Chris Dixon

Some folks are using the history of our friend Mickey McLeod and his business, Salt Spring Coffee, to suggest that things would be very different if we had a municipality here. I won’t argue with his version of the story, nor will I take on the folks who are advocating for him. That said, here’s an alternative view based on the genesis of “Dixons of Salt Spring”, another coffee company which aspires to be popular and successful. Our mission statement speaks of buying only the finest organic shade-grown, ethically harvested, sustainably selected fair-trade beans from the most politically enlightened countries. We mention our carbon footprint, our world-class employee relationships and the importance of understanding our role and our responsibility in our community and in the world. Now down to business. We know that although we will start slow and small, our corporate goal is to aggressively market our coffee so that it’s available everywhere coffee is sold. And, we…

So which side are you on - Positively NO or Negatively YES? The Incorporation question by it’s nature divides our community rather than uniting it in creating an inclusive model for self-government. Some folks win, and others inevitably lose. Why would we do this to ourselves? (More below). Once upon a time the Duncan area was every bit as lovely as Salt Spring Island, but for decades Duncan has had a different form of government than we have here. Salt Spring Island is protected by the Islands Trust, and the difference is priceless. Perhaps the easiest way to appreciate SSI is to leave it for a while. Go anywhere else that has a comparable population and notice what happens when your environment becomes a commodity. We’re not unique in that Salt Spring Island faces some challenges (are you self-employed or unemployed)? There are good jobs to be had, but also many low-wage part time jobs that coincide with a seasonal shortage of decent, affordable housing. T…