Re-zoning ROW Could Cost Delta Millions

Mayor and Council,

The overwhelming opposition expressed by Tsawwassen residents resulted in the Mayor’s declaration last Thursday that the poorly conceived Tsawwassen Area Plan would be abandoned. However, the part of the plan dealing with higher density, town homes, condos, etc., on the power line properties along 53A Street requires further attention. The advantages and suitability of such development on the power line properties along 53A, specifically for the section between 8A and 16th Avenue, were identified early in the community’s opposition against BC Transmission Corporation’s (now BC Hydro) proposal for the new high voltage transmission lines through Tsawwassen. The suggestion was at the time made on the premise that the power lines would be relocated away from the existing Tsawwassen Right-of-Way, and all soil contamination appropriately excavated and removed from the many affected properties. The new lines and tall, steel poles are clear evidence that the lines are here to stay, committed contamination clean-up was not conducted, and the residents will continue to be affected by all negative aspects associated with the lines and the ROW.

The electromagnetic radiation and corona will increase with an escalating power demand on Vancouver Island, and the resulting controversial health aspects will persist. Signed affidavits presented to the BC Utilities Commission by the property owners in 2006 established that 43 percent of ROW households had experienced one or more incidents of cancer illnesses or deaths. While this was dismissed by the authorities as inconclusive, it remains a significant fact and concern, and exposing an even larger number of residents to these hazards would be reprehensible. Creosote associated soil contamination, proven through soils analysis, exceeding levels allowed by B.C. Contaminated Sites Regulation, exists on many properties.

Future potential liabilities and litigation which may arise as a result of health problems and soil contamination clean-up costs related to the ROW must remain the sole responsibility of BC Hydro and the BC Government. The Corporation of Delta should therefore exercise extreme caution with respect to rezoning or issuing of development permits and other permits which could be construed as Delta accepting responsibility for any of these inherent negative aspects of the ROW properties. Otherwise, the Corporation, and consequently all Delta taxpayers, could be exposed to numerous future litigation and soil contamination clean-up costs, which could run into tens of millions of dollars!

Karsten Holmsen

Delta

TAP Gate - Who's to blame for botched Tsawwassen Area Plan?

Will Anyone Lose Their Job Over Failed TAP Bylaw?

Editorial by Elvis Glazier - It's pretty rare that I wait so long to jump on a story as juicy as the failed Tsawwassen Area Plan debacle. It's taken me this long for the ramifications of “TAP Gate” to sink in and I really wanted to see the media reaction and political spin before weighing in. The bombshell announcement by Delta Mayor Lois Jackson to end the public hearing was like watching bugs scramble as the rock was lifted exposing them to the elements. Of course in this analogy the bugs are Delta's mayor, councilors, chief administrative officer, and planning staff.

I freely admit that I have been quite critical of the planning process from the onset. Having attended almost every meeting open to the public I have watched this train wreck unfold into this complete failure that concluded with the mayor conceding defeat and stopping the bylaw dead in its tracks.

But now that it’s over the question that is on everyone's minds, especially in Tsawwassen is:

Will anyone lose their job for this waste of taxpayer time and money?

Let's examine the people involved:

Councilor Bruce McDonald, TAP Chairman?

Watching Councilor Bruce McDonald chair the TAP committee was every bit as entertaining as watching 'Mutiny on the Bounty'. His committee didn't really come to a consensus in the end and there were even threats of minority reports by factions with the committee. McDonald's Captain Bligh character played perfectly as he took every opportunity to push through Delta's agenda, even though there were definite concerns expressed by the committee and alarm bells raised by residents. It became very clear (to me) early on that this plan was being conceived in a vacuum without any semblance of public input. If I were a member of the TAP committee I would be calling for his resignation from council (or at least a promise not to run again) for allowing this to happen. Defiant to the bitter end, McDonald chastised "crusading citizen groups" for hi-jacking his committee by seeking nothing more than some public input in their community's area plan. I don't know how the man who fancied himself mayor is going to survive TAP-Gate unscathed. My prediction is this will be the end of McDonald's tenure. If it isn't then my faith in the electorate teeming with” crusading citizen groups” will hit an all time low.

Mayor Lois Jackson?

The Mayor espoused her epiphany and called an end to the public hearing curiously right before her former mayoral adversary Krista Englland was scheduled to speak. The real question is how did this bylaw get this far in the first place? Is the Mayor not familiar with a plan that has been almost two years in the making. How many terms does it take to gauge public sentiment? Perhaps the Mayor was more interested in selling softwood lumber to the tropics than dealing with an area plan in the city she's supposed to serve. Listening to the Mayor applaud herself for killing the flawed bylaw borders on the ridiculous. Perhaps the better question is, how many terms does it take before you become completely out of touch with your constituency? Terminating the public hearing robbed the public of finally giving this Mayor proper public input in a legal forum. Praising yourself for suppressing the public is a political skill-set that can only be honed over time. To then say publicly that the area plan is committee work and not council work just goes to show that this council doesn’t work. Jackson’s apparent lack of interest and leadership on this issue signals to me that it’s time for her to have a serious soul search before penning her name on any future nomination papers.

CAO George Harvie and Delta City Planning Staff?

Since it seems that Jackson has abdicated her responsibility as mayor because she's been too busy playing the head of Metro and it's far easier to just let the bureaucracy run the city, we need to examine what George Harvie’s role is in TAP Gate. What influence did Harvie have in hiring city planners Tom Leathem and Barry Konkin? They were brought in to Delta with a background of doing large development projects. It is no secret that there aren’t many spots that would be remotely suitable for Surrey type of developments. With the fight for the Southlands lost, they were really only left with the town center and the area under the power lines.

In fact, Leathem and Konkin are both on the record as saying that the plan was a staff driven document and all they wanted was some resident input. The problem for them, in retrospect, is they didn't know what to do once the citizens actually took over the process because that wasn't supposed to happen. For that fact alone the City of Delta needs to re-examine what our land use policy should look like and hire staff that reflects this vision.

Council?

I recently read a retraction in the Vancouver Province that read, "The Municipality of Delta has not endorsed a plan for multi-family properties under the controversial power lines." It may be true that the municipality didn't endorse the idea, but I don't believe the same can be said for Council. This area plan was almost two years in the making followed by first and second reading and still this council voted to send the bylaw to public hearing. That is an endorsement in my view. When ,during the first two readings, did someone speak up and denounce the bylaw for even suggesting the idea of building under the power lines? I heard Councilor Anne Pedersen make an attempt at discussing it but nothing with vigour and stature. No desk pounding, filibustering, or finger wagging. Pedersen and King were either powerless or unwilling to take on Mayor Jackson and her council of DIVA’s. They have the numbers and they run council with an iron fist. I will exclude newly anointed DIVA councilor Ian Paton Jr. from blame as he has just had the good fortune of joining council, but fellow DIVA members Robert Campbell and Scott Hamilton have run roughshod over this council with the help of McDonald.

I believe a good case could be made to get rid of any number of politicians and bureaucrats involved in TAP Gate. To see such an expensive process take so long and come up with a solution so far removed from the will of the people that the entire exercise is destroyed must not be allowed to go unpunished. Will TAP Gate be the rallying point for the electorate to demand drastic change with their municipal politicians? If the electorate decides to vote against wasteful spending and shutting out the public from civic process, then I believe Delta will follow the nationwide trend and demand change.

The only question now is who, besides the taxpayers of Delta, will pay?

BC Charities Not Receiving Fair Share fof Gaming Revenues

Attention: Editor

The Hon. Rich Coleman’s letter needs clarification and correction. The Burns Bog Conservation Society did not receive $120,000 between September 2008 and August 2010.  The Society received a letter dated September 8, 2008 for $90,000.00 for a three year period.

The Society is not the issue. The issue is that the BC government has not been honouring agreements made with the BC Association for Charitable Gaming, the UBCM and the BC Government on June 17, 1999. This agreement set in place the permanent revenue sharing formula for all three parties.

1.    Municipalities: per the 1999 White Paper on Gaming recommendation of 10% net revenues from community casinos, and 16.7% of the net of destination casinos (Delta has no destination or community casinos that I am aware of);
2.    Charities: 33.3% of net gaming revenues of community casinos.

The agreement was in two parts of the same whole. The Meekison Report, 2000, treated them as foundational and binding on the BC government.

In 1995, based on a Vancouver staff report on the White Paper on gaming, charities received $131 million (35% of the net) and in 2010 (per BC Lottery Corporation Annual Report) charities received $112.5M (10.42% of the net). The $120 million for 2011 does not come up to the agreed 33.3% in 1999.

In spite of a 292% increase in annual gaming revenue over 1995, the BC government shocked the entire charitable sector in 2009 by unilaterally cutting the share allocated to charities by tens of millions of dollars to $112.5 million or $18.5 million below the 1995 levels (not adjusted for inflation) in 2009.

In 1995 charities received 35% of gaming proceeds. In 1999 when they signed the MoA they were guaranteed 33.3% as a permanent share. The current BC government has stripped this to 10.43% of the proceeds.

The bottom line is the BC Government is reneging on its legal agreement with BC Charities and forcing them to either close or drastically cut their services to BC communities all over the province including Delta.

The BC Government owes BC charities $1,279,566,670.00 in accrued arrears, not including interest.

I look forward to the BC Government recommitting itself to honouring the MoA signed in 1999 and immediately restoring gaming funds to all BC charities. I cannot think of a better way for the BC Government to honour charities, the volunteers and staff who toil for the good of the community.

Sincerely,

Eliza Olson
Director
BCACG

Tragedy Forces City Hall to Rethink Priorities

By Debbie McBride - It has been a month since the murder of North Delta teen Laura Szendri it's my hope that each of us will learn something to prevent such a tragedy ever occurring again.

First let me offer my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Laura Szendri, the young girl who was brutally murdered in North Delta. I cannot fathom the pain they are in now and will be forever.

I've been greatly concerned about a number of things surrounding this tragedy on many levels. That this murder occurred at all in the middle of the afternoon in an area surrounded by people and even though people who were close by responded immediately upon hearing Laura's cry, she still was fatally injured. Those who were there and responded are still extremely distressed and have been left with unanswerable questions. The shoulda, wouda, coulda feelings that will never go away. This was not their fault and it was certainly not the fault of Laura Szendrei.

I was brought up with roots in the aviation industry and so many times it has been shown that it is a number of factors that come together that result in aviation accidents and it would behoove us to pay attention to what we learn as the investigation continues.

Of course we don't know what happened that day and we should not rush to judgment as to who committed this murder or why but there are concerns that immediately jump out at us.

I have been contacted by a number of Delta residents who told me they had expressed concern previously about the undergrowth in many of Delta's parks. I understand that Mayor Jackson has ordered a clearing of all undergrowth in all Delta urban parks and that's a good start. That being said, it should not have taken a murder for such an initiative to take place. It certainly seems that keeping the sight-lines of these parks should have always been a priority for our municipality.

I understand fully that to do so costs money but over the years I have seen money spent on projects that were not and should not have been a priority for the municipality. One example that jumps out at me is the $50,000 spent on the Recognition Square in front of Delta's municipal hall last year. Certainly, in hindsight, that money could have been better spent on staff to maintain municipal parks and that is merely one example of misplaced priorities.

Delta has recently announced the hiring of new lifeguards for Delta's swimming pools after a recent study found that staffing levels were inadequate. Whether or not that study was prompted by the drowning of a young foreign student in the Tsawwassen pool this year one can only speculate on. I for one had been at the local pools quite often the last 6 months and had expressed my own concerns about the lack of staffing so I am gratified to see the increase put into place.

I was also perturbed by the fact that there had been at least two recent incidents in North Delta that bear striking similarities to the murder of Laura. Yet, the public was hardly informed of the attacks. Why not? How many more similar attacks have occurred throughout Metro Vancouver?

10 Ways to Stop School Closures

Schools like Boundary Beach Elementary were forced to close due to declining enrollment

Dear Editor,

Now that the by-election is over for Delta Municipal Council, I would like to shift our attention to the Delta School District.

Many school districts in the province, including Delta, are experiencing declining enrollment which is putting the squeeze on funding. Below are ten strategies to cope with declining enrollment without shutting down schools.

1. Cooperate with Surrey School District to fill empty seats in Delta.

2. Attract more international students with specialized English language and quality home stay programs.

3. Use school facilities for continuing education and advanced placement classes.

4. Rent out school facilities for community events and conferences.

5. Work with Kwantlen Polytechnic University and SFU Surrey to offer career planning and university preparation courses in Delta high schools.

6. Make use of school facilities during the evening hours for community support groups and life skills classes.

7. Make use of school playgrounds for community recreation, sporting teams, and special events.

8. Create incentives for students to complete Grade 12 by offering post-secondary credit for high school and trades courses. The high school students will essentially get part of their first year post-secondary education for free. This will facilitate admission to various post-secondary institutions.

9. Extend holidays for elementary school students instead of closing schools to balance the budget which is a short sighted approach to a change in demographics.

10. Turn some schools into unique learning centres such as fine arts and trades centres.


My goal is to increase the positive outcomes for the students of Delta and keep schools in the community. One way to do this is to involve more students in the decision making process and reach out to parents, teachers, and staff for new ideas and practical solutions to the issues facing the district.

Sincerely,


Alex Sangha, BSW, MSc
Registered Social Worker
Delta, BC

Vegetarianism

At Brazil's O Cristo Redentor statue refreshment stand pop and chips have been replaced with fresh papayas

By Alex Sangha - Vegetarianism may be the moral and ethical way to go.

Imagine feeding South Asia's billion strong population if it was as obsessed with meat eating as North Americans.

The mass slaughter of cows, pigs, goats, and other animals to feed the West's insatiable appetite is destroying our environment.

A huge amount of grain and plant based food is produced simply to feed livestock animals. The animals are fed hormones to fatten them up. The end result is a product that may be of questionable value for human consumption.

Even the Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, stated that society will need more doctors if it allows meat eating. That was over 2400 years ago.

Today, we suffer from heart disease, cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Our children may be the first generation that does not live longer than their parents in the history of humankind!

Imagine a vegetarian diet made up of fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and with or without dairy or eggs.

Don’t you think such a diet would be much less stressful on the digestive system and healthier overall?

It is important to get enough protein, iron, vitamins such as B12, and minerals when you’re on a vegetarian diet. You should always consult with a physician and get a medical clearance before embarking on a vegetarian diet.

The South Asian diet has evolved over centuries to produce delicious vegetarian food. You do not miss the meat when you’re eating curry. The spices of the Indian subcontinent add a lot of flavour and taste to any dish.

In Ancient India, some people practiced vegetarianism because they believed in non-violence towards animals. Little did they know that their beliefs would be better for the environment with less land degradation and air and water pollution and more biodiversity as compared to a meat eating society?

Some people argue that you need to eat meat in order to pack on muscle and be competitive in sports or become a professional athlete. Well, I‘ve got news for you!

Brendan Brazier is a professional Ironman triathlete who is on a 100% plant based diet. Brendan has finished first in numerous races. In 2006, he set a course record in the Canadian 50 km Ultra Marathon Championship. Brendan is proving everyone wrong!

We live in an era today, where food information and knowledge is widespread. It is possible to create balanced meals based on a plant-based diet.

This does not happen overnight. Change is all about taking baby steps. I have made small changes to my eating habits and lifestyle.

I have cut out all meat except burgers. One day I will exclusively eat vegetarian burgers to fill my burger craving! I have cut out all juice and pop and sweetened drinks in order to control my blood sugars. I also walk an hour a day six days a week.

It is never too late to take control of your health. Everyone should jumpstart their health today! Talk to a dietitian, personal trainer, and physician and put a health and wellness plan in action.

Alex Sangha, BSW (UBC), MSc (London School of Economics)
Registered Social Worker
Author - The Enlightened Society Blog

Doctor Shortages

By Alex Sangha - Perhaps there is a conspiracy to limit the number of doctors. A shortage of doctors allows physicians and specialists to demand higher fees and makes them a more valuable commodity in our health care system.

Can the citizens really count on the College of Physicians and Surgeons to come up with ideas to solve the doctor shortage? The people need some concrete policies and a plan of action but this is slow in coming.

This column will propose five simple solutions to address the critical shortage of doctors in British Columbia.

First, priority medical school admission can be granted to applicants who agree to work a specific period of time in rural and under-serviced regions. The medical students can receive 100% student loan forgiveness if they complete this employment requirement after graduation. Once a doctor is established and has built roots in a community it is more likely that they will be committed to their patients and not leave these under-serviced regions.

Second, the government can allow for a market adjustment of doctors fees in rural areas. This will create a financial incentive for doctors to establish their practices in rural areas. All doctors can receive a professional salary or fee schedule for their work. In addition, doctors who work in rural or isolated areas can receive a bonus based on the supply and demand of doctors in their region.

Third, the provincial government can offer significantly more residency spots for foreign trained doctors. These doctors can take a short course that provides an orientation to the British Columbia health care system. In addition, doctors from non-English speaking countries can be required to pass an English language exam that focuses on necessary medical terminology.

Fourth, the government can increase the scope of practice of Nurse Practitioners. These nurses can perform most of the duties of a general practitioner but at lower cost. This will help alleviate the pressure on the health care system and allow hospitals and clinics to save a lot of money in salaries.

Last, the government can build a new medical school and increase the total number of medical school spaces. The key is to keep the doctors in British Columbia after they graduate. It might be a good idea to give BC residents a priority in medical school admission since they may have an intrinsic attachment to their home province. The government can also improve the working conditions, hours, and benefits of doctors. It may be best for this to be a long term goal when there is a sufficient supply of physicians and specialists.

The above solutions are simple ideas that can be put into practice. All that is needed is the will of our political leaders.

In regards to reducing wait lists and crowding at hospital emergency rooms and doctors offices; the government can set up an “online screening” system. Patients can initially talk to a nurse, doctor, or specialist on the internet via Skype, for example, to screen patients with superficial or serious medical issues.

Medical professionals can be paid for this instant online consultation. The internet and other forms of modern technology can be used to help improve the health care experience for British Columbians.

Alex Sangha, BSW (UBC), MSc (London School of Economics)
Registered Social Worker
Author - The Enlightened Society Blog

Winner Declared - Delta Free Press Candidate Challenge

Since announcing the candidate challenge, two question gets asked all the time. "Why are you doing this challenge?", and "Isn't endorsing a single candidate biased?"

The answer to the first question is easy. By-elections rarely inspire people to get out and vote. When you add to that, the general malaise of having an election cycle which spans the summer months, you get even less participation. The Delta Free Press Candidate Challenge was our attempt to inject some excitement into this less than exciting by-election and get the public more involved with the candidates.

As an inducement for candidate participation the winner will receive the following:

1. Editorial endorsement by the Delta Free Press
2. Free advertising on the Delta Free Press (for the duration of the election cycle and pursuant to election advertising rules.)
3. Prime lawn sign location on private land (which, as it turns out is in very short supply with the way signs are being knocked down on public land)
4. A campaign donation of $200
5. And (most importantly) my vote.

The second question regarding bias is even easier to answer, "Yes, it is absolutely biased." That's really the point of an editorial endorsement and I make no bones about it. I have chosen one candidate above all the others for reasons that affect me and the people I care for. I looked for personality, integrity, and trustworthiness as key factors and then I carefully analyzed each candidate. Who in the community was supporting them? What was there platform? Where did they publicly stand on the issues? I took all my research and distilled it down to what really mattered. Then I chose the absolute best person to represent Delta until the next general municipal election.

Initially the challenge was issued in the form of a questionnaire. What came as a shock was the resistance by the candidates as a whole to actually fill in a very generic online form. I took into account that many of the candidates may not be tech savvy and gave them low tech options as well, but to no avail. I'm not going to try and augur the reasons why some candidates chose to ignore the questionnaire. I can only guess that they either:

a) felt that the readers of Delta Free Press, which measures in the thousands since the by-election, wasn't their target audience, or
b) they didn't want their answers out in public fora to be picked apart and debated.

An act of cowardice? Maybe. But lets be honest with ourselves. Perhaps we expect too much of the people that would contend for the public's trust?

Fortunately, the field managed to cull itself, as it usually does. With only Kathleen E. Higgins and Sylvia Bishop choosing to answer the questions facing our community, this should have made my decision easier, but I will say without hesitation that both Higgins and Bishop are model candidates. I believe their ethics and integrity are above reproach and we would be so lucky to have four more candidates of their caliber in next year's election.

I don't want to go into too much detail about how I chose the winner as I intend to write an analysis of each candidate in future columns (consider yourselves warned). After weighing my choices, I have decided to endorse the candidate that I feel can bring the strongest voice to the council chamber, someone who will stand up for all of Delta's citizens, a shining beacon of righteousness to correct the faltering moral compass of our current mayor and council, a political warrior who wont sell the future of our children off to greenfield developers offering magic beans. It is for this reason that I am pleased to endorse...

Sylvia Bishop

Sustainable Immigration

Is There a Right Mix?

By Alex Sangha - An effective immigration policy can lead to a renaissance of ideas, initiative, and investment throughout Canada.

The five pillars of an effective immigration policy can include strategies to fill labour shortages; attract investor immigrants; reunite children and families; provide humanitarian relief for people escaping persecution; and help populate and develop socially and economically depressed areas.

My principle of “sustainable immigration” basically means that Canada should aim for the right mix of the above five pillars to maximize the net benefit to the country while taking into consideration the needs of the global immigrant community.

The recent boatload of Tamil refugees leaves Canada in a delicate situation. The Canadian government needs to apply its immigration policy equally and fairly for all refugees without damaging its international reputation as a caring and compassionate nation.

The tone coming from the Harper government is playing on racist elements in society and is not helping the situation.

Canada after all is a country largely built by immigrants. The early European settlers all arrived here by boat just like the Tamil refugees.

In order to reduce public opposition to the arrival of the Tamil refugees, the South Asian and Tamil community in Canada can sponsor the refugees.

The upwards of $50,000 that was paid by the Tamils on the ship and their families, most likely from abroad, should have been paid to the Canadian government to process legitimate immigration applications and help with the transition of the refugees into Canadian society.

The root source of the problem is that there is an inequity of resources and opportunity in the developing world. People want to leave to find a better life.

The solution is to help the developing countries improve the quality of life of their citizens. Canada can play a role in improving systems of democracy, justice, human rights, multiculturalism, and social infrastructure such as universal health care and public education.

The basic needs and fundamental rights of people all over the world have to be protected, enshrined, and guaranteed in international treaties and enforced by local laws.

The idea of the sovereign nation state with the power to make or break any laws it wants opens the door to absolute corruption. Countries need to abide by a set of internationally agreed upon rules and regulations if we want to see some peace on this planet and stability on the immigration front.

Canada and Australia are a couple of the relatively wealthy and developed countries that have a huge territory and small population. They can absorb many more immigrants.

We need visionary leaders to come up with new ideas.

Canada can develop new well-planned, eco-friendly, hi-tech cities.

These cities can have no cars except hybrid taxis, electric buses, and emergency vehicles; support a vibrant local organic food market; implement extensive reduce, reuse, and recycling programs; and be located in beautiful, natural scenic settings with ample parkland, forest, mountains, beachfront, lakes, and harbour areas.

Vancouver is close to this ideal and it is not surprisingly one of the most livable and beautiful cities in the world. It is better to plan beautiful sustainable cities and let the people come settle instead of responding with piecemeal measures to control an expanding city with no overall or coherent design.

In other words, lets prepare for an influx of immigrants and population growth in Canada before social, economic, and political conditions in the world deteriorate and more and more people want to immigrate to Canada.

Where there is a will, there is a way. The immigrants will find one way or another to escape to better off lands whether legally or illegally!

The right mix of immigrants in Canada can lead to a larger domestic market and increased independence from the United States.

The added diversity to the population also helps Canada build social, cultural, economic, and political ties with the immigrants’ mother countries.

Immigration, helps, Canada be more globally competitive and be representative of the people of the Earth.

Alex Sangha is a Delta Resident and Registered Social Worker in BC. He is the Founder and President of Greenersteps.com For column ideas contact alex.sangha@deltafreepress.com

Location Location Location

Metro to Build New Beach Concession

Artist Depictions of Proposed Facility

By Debbie McBride - There's been quite a lot in the news about "improvements" being done to Metro parks all over the Lower Mainland lately. From huge industrial looking sculptures in Deep Cove to our very own neck of the woods, Boundary Bay Regional Park.

Deep Cove's residents are fuming at the location and expense of placing a massive sculpture in front of what had been a natural view of trees, mountains and ocean. They question the need to place this piece, which has been described by some as a huge lighted muffler by the more polite, in a spot that mars the view of an exceptionally beautiful part of the world.

Of course, art's beauty is usually in the eye of the beholder, especially where modern art is concerned. However, where it is placed and who puts it there can create an altogether different story. And let's not forget the cost to the poor taxpayer who probably never was asked about it in the first place. That should be, especially today, a most important consideration.

Don't get me wrong, I love art in public places, especially if the artwork has been donated by a private benefactor and of course there has been a conversation with those who must see it every day.

We're facing much the same problem here at Boundary Bay Regional Park and most taxpaying members of the public don't even know about it. No, it's not a piece of artwork, it's a lot bigger and a whole lot more expensive.

Yes, the staff at Metro Parks have decided that Tsawwassen's Centennial Beach needs the benefit of it's largess and will be pouring a whack of your tax dollars into a project that isn't needed or even wanted.

I'm talking about the new washroom and so called concession stand that is slated to be built at the park to replace the old one. Don't get me wrong, the existing building is old and in need of upgrading or replacing but why we need to change it's location and turn it into a Taj Mahal of buildings is beyond me.

Here's what's proposed. Metro Vancouver wants to put in a change facility/washroom building at a different location north of the expanded playground. It will also build what Metro has admitted is more of a large cafe than a concession stand. And despite after 2 years of trying to get a private partner to operate a restaurant there, Metro still plans to build with the idea of putting one in there. Quite clearly, private industry has a far better handle on the economics of such a venture and declined, so why go ahead with the increased expense of doing so?

It's location is also in an area that is prone to flooding and will require fill to be brought in. There was a wonderful picture in the Delta Optimist the other day that showed the exact proposed area in the winter and it was covered in water. How does bringing in fill make any possible ecological sense when Boundary Bay Regional Park is supposed to be a natural and protected park and was part of the mitigation used for the displacement of wildlife by Vancouver Airport expansion? It doesn't.

I get that we need a new facility but why are we throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The current location is convenient for those who use Centennial Beach as a place to go for a day enjoying the picnic grounds, the beach and the water. The concession stand is close by and in a great location if you feel like a nosh, which is what it is very successful at providing. The current operator has great food and provides well for the market that's always been there and will continue to be.

The new location will require people to walk past a sensitive, protected area to get to the new facilities from the most used part of the park and it's highly unlikely a youngster who's gotta go is going to pay much attention to the pathways that have been established to protect the fragile areas of Boundary Bay.

There's an old saying that Metro really needs to take into consideration in all this. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

The current location for change and washrooms has served people extremely well and would continue to do so. It is clear that the need for a cafe/restaurant is just not there. Otherwise private industry would have been all over it. They weren't. What's next? A paved dyke so the ladies can enjoy their walks in heels?

Tsawwassen has a lot of privately owned, wonderful cafes already and they provide for takeout if it's needed. I see folks everyday, rain or shine, down at the beach, walking the dyke, drink in hand as they take in the beauty of the natural surroundings provided by the Big Guy(okay, person)upstairs for us.

If Metro really thinks it's important for people to have a place to sit down and enjoy that beauty, more benches would suffice and be much cheaper. From what I've seen, folks will even provide their own umbrellas,at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Youth Appeals to Ramsar to Protect Burns Bog

Recently an application by Metro Vancouver to have Ramsar status endowed upon Burns Bog was quashed by Delta Mayor and Metro Chair Lois Jackson. Citing she wanted to add additional land to the application she instructed Metro staff to not forward any applications to Ramsar. The following is a letter sent from an 11 year old Delta resident who is upset about this decision:


Dear Ramsar Secretariat,


My name is Eric Velestuk, I am only 11 years old and I live in Delta British-Columbia Canada.

Thank you for offering us the Ramsar International Designation for Burns Bog.

I think it’s sad that you were turned down.

The Mayor of Delta, Lois Jackson, said that she will include another parcel of land to the Burns Bog before she accepts the Ramsar Designation.

She’s been saying that for SIX YEARS!

I believe that she WILL NOT add this land to the Burns Bog, that SHE WILL NOT take the steps necessary to protect Burns Bog from development, and the Ramsar International Designation will never be accepted UNLESS SHE IS FORCED TO DO SO.

SHE WILL DEVELOP IT INSTEAD.

PLEASE DO SOME THING BECAUSE IT IS NOT HER FUTURE IT IS MINE AND MY GENERATION`S FUTURE.

Here is the email address for a lady that runs the Burns Bog Society: eliza@burnsbog.org and I am sure she can answer any questions you have about this.


Sincerely,

Eric Velestuk

Public Not Welcome at Development Workshops

By Debbie McBride - I’ve noticed lately that Delta Council’s Monday night meetings are getting not just shorter but also lacking discussion at the table. Bylaws and policies are no longer being discussed at length as they were in the past. Yes, those discussions could be boring but they afforded the electorate an insight into what their representatives are thinking and how they were reaching their decisions. That is no longer happening.

The aha moment for me was during the public hearing called to deal with changes made to the original Tsawwassen golf course redevelopment. At a previous council meeting that dealt with 1st and 2nd reading of the proposed changes, a comment from Councilor King was made about how nice it would be to have a public outdoor ice skating rink that would be available during the winter.

Since there was no previous mention of a skating rink in the information given to the public about this, I was not alone in my confusion as to what she was talking about. It seems the comment came as a result of a previous discussion that had been held between the proponents, Delta council and staff at a work session. A work session which, Ron Toigo told us quite rightly, members of the public could have attended. However, it’s difficult for the public to attend work sessions they don’t know are taking place.

So just what is a “work session” you may ask. These are meetings that take place between various parties, especially developers, Delta staff and Delta council. They usually take place in the afternoon before regular council meetings but can be held at anytime. Discussion is held between the parties about a proposed development or bylaw. They are open to the public and are not an abnormal part of municipal business and are used by councils everywhere.

Minutes or notes are not taken at the meetings because it’s not a formal session that deals with motions, etc. It’s here that I feel Delta is abusing the system in a manner that is precluding the general public from the proper process that will allow them to know the details of these projects. Details are being kept from the public simply because not everyone can attend these afternoon work sessions and if they could the public would be hard pressed to find out just exactly when, where and subject matter of these sessions. Could this be just want Delta mayor and council want?

What’s really disturbing about the way Delta is using these work sessions is the fact that while developments – both large and small – are being discussed in great detail at these work sessions, public notification is poor and no minutes are taken. That leaves the public without a valid record to review what is being discussed unless they were actually in attendance.
It seems these afternoon work sessions have become defacto council meetings without the benefit of true public scrutiny or record. And they are happening more and more frequently.

On July 26, council held a work session with Earth King Industries. On Delta’s website there is only a memo from planner Tom Leatham saying the work session had been requested by Earth King and it was taking place to discuss what kind of development was allowable on the agricultural land owned by Earth King at 64 Ave, bordering Burns Bog. This, despite Delta declaring a moratorium on any development applications for land identified as being in the green zone in the Metro Livable Region plan. Delta had only recently returned a development application to Earth King for this same piece of property along with Century Industries’ Southlands application. So what gives? Could the fact that Earth King was a very major contributor to Mayor Jackson’s, Councilors McDonald, Hamilton, Campbell’s last campaign give cause for special consideration? I’m just asking the question. You decide.

No minutes or notes were taken, so there is no record of what was actually discussed. However, I was told by a Delta staffer that the meeting had been held at the request of Earth King and despite council’s “policy” of not accepting development applications on agricultural land until the Metro plan is finished, a development proposal was indeed discussed and discussion will continue in another work session on August 30.

Since so much information is being received at these daytime meetings and so much weight seems to be given to what’s discussed there needs to be a way the public can be observers and judge for themselves what is being discussed. At the very least, the public needs to be aware such meetings are taking place. As it stands now, in order to find out about work sessions, one needs to go personally down to Municipal Hall and check at the desk. Why on earth these meetings, which are usually scheduled 2 to 3 weeks in advance, are not placed on a prominent and easily accessible place on Delta’s website defies explanation.

Why can’t Delta set up a camera in those meetings and record them for broadcast on the web? Indeed, why shouldn’t all of Delta’s public meetings be recorded and broadcast on their website? It doesn’t need more than a static camera and a microphone in all the meeting rooms to make an acceptable audio/visual feed that would allow the public to observe what is going on. Excuses about the cost of setting up such a system are absurd and simply an attempt to deflect the subject at hand. That subject being, the public’s right to see what their elected officials are doing for the public.

Yes, these work sessions have a place in the business of running the municipality and yes, they’ve been happening for years. Here’s the difference between now and the past.

Delta council had effective councilors like Krista Engelland, Vicki Huntington and even at times the late George Hawksworth, who would bring the issues and minutia for discussion at the council table. Heck, even those I didn’t agree with caused discussion around the table that the public could hear and see. That’s how it should be.

Today’s council table consists of 2 very timid newbies who seem to be afraid to question anything and acquiesce all too easily the “elders” on council. It has become obvious that all we have representing us are a bunch of yes men and women who either are in over their heads and don’t understand what’s going on or have a set agenda that doesn’t involve public input.

Indeed, this was shown only too well when Councilor King decided not to vote on the changes to the Toigo project because she felt there would be a conflict of interest in her vote. How was this ethical move met by Delta Mayor and other councilors? A visit to the Delta lawyers, an admonishment and a slap on the hand instead of the back. That’s what happens with this Delta council when one of its members doesn’t march in lock step with their agenda.

The Tsawwassen Area Plan fiasco and the insistence on pushing garbage incinerators over public objections are only two items. Ladner residents are being ignored when their concerns with density and services are raised, Burns Bog is used as a bargaining chip and residents are of North Delta are left to blow in the wind when the Provincial government decides to destroy a neighbourhood so their buddy Gordon Campbell can push his precious highway through an historic neighbourhood. Let’s not forget who jumped on the Gordon Campbell bandwagon during the last provincial election.

We have a chance in the upcoming by-election to least open the door and elect someone who is on the resident’s side. Yes, we need to elect a new councilor who is willing to push back and not be afraid to question the powers that be at Delta Hall. Someone who won’t find it inconvenient to do the people’s business in front of the public. Frankly, that someone is Sylvia Bishop, the only one who is not beholden to big developers or afraid of standing up and taking a contrary view and won’t be bullied by those who would keep the goings on at City Hall way from the public’s eyes and ears.

After all, the public’s business should be exactly that. Public. Too bad our current mayor and councilors have forgotten that.

Kwantlen University Sells Reputation

By Debbie McBride: More unsavoury details are coming to light regarding the Kwantlen Polythechnical University and Century Holdings “partnership” on the Southlands and those details, obtained under a Freedom of Information request in March 2009, while relevant and important to Delta, are having grave repercussions on an international level. The Province’s Brian Lewis called it our ongoing soap opera.

The Memorandum of Understanding that Kwantlen worked out with Century is not business as usual for Universities. Academia takes great pains to prevent this type of “partnership” occuring because it can taint their research. Yes, companies sponsor research but those partnerships are made public so those considering the studies can decide for themselves the validity of the information. Only after Kwantlen and Century knew the information had inadvertently been released did it appear in an obscure part of the Southlands website. Nor did Kwantlen or its’ researchers ever reveal their financial arrangement as it made presentations to the public. This is much more than a common partnership, it is a paid for lobbying effort.

This has caused outrage among academic institutions worldwide and so it should. Backroom “arrangements” agreed to behind closed doors don’t usually hold up well in the light of scrutiny. Academic research projects and reports need to be free from even the perception of collusion and collaboration because they are supposed to be done without undue influence from those who could profit from what their findings say. The Kwantlen/Century arrangement does not meet these standards and is being widely condemned for this breach.

In November 2006, amid a cloud of controversy, Kwantlen president David Atkinson resigned as Carleton University president after serving only 15 months of a 6 year contract. In January 2007, new Carleton president Samy Mahmoud stated that Mr. Atkinson “did not have much in the way of research background” and that “there’s a learning curve (for) how to administer a university with a comprehensive research program”. This lack of knowledge seems to have been a boon for Century but a disaster for Kwantlen in its’ quest to be taken seriously as an independent academic source of information.

In an interview with Kwantlen’s Jason Dyer, executive director for research on Friday, he admitted that the research and report on the Urban Agriculture study was not yet completed and it was “unusual” for a study to be presented and discussed before its’ completion. He also revealed since Century paid for the report, it is under no obligation to reveal its’ findings. He also stated the land and building being “donated in trust” to Kwantlen will belong to Century Holdings, so the developer will still control 2/3’s of the land to do with what he will.
After three generations of residents have continuously fought to preserve this land it must be worth preserving. It’s developers who use tainted surveys and questionable tactics and reports from “experts and academics” to push their belief it is their God given right to buy land, no matter it’s location and designation and build on it, that has turned this into a soap opera.

What Would Elvis Do? Businesses Treated Unfairly

I recently asked readers to send in their questions so I could answer them without any bias or double speak. Just clear answers to whatever is on your mind. That way when your having troubles forming an opinion you can always ask, "What Would Elvis Do?"


This question comes from a business owner upset about the fact that businesses aren't being treated fairly when it comes to the survey on the Southlands development

----- begin email

I run a retail store in Tsawwassen and I take great offense to the way the Delta Free Press has covered the development proposal for the Southlands. Your reporting is always very one sided and it is fairly obvious you have a hidden agenda. In an article about the recent survey you go so far as to make the statement, "In contrast, businesses were less concerned with the survey as only 106 of the 360 surveys sent out to businesses were returned."

Let me be very clear on this point. Businesses are concerned about the Southlands development and the results that came back from the businesses (62% in favour of 'some' development) tell this story. I know if you had your way our opinion wouldn't count for anything. As business owners we provide our neigbours with goods and services locally so they don't have to drive all the way to Richmond to shop. As business owners, we rely on our neighbours to shop at our stores to keep us in business. I have seen a decline in business as the population continues to drop. This development will revitalize our town. If we don't allow more people in Tsawwassen you will see even more schools shut down and more businesses will be forced to close down.

How can you be so unreasonable when it comes to developing the Southlands? It's you and your kind that are standing in the way of a compromise that could bring peace to this parcel of land and provide the much needed population growth to stop us from becoming a ghost town. Do you want everyone to have to drive to Richmond to do all their shopping? That would make Costco happy wouldn't it?

------ end email

Dear "business owner",

Let me begin by apologizing regarding the comment about businesses being less concerned. I know that as a business owner you must be very concerned. You have taken a lot of risk setting up business in a small town and you rely on the community to support your livelihood. You are a valuable part of Tsawwassen and your opinion does matter.

I can understand your frustrations but I disagree that this development will bring in enough economic benefits to offset the irreparable damage it will do to the environment, ecology, and culture. I believe it is for these reasons that the community has opposed this development time and time again. There is an economic benefit of having a larger customer base and it's hard to deny that more people equals more business which equals more money. The problem with this equation is that at some point the population growth reaches a point where it attracts the 'Big Box' stores and when they move in it puts such a strain on local businesses that they are unable to compete. I think preserving our rural culture and controlling growth is far more beneficial to the small shops that line 56th Street.

I don't think that putting in a couple thousand houses on the Southlands is the answer for business. Tsawwassen is a very unique community and has the potential to become a destination for specialty shopping. I believe the number I heard was 2 million people use the ferries each year. If we could attract more of them into our town center that would be a larger benefit than any mass housing development. Besides, who would want to shop on a street that is overwhelmed with dump truck after dump truck bringing in fill to the Southlands.

If I were running a business in Tsawwassen I would stand up vocally against the Southlands development. Retail is reliant upon on the loyalty of 'your neighbours' and 'your neighbours' have voted overwhelmingly against this development over and over again. Why would I want to defy my customers and give them a reason to boycott my shop. It's just bad business. As a matter of fact, I think that opposing something as unpopular as this development could only be good for business.

As for being concerned? I think the biggest concern I would have if I were running a retail store in Tsawwassen is the proposed shopping center to be located on the Tsawwassen First Nations land. Rumour has it that WalMart and the Home Depot have already signed agreements to open stores on the TFN land. That is less than a five minute drive away from the Tsawwassen town center. I would be doing whatever I could to stop it completely or mitigate the terrible effects it will have on business.

In a nutshell, I would stand behind my community in opposition to the Southlands and I would rally as much support as I could to encourage the TFN to not allow 'Big Box' stores.

And that is "What Elvis Would Do!"

* The identity of the letter writer has been withheld to prevent any unnecessary conflict that may result between the business owner and the community. I do support local shops and want to see them thrive. I have heard that some business owners who came forward to speak at the TAP meetings in support of development have been boycotted by people in the community. If the shop owner wishes to be identified I will do so upon their request.

City Hall Requires Muzzle on Delta Optimist Pit Bull

Editorial Preface by Elvis Glazier

It's never a good sign when politicians and bureaucrats flex their muscles against reporters and I for one think the recent pressure put on Ted Murphy, editor of the Delta Optimist, by Mayor Lois Jackson and Delta City Council is beyond reproach. I can only imagine the tactics they used to make the Optimist print a retraction and apology.

Recently, in a community column written by Debbie McBride and published by the Delta Optimist, Lois Jackson and Coun. Scott Hamilton were called out for their conduct and behavior when dealing with Metro Vancouver and some Fraser Valley communities on the issue of building garbage incinerators that would pollute the Fraser Valley's air. The column then went on to report the recent blocking of of Ramsar status for Burns Bog by Jackson and the City of Delta. It would seem these comments (facts?) struck a nerve with the long time Delta Mayor and council and they demanded a retraction and apology, citing their motivations for stopping the Ramsar designation in its tracks.

Regardless of motives, let's be very clear on the main point of Debbie McBride's article:

Mayor Lois Jackson, Councilor Scott Hamilton, the City of Delta, and the rest of City Council have prevented Metro Vancouver from getting Ramsar status for Burns Bog.

Now for the matter of their motives and the apology strong armed out of the Delta Optimist there is a saying, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

I have received many letters and emails regarding the stalling of Ramsar status, McBride's article, the retraction, and questionable (read: profitable) land use re-designations (ie. environmentally sensitive land being rezoned light industrial). The letter I have chosen to publish was not addressed to the Delta Free Press. It was in fact sent to Ted Murphy of the Delta Optimist. It is doubtful that it will ever be published in print so I have decided to include it here.

Now for the letter

Delta Optimist: Letter to the Editor

Dear Sir,

June 26 edition: I was surprised that the Delta Optimist apologized to Delta Mayor and Council because the Council objected to remarks in a Community Comment column. Apparently, Delta Council objected to the contention that the municipality is standing in the way of a Ramsar designation for Burns Bog. Delta Council wants to make clear that it supports a Ramsar application but first wants to add additional properties to the covenant on Burns Bog. Delta’s position is noble. However, for several years there has been intent, but no action, to add properties to the Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area. In 2004, Councilor Guy Gentner put forward a motion to view all land areas in Burns Bog as candidates for protection. The Management Plan of 2007 included plans for the addition of 2 properties and documented the benefit of seeking a Ramsar designation.

It is very unfortunate that stalling on adding publicly-owned lands to the Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy has resulted in plans to build the South Fraser Perimeter Road through unprotected Burns Bog properties. The new freeway is planned within the unprotected hydrological boundary of Burns Bog. Government scientists have warned that the freeway “poses risks to key ecological functions required for the long term viability of Burns Bog.”

The Ramsar Convention Secretariat has published a Handbook on Designating Ramsar Sites. Page 20 advises that particular attention is needed to protect sites from potentially damaging activities, especially those likely to cause hydrological disturbance. Applicants are advised to maintain hydrological functions needed to conserve the international importance and integrity of the site.

So have our various levels of government been stonewalling attempts to move forward with the job of protecting the ecological viability of Burns Bog? You bet they have and we all know why.

Sincerely,


Susan Jones

Sources of Information

Handbook on Designating Ramsar Sites
http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/lib/lib_handbooks2006_e14.pdf

Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area Management Plan
http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/publications/Publications/BurnsBogManagementPlan.pdf

Environment Canada quote from Technical Comments to the South Fraser Perimeter Road Environmental Assessment, November 19, 2007, Page 29 of 93

What Would Elvis Do? Question 1

I recently asked readers to send in their questions so I could answer them without any bias or double speak. Just clear answers to whatever is on your mind. That way when your having troubles forming an opinion you can always ask, "What Would Elvis Do?"



The first questions I received was actually a two-parter. So for my inaugural question I'm doing double duty.

----- begin email

Elvis,

I have received my Ipsos Reid survey regarding the Tsawwassen Area Plan in the mail and I know that I am going to choose 'Option A' because I don't wish to see any destruction of farmland. That was an easy choice to make with the way developers run roughshod over this city's council. When I Imagine Southlands I think of it in much the same way as it is now, with perhaps a little more farming. My question doesn't concern this portion of the survey. In fact, my question isn't a question at all as I have two questions.

My first question is:

Should we allow large residential lots to be subdivided?

and my second question is:

What do you think building heights should be in the town core?

Jennifer
From the Village

--- end email


Jennifer,

These are great questions. Probably better than the Southlands dilemna because it's not so black and white.

Should we allow large residential lots to be subdivided?

In a word, yes. Tsawwassen is surrounded by water, agricultural land, and an international border. If we discount development on agricultural land (something I would do if I were the master of the universe) we need to make room for the controlled growth that Tsawwassen will require over the next 25 years. Retrofitting current neighbourhoods is a great way of bringing in new blood to the community without the devastating effects of mass development. The different developeprs would also bring in different styles of homes which adds to the flavour of the community.

What do you think building heights should be in the town core?

This question is tougher in that it doesn't deal with the development on questionable lands. Limits on building heights, particularly high-rises, effects the aesthetics of the town center. I personally wouldn't like to see a high-rise in the town center but I can understand the desire to have one. Higher densities would be achieved in a very small footprint. Residents would have great pedestrian access to local amenities and the view from higher suites would be second to none. My objection is that a high-rise changes Tsawwassen into an urban center and I would like to preserve the rural aesthetic. On my survey I have chosen to keep the height limits as is but it would be hard for me to oppose changing the limits if it meant preserving the Southlands and the rest of the agricultural land in Delta.

And that is "What Elvis Would Do!"

Tsawwassen Area Plan Survey Shouldn't Mention Southlands

Editor:

Every Tsawwassen resident received a survey in the mail last week and people are now trying to figure out what it all means. As some of you know, I am active in the community and cherish what we have here. Here is my two cents worth:

Despite Councilor Bruce McDonald publicly assuring everyone that there would be no survey - as there is no development proposal, despite not being able to mention the Southlands (development) elephant in the room for much of the TAP committee meetings and despite not having a good structured debate on the development, this week we all received a survey to ask our opinion of the development proposal that does not actually exist. What a joke!

Personally, I do not call 'limited development' developing 50% of the land. This is yet another example of trying to skew a survey by the usual pro-development suspects (literally). What happened to asking us if 10% is OK? The question this survey is really asking is:

"Do you want the Century Group to pave the Southlands and build 1,900 homes on the land?"

Our council should not even be asking us this question without a concrete development proposal that has been properly discussed. This survey, if returned in the affirmative could be used as justification to change the OCP, and in subsequent submissions to Metro Vancouver to re-designate the land from 'Green Zone'. Be very careful what power you entrust with this group of councilors.

Why the rush? It is my opinion that they are trying to 'Beat the Buzzer' and get a change to the Official Community Plan prior to adoption of the Metro Vision 2040 plan. For those of you unaware, once Metro adopts its’ new policies the land will be very difficult to re-zone. Interestingly, despite certain public protest otherwise, Council and the planning department were briefed by Metro on their plans - prior to the start of the TAP process.

This travesty has cost Delta enough; it is time for the small town Councilors McDonald and King to put their pet project aside. Please vote for NO DEVELOPMENT.



Bruce Velestuk,
Tsawwassen resident

NOT a contributor to any municipal election campaign.
NOT a usual suspect.
PRO - planned growth and densification
PRO - maintaining a livable community
PRO - not messing up the best community in the Lower Mainland.

What are the real reasons behind the hold by Metro Vancouver for Ramsar status?

Editor:

This week Sandor Gyarmati wrote an article in the Delta Optimist. The headline read "Burns Bog proposal put on hold by Metro board".
Burns Bog proposal put on hold by Metro board

As I am getting to know more about the history of Burns Bog, and have been an attendee to some events and dialogue with the Corporation of Delta and Metro Vancouver, I would like to know the real reasons behind Mayor Jackson’s decision regarding Ramsar Wetland of International Significance status.

Could it be that she does not want international attention brought to her regarding the poor management by both Corporation of Delta and Metro Vancouver of Burns Bog (or all four levels of government for that matter)? Why has the conservation covenant not been used to stop the South Fraser Perimeter Road from winding its way along the lagg of the bog?

Mayor Lois Jackson, who chairs the board, says that Metro Vancouver's park people are not following the conservation covenant and seems to do what they want without concurring with all parties. Is she not talking about herself? I have a hard time not assuming that if she sits on Metro Vancouver's board as chair and is mayor of Delta, would she not be concurring?

I guess I just have to sit back over a glass of Arrogant Frog wine, help fund Burns Bog Conservation Society as I sip (proceeds of Arrogant Frog sales in June go to the society's education programs) and contemplate what Mayor Jackson wants. If it is a legacy Mayor Jackson would like to leave, she is not going to accomplish it this way.

Sonia Nazar
Administrative Coordinator
Burns Bog Conservation Society

Delta Councillor says Public Opinion Poll Not Necessary

By Dana Maslovat - Friday April 16, 2010 - As a follow up to the open letter to Delta Mayor and CAO requesting a public opinion poll, Councilor Bruce McDonald has stated that a public opinion poll is unnecessary because of the lack of a specific proposal from Century Group and the time frame associated with the Metro Regional Growth Strategy (RGS).

He reaffirmed this statement again at Thursday night's Tsawwassen Area Planning Committee, in answer to committee member's questions about the possibility of a referendum question being placed on the ballot during the upcoming by-election to fill the seat left vacant by the late George Hawksworth.

As far a specific proposal is concerned, the referendum question would involve the designation of land, not any specific development plan. Clearly whatever policies Delta recommends to the Metro Regional Growth Strategy will determine the ease with which any development plan can be accepted. As far as time lines, a fair and transparent democratic process can take time, however rushing this decision is not in the best interests of the constituents Councilor McDonald represents.

AN OPEN LETTER TO DELTA CAO AND MAYOR

Dear Mr Harvie & Mayor Jackson:

I am writing to ask you to reconsider your position on not recommending a public opinion poll/referendum question regarding the Southlands at the upcoming municipal by-election. Tsawwassen is facing one of the most important issues in years and the gathering of public opinion is crucial in determining the future of this community. A simple yes/no question added to the ballot; “Do you support maintaining the agricultural designation of the Southlands?” would ensure all citizens have an opportunity to be heard. While I understand the results of such a question would not be binding to Council, it would provide invaluable information to gauge public sentiment on this issue.

Being a coordinator of a citizen-organized, grass-roots organization created to ensure the development of the new Tsawwassen Area Plan (TAP) is performed in a fair and transparent manner, I have personally received hundreds of communications supporting this request. I want to make you aware that a public opinion poll WILL be held on this issue – the only question is whether it is endorsed and run by Council, or is a citizen-based plebiscite.

Your choice is to either perform your civic duty by adding this question to the by-election, or allow the financial burden of a plebiscite to fall upon the constituents you represent. I implore you to make the correct decision so that history does not repeat itself with respect to the Southlands.

I have yet to hear a valid reason for your reluctance to ensure this initiative. While I realize timelines are always a concern, the decision facing the TAP Committee and Council will affect, either positively or negatively, all future generations to come. Certainly a few months of delay is worth assisting this difficult process and is a small price to pay for democracy.

The public WILL be heard; your decision is only whether you wish to listen.


Respectfully submitted,

Dana Maslovat