Controversial kitty bylaw ratified

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Shovels in the ground for new ICU at NRGH

The sod was turned at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital this morning, to mark the start of construction of a new intensive care unit. The new unit will be triple the size of the current ICU, providing the space for the high-tech equipment needed to treat the most critically ill patients. It will increase from 10 to 12 beds, with overhead patient lifts, and there will be space for a high acuity unit to transition patients from ICU to other hospital units. Dr. Ben Williams, the vice president of medicine and quality for Island Health says the new layout will provide both physical and emotional comfort to patients and their families.

"Our old ICU is a very small unit, located at the end of a hallway that every critically ill patient has to be wheeled through, in front of staff members and patients and families. This new ICU is larger, it's state of the art. In the old ICU there wasn't a family room where they could really go and be safe and have private conversation. This ICU is a much better and kinder place for our patients and their families."
–Dr. Ben Williams

The 41 and a half million dollar project is expected to be completed in early 2023.

Animal Responsibility bylaw is approved by Nanaimo City Council

Nanaimo City Council has passed a controversial animal bylaw that could see outdoor cats scooped up and sent to the pound. The new Animal Responsibility bylaw says owners must prevent their pets from wandering onto any private property without permission. Owners must have direct control over the animal when outside. When the bylaw was first proposed in November, it generated what Mayor Leonard Krog called a "voluminous" response from residents who were opposed to it. But Councillor Erin Hemmens says it's needed to manage conflicts between neighbours.

“This is not about leashing cats, this is not about keeping cats inside, this is setting up mechanisms and structures in order to support animal health for animals that either don't have a home or are creating a nuisance and that nuisance isn't resolvable between neighbours. Then we have some next steps to take based on this bylaw.”
—Nanaimo City Councillor Erin Hemmens

Cats must now have identification, such as a collar or microchip, and be sterilized.

Having a cat without ID could cost you between $25 and $75 dollars, while fines for an unsterilized cat range from $100 to $150 dollars. However, the city will waive seizure and impound fees for cats caught outdoors until the end of 2022, if the cat is retrieved within 24 hours.

ICBC rebate incoming for drivers in B.C.

Drivers in BC will be getting a rebate next month, thanks to the pandemic. ICBC says it saved $600 million dollars last year because the pandemic led to fewer drivers on the road, and therefore fewer accidents. It is passing along those savings to those insured last year. It predicts the average driver will receive a $190 dollar rebate cheque, which will start rolling out in March. That is in addition to what ICBC calls Enhanced Care refunds customers will receive when they renew their insurance in 2021.