Pubdate: Tue, 22 Apr 2014
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Spencer Anderson

CITY BRINGS CONCERNS TO CONFERENCE

Resolutions Address Four Key Issues

A Nanaimo-sponsored resolution calling for more municipal control over
medical marijuana production has been endorsed by the Association of
Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities.

However, AVICC delegates rejected a resolution from the Harbour City
calling on the province to give municipalities immediate power to
regulate animal trapping, with some rural representatives voicing concerns.

The local government group assembled earlier this month in Parksville
and Qualicum Beach for its 2014 AGM and convention.

The list of 20-plus resolutions included four from
Nanaimo.

One resolution called on the federal government to require that new
telecommunications towers comply with local government bylaws, giving
towns and cities more say over whether new cellphone towers are approved.

However, Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan withdrew the recommendation on the
advice of AVICC staff members, who cited jurisdictional issues.

Another Nanaimo resolution called for tougher penalties against
council members who disclose confidential information from in-camera
council meetings. Delegates voted to ask the province to amend
legislation to allow local governments to disqualify council members
who disclose secret information. However, a second provision allowing
the option of prosecution under the Offence Act was voted on
separately and was defeated.

Ruttan put forward the resolution and said he was satisfied with the
result.

"Right now, there's really little incentive for people not to do it,"
he said. "To me if a person breaches that, they should, in a serious
case, be removed from office as a deterrent."

Several resolutions were prompted by issues before council in recent
months.

The resolution of medical marijuana was in response to an application
from a private company to set up a facility to produce legal product
in Duke Point. The city feared applicants could apply to have such
facilities assessed as 'farm use' by B.C. Assessment, and pay
significantly less tax on industrial land.

The city also wants more power to regulate the production of marijuana
on ALR land, which is often close to residential areas.

Coun. Bill McKay spoke in favour of the resolution on behalf of
Nanaimo, saying the city's concerns mirror challenges facing other
municipalities.

"What I tried to convey to the group as a whole is Nanaimo is not
unlike a number of other communities," he said.

"It's not like growing tomatoes and mushrooms."

Coun. Fred Pattje spoke in support of Nanaimo's resolution calling on
the province to approve pending local bylaws - including one in
Nanaimo - that would band the use of body-gripping traps in the city.

Pattje said he was not surprised the resolution was voted down, but
stayed firm in his view.

"It's an inhumane way of killing wildlife," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D