COAPCOAP + THE WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / TOPIC COLLECTION
CVRD policies, bylaws & local government
Reporting and commentary about the Cowichan Valley Regional District: its bylaws, services, spending and decisions.
74 matching archived articles · Page 2 of 4 · Articles retain their original dates.
WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-07-10
CVRD’s Secret Data Mining for United Nations Revealed
After weeks of waiting for a reply from CVRD (Cowichan Valley Regional District) staff about their membership in ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), we finally received a response: “Good morning, Our sincere a…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-06-14
Safe Spaces or Stifling Freedoms? CVRD's New Bylaw Raises Concerns
Our Rights Are Safe Enough, No Need for 'Thought Police' Duncan, BC – The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is stirring the pot once again. Just when you thought we had enough rules and regulations to ensure everyone is nice and poli…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-05-24
Losing Energy Independence
As many local citizens increasingly become frustrated with local government’s narrow strategies for governing, by putting all policy through a “Climate lens”. It seems that local bureaucrats just double down, and completely ignore any possi…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-05-24
The Slow Creep To Censorship- All levels of Government
At the CVRD meeting May 1st, there was discussion about adding a fine of $50k for undefined “extreme” circumstances where people do not report to the altering of their buildings on their land. They also added more divisions within the CVRD …
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-05-01
Cowichan Valley's "Safe Spaces": Censorship Masquerading as Civility?
Cowichan Valley's "Safe Spaces": Censorship Masquerading as Civility? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oad6Z0hn4jA In a turn of events that feels ripped from the pages of a dystopian playbook, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-29
Director Acton's Mockery Reveals the Hypocrisy Behind CVRD's Civility Complaints
In the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), A concerning narrative is unfolding—one where the line between governance and public discord is increasingly blurred. Recent board meetings have highlighted a stark division: directors encasi…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-21
Cowichan Valley's Housing Crisis: A Study in Contradiction and Call to Action
Desperate Voices in a Mounting Crisis Public input is needed to help address bylaw issues with temporary homes, RV's, and tiny homes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiKf_2oaS_c COWICHAN VALLEY, April 17, 2024 — "There's nowhere to go and I…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
Bus Shelters To be Removed Amidst Public Safety Concerns
The CVRD board of directors appeared distressed and frustrated while voting to remove two bus shelters, one on James St. and the other next to London Drugs at the Village Green Mall in Duncan, during the CVRD meeting on March 27th. During t…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
Who Is the Municipality of North Cowichan Working For?
In 2013 North Cowichan passed a motion to join the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) a Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) initiative in partnership with ICLEI, a UN creation to monitor and steer local policy. The CVRD also beca…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
Council Watch - April
Duncan: April 2024 Within the CAO report it was stated that the White Rd. “supportive housing” project which was delayed due to the original builder filing bankruptcy, will now be taken over by Knappett Projects Inc. to be finished late 202…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
CVRD Considers Removing Public Input From Committee Meetings
Absurdity of “Safe Spaces” for Elected Officials in the Cowichan Valley. In the midst of an affordability crisis, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has become a focal point of intense public scrutiny over proposed tax hikes and t…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
North Cowichan Council Confronted By Unexpected Estuary Dilemma
As the story of the Cowichan Bay Estuary and the Dinsdale Farm continues to peel apart like an onion, each layer exposing the deeper story, we will continue to cover this saga until the day there is some sort of ‘ending’. As we have written…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-14
LtE: CVRD Taxes and Burdens
Dear WWIND, Cowichan Valley residents came out en masse, in the middle of a cold, windy, wet afternoon, to make it known that they are at their limits, many even beyond them. Constituents are struggling in ways that I think were not fully g…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-14
Council Watch - March
Duncan: Feb/March 2024 Duncan council met to reconsider their scramble crosswalk. Concerns noted about traffic backing up along Canada Ave. Protected left turns are now being considered as they accomplish the same goal of “protecting pedest…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-14
The Continuing Saga Of The Cowichan Bay Estuary
As we continue our coverage of the Cowichan Bay Estuary narrative that unfolded in June 2023, new details are emerging. The public was abruptly notified about the intention to remove dykes, a decision that would flood 70 hectares, including…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-29
Cowichan Valley Stands United: The Turning Point Against Incremental Impositions
Our close-knit community faced a watershed moment at the CVRD board meeting on February 28, 2024. A seemingly minor proposal to add a 3.39% tax for parkland acquisition into an overall 19.33% tax increase became the tipping point. This wasn…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-27
Rising Tides of Concern: Cowichan Valley Residents Rally for Fiscal Responsibility
On February 28th, as the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) convenes to deliberate on a proposed nearly 20% overall tax increase, the streets outside the CVRD office on Ingram Street, Duncan BC, will witness a testament to community e…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-26
CVRD's Immigration Discussion Shines Light on Mayor Douglas's Leadership
During a recent Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) meeting, on February 14th, the spotlight was not only on Amanda Vance's compelling presentation from the Cowichan Intercultural Society but also on Mayor Rob Douglas's swift move to s…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-26
Millions Spent on 'Affordability' Retreats While Canadians Pinch Pennies
Canadians continue to find themselves grappling with soaring living costs, from unreachable home prices to climbing grocery bills. Amid these trying times, faith in public officials dwindles as their priorities seem misaligned with the popu…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Parks or Pockets, Green Space and Dwindling Bank Accounts
Parks or Pockets: Cowichan Valley’s Quest to Grow Trees and Shrink Wallets Amidst a whopping 19.33% increase in taxes, residents plan to protest outside the CVRD building on Ingram St, Duncan, February 28th, 1:30PM. The spotlight on the str…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Council Watch - Feb
North Cowichan February 2024: North Cowichan wrapped up their budget debates and got a taste of Bill 44 The 2024 budget was accepted with Cllr. Findlay, and Cllr. Manhas in opposition to the 5.18% increase. Cllr Manhas opposed the budget fr…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Nut Bar Chronicles: Tax Schemes, and Putin’s Prime-Time Beam
Welcome back to the Nut Bar, where the satire is as thick as Canadian maple syrup and just as sweetly biting. We find ourselves navigating a veritable smorgasbord of political paradoxes, from the local landscapes of Cowichan Valley to the i…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Controversial Land Amendments in British Columbia
The Province is quietly asking for public feedback on their amendments to the Land Act. They are asking for written submissions, no longer than five pages with no website links, no spam, and no profanity. Write to LandActamendments@gov.bc.c…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Environmental concerns clash with agricultural realities
Photo: AP (Germany) A few months back Westward Independent featured an article on the Dutch Farmer protests, and they still have not given up; In fact, their voices have been amplified now throughout Europe. In the first weeks of January, i…
Read the historical article →