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Lowering the bar

So let me get this straight.

So let me get this straight. Council, after passing a motion last fall to move the asphalt plant by June 1 and then telling us all winter long (while they enjoyed a three-month Olympic hiatus from council meetings) that while June 1 might not be doable, the ultimate goal remained RELOCATION of the asphalt plant and then telling us last month that we could expect more information about RELOCATION to be shared in May, held a closed-door meeting last week and voted to move the asphalt plant by 150 metres, force some upgrades and introduce a clean air bylaw.

My initial reaction to hearing this news was one of shock and disbelief. "No," I said. "We still need to see a more detailed report on the possible alternate sites; there's a council meeting and an open house. I've been assured that the priority is still to relocate the plant."

Turns out the joke is on me.

While the addition of a new clean air bylaw is something that should be implemented regardless of this situation, I cannot believe that our mayor and council have decided to move the plant 150 metres and think that because it will not be "visible" to any of the residences, they have solved the problem. Seriously? Yeah, because that's what we are concerned about... visibility.

Oh but there will be upgrades to the plant (it's still not clear who is paying for those upgrades or for the slight shove down the hill) and ambient air quality testing will be completed. Who the hell wants to live in a neighbourhood where the air has to be tested to see if it's safe to breathe? Shouldn't that be a given in Whistler?

Please don't insult us any further by calling this a "relocation" of the plant. One hundred and fifty metres is not relocation.

I read with interest that there will also be rezoning of the new site. Great. So the zoning will be in place that will allow the plant to stay there... forever. Wonderful. Thank you, mayor and council, for that. Are you sure you're clear on the zoning this time around? Because you certainly did not seem to be last time around. Nor did your staff.

I cannot express how upsetting this is. We were led to believe there would be a more detailed staff report, an information open house, etc. And then a meeting was held, behind closed doors, and a decision was made. Our esteemed leaders did not even have the courage to debate this in public.

Shame on each and every one of you.

Every step of this process has been infuriating, to say the least. And regardless of whether or not you are a Cheakamus Crossing purchaser, every single resident of Whistler should be embarrassed by our government's lack of leadership.

Some of the highlights of this particular debacle include:

• The ridiculous rezoning and OCP amendment attempt last fall (at the direction of staff, the plant owner applies for rezoning in order to entrench asphalt manufacturing into the zoning - pretty clear the zoning doesn't allow for it but oops, wait a minute... it's a grey area and well, even though staff advised the plant operator he would have to seek rezoning... when the community starts asking questions, nope... it's all OK... no rezoning required);

• The lack of clarity at municipal hall with regard to the zoning issue (it isn't zoned for asphalt manufacturing, it is zoned for asphalt manufacturing; we're not quite sure what the zoning means; there's documentation to support asphalt plant manufacturing; we can't find the documentation... just trust us, our lawyers tell us that even though it's not a permitted use, it really is... and oh yeah, the mayor argues the operator's "defacto" rights to be there trump all else);

• Staff's seeming disregard for council's clear directive to relocate the plant (we know you told us to move the plant but we're going to virtually ignore that direction and tell you otherwise and you're going to do what we say, despite the fact that you should be directing us...);

• The ludicrous "report" that was compiled in a purely biased fashion (hmmm... let's look at options to relocate the plant but make sure that these options seem completely unachievable and even though the direction is to RELOCATE the plant, let's propose to upgrade the existing plant or maybe move it slightly) and yes, Mr. Mayor, despite what you will argue, using the same consultants who are hired to test on behalf of the company leaves a perception of bias; air quality tests that even RMOW staffers say are like comparing "apples to oranges"; no real, complete and in-depth look at possible alternate sites;

• The deception in your intentions (and I quote: "our goal remains the relocation of the plant") and, last but not least,

• The cowardly secrecy surrounding this decision.

I am shocked, appalled and embarrassed by the lack of leadership and complete and utter disregard for your constituents.

At the very least I would expect that Mayor Ken Melamed and Councillor Ralph Forsyth, who both sit on the board of the Whistler Development Corporation, would make a motion on our behalf that our deposits at Cheakamus Crossing be refunded. We made our second deposits in good faith that the asphalt plant was being relocated. You have failed us. Give us our money back. It's the least you can do.

The next time one of you is boasting about Whistler's "green" record or its approach to sustainability, think about how you sold all of us down the river... for cheap asphalt. Go ahead, pat yourselves on the back. Great job. Nice legacy.

Good luck trying to offload the market lots and townhomes. I noticed the ads for these properties indicate they have been built to the "highest of green standards" ...I guess you've now set a whole new standard for green in Whistler. I thought we were supposed to raise the bar here; not lower it.

Patricia Westerholm

Whistler

 

Still open to input

I would like to provide some background and clarification in response to Mr. Allan Crawford's letter regarding the proposed 2010 harvesting plans for the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF).

The management of the CCF is an equal partnership between the RMOW and the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations with Richmond Plywood acting as the operating contractor. When the timber harvest volume for the area around Whistler became available for a new tenure in 2005, the CCF partners applied for a community forest, which resulted in a 25-year tenure licence being signed in April 2009, ensuring the tenure would be held in our communities rather than by a private timber harvesting company from elsewhere. The community forest tenure carries a legal obligation to harvest 20,000 cubic metres of wood per year, which is substantially less than has been harvested in the past by private companies.

The goal of the CCF is to have a functioning landscape over the long term by balancing forest harvesting with important community values such as recreation, visual management, watershed protection, First Nations' cultural values, and environmental values.

The CCF is currently in the planning and public consultation phase for the 2010 harvesting season, and the public is invited to provide feedback on proposed harvesting plans, which do include some old growth in the planning areas. The draft plan was released at the public open house on May 11 and consultation is continuing with local organizations such as WORCA and AWARE, the commercial operators and the public.

A copy of the proposed harvesting plans is available at the RMOW municipal hall front desk for review and on whistler.ca/Toward Sustainability/Cheakamus Community Forest. Comments to this draft plan must be received in writing by June 15, 2010 for their consideration.

Resort Municipality of Whistler

4325 Blackcomb Way

Whistler BC V0N 1B4

Attn:  Cheakamus Community Forest

Or

hberesford@whistler.ca

Heather Beresford

Manager, Environmental Stewardship

 

Positive energy kept us going

Wow, the kindness and efforts of people in this community blows me away! Thanks to everyone that helped over the course of two days to find our dog Rosie. The positive energy of all dog lovers kept us going. Special thanks to Rob, Saundra and the man with the white pickup truck in the Brew Creek forest service road area.

Laurie Low and family

Whistler

 

Congratulations on Cheakamus Community Forest

We had the pleasure of attending the Cheakamus Community Forest Open House in Whistler on May 11. As past members of a committee that undertook a good deal of work a few years ago toward a potential Squamish Community Forest proposal - an initiative which sadly lost momentum - we are envious of the progress Whistler and partners have made in realizing this community forest management venture. It is clear to us there is a great team involved in your community forest project - that has done a lot of hard work!

We look forward to watching and benefiting from Cheakamus Community Forest experiences in implementing "Ecosystem-Based" and "Cultural Interpretive Forest" management approaches and believe there will be opportunities for future Squamish collaboration.

In the Squamish Forest District in recent years, administrative responsibilities, capabilities and resources have been lost to far-away Chilliwack and Nanaimo - for example Recreation, Timber Sale and mapping programs. In the past, integrated industry companies based elsewhere have controlled much of the region's timber harvest.

Community forests and more woodlot tenures can be a way to obtain local control over forest management, and increase local benefits - including from timber processing here in our region. Community forests and woodlots can help foster an interested, informed and engaged local public - critical to a sustainable, active management of our forests.

Congratulations, and best wishes to the Resort Municipality of Whistler and its Lil'wat and Squamish first nation partners!

W.V. (Bill) Manson

Eric Andersen

Squamish

 

Clarification on Clean Energy Act

I'd like to respond to Jesse Ferreras's article (Clean Energy Act will mean less public consultation on energy projects, Pique May 5), and clarify some points regarding the Clean Energy Act.

In recognition of the fact that the development of clean energy is a key economic priority, through the Clean Energy Act, we have set out a number of strategic projects that will be exempted from separate approval by the BCUC, and this does include Site C, subject to completion of a comprehensive environmental assessment and fulfillment of the Crown's duties for First Nations consultation.

Section 4 of the Act gives the province the power to approve BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plans and to direct them to pursue export opportunities when it is in the best interests of British Columbians.

It is important to note that provincial approval of BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plan does not exempt BC Hydro from the required British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) approvals of projects, contracts, and expenditures included in the plan. The BCUC will independently review these applications and will "consider and be guided by" the approved plan and B.C.'s energy objectives, however, the ultimate decision, with the exception of exempted strategic projects, is left with the BCUC.

Consultation will be a very important part of BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plans. BC Hydro is required to report on consultations and government can set specific consultation requirements.

The act also ensures that BC Hydro ratepayers will not bear risk and cost of export energy developments. Since ratepayers are not taking on this risk, there is no reason for BCUC to review expenditures for export, and the Clean Energy Act is clear on this point.

In B.C., we continue to enjoy amongst the most competitively priced rates for electricity in all of North America, if not the world. With our strong vision, we can help British Columbia to achieve a new future of electricity self-sufficiency, job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while ensuring that British Columbians continue to enjoy the benefits of clean, reliable and cost-effective power for many years to come.

Blair Lekstrom

Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

 

The Circle grows

The Vicious Circle held a reading event with prize winning author Lawrence Hill ( The Book of Negroes ) at the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre on May 8th. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who attended.

We were sold out. This is the third straight literary event organized in Whistler by the Vicious Circle that has sold out. The previous events were Giller Prize winning author, Joseph Boyden and company at Literary Leanings 2009 and Olympic Opening Ceremonies Slam Poet, Shane Koyczan, at the Whistler Readers and Writers Festival 2009.

We could not do what we do without your support, encouragement and feedback. Thank you so much.

I'd also like to thank: 1. Gwen Baudisch of the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre who bent over backwards to ensure we could make use of this wonderful facility. If you haven't been to the centre, please go and go and go again. We are so lucky to have this incredible facility in this community.

2. Jennifer Miller of the Question and Holly Fraughton of Pique Newsmagazine who covered the Lawrence Hill reading and have covered all of our past literary events.

3. Dan Ellis of Armchair Books who ensures our authors' books are available for sale at our events. I won't buy a book from anyone but our very own independent book seller, Armchair Books.

4. Lisa Richardson who is our Public Relations guru and blogger.

5. Kim Slater and the staff at Creek Bread who held a fundraiser for us last Tuesday and donated two $50 gift cards as door prizes for the Hill reading.

6. Tourism Whistler for posting this event and sending information out to their membership.

7. Elizabeth Chong of the Aava Whistler Hotel who provided a discounted room rate to those attending the Lawrence Hill reading.

8. And last but not least, Lawrence Hill for making time in his schedule to visit Whistler and provide a reading and lead a discussion about his book.

Thanks everyone. Look forward to seeing you at future events. Keep reading, and for those of you who are writers out there, keep writing.

Stella Harvey

Founder, The Vicious Circle (Whistler Writers Group)