October 17, 2025 • 19 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Check podcasts. This is an abbreviated version of check News
watch full Check newscasts week days at five, six, and ten,
or anytime one Check plus or checknews dot CA.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
We all knew and had that fear that eventually something
was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Quomox Valley family says the legal system is letting them
down after a stabbing they say followed years of bullying
against their son.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
It was bullying, it was harassment, it was public displays
of favoritism.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Several firefighters in one Island municipality are leveling serious allegations
against their leadership after reports that more than a dozen
firefighters have left.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
These are the people who keep British Columbia safe and
we need them in their jobs.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
From engineers to veterinarians and pharmacists, almost all of VC's
licensed professionals are now on strike after talks broke down
with the province. Good evening, thank you for joining us.
Multiple former and current firefighters in North Santich have come
(01:17):
forward with several allegations against the department and the district,
including bullying and harassment. They alleged that leadership is responsible
and that it's led to firefighters leaving the department in
large numbers. Ali Herrera has our top story.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
So they didn't want us to voice how we felt,
and if we did, there would probably be repercussions or
they would ignore it.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
After three years as a paid on call firefighter for
North Sanich, Marika DT decided to call it quits this
past summer.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I was afraid of repercussions, and I was also afraid
that specifically I wouldn't be covered, or if something had
happened only by the higher ups, that I might not
be covered on the fire ground.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
Afraid and fed up, she and other firefighters have come
forward to Check News with several allegations against leadership inside
the fire department and the district. Dwight says during her
time she experienced pressure from leadership within the department not
to unionize, and.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
There were people spreading rumors as well as telling personal
details of those who had they found out voted for union,
and then there was a shift in how you were treated.
If they knew that you were pro union, then you
had a target on your back.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
Because of that, she felt she couldn't raise concerns to
her bosses.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
It was bullying, it was harassment, It was public displays
of favoritism and just made to feel like you weren't
part of whoever was in charge. You weren't part of
their clique.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
The firefighters did ultimately begin unionizing for some of its
members last year, with the rest joining this past spring.
Check News also spoke with three other current and former members,
who all say that since last year, more than a
dozen firefighters have left the department, despite repeated requests that
the district has not confirmed those numbers.
Speaker 7 (03:01):
To check News, people weren't happy and that you know
they some felt bullied and some felt harrassed.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
Brian Thomas retired from the department this year after serving
as a firefighter for two decades, but he says his
retirement was influenced by other issues he saw in the department.
Thomas says over the last few years, North Santich Fire
started responding to lower priority calls more frequently, which he
believes was to justify new full time hires.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
So what is increasing it from six hundred calls a
year to twelve hundred calls a year? And that's what
I call in the question because there's a financial impact
to us in North Sanaich as taxpayers.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
In twenty nineteen, the department responded to fewer than six
hundred calls when the population was around eleven thousand. Last year,
that number jumped to more than one thousand calls, with
the population only increasing to over thirteen thousand. In twenty
twenty four, the district voted to add three full time
firefighting positions, roughly at the cost of one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars per person, bringing the number of career
(03:59):
positions from seven to ten.
Speaker 8 (04:00):
And it might be running now, but you're going to
see more burnout. You're going to see more people leaving.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
Rick Say also cut ties with the department after four years,
saying was largely due to leadership.
Speaker 8 (04:10):
There was no real avenue to advocate for yourself. If
you advocated to them, you didn't feel like you were
being heard. That was just squashed and shut down. And
if you advocated in a different way, well, now you
were the bad person for advocating.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
Check News also asked the district and the CEO for
an on camera interview to address all of the allegations,
but they declined, releasing this statement that the district is
aware of concerns raised by some individuals and that they're
committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace. We also tried contacting
Mayor Jones for an on camera interview, but he did
not respond to our request. The union representing firefighters tells
check News he has not received any requests or concerns
(04:43):
regarding union or district policies. The union adding that no
unionized full time members have left since the department was
certified in August, but says they are aware of the
departure of paid on call members since dis may.
Speaker 9 (04:55):
Well.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
A Komoks Valley family is speaking out tonight after a
family member was sta by an underage assailant. They say
the attack came after years of bullying against their son
and that they're being let down by the legal system.
Dean Stoltz reports.
Speaker 10 (05:10):
My parents came out to their van to find broken
glass in the back window smashed out.
Speaker 11 (05:17):
Keenan Andrew says, it's the second time this has happened
in twelve months.
Speaker 10 (05:21):
Yeah, it just feels very much targeted and they're terrorizing
my parents.
Speaker 11 (05:27):
It happened two and a half weeks after another incident
that rocked their lives. Keenan's adopted brother in the adopted
son of Josephine Andrew was stabbed in downtown Courtney on
September twenty fourth, suffering serious wounds to his abdomen and chest,
an attack they feared was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
It's sad to say that we all knew and had
that fear that eventually something was going to happen, and
it did.
Speaker 11 (05:55):
The victim is sixteen years old, and so is the
youth suspected of doing it, so we're not identifying either
of them. But the Andrews say issues with the youth
now charged with aggravated assault and assault with the weapon
go back two years at least he and other young
teens allegedly bullying the victim and worse, and these.
Speaker 12 (06:14):
Young men have threatened his life. They've threatened to beat
him to death with baseball bats. They've jumped him, you know,
kicked the crap out of him.
Speaker 11 (06:24):
The victim is sixteen but has a mental capacity of
a seven year old. He was walking home from playing
basketball and for the first time was alone with a
friend and not his parents. His mom and brother say
the system has let them down for years, from the
school district to the legal system.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
We've heard over time and time again from kids who
are victims is they're the ones that are sent home,
and in this case that is very true, because he
was constantly being sent home, being put on a halftime program,
being asked to come in the back door of the school.
Speaker 11 (06:58):
The Komacks Valley School District says, while we are unable
to share all the steps the district has taken, we
can share our deep commitment to do everything possible to
ensure safe and caring learning environments for all students. We're
also committed to the ongoing review and continual improvement of
all our processes on behalf of the students and families
(07:18):
we serve. But the victim's families say they're now most
upset with the assault charges the accused youth faces.
Speaker 12 (07:25):
I strongly believe that this was attempted murder, and yet
here we sit with aggravated assault and assault with the
weapon charge, and it's baffling to me.
Speaker 11 (07:36):
The BC Prosecution Service tells check News that charges will
only be approved if Crown Counsel is satisfied that the
evidence gathered by the investigative agency provides a substantial likelihood
of conviction and that in this case, the evidence submitted
by the police supports the charges laid because of.
Speaker 12 (07:54):
The rocks that are thrown through and left behind.
Speaker 11 (07:58):
And back to the broken windows. The Andrews say they
think they're the target of ongoing intimidation and we'll be
installing surveillance cameras to catch the people if they come back.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Well. As the weather starts to cool, Victoria's fire chiefs
as a new emergency weather response is needed after finding
last year's response in response insufficient in meeting Victoria's growing needs. Today,
the chief recommended a new plan to council. It includes
a set number of overnight shelter beds, increased wellness checks,
more temporary warming tents and buses, and additional outreach resources.
(08:33):
One of the biggest changes is the city will contract
solid staff to run the weather response outreach services instead
of city auxiliary staff like has been done in past years,
saying the auxiliary workers aren't trained to handle situations that
might arise in no barrier access sites. The plan also
says first responders will distribute stay warm, Stay dry kits
(08:54):
to those who need them. While the changes were welcomed
by council today, there was a renewed call for other
municipalities to initiate their own resources.
Speaker 13 (09:04):
I think you've got great examples here today, just laid
out by the Chief and the Deputy Chief about what's possible,
what's doable, and what works, and so steal from us.
Go ahead, use this model and adapt it as you
need to in other municipalities to meet the needs of
your own residents.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
The proposed new emergency weather response plan was unanimously accepted
by Council and handed off to staff to look into further.
This morning, all sixteen hundred members of the Professional Employees
Association went on strike. They're BC's licensed professionals that include engineers,
foresters and veterinarians. They joined the twenty seven thousand members
(09:44):
of the BCGEU who are already on the picket lines.
Mary Griffin has the latest.
Speaker 14 (09:52):
Almost all at BC's licensed professionals are on strike. Contract
talks broke down with the province Wednesday.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
This includes all of the engineers, geoscientists, foresters, egrologists, veterinarians,
psychologists and pharmacists. These are the people who keep British
Columbia safe and we need them in their jobs.
Speaker 14 (10:15):
Moreau says the union had no choice after the province
offered one and a half percent in the first year
and two percent in the second year. It means more
than sixteen hundred professionals will be on the picket lines,
although some of its workers had already joined the BCGEU
in its strike action.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
This is a very big deal for our small union.
We've only ever been on strike once and we will
be going into week eight of a strike. I think
this demonstrates the resolve and seriousness of our members.
Speaker 14 (10:49):
The union demands fair compensation, reimbursement of professional fees, and
limits on the use of private contractors. They say their
work is too important.
Speaker 15 (10:59):
Literally, my job is to save life and prevent serial
injuries from the clearing on the roads.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
We do is we're making sure that the flem infrastructure
that's INBC is designed appropriately.
Speaker 5 (11:10):
I'm the one that does geometric design to make sure
that those roads are safe for the people that are
using them and appropriately designed.
Speaker 14 (11:17):
The BC General Employees Union is currently involved in rotating strikes.
It says unless the government returns to the bargaining table,
it also will escalate job action.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
We're pretty close to the point where you're seeing a
near full walkout of bcg members across the province. In
the public service.
Speaker 14 (11:34):
And the two striking unions are backed by the bc
Federation of Labor and it's five hundred thousand members.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We are one hundred percent behind the provincial sector workers
from both the PEA and the BCGU in their fight
for a fair deal.
Speaker 16 (11:53):
So to keep going is we have to get this.
It just has to not just for me, but other
women and men who are in the same situation as
i am.
Speaker 14 (12:04):
The BCGU has been on strike for seven weeks with
no end in sight. Between the BCGU and the PEA.
There are now about twenty seven thousand workers on strike
throughout the province.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
The federal government has transferred a sizeable amount of land
in Nanaimo to the Snamic First Nation Reserve. Today, Canada's
Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations visited the nation to make
the announcement. Both parties are calling the transfer historic and
necessary as they work towards reconciliation. Kendall Hansen, how's that story.
Speaker 17 (12:41):
The chief of the Nnamic First Nation, along with other members,
are singing a song of celebration on what is being
called a historic day. The federal government is adding nearly
two hundred acres or nearly eighty hectares to the First
Nation's reserves.
Speaker 18 (12:57):
The sign ministerial order means that these once known as
Camp Nanaimo lands located beside Vancouver Island University, are now
the name of reserve lands.
Speaker 19 (13:13):
To up here will be highway commercial up up here.
Speaker 17 (13:17):
Yeah. For the past two and a half years, the
First Nation has been gathering feedback from its members about
what it should do with the land. It's planning mixed housing,
commercial spaces, a sports area, and an entertainment resort and
destination center.
Speaker 18 (13:30):
This is no small development. It is the largest development
Central Island has seen in modern times, a multi billion
dollar project that requires decades to plan and build out.
Speaker 17 (13:44):
The First Nation will hold a vote for its members
on plans for twenty five acres of the land, focusing
primarily on housing in December.
Speaker 9 (13:52):
We've had the smallest land base per capita and BC,
so to get lands back that's going to provide for
our nation members that come home and potentially set roots
here in Nanaimo is significant.
Speaker 20 (14:07):
It has been a long process and one of my
priorities is accelerating the process for future additions to reserves
across the country.
Speaker 17 (14:17):
Snanamic members who attended today's announcement are thrilled their reserve
land is expanding.
Speaker 10 (14:23):
When they first announced the addition to reserve, it was
very overwhelming.
Speaker 12 (14:27):
Thankful that you know that they continue to push for it,
and I'm just thankful that they've done it.
Speaker 17 (14:32):
Do you think that this will make a big difference
for the nation going forward?
Speaker 12 (14:36):
I very much think so.
Speaker 21 (14:37):
That we've been living on top of each other on
irs one to four for generations, so to see the
expansion of our lands and home development is going to
be groundbreaking for us.
Speaker 17 (14:51):
This addition to its reserve follows a settlement between the
Canadian government and Sinamic earlier this year. It saw the
first nation compensated forty two million dollars for the Crown's
failure to set aside village lands as set out in
the Douglas Treaty.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Always pouring it over, Well, here's your reminder to be
bear aware. Kevin Sandford sharing this video from Lake Cowichan
this morning showing just how easily this black bear got
into a bin of garbage out for pickup, The bear
easily knocking it over, grabbing a bag, and happily trotting off,
no doubt to chow down. Bears are particularly active this
(15:27):
time of year as they build up fat reserves for hibernation,
So always keep your garbage locked up and storage securely
whenever possible. All right, word has it that YouTube gentlemen
have taken a little road trip tonight?
Speaker 15 (15:45):
Well that's that word is correct, you know, And here
we are. I'm just thinking maybe I'm a bear at
you because I'm doing some fat storage myself.
Speaker 17 (15:54):
Get over here, boo.
Speaker 22 (15:56):
All right, I pick a basket for this beautiful Basi resort,
Ocean View Resort here in Parksville. Our second time here
sort of feels like a home away from home. Great restaurant,
great hospitality, a wonderful staff. But they also look after
local artists and that's why we're here this evening. We'll
get to that in the second. But let's recap last
(16:17):
night's Islands Got Talent.
Speaker 15 (16:18):
Okay, So first, we had again I think about twelve
hundred entries voting on all of the four finals that
we had vying for a spot in Island's Got Talent
on the big final show on the twenty ninth, and
the John Vickers Band was victorious.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Is it Jack?
Speaker 20 (16:34):
Is it?
Speaker 16 (16:35):
Jack?
Speaker 15 (16:35):
Have I blown this again? You how, but one didn't
take a little while to mess up here in Parksville. Yeah,
well we edit that out for the big show. Yeah,
let's say so Jack the Jack Pictures.
Speaker 22 (16:48):
They will be in the final on the twenty ninth
of October. Mully Gates, out of the almost two thousand
people that voted, h won the two hundred dollars gift
card from the.
Speaker 17 (16:58):
Old Farm Mark.
Speaker 22 (16:59):
No, No, I got that.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
James Vickers.
Speaker 22 (17:03):
James Vickers. Okay, question Kelly, Hang on, Kelly, there's a
name I know she's gonna save the show. Kelly Corbett
is the solo artist here at the Bayside here and uh,
(17:24):
this is your great exhibit.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Talking about this, Oh.
Speaker 20 (17:27):
Well, it's all inspired by Vancouver Island. My favorite thing
to do is go explore a beach at low tide,
and this is kind of a result of all of
those fun adventures. I do lots of backcountry adventuring as
well too, and I take photos as I go, and
then I come home and I make beautiful paintings of
(17:47):
the places I've seen to share with everyone.
Speaker 15 (17:50):
You hike into these remote areas and get these stunning
porges made that you you paint on the scenes there.
I mean they just come alive. Your your artist, fantastic
and it's going to be on display here for quite
some time and the end of December.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Yes, that's all right.
Speaker 22 (18:04):
We're gonna find out more about Kelly and we're gonna
head to the powder room, to the green room and
start getting some names properly. The teams Vickers Band will
be in the final of Island's Got Talent and I
got my name right. Molly Gate won the two hundred
dollars gift card from the Old Farm Marcus good start
today tonight.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Yeah, thanks Ed and Jeff. Yeah, all right, I'm doing
all right too. Okay, guys, thank you. We'll still ahead.
Canada's Prime minister announces a new plan to get tough
on crime.
Speaker 17 (18:36):
We're strengthening the criminal.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Code from hiring hundreds of new RCMP officers to bail reform.
Mark Karney lays out its plan, promising to crack down
on crime.
Speaker 19 (18:47):
I'm Corey Sitaway coming up on check News. What was
an unfortunate set of circumstances for a developer. Is cfb's
Esquimalt win the quick deal that's taking thirty plus military
members off the six hundred person wait list for after
the Break.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
The Road Report is brought to you by Craftsman Collision,
VC's favorite family owned Craftsman Collision All Better.
Speaker 15 (19:10):
Here's a look at the current Vancouver Island roller conditions
from the Drive BC webcams.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Watchful check newscasts weekdays at five, six, and ten, or
anytime on check plus or checknews dot Ca.
Check podcasts. This is an abbreviated version of check News
watch full Check newscasts week days at five, six, and ten,
or anytime one Check plus or checknews dot CA.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
We all knew and had that fear that eventually something
was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Quomox Valley family says the legal system is letting them
down after a stabbing they say followed years of bullying
against their son.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
It was bullying, it was harassment, it was public displays
of favoritism.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Several firefighters in one Island municipality are leveling serious allegations
against their leadership after reports that more than a dozen
firefighters have left.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
These are the people who keep British Columbia safe and
we need them in their jobs.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
From engineers to veterinarians and pharmacists, almost all of VC's
licensed professionals are now on strike after talks broke down
with the province. Good evening, thank you for joining us.
Multiple former and current firefighters in North Santich have come
(01:17):
forward with several allegations against the department and the district,
including bullying and harassment. They alleged that leadership is responsible
and that it's led to firefighters leaving the department in
large numbers. Ali Herrera has our top story.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
So they didn't want us to voice how we felt,
and if we did, there would probably be repercussions or
they would ignore it.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
After three years as a paid on call firefighter for
North Sanich, Marika DT decided to call it quits this
past summer.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I was afraid of repercussions, and I was also afraid
that specifically I wouldn't be covered, or if something had
happened only by the higher ups, that I might not
be covered on the fire ground.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
Afraid and fed up, she and other firefighters have come
forward to Check News with several allegations against leadership inside
the fire department and the district. Dwight says during her
time she experienced pressure from leadership within the department not
to unionize, and.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
There were people spreading rumors as well as telling personal
details of those who had they found out voted for union,
and then there was a shift in how you were treated.
If they knew that you were pro union, then you
had a target on your back.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
Because of that, she felt she couldn't raise concerns to
her bosses.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
It was bullying, it was harassment, It was public displays
of favoritism and just made to feel like you weren't
part of whoever was in charge. You weren't part of
their clique.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
The firefighters did ultimately begin unionizing for some of its
members last year, with the rest joining this past spring.
Check News also spoke with three other current and former members,
who all say that since last year, more than a
dozen firefighters have left the department, despite repeated requests that
the district has not confirmed those numbers.
Speaker 7 (03:01):
To check News, people weren't happy and that you know
they some felt bullied and some felt harrassed.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
Brian Thomas retired from the department this year after serving
as a firefighter for two decades, but he says his
retirement was influenced by other issues he saw in the department.
Thomas says over the last few years, North Santich Fire
started responding to lower priority calls more frequently, which he
believes was to justify new full time hires.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
So what is increasing it from six hundred calls a
year to twelve hundred calls a year? And that's what
I call in the question because there's a financial impact
to us in North Sanaich as taxpayers.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
In twenty nineteen, the department responded to fewer than six
hundred calls when the population was around eleven thousand. Last year,
that number jumped to more than one thousand calls, with
the population only increasing to over thirteen thousand. In twenty
twenty four, the district voted to add three full time
firefighting positions, roughly at the cost of one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars per person, bringing the number of career
(03:59):
positions from seven to ten.
Speaker 8 (04:00):
And it might be running now, but you're going to
see more burnout. You're going to see more people leaving.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
Rick Say also cut ties with the department after four years,
saying was largely due to leadership.
Speaker 8 (04:10):
There was no real avenue to advocate for yourself. If
you advocated to them, you didn't feel like you were
being heard. That was just squashed and shut down. And
if you advocated in a different way, well, now you
were the bad person for advocating.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
Check News also asked the district and the CEO for
an on camera interview to address all of the allegations,
but they declined, releasing this statement that the district is
aware of concerns raised by some individuals and that they're
committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace. We also tried contacting
Mayor Jones for an on camera interview, but he did
not respond to our request. The union representing firefighters tells
check News he has not received any requests or concerns
(04:43):
regarding union or district policies. The union adding that no
unionized full time members have left since the department was
certified in August, but says they are aware of the
departure of paid on call members since dis may.
Speaker 9 (04:55):
Well.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
A Komoks Valley family is speaking out tonight after a
family member was sta by an underage assailant. They say
the attack came after years of bullying against their son
and that they're being let down by the legal system.
Dean Stoltz reports.
Speaker 10 (05:10):
My parents came out to their van to find broken
glass in the back window smashed out.
Speaker 11 (05:17):
Keenan Andrew says, it's the second time this has happened
in twelve months.
Speaker 10 (05:21):
Yeah, it just feels very much targeted and they're terrorizing
my parents.
Speaker 11 (05:27):
It happened two and a half weeks after another incident
that rocked their lives. Keenan's adopted brother in the adopted
son of Josephine Andrew was stabbed in downtown Courtney on
September twenty fourth, suffering serious wounds to his abdomen and chest,
an attack they feared was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
It's sad to say that we all knew and had
that fear that eventually something was going to happen, and
it did.
Speaker 11 (05:55):
The victim is sixteen years old, and so is the
youth suspected of doing it, so we're not identifying either
of them. But the Andrews say issues with the youth
now charged with aggravated assault and assault with the weapon
go back two years at least he and other young
teens allegedly bullying the victim and worse, and these.
Speaker 12 (06:14):
Young men have threatened his life. They've threatened to beat
him to death with baseball bats. They've jumped him, you know,
kicked the crap out of him.
Speaker 11 (06:24):
The victim is sixteen but has a mental capacity of
a seven year old. He was walking home from playing
basketball and for the first time was alone with a
friend and not his parents. His mom and brother say
the system has let them down for years, from the
school district to the legal system.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
We've heard over time and time again from kids who
are victims is they're the ones that are sent home,
and in this case that is very true, because he
was constantly being sent home, being put on a halftime program,
being asked to come in the back door of the school.
Speaker 11 (06:58):
The Komacks Valley School District says, while we are unable
to share all the steps the district has taken, we
can share our deep commitment to do everything possible to
ensure safe and caring learning environments for all students. We're
also committed to the ongoing review and continual improvement of
all our processes on behalf of the students and families
(07:18):
we serve. But the victim's families say they're now most
upset with the assault charges the accused youth faces.
Speaker 12 (07:25):
I strongly believe that this was attempted murder, and yet
here we sit with aggravated assault and assault with the
weapon charge, and it's baffling to me.
Speaker 11 (07:36):
The BC Prosecution Service tells check News that charges will
only be approved if Crown Counsel is satisfied that the
evidence gathered by the investigative agency provides a substantial likelihood
of conviction and that in this case, the evidence submitted
by the police supports the charges laid because of.
Speaker 12 (07:54):
The rocks that are thrown through and left behind.
Speaker 11 (07:58):
And back to the broken windows. The Andrews say they
think they're the target of ongoing intimidation and we'll be
installing surveillance cameras to catch the people if they come back.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Well. As the weather starts to cool, Victoria's fire chiefs
as a new emergency weather response is needed after finding
last year's response in response insufficient in meeting Victoria's growing needs. Today,
the chief recommended a new plan to council. It includes
a set number of overnight shelter beds, increased wellness checks,
more temporary warming tents and buses, and additional outreach resources.
(08:33):
One of the biggest changes is the city will contract
solid staff to run the weather response outreach services instead
of city auxiliary staff like has been done in past years,
saying the auxiliary workers aren't trained to handle situations that
might arise in no barrier access sites. The plan also
says first responders will distribute stay warm, Stay dry kits
(08:54):
to those who need them. While the changes were welcomed
by council today, there was a renewed call for other
municipalities to initiate their own resources.
Speaker 13 (09:04):
I think you've got great examples here today, just laid
out by the Chief and the Deputy Chief about what's possible,
what's doable, and what works, and so steal from us.
Go ahead, use this model and adapt it as you
need to in other municipalities to meet the needs of
your own residents.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
The proposed new emergency weather response plan was unanimously accepted
by Council and handed off to staff to look into further.
This morning, all sixteen hundred members of the Professional Employees
Association went on strike. They're BC's licensed professionals that include engineers,
foresters and veterinarians. They joined the twenty seven thousand members
(09:44):
of the BCGEU who are already on the picket lines.
Mary Griffin has the latest.
Speaker 14 (09:52):
Almost all at BC's licensed professionals are on strike. Contract
talks broke down with the province Wednesday.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
This includes all of the engineers, geoscientists, foresters, egrologists, veterinarians,
psychologists and pharmacists. These are the people who keep British
Columbia safe and we need them in their jobs.
Speaker 14 (10:15):
Moreau says the union had no choice after the province
offered one and a half percent in the first year
and two percent in the second year. It means more
than sixteen hundred professionals will be on the picket lines,
although some of its workers had already joined the BCGEU
in its strike action.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
This is a very big deal for our small union.
We've only ever been on strike once and we will
be going into week eight of a strike. I think
this demonstrates the resolve and seriousness of our members.
Speaker 14 (10:49):
The union demands fair compensation, reimbursement of professional fees, and
limits on the use of private contractors. They say their
work is too important.
Speaker 15 (10:59):
Literally, my job is to save life and prevent serial
injuries from the clearing on the roads.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
We do is we're making sure that the flem infrastructure
that's INBC is designed appropriately.
Speaker 5 (11:10):
I'm the one that does geometric design to make sure
that those roads are safe for the people that are
using them and appropriately designed.
Speaker 14 (11:17):
The BC General Employees Union is currently involved in rotating strikes.
It says unless the government returns to the bargaining table,
it also will escalate job action.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
We're pretty close to the point where you're seeing a
near full walkout of bcg members across the province. In
the public service.
Speaker 14 (11:34):
And the two striking unions are backed by the bc
Federation of Labor and it's five hundred thousand members.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We are one hundred percent behind the provincial sector workers
from both the PEA and the BCGU in their fight
for a fair deal.
Speaker 16 (11:53):
So to keep going is we have to get this.
It just has to not just for me, but other
women and men who are in the same situation as
i am.
Speaker 14 (12:04):
The BCGU has been on strike for seven weeks with
no end in sight. Between the BCGU and the PEA.
There are now about twenty seven thousand workers on strike
throughout the province.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
The federal government has transferred a sizeable amount of land
in Nanaimo to the Snamic First Nation Reserve. Today, Canada's
Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations visited the nation to make
the announcement. Both parties are calling the transfer historic and
necessary as they work towards reconciliation. Kendall Hansen, how's that story.
Speaker 17 (12:41):
The chief of the Nnamic First Nation, along with other members,
are singing a song of celebration on what is being
called a historic day. The federal government is adding nearly
two hundred acres or nearly eighty hectares to the First
Nation's reserves.
Speaker 18 (12:57):
The sign ministerial order means that these once known as
Camp Nanaimo lands located beside Vancouver Island University, are now
the name of reserve lands.
Speaker 19 (13:13):
To up here will be highway commercial up up here.
Speaker 17 (13:17):
Yeah. For the past two and a half years, the
First Nation has been gathering feedback from its members about
what it should do with the land. It's planning mixed housing,
commercial spaces, a sports area, and an entertainment resort and
destination center.
Speaker 18 (13:30):
This is no small development. It is the largest development
Central Island has seen in modern times, a multi billion
dollar project that requires decades to plan and build out.
Speaker 17 (13:44):
The First Nation will hold a vote for its members
on plans for twenty five acres of the land, focusing
primarily on housing in December.
Speaker 9 (13:52):
We've had the smallest land base per capita and BC,
so to get lands back that's going to provide for
our nation members that come home and potentially set roots
here in Nanaimo is significant.
Speaker 20 (14:07):
It has been a long process and one of my
priorities is accelerating the process for future additions to reserves
across the country.
Speaker 17 (14:17):
Snanamic members who attended today's announcement are thrilled their reserve
land is expanding.
Speaker 10 (14:23):
When they first announced the addition to reserve, it was
very overwhelming.
Speaker 12 (14:27):
Thankful that you know that they continue to push for it,
and I'm just thankful that they've done it.
Speaker 17 (14:32):
Do you think that this will make a big difference
for the nation going forward?
Speaker 12 (14:36):
I very much think so.
Speaker 21 (14:37):
That we've been living on top of each other on
irs one to four for generations, so to see the
expansion of our lands and home development is going to
be groundbreaking for us.
Speaker 17 (14:51):
This addition to its reserve follows a settlement between the
Canadian government and Sinamic earlier this year. It saw the
first nation compensated forty two million dollars for the Crown's
failure to set aside village lands as set out in
the Douglas Treaty.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Always pouring it over, Well, here's your reminder to be
bear aware. Kevin Sandford sharing this video from Lake Cowichan
this morning showing just how easily this black bear got
into a bin of garbage out for pickup, The bear
easily knocking it over, grabbing a bag, and happily trotting off,
no doubt to chow down. Bears are particularly active this
(15:27):
time of year as they build up fat reserves for hibernation,
So always keep your garbage locked up and storage securely
whenever possible. All right, word has it that YouTube gentlemen
have taken a little road trip tonight?
Speaker 15 (15:45):
Well that's that word is correct, you know, And here
we are. I'm just thinking maybe I'm a bear at
you because I'm doing some fat storage myself.
Speaker 17 (15:54):
Get over here, boo.
Speaker 22 (15:56):
All right, I pick a basket for this beautiful Basi resort,
Ocean View Resort here in Parksville. Our second time here
sort of feels like a home away from home. Great restaurant,
great hospitality, a wonderful staff. But they also look after
local artists and that's why we're here this evening. We'll
get to that in the second. But let's recap last
(16:17):
night's Islands Got Talent.
Speaker 15 (16:18):
Okay, So first, we had again I think about twelve
hundred entries voting on all of the four finals that
we had vying for a spot in Island's Got Talent
on the big final show on the twenty ninth, and
the John Vickers Band was victorious.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Is it Jack?
Speaker 20 (16:34):
Is it?
Speaker 16 (16:35):
Jack?
Speaker 15 (16:35):
Have I blown this again? You how, but one didn't
take a little while to mess up here in Parksville. Yeah,
well we edit that out for the big show. Yeah,
let's say so Jack the Jack Pictures.
Speaker 22 (16:48):
They will be in the final on the twenty ninth
of October. Mully Gates, out of the almost two thousand
people that voted, h won the two hundred dollars gift
card from the.
Speaker 17 (16:58):
Old Farm Mark.
Speaker 22 (16:59):
No, No, I got that.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
James Vickers.
Speaker 22 (17:03):
James Vickers. Okay, question Kelly, Hang on, Kelly, there's a
name I know she's gonna save the show. Kelly Corbett
is the solo artist here at the Bayside here and uh,
(17:24):
this is your great exhibit.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Talking about this, Oh.
Speaker 20 (17:27):
Well, it's all inspired by Vancouver Island. My favorite thing
to do is go explore a beach at low tide,
and this is kind of a result of all of
those fun adventures. I do lots of backcountry adventuring as
well too, and I take photos as I go, and
then I come home and I make beautiful paintings of
(17:47):
the places I've seen to share with everyone.
Speaker 15 (17:50):
You hike into these remote areas and get these stunning
porges made that you you paint on the scenes there.
I mean they just come alive. Your your artist, fantastic
and it's going to be on display here for quite
some time and the end of December.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Yes, that's all right.
Speaker 22 (18:04):
We're gonna find out more about Kelly and we're gonna
head to the powder room, to the green room and
start getting some names properly. The teams Vickers Band will
be in the final of Island's Got Talent and I
got my name right. Molly Gate won the two hundred
dollars gift card from the Old Farm Marcus good start
today tonight.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Yeah, thanks Ed and Jeff. Yeah, all right, I'm doing
all right too. Okay, guys, thank you. We'll still ahead.
Canada's Prime minister announces a new plan to get tough
on crime.
Speaker 17 (18:36):
We're strengthening the criminal.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Code from hiring hundreds of new RCMP officers to bail reform.
Mark Karney lays out its plan, promising to crack down
on crime.
Speaker 19 (18:47):
I'm Corey Sitaway coming up on check News. What was
an unfortunate set of circumstances for a developer. Is cfb's
Esquimalt win the quick deal that's taking thirty plus military
members off the six hundred person wait list for after
the Break.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
The Road Report is brought to you by Craftsman Collision,
VC's favorite family owned Craftsman Collision All Better.
Speaker 15 (19:10):
Here's a look at the current Vancouver Island roller conditions
from the Drive BC webcams.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Watchful check newscasts weekdays at five, six, and ten, or
anytime on check plus or checknews dot Ca.
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