Dear Members,
Edition 11 has launched last week…almost our Birthday! Thank you all so much for the year of amazing support, from our advertisers, writers and proof reader, to our amazing distributers -who diligently refill as fast as they can when our copies run out (faster and faster each month), or when the cancel mob, supposedly “green” in thinking, decide to dump our papers in the garbage.. what a carbon waste…oh my! https://wwind.ca/edition-011-april/ We write articles that do not end up in the tangible paper, which you can see at wwind.ca, or get a weekly digest to your in-box on Saturday mornings by subscribing at wwind.ca.
We can only do this with your support, and are grateful for our advertisers, and monthly donors. We have been running out a week or two before each new edition comes out, which is amazing, but to print more copies we will need more sponsors. To add an extra 100 papers to each order it will cost $30-$40 (based on extra weight shipping costs, and taxes) . If you would like to sponsor 100 copies, please just shoot us an e-mail with the heading “100 papers” and we can either thank you publicly on our donor list, or keep you as a private donor.
TOWN HALL:
The community came together to volunteer for TownHalls2024 on April 20th. With a full hall, the public were educated on Bill’s 44-47, 36, 31, and Street Disorder. There was an amazing interactive part, where many of the public asked questions, and came up to the Mic. Unfortunately, ALL local government Reps., who were invited, along with B.C. Party leaders, did not attend, with only a few responding. Interaction and feedback from local government reps. were asked for by the attendees very loudly, especially around Bill 44 and Street Disorder. We decided to film it and host the zoom, however our resident “techy”, co-creator of COAP, was left very upset with the quality Zoom allowed if you did not purchase the extra $100 package (which we did not know until after); however, he did an amazing job sharing the slides on-screen and sharing relevant info during the live stream.
North Cowichan, and more communities, have now been added to the list of communities that will “be told” what type of housing, and how much, there shall be built. https://www.cheknews.ca/8-island-communities-among-next-20-with-housing-targets-set-by-province-1200712/
COAP Inc. have been speaking on these issues since they were passed last year. Correction to the speech **The Municipal Act has been changed now.
UPDATE ON THE LAST NC MEETING THAT WAS SENT OUT : Clips to come, until then, Min 6 for public input re getting the nurses back to work: https://pub-northcowichan.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=ef3fcf56-cee2-4880-aa0b-67f6244042a9&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=14&Tab=attachments
CVRD:
Public and business input sought on economic future of the Cowichan region
Economic Development Cowichan (EDC) is creating a comprehensive Strategic Plan to guide its activities over the next 5 years, and has launched a series of surveys seeking input from business owners and the members of the public.
https://www.cvrd.ca/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2643
OUR CHILDREN OUR FUTURE:
Read about it here: https://wwind.ca/safe-care-act-private-members-bill/
If you agree, please send a letter in to your MLA or all if you feel so moved to.
From a member:
“Dear Honourable Ministers,
I hope this finds you well. I am writing hoping to ask for your support for MLA Sturdy's Private Member Bill called the Safe Care Act. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billscurrent/5th42nd:m202-1
As you are aware, the Infants Act in B.C. severely limits parental rights over their children, causing even more need for a Bill that can be used in times of crises.
As a mother of a special needs child, there were some pretty scary times, especially as puberty kicked into gear with a reactive child, however, I did not feel that he was a danger to himself, besides one time, and that was sorted in the moment through calling local law enforcement, who handled the situation well. But with the mounting mental health and addiction crises, it seems that there is a very large group that is being ignored in debates, and that is the youth. Any person in addiction should not be looked upon as "in their right mind", but compound that with a still-developing frontal lobe, and the fact that damage to a developing brain from drugs can be even worse initially than in a fully developed brain, and you have someone who most likely is unable to make good decisions. My younger child suffers from one of these issues, so I will speak from my heart and personal experience.
Parents know and love their children more than any bureaucrat, or health agency ever could. Parents all over share similar stories to mine where they know their child is in crises, whether that be mental health crises, drug crises, or both, and that their child may not survive it. Parents frantically look for any help available, only to often find there is none, and panic in their desperate situation. Currently all detoxes, rehabs, counseling, and other forms of help are purely voluntary, and the workers at these facilities lay that out quite clearly to the child, giving them an easy out, which they more than often take. What child enjoys feeling 'uncomfortable'?
We know through talks with those that work with adults who suffer from mental health and addiction issues, that very often those suffering must hit rock bottom before they reach for help, or take help offered. And rock bottom is extremely scary these days from females selling their bodies for drugs, to street violence in makeshift camps. We can not have the mentality that our children must end up in these circumstances in the 'hopes' that they reach out for help, we must help them before they end up another statistic.
The manic, depressive, and anxiety filled behaviour of a child addict or one suffering mental health issues, can lead to injury or death. I find it almost repugnant that anyone would suggest we treat them as if they were in their right minds enough to choose what is best for themselves, especially in severe crises, which is what this Bill was meant to address.
This Bill does not take the need for intervention lightly, and reads a last resort type of Bill... possible ray of light for parents who fear losing their child. A judge still has to hear the argument for the stabilization order which is initially only for 4 days, and in order to extend it it must be reassessed; Additionally, the child is offered the other voluntary options first, and most parents in this situation would far rather them take a voluntary action, ie. rehab, then go to these lengths - but the parent would not be there making the request, if their child had taken the help they needed initially. A sad testament to where youth today are is that most of these volunteer options have months long wait lists, so even if a child has a moment of clarity, they can not just 'go to' a facility.
I think this Bill is extremely mild, and personally would like to see more power given back to the parents, but in an emergency, I feel this Bill will save children's lives, maybe even my child's. I urge you to support this Bill, and question what arguments there would be to not, or dare I say, would you have been complacent in a child's death if you were to vote against it?
Sincerely,
Duncan B.C. - a Town in crises
Thank you all as always,
We will send you an update on the next NC meeting, after we receive it this Friday.