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A tax holiday to think about

OK, I know I’ve harped on about this before, but this will be the last time, I promise! I just read today on the MSN money page that the five fat cats at Fortress pulled in close to $500 million in earnings between them for 2006 (each manager’s share

OK, I know I’ve harped on about this before, but this will be the last time, I promise!

I just read today on the MSN money page that the five fat cats at Fortress pulled in close to $500 million in earnings between them for 2006 (each manager’s share of profits for the year). Their total stake in the company is nearly $8 billion. So, although it was very generous of them to invest $50 million in the Peak to Peak gondola (which roughly equates to 0.65 per cent of their net worth, or a meager 0.14 per cent of the company’s $35 billion in assets), it still rankles me that they are getting a $1 million tax break. The company only pays 15 per cent tax on its income anyway, but I'll save that rant for another day.

I know the argument is that the gondola will bring in tax revenues to the resort, blah, blah, blah, blah, but that’s not the point (and come on, at the end of the day would a company like Fortress really drop wads of their hard earned dosh into something that wouldn’t eventually turn into a cash cow for them? I think not!).

The point is that it’s a tax break nobody else gets. The non-billionaire young families that had to leave Whistler because of affordability issues never got a tax break. Wouldn’t they have been a better candidate for some good old Town Hall benevolence? Or what about all the long gone small businesses that used to make Whistler a more unique and diverse shopping experience?

This tax break is also coming at a time when the resort is hemorrhaging money like there’s no tomorrow. Where shall we start? Oh yeah, there's the $6 million Muni hall upgrades (here’s a thought, with the resort’s inevitable ownership of Millennium Place and its debt, couldn’t some members of staff find some space for their desks there, considering it’s only a stone’s throw away?). The $11 million and counting for the library, which according to one councilor is embarrassing in size. The long overdue multi-million dollar wastewater treatment plant expansion, which will hopefully spare us all from the “Bodily Function Junction” stench that greets us upon entering and leaving Whistler. And who knows how many gazillions for the new museum (wow, here’s another thought, and forgive me if I sound a little delusional, for I do not have the remarkable business acumen of an out of town consultant, but if the library is embarrassingly large, why didn’t we incorporate it with the museum in the first place, DOH!). The list goes on and on as we all well know.

Granted that in today’s ridiculously over inflated construction prices, $1 million would probably buy just a few sheets of plywood, a couple of pounds of nails and a toilet seat or two (all LEED certified of course), but quite frankly, giving Fortress this tax break is an affront to each and every one of us in the valley.

Happy Canada Day everybody.

Harvey Lim

Whistler

 

Lake becoming a concern

This letter was addressed to mayor and council. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

After reading Jill Jacques’ letter to the editor in last week’s paper I realized it is my responsibility to support her written concerns about the state of Alta Lake and the lack of sewer on the west side of the lake.

I am a regular and long time user of Alta Lake and I concur that over the past few years the condition and quality of the lake has deteriorated to a point where it is important that we clean it up as soon as possible.

With all the talk of sustainability and green building practices and the expansion of parks on the lake it amazes me that we can let our most precious jewel, and the reason why the original resort was created, become a place where we have to shower off so we don't get infected with parasites.

I congratulate the municipality on all the hard work to create a great park system here but I would also would like to voice my concerns about the dissolving of the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission. The recent installation of the fishing dock at Fairhurst's (which I believe is a great asset for our community) is an example of what I believe was building with no public input and no concern for boaters that have used that protected bay and inside passage for exploring and navigating in southern winds to the end of the lake. Does any of the staff or council ever boat on Alta Lake in a southern wind? Probably not. These expensive docks make it very difficult to paddle back to Wayside Park or Tokum Bay when there are strong southern winds.

I am also very concerned about the development of Lot 1 for the purposes of the Olympics and strongly believe that a non-biased citizen group like the APRC must be involved to keep perspective. After all, this very large parcel of land is zoned for recreation.

I am self conscious about stating my concerns publicly but I also know that as a long time citizen of Alta Lake and Whistler it is my responsibility to speak up.

Please reappoint an Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission and get the sewer on the West Side as soon as possible.

If we, as a community are going to continue to be held up as an example of a green and sustainable world class community let us not be hypocritical.

Bruce Watt

Whistler

 

Bear facts

Re: Callaghan grizzly bears

I am the habitat biologist with the Ministry of Environment (MOE). My responsibilities include grizzly bears for Region 2 within this part of B.C.

This letter is to clarify all the misinformation regarding grizzly bears in the Callaghan Valley.

MOE in 2004/05 detected through DNA analysis eight individual grizzly bears in the Callaghan Valley (four females and four male).

It is true, to some extent, the male bears are transient through this area because during breeding season they wander looking for female breeding partners. However, the four females have only been detected in the Callaghan (not outside) suggesting the area is the main part of their home range and they spend the majority of their time there.

Grizzly bears are considered "threatened" in this part of B.C. and are a species of special management concern.

Grizzlies have been detected through DNA on all sides of the proposed legacy trails and it is safe to say they move through or forage in the legacy trail area for part of the spring/summer timeframe.

MOE has estimated it will take in excess of $100,000 per year for three years to assess habitat use and grizzly bear movements through sub population monitoring (DNA) and collaring. VANOC was asked through the Environmental Assessment process to fund this data collection.

VANOC has committed $33,000 per year for three years to aid in this effort.

Funding is always a challenge and MOE is strategizing how to best get the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding grizzly bears in the Callaghan.

Steve Rochetta

RPBio

Ministry of Environment

 

No GAS at Cat Lake

Re: Cat Lake: Garibaldi at Squamish application

I am shocked and horrified to learn that the proponents of this new version of Garibaldi at Squamish are planning to develop Cat Lake for their private financial benefit.

Cat Lake, the jewel of all the lakes in the area, belongs to the people of the province, all the people , and that is the way it must stay. If the development is to go through at all, Cat Lake must be protected in every possible way.    With thousands of units planned for Brohm Ridge, public access (use and over-use issues), forest habitat and water quality are all threatened. Make the area part of the Alice Lake Provincial Park, as it should probably have been all along, so that it can be properly looked after. Make its upkeep part of the deal; it is the least they can do. But please do not give this treasure away.

Whatever other issues, pro or con, there may be with this proposal, development of Cat Lake and the surrounding area must not be part of the deal. Areas 3 & 4 at the very least must be absolutely off limits for development.

Dorte Froslev

Brackendale

 

Fishing fine on Father’s Day

Thank you Whistler Angling Club for putting on the Father’s Day Fishing derby. Also thank you to all the people and businesses that donated their time, prizes, boats, and food for the derby. After our first year, we liked it so much that we want to do it again and again. The reasons we like the derby are that it’s easy to catch fish, there’s a barbecue and it’s also great that we don’t have to bring a boat. This year we caught three fish. So far our family has been in the derby for four years and we hope to be able to continue to attend many more!

Nick and Charles Wetaski

Whistler

 

How I would celebrate Canada Day

Being an immigrant to this country, I always celebrate two national days. One is the Indonesian Independence Day, every Aug. 17, and the other is every July 1. In Indonesia, every kid will have to attend a flag raising ceremony at school and some will dress up according to their different ethnic roots. The Independence Day is a reminder that we were a divided nation and regarded as among the voiceless and the unconsidered of the world. Now we unite as one people for the sake of our common prosperity and being equal with all other nations in the world.

Canada Day to me represents something else; it represents a universal hope of a better world overall for my children. Just like Indonesia, Canada is proof to our world that a peaceful multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual society is possible. I am always fascinated with Canada’s stature and spirit in shaping the world for the better. Learning its history fascinates me even more.

After the Second World War, Canada was the only western power, other than the United States that emerged from the war relatively unscathed and with all infrastructures intact. Instead of building up its army to control all other conquered nations, Canada chose to self-disarm and engage in active diplomacy around the world. Canada helps many former western colonies gain independence and helps them reach full status of membership in the UN. Indonesia is one of the many countries that received such help from Canada.

Canada’s intentions to the rest of the world have been remarkably unselfish. It wants a multilateral, integrated world, safe for democracy, diversity and prosperity for all nations. There was no intention to become another imperialist power or even a world superpower. Since then, Canada’s soldiers have become well known all over the world as peacekeepers, their government is one of the most generous benefactors of the world’s poor, and Canadian diplomats are called on to be the honest brokers whenever crisis emerges in any part of the world. This is a country with a boy-scout mentality, which promotes good character and high intelligence in dealing with others.

I hope every Canadian knows how important Canada’s role in this world is. The world does not want to see Canada retreating from its “ engaged internationalism ” and this duty left to other developed nations.

On the other hand, Canada cannot afford to alienate the rest of the world for the sake of mending its relationship with the U.S. Canada needs to reaffirm its independent status in the world apart from the U.S. as a peacekeeper, generous benefactor, and honest broker. This status will help boost Canada’s influence among all other nations, and will support Canadians in finding solutions for issues like global warming, global poverty and global terrorism.

Canada Day is the day to remind every Canadian — citizen, First Nation and immigrant alike — about this duty. Happy Canada Day.

Jay Wahono

Whistler

 

Equal opportunity – for all Canadians

This letter was addressed Whistler’s mayor and council. A copy was forwarded to Pique.

Re: French Immersion council decision June 18, 2007

I first campaigned for equal opportunity for all Canadian students to have access to either French or English immersion classes as long ago as 1968. I have no illusions about how difficult it has been to establish French Immersion in British Columbia and many people deserve credit for how much has been accomplished.

I spent 21 years as a Member of Parliament from British Columbia, and subsequently served on several Federal Advisory Committees and as Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations for Environment. While never as comfortable as I would have wished I have used French on a continual basis during my career.

Apart completely from the intellectual and cultural advantages of knowing both official languages of Canada, we should not have any doubt about a very central fact of our national life. No one, without competence in both languages, is ever going to the upper or top positions in the running of our country without the ability to speak both languages. These positions include but are not limited to the Canadian Armed Forces, the R.C.M.P, the Offices of Governor General, Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker of the House of Commons and Senate, senior provincial and federal government departments; and increasingly senior academic positions in many universities, judicial appointments, journalism, advertising, business and professional opportunities as well as key positions in international sports organizations including VANOC as just one example.

It is not acceptable that children in smaller communities are denied access to Early French Immersion programs just because small communities can not muster the magic number insisted upon by School Board Administration. Equal opportunity is a much vaunted “Canadian value”. If those who trumpet this, and many who do are educators, surely they should come up with a policy, and funding if necessary, to ensure equal opportunity for small town kids. Why should “opportunity” be only something for large communities? Further, it is, as I have said, more than just opportunity intellectually and culturally, it is the opportunity for western Canadian children from small communities to be involved in key positions in the service of our country.

Pemberton Parents for French Immersion have made a simple request of the elected officials of the corridor and that is to encourage the School Board to develop a policy that will enable small communities, such as those in this area, to establish Early French Immersion programs. I hope that you will reconsider your decision of June 18, 2007. All I am asking is that you go on record as recognizing the need for equal opportunity for all children, which is truly a Canadian value. One of those children, I might add, is my granddaughter, who might be lucky enough to benefit should the policy provide for the chance to implement an Early French Immersion program in this district.

John A. Fraser

Whistler/Vancouver

 

Something to be proud of

The Riverside Campground is a beautiful facility and a definite asset to our community. I have a vested interest being the owner/operator of the cafe there. If anything, what was delivered was better than promised, and yet they are getting grief for having cabins that are too nice. They are actually quite cozy and warm, not rustic as planned, even having colour TVs. Wow, how modern.

The owners have provided some great amenities, like a real bent grass 18-hole putting course used by tourists and locals alike, a kids playground that a lot of moms bring their kids to, a volleyball court, a horseshoe pitch, and a large bbq/picnic grassy area. The RV park is filled to overflowing in the summer months, but still is working to bring RVers in the winter, so the cabins are sometimes the majority of the renters.

A Scandinavian spa would go a long way to bring in more winter business.

It is definitely a huge improvement on the previous campground that was in Whistler. We all try to create something to be proud of.

Colin Pitt-Taylor

Whistler

 

Whistler Nordic kids on the way

It's been a while since I've heard much debate over the development of the Nordic Legacy trails in the Callaghan, but I've thought a lot about them... especially this weekend. We have a growing community of young cross-country skiers, that not much of Whistler knows about, especially when they are often overshadowed by our many great downhillers.

This past Sunday our new prospective Whistler Nordics coach, Maria Lundgren, organized a great dry-land training event for our kids ages 8 to 14. Maria and her friends from Sweden were well organized and fun to be with, and the Hilton's donations of T-shirts and food and prizes were a great bonus. While Maria said our kids aren't quite as fit as the kids she coached in Sweden, she said they were "close" ...give us time Maria!

These kids are wonderful athletes, and deserve all the opportunities our community has to offer. The Whistler Nordic Centre will provide those opportunities, and the extensive trails in the Callaghan will bring many skiers, both recreational and elite to our resort.

Margot Murdoch

Whistler Nordic Skills Development Coordinator

 

Token’s appreciation

In late April I brought my dog Token to Creekside Veterinary and we discovered that my 17-month-old pup needed two surgeries on his back legs to rebuild his ACLs. Dr. Lane gave me a quote on surgery which was close to $4,000. I left the clinic and didn’t know what to do because we had no pet insurance and my best friend was going to live a life of pain and discomfort if we did not do something soon.

My friends and I came up with the idea to hold a fundraiser for Token. The Merlin’s crew said that I could hold it in their bar and they would do whatever they could to help.

Over a beer at Dusty’s, bartender Jeff Levitz came up with the name L.O.U.D. (Loyal Order of the Under Dogs) named after his favorite book and asked punk band Slush to play for the benefit. The members of Slush all have dogs and didn’t hesitate to jump on board. Downtown Jay Brown volunteered to play and I could see it coming together.

Finally, Saturday, June 16 th arrived and Downtown Jay Brown and his guitar got the crowd at Merlin’s amped. Slush took the stage later on in the night and continued to rock the joint. Everyone had a blast and at the end of the night we had raised $2,839.The next day, walking around town, donations kept on flowing in and we scheduled the first of two surgeries for next week.

Big thanks go out to Amelie and Andre for making posters at Origin Design and Communications. Thanks to Hydro Bronc, Showcase, West Beach, Evolution, Wedge Rafting, Merlin’s, Mountain Crests, Sushi Village, Trout Country Fly Fishing, Grape Junction, Citta’, Home Hardware and Paul Demers for raffle and auction items. The Pique and Question took the initiative to both write articles, which were sincerely appreciated. This wouldn’t have been the event it was without Downtown Jay Brown and Slush providing the great tunes and, of course, the Merlin’s family who provided the venue and great attitude. Most importantly, thanks to all those who came out and donated — we couldn’t have done it without you!

L.O.U.D. has reminded me that this place called Whistler is not just a town or ski resort but a tight knit community that really looks out for each other. We are all very fortunate to live here.

Griz and Token

Whistler

 

Short and sweet

Ten long years ago the Treleavens stumbled into Whistler in late August to start living the dream.

Friends and family thought we had lost it. Sometimes we even thought we had lost it, but little by little, Whistlerites showed us the way. We can never begin to name all those that helped us, supported us and befriended us. From the early days in Pinecrest, to the absolutely amazing teachers at Myrtle Philip, Whistler Secondary, STORM BC and Soul Function. To the many friends and colleagues that Ingrid & Doug and our kids have worked with over the years, a big thank you. Here's looking ahead to the next 10.

PS: Can we lose the blue signs?

Doug and Ingrid Treleaven

Whistler