By Grant Warkentin
While a public Strathcona Regional District meeting yesterday was paused to let emotions in the room cool down, two rural directors were caught strategizing on a hot mic.
During the live-streamed meeting, during a brief recess, Area A (Kyuquot/Nootka-Sayward) Director Gerald Whalley could be heard speaking with Electoral Area B (Cortes Island) Director and board vice-chair Mark Vonesch about an upcoming vote, a proposal to add Area C (Quadra Island) to the funding service for Strathcona Gardens.
They could be heard discussing who should leave the room in order to force the meeting to end before the vote, by ensuring not enough board members are present to form a quorum.
“Is seven a quorum?” Whalley asks.
“I think nine or 10’s a quorum,” Vonesch replies.
“What if we all left?” Whalley asks.
“Who?” Vonesch says.
“All of us who are opposed, just left,” Whalley replies.
“Would that be enough?” Vonesch asks. “Who else should leave…”
“That would leave seven people here,” Whalley says.
“We only need four of us missing, with ten there’s still a quorum. Who else is going to leave?” Vonesch asks.
“The six of us that are here that would vote against it,” Whalley says.
“But Martin Davis [director for Tahsis]?” Vonesch asks.
“He might,” Whalley replies.
The Strathcona Standard has reached out to Whalley and Vonesch to clarify and explain their comments.
Shortly after their conversation, the video and audio feed for the meeting cut off for approximately six minutes. When it resumed, most of the rural directors were absent from the room.
Despite their absence there were still enough directors present in the room and online to maintain a quorum, so as discussion continued, the others could be seen on the video feed returning to the boardroom and taking their seats.
Angry Quadra Islanders oppose tax increase
Like last month’s public meeting, the gallery was again packed with Quadra Islanders angry they are being asked to help pay for the Strathcona Gardens overhaul. From the very beginning of the meeting, board chair Mark Baker had to ask the gallery several times to be quiet and respectful, but it did little to prevent occasional outbursts.
While Campbell River Director Ben Lanyon was speaking about how Campbell River and Quadra Island communities are tightly integrated as a region, and how the new pool and ice arenas will bring benefits to the whole region for the next 50 years, jeers, laughter, and comments could be heard from the gallery.
Baker again asked speakers to be quiet, or they would be asked to leave.
“I don’t care,” said one woman. “You are talking bullshit. You want it, you pay for it.”
Baker called a recess, warning the gallery that if they didn’t stay quiet, the room would be cleared.
“How? How will you clear the gallery?” asked the woman.
“You’ll have to carry me out, because I’m not leaving,” said a man in the gallery.
One woman in the gallery can be heard complaining that she might lose her house “over a pool.” A man can be heard complaining about how it costs $30 to take the ferry to go to the pool. Another woman can be heard claiming the item was deliberately placed late on the agenda to discourage public participation.
With the gallery showing no signs of quieting down, the meeting was recessed, and that’s when Whalley and Vonesch were caught on the hot mic.
The vote passes, barely
On the table was a proposal for Quadra Island to be brought into the funding pool for Strathcona Gardens at a rate of 80% of the Island’s tax roll. It also proposed Area D’s funding rate be set at 90%, and Campbell River’s rate at 100%.
Quadra Island Director Robin Mawhinney said it’s not fair for her constituents, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, to pay for a facility they barely use. She argued Strathcona Gardens provides no direct benefits to Quadra Island, and that instead of spending money on the facility in Campbell River, Quadra Island should spend it on facilities on the island.
Campbell River Director Sean Smyth said he is empathetic, but pointed out Quadra Islanders have been using the facility for 50 years without having to pay for its upkeep and maintenance.
“You’re getting a deal when you don’t realize you’re getting a deal on things,” he said. “It’s unfortunate because we’re just correcting something that should have been done 50 years ago.”
Campbell River Director Susan Sinnott agreed and pointed out how the entire region funds services that have intangible benefits; we don’t always use the library or the fire department, but we agree they are worth funding for the collective good, she said.
When the proposal finally went to a vote, it passed 7-6, with Whalley, Vonesch, and Mawhinney opposed, backed up by Davis, Michael Lott (Gold River), and Jack Dent (Zeballos alternate).
The final step will be to get assent from voters in the region; the question will be on ballots for Quadra Island, Area D, and Campbell River residents during municipal elections this fall.
Hot mic comments saved
NOTE: Since yesterday’s meeting, the entire four-hour live-stream recording appears to have been taken down from the regional district’s YouTube channel. However, the Strathcona Standard has preserved Whalley and Vonesch’s hot mic comments; you can listen to them here.
Featured image: Members of the Strathcona Gardens Commission and the SRD board at groundbreaking ceremonies for the new pool project in September 2024. Photo from City of Campbell River
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