The recent decision by the B.C. Utilities Commission to not purchase power from independent producers is very welcome news. Contained in the report that their decision was based on is the fact that B.C. taxpayers have been committed to purchasing electricity for far greater amounts than it can be sold. This amounts to all of us having to subsidize the IPP industry so they can retain handsome, guaranteed profits.
The commission noted that continuing to do business this way is "not in the best interests of British Columbians."
Also noted is the fact that B.C. Hydro customers, not government, not the IPP industry, would be the ones to bear costs of the "deal."
One of these bad deals is currently under construction in Whistler. Hardly "sustainable" by definition.
So why would our provincial government enter into these contracts? Why would they not act in the best interests of British Columbians?
Considering recent decisions to permit the largest ever salmon farming operations on the coast, reduce provincial royalties paid by the oil and gas industry by 90 per cent and support the proliferation of river diversion projects province wide, the logical answer to these questions is that "our" provincial government's recent mandate is to represent the best interests of lobbyists and corporate supporters.
Thankfully, the BCUC does not have similar obligations.
We will hear from proponents of private power that we need green solutions to combat climate change. Without enriching them with millions of dollars, the glaciers will soon be gone, etc. Putting all the rhetoric and BS aside, the reality is that our public power company, B.C. Hydro, does produce green energy. Has been doing so for a long time. All the overhead lines that run through various corridors in the province are from hydro dams. Electricity is generated using water and gravity. The Burrard Thermal Plant is for back-up insurance power only. Last year it produced 0.03 per cent of our electricity needs. This facility is a good one to have just in case we need it.
Beware of consultants who are on the payroll of private power producers, who want electricity costs to skyrocket, have B.C. Hydro go the same way as BC Rail, who claim to understand the issue deeply and reap profits using misinformation and fear.
Interested people can read the full report at www.bcuc.com and go to "July 27 decision."
Steve Anderson
Whistler
BCUC decision applauded
Last week in your article surmising that a recent B.C. Utilities Commission report may have placed run-of-river projects in limbo, a local lobbyist for private power pronounced that, "everyone's appalled by this who understands the issue deeply."
With respect, he is mistaken about that.
If you peel away the well-funded lobbyists, and a handful of self-centric others like them that stand to profit deeply from private run-of-river projects, the remaining truth is that the BCUC ruling is applauded by the majority of people whom understand the issue even vaguely.
Not many share the view that we should produce private power that we ourselves don't need, in order to sell it to southern markets for a fraction of the price that the Campbell government has us legally obligated to pay for it. He already has us on the hook for $31 billion, and if he and his Energy Minion Blair Lekstrom get their way, that's just the beginning.
And since many of the licenses they're handing out have American investors, under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement that means that we're essentially flushing B.C.'s environmental sovereignty and future energy security down the same privately-owned pipes that they're forcing our vital rivers into.
Most of those opposed to private run-of-river power actually support the development of suitable, publicly controlled, renewable clean energy projects. Combined with conservation as cited by the Utilities Commission report, they represent the best method of providing the "low-cost sustainable electricity" that our corridor's foremost private power lobbyist suggests we want.
Requiring B.C. Hydro to buy virtually all new power at extremely high prices and on long term contracts from developers like those that he represents is neither in our best interest, nor sustainable.
Neil Brown
Whistler
BCUC doesn't get it
Last week, as I passed through the ghastly 100-degree heat and thick smog hovering over Abbotsford and Chilliwack on my way to the B.C. Interior, I found it difficult to imagine that anyone could possibly dispute the seriousness and urgency of climate change.
Then I read the paper, and wouldn't you know it, the B.C. Utilities Commission has gone and thumbed its nose at the climate change question and decided to run Burrard Thermal in Port Moody at full blast.
What part of Burrard Thermal being the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the province, and the province's second largest source of nitrous oxide, do the people at the B.C. Utilities Commission not understand?
Mrs. Hedy O'Connor
New Westminster, B.C.
Visa processing capacity in place
RE: New Visa Requirements and Tourism
A new requirement for visas for Mexican and Czech nationals was imposed while I was on official business in Taiwan and Hong Kong, among other things, to promote tourism. Tourism is critical to the riding I represent. While in Asia, I highlighted the allure of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in meetings with the President of Taiwan and other leaders.
Recent writers to the editor have raised a concern about the new visa requirement, particularly in light of Mexicans seeking to travel here.
Since 2005, the number of Mexican refugee claimants has almost tripled from about 3,400 in 2005 to more than 9,400 in 2008. In that year, Mexicans accounted for more than 25 per cent of all refugee claims filed in Canada. Refugee claims are assessed by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), an independent administrative tribunal. In 2008, the IRB accepted 606 refugee claims from Mexico, representing an overall rejection rate of 89 per cent for Mexican refugee claims. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is therefore taking measures to reduce the abuse of the system. Visa requirements make it easier to assess who is coming to Canada as a genuine visitor and who may be trying to get to Canada merely to file an unsubstantiated refugee claim.
In July 2009, Minister Kenney therefore implemented a new visa requirement for Mexican nationals travelling to Canada. Last week, I met with Minister Kenney to assess how the new requirement is affecting our riding and what people should do who have valid reasons for visiting Canada from Mexico. Minister Kenney has assured me that our Government has taken the steps necessary in order to ensure processing capacity is in place to meet the increased demand, and to minimize unnecessary delays for travellers. In fact, 55 extra case officers have been hired to work in the Canadian Embassy in Mexico.
Mexican nationals who travel to Canada regularly are encouraged to apply for multi-year, multiple-entry visas. For the most part, walk-in applicants are receiving their visas within 24 hours. Applicants who send in their applications are receiving visas within a week.
I am staying in touch with Minister Kenney on this matter. Please watch our website for future developments: www.johnweston.ca
John Weston, MP
West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea-to-Sky Country
Assistance appreciated
The Whistler Emergency Social Services team would like to thank the local businesses that assisted our team during the Seton Portage wildfire response last Sunday evening.
We would like to specifically thank Jim Chan from the IGA and Nicole Desjardins and Joel Chevalier from Whistler Blackcomb for going above and beyond and providing evacuees with food and accommodation.
A special thank-you to Kristi Broadbent from RMOW Bylaw and to the ESS volunteers who assisted through the night to ensure that all evacuees and their pets were cared for.
Erin Marriner
Whistler ESS Coordinator
A plea for wild salmon
I am writing to ask my fellow Whistlerites to read the adopt-a-fry page in this week's Pique . Many eligible voters do not exercise their democratic right and complain when they are not pleased with government decisions. If you do not get involved and leave it up to our wise elected representatives then there will not be a single salmon returning to the Fraser River-Gulf of Georgia in a few short years. Like anything else, reacting then will just be too late.
Gordon Campbell just removed the salmon farm moratorium and we are about to witness the largest fish farm on the coast opening soon on the Fraser salmon's main migratory route in Johnson Strait. You can help by purchasing only wild salmon at our stores and restaurants. If your fish is labeled "Atlantic salmon" or "steelhead trout" then it is raised in a pen and fed pellets of growth hormones, antibiotics, dye and a slice of other residual toxins hazardous to your health.
If you want to be proactive, I am looking for financial help to publish colour adopt-a-fry notices during the Olympics. Anyone interested in contributing large or small please e-mail jhorner@shaw.ca. We are fighting for an animal that is neither cute nor furry but is a vital part of our eco-system.
Jim Horner
Whistler
Observations on bullying
I was interested to read the excellent article by Claire Ogilvie in Pique (Aug. 6th) regarding bullying in your school system. As the mother of a child that was verbally bullied in school and having worked in Nova Scotia's mental health system as an occupational therapist for over 30 years, I am extremely aware of long term consequences to the children involved, and would like to make the following points.
• Bullying seems to start in the vulnerable years of the early teens. The consequences to the victim are serious. Lowered self esteem and resultant depression, often long term, are very common. These effects seep into adult hood.
• A tendency to bully other children when in the early teens, or to be cruel to animals, can be a precursor for very serious psychiatric and/or pathological problems in adulthood.
• Societal effects include a tendency towards child and spousal abuse.
• Verbal retaliation by the victim would, in my opinion be a healthy response and must be respected by those in authority.
• If the recipient of bullying is not believed by those in authority it doubles the effect of the bullying.
• I would caution the school authorities to beware of developing a culture that blames the victims. Dominant children are often popular and may be sports heroes, whereas the victim is often quiet, intellectual and artistic.
• I would recommend and expect that all children involved would be well and sensitively monitored in the school setting so that medical and psychological services can be involved as early as possible to diagnose and treat as needed. (For all parties.)
I hope this can soon be resolved satisfactorily before any permanent damage is caused to any of the children involved.
Christine Boardman O.T.reg.
Nova Scotia
Muni goes Commando!
Recently I received a ticket from a bylaw officer who jumped out from behind the bushes. I was only running into a store to sign a Visa slip for my daughter's new phone. It is clearly evident by his actions that the municipality has adopted "Commando Style" tactics in order to bring in the revenues for the budget shortfalls. This is the new message to resort visitors and will soon become the "New Guest Experience"!
At the July 21 st council meeting the most interesting speaker was Brian Niska, a business owner on Main Street. He confirmed that the business owners had not been consulted prior to the doubling of the parking rates despite the fact that the mayor had insisted that they had been.
What was clear at the end of the meeting was that the mayor and council had not balanced the budget. They were merely hoping to balance it through the implementation of a very complex parking scheme that they admittedly knew very little about and had not considered the effect on local businesses and the "Resort Experience."
It is not fair for us to fault the mayor for his mishandling of another major issue because he does not have the skill sets that would be reasonably required. He does not have any business background or formal education in the same nor has he demanded it from those that have been hired within the municipal administration.
The only councillor to say publicly that he would pay for his parking at the municipality was Councillor Thomson. Hats off to him!
Councillor Quinlan concluded Whistlerites didn't care about the budget because we didn't show up to their open house in February. The public's absence should not be taken as a signal that we don't care about the budget, but rather we were unaware of what they were "cooking up." The mayor insisted that the budget was balanced and campaigned on that fact. It can only be considered balanced if the hopeful revenue stream materializes and the hefty fines are collectable. It should be noted that not all of the hotel taxes materialized either.
Contrary to the mayor's belief he is not the "One" who made Whistler what it is today but rather it's all of the developers, builders, entrepreneurs, shop keepers, and the young people that come here filled with unbridled levels of enthusiasm. As the mayor makes Whistler too expensive, the young people will be unable to come here and like anything else there will be no continuity.
The municipality is also a business and must be run like one and it must reduce its operating costs in difficult times yet they refuse, hence there is the problem! Shame, on the mayor and his followers!
The legacy for this mayor is not the Rainbow development; that belongs to the developers. Nor is it the Olympics, as that belongs to the previous mayor. Kindly note, that our current mayor who was a councillor at the time was the only person to vote against the Olympics in Whistler. Ken Melamed will be remembered for his "Legacy of Debt" that we will be left with!
Jack Mann
Whistler
Hooray for the Southside
Five years ago, the Southside Deli reopened its doors as the Southside Diner, once again giving locals a chance to enjoy some yummy comfort food, drink a double caesar and catch up on the latest gossip.
Congratulations to Les Ecker and Dave Keen for five rowdy years of hard work and good times.
Thank you to our amazing local customers. Your love and support is appreciated and often returned with the hugs at the front door!
On the evening of Sunday Aug. 16th, please join us to celebrate the Diner's anniversary and a bit of old school Whistler.
Thank you Les and Dave for providing Whistler with a place with genuine heart. I know of no other restaurant in town in which a Kelly Clarkson sing-a-long can burst out at any moment (by punk band members no less), walks of shame are welcomed, hair of the dog is encouraged and where local romances are fostered, showcased and sabotaged.
And by the way, the staff parties aren't too bad either...
Hooray for the Southside, I can't wait to see what the next five years brings!
KJ Johnson
Whistler
Special thanks, special day
I wanted to write in and appreciate three special people who made my sister's wedding day the best day of her life.
In a time when service is hit and miss, budgets for events are tight, and people are complaining about so many issues (granted some a valid points), I thought that it was about time that a positive letter came out and recognized these three outstanding individuals who did an amazing job at providing wonderful and memorable service to create my sister's dream wedding.
First I would like to thank Gord at the Pemberton Meadows Golf Course, who not only took the last minute booking (and by last minute I mean three months out from the date of the wedding due to the original location of the wedding closing down) but also took the time to get to know the bride and what she wanted. From the beginning to the end of the event, Gord was with us every step of the way and helping us fit into the budget that was available. The end result was more than we could have wished for. The staff from the Meadows who worked the function for us was on top of their game. The Chef did an amazing job with the food. So many compliments from our guests regarding the food and how spectacular it was!!
Secondly my thanks go out to Linda at Mountain Bloom. You assisted us with our flowers and did more than we would've ever thought possible. You provided us with beautiful arrangements that went perfectly with the event and added that special touch to the event. You went out of your way to work with our budget and I can't thank you enough for all that you did to add to her moment. I was glad that I had a friend who referred us to you, because now I will be doing them the same favour and passing on your info! The flowers were exactly as what she had hoped for.
Thirdly, my thanks to an amazing pastry chef, Laurent, at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler who created her dream cake for the big day. It was BEAUTIFUL and the bride was ecstatic over her cake. It matched everything perfectly and all from a small picture and a scanned colour swatch!
You three all provided the memorable service that is what people are looking for/craving for these days. You removed extra stress from the bride, which is not an easy task, and took the time to get the little details right.
Thank you for all that you did for her and Kudos for not being the type to nickel and dime when so many others are out to make a quick dollar when times are tough.
Kimberley McGuire
Pemberton
A prayer from Rome
All of Canada is in our thoughts and prayers with the devastating fires in British Columbia.
While the little three, Chrysler, Ford, and GM, decide on how many factories to close in Ontario because they want to continue business-as-usual with technologically hundred-year-old-fossil-fuel-burning-carbon-dioxide-producing cars, thousand-year-old forests are burning to the ground in British Columbia.
O Canada, please pray the little prayer at www.de-vrouwe.net every day to understand the true business of that which is necessary to survive justly in the New World.
Matthew R. Dunnigan
Roma, Italia
