Q & A with CityWest

CityWest is coming back and has agreed to answer some written questions.

Cortes Currents: There are a lot of would-be customers who were not connected to CityWest for various reasons. In Tiber Bay and Red Granite Road, for example, the problem was allegedly that the route was across solid rock. I do not know why some of the customers in the southern tip of Cortes (like Siskin Lane and South Point Road) were not connected, only that there were a large number of them. I’m also aware that CityWest customers in the Whaletown area have recently been connected. Are there parts of Cortes that, for one reason or another, you will not be able to service?

CityWest: The Cortes fibre project is being built in phases, so not every eligible property is connected at the same time. As each phase of construction is completed, additional homes become eligible for service. While some areas present more complex engineering or construction challenges than others, our goal is to make fibre internet available to as many residents as possible.

This is an aerial fibre build, which allows us to reach the vast majority of homes on Cortes Island. There may be a small number of properties in particularly remote or difficult-to-access locations that won’t have service. Residents may notice that one neighbourhood is connected while another is still waiting. That’s a normal part of a phased infrastructure project. We appreciate the community’s patience as construction continues.

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Angus Reid Poll Shows Soft Support for Pipelines

It has been two weeks since Premier Danielle Smith presented her plan for the West Coast Pipeline to Prime Minister Mark Carney during the Calgary Stampede. This was followed by the announcement of another pipeline to Sarnia, Ontario. A new poll from Angus Reid suggests the majority of Canadians currently support these projects, though that support could change. Only 25% strongly support the proposed West Coast Pipeline (to BC) and 22% the Northern Shield Pipeline (to Ontario). 

“In both cases, only about half of Canadians say they have truly made up their minds about the projects, suggesting both proposed pipelines sit on proverbially shifting ground.”

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Human rights group Amnesty International calls out Meta data centre project in Sturgeon County

By David Boles, St Albert Gazette, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An unexpected opponent has emerged against the new AI data centre project that is planned to be built north of Edmonton.

Amnesty International Canada is opposing the project by Meta, which is anticipated to take up an area larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park in Sturgeon County.

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Mark Carney’s pipeline plan shelves emissions targets

By Anushka Yadav, The Pointer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In 2021, a year before she would become Premier, Danielle Smith described on a podcast for the Alberta Enterprise Group, which lobbies on behalf of the oil industry, how she came to work for the organization. 

She had been recruited by a large organization that lobbies for the cattle production industry and said she liked their approach because “they recruited people from the energy sector; in fact, our chair was an oilman.” 

At the time, Smith was aggressively lobbying the provincial government on behalf of the Alberta Enterprise Group, trying to convince politicians that part of a proposed $20 billion taxpayer-funded incentive program should see money handed over to oil companies which would encourage them to clean up old abandoned wells, which they had failed to look after.

In 2023, a year after becoming Premier, Smith was widely accused of being in a conflict when, after working as a lobbyist for the oil sector and aggressively trying to convince Alberta politicians it was a good deal for the province, she pushed the giveaway to the industry through.    

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Area C Director’s Report: Evans Bay aquaculture report made public, Hospital Board news + more

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello and happy summer! 
This report has news for you: the Hospital Board is exploring ‘front-loading’ long-term care project costs, an Evans Bay aquaculture report was made public, plus a refresher on Siting Permits for construction on Quadra Island. Many thanks to all who’ve reached out since I declared my intent to run for re-election, I appreciate the positive encouragement.

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Whats Current on Cortes and Beyond