LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- August 29, 2006
To The Editor;
It's time to give credit where credit is due. Several months ago, I challenged the Town Council and the Regional District of
Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) to stand up for the Similkameen Valley and say 'no' to the proposed coal-fired power plant. Now, I would like to acknowledge those who have done their research and arrived at a logical conclusion. First off, Mayor Randy McLean, who just happens to be my father.
A couple weeks ago Mayor McLean wrote "I have spent the last eight months listening, reading, and researching what the implications would be for our community and our valley," concluding, "I find no fault with Compliance Coal as a company but a great deal with a provincial government that is even considering allowing outdated technology that is banned in Ontario and around North America. Burning pulverized coal produces a number of different contaminants including mercury which is of particular concern." Mayor McLean also made a passionate plea, asking "Is there anyone who would consider jeopardizing our health and the future of our children for any economic development? Can we afford to be wrong?"
Meanwhile, it seems the RDOS is poised to publicly condemn the coal-fired power plant and ask the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to lobby the provincial government to place a moratorium on coal-fired power.
Similkameen Valley EDO Michael McLaughlin seems to be whole-heartedly against it, and Keremeos Mayor Walter Despot has questioned the need, asking "Why are we getting into something where other jurisdictions are getting out?" In addition, two environmental organizations, Wildsight and The Pembina Institute have joined the battle, along with local activist leader Brad Hope, who has expressed concern over "the air pollutants and toxic mercury emissions from dirty coal." This group of thoughtful and committed individuals who have boldly expressed their dismay with this project deserve a lot of praise for showing leadership and vision on a very controversial issue.
Others have seen the cracks in Compliance's argument, and have started to ask how the development can be stopped. George Hanson, Similkameen Valley Planning Society Chair, recently asked Compliance Energy CEO John Tapics, "If the land isn't rezoned, will local government be respected and will the application die?" To which Mr. Tapics responded there are two obstacles to overcome, one is the Environmental Assessment Certification, and the other is rezoning. If these two obstacles cannot be overcome, Mr. Tapics admitted, the project can't proceed.
The Similkameen New Leader suggested if citizens wish to stop to the coal-fired power plant, to "Put the pressure on the Regional District to deny the rezoning application Compliance will eventually file. If the former Similco Mine site is not rezoned for the Compliance project, even after they pass the Environmental Assessment, the project is dead."
There is a fork in the road. On one hand, we have Compliance Energy waiting to invest capital and provide 35 new jobs. However, these economic benefits pale in comparison to the detrimental effects of mercury and other harsh emissions from coal-fired power generation. On the other hand, an exciting opportunity awaits us. Currently, the federal and provincial governments are looking at the possibility of establishing a new national park reserve in the South Okanagan Similkameen.
A national park could provide numerous economic benefits. Parks Canada has a start-up budget of $20 million for the proposed park as well as an annual operations and maintenance budget of $2.4 million. In BC, for every dollar spent by Parks Canada for existing national parks, there have been over $9 generated by visitors in direct and spin-off expenditures. Dr. John and Mary Theberge, wildlife ecologists in Oliver have written "The South Okanagan Similkameen is a special place with a distinctive beauty. The people live here value the mountainsides of grass, park-like ponderosa forests, and alpine tundra brushes. With such ecosystem variety, no wonder the South Okanagan Similkameen is a biodiversity hotspot."
In response to Mayor's McLean question, "Can We Afford To Be Wrong?" I say no, we can't. I would like to ask every local citizen who is concerned about the coal-fired power plant to write a letter, an email, or make a phone call to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, Town Council, and/or the provincial government to voice your opinion about the proposed coal-fired power plant.
In the words of American anthropologist Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Mike McLean
2005 Green Party of BC Candidate for Yale-Lillooet
To The Editor;
Re: Coal Gen Proposal
We live in a world where technological advancements have been a boom to our lifestyles greatly improving the health and welfare as such as our ordinary citizens have come to accept and appreciate! To use past inefficient technology as an opposition to now accepted limitations of contaminants allowed into the atmosphere by a modern proven 'coal-gen' proposal is just ludicrous.
This becomes a fear campaign by people whose only research is listening to people like Green Peace who continue to oppose every advancement companies are prepared to make in a progressive world. They oppose chopping down trees, yet live in wood houses, drive vehicles yet oppose the destruction of the atmosphere by carbon-monoxide poisoning gases.
I find it ironic ardent crusaders like Dr. Suzuki are content to fly around the world in super jets that he claims to be destroying the ozone layer.
Our Mayor in his condemnation of the 'coal-gen' proposal steadfastly condones the yearly spraying campaign of herbicides and pesticides along the roadsides and adjacent lands. These herbicides and pesticides that are not only trying to kill weeds totally destroy the life cycles of insects both good and bad, including birds and animals.
If the method is not highly toxic and dangerous why post skull and crossbones warnings on the container saying poisonous?
Surely as we united citizens have the power to put into place a contract that clearly states should the said company violate any part of the agreement it will immediately shut down with severe penalties.
Don't shoot the messenger, his message may be well with consideration.
P.S.: Past steam plants operated by Granby Mines and Princeton Breweries proved to be environmentally safe and did not endanger any person involved in this operation.
- Robert (Dinny) Mullin, Princeton
To The Editor;
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! When an old friend of the family writes a public message about me, I expect to be taken to task and be the recipient of some much needed and sound advice. I believe that was the intent of the letter from Mr. Mullin, and sure enough he didn't disappoint.
He pointed out that he did not consider the downside of the proposed cola plant to be anywhere near enough of a detriment to have me speak against it.
I have received mostly positive comments on my statement, yet I am aware that there are definitely two sides to this debate.
And that is what I consider this situation we are in to be, a debate, not a controversy, not a confrontation, not a reason to think any the less of anyone for the way they feel but a debate so that the residents of this valley can educate themselves enough to make an intelligent choice.
For nearly a year this community has received presentations and information from Compliance Coal expanding on the details of their proposal, they have a man who is available nearly every day as well as a storefront presence.
The point of my previous statement is that I have attended the presentations and had meetings with company executives, I have talked with Ministry of Environment staff, I have read endless articles on coal fired plants, talked to metallurgical engineers and discussed at great length with my fellow directors on the RDOS board. My conclusion was that this proposed technology presented more than enough dangers to my constituents to warrant a call for a more advanced process.
If you think this flies in the face of everything I represent, you're right, I am judged as a mayor by the industry we attract, as a private businessman I welcome industry, it guarantees my business more revenue, and for years I have been working with councils to build a business park that would attract industries.
THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR MY DECISION TO DEMAND A BETTER PROCESS IF IT ISN'T MY CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT.
There is no point in including in a letter about my decision a reference to the Greenpeace party or Dr. David Suzuki, or a supposed adversity to chopping down trees, I hunt, I fish, I drive skidoos and quads and my family made its living logging and although I admire some directions the greens are taking I am certainly not on their VIP list. This isn't about global warming or conservation or my supposed condoning of pesticide spraying (which incidentally this municipality hasn't done for 13 years). This is about our valley and the people who live here. This isn't about the past, it's about the future and the next 40 years.
We have an obligation to consider the welfare of the people who will be here for that time. I am sure you have educated yourself sufficiently with all the information that is available today and are satisfied that the risks are exaggerated and well worth the gain, I respect that and appreciate your involvement. Over the next few months all I ask is that you respect the views of those who have also spent time to educate themselves on this matter.
This is no trivial consideration, we will live with the consequences for a long time but we will work this out.
- Mayor Randy McLean
