
No, the sky is not falling on the Comox Valley nor are people being attacked by birds / George Le Masurier photo (undoctored, only tonal adjustments)
The Week: housing issues, sure, but this study is nonsense
So yet another ill-constructed study has maligned the poor Comox Valley. We can now add “Fifth Most Unaffordable Housing Market” to our designations as “Highest Crime Rate” and “Worst Air Quality.” Well, maybe there’s some truth to that last one.
The latest study — concocted by Wendell Cox on his website Demographia.com — compared median house prices to median household income in nine countries, and then ranked cities or regions for their housing affordability. The Comox Valley ranked fifth worst in B.C.
There’s no doubt the Comox Valley has a housing affordability problem. Prices have never been higher. Rental vacancy rates have almost never been lower. It’s a problem that affects almost every community on the BC coast.
But as Courtenay Councillor Melanie McCollum has pointed out, the study is flawed.
“There is no doubt we have serious affordability issues in our community – however that study is seriously flawed and written by a pro-greenfield expansion/urban sprawl think tank that uses some questionable methods for its data analysis,” McCollum wrote on social media.
Real Estate Wire has called the study “nonsense” for five important reasons, which you can read about here. Though we should mention that Mr. Cox is an urban planner who promotes private automobiles over public transportation.
But the Comox Valley’s housing issues are real. Prices are high and partly driven by out-of-town buyers from even more expensive markets. There’s little incentive for investors to build apartment buildings, but when they do local governments rarely use tools to require a percentage of the units to rent at below-market rates.
Courtenay has two affordable housing projects on the go. The Braidwood Housing Project (35 units) and a supportive housing project (46 units).
¶ Election polls aren’t any more reliable than flawed housing studies.
BC pollsters predicted a Liberal Party win in the Nanaimo provincial byelection, estimated that Liberal Tony Harris had an eight-point lead over NDP candidate, Sheila Malcolmson. The NDP won by a 10-point margin.
It appears not every NDPer is willing to throw Premier John Horgan to the wolves over the Site C Dam project.
¶ Who was it that said there was no danger from sewage pipes and pump lift stations near or in our foreshores? No one in Sechelt would believe them after a pump station failed and 10,000 litres of raw sewage dumped into the Salish Sea.
Fortunately, the Comox Valley Regional District is in the process of taking a long look at the best options for delivering and treating sewage. That could, and should, include moving sewage pipes out of the K’omoks Estuary and taking an overland route to the Brent Road treatment plant.
¶ Congratulations to the Comox Valley Regional District parks department for widening trails and improving access to Nymph Falls. We’re sure this isn’t a direct response to 3L Developments’ attempts to block public access to Stotan Falls, but it couldn’t come at a better time for those wanting a river swim this summer.
¶ Finally, a recent budget decision by the Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital Board might shed some light on why there were serious design flaws in the new Comox Valley and Campbell River hospitals. Board Chair Charlie Cornfield says the board plans to spend $100,000 on decorative water fountains.
Whaaaaaat?
If the hospitals really need some visual improvements, how about commissioning some of the north Island’s excellent sculptors for eye-catching entry features?
Better yet, forget the idea altogether — although we do support public art — because there are bigger problems at the hospitals, which the hospital board has done its best to deny and ignore.
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The Week: Decafnation launches Local Government Performance Review
Are you satisfied with the performance of your Comox Valley elected officials? In 20 months and three weeks, voters will go to the polls again. So we’re curious how Decafnation readers feel about their councillors, mayors, directors and school trustees halfway through their current terms in office
Another environmental dilemma: Do biosolids pose a public health risk?
Comox Valley electoral area directors told land applications of biosolids pose a danger to humans and a legal risk for the regional district, but the CVRD has invested heavily to produce a more highly treated Class A composting product
The Week: buzzing about city annexation (don’t bet on it) and 3L logging (yeah, probably)
Comox Valley newspaper ad creates buzz about Courtenay annexing 3L Developments land, but it’s all wishful speculation
Stotan Falls petition called “trojan horse,” 3L serves notice of logging Jan. 21
Anonymous petition launched to convince Courtenay Council to annex 3L Developments property to save Stotan Falls; critics call the petition a “trojan horse” and urge people not to sign. Meanwhile, 3L notices homeowners it will start logging in two weeks
The Week: Save 58% on the ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ gifts, and other useless information
The COVID pandemic pushed down the cost of purchasing all the gifts in the classic Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” this year
Contemplation in action — a friend remembers Father Charles Brandt
A reflection on Father Charles Brandt by Bruce Witzel, chair of the Brandt Oyster River Hermitage Society
B.C.’s 150th anniversary provides an opportunity to right a historic wrong
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Paul Manly writes that British Columbia could advance reconciliation with First Nations on southern Vancouver Island next year and at the same time protect watersheds, endangered species and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Comox Valley receives $9.251 million to offset COVID-19 pandemic economic impact
Four Comox Valley local governments received a total of $9.251 million as part of the $425 million BC Restart Grant Program
Cycling has boomed during the pandemic, but do we have the infrastructure to make it safe?
The pandemic has created a bicycle boom, but do we have the necessary infrastructure to make cycling safe?
Even more grating on the fountains – they are to commemorate the boards accomplishments. Gimme a break…
After reading the article on the herring fishery, I wrote to our two MPs, Ms Blaney and Mr. Johns. I sent them the Decaf article. Mr. Johns brought up the question in the house and was told by the fisheries Minister that “science” supported the continuation and expansion of the herring fishery locally as it had been cut back in other locations. Watching the video of the fisheries minister’s response, I was not convinced.