Letters to the Editor

Testing is a life skill.

Dear Haida Gwaii News, First, thank you for providing an offline outlet to read about events, issues, and conversations grounded in our communities. As someone who recently said goodbye to social media, I appreciate this paper tremendously. Hearing and participating in discourse face to face has been richer and more nuanced than watching comment sections. And no longer lining the pockets of those who profit off our attention and negative emotions has felt good in my bones. Haawa for this space. Stepping off that soapbox and onto another: I am concerned about the material effects that escalating geopolitical conflicts could have on our communities. If they are not already happening, I would like to encourage conversations about how we can support one another through hard times, should they reach our shores. If supply chains fray, let’s strategize to ensure everyone has the food and medicine they need. Let’s plan sooner rather than later to avoid the rash decisions, words, and actions that can arise in times of unrest. Let’s think through how we will mediate local conflicts in times that could bring relative scarcity (my suggestion there is to start by reminding ourselves just how rich we already are). There are strong foundations and many examples—both recent and ancient—that we can lean on and learn from. Maybe these conversations happen at the neighbourhood level, maybe at the village level, perhaps at the level of the Haida Nation. Hopefully all of the above. In person would be ideal, but organizing online can be effective too—whatever it takes to build strength together. And if the hard times do not come, well, we will be well stoked in supplies and strengthened relationships. With love, Long-time reader, first-time writer, New-ish resident, long-time neighbour Kim-Ly Thompson

About this letter This open letter was submitted to Haida Gwaii News by the Haida Gwaii Teachers’ Association as a letter to the editor. While addressed to provincial leaders, it is published here to inform local readers and contribute to public discussion on education funding and learning conditions in B.C. An Open Letter to Premier Eby, Minister Bailey, Minister Beare, and Tamara Davidson: “BC’s students — from Haida Gwaii to every corner of this province — cannot afford further delay.” Dear Premier Eby, Minister Bailey, Minister Beare, and Tamara Davidson, As a new year begins, bargaining for better learning conditions in British Columbia has reached a critical moment. For educators and families on Haida Gwaii — a remote island region facing unique challenges with staffing, cost of living, and access to services — the stakes are especially high. But what happens next matters for students across the entire province. Teachers across BC have been clear about what students need to succeed: more time, more support, and real investment in today’s classrooms. These needs stem from years of overcrowding, chronic staff shortages, and inadequate supports for students with diverse learning, behavioural, and mental health needs — pressures that are even more acute in rural and remote communities like ours. Despite this, the government has not yet put forward funding that meaningfully addresses these conditions, or comes close to similar funding envelopes for other public sectors. Educators are being asked to do more with less. Students are being asked to learn in under-resourced environments. Families are being asked to trust that public education is a priority, even as district budgets — in Haida Gwaii and across BC — fall behind inflation and rising needs. This is not sustainable. At this stage in bargaining, incremental measures are not enough. What is required is a clear commitment: put adequate funding on the table now to secure a fair deal that improves learning conditions for students from Haida Gwaii to Vancouver, and in every community in between. The public is watching. Educators are watching. Most importantly, students and parents are watching. We urge you to show leadership, respect educators’ expertise, and make the investments needed to reach an agreement that truly supports students — including those in remote and rural regions where the impact is greatest. BC’s students, teachers, and families cannot afford further delay. Fund education adequately. Get a deal done. KIDS MATTER. TEACHERS CARE. Respectfully requested, Steve Querenjung President Haida Gwaii Teachers’ Association

Editor, Haida Gwaii News My friend, who is 85 years living, was asked for ID when he recently bought a pouch of smoking tobacco at Fields. Having lived here in the 70s, he gets it. On Haida Gwaii we march to the beat of a different accordion. Every November he returns for six months. Today he planned to make a withdrawal from the bank machine at the Northern Savings Credit Union, in Masset, where I have accounts linked to my local business. I wasn’t able to accompany him, but he knows the lay of the land. I figured — what could go wrong? He withdrew $100 in $20 bills. The bank machine did not allow him to withdraw $50 denominations, and he needed two $50 bills as he was sending my granddaughters $50 each for Christmas. He entered the bank and waited in line, patiently. At first the teller told him there would be a $5 charge to change the $100 into two $50’s, but after consulting with one of her colleagues said she was unable to change the notes because my friend did not have an account at Northern Savings. My friend has an account with Innovation Federal Credit Union in Saskatchewan, where he now spends time when he can’t be in Masset. Innovation Federal Credit Union is part of the ding free! ATM network, meaning its members can use like-minded credit union ATMs across Canada without paying surcharges. You would think this ding-free! policy might extend inside bank doors. If Northern Savings were to be inundated by non-members requesting two $50 bills in exchange for $100 on a daily basis, I suppose it could become vexatious. But how often does this situation arise? If it is a persistent challenge, perhaps Northern Savings should consider recalibrating their bank machine so that citizens wishing to withdraw $100 in two $50’s wouldn’t have to waste more of their time by coming inside and patiently waiting in line, only to be told, ding! ding! no can do. A sympathetic soul at the post office changed my friend’s bank notes. It’s what good people do. Help one another. No strings attached. Susan Musgrave Tow Hill Road

Dear Editor. Your editorial in the December 4th edition nudged me to add another letter to your incoming folder. Last summer, we got to meet friends I made on Zoom during the pandemic. They live on Lasqueti, an island that is approximately 8 km wide and 22 km long with an area of 73.56 km2. The 2021 Census listed its population as 498, and there is a local estimate of some 400 feral sheep. A walk-on ferry connects the island to Vancouver Island. After they regaled us with stories about garden tractors and four-wheel options, a must to move some of the materials needed for building and fixing up cabins, the joys of solar and hydro powered living, as well as community services, such as burials of long-time residents, we got around to talking about the news. There are three monthly newspapers, available in paper copy, and recently, I received a care package of garlic and editions of newsletters. There is Our Isle and Times that might have delighted Genghis Khan with his imperial communication system called Yam, and it gave my jaw a bit of a workout, open and close at some of the statements made. Another one, claiming to be incendiary, The Lasqueti Fire Starter News favours an absurdist view of goings-on. Xwe’etay, a Northern Coast Salish term for the yew tree, appears in the Xwe’etay News. Full disclosure: my friend is a contributor and co-founder of the latter. I am sending you a sample copy of each for your use, to keep informed or entertained while keeping warm. If a small island can support three newspapers available in paper and online copy, then hopefully Haida Gwaii will get to enjoy and support the variety of newsletters and papers we have here. Yes, I am going to mention local media ecology that includes The Haida Laas, the Haida Gwaii Trader, village newsletters, organization newsletters, I would miss one or two if I tried to list them all. And finally, I want to recognize your fine endeavour. Wishing you the best, and for all of us to keep going in 2026. Astrid Egger Daajing Giids

Dear Editor, What do Masset and the Canucks have in common? Now that Quinn Hughes is gone and Jim Rutherford has spoken the words of rebuild, it’s quite evident that the Canucks have hit rock bottom. Some fans are ok with the trade as it’s opening a new future, but other fans are outraged. Me, myself? I’m happy and excited about it. It was time. In return for Quinn are assets. Most notable is the first-round pick. This alone could turn into something worthwhile in a few years. And you’re asking how does this relate to Masset? Just take a walk around and you will quickly see the insane abundance of garbage. Like the outraged fan, I was actually cursing today on my walk down to the grocery store with my daughter. It’s at a point where it’s affecting my mental health and I know I am not alone. Cigarette butts everywhere, pop bottles, broken glass, wrappers, DOG S#!^. It is truly disgusting and everyone needs to step up because there’s potential. Masset’s assets are the people who live and work here. We need to flip the script and be proud of our town. Take care of our own litter, call people out who you see littering. Businesses need to take pride and clean in front of and around their stores. The Village needs to invest in a garbage program and every resident needs to physically go out and pick up garbage with their hands. A couple of pieces on every walk will add up over time. The fight isn’t over for Masset or the Canucks. If the Canucks can bite the bullet and realize where they stand and prep for a rebuild, I think Masset can finally take a deep look at itself and do the same. It’s time to live in a town you are proud to call home. Don’t let other people look down on you for volunteering or getting involved. Picking up garbage can be fun and rewarding. Terry Wallace Masset

I have a confession. At the start of this year, I gave myself a quiet deadline. If I could not get this paper to a stable place by the end of the year, I would step back and reconsider everything. It was a personal agreement, a line in the sand that no one else knew about. As we reach the end of 2025, I can report that I did not reach many of the goals I set for myself. So I have granted myself an extension. This year has been rough for me personally. The paper, on the other hand, is doing great. Better than I could have imagined when I was sitting in my tiny office, surrounded by toys, wondering what I had gotten myself into. Haida Gwaii News has grown into something with real potential. It has become a resource, a habit, and for many people, a small piece of stability in a world that feels shakier every month. Running a newspaper is overwhelming. Running a newspaper on an island, as a new parent, with a business model that relies on advertising sales, is in a league of its own. Some days are a blur of deadlines, emails, production work, editing, childcare, and the unavoidable moments where the power flickers at the exact wrong time. I have lost stable advertisers due to factors beyond my control, and I have yet to recover from those losses. Some days, I wonder if I am out of my depth. Other days, I look at a finished issue and feel a little shocked that I pulled it off. Through all of this, life has challenged me in ways I did not expect. It has been a year that has tested every part of me. Even so, I am looking toward 2026 with a strange mix of hope and determination. My new extension is in place, and as long as the bank account lets me, I will continue to print. Why? Because of the letters like the ones that arrived last week. This paper reaches people far beyond my little office. The letters remind me of that. They arrive with warmth, humour, sharp opinions, careful handwriting, or the kind of vocabulary that sends me reaching for a dictionary, which always gives the word nerd in me a thrill. These letters show me the sides of Haida Gwaii that are easy to forget when I am buried in layout or chasing invoices. They remind me why local news matters and why I wanted to build this in the first place. Vince’s snarky letter in the last edition made me smile, and the three responses we received made me smile even more. One came through Canada Post, handwritten, thoughtful, and genuine. Reading it felt like sitting at a kitchen table with someone who cared enough to share part of themselves. This is what keeps me going. Not clicks or algorithms or likes. Not the snarky comments that rule the online world. What keeps me going is the simple act of people contributing to something bigger than themselves. These letters create a conversation about what it means to be human on Haida Gwaii. They help us understand each other’s views and experiences in a space that stays calm, curious, and respectful. I know I am not always perfect on the communication side. Motherhood has isolated me more than I expected, and I do not always call back or answer every email in a timely manner. To make things more interesting, my phone recently jumped out of my pocket and discovered what it feels like to be run over by a truck. So I am slightly disconnected until Santa delivers a replacement. Emails will be answered. The call list will be tackled. It might just take a moment. What matters is that this paper continues to feel like a home for community conversation. I want people to see themselves in its pages, even when I am running behind on messages or editing with a toddler climbing onto my lap. Haida Gwaii News is more than a small operation in a cramped room. It is a shared project between everyone who reads it, writes to it, supports it, and argues with it. I may not have reached every goal this year, but I have learned how deeply people care about this paper. That is enough reason to keep going. And I am going. Stacey

Dear Editor, A true test of livability in any region dotted with urban settlement - such as Haida Gwaii - is the amenity of affordable, accessible and reliable public transportation. This place gets a mark of D-, despite the fact of multimillennial habitation and one and a half centuries of European-style infrastructural build-up. It hurts to live in a milieu where it’s an unending struggle to travel between one community and the next - as someone who doesn’t operate a motor vehicle and in fact, has depended on public transportation over six decades. Haida Gwaii has a markedly diminished air about it - despite its “greener-than-thou” attitude. Surely four thousand plus souls deserve a “B.C. Transit” franchise? How ‘bout it? Rèal Saint Laurent Mennonite colony

Dear Editor. Thank you for your thoughtful tribute to your companion, Trip. You captured so beautifully how it feels to be left behind. Betsy Cardell

Dear Editor, I myself as a Haida citizen, need people to understand the ramifications of the logging industry on Haida Gwaii As I write this post, I can think of 42 families on this island who are directly affiliated with the logging industry, whether they are directly involved as workers, or supporting their family or are subsidized by the logging industry I agree there are still changes to be made, but from my years working as a forester, I can attest that the logging industry on Haida Gwaii is among the most highly regulated in the world. I worked for many years as a junior forestry technician doing cultural identification surveys with other Haida citizens and have seen firsthand the steps that are taken to ensure that culturally important plants are protected, as well as culturally important areas involving CMT's and sensitive watersheds that are imperative for our salmon runs Now, I am an apprentice electrician working my way towards my Red Seal certification, so I can serve the citizens of Haida Gwaii and their construction needs. It has always been my goal to better the lives of my people on this island and I cannot do that if there is no economy. If logging were to cease to exist, the Island's economy would fall, the majority of the people I know in my life are directly involved in the logging industry, Haida citizen or not, there are many families who have been here for generations and their voices are unable to be heard because of this, and their families would be directly affected as well. There have been negative impacts of early logging on this island. I know this and I do not want to see our island's forests decimated to a point where we as Haida people cannot perform our cultural duties to keep our culture alive. I am a proud Haida Citizen, and that will never change, but in today's world, I know for a fact that we do need to have an economy, and here on this island, the logging industry is at the heart of it. Damon Fladmark

Dear Editor; Huge thank you to Lawrence, Nick, and the mechanic who worked on my truck (I’m sorry I can’t remember your name) at Driftech Mechanical Services in Masset! You guys are so awesome! That was the best customer experience I have ever had getting a vehicle repaired. From the moment I drove up, I was treated with such kindness and respect. My dog, Rylee, comes with me most places. Bonus: they are very dog friendly. Rylee made some new friends today! I am so thankful Driftech was recommended to me to replace the fuel pump in my truck. The price was very reasonable and exactly what they told me it would be, no surprises. The mechanic explained what he did, and I feel totally confident as I leave on my three-day journey home. If there were a five-star rating system here, I would give you at least 10! Thanks again, Pat Pohl and Rylee the dog Tlell, Sometimes

Dear Editor; The link between increased crime and drug use has long been recognized. However, it is important to note that the relationship is far more nuanced than a “just say no” policy allows. Such a perspective judges the addict for not having the willpower to refuse a powerful substance that offers relief from unimaginable physical and psychological pain. If you are going to take something away, you have to replace it with something else. Prohibition and criminalization of drugs and drug use create the conditions of poverty and marginalization that drive property crime. The opioid crisis began with the overprescribing of oxycodone by the medical establishment. Aggressive and misleading marketing pushed this “miracle drug” on millions. When the devastating addictive properties became glaringly obvious, new regulations and restrictive guidelines were established to limit its use. Many were suddenly cut off from the only thing that had brought them relief. The black market responded with fentanyl, a similar drug that is cheaper but harder to mix with precision. The potency of fentanyl is inconsistent, leading to overdoses and death. And yet, humans with pain still seek relief. As a society, we need to provide that relief in a safe and accessible way, reducing crime and poverty but, more importantly, preventing death. Complex problems require creative solutions, ones that foster connection and understanding, not stigmatization. Here on Haida Gwaii, I know we can offer more than “just say no.” Janet Rigg Tlell

We recently had the privilege to visit Haida Gwaii and spent 12 days there. It was great even though it rained for 10 of the 12 days; there is always so much to do. The best was going to the opening of aay aay at the museum in Skidegate, it was so remarkable. The drummers and singers led by Nika Collinson opened and throughout the event, wow, I had goosebumps. The weaving of Aay Aay and his journey to become a weaver were quite remarkable too. There were many speakers, among them Evelyn Vanderhoop, who was gifted the exquisite robe that Aay Aay, also known as Aay Aay Hans, had been creating for the past several months right up until it was cut from the loom and then “given life,” as we in the audience looked on, and then was lovingly gifted to Evelyn. It was a moving experience. There was aay aay’s weaving show itself and the many dressed in their own woven creations in the Haida fashion for the opening, not to mention the hospitality of the fine treats created for the hospitality tables. I can tell you that I certainly enjoyed the sushi. Thank you. Having first visited Haida Gwaii 40-plus years ago and never having visited Grey Bay, and being told that we had to go and visit as it is so beautiful, we went. I must say that when we left Sandspit on our way, we were met with the remains of logging that had taken place in most parts on either side of the road for about 20 feet. I found that depressing. Give me the bumpy, narrow roads any day. I had thought that logging had slowed on Moresby Island, but I find that nothing could be further from the truth. I am guessing they are cutting these trees and building bigger roads and bridges to log with more and bigger trucks, to take what has not been logged yet. What utter shame and folly. Don’t you know that once the magic is gone, it is lost forever? It will not be back, certainly not in our lifetimes. I found this very sad and wish it were not so. Thank you, as always, for the memories, Haida Gwaii. Respectfully submitted, Howa, Nancy Gould Prince Rupert, B.C.

As the new chair of the Daajing Giids Community Hall Society, I want to address some inaccuracies and add clarity to your article in the June 19th issue headlined "Community Hall Board sees sudden leadership change". So, to start, history often repeats itself. The leadership change this year was quite similar to the leadership change that happened at the 2024-2025 AGM. So, what's the big deal this time? After the voting at the 2024 AGM, there were mostly new board members with only a few past board members remaining. Over the 2024-2025 year, several experienced board members dropped out for various reasons, leaving a very small team of dedicated board members running the society. Overall, membership to the DGCH Society was very low and several executive positions on the board remained unfilled. At the 2025 AGM, 31 people attended the meeting. It was my impression that quite a few people had questions about the direction the hall society was taking and wanted to get involved and offer to stand for executive positions. After the first vote was held and a new chairperson elected, the remaining 2024-2025 board declined to stand again. It seems they felt they were a great team, and they all wanted to continue together or not at all. The 2025-2026 Board has both new members and returning members to balance enthusiasm and experience in running the society this coming year. To clarify, Jason Rupke was quoted for a few things that are incorrect, so I want to correct the record. 1. There is no formal "quilting club", simply a gathering of sewing and crafting and knitting members of the community that had been meeting for many years to socialize, work on projects, enjoy pot-luck lunch and discuss volunteering and fundraising in the community. 2. It was never a "FREE" use of the space. The drop-in program gathered a $5 fee from whomever attended and all funds were deposited to the Community Hall Society bank account. The final amount was based on the number of drop-in fees gathered. Yes, it was only usually about $40-$60 or so every couple of weeks, but it was an important use of space for community volunteers and elders who often did not get out much and for people to socialize and work on projects. So, what's a recap of the situation? The drop-in social program has run for over 15 years (or longer). When the pandemic hit, a few core people of the quilters, sewers and crafters jumped into action and started making face masks instead. They sewed and supplied free face masks to as many people in the community as they could, when there were none available elsewhere. During the pandemic, only 4 - 6 people used the space (to maintain the 6 feet apart) and continued to volunteer sewing masks for the community and making quilts, many of which were made to donate to the hospitals in Daajing Giids and Masset for the comfort of the long-term care patients. Drop-in fees continued to be collected and deposited to the society's bank account, whether there were 2 or 4 or 10 people attending. On evaluation of rental fees, the 2024-2025 Board decided the "quilting group" should pay the same market rate as other long-term groups and organizations. Except the quilter's weren't a formal club ... in other words, since there was no board and it was not a "non-profit society" there were no membership fees or grant funding, etc. available. With only 4-6 active participants at the time, even doubling the drop-in fee to $10 would not achieve the market rate of $150 per day. At first glance, paying market rate seemed a bit daunting to them and they considered ending the drop-in program. Something not seemingly considered by the board, is that these same "quilters" have been fundraising for the community hall for over 40 years. They were key in raising the funds that built the hall in the first place. Many of these same people raised hammers as well as money to build the Eric Ross Room addition and the Farmer's Market space too! And often use of the ER room was for volunteering in making hospital quilts, supplying their own time, energy and money, as well as paying the $5 drop-in fee. Yes, the board offered a compromise, but it was not FREE space, as indicated by J. Rupke. The drop-in group was offered a reduced rate of $100 per day (see email attached). This still seemed like a lot to raise the drop-in fees for the few members of the group. They decided to rise to the occasion and held a raffle to raise the funds to pay for a year of rental for the ER room space. As well, they have spread the word and several new people have been joining the drop-in group for sewing, quilting, crafts and knitting. The "Sew Social" drop-in group will continue in September and invites members of the community to drop-in for knitting, sewing, crafting and quilting by the community. Dates will be announced starting September. Moving forward, the future of the society with the new 2025-2026 board is very clear. The DGCH Society will continue the existing programs, will initiate new programs too and continue to manage and raise funds for the maintenance and operations of the hall facility. Programming ideas for September are already under discussion and we are looking forward to continuing the programs already running and adding some new programs as well. Kindergym, Tai Chi, Walking Group and others will all continue to be offered at the hall. The motto for the 2025-2026 DGCH Society is "How can we help?" and the policy is "Many hands make light work". Our goal is to continue to assist the community with event facilities, planning, fundraising, etc. and increase the participation of more people in our community at hall events. We would like to thank the past 2024-2025 DGCH Society board for their contributions for the year and look forward to working with them in the future for the betterment of our community. Going forward, we invite all members of the Daajing Giids community (and neighbouring communities too) to join in. Become a member! Sign up to volunteer (even just sometimes)! Even, simply show up and participate in community events! Comments? Contributions? Feel free to send us an email at dg.communityhall@gmail.com or reach me directly at chair.dgch@gmail.com. I'm looking forward to contributing my skills for the betterment of the community in Daajing Giids. With best regards, Lucia Larose Chair, 2025-2026 Daajing Giids Community Hall Society

By Christine Cunningham This past weekend, the annual Haida Gwaii Sun Run brought together around 30 island residents in a celebration of movement, community and support for local youth. What began years ago as the “Unity Run” — a beloved event hosted by the Haida Health Hubs in Skidegate and Old Massett — gave Islanders a chance to connect, get active and enjoy the beauty of Haida Gwaii together. When the Unity Run came to a close, one community member stepped up to carry the torch forward, determined to keep the spirit of the event alive. Now called the Haida Gwaii Sun Run, the event continues to provide that same sense of unity and purpose. More than just a run or walk, it’s become a meaningful fundraiser supporting dedicated Masset high school students who have been training for the Vancouver Sun Run. Held on April 27 this year, the Vancouver Sun Run is Canada’s largest 10-km running event, drawing upwards of 40,000 participants from across the country. Thanks to the community’s support through the Haida Gwaii Sun Run and other fundraising events, these young runners carry the encouragement and pride of their home with them as they join a much larger community of runners in Vancouver. There may not have been sunshine, but there were plenty of smiles and a lovely, supportive environment for the youth as they prepare for their trip. Follow @runhaidagwaii on Instagram or @haidagwaiirecreation for more upcoming events.

This was not the editorial I intended to write. I had planned to use this space to share my passion for democracy, my excitement for the election, and the joy I feel when our community comes together to debate ideas and shape the future. I was supposed to be at the Haida Heritage Center tonight, hosting an all-candidates debate. Instead, I’m sitting here at my laptop — and I’m mad as hell. I’m angry about the senseless loss of a life. I’m heartbroken for the families who are now grieving. And I’m furious at the grip drugs have on our communities, leaving pain and loss in their wake. The events of April 22 in Skidegate will leave a lasting impact on this island and its people. My hope is that some kind of peace can be found at the end of this difficult road — though right now, the path feels impossibly rough. I’m doing everything I can to provide the community with the facts and information you deserve, but I’m also facing a hard deadline. I know this edition won’t contain all the answers so many of you are searching for, and for that, I’m truly sorry. To those who looked forward to the debate, thank you. Your questions and ideas mattered. I’m especially sorry to the candidates who prepared tirelessly for the event, who believed in the power of public dialogue, and who showed up for Haida Gwaii. Your efforts did not go unnoticed. There is no easy answer here. Like many of you, I am filled with anger. But we cannot let anger win. We cannot build anything meaningful out of rage or hate. These emotions are real and valid — and they are heavy. But we must carry them together. This newsroom hurts right now, alongside our neighbours. Because when Haida Gwaii hurts, we feel it too. One day, the pain will soften. This storm will pass. But until it does, we must not let fear and fury steer the ship. This island knows better than most how to support and care for one another. Now is the time to draw on that strength. True justice will come — and this newsroom will be watching closely. Let’s hold tight to what we love most about life here: the kindness, the resilience, the deep roots of connection. Some of the best treasures wash ashore after a storm. Take care of each other while the waves are high and the winds howl. Stacey

Dear Editor: Your front page article titled “LNG Milestone Passes Haida Gwaii” paints a rosy picture of the event, making it seem like just another normal unfolding of economic progress. There is nothing normal about the shipment of massive amounts of fracked methane from the Douglas Channel out into the global commodity markets via Dixon Entrance. If we survive this and other planet killing projects, they will be remembered as a most shameful part of Canada’s history. We strongly urge your readers to watch the movie “Yintah: Fighting to Protect their land from the fossil-fuels company” on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRkph6XdzYc. Please note that the Land Defenders were found guilty a few months ago in criminal court for attempting to occupy and defend their traditional territory and they are currently awaiting sentencing. As witnesses to this story as it unfolded, we alerted our own MLA Tamara Davidson on the proposal for a similar LNG project near the mouth of the Nass. It will mean many more LNG tankers plying Dixon Entrance passing Rose Spit. These tankers are floating climate bombs as well as holding the potential to decimate a 50 mile radius in an explosion. Tamara will be the decision maker as Minister of Environment on this Nisga’a Ksi Lisims LNG project and we need to remind her that the sacred waters surrounding Haida Gwaii are much more than transportation corridors for global profiteers. Josette Wier and David Bowering Port Clements, BC

Dear editor – Thank you for your front page coverage of the recent Supreme Court decision that dismissed the compensation claim from Teal Cedar on Haida Gwaii and upheld all the work done by the Haida Nation, the province of BC, our Haida Gwaii communities and many Haida Gwaii residents to create the Haida Gwaii Land Use Plan. It is a bit unfortunate that you were not able to seek out the opinions of some of the legal counsel involved or of the Haida Gwaii residents who were witnesses. As one of those Haida Gwaii witnesses for the provincial government, I can offer my opinion. This is a powerful, unambiguous and really important judgement. It supports all the important work between 2000 and 2010 by many on Haida Gwaii as a part of recognizing title, enhancing good environmental stewardship, and supporting reconciliation though land use planning. The judge found that the process and the results were fully supported by the law. This should be rewarding for everyone involved and it provides the solid legal support and a platform to continue to move forward. But the most important result is that the judge fully rejected the argument, referred to as “constructive expropriation”, put forward by Teal Cedar. This judgement sets precedent and allows other First Nations, other governments and other communities to move forward on a similar collaborative path to better forest management, reconciliation and co-management without the fear of legal challenges from opportunistic corporations who challenge this progress. Thanks to the very hard working legal counsel and all the people from Haida Gwaii who worked hard to make this outcome possible. Keith Moore RPF Daajing Giids

Over a decade ago, First Nations led a diverse, province-wide movement to stop the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and keep crude oil supertankers out of our northern waters — and won. In 2019, shortly before you elected me as your Member of Parliament, Canada made it official by passing the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act. With a federal election looming, that law, and the decade of work it represents, now hangs in the balance. No sooner than the ink had dried on the moratorium, Conservatives got to work. First up was a private member’s bill by an Edmonton-area Conservative MP that aimed to repeal the law entirely. It was voted down. Then, in his campaign to become Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre frequently pledged to scrap the tanker moratorium. After winning, it became his constant refrain. Now, Poilievre is promising to “super charge” the oil sector, ramping up production and building an “energy corridor” (read: oil) to our coast. Conservatives cannot wait to get rid of the law – our law – that stands in the way of their big oil ambitions. The history of protecting our coast from oil goes back to the 1970s and a plan to build an oil port in Kitimat – at that time to import oil to Canada. Frank Howard, the first NDP Member of Parliament in our region, stood in the House and stated bringing oil tankers to our inside waters was, “inimical to Canadian interests, especially those of an environmental nature.” After a public inquiry and significant community opposition, the oil port was shelved and a voluntary tanker exclusion zone established. When Enbridge came along with its Northern Gateway plan, memories of the first fight against tankers still lingered. This time, First Nations led the resistance, which extended up and down the coast and all the way up our rivers, where nations feared the impact of a bitumen spill on wild salmon. Coastal First Nations invoked traditional laws and passed their own tanker ban. I remember massive rallies in Prince Rupert with Haida and other hereditary chiefs in regalia leading over a thousand people in a march down Third Avenue. Citizens packed into hotel ballrooms and community halls to testify in front of the Harper Government’s Joint Review Panel. The then-Village of Queen Charlotte (now Daajing Giids) and the Village of Masset passed official resolutions and over a dozen municipalities, including Prince Rupert, Terrace and Smithers, followed suit. In Kitamaat Village, the Haisla hosted an all-nations summit to galvanize opposition. In Hartley Bay, Gitga’at matriarchs knitted a four-kilometre-long chain out of yarn and strung it across Douglas Channel. My predecessor Nathan Cullen carried the region’s message to Parliament, while on the front steps of the House of Commons, Guujaaw and the late Beau Dick cut up a copper in a powerfully symbolic act of defiance. Looking back, it was a time of remarkable unity. The Harper Conservative government, of which Pierre Poilievre was a member, responded by calling the good people of the Northwest “enemies of the state.” Today, the politics look a bit different but the stakes are the same. Bringing crude oil to our coast means risking a spill that simply can’t be cleaned up. It means risking a marine ecosystem that’s the foundation of our coastal economy and a source of food for so many. And it means entrenching a fossil fuel energy system that’s burning the planet. In our riding, my Conservative opponent Ellis Ross doesn’t support the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act. He told a Senate Committee he thinks it treats the oil industry “unfairly.” His boss, Pierre Poilievre, remains determined to rip up the moratorium at the earliest opportunity. It’s time to vote, folks. Let’s vote like our coast depends on it. Taylor Bachrach is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley and is running for re-election in the April 28 federal election. Visit Taylor Bachrach's Official NDP Party Page

As a newly elected Haisla Nation councillor in 2003, I realized quickly that the issues I faced as a young Aboriginal growing up on reserve is what many First Nations experienced across Canada. My own periods of unemployment, drugs and alcoholism is what drove my style of leadership because I didn’t want anyone to go through what I went through. The tragic policies of the NDP-Liberals have increased the number of people using drugs across the entire country. I believe there is a better way – to get people help and recover from drug addiction. We found that employment provided long-term positive results, especially when the fishing and forestry jobs declined. It’s why I believe fully in economic development. In reviewing policies, legislation, or regulations, I try to find out how decisions affect the average person and work upwards, not from the top down. It’s been an effective approach when I see people becoming independent and councils being less reliant on government funding, which is mostly what the Indian Act enabled over the decades. Representation can be layered but I’ve always tried to do what it is that people want and then proceed to advocate on their behalf whether it be at the council table or in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. It is this approach to representation that led me to run for the Conservative Party of Canada under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre. Pierre Poilievre and I stand shoulder to shoulder with responsible hunters and sport shooters. The recent gun ban enacted by the Liberals and supported by NDP, punishes First Nations and non-First Nations gun owners alike. If elected, we will repeal the gun ban. Currently in Canada, under a weak economy, we have been left vulnerable to government debt, which has $46 billion in interest payments alone. On top of this, Russia intends to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic and travel through Canadian waters when the sea ice melts. Ignoring the Russians is an even bigger concern when we all admit, our military is not fit to mount a defense against anyone, let alone assist our NATO allies due to underfunding. China has even declared themselves an Arctic State, despite being more than 1,500 km from the Arctic Circle. Only Conservatives have a plan to take back control of Canada’s North. We have committed to: Double the size of the 1st Patrol Group of the Canadian Rangers, from 2,000 to 4,000 Rangers. Acquire two additional polar icebreakers for the Royal Canadian Navy. Poilievre also committed to delivering the two polar icebreakers the Seaspan and Davie shipyards are now building for the Coast Guard by 2029, while the Liberals refuse to provide a timeline. Build at least one permanent Arctic military base within two years: CFB Iqaluit, Canada’s first permanent Arctic military base since the Cold War. Canada must invest more in our military to protect our sovereignty, and Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party has committed to do that. I believe in transparency, no matter how difficult a topic is. I’ve gone through the divisiveness that can tear apart a community and it only gets worse with outside players making it worse. There are ways to avoid conflict within our societies without the divide and conquer strategies. Ultimately, I’ve always wanted to build and leave a future for all of us and especially for our descendants who don’t deserve a weak country because of decisions based on politics versus what is best for all of us as a collective Visit Ellis Ross's Official Conservative Party Page

As a resident of Skeena-Bulkley Valley for 38 years and as national leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada for the past 11 years, I’m pleased to offer myself as a candidate for MP. It would be a privilege to serve the families who have such deep roots in our communities and who care so much about the land and the future for our children and grandchildren. It’s really because of the children—both born and not-yet-born—that I have devoted the past 25 years to the protection of innocent human life, the restoration and strengthening of marriages and families and the protection of our freedoms—freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and the freedom to raise our children according to our beliefs. Over the past 25 years, Canadians have been subjected to an abusive relationship with governments that want to control what we can do and what we can say. In many public schools, our children are being taught values and beliefs different from those of their parents. We all know—from history and tradition, from biology and science—that men are different from women and boys are different from girls. We can’t change that and we shouldn’t try. But today, many boys and girls are being taught that gender is fluid and that they can change to the opposite sex. Many young people have been harmed by this confusing and false ideology. Some have even undergone surgery, having body parts removed . . . or destructive hormone therapy to try to become another person. This must stop. Young people are being harmed, sterilised and confused. We should let them be boys and girls again. Biological males should not be allowed to compete with women and girls in women’s sports. Nor should they have access to girls’ washrooms, change rooms and showers. Girls deserve their privacy and their dignity. Parents are the first and most important educators of their children. The public schools can never replace the parents and they should never undermine the cultural beliefs that the children are being taught at home. I also want to defend preborn children from premature death by abortion. Too many young women are suffering from the trauma of losing a child by the act of an abortionist. Each of us knows that a human life is sacred and not something to be destroyed or thrown away. Even the word “choice” is often misused. Many women and girls who have lost a child to abortion did not really “choose” that. Many are coerced, pressured by a boyfriend to “get rid of it” because he doesn’t want the responsibility of caring for the child he fathered. This is tragic. We need to help young women (and men) to value their future and save themselves for marriage. When there is an unplanned—even an inconvenient—pregnancy, we need to encourage respect for that special life and help the young mother carry it to birth. There are many couples looking to adopt a child. If the child is put up for adoption, he or she will be welcomed into a loving family. In the same way, society has now become a place where many seniors and elders are persuaded to end their lives by assisted suicide (MAiD, Medical Assistance in Dying). This is another tragedy and very disrespectful of our elders who have sacrificed so much and have so much love and wisdom to share with younger generations. The medical system is pushing MAiD because it’s cheaper than providing proper palliative care. But healthcare should not be something only for the young. Every human being—especially the elderly and vulnerable—deserves to live out his or her days in dignity, enjoying the love and respect of family and society. The Good Book—the Bible—has a lot to say about how we should treat our fellow man: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If politicians lived according to those principles, Canada would be a much better place. People can check out our policies and platform at www.chp.ca Visit Rod Taylor's Official CHP Page

What I want from this election I want continual Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, a Strong Democracy, and Affordable Housing For Indigenous people, it’s a well-known fact. The record of abuse is part of our everyday life and has been for over a hundred years. It’s become part of the history that we pass down from one generation to the next. Now is the time we change the script and hand the pen over to those who have been begging for recognition and solutions since confederation. Indigenous and non-indigenous don’t really have a shared past. But we do have shared needs and a future. A roof over our heads, food on the table and a bed to sleep in are essentials for all. The sad truth is that stable housing and good food is not a reality in many of our communities. The Green Party of Canada’s proposal to eliminate federal tax for people with less than $40,000 per year by raising the personal tax exemption. Building on this, people with disabilities deserve better support. Here are some key parts of what I support for disability justice: Fix the Disability Tax Credit so it’s easier to apply and more people can get help. Fix and fully fund the Canada Disability Benefit to lift people out of poverty. We also need to reconstruct our relationship with the future. Having a strong democracy will entail meaningful conversations, accountability and transparency. Having multiple federal parties strengthens voters’ voices. We all have the right to speak up and a responsibility to protect what we think is right. In a government where it feels like it’s us against them. The Green Party does not force members to vote for party lines - this means that I am not forced to vote against my values. I want to be the one having those meaningful conversations and the solution driven outcomes. When we can honestly say that your voice matters then and only then will we see a strong democracy. We should entertain all attempts to expand, and encourage, conversations that hold elected leaders accountable for neglecting the basic rights as human beings such as affordable housing, accessible health care, affordable childcare, and caring for folks at every stage of their life. The current economic and political system resists substantial change. It will require determination, support and a lot of attention to detail. It doesn’t want us to solve said issues overnight. It doesn’t want substantial changes to the relationship between indigenous peoples and non-indigenous people. But if we do what it takes to solve these problems anyway, we’ll discover that we’ve changed the system. Recreating the way our government supports Canadians will happen with your voice at the table and without your voice, I don’t have one. Meaningful conversations go hand in hand with informed decision making. Your voice matters. I will never give up. I will do what I can to maintain strong safeguards with all those around me. Party lines will interfere with individual interests, but they’ll never deter me from speaking up for our human rights, livelihoods, ecological wisdom, social justice and all that define us. Visit Adeana Young's Official Green Party Page

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

By Her Worship, Mayor Lisa Pineault, Village of Daajing Giids I was pleased to receive a text from MP Taylor Bachrach on December 16, 2024 advising that our initiative advocating for the restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction was in the Fall Economic Statement tabled minutes before. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii from the Intermediate Zone (B) to the Northern Zone (A), which would allow residents to claim up to the maximum value of the deductions. It felt like all of Haida Gwaii was receiving an early Christmas present! I went from elation to asking Taylor about the likelihood of success and he confirmed the legislation still has to be passed to enact the change. Its not a done deal yet... In our December 19, 2023 letter to Honourable Chrystia Freeland, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, VDG Council urged the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act as the aim of the Northern Residents Deduction, defined in the government’s website, is to recognize and provide relief for people of a prescribed zone facing a “higher cost of living, environmental hardships and access to limited services”. These exceptional circumstances described are fully met and endured by the people living on Haida Gwaii. Village of Daajing Giids Living Wage BC Study 2022, 2023, 2024 A living wage is the hourly amount that someone needs to earn to support a family of four with two parents working full-time. In 2022, Daajing Giids was calculated at $25.87 the highest participating in the study that year. The 2023 Living Wage Study had Daajing Giids with the second-highest living wage in the province ($26.25) after Clayoquot Sound. VDG participation in the study quantifies what my Council and residents have known for many years; the cost of living in Northern, remote and isolated places is expensive and higher than elsewhere in the province. While the Living Wage Study has proved to be a very useful and worthwhile study for our area, it does not reflect the actual cost of things such as of food, (averaged from 6 grocery stores in an area from Haida Gwaii east to Houston and Kitimat, then north to the Yukon border), transportation; (as we have no public transportation our calculation reflects the cost of two cars per family with no consideration for fuel or repair costs specific to Haida Gwaii), while 3 round-trip ferry trips to Prince Rupert per year are factored in the study, (it does not reflect the reality of what most Canadians access for healthcare in an afternoon requires a great deal of travel, cost and time for our residents), and currently a reflection of access to post-secondary education is not part of the calculation (which in our case is limited). Our intention with participating in the Living Wage BC Study was to quantify our higher costs to aide our advocacy primarily about the Northern Living Deduction. To use it create a case and to share it with our provincial and federal partners to enlist their support of our advocacy. When receiving our package, provincial MLA Murray Rankin and MLA Anne Kang both raised the issue with their federal counterparts. The Daajing Giids Living Wage BC study as well as MIEDS’s petition have been referenced as evidence by our MP Taylor Bacharach in his effort to have Haida Gwaii’s deduction fully restored and we greatly appreciate his work on our behalf. We also wrote to North Coast Regional District (NCRD) and the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) to thank them for their support and to share that in 2022, Prince Rupert participated and calculated a Living Wage of $22.69, Daajing Giids’ was calculated at $25.87, the highest in the study. Path Forward We don’t know what mix of support from the Liberal, NDP minority government, provincial and Haida Gwaii advocacy impelled the inclusion of the proposal to re-classify the islands of Haida Gwaii in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement. While it is a huge step forward to be in the queue, January 6, 2025’s resignation from Prime Minister Trudeau and our Federal Government prorogued until March 24, 2025, will impact moving forward of the budget legislation that is still required to be passed to restore the full Northern Living Tax Deduction to Haida Gwaii. Upon returning, if the NDP brings or supports a non-confidence vote a federal election will follow and it is uncertain if our restoration of the full Northern Living Tax Deduction with be supported or a priority of the other party’s. Along with the Council of the Haida Nation, our municipality and others on Haida Gwaii have been working to push forward this initiative for many years, that it has happened at a time of such upheaval and uncertainty in our federal government is a cause of real consternation. The new Prime Minister is scheduled for to bring forth the budget appropriations on March 26, 2025 and they would require support from either the Bloc or NDP to pass. I remain hopeful because it is undeniable it would benefit all our resident’s, particularity working families, and it is so clear that the current legislation is inequitable to Haida Gwaii. There is still a possibility, we are currently in the queue and we will continue to advocate until it is restored.

Everything was already in place—the Board, the Advisory Committee, and even the funding. What was needed was a team of individuals who could bring the program into existence, initially for Daajing Giids and K’il Kun (Sandspit), with plans to expand throughout Haida Gwaii as the program proved successful. The program is called Better at Home, and its main goal is to support the non-medical needs of seniors (65+) to help them remain independent. It is funded by the Government of B.C. and managed by the United Way. Better at Home evolved from a pilot project launched in 2009 to test a community-based model (i.e., outside of the health authorities) and involved five test communities. As of April 2023, the provincial initiative supported 92 program sites across 260 communities in the province. The program is delivered by local non-profit organizations, hired workers, contractors, and volunteers. Funding for the project was granted to the Haida Gwaii Support Services Society in September 2024. The Society advertised and hired a manager to assemble a team and launch the program first in Daajing Giids and K’il Kun. The goal is to establish a successful program that will then expand to other island communities on Haida Gwaii. The Better at Home services are non-medical in nature and are intended to supplement existing services. Services vary from community to community and are based on the assets and unique needs of local seniors, identified during community engagement events. Some services will be delivered by paid outreach workers. A “basket of services” is offered; however, their delivery will depend on identifying and engaging volunteers to supplement the work. The idea behind offering these services is to decrease senior isolation and increase socialization. However, before that, these needs must be identified and prioritized. To that end, a tick-box survey has been developed to assess where focus is needed. Possible services are those not covered by existing programs. Here’s how the program could roll out: Friendly Visiting: In-person visits, phone calls, or possibly Zoom/computer online connections. These visits can also include wellness checks to ensure seniors are safe and comfortable. Light Housekeeping: Includes light cleaning in areas such as the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and/or bedrooms. Indoor window washing and assistance with laundry are included, but exterior cleaning, ladder work, moving furniture, and carpet cleaning are not. Light Yard Work: Helps with maintaining the yard/lawn. Minor Home Repairs: Offered by a licensed contractor and/or paid staff. This includes touch-up painting, minor wall repairs, replacing light bulbs, fixing minor leaks, weather stripping, replacing toilet seats, and adjusting/replacing curtain rods, showerheads, and/or grab bars. Arrangements can be made for checking fire and smoke alarms and replacing batteries. Major repairs requiring professionals are not included. Grocery Services: Helps seniors who cannot access a store to acquire needed food items, have them delivered, and assist with putting them away in the home. Payment at the store can be arranged. Prescription Pickup and Delivery. Transportation Services: Provides rides for seniors to/from local appointments (medical and non-medical), banking services, and/or social activities. These services are typically arranged and delivered by volunteer drivers. The program staff will prioritize transportation for seniors who wish to attend community activities. Each trip includes one back-and-forth service. The program sets acceptable time limits, considering the individual’s physical ability and the program’s capacity constraints. Group Activities: Connects seniors within the community for social engagement to enhance their well-being and social connectedness. A list of current activities will be compiled (e.g., Tuesday free lunches at Bethel Church, Wellness Wednesdays at the Daajing Giids fire hall, chair yoga, computer support, walking groups, and T’ai Chi) and communicated to those interested. Other Possible Services: Library book pickup/drop-off or assistance with ordering books online, digital literacy (computer tutorials), technical support, and information and referral services. Prepared Meals: Preparation and delivery of nutritious, quality meals, possibly frozen, to seniors’ homes. A ‘Souper’ day could also be introduced, providing hot soup with a bun and coffee. The implementation of some or all of these services will rely on volunteers of any age—community members stepping up to help in any capacity and for whatever duration they can. Volunteers are crucial to the success of the Better at Home program and provide an important opportunity for community members to support local seniors. This will help build community connectedness. Some services could also be delivered by youth or student volunteers, fostering intergenerational connections. You are encouraged to reach out if you need any of these services once they become available or if you wish to volunteer. Extra liability car insurance may be provided to volunteer drivers by the program, depending on your availability. A Better at Home outreach worker will compile a list of local seniors and ask which services they would use if available. Soon, an email address, phone number, and Facebook page will be available. For now, you can contact program manager Lin Armstrong at 778-260-9606 or email betterathomehaidagwaii.south@gmail.com Together, we can make our communities stronger.

There are few issues islanders mention to me more frequently than the Northern Residents Tax Deduction, commonly referred to as the “northern living allowance.” I’ve been working ever since I was first elected to have the full deduction restored. This week, after years of pressure, the federal government tabled a Fall Economic Statement that finally includes a commitment to restore the full Northern Residents Tax Deduction for the people of Haida Gwaii! The announcement is the culmination of a lot of work but it comes at the eleventh hour of the current Parliament, on the same day the finance minister tendered her resignation. By the time you read this, the Prime Minister may have followed suit. The Liberals are in freefall. To get the tax change done, the government still has to table legislation and pass it through the House and Senate. All this has to happen before the next election, so we have our work cut out. It’s unlikely a Conservative government obsessed with austerity will get it done. After all, Stephen Harper had ten years to make the change but did nothing. Haida Gwaii once received the full northern living allowance. But in 1991, a then-Liberal government accepted the previous Mulroney government’s recommendations and re-jigged the formula to establish a two-zone system, which was fully phased in a few years later. Under that system, communities north of an arbitrary line on the map get to deduct the full amount – currently $11 per day. Live below the line, like Haida Gwaii, and residents can only deduct half. The Northern Residents Tax Deduction was created as a way of compensating for the high cost of living in remote communities. However, because northern doesn’t always mean remote, the current map-based system creates some unfair anomalies. For instance, the current systems gives Whitehorse – a city of 28,000 people with highway access and the full range of amenities – the full deduction, while places like Haida Gwaii receive half. Haida Gwaii’s spot in the intermediate zone ignores the fact it’s separated from the mainland by what is a seven-hour ferry ride – in good weather. As you know, it can be much longer. I’ve heard many stories of residents paying exorbitant costs to access the mainland for appointments and other necessities. The products sold in stores on Haida Gwaii make the same trip, inflating prices significantly. What will restoring the full Northern Residents Tax Deduction mean? It means if you live on Haida Gwaii and have taxable income, you will be able to deduct from your taxable income $11 per day you lived on the islands, as long as you lived there continuously for at least six months. Ultimately, remote residents deserve a better approach to determining which communities get the tax deduction. A few months ago, I sat down for coffee in Ottawa with a public servant from Statistics Canada whose team has created a statistical Index of Remoteness. The Index uses distance and transportation variables to calculate a value between 0 (not remote at all) and 1 (super remote). Daajing Giids comes out at 0.62, Port Clements 0.63, and Masset 0.64. Whitehorse? 0.39. A future government could choose to rethink the tax deduction altogether and use the Index to ensure it’s more precise and fair. However, for now, the government has agreed to bend the line on the map and add Haida Gwaii to the northern zone, restoring the full deduction at long last. That’s precisely what I proposed in 2021 with my Bill C-280, and what my predecessor Nathan proposed a decade earlier with Bill C-611. This has been a long push! Sometimes it can seem impossible to get the federal government to pay attention to the country’s remote communities. As someone born and raised in tiny rural place, I’ve always believed they are essential to the fabric of our country. There are many more issues on which these places need our advocacy – from postal service and public transportation to infrastructure investment and connectivity. We’ll keep raising our voices. Many of you signed petitions, emailed the government, and advocated in other ways for the tax deduction to be restored. The government’s announcement this week shows your message has gotten through. Hawa’a for making your voices heard. Let’s find a way to finish the job. Taylor Bachrach is the Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley and the NDP critic for transport and rural economic development

There are few issues islanders mention to me more frequently than the Northern Residents Tax Deduction, commonly referred to as the “northern living allowance.” I’ve been working ever since I was first elected to have the full deduction restored. This week, after years of pressure, the federal government tabled a Fall Economic Statement that finally includes a commitment to restore the full Northern Residents Tax Deduction for the people of Haida Gwaii! The announcement is the culmination of a lot of work but it comes at the eleventh hour of the current Parliament, on the same day the finance minister tendered her resignation. By the time you read this, the Prime Minister may have followed suit. The Liberals are in freefall. To get the tax change done, the government still has to table legislation and pass it through the House and Senate. All this has to happen before the next election, so we have our work cut out. It’s unlikely a Conservative government obsessed with austerity will get it done. After all, Stephen Harper had ten years to make the change but did nothing. Haida Gwaii once received the full northern living allowance. But in 1991, a then-Liberal government accepted the previous Mulroney government’s recommendations and re-jigged the formula to establish a two-zone system, which was fully phased in a few years later. Under that system, communities north of an arbitrary line on the map get to deduct the full amount – currently $11 per day. Live below the line, like Haida Gwaii, and residents can only deduct half. The Northern Residents Tax Deduction was created as a way of compensating for the high cost of living in remote communities. However, because northern doesn’t always mean remote, the current map-based system creates some unfair anomalies. For instance, the current systems gives Whitehorse – a city of 28,000 people with highway access and the full range of amenities – the full deduction, while places like Haida Gwaii receive half. Haida Gwaii’s spot in the intermediate zone ignores the fact it’s separated from the mainland by what is a seven-hour ferry ride – in good weather. As you know, it can be much longer. I’ve heard many stories of residents paying exorbitant costs to access the mainland for appointments and other necessities. The products sold in stores on Haida Gwaii make the same trip, inflating prices significantly. What will restoring the full Northern Residents Tax Deduction mean? It means if you live on Haida Gwaii and have taxable income, you will be able to deduct from your taxable income $11 per day you lived on the islands, as long as you lived there continuously for at least six months. Ultimately, remote residents deserve a better approach to determining which communities get the tax deduction. A few months ago, I sat down for coffee in Ottawa with a public servant from Statistics Canada whose team has created a statistical Index of Remoteness. The Index uses distance and transportation variables to calculate a value between 0 (not remote at all) and 1 (super remote). Daajing Giids comes out at 0.62, Port Clements 0.63, and Masset 0.64. Whitehorse? 0.39. A future government could choose to rethink the tax deduction altogether and use the Index to ensure it’s more precise and fair. However, for now, the government has agreed to bend the line on the map and add Haida Gwaii to the northern zone, restoring the full deduction at long last. That’s precisely what I proposed in 2021 with my Bill C-280, and what my predecessor Nathan proposed a decade earlier with Bill C-611. This has been a long push! Sometimes it can seem impossible to get the federal government to pay attention to the country’s remote communities. As someone born and raised in tiny rural place, I’ve always believed they are essential to the fabric of our country. There are many more issues on which these places need our advocacy – from postal service and public transportation to infrastructure investment and connectivity. We’ll keep raising our voices. Many of you signed petitions, emailed the government, and advocated in other ways for the tax deduction to be restored. The government’s announcement this week shows your message has gotten through. Hawa’a for making your voices heard. Let’s find a way to finish the job. Taylor Bachrach is the Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley and the NDP critic for transport and rural economic development

Dear Editor, I am writing to highlight an important need in our community: the establishment of a playground in Tlell | Tll.aal. As the only place on Haida Gwaii without a dedicated playground, our hamlet is missing a valuable resource that could significantly enhance the well-being of our children and families. With a growing population of children in Tlell | Tll.aal, the absence of a safe and engaging play area is increasingly felt. Currently, we are the only community on the island without a dedicated playground, which places our children at a disadvantage compared to neighbouring communities. Port Clements is building a new playground at the elementary school, and Skidegate recently opened a new playground along Front Street. Both are newly designed, with long-lasting equipment and various features for different ages, and are located near areas with high community use. Residents have discussed the location of a playground in the past. The ideal location would be near the soccer fields or within the provincial park. Misty Meadows Campground is one of the few BC Parks without a playground compared to others on the mainland. The soccer fields behind the Fire Hall are designated as the “Community Core” on the North Coast Regional District map of Tlell | Tll.aal. A playground in either area would provide our children with a space for physical activity and serve as a gathering place for families. Could you imagine Soccer Saturdays with a proper playground to release your children upon? Sounds wonderful, if you ask me. Maybe we could also add new public washrooms and a food stand while we're at it. This addition to our hamlet would contribute to the overall health, happiness, and reduce fuel costs for residents—no need to drive a half hour for a play date. What about those hordes of tourists in the summer? A playground would make Tlell | Tll.aal an even more attractive stop for them. As tourism continues to grow year-round on Haida Gwaii, our mid-island location makes it an ideal stop for families travelling with children. A playground would not only attract visitors but also enrich their experience, providing a space for them to relax while their children play (especially when they don’t want to be on the beach during southeast winds). This could lead to longer stays and increased spending in local businesses. In summary, the establishment of a playground is a crucial investment in our children’s well-being, our community’s cohesion, and the economic vitality of our small but mighty hamlet. I hope this letter sparks discussions between the Tlell Community Association and other island partners to see this project succeed. Let us work together to create a safe and joyful space for our children to thrive while also welcoming visitors to experience the warmth and charm of Tlell | Tll.aal. Sincerely, Heidi Richardson Full-time mom / Part-time Tlellian

Mavis Mark may not be able to tell you what day it is, but on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, she is present—her foot tapping, grooving, and singing along to live music in the Long-Term Care lounge at Xaayda Gwaii Ngaaysdll Naay Hospital. It’s time for Musical Awakenings. This program, part of the Haida Gwaii Arts Council’s performing arts offerings, fills an important gap for those who cannot attend concerts in person—the music comes to them. Mavis, a Long-Term Care patient, has given permission to be mentioned in this article. For privacy reasons, the names of other residents are not shared. However, when the music begins, subtle changes are noticeable in the audience—facial muscles relax, and there is an overall shift toward a sense of well-being. As Daniel Levitin, author of "This Is Your Brain on Music", quotes Francis Crick "Your brain on music is all about..., connections." Residents form connections to pieces of music that evoke emotional times in their lives, while musicians build connections with residents, their families, and staff. The Haida Gwaii Arts Council was inspired by a concert series held in a hospital cafeteria in the Northwest for the enjoyment of patients, staff, and the community. This idea sparked the creation of HGAC’s Musical Awakenings. What began as a pilot project received generous funding from a Community Initiatives Project grant from Gwaii Trust and the HGAC operating grant, which supported the program from November 2023 to October 2024. Families of residents, staff, and musicians have witnessed the program’s many benefits and strongly hope it will continue. The Long-Term Care lounge’s excellent acoustics are an added bonus for musicians, who express their gratitude for playing in front of such an appreciative audience. Beyond a paying gig, they form meaningful bonds with the residents. “My experience is a joy we share,” says musician Wayne Harris. “It’s a moment that evokes the feelings we all have—of memories, place, and relationships. Sometimes residents remember words and sing along, dance, tap their hands in time, move their arms as if conducting an orchestra, or just sit and enjoy.” Staff warmly welcome musicians, often commenting on how the music improves residents’ moods and enhances their quality of life. HGAC proudly administers the program in coordination with hospital staff. A program like this depends on funding and the dedication of those willing to make it happen. While Gwaii Trust and private donors have provided generous support, additional funds are needed to ensure the program’s future. This is where you come in. Join us at our fundraiser at the Daajing Giids Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Jamie McDonald will prepare a delicious buffet-style dinner, served at 6 p.m. The Gwaii Singers, a South-end choir, will perform Christmas songs, followed by the lively swing band Fun Guise, bringing their energy and enthusiasm for a dance starting at 7 p.m. With Wayne Harris on acoustic guitar, Charley Robertson on electric guitar, Roly Thompson on drums, James Hilgemann on bass, Marnie Younger on vocals, and Gordon Horner on saxophone and keyboard, the music will surely get you moving. Don’t miss a guest appearance by Laurie Husband on trumpet. Beer and wine will be available at a cash bar. No minors, please. E-transfers can be sent to info@hgartscouncil.ca to reserve your dinner. Please let us know how many dinners you need and if there are any dietary restrictions by Nov. 30, 2024. Posters and social media posts include a QR code to confirm your attendance and dietary preferences. There are opportunities to turn this event into your company Christmas party; please contact Marnie Younger to discuss this further at marnieyounger2@yahoo.ca. This is the event of the season—an evening of great music, food, and dancing, all for a wonderful cause. It’s all about forming lasting connections in our community, and we all need those. Submitted by Astrid Egger

Construction continues at Daaxiigan Sḵ’adaa Née in Masset, with heightened activity since the school year began that create a constant din for students and staff at the fastest growing school in School District 50. With an unexpected increase in enrolment numbers in Masset, as reported by Haida Gwaii News, it is a shock for many to learn that the multi-million dollar, four-year and counting construction project did not consider a rise in student numbers as evident in the “new” school design. Classrooms are crowded, lunchrooms are filled to the brim, and with the community emphasis on sports and wellness, Masset’s entire Kindergarten to Grade 12 student body share one gymnasium. This could be somewhat alleviated with the opening of the outdoor undercover basketball court under the $4-million tsunami tower, but construction equipment needs somewhere safe and dry to be stored. Students are assured that their wellness and health are considered above construction-storage needs, however, the company has been here for more than four years, so they have evidently earned certain special considerations. On that note, this same non-Indigenous construction company was awarded the contract to build and install the Haida-style longhouse front entrance to Daaxiigan Sḵ’adaa Née. Although the company is not Haida-affiliated, the mostly non-Haida construction crew were able to pay homage to Haida ownership of Haida ancient practice and design, by saying a land acknowledgement before embarking on the project. This instance gives students and our Haida Gwaii community a valuable lesson on the difference between “Haida Appreciation” and “Haida Appropriation.” If the project was “Haida Appropriation,” a non-Haida company would simply be paid significant money to design and build a traditional longhouse style entrance. If it was “Haida Appreciation,” the non-Haida company would be paid a significant amount of money to design and build a traditional longhouse style entrance, all while they were acknowledging the territory as belonging to the Haida Nation. We are relieved that this project, approved by School District 50, demonstrates “Haida Appreciation.” The best part is that students at Daaxiigan get a front row seat to this valuable lesson in how to follow Haida protocols concerning Haida knowledge and culture. Sincerely, Em from Masset

Growing up on Haida Gwaii, my youth and early twenties were defined by the freedom of nature—days spent on windswept beaches, climbing mossy mountains, and exploring the wild beauty of the islands. Life was simple but rich in its own way. Leaving that behind to pursue work and education was a major leap, filled with challenges and unexpected lessons that continue to shape how I lead today. When I first left Haida Gwaii, I was lucky to have Prince George as my stepping stone before the bigger leap to Vancouver. It was a small enough environment to feel familiar but offered a glimpse into a broader world. However, the biggest learning didn’t come from classrooms but from the mentorship I received, especially in my work with the Haida Gwaii Youth Stewardship Program back at home. Leading this program taught me the importance of preserving our natural heritage while instilling the values of hard work, community, and safety in our youth—values I still carry with me. A pivotal figure in my early career was Larry Duke, who mentored me in workplace safety. Larry was more than just a mentor; he was a guide through the intricacies of safety protocols, showing me how to assess risks, speak up when something felt wrong, and look out for the well-being of others. My job was making sure the teens we hired went home safely each day to their parents. His lessons were practical but also deeply human, rooted in the understanding that safety isn’t just about regulations—it’s about genuinely caring for the people you work with. These experiences taught me the value of mentorship, especially for young and new workers, who are often stepping into unfamiliar territory. According to Worksafe BC, “young and new workers” are defined as those aged 15 to 30, many of whom are navigating the workforce for the first time. Mentorship isn’t just about professional advice; it’s about understanding where someone is coming from and meeting them halfway. For youth on Haida Gwaii and in other remote communities, the challenges of getting to work can be basic yet significant. With no public transit, limited access to bike shops, and often no one at home to help with simple fixes, just making it to a job site can feel like an insurmountable task. This is why we, as employers, need to be flexible in supporting them. Whether it’s allowing remote work, arranging rides, or picking them up a few days a week, these gestures aren’t just about logistics — they’re about showing that these young workers are valued, not burdens. Creating a supportive work environment is crucial, especially for youth who may be dealing with additional barriers. It’s about making them feel welcome and ensuring our workplaces are safe, adhering to standards and going a step beyond. Young workers might not yet have the experience to identify workplace hazards or the confidence to speak up when something feels wrong. We need to provide clear training, consistent feedback, and an open line of communication so they know they have a voice. Hiring youth also brings incredible value to the workplace. They are savvy with technology, quick to learn, and bring fresh perspectives that can challenge old ways of thinking. Their digital fluency can often offer new solutions and approaches that can benefit the whole organization. Engaging youth in meaningful ways isn’t just about filling a position; it’s about inviting innovation, energy, and adaptability into the team. As a manager, I’m still figuring things out. But one thing is clear: the journey from youth to professional is rarely straightforward. It’s filled with detours, learning moments, and unexpected challenges, especially when Haida Gwaii was all you knew. My experiences—and the journey from Haida Gwaii to larger cities—have taught me that real leaders are those who remember what it was like to be new, lost, or out of place. We need to be approachable, supportive, and, above all, willing to invest in the people who are just starting their journeys. It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about helping young workers feel seen, safe, and empowered to succeed. I challenge more employers to step up and be that guiding hand for youth. Because it’s through mentoring, flexibility, and genuine care that we cultivate not just good workers, but strong, resilient, capable members of our community.

Many years ago, a friend of mine wrote an open letter addressed to the desk vandals at the Chicago Public Library. It was 2003, the dawn of time online, and the humour website McSweeney's ran a regular series of open letters addressed to People or Entities Who Are Unlikely to Respond. Sadly, nearly all my friend's advice is unprintable in a family-friendly newspaper. In a tradition that goes back at least to ancient Rome, it turns out that most of the graffiti people wanted to scratch into Chicago library desktops in the early 2000s leaned heavily on genitals jokes and cartoons. She did recommend that since most people are right-handed and graffiti tends to get clotted up on the right-side of library desks, desk vandals should be more expansive. "Writing on the left-hand side will not only set your message apart, but will add a pleasing, feng-shui effect to your canvas," she wrote. In the B.C. election that didn't quite wrap last weekend, people saw plenty of graffiti classics. Bob D'Eith is an MLA candidate with a sense of humour. When someone defaced a large campaign sign of his by blacking out one of the front teeth on his picture, the former hockey coach posed for a photo beside it, grinning like a Broad Street Bully with a hockey stick and gloves. But who is laughing about the Nathan Cullen sign that got cut up and re-arranged to look like the Smithers politician was dead and hanging from a cord? Here in North Coast-Haida Gwaii, there was nothing funny either about seeing the hundreds of Chris Sankey brochures that someone stole and dumped on the ground in Prince Rupert. For a long time, election campaign signs have had a habit of being torn down or taking a walk — a little like property markers. That's anti-democratic enough, and it costs campaign teams money and time they don't have. But coming at a time when people are increasingly nervous about running for public office for fear of violence, the prank on the Cullen sign was seriously chilling. The only good thing that came of it was that it got roundly condemned by people on all sides of B.C.'s blue-green-orange political fence. It seems unlikely any election-campaign vandals will ever read this, or respond. But since you never can tell, here you go: An open letter to campaign-sign vandals in North Coast-Haida Gwaii Dear Vandals, I write in regard to your collective efforts to deface and destroy local campaign signs and literature in the lead-up to B.C.'s 43rd provincial general election. Over the years, we've probably all chuckled at a blacked-out tooth or a pair of big round glasses drawn on the face of an election candidate. But with this latest stuff, you are seriously scaring people in un-fun ways. Also, consider that some candidates might actually look smarter with glasses, or tougher with a missing tooth. Better to avoid other people's signs altogether and put up some of your own. Maybe your dog could run? I mean run for office. Someone already posted a campaign sign for their cat this election. Mr. Bean kept a positive tone, promising "equal opportunity for all Animals." But a dog? Think of the smear campaign. Or why not start your own party? On Haida Gwaii, there's a pretty obvious opportunity. The Haida Gwaii Pool Party would run on a single-issue platform of one swimming pool for every village on island. Nevermind about a costed platform, nobody reads those. I do hope you consider these suggestions, not only because it would be more fun for everyone else, but you too could point to your handiwork next election without fear of getting arrested. Respectfully, Andrew Hudson

Our health care system is broken, and it’s time to fix it. I’m hearing this everywhere I go in North Coast and Haida Gwaii. Families are suffering, people are scared, and they feel let down by the government. As your Conservative candidate, I’m not just listening — I’m ready to act. Health care isn’t just a headline; it’s personal. It affects each and every one of us. You shouldn’t have to wait weeks or even months to see a doctor. You shouldn’t be worried about whether the emergency room will be open when you need it. And you certainly shouldn’t feel abandoned when it comes to addiction and mental health support. I know how important health care is to our communities. That’s why I’m committed to making real changes. Not the kind of half-hearted promises we’ve been hearing for years from David Eby and his NDP MLAs, but real solutions that will make a difference in your life. British Columbia spends a huge amount on health care—more than most countries like ours—but what do we get for it? Long wait times, hospital closures, and fewer doctors and nurses to care for us. It just doesn’t make sense. We need more nurses, more doctors, and better access to the care you deserve. And we need a plan that puts patients first. That’s why I support John Rustad's Patients First plan. It’s a common-sense approach that fixes the real problems in our health-care system. This plan makes sure that all British Columbians get the care they need through both public and non-governmental health care facilities. You shouldn’t have to wait in line because of government red tape. We’re going to make sure you get the help you need when you need it. Our nurses and doctors are doing everything they can, but they’re burned out. They’ve been carrying the weight of this broken system for far too long. As your MLA, I will push for changes that directly benefit our health-care workers. One key area is to ensure nurse-to-patient ratios are supportive of positive and effective health care environments. A pilot project in Smithers reduced vacancy rates from 60 per cent to 20 per cent in six months. This project, apart from supporting nurses and their safety, reduced the reliance on outside agencies, lowering the overall cost burden to the system. I’ll also fight to provide incentives to keep health care workers in our region. Nurses and doctors are leaving small communities because they feel overworked and undervalued. We need to show them that we appreciate their dedication and make their work environments better so they’ll stay and help us build a healthier B.C. There’s another crisis we can’t ignore: the overdose epidemic. In every part of the North Coast and Haida Gwaii, I’ve heard stories about how dangerous drugs are destroying lives. I’ve met families who’ve lost loved ones, and it breaks my heart. This has to stop. The NDP’s approach to drugs isn’t working. Their policy of giving out free drugs has only made things worse. It’s not the answer. What people need is real help — treatment, prevention, detox programs, and strong mental health support. We need to stop giving out free drugs and start giving real support to those struggling with addiction. I’m committed to working with local leaders, mental health experts, and addiction services to find solutions that actually work for our communities. I believe that the people on the frontlines—nurses, doctors, teachers, social workers, elders, and Indigenous leaders—know better than anyone what needs to be done. That’s why I’m calling for a local health care task force. This group will bring together the people who are actually working in our communities to come up with real solutions for our health care system. We’ll tackle the big issues head-on: recruitment and retention of health care workers, better addiction support, and making sure people have access to the care they need. Your voice matters, and this task force will make sure that the needs of North Coast and Haida Gwaii are heard loud and clear. This isn’t just a political issue. It’s about our families and our future. If we keep doing the same thing over and over, nothing will change. The current government’s plan has failed, and people are suffering because of it. As your MLA, I will fight for the changes we need in health care and community safety. I’m not afraid to demand real solutions because I know how important this is to you, to me, and to our future. We need a leader who understands our challenges and who’s willing to make the tough decisions to improve health care. Let’s end the long wait times, stop the ER closures, and fix the overdose crisis. Let’s create a health care system that works for all of us. I’m asking for you to lend me your vote so we can build a better, healthier future for North Coast and Haida Gwaii. Nothing changes if nothing changes. On Oct. 19, please vote for me, Chris Sankey. Together we are stronger. Chris Sankey is the BC Conservative candidate running in the Oct. 19 provincial election for North Coast-Haida Gwaii.

My Haida name is Laanas and Haida Gwaii is my home. My mother is Lois Rullin, my grandparents were Dan and Vesta Helmer and my great-grandparents were Chief Weah Willie and Emma Matthews. It is through them I learned our Haida values — values I held throughout my work on Land Use Planning and the Haida Land Title Agreement negotiations, respecting all those who were involved. We’re neighbours, and we’re stronger working together to build a brighter future for everyone. I’m running as your BC NDP candidate because I know the people of Haida Gwaii and the North Coast are facing big challenges right now. I want to tackle those challenges head-on as part of David Eby’s team. We need to keep building a B.C. where you don’t just get by, you get ahead. Where you can afford a good home, whether you rent or own. Where you can get health care when and where you need it. We’re taking action on all these challenges, and we’re starting to see real results. If you elect me as your MLA, we will build on these foundations, and keep up this momentum until the job is done. We know all too well that it can take years to construct a building, yet it only takes a day to tear it down. Which is, from my perspective, exactly what John Rustad and his BC Conservatives are promising to do. Seeming to pay no mind to those who live here, and who will be left to cope with the mess afterwards. Quite frankly, we can’t afford that risk. Reconciliation is a great example. The Supreme Court of Canada has called on governments to seek reconciliation through negotiated agreements rather than court cases. But John Rustad has promised to rip up the land title recognition that we’ve worked so hard for, and to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. A move of immense disrespect that will set us back to a time of conflict, when Indigenous peoples were denied basic human dignity and opportunities. Back to a time of decades-long court cases and economic uncertainty that cost us good jobs and investment. That is absolutely a risk none of us can afford. While John Rustad focuses on dividing communities, the question most voters are asking is: Who will be on my side? And, let me tell you, the single best thing about being a candidate are the conversations with voters. I've been listening closely to people’s concerns across the riding, and discussing the action we’re taking to help. Concerns like housing – this is a wonderful and unique place to live and raise a family, but housing is in short supply and too expensive. Homebuyers are being priced out by high interest rates and real-estate speculators looking to cash in on the housing boom. There’s lots more to be done, but we’re already seeing positive impacts here in Haida Gwaii with 23 new homes completed in Daajing Giids, 24 new homes in Skidegate and more projects underway. Everyone here should be able to afford a home. We need to keep cutting through the red tape and taking on the speculators. Experts say our Housing Action Plan will deliver 300,000 affordable homes across the province. But John Rustad is promising to cancel that plan and those homes. We can’t afford that either. We need our ERs open. Health care should always be there when you need it, and I know how stressful ER closures can be, especially for anyone in an emergency situation needing immediate care. That’s why we’re taking action to train and hire more doctors, nurses, and health care workers than ever before, with a focus on communities like ours that are experiencing shortages. We’ve launched a new Rural Retention Incentive for health care workers who fill vacancies here. And we’re tripling the credentialing of internationally-trained doctors to get them off the sidelines and onto the front lines. This election presents voters with the starkest choice in a generation. On the one hand, there’s David Eby, a leader who’s on the side of our communities and who fights every day to help people build a good life here. On the other hand is John Rustad, a career politician with a 20-year track record of cutting the services people count on, and hiking costs on families so he can give tax breaks to the top 2 per cent. I am running to be YOUR MLA so I can keep fighting hard for people in Haida Gwaii, the North and Central Coast. We deserve to have our voices heard and to have strong communities, with safe, affordable housing and reliable health care. Whether it’s action on reconciliation, housing, or health care, people here need a government that’s in their corner. That is Tamara Davidson, David Eby, and the BC NDP. Tamara Davidson (Laanas) is the BC NDP candidate for North Coast-Haida Gwaii in the Oct. 19 provincial election.

Fall is in the air. It's making noses cold, everything is all of a sudden pumpkin-spice flavoured or scented, and we get excited for the elections all around us. The provincial election is right around the corner, and the Council of the Haida Nation election is speeding towards us. We have been watching our neighbour to the south’s presidential election campaign closely while the Conservatives in Ottawa do their best to force us into a federal election here in Canada. Newsrooms worldwide are paying closer attention to some elections than others. In this newsroom, we have been paying very close attention to the provincial election and giving our readers every chance to have an educated vote on how they would like our representation to be in Victoria. We have chosen not to endorse a candidate, but we will endorse the right to vote. Anyone 18 and over may take the right to vote. We have multiple opportunities to vote early or by absentee ballots, or to enjoy the energy of voting on election day. Vote for your provincial MLA, CHN president and representatives, your federal MP, and your mayor and councillors when those positions come up for election again. All the positions mentioned above represent you and your community to the people who make the more significant decisions on what affects our lives. Voting is your opportunity to have a say in who represents you and your community. Voting is a way to hold current leaders accountable for their actions while in a position of power. Accountability is tricky and is something we see less and less in our societies. Our newsroom is unelected, but we have always expected to be held accountable by our readers. The readers have not disappointed us! Please let us know when we make mistakes — we will always print a correction. We are excited to see how you vote in the upcoming elections. —Stacey

A wise man once said that if you annoy people and do stupid things on Haida Gwaii, life becomes very painful for you here. We all know where everyone lives, he said, and we know where each other’s wives and husbands work and live. And maybe that social pressure is what saves us from doing anything really stupid. I hope the wise man won’t mind me revealing it was Dale Lore, and he was talking on a recent Monday morning with Matt Galloway of CBC Radio’s The Current. I’d like to agree, and sometimes I do. I often think we won’t do anything too stupid reporting for this newspaper because we live here and have to shop in the same grocery stores as everyone else. But even in the playful way he meant it, I think Dale and others would agree that kind of social pressure can get dark at times. At its worst, it veers into intimidation. And crowds aren’t always right — bad or mistaken ideas get popular sometimes. Thankfully, Dale is a big talker, and a few years ago he said another thing about differing opinions on Haida Gwaii that I'd like to put more faith in. He said the person you’re angry at today is someone you might need next week. Keeping that in mind, I want to point out that we really welcome opinion writing. High on page 7, we have a regular spot in the newspaper for opinion pieces. We want to keep that space open for elected leaders especially, but also for non-profit groups and anyone else with something to say in their own words about a topic they know well. We are really grateful to everyone who has contributed so far, from local MLA Jennifer Rice and local MP Taylor Bachrach to David Suzuki, former Tahayghen Elementary teacher Jenny Nelson, local writer Elin Dieme, David Archer of the Haida Gwaii Accessibility Committee and Beng Favreau of Literacy Haida Gwaii. If you think you might like to write an opinion piece (or want to volunteer a friend to write one), please get in touch. We also welcome letters to the editor. We’ve already had some good ones, including a delicious take on Giulio Piccioli’s spruce-tip key lime pie recipe by a couple who actually baked it. With letters, we’ve learned that a cap of about 800 words works best. Our paper is tiny. And after receiving a few anonymous letters lately, we’ve also learned that as much as we would like to share everything that comes in, we should usually insist that people include their names and the community they live in. We realize that’s a lot to ask. But it’s one of the things that sets a public letter apart from anonymous online sniping. We all make mistakes. Here’s hoping we make fewer when something’s got our name on it. — Andrew Hudson

A recent article about Tango the horse and a letter to the editor about “catch and release” fishing have, between them, highlighted the disturbing double standards which many people have towards animal cruelty. Tango may or may not have enough space to run about. However, his needs are apparently on everybody’s lips. Last week, a fisherman wrote to complain about living creatures who were wounded with a metal hook, suspended in the air, with their entire body weight pulling on that wound, had the hook ripped out, causing still more intense pain, and were then thrown back into the water. But at no point did he even mention this cruelty. Instead, he referred to the victims as “wasted resources”. And every day, many of the inhabitants of Daajing Giids — including those virtue-signalling about how much space Tango has to run about in, buy eggs laid by battery hens and body parts from pigs kept their entire lives in cages so small they can’t even turn around. And the hardware stores continue to sell devices which trap small animals’ legs with glue, causing incredible pain and suffering — devices which are so obviously cruel that they are illegal in most civilized countries. The problem of course, is that companion animals’ needs are taken seriously, whereas the suffering of animals whose bodies are going to be eaten — or who, for whatever reason, are regarded as “pests” or “vermin,” is ignored completely. Sarah Wardringham Daajing Giids

Communities around the globe commemorate International Literacy Day on Sept. 8. This day reaffirms the pivotal role of literacy in building sustainable societies. Since its inception in 1967, this annual observance serves as a reminder of literacy's fundamental importance as a human right and a catalyst for personal and societal development. This year, the theme "Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace" underscores the cognitive and socio-economic benefits of a multilingual approach to literacy. Across the world, communities are embracing diverse languages as pathways to broader knowledge, skills, and unity. On Haida Gwaii, Literacy Haida Gwaii has been at the forefront of local literacy efforts for 29 years. Founded in 1995, the organization began with a vision to foster personal development through education and collaboration. Today, Literacy Haida Gwaii offers a comprehensive range of programs tailored to meet the evolving literacy needs of its community. "Literacy extends beyond reading and writing; it empowers individuals to navigate our complex world effectively," says Beng Leng Favreau, executive director at Literacy Haida Gwaii. "From health literacy and financial skills to digital literacy and workplace training, our programs equip learners with essential tools for success." The organization's initiatives include financial literacy workshops, health literacy campaigns, workplace essential skills training, English as a Second Language classes for immigrants, Adult High School upgrading and technology workshops. Moreover, they support early childhood literacy through partnerships with local health providers and initiatives. Literacy Haida Gwaii funds Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children under five years old. Reflecting on the broader impact of literacy in B.C., recent statistics highlight significant challenges: over 700,000 British Columbians face literacy difficulties, impacting daily tasks from understanding newspapers to managing personal finances. However, improved literacy skills are directly linked to better health outcomes, increased employment opportunities, and enhanced economic prosperity. "As we mark International Literacy Day, it's crucial to recognize that literacy is a cornerstone of community well-being," adds Favreau. "By fostering literacy in all its forms, we empower individuals and strengthen our community's fabric." Literacy Matters factsheet for B.C. • More than 700,000 British Columbians have significant challenges with literacy — 16 per cent of British Columbians were at Level 1 literacy or below in 2012. • 45 per cent of British Columbians aged 16 to 65 may have difficulty understanding newspapers, following instruction manuals, reading health information and other daily living tasks. • 52 per cent of British Columbians aged 16 to 65 may have difficulty calculating interest on a car loan, using information on a graph, calculating medicine dosage and other daily living tasks. • Canadians with stronger literacy skills enjoy better health. • Understanding numeracy is a key factor for managing personal finances. • Literacy matters for understanding rights and responsibilities. • Digital literacy helps people access programs and services, and bolsters social connections. • Strong literacy skills are connected to being employed. • Stronger literacy skills are associated with earning higher wages. • Improving literacy skills can increase efficiency and accuracy at work, and can decrease work-related stress. • Employers need digitally literate employees to increase productivity, boost sales, offer better services and generate revenue.

Dear Editor, I have been living in Masset for about 60 years and from day one, this community has always been considered a commercial fishing community. This resilience worked because the commercial industry was closely monitored and could be stopped with a day's notice. This situation made it a manageable resource as the Department of Fisheries (DFO) could closely monitor the commercial catch and if they determined that the catch rate was negatively impacting the resource it announced an immediate closure. Once the next run of salmon showed up and a usable abundance was determined, they opened the fishery once more and the commercial fleet went back to work. All of the above could be checked and logged when this commercial fleet delivered their catch which included all the fisherman's information and the size of their catch including a count of the number of salmon caught. This information was entered into the fisherman's log book which was a federal document with one copy going into the federal archives in Ottawa. In other words, this was checkable and accurate information going back decades. When managing a resource this is a vital tool to have. Even today, if for some reason a manager wished to know what I had delivered to the fish plant in Masset in May of 1978, all he had to do was request this information from the National Archives and there it was! This efficient fact made managing a resource, such as commercial fishing, easier and simpler to develop fishing plans for any given year, in a way that kept the resource healthy and sustainable. Then in the 1980s, the commercial sports lodges showed up and managing the west coast fisheries became a nightmare! The one overriding issue with the sports lodges is that if the DFO doesn't know how many fish they are killing, it's impossible to manage them. How can you manage a resource if you don't know the fish mortality rate of one the largest users? The sports fishermen implement 'catch and release' when out fishing and a political organization determined (i.e., guessed) that the mortality rate of 7 per cent was accurate for all the fish released, so that is what the DFO managers used. This organization — the Sports Fishing Institute (SFI) — just threw that number out there and Ottawa grabbed it and has used it for decades. With the SFI's influence in Ottawa, this method has been impossible to change for many years. So, they have been managing the resource with complete incompetence ever since. One might ask, "but why won't Ottawa manage this resource with the correct data?" This is where Ottawa falls down every time! Ottawa won't take on the rich and big money, so the insanity continues and the salmon resource continues to decline. Today in Masset, one can see the remains of this once healthy marine resource decaying and falling down in front of the whole town. The fish plant and dock once employed close to 300 people and most of those were Haidas. I was one of these workers and ran the fish dock for many years and the town thrived with all this employment and activity. The stocks were healthy and managed successfully in a way that was sustainable and long lasting. Things only began to decline once the commercial sports lodges arrived. Today's decay and collapse are all because of Ottawa's failure to do their job. Instead, they cater to the wealthy! What do I mean? The owners of these sports fishing lodges have rich clientele. They fly up to Masset on private jets or leased planes and they are helicoptered out to Naden Harbor or Langara Island to stay in facilities that are lush with luxurious accommodations, food and conveniences. As with many of the world's rich citizens, they don't seem to care about climate change issues or their part in making this worse. Helicopters are one of the most polluting carbon-intense modes of transportation producing about 54 pounds of CO2/mile which is as much as half the amount produced by a 747 which emits 105 pounds of CO2/mile. So, an hour’s helicopter flight emits 235 kg of CO2. Way to go spending your wealth sporties! Unless one lives within earshot of the airport, it's hard to understand how many helicopter trips take place in a season. Ilive close to the Masset airport and the helicopters fly for all daylight hours all summer long. It probably takes an hour for one round trip from Masset to Langara and back so that's 235 kg. of CO2 going into the atmosphere for every trip. Having money shouldn't be an excuse for this kind of behaviour! The root of the problem lies with the 'catch and release' option that the lodge's customers employ every day they are on the water. What is the mortality rate from these actions of catching a salmon and then releasing it back into the ocean so that it continues on its way to spawn in its birth river? That's the theory anyway. In reality releasing a salmon back into the ocean in a way that doesn't harm it so that it can continue on its way back to the river of its birth is a very delicate and tricky process. From all the evidence that has been collected on this process, it is staggering how easily a salmon can be harmed beyond saving while releasing it from the lure it has bitten. There was a marine biologist by the name of Steven Cox-Rogers who did some experimenting on this activity. He hired a large Boston whaler, put a couple of tanks of circulating and oxygenated salt water on board that were continually pumped and refreshed, hired a couple of the most experienced catch and release guides who knew how to handle salmon in a professional and delicate manner for the entire catch and release process and went out on the water. They caught salmon alright; the guides were extremely careful handling the fish so as to exert the least amount of stress and damage from the hook etc. They kept the salmon on board for several hours until they were swimming seemingly 'unhurt' in their tanks and then they were released in the gentlest way possible with a tag inserted so as the fish were identifiable when they arrived back at their spawning river. This entire process was implemented but they couldn't reduce the mortality rate of these fish to anything less than 60 per cent and even that was suspect. This was followed up by another experiment. One of the largest seine boats on the BC coast, The Western Investor, used to fish at Coho Point at Langara Island. He was targeting sockeye but had a small bycatch of spring salmon. The DFO would close this fishery as they were trying to save the spring salmon. The owner/skipper of the Western Investor made up his own tagging system and then went to the DFO and proposed that he be allowed to fish at Coho Point where he would gently tag the spring salmon and then release them back into the ocean. He had several holds on his enormous seine boat, one of which he filled with circulating and oxygenated ocean water. He would hold the spring salmon in this hold, until they seemed healthy and lively again, before releasing them. The DFO gave him the go ahead but they wanted the results of his tagging program and proof that the released spring salmon survived the catching and tagging process and made it to the spawning grounds and laid their eggs and they were fertilized and the whole process was successful. It seemed like the entire process worked, when his tagged spring salmon began showing up in streams and rivers on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Everyone was impressed and the Western Investor was about to get the 'all clear' to proceed with fishing for sockeye. However, there was a fish biologist who went to check on the fish that were arriving in the rivers on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She found the rivers and she also found the tagged spring salmon. She was "impressed'!! She checked several rivers and found the tagged spring salmon. Then she noticed something wasn't quite right. The salmon on the banks of the rivers all looked too fat and round! She took out her knife and cut them open. They all still had their eggs and milt in their bodies! She realized that the salmon had had the strength and resource to swim back to their spawning rivers, had swum up the rivers but the trauma of being caught and tagged had not left enough energy and resources to actually go through the egg laying and fertilizing process! The Western Investor had to admit his project was a failure and he bowed out of the fishery. My point is that catch-and-release doesn't really work! Just because a fish that seems to swim away from a skiff that has just caught it and then released it, doesn't mean it'll survive and be successful at the entire spawning process. In fact, the data seems to suggest that catch and release is a myth. Sure, some sports fishers are very good at what they do, but many don't care so the actual success of any catch and release process is very problematic. I fished amongst the significant fleet of sports fishing skiffs at Langara Island for several years and the overall impression of their catch and release habits was shocking. Often, I would see a sports fisher wind in a fish they had caught and then once at the skiff, they would lean over and grab the fish and hold it up. Reaching into the skiff they'd pick up a fish they had already retained and compare it to this latest catch. If the one in the skiff was smaller, they'd throw it overboard. It was already dead and yet that fish would be included in their erroneous 7 per cent mortality. Often one could count dozens of dead fish floating around in the water from their catch and release program! As commercial fishermen we were fighting with all our imagination on how to deal with this ministry in Ottawa (DFO), and in the early 1990s we contacted the fisheries minister at that time, John Crosbie. We pleaded with him to come to Haida Gwaii himself and we would show him first hand that we weren't just making this stuff up, and there really was a significant problem. After several weeks of pleading and phoning and emailing etc., the minister finally agreed! We couldn't believe it, the top man himself was coming to Masset and we would meet and offer to take him out on the fishing grounds to see the problems for himself. We were ecstatic! This could change the management plan of the fishery we depended on to make a living-wow!!! The day arrived, we met the federal jet and watched excitedly as the minister himself disembarked along with his wife. Then our excitement turned to anxiety as we watched the minister and his wife climb on one of the lodge's helicopters and fly away. We were struck dumb! We madly made some phone calls to find out what was going on and the story we were told is that Mr. Crosbie wanted to have a look at one of the lodges before meeting with us so we were asked to be patient. We heaved a sigh of relief and waited. patiently... for several hours. Finally, a helicopter came into view and it was the one the minister and his wife had left on. The doors opened, the minister climbed out without his wife and climbed onto the federal government's jet that they had arrived on and he left. That was it. No meeting, not even a hello or goodbye or l've had a change of plans.... nothing!!! After several across country phone calls and much pushing we got the answer. Minister Crosbie and his wife had decided to accept an invitation to dine at one of the lodges and had a wonderful first-class meal with plenty of lubricants to help wash it down. Crosbie's wife fell down the stairs and broke her leg and had to be immediately medevaced out. Crosbie decided that he had seen enough, these lodge people seemed courteous and friendly and generous and so he was sure those commercial fishermen were just complaining about nothing. So, he went home! That was it! That was Ottawa's way of 'dealing with the problem'. Today there is virtually zero commercial salmon fishing around Haida Gwaii as Ottawa has refused to ensure that this important resource remains healthy for one to take place and be sustainable. It's a mystery to me why they don't seem to care that the rich are decimating what's left of the salmon resource and/or what places like Masset and Old Massett do to survive. I don't have any experience of Canada's east coast fisheries but from what we hear on the news, it seems like their cod fishery is in an equally poor state. I think Ottawa should get out of the fishing game and focus on things like not buying anymore pipelines and meaning it when they say they're concerned about climate change. I haven't seen anything to suggest they care! Yours truly, John Disney, Masset, Haida Gwaii

In Machine, a science-fiction novel by Elizabeth Bear, the main character Llyn is a space-faring trauma doctor and rescue specialist who happens to live with a chronic pain condition. She copes with her disability using an assistive suit and some help from her ambulance crewmates. Amid medical dramas and close encounters, Llyn lives a dignified life, has a satisfying career, forms meaningful relationships, and even does a daring rescue or two. Bear’s depiction of chronic illness stuck with me because she treats disability as a normal part of the universe, like gravity or sunshine. Llyn’s pain isn’t an object of pity or even special accommodation. It’s simply part of her life in a time and place where she can access effective tools and a supportive network. Disability is normal on Earth, too. There’s a high chance you or someone you love is disabled now or will be later. A 2022 Statistics Canada survey shows 27 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older, or eight million people, had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities. That is a five per-cent increase since 2017. The rise is due in part to an ageing population and mental disabilities that are increasingly identified among youth. Given this trend, the stories we tell ourselves about accessibility are becoming more important. The good news is Haida Gwaii communities are advocating for an accessible future. On May 24, the Haida Gwaii Gwaii Accessibility Plan was adopted by the North Coast Regional District (NCRD). The plan stems from collaboration between NCRD and the newly formed Haida Gwaii Accessibility Committee. It outlines actions the district will take in several areas, including the built environment, transportation, and communications. The plan can also serve as a guide for the villages of Daajing Giids, Masset, and Port Clements as they develop their provincially-mandated plans. As chair of the Accessibility Committee, and as someone with a chronic, disabling illness, it has been exciting to feel the enthusiasm and imagine the potential for positive change. We’ve learned a lot about several types of disability, including physical and mental conditions, chronic illnesses, and neurodivergence. Here are a few things we heard from the community and discovered through research: 1. Haida Gwaii needs public, accessible washrooms. This was the most common piece of feedback we received, and it came from many communities. 2. Remote-meeting options need to become the norm. Making this standard ensures no one is forced to disclose their disabilities to participate in public discussion. 3. Facade improvement grants from municipalities can be used for accessibility-friendly signage and storefronts. The $5,000 matching grants are currently available from the Village of Masset and the NCRD. 4. Haida Gwaii needs accessible transportation options. This includes improvements to BC Ferries, accessible shuttles or buses, and emergency-evacuation planning that accounts for those with disabilities. We need to celebrate the positive examples. Many people have done great work in this space already, and they need to be recognized more often. Disability and accessibility aren’t just science fiction, they’re part of Haida Gwaii’s future. The best way to make progress is simply to ask disabled people what they need, and take action. That process will need to continue to make sure that no one is left behind. What needs are you seeing in local communities? Contribute your ideas and read the plan on the NCRD website.

The newsroom is a busy place these days. Between balancing community events and monumental achievements, and with the Haida law coming into place, it feels like we haven’t had a chance to breathe. We are not complaining. This is what we all signed up for when we started this venture. Between our local summer events, council meetings, and the many other activities that come with having a toddler in the home, I was invited to join a Taan Forest media tour last week. This topic is close to many islanders’ lives and has shaped these islands over generations. Talking to the local artists who depend on the Taan Forest’s monumental wood program to create their totem poles, canoes, and other carvings was inspirational and opened my eyes to a side of forestry I had never considered. I am excited to have deeper conversations with all stakeholders in the forestry industry here on Haida Gwaii. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to get that story into this edition but be prepared to see a lengthy forestry story in future pages. Knowing how it used to be, how it is today, and the possibilities of changes in the future, I can say that I don’t think we will be getting a swimming pool out of any of the logging companies, Taan included. Pools aside, many islanders enjoyed a full wood shed this year thanks to Taan. On the topic of forestry, we know there would be no forestry industry without the men and women who are on the ground doing the hard work of falling trees. Sandspit celebrated them all day at last weekend’s Loggers Sports Day event. Watching the men and women take turns showing off their skills in handling large logs and saws was a sight to behold. After all the Loggers Sports fun, the ferry line added two to three more hours onto an already long day. The locals rallied and made room for a stranded family of tourists who would be missing the big boat if they didn’t make that particular sailing. In the end, BC Ferries added another sailing between 7 and 10 p.m. so the stranded Graham islanders wondering where they would be sleeping could get home that night. The notification came about halfway across on the 7 p.m. sailing when people had already abandoned their initial plans, left spouses on the Moresby side, and found other means to get home at a reasonable hour. Not that we aren’t thankful to have our later sailings back, but it makes us ask why we can’t plan on special events and work alongside BC Ferries to add sailings before the panic sets in on the day of. Stacey

Last year in August, I left Haida Gwaii to embark on the 15-hour drive to the Okanagan. In Smithers, my engine light flickered on, and my anxiety rose, knowing I still had so far to go. I stopped at Canadian Tire, and they told me my bushings had broken and they would have to fix them before I headed any farther. As I walked into town and waited for my car, Jesse, my boyfriend, called me. “I don’t know if you will be coming here after all…” “Because of my car? No — I’m sure the mechanic will fix it by tomorrow.” “No… look…” Jesse turned on Facetime. Behind him was a massive cloud towering over the tree line. My mouth dropped. “What is that?” “It’s from a fire...” Jesse said. He turned his camera so I could see the piles of smoke in the sky. The smoke was purple, grey, white, and red — the colours of the Okanagan. “That looks close to you… maybe you should get out of there!” I said, growing nervous. “I might have to. I’ll be in touch, okay? I gotta go.” My portal to seeing him and the fire closed. I was no longer a part of it. I was miles away in the north with a broken car, my destination growing in flames. I rushed to a café and typed “Kelowna Fire News.” I saw images of smoke billowing hundreds of feet over Westside Road, a place I knew so well. I had lived on Westside Road for a year and a half, so my imagination could take me much farther than a few images online. I knew the bends in the road and the wild rams that walked across the highway. I learned about the morel mushrooms in the hills above that had grown off ashes from previous fires years before. I had met locals in the area and spent time in their gardens and around their homes, which they had built decades ago All land carries memories. All land holds someone’s heart. All land has animals and flora and fauna that depend on it. All nature depends on the structure of the land. But wildfires are part of nature, too. What a strange thought. Jesse called again. “They have lost control of the fire… we’re in an emergency. They are saying this is the worst fire in 100 years. People are jumping into the lake to get away. They are sending boats to retrieve them in the water!” “What? You need to leave!” “I will. I am just putting our things in the truck, and I’ll meet you tomorrow.” “Okay.” I continued to check the news, but it was only getting worse. The fire was out of control, and I feared what I would wake to. The next morning, I crawled out of my sleeping bag and opened my phone. Within a night, 4,800 people evacuated. Over 200 homes had burned down, and the fire destroyed the Okanagan Resort — just a five-minute drive from our place. Everything was melting, and I thought about climate change and how strange summers are now. I thought about all the animals stranded, nature in agony, and terrified people. I also thought about how eerie it is that the more the glaciers melt away, the more people’s homes melt in flames. British Columbia has the majority of forest fires in Canada each year. In 2023, over 2.84 million hectares burned in B.C., ten times the area expected in a decade. Is this what is now “common” today? As I prepared for my long drive to meet Jesse, I thought about how lucky we are on Haida Gwaii to be away from mainland forest fires. Though we face our own challenges with the colder and wetter summer months, we are fortunate, so far, to be spared the devastation of wildfires.

In 1971 I joined a large group of first year teachers at Tahayghen. Faith Thorgeirson, Nash Meralee, and Helen Scully were our pillars and mentors. Over the years I was an on-again, off-again teacher, TA, sub. When I was asked to write for this event, memories began to swirl. I was talking with Melvin in Jessie’s Garden the other day. He reminded me about a book we worked on – we walked through town looking for edible plants, tasted, collected, pressed, glued and wrote about the plants to make a book. It was in the school library for years. In the school yard after rain there was great water play – ditches and dams and dams bursting into ditches, and kids coming in happily muddy, no matter what rules the school attempted to enforce. Every year there was Faith Thorgeirson’s Spring Carnival extravaganza – mounds of Pink Elephant treasures, the French Café, and students running a gym-full of carnival games. The Xmas Concerts – Nash with her Hawaiian or western cowboy dances. Island Sports Days were always fun, fuelled by Russel Herkes’ and Len Merriman’s enthusiasm. The Art and Science Fairs. One time we built a big volcano for the Fair. The sign said: “Eruption at 2:00”. I kept worrying about it – the kids’ expectations; would it work? At 2:00 I was horrified to see eight rows of people surrounding the volcano expectantly. A student began the process. The volcano began to bubble very slowly. For some reason I reached over and held a funnel upside down on the mouth. The volcano erupted big time, up and up and up to the gym ceiling. Things were not all good – the strap for one. In 1973, B.C. was the first in Canada to ban it. There were long, long staff meetings. Winter mornings going to school in the dark and going home in the dark. I soon realized that some words in the readers had no meaning to some Island children – You can park a car, but I had to explain “what’s a park?.” Then I backed into the school wall and had to go to the principal to confess that I had put a big hole in his brand new building. But there were Authors’ Teas, young authors proudly sharing their stories. Nash Merali’s Grade 1s spent a day baking bread, turning berries into jam and milk into butter for a class feast. Another time, Nash’s classroom was full of greenery and the chirping of crickets. For years, Wiley Creek was the place where salmon reared by Tahayghen classes were set free, the children calling, “Goodbye fish.” There were special times when school spilled into real life. John Yeltatzie shared a salmon story. The story went home and was told to a younger brother who came back to school next day – even before class began – and re-told the story to his classmates. Or like the model trollers. I had a vague idea of a project of hull-shaped two-by-fours, a block of wood for a cabin, and dowels for poles. Then Elvis stepped in, made a cabin for each boat and shared some model fishboat bits. Dee Williams appeared. She outfitted each boat with red and white fishing floats for bumpers. And Naanii Mary helped them to introduce their boat in X̱aad Kil. And the wonderful, week-long class camp-outs at Grey Bay. The Fisheries net brought in a huge variety of fish from the mouth of the river. Important learning, hands on, about our island home, helping to cook and clean, and how to get along with others in a tent. Tahayghen memories are not much about the building, but about the youth and the villagers who gave it life. This big move for Tahayghen students is more of a return, back to the original elementary-highschool that was used before Tahayghen was built. I wish you all a happy return. As Naanii Leila used to say, “That’s all.” This speech was first given by Jenny Nelson at the school’s closing ceremony. Printed with permission.

With a little luck and know-how, you can do a lot with a shoelace. In a pinch, a shoelace can help you start a fire, tie a tourniquet, even climb a tree. Thanks to our growing list of subscribers, donors and advertisers, the Haida Gwaii News has a fine shoelace budget shaping up. Last week, both the Globe and Mail and CBC Business spoke with Stacey, Vince, and me about why we started a print newspaper and how it’s going to work. It’s a sign of how rare local news is that our tiny paper got national attention. Between Stacey and me, I’m usually the half-empty half in this outfit, so let me point out the grisly details. According to a recent tally by the Local News Research Project, a study run by the journalism department at Toronto Metropolitan University, 521 local news outlets closed across Canada between 2008 and June of this year. Falling ad rates are mainly to blame, and higher inflation can’t help. But we are not the only ones crazy enough to think newspapers have some life left. Over in the Robson Valley, some wonderfully stubborn people started The Rocky Mountain Goat News in 2010, and their weekly paper covers a population similar to Haida Gwaii’s. Their office now has a small photo studio and bookshop, too. In Saskatchewan, the publisher of the Moosomin World-Spectator says business is the best it's been in 20 years, and not because they are hosting dance parties or mining Bitcoin on the side — they have more subscribers signing up and local business ads brightening the pages. True to its ambitious name, the World-Spectator has gone well outside the 2,500-strong town of Moosomin in recent years, with the publisher filing stories home from Afghanistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. There are other examples, many of them former chain-owned newspapers that were on the brink of folding before their reporters bought them out. Maybe the only secret is that reporters will work on a shoestring. But a shoestring is pretty handy for keeping you on your feet.

Undoubtedly, many of you will remember the blockade on Lyell Island; perhaps you were even there yourself. I wanted to relay the connection to what has now passed in the B.C. Legislature as the Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust (Winding up) Act. In 1985, when I was about 10 years old, a small group of Haida, Elders and youth included, peacefully blockaded a logging road on Lyell Island, otherwise known as Athlii Gwaii. The Haida Nation was fed up with the unrelenting logging practices in their homelands and beyond frustrated with the lack of progress with the provincial and federal governments in addressing these concerns. Many will recall that the standoff on Lyell Island drew international attention – drawing attention to land title disputes between colonial and First Nations governments, as well as addressing environmental and economic concerns. Later, in 1988, the South Moresby Agreement was signed, designating the area as a national park reserve. The park is now known as the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. As the land would no longer generate revenue from logging, the South Moresby Forest Replacement Account was created to compensate for that. The provincial and federal governments made matching contributions of about $12 million. Over time, the fund had various iterations with different names and levels of government oversight, and in 2007, it was handed over to all the residents of Haida Gwaii and put into the Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust. However, when the South Moresby Forest Replacement Account was made, the Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust’s Deed of Trust constrained the spending to projects related to sustainable forestry, and while forestry is still an essential part of Haida Gwaii's economic fabric, it's not the only source of economic development. Now with the passing of the Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust Act, the funds, now worth approximately $59 million, can be administered effectively by the Gwaii Trust Society, where they will be used for more diverse, social and economic projects guided by the three tenets of restoration, renewables, and revitalization. This is local governments, the Haida Nation, and communities working collaboratively on a shared vision for the future of Haida Gwaii. Ignited by “The Stand at Lyell” that happened nearly 40 years ago, we have finally reached a resolution that should’ve always been the case. I am so delighted that we've finally been able to untangle the legal quagmire of this trust that held things up for Haida Gwaii for years, allowing the people of Haida Gwaii to use that money in a way that makes sense for local communities—not from our perspective, as the provincial government or the federal government, but from your perspective. Haw’aa for your patience. Jennifer Rice MLA North Coast-Haida Gwaii

Scandal gripped southern Haida Gwaii last week when photos of a watermelon half mistakenly priced at $47.77 circulated widely on Facebook. With the mistaken sticker price showing $13.19 per kilogram, that would have put the cost of watermelon on Haida Gwaii roughly $10 over the B.C. average of $3.91 per kilogram. One photo garnered dozens of comments like “That can’t be right?!?” and “That’s insane.” Calls for a pricing review came from every corner of the islands and from people on friends’ lists who live nowhere near here. And then, finally, a voice of reason cut through the din, saying “I think this is labelled incorrectly.” Indeed it was. Haida Gwaii Co-op was quick to give an official response, clarifying that it was a labelling error by an unknown employee. “My feed has been watermelon for days. I feel like I have closure now,” said one appreciative commentator. “I thought the price seemed expensive when I bought it, but I tell you, that was the best damn watermelon I have ever had,” said another. “Hands down. I was happy to pay it.” Anyone who purchased the overpriced half-melon is welcome to return it to Co-op for a refund. Many apologies were given, and Haida Gwaii Co-op thanked the membership for highlighting the mistake. Turns out it takes a village to price a melon. In my opinion, Watermelongate highlights how intimately local grocers and the community are connected. I, for one, greatly value every member of the Co-op staff and think they do a solid job getting us products and providing employment in the community. Of course, it also begs the question of how this unnamed employee looked at the label and thought, “That looks fine,” accustomed (as they undoubtedly are) to insanely priced produce. Local food production needs to be supported, and the Northern Living Allowance needs to be the full amount so we can continue to support our local grocers who deal with costs they can’t control and have to pass on to the consumer.

By Taylor Bachrach, MP for Skeena—Bulkley Valley Thanks to everyone who made my Parliamentary team welcome during our visit to Haida Gwaii last month. It was a good opportunity to connect with people, share about our legislative wins like dental care and pharmacare, and reflect on the unique needs of remote communities. We heard from many of you regarding housing challenges. Unfortunately many federal strategies focus on forcing density in the big cities, while rural communities need support for core infrastructure and direct investment in non-market housing for seniors and lower income residents. We continue to push for these investments. It was clearly evident in our conversations that restoring the full Northern Residents Tax Deduction for Haida Gwaii is a high priority. It’s a top focus for me, too. I’m working with my NDP colleagues on strategies to make the change a reality, and will be tabling the latest petition before Parliament rises later this month. The current cost of living challenges highlight the longstanding need for Haida Gwaii to receive the full deduction. I also heard concerns about the accelerating climate crisis. The stark reality is that drought, fire, and erosion are likely to be a constant challenge in the future. At the community roundtable I held in Daajing Giids, we had an important discussion about how to strengthen our social fabric so communities are more resilient when emergencies strike. My NDP colleagues and I continue to press the government to provide the resources for climate adaptation and emergency preparedness. On the mitigation side, Haida Gwaii continues to lead in B.C. on renewable energy — from solar to tidal. If there’s anything that can temper the sense of despair many feel in the face of climate change, it’s evidence of concrete action. Haida Gwaii has led the way on other issues, too. A decade ago, in the face of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project, people came together around a vision of protecting our coast from crude oil tankers. The result was the North Coast Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which keeps giant crude tankers out of the north and central coast. Unfortunately it looks like we have a fight on our hands because the Conservatives have promised if they’re elected they’ll scrap the moratorium altogether. The law also comes up for legislative review this year. I want to congratulate the Haida Nation on the recent provincial legislation affirming their title to Haida Gwaii. It’s an historic step: the first time Aboriginal Title has been affirmed without a court ruling. I must say I was troubled that the individual who wants to be your next Member of Parliament skipped both votes on this matter. How can one lead if one's not willing to show up? In closing, I want to personally thank your MLA Jennifer Rice for her hard work over the past decade. Jen has brought a ton of heart to the role and delivered a lot for the communities of the Northwest Coast and Haida Gwaii. It’s been great working with her, and I wish her all the best with her next chapter. As always, I welcome your feedback. You can email me anytime at Taylor.bachrach@parl.gc.ca. Haawa, Taylor