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www.comoxvalleyecho.com Tuesday, March 25, 2014
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Volume 20, No. 24
Sage Hills pair committed fraud, rules BC Securities Commission By Philip Round Echo Staff
The Morrison Creek Lamprey is only found in Morrison Creek, making it a rare species indeed
Residents help with action plan for endangered eel-like fish By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Morrison Creek begins its journey in spring-fed wetlands, travels west of Marsden Road between Maple Lake and Lake Trail Road, and through rural land before joining the Puntledge River and emptying into the Courtenay harbour. On March 19 several local residents put their heads together with environmental and government officials to figure out what needs to be done to save an endangered eel-like species that only exists in this one aquatic environment. Jim Palmer, who has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the Morrison Creek Lamprey, says it’s a cool fish that must be protected and studied. “This is strictly a freshwater resident,�
One-of-a-kind fish may not have a jaw but soon it will have protection he said, of the animal, which can live in larval form for seven years and grows to 15-18 cm as an adult. “The same animal seems to be able to have one of two different life histories.� Jack Minard, executive director of the Tsolum River Restoration Society, said Palmer brought the lamprey to his attention about a decade ago, and commended the man for putting the fish on everyone’s radar. “It’s kind of fascinating,� he said. “It’s pretty neat that we have this indigenous lamprey. It’s not very often that you find
an indigenous species in a little creek locally.� Since then the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has taken up the cause of the endangered animal. Nadine Pinnell, a species at risk senior biologist, has been tasked with looking at how to protect the unique fish. “We’re working on developing an action plan for the species,� she said, noting there will be a role for DFO to play as well as for Comox Valley agencies and citizens. “We’re trying to encourage people in the area to take actions that are going to benefit the watershed.� On the afternoon of March 19, 15-20 people gathered for an afternoon work session as the government listened to concerns of Comox Valley residents. (Continued on page 2)
Two promoters of the giant but ill-fated Sage Hills development just south of Courtenay committed fraud, illegally raised more than $5 million for the venture, and violated a B.C. Securities Commission ‘cease-trade’ order in the sale of more securities. Those are the key conclusions of a Securities Commission panel probe that found Theodore Ralph Everett and Robert H. Duke - representing the companies Independent Academies Canada (IAC) and Micron Systems Inc. - raised $5.1 million from investors without issuing a prospectus and without legitimate exemptions to do so. Everett and Duke raised the money over nine years from 2002-11 to support what they were promoting as a $4-billion sports, educational and residential complex that would be built on 2,000 acres of land alongside the Inland Island Highway over a period of 20 years. It was so vast a project that the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy had special provisions to accommodate it - as long as it progressed in a timely manner. It eventually became clear that was not going to happen, with suspicions growing as the months passed over the financing of the proposed development. Subsequently the Calgary-based finance company that had originally loaned the money to buy the land secured a court-ordered sale of the property in a bid to recover its mortgage advance The surprise buyer turned out to be the provincial government, which eyed the land as being potentially useful in ongoing treaty negotiations with the K’ómoks First Nation. While that sale addressed the issue of the mortgage, it did not necessarily resolve the issue for individuals who had been persuaded to invest in the project - several of them people from in and around the Comox Valley - nor all the suppliers to Sage Hills who had been involved in preparatory work for the proposed development. In its findings, the BC Securities Commission panel reported that IAC bought the Sage Hills property in 2006, describing it in promotional materials as the company’s “flagship project.â€? However, it noted IAC defaulted on payments to the mortgage that had been taken out in 2007. The panel, chaired by BCSC vice-chair Brent Aitken, further found that Everett and Duke committed fraud by raising $1.45 million from 55 investors after foreclosure proceedings had begun on the Sage Hills property. (Continued on page 2)
DND announces Aurora upgrades, won’t buy new fleet By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff The capabilities of Comox-based military forces will get a boost over the long term, local officials said, after minister of national defence Rob Nicholson announced March 19 Canada will beef up its CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft fleet by upgrading four more of the planes. While the news stands in contrast to the Harper government’s 2008 plan to buy 10-12 Auroras starting in 2020, it arrives in the wake of former finance minister Jim Flaherty’s revelation that $3.1 billion in spending on defence equipment would be put off to help the government balance the budget. “They’re great surveillance platforms,� said 19 Wing Comox public affairs officer Cpt. Trevor Reid, of the
The CP-140 Auroras, flown at 19 Wing, are getting an upgrade aircraft which is based on the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion. “These new upgrades they’re bringing on board are certainly just helping to enhance them all the more.� Auroras from 19 Wing as well as crew from 407 Long-Range Patrol
Squadron were involved in mapping missions in Afghanistan and helped pick targets for fighter jets during the NATO Libya campaign in 2011. “They proved as a fleet they’re capable of much more than just maritime surveillance and anti-sub-
marine roles,� Reid said. “They have both domestic and international applications.� Nicholson made the $548 million upgrade announcement alongside previous defence minister Peter MacKay, who is now the minister of justice and attorney general for Canada. This means work contracts held by Canadian companies like General Dynamics Canada and IMP Group will get an extension. MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. announced March 24 it has signed $64 million contract with Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) to provide eight radar surveillance systems for integration into the Aurora fleet. One of the four Auroras typically stationed at the base has been sent to 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia
for technical work, the Echo has learned. Reid said the CP-140 planes that have already been upgraded under an overall $2-billion initiative to lifeextend 14 of 18 Auroras were handled through the Greenwood base. The defence department hopes this approach will buy Canada some time until it is in a better financial position to pick up the tab on a new fleet, though by that time the current birds will be nearly half a century old. Canada bought the Auroras in 1980-81 as tensions with the Soviet Union soared. Each Aurora is generally staffed by two pilots, a flight engineer, three combat sensor officers and five airborne electronic sensor operators, not to mention a ground crew that works tirelessly. (Continued on page 2)
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