The first Salt Spring Saturday Market of 2024 is on the books, and the clouds that covered Centennial Park — both literally and metaphorically — seemed to have finally parted for the event. 

So far, the new paving project that caused so much heartache over the winter is getting rave reviews. 

Back in 2022, when more than a half million dollars in federal grant funding allocated to projects like revitalizing the Centennial Park Plaza was made available, there was a lot of second-guessing when the now-defunct Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission — and local CRD director Gary Holman — chose to reallocate precious “gas tax” and parks reserve monies to meet the project’s budget shortfall and keep the endeavor (and the federal funding) alive. 

As islanders privately calculated how far that money would go elsewhere — pick your underfunded society, service or amenity that could use $561,748 — we were reminded the only project that qualified for that specific grant was Centennial Park. 

So as we peered through the chain link fence all winter, we curated patience, and excused ourselves for wondering whether the seemingly monolithic slab of concrete — easier walking and better drainage notwithstanding — could possibly support the character of our community’s “make it, bake it, grow it” jewel as well as those old cobblestones did. 

When the fences came down ahead of last weekend, we got an answer to that part at least. The heart of our Saturday Market beat happily on the textured paving, under some spring sunshine; vendors smiled, visitors wandered, and locals’ grumbles seemed to subside for a moment as we greeted one another, enjoying a long weekend. 

While Saturday Market observers saw fewer tourists tripping over uneven cobblestones, they should also note we’ve now begun the first season our market will be managed by a fully-local Salt Spring Island Saturday Market Society, rather than by the regional district. 

We wish that board, the vendors and the market community a successful season. 

By Adam Olsen

MLA, Saanich North and the Islands

I’ve sat on a lot of committees in my time as an MLA, including police act reform, freedom of information and privacy act reviews, and several hiring committees.  

Last summer, I participated in an all-party committee to look at how private members (all MLAs except cabinet ministers) could introduce, debate and vote on bills or motions. Currently, the legislative agenda is entirely controlled by a couple dozen cabinet ministers in executive council. 

All elected representatives should have the opportunity to introduce public policy and have it debated and voted on. The B.C. NDP committed to the committee recommendations to increase access of private members for the next parliament after the provincial election. Let’s celebrate the changes as a positive legacy.  

However, with an election scheduled for this fall, the only thing current members can count on is the next six weeks. So, I have introduced two solid initiatives with strong public support that the B.C. NDP government should consider before the election.  

For three consecutive years, I’ve introduced legislation to protect bear dens on public and private land. Bear den habitats are a critical oasis for stressed forests, and bears are essential “forest tractors,” spreading nutrients across their territory. Bears are crucial allies in regenerating devastated clear cuts and torched creeks and streams. 

It is not in our ecological or economic interest to displace bears. It leads to increased human-bear contacts and unfortunately often ends in the destruction of the bear. The B.C. Conservation Service killed more than 600 bears last year, many the result of increasing pressures on bear habitat. 

I also introduced the Firefighters Amendment Act, a proactive measure that creates provincial standards to limit firefighters’ exposure to forever chemicals in firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) and fire suppression foams. 

Labour minister Hon. Harry Bains has progressively added presumptive clauses in our workers compensation programs for firefighters with certain cancers to support them and their families access the resources and services they need. 

Just as Premier Eby set targets for nature protections, I encourage him to set equally ambitious targets for the transition to fire protection and suppression equipment free of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAs). 

Firefighting is a dangerous job, and we should not unnecessarily expose firefighters to toxins. The B.C. NDP government should follow the lead of the Vancouver Fire Department and ensure all fire services, no matter where they are located in British Columbia — professional and volunteer, large and small — have access to PFAs-free equipment.  

Former Premier John Horgan recognized that good ideas are not limited to his side of the house. Now Premier David Eby has an opportunity to support good ideas in a spirit of cross-party collaboration in the waning weeks of the 42nd parliament. 

I will be visiting Salt Spring Monday, April 15 for my Spring community meeting tour, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the library’s program room. 

I hope to see you there!