Saving kelp forests

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) is set to tackle the topic of Universal Basic Income (UBI) at its upcoming annual AGM, bolstered by an endorsement of Victoria city councillors to do so. 

This initiative revives interest in Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) discussions at local, provincial, and national levels.

Last Thursday, Victoria City Council voted on endorsing UBCM’s resolution to explore UBI in British Columbia, led by Mayor Marianne Alto in continuation of previous council efforts dating back to 2016. 

The proposal stems from long-standing recommendations, such as those in the Croll Committee's 1971 report and subsequent efforts and inquiries advocating for income security, including the Dauphin experiment in Manitoba.

UBCM aims to present a resolution at its AGM urging provincial and federal governments to implement UBI, ensuring sufficient income for all residents to mitigate poverty and homelessness. This initiative seeks to relieve pressure on municipal resources currently filling gaps in social safety nets.

Despite broad support, dissent was expressed by Councillor Marg Gardiner, citing reservations linked to insights from the Dauphin MINCOME experiment of the 1970s, which she argued lacked conclusive evidence of success.

As UBCM prepares to deliberate on UBI’s potential impacts, the AGM in September promises to set the ground for crucial discussions on reshaping social policies and alleviating burdens faced by municipalities across Canada.

Read the full story by Sidney Coles here.

As kelp forests deplete across coastal waters, UVic researchers are finding innovative ways to regrow and maintain these valuable ecosystems.

Kelp forests are home to an abundance of wildlife—much like forests above ground, these underwater ecosystems provide shelter and feeding grounds for creatures big and small, from orcas and sea lions to snails and worms.

Coastal ecosystems are essential for fighting climate change, with the ability to capture 20 times more carbon than forests on land—kelp, in particular, plays an especially important role in carbon sequestration.

But these forests have declined significantly due to a combination of overfishing, food chain disruptions and climate change.

To fight the decline of these undersea forests, UVic is working to regrow them in the Salish Sea, with a goal to develop a roadmap to recovery. 

“It is very ambitious, but the urgency of this problem drives us to commit to these large goals,” says Sean Rogers, director at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

Read the full story by Robyn Bell here.

Police received reports of multiple shots fired on Sunday night outside a residence on Lyall. Two people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, one of whom has life-threatening injuries. The shooting is believed to be targeted, according to police, and is being investigated to determine if there is any threat to the public. 

Island Health told CHEK that police advised Victoria General and Royal Jubilee to be placed on lockdown yesterday from 11:30am to 2pm, out of an abundance of caution.

No patients were turned away, but there were security checks for anyone arriving at the hospital and temporary restrictions on some entrances.