Latest news with #Lilley
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'She was my partner in crime': Chch community champion's heartfelt thank you to wife
Jim Lilley. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN Jim Lilley has lived one very busy life. The Christchurch RSA president has been a police officer, co-established Marine Watch and was a long-time Coastguard Canterbury volunteer. He also fundraises for the Cancer Society and trains bus drivers. And he credits one person – his late wife Cath (above). 'I couldn't have done half of what I've done without her support,' he said. Cath passed away in 2008 aged 44, following an eight-month battle with breast cancer. 'She was my partner in crime for a lot of the stuff I did,' Lilley said. Lilley's work in the community was recognised at the weekend in the King's Birthday honours list. The 72-year-old was inducted as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and the community. Lilley was surprised and humbled – and said a large part of the award is for Cath. 'It's the whanau that supports the person. It's as much theirs as it is the person that's done it,' he said. He and Cath were together for 16 years. They got married the day before she died. 'We had both come out of less than pleasant marriages and we always said we're not going down that path again, but it was the one thing Cath wanted. 'Think of any emotion you can and it was probably there,' Lilley said. After Cath died, Lilley was an 'emotional wreck'. He turned to community service. 'I made a promise to Cath I would spend a chunk of my life working to improve the lives of people with cancer,' he said. In 2010, he heard about the Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari, a biennial charity ride from Christchurch to Hokitika on 50cc scooters. The trip is made by up to 250 people annually and has raised $2.2 million for Cancer Society Canterbury-West Coast to date. Lilley has taken part in every ride since and has won best scooter multiple times. Photo: Supplied He changes the scooter design every time and has big plans for next year's event. 'It's a day of complete and utter lunacy, but the underlying thing is deadly serious. 'Half the way over there, I'm crying because I can feel Cath on my shoulder,' he said. Lilley grew up on a farm in Kaikōura, which shaped his passion for wildlife conservation. 'That environment (your upbringing) is where you develop the values that you live by,' he said. Lilley left Kaikōura when he was 18 to join the army. He completed the basic training, but was also interested in joining the police. He applied for both and was snapped up first by the police. After four years as a traffic cop in Nelson, he was diagnosed with cancer at 18. It was not treatable in Nelson, so he moved to Christchurch for treatment and to recover. Lilley also went through another round of cancer at 32. Incidents of animal harm in Kaikōura prompted Lilley and two friends to establish Marine Watch in 1992, which assisted the Department of Conservation with wildlife incidents. He led groups of volunteers to rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, including dolphins, seals, whales and seabirds. Lilley was personally involved in the rescue of more than 10,000 stranded whales. 'When you look at the weather forecast and look at climate change, there's an imperative to this work. That's why I was trying to send a message that every animal matters,' he said. The organisation started with three, but grew to a group of about 500 volunteers. A whale rescue once required Lilley to go to Port Levy. He asked Coastguard Canterbury to take him and the crew there. The rescue was successful, but afterwards Lilley realised he had never thanked the Coastguard for its help. He went back a few days later – and ended up volunteering for the next 21 years. He took on a variety of roles, including training officer, skipper, and communications officer. Over the years, Lilley participated in the rescue of more than 500 people. Jim and Cath Lilley on the Rialto Bridge while holidaying in Venice in 2007. After 16 years together, they married in 2008, one day before Cath died. Photo: Supplied That included the 2000 storm that ruined the Lyttelton marina. 'A storm came through and totally destroyed (the marina), somewhere in the vicinity of 60 vessels got sunk and we spent the next 10 days salvaging what we could,' he said.
Toronto Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Letters to the Editor, May 25, 2025
Sunday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun OIL PRICES Re 'Liberals lied on the carbon tax, according to Statistics Canada data' (Brian Lilley, May 20): Lilley's claim that the consumer carbon price caused inflation doesn't hold up. If that were true, why did grocery prices rise in April after the tax was paused, as reported by StatsCan in that same report? Second, falling inflation can't be credited mainly to the carbon price pause – crude oil prices also fell. A March 2025 report by Jim Stanford and Erin Weir found that the 2022 spike in global oil prices, driven largely by speculation, was the main inflation driver, costing Canadians nearly $200 billion over three years. Third, this isn't new. As Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi told Vox, 'Every recession since World War II has been preceded by a jump in oil prices.' Fossil fuel price shocks – not carbon pricing – are the real economic threat. To borrow from a 1992 Clinton campaign slogan: it's not the carbon price – it's the oil, stupid. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Cathy Orlando Citizens' Climate Lobby Sudbury (Over spending by government and the consumer carbon tax hit Canadians wallets – hard) FALSE ATTACK U.S. President Donald Trump's false attack on South Africa seems to be based on a video of people calling for attacks on the farmers. If a video is the basis for condemning a country, what of the videos of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building? Another poor treatment of a country's leader. Dennis Fitzgerald Melbourne, Australia (It was a bizarre exchange) LEAFS FAN … STILL WAITING Short and sweet: It's the Harold Ballard curse. He never gave a rat's behind if the Maple Leafs won or lost – just fill the pricey seats with gullible fans. Here's thinking he's still alive and laughing. I've been waiting more than 50 years. Maybe a seance? Roy Banman St. Thomas (It might take more than just exercising demons to get the Leafs back to winning) Toronto & GTA Ontario Editorial Cartoons Other Sports Toronto & GTA
South Wales Argus
21-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Prominent Brexiteer declares he is a French farmer as takes sideswipe at EU
Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Lilley referred to his smallholding in France as he pressed the Government over its 'reset' deal with the EU. The Government claims the post-Brexit agreement will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the UK economy by £9 billion by 2040. But critics argue it amounts to 'betrayal' by granting European trawlers access to British fishing waters for a further 12 years. Part of the deal includes an accord on animal and plant product standards, known as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which will free up trade with the continent for farmers and food producers. Responding to a statement in Parliament on the pact, Lord Lilley said: 'I must declare an interest as a French farmer, in a small way, in my smallholding in France. 'In any case, I would welcome any agreement that I believed would remove or reduce unnecessary burdens to trade resulting from SPS regulations across the Channel.' However, he argued such an arrangement already existed under the World Trade Organisation which stated that SPS measures should not be applied as 'a disguised restriction on international trade'. Lord Lilley said: 'Yet that is what EU countries do, and the EU has been found in repeated violation of this agreement.' He added: 'I ask the minister why she believes that the EU will adhere to a rather vague and ill-defined agreement that she proposes to reach, when it is in flagrant and repeated violation of an agreement that has been in force under international law for some years?' In reply, the leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon, who is a member of the Cabinet, said: 'We are confident about this agreement and confident in our relationship with the EU. 'All those who export to the EU and have produce going to the EU, as well as all those who bring produce into this country, know how urgent and important it is that we reached the agreement. 'We have confidence in it, we believe that we will adhere to it, and we will ensure that the EU does too.' Among those welcoming the deal was prominent Tory Remainer Ken Clarke, who was briefly kicked out of the party for rebelling over Brexit. The Conservative former chancellor hailed it as the start of a 'soft Brexit' with the EU 'to replace the hard Brexit that has done so much harm to our economy in recent years and continues to do so'. Lord Clarke of Nottingham (Stefan Rousseau/ PA credit) Lord Clarke of Nottingham said: 'Will the minister confirm that we can make great progress without in any way compromising the public vote in the referendum? 'The hard Brexit we had was quite unnecessarily, fiercely anti-European. 'Can she reassure us that this is only the start of a continuing process of negotiation, so that we see firm detail and more positive results for interest groups in addition to the farmers?' Lady Smith said: 'For me, one of the most important things that came out of this is that now we have a willingness to talk, engage and reach agreement. 'That has been sadly missing, and this has been damaging to the British economy and the British people.' She added: 'We all, I hope, want to see a better relationship with the EU – one that is mature – where we can have those discussions. 'Where we agree and can move forward, we want to do so. 'So there are outstanding issues and details here, and we intend to make that progress in the interests of the economy and the people of this country.' Tory former Cabinet minister John Gummer, who sits in the upper chamber as Lord Deben, said: 'Will the minister accept that this has been widely supported throughout the country, and right across parties, because it shows that this Government have at least lived in the world we live in, and not in some past world? 'We now go forward to work more closely with our biggest and most important market and our closest neighbour.' Lady Smith said: 'He makes a very important point about living in the real world.' On the issue of alignment with the EU, she added: 'If you look at what has happened already, you find that there has not been the divergence that we were told was going to happen. 'That is why the paperwork that British businesses have to go through in order to export is such nonsense and a burden for them. 'This is about living in the real world and doing the best we can for the economy and the people of this country.'
Western Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Prominent Brexiteer declares he is a French farmer as takes sideswipe at EU
Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Lilley referred to his smallholding in France as he pressed the Government over its 'reset' deal with the EU. The Government claims the post-Brexit agreement will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the UK economy by £9 billion by 2040. I must declare an interest as a French farmer, in a small way, in my smallholding in France Lord Lilley But critics argue it amounts to 'betrayal' by granting European trawlers access to British fishing waters for a further 12 years. Part of the deal includes an accord on animal and plant product standards, known as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which will free up trade with the continent for farmers and food producers. Responding to a statement in Parliament on the pact, Lord Lilley said: 'I must declare an interest as a French farmer, in a small way, in my smallholding in France. 'In any case, I would welcome any agreement that I believed would remove or reduce unnecessary burdens to trade resulting from SPS regulations across the Channel.' However, he argued such an arrangement already existed under the World Trade Organisation which stated that SPS measures should not be applied as 'a disguised restriction on international trade'. Lord Lilley said: 'Yet that is what EU countries do, and the EU has been found in repeated violation of this agreement.' He added: 'I ask the minister why she believes that the EU will adhere to a rather vague and ill-defined agreement that she proposes to reach, when it is in flagrant and repeated violation of an agreement that has been in force under international law for some years?' In reply, the leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon, who is a member of the Cabinet, said: 'We are confident about this agreement and confident in our relationship with the EU. 'All those who export to the EU and have produce going to the EU, as well as all those who bring produce into this country, know how urgent and important it is that we reached the agreement. 'We have confidence in it, we believe that we will adhere to it, and we will ensure that the EU does too.' Among those welcoming the deal was prominent Tory Remainer Ken Clarke, who was briefly kicked out of the party for rebelling over Brexit. The Conservative former chancellor hailed it as the start of a 'soft Brexit' with the EU 'to replace the hard Brexit that has done so much harm to our economy in recent years and continues to do so'. Lord Clarke of Nottingham (Stefan Rousseau/ PA credit) Lord Clarke of Nottingham said: 'Will the minister confirm that we can make great progress without in any way compromising the public vote in the referendum? 'The hard Brexit we had was quite unnecessarily, fiercely anti-European. 'Can she reassure us that this is only the start of a continuing process of negotiation, so that we see firm detail and more positive results for interest groups in addition to the farmers?' Lady Smith said: 'For me, one of the most important things that came out of this is that now we have a willingness to talk, engage and reach agreement. 'That has been sadly missing, and this has been damaging to the British economy and the British people.' She added: 'We all, I hope, want to see a better relationship with the EU – one that is mature – where we can have those discussions. 'Where we agree and can move forward, we want to do so. 'So there are outstanding issues and details here, and we intend to make that progress in the interests of the economy and the people of this country.' Tory former Cabinet minister John Gummer, who sits in the upper chamber as Lord Deben, said: 'Will the minister accept that this has been widely supported throughout the country, and right across parties, because it shows that this Government have at least lived in the world we live in, and not in some past world? 'We now go forward to work more closely with our biggest and most important market and our closest neighbour.' Lady Smith said: 'He makes a very important point about living in the real world.' On the issue of alignment with the EU, she added: 'If you look at what has happened already, you find that there has not been the divergence that we were told was going to happen. 'That is why the paperwork that British businesses have to go through in order to export is such nonsense and a burden for them. 'This is about living in the real world and doing the best we can for the economy and the people of this country.'
Glasgow Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Prominent Brexiteer declares he is a French farmer as takes sideswipe at EU
Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Lilley referred to his smallholding in France as he pressed the Government over its 'reset' deal with the EU. The Government claims the post-Brexit agreement will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the UK economy by £9 billion by 2040. But critics argue it amounts to 'betrayal' by granting European trawlers access to British fishing waters for a further 12 years. Part of the deal includes an accord on animal and plant product standards, known as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which will free up trade with the continent for farmers and food producers. Responding to a statement in Parliament on the pact, Lord Lilley said: 'I must declare an interest as a French farmer, in a small way, in my smallholding in France. 'In any case, I would welcome any agreement that I believed would remove or reduce unnecessary burdens to trade resulting from SPS regulations across the Channel.' However, he argued such an arrangement already existed under the World Trade Organisation which stated that SPS measures should not be applied as 'a disguised restriction on international trade'. Lord Lilley said: 'Yet that is what EU countries do, and the EU has been found in repeated violation of this agreement.' He added: 'I ask the minister why she believes that the EU will adhere to a rather vague and ill-defined agreement that she proposes to reach, when it is in flagrant and repeated violation of an agreement that has been in force under international law for some years?' In reply, the leader of the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon, who is a member of the Cabinet, said: 'We are confident about this agreement and confident in our relationship with the EU. 'All those who export to the EU and have produce going to the EU, as well as all those who bring produce into this country, know how urgent and important it is that we reached the agreement. 'We have confidence in it, we believe that we will adhere to it, and we will ensure that the EU does too.' Among those welcoming the deal was prominent Tory Remainer Ken Clarke, who was briefly kicked out of the party for rebelling over Brexit. The Conservative former chancellor hailed it as the start of a 'soft Brexit' with the EU 'to replace the hard Brexit that has done so much harm to our economy in recent years and continues to do so'. Lord Clarke of Nottingham (Stefan Rousseau/ PA credit) Lord Clarke of Nottingham said: 'Will the minister confirm that we can make great progress without in any way compromising the public vote in the referendum? 'The hard Brexit we had was quite unnecessarily, fiercely anti-European. 'Can she reassure us that this is only the start of a continuing process of negotiation, so that we see firm detail and more positive results for interest groups in addition to the farmers?' Lady Smith said: 'For me, one of the most important things that came out of this is that now we have a willingness to talk, engage and reach agreement. 'That has been sadly missing, and this has been damaging to the British economy and the British people.' She added: 'We all, I hope, want to see a better relationship with the EU – one that is mature – where we can have those discussions. 'Where we agree and can move forward, we want to do so. 'So there are outstanding issues and details here, and we intend to make that progress in the interests of the economy and the people of this country.' Tory former Cabinet minister John Gummer, who sits in the upper chamber as Lord Deben, said: 'Will the minister accept that this has been widely supported throughout the country, and right across parties, because it shows that this Government have at least lived in the world we live in, and not in some past world? 'We now go forward to work more closely with our biggest and most important market and our closest neighbour.' Lady Smith said: 'He makes a very important point about living in the real world.' On the issue of alignment with the EU, she added: 'If you look at what has happened already, you find that there has not been the divergence that we were told was going to happen. 'That is why the paperwork that British businesses have to go through in order to export is such nonsense and a burden for them. 'This is about living in the real world and doing the best we can for the economy and the people of this country.'
