Proposed recreation class increase shifts tax payments from residents to large industrial players like ski areas and golf courses

Bill M 216 would require municipalities to accept development submissions certified by private professionals - and prevent local governments from requesting peer reviews.

Originally built in 1956, the mill has long been a major employer and taxpayer in North Cowichan and the broader Cowichan region. Its closure will have a profound effect on the community, including the loss of high-paying jobs, tax revenue that supports core services, and wider economic spinoffs.