think his contributions could help us make better transportation decisions.

Please join me for keynote address by Gordon Price and a panel discussion with local experts for an evening of thoughtful discussion.

The event takes place at UVIC in the Human and Social Development Building, A240. (Click here for a map.)

I hope to see you soon!

Best,

Lana

PS. The poster with all the details is below. I would be grateful if you could help circulate the event info. The event is free and open to the public.

Click here to download a poster.

A Quick but Important Survey

If the survey does not load correctly, you can also access it by clicking here.

Update: A Week in the House!

Dear Saanich South,

Hello everyone! As you know, the BC Legislature resumed sitting just over a week ago and I've been going full-out on your behalf. It is a privilege, thank you!

A few brief updates...

Cycling

More than 5000 cyclists are now supporting my efforts to "make the BC government bike-friendly again". We had a fantastic rally. In the process, we've exposed an inconvenient truth: the BC government is undermining its own green initiatives with decisions such as the recent one to raise taxes on bikes, bike gear, and bike repairs by 7%. Visit my website www.squeakywheels.ca or watch this three minute /A\ Channel news report about it.

Our government is currently giving tax breaks to the most polluting forms of transportation and raising taxes on the most environmentally friendly forms of transportation! They've got it backwards.

Safe Roads in Saanich

There was another serious accident at Sayward and the Pat Bay Highway on Tuesday. Ironically, the day before it happened I spoke up in the Legislature and demanded the government prioritize improvements for this intersection. It is one of the most dangerous on the Vancouver Island and a government-commissioned report has highly recommended low-cost improvements be made immediately. Here is a short Hansard clip of what I said in the House. (All of the following clips are from Hansard and many not work on all browsers.)

Autism

In the last week I also rose in the Legislature to speak about the very problematic decision to cut funding for intensive therapy for children with autism. Early Intensive Behaviour Therapy (EIBI) is proven to produce significant results, allowing children to experience a tremendous improvement in the quality of their life. It also saves us millions in long-term care costs and leads to millions of dollars in economic value as autistic children are better able to contribute meaningfully to society. I join with many in working to persuade Minister Polak to reconsider this decision. In the Legislature, I spoke about one constituent in a particular, Hollie Davis, and her wonderful son Cooper. A short video clip is here.

Agriculture

As a farmer, this subject is incredibly important to me. I was very frustrated that in the Budget presented this week the government decided to again slash funding from agricultural supports. Our BC Orchards are facing extinction, unable to compete with products dumped in from nearby states or driven in from thousands of kilometres away. Our cattleman are asked to work in near impossible business conditions and under a deeply flawed regulatory regime. And the current government is walking away.

Buy BC! For example, now is the time for great local apples and squash. In a few months, the fresh local strawberries and so much more will be here. (Just hold on, the wait will make you enjoy them even more!)

At the Legislature, I spoke out about the importance of protecting our Agricultural Land Reserve and the necessity to improve food security.

Sustainability

As you know, it is my guiding political principle. I was proud of the speech made this week by my colleague, Bob Simpson, MLA for Cariboo North, and the Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. In a short paragraph he concluded his Response to the Budget with a clear expression of what sustainability means and why it is so important. Click here to watch that video clip.

Hope you are well. Please keep in touch.

Lana Popham

PS. Now I'm off to Vancouver to work all weekend!

Bike Rally Follow-up

Thanks to everyone who helped make the bike rally on Wednesday such a sucesss. The weather was superb and the crowd was even better! Here are a few videos of the event, made by people in the crowd: pedal power!

(If you are on facebook and the videos don't show up, click here.)

/A\ News Report on the No HST on Bikes Rally

Bike Rally Update!

Hi,

The bike rally is this Wednesday at noon at the Legislature. Here is one last update for you.

Petition

The petition has spiked again and is now at over 4600! Thanks to everyone for helping make this so successful.

If you are still collecting hard-copies, make sure to email (lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca) or fax (250.479.4176) them in by 12 pm on Tuesday March 2. That is the deadline for the petition. I will present it to the Legislature on Wednesday afternoon.

Rally

Almost 300 people have RSVP’d on Facebook so we are expecting a great turnout. Rain or shine! We’ve got a super line-up of speakers. This is an important moment to celebrate cycling and to let the government know what we think of their plan to hike taxes on bikes. Don’t miss it!

(If you are in Nanaimo, there is a connected event happening this Wednesday at 4pm at the corner of Comox and Terminal. Details on Facebook.)

Do you want to attend Question Period? I’ve reserved twelve seats for people who want to stick around for QP. It is definitely something worth experiencing and it should be quite charged as the Budget is being introduced tomorrow. Email me by Tuesday at 3 pm if you want a ticket. I’ll need your full name and you’ll need to bring ID and be ready to go by 1:30 pm on Wednesday. (QP starts around 2 pm.)

Rationale

A few people have asked me why I am pushing on this issue so hard when there are many other equally good reasons to oppose the HST.

It is true that for me and many people, the first objection is one of principle: the current government promised during the recent election campaign that they would not introduce an HST. Once in power they quickly announced it as fait accompli. We must call them on this broken promise.

But this HST is also an assault on green initiatives. As an environmentalist, that is something that I have to speak out about. The bike issue is simply an excellent example of what is wrong with the HST. Also, I`m an avid cyclist myself so this issue is close to my heart. Further, this effort fits in very well with the larger anti-HST campaign. Finally, many people in Saanich South brought this issue to me and asked me to act on it.

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.

In fact, it was Hugh Curtis, a Socred Finance Minister who first made this decision. In a Budget Speech in 1981, he said that cycling would be PST exempt because “it is consistent with a healthier, quieter and more energy-efficient society.”

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.

I wonder if the B.C. government can explain how jacking up the price of a bike is going to help make B.C. more sustainable or encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices. How does this possibly advance B.C.’s Climate Action Plan? 

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

I am of the view that we need to create incentives for green transportation and disincentives for more polluting forms of transportation. Standing up for cyclists as an Opposition MLA is one way that I can help keep the pressure on.

What is Next?

The drive to stop the HST is just ramping up. The fighthst.com campaign is at the forefront and I will be supporting their efforts.

In terms of cycling, my petition and the rally are just the beginning. In the process of organizing these efforts, I’ve created a new BC network with thousands of cyclists and hundreds of bike stores and cycling coalitions.

We are a potent province-wide constituency that includes people from all walks of life and a range of political views.

I won’t stop until we are successful in making the BC government bike-friendly again. 

Squeaky wheels get the grease!

Thanks so much for your support,

Lana

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

250.479.4154

lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca

Visit www.squeakywheels.ca for more info.

Times Colonist: Strata owners to launch petition against HST

Strata owners to launch petition against HST

Group fears condo owners will be hit harder when tax starts July 1

By Andrew A. Duffy, Times Colonist February 23, 2010

Another arrow has been added to the quiver of those fighting the harmonized sales tax, as a group of strata owners have come together to launch a petition against the tax.

With the help of Lana Popham, the NDP MLA for Saanich South, Harvey and Barb Freedman have launched an online petition (www.bcstratas.ca) and will hold a meeting tomorrow night to spur other strata owners to action.


Harvey Freedman is encouraging other owners to join the Fight HST campaign led by former premier Bill Vander Zalm, who is attempting to kill the tax via an initiative petition. Freedman said the meeting will focus on explaining that strata owners are going to be hit harder than single-family homeowners when the 12 per cent HST is introduced July 1.


Freedman estimates owners in his building "can expect to pay an additional $280 per annum, all of it due to increased provincial taxation."


He noted strata owners will have to pay more in maintenance fees because of the tax and have to conduct audits and do depreciation studies, which will be subject to the HST.


"This cruel tax is inflationary and will hit everyone in B.C.," he said. "There's a harder hit to condo owners because of the additional services they are obliged to have by law."


But Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners Association, said it's far too early to say with any certainty what impact the HST will have on strata owners.


"It is so variable, some strata corporations will see zero impact and some will see an impact as high as three to four per cent, and some [large mixed-use strata buildings] which charge HST on fees will be able to claim and get rebates so they will [come out ahead]," he said.


Gioventu said as a result it's impossible to put a dollar figure on the impact of the HST on the average strata owner. But he was adamant it would be well below $280 a year.


"A strata corporation would have to have 100 per cent of their budget to be labour-related in order to feel the maximum seven per cent impact of the HST on fees," he said. "Worst-case scenario most corporations are at 20 per cent [of their fees for] labour. In the maximum case I expect the scenario might be a 3.5 per cent increase."


Gioventu also pointed out depreciation reports and audits are not yet required.


"They are a possible regulatory requirement the government may bring in, but it won't bring them in until a public consultation process takes place over the next year," he said, noting even then there's no guarantee those studies will be subject to HST.


Tony Davis, president of the Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association, said the tax has not been top of mind within the association though they are concerned about its impact.


"We agree it will have an effect on strata owners, particularly to their maintenance fees and if they have management companies that will also increase, but it's a bigger issue than just strata owners. It will affect everybody," he said.


Popham, who will present the online petition to the legislature, said while the increase in costs to strata owners may not be a lot annually, it does add to the financial burden.


"It's another added cost on top of all the other added costs HST will have on daily living," she said, noting it will have a significant impact on those people living on fixed incomes and younger people. "All these things add up."


Tomorrow night's information meeting for strata owners is set for 6:30 p.m. at 3962 Cedar Hill Rd.


aduffy@tc.canwest.com


ON THE WEB:
www.bcstratas.ca
www.fighthst.com

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Strata+owners+launch+petition+against/2600945/story.html

A life lived for others, devalued on your behalf

Please take a moment to read this absolutely heartbreaking piece from Saturday's Times Colonist. When the author closes with "Now please act," I encourage you to take a moment and write your MLA and tell them our seniors deserve better.

Thank you for your continued support,

Lana

A life lived for others, devalued on your behalf

Because of cutbacks, man will go into a care home, at higher cost

By Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe, Special to Times ColonistFebruary 13, 2010



Meet John Moelaert. I have his permission to tell you of the life he has led and where life has led him. I am hoping you will be as appalled and outraged as I am at the thoughtless and heartless decisions that have recently been inflicted on this vulnerable man -- on your behalf.
Born in Holland in 1930, John escaped the chaotic aftermath of war in Europe, making his way to Canada in 1951. He studied philosophy and creative writing and had a diverse journalistic career that inspired a deep caring for nature, a just society and conservation of the environment.
In his fruitful life, John participated vigorously in making our society a better place rather than enriching himself. He founded the Calgary branch of Amnesty International, the Kelowna branches of Peace Group, Tools for Peace and the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.
In 1965, the Kamloops Wildlife Park was created under his leadership and it is now one of the largest conservation projects in Canada. In the 1970s, John worked with the United Church as uranium information co-ordinator and was appointed as an expert witness at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Uranium Mining.
Eight years ago, now living in Victoria, John was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder. Along with the worsening of movement and posture, general brain functioning can be compromised. John cannot think or speak as he once did, and faces the prospect of continued decline. It is a frightening time in his life.
With anxiety and depression accompanying and worsening the progression of his neurological symptoms, John was referred to me to see if I could assist.
John lives alone and frugally in his 37-year-old trailer with his cat Diego. I visit him there as he is often too ill to attend my office.
He lives with dignity, surrounded by reminders of his fruitful life. It would devastate him to lose his refuge and be away from his memories and his cat.
He survives on his pensions and his fixed expenses take up much of that modest sum. His eyesight is deteriorating, and spectacles are costly. Teeth break and rot, and dental bills pile up. John is a diligent and honest man who now spends his days worrying that the next major expense will leave him destitute. Expenses of a few hundred dollars are more than he can afford.
As he has grown feeble, this once-vibrant mind, which had galloped across social and philosophical issues with exuberance and insight, has now been reduced to worry over paying his bills.
I have been privileged to work with him as he continues to find hope and meaning in his life even as his body fails him, but it has been difficult to keep John going. Focusing on small mercies, accepting the changes in his body and mind and celebrating his lifetime of service have been the touchstones of our therapeutic strategy.
John has now had to cope with additional blows inflicted on him on your behalf as taxpayer, blows that have depleted his will to live. I have never seen him so devastated.
Consider what has been done to this gentle, selfless man. John has long been provided a Lifeline, a device that he wore around his neck. Patients with Parkinson's disease often fall and with Lifeline one button alerts a service that checks that he is safe.
John has been told that the service will no longer be provided unless he pays for it. He cannot, so he now lives with a new fear that he might not be able to get to his phone in a crisis.
John's ironic response to the yanking of his lifeline? He hopes the savings at the cost of his worrying about lying injured and helpless on the floor (a worry that I can see has worsened his mental health) goes to a good cause.
One loss was bad enough. Almost simultaneously, John was told that his meals would also no longer be delivered free. John faces additional expenses of $6 per day to eat the meals he has come to rely on in past years.
His sense of being abandoned in his old age by the society he served selflessly all his life is overwhelming. Despair has worsened his neurological symptoms.
I know: Times are tough and budgets have to be met. But set aside your compassion for a moment and consider the sheer financial stupidity of these decisions.
As a result of these decisions, I, as one of his caregivers, will have to push John into a care home far sooner than need be, leading to you, the taxpayer, paying much more for his daily expenses.
Does it take a genius to work out the difference between full-time care and $200 a month?
I accept the fact that for a bureaucrat, the name John Moelaert means nothing. Someone out there, up there, is making decisions behind closed doors. Can we not insist on an accounting for them?
I do not know how many people are out there in the same situation as John Moelaert. He is the one I know, and having known the man, the one I care deeply about.
Perhaps you know someone in his boat and you also care. If so, let your voice be heard; this letter is my appeal to you: call, e-mail, or write to those who represent you and insist that this inhumane treatment of our seniors must stop. Do not forget that these are decisions made on your behalf.
Thank you for reading this far. Now please act. We need to shame the decision-makers away from inflicting such suffering on John Moelaert and others like him.
Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe has practised psychiatry for 25 years in this province. Although primarily a forensic psychiatrist, he has a small non-forensic practice where he sees patients struggling to find acceptance and meaning in their lives when confronting losses and life-threatening illnesses.
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Squeaky wheels get the grease: Update

Hi Everybody,

Hope you are all well. A few quick updates on the "No HST on BIKES in BC" campaign. For all the details, check out www.squeakywheels.ca.

PETITION

The petition is still on a tear: over 3000 of you have now signed it!  Help me double or triple it in size before I present it to the Legislature in 20 days. Surely there are 10,000 cyclists in BC who know it’s nonsense to stick a new tax on cycling! Please ask your friends to check it out. The direct link to the petition is http://tinyurl.com/squeakywheels. Email me if you want a hard copy of the petition.

RALLIES

Over 150 people have RSVP’d for the 12pm Wed March 3^rd bike rally at the Legislature. That is fantastic! We’re working on a few surprises for the event: don’t miss out! You can RSVP at the facebook rally event page.  Please send an invite out through your network.

Cyclists around the province who can’t make it to Victoria on March 3 have spontaneously begun to organize their own rallies in support!

In Nanaimo, cyclists are meeting at the corner of Comox Road and Terminal Ave, on March 3, at 4pm for a ride and support rally. Their facebook event page is here.

In Vancouver, a number of people are even planning to ride over on mass, catching the 9am ferry. Sidney folks are planning to meet them on route and ride down to Victoria together. Their facebook event page is here.

There is still lots of time for you to organize your own event!

Keep in touch!

Lana

Lana Popham, MLA, Saanich South

250.479.4154

lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca

www.saanichsouth.ca

Bike Rally at the Legislature!

Please join me! Check out www.squeakywheels.ca for all the details.

Almost there! Help us save Madrona Farm!

Madrona Farm is such a jewel inside Saanich South. The importance of this farm, and ones like it, have always been a priority for myself and former MLA David Cubberley. David felt so strongly about saving Madrona Farm that he spearheaded a fundraising campaign last year asking people to donate their $100 carbon rebate cheques. He initiated this campaign with his own generous donation of $10,000.

This camapign was one of many community based initiatives that have been extreamely successful.

As of January 14, 2010, $1,413,000 have been raised, leaving $287,000 to raise by March 15,2010.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from TLC Members, concerned citizens, local businesses and community groups, all with a love for locally grown food, TLC is well on it’s way to seeing Madrona Farm protected forever.

But, there is still work to be done to save this community asset. Please join the hundreds of people who believe in protecting agriculture land for future generations by making your donation to help save Madrona Farm today.

http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/get-involved-with-tlc/campaigns/madrona-farm/