This page contains annotated news stories and press releases with commentary about land reform and the democratic process in British Columbia. Our comments are shown in red.
Let the approving officer know that you want an opportunity to disscus WFP's subdivision applications face to face. Ask him for a public hearing.
Write to Bob Wylie provincial approving officer at Bob.Wylie@gov.bc.ca
Hearings a must on WFP plans
Sep 11, 2008Provincial government mismanagement created a development crisis in this region, undermining years of regional planning and threatening green space, waterfront and park buffer zones on land between Sooke and Port Renfrew.
It is inconceivable that, recognizing its failure to consider the public interest in allowing development on protected forest land, the government would now deny the need for public hearings on subdivision plans.
As it would be shocking if Ida Chong and Murray Coell, the two cabinet ministers from the capital region, remain silent on this betrayal of the public interest in the communities they represent.
More than 100 people at a Western Forest Products open house on its subdivision plans made the case for a proper public hearing, rather than information sessions. They are absolutely right.
This is a mess entirely of the province's making. It granted WFP's request to remove 70,000 acres of its land from tree farm licences. Those licences ensured higher environmental standards and logging practices and -- critically -- guaranteed the land would remain as forest.
The decision was made without public warning or consultation with the Capital Regional District or communities. It was also, according to a review by the province's auditor general, made "without sufficient regard for the public interest." Western Forest Products' shareholders were enriched by some $200 million as a result of the change; the public received nothing in return.
All regional planning had been based on the tree farm licence guarantees that the land, which includes the Jordan River waterfront now used by the public and forests around the Sooke Potholes and other parks, would remain forests.
The change shredded the regional plans. And the CRD's efforts to deal with the crisis by passing new zoning laws were hampered when Chong failed to approve the changes for six weeks. In that time, Western Forest Products launched development applications for more than 300 acreage homes under the old rules. A single manager in the Transportation Ministry will decide on the developments.
It is too late to undo much of the damage. But at the least, public hearings should be held on these development applications before the manager makes his decision. He should hear the concerns of the CRD, landowners and communities about the impact of the province. WFP should have the chance to explain its approach to developing and selling the new homes. The public's questions and concerns should be addressed formally and completely.
So far, the province has failed the people of this region every step of the way in this process, as the auditor general's report clearly showed.
It's time that the public interest in the future of our communities was recognized.
It is inconceivable that, recognizing its failure to consider the public interest in allowing development on protected forest land, the government would now deny the need for public hearings on subdivision plans.
As it would be shocking if Ida Chong and Murray Coell, the two cabinet ministers from the capital region, remain silent on this betrayal of the public interest in the communities they represent.
More than 100 people at a Western Forest Products open house on its subdivision plans made the case for a proper public hearing, rather than information sessions. They are absolutely right.
This is a mess entirely of the province's making. It granted WFP's request to remove 70,000 acres of its land from tree farm licences. Those licences ensured higher environmental standards and logging practices and -- critically -- guaranteed the land would remain as forest.
The decision was made without public warning or consultation with the Capital Regional District or communities. It was also, according to a review by the province's auditor general, made "without sufficient regard for the public interest." Western Forest Products' shareholders were enriched by some $200 million as a result of the change; the public received nothing in return.
All regional planning had been based on the tree farm licence guarantees that the land, which includes the Jordan River waterfront now used by the public and forests around the Sooke Potholes and other parks, would remain forests.
The change shredded the regional plans. And the CRD's efforts to deal with the crisis by passing new zoning laws were hampered when Chong failed to approve the changes for six weeks. In that time, Western Forest Products launched development applications for more than 300 acreage homes under the old rules. A single manager in the Transportation Ministry will decide on the developments.
It is too late to undo much of the damage. But at the least, public hearings should be held on these development applications before the manager makes his decision. He should hear the concerns of the CRD, landowners and communities about the impact of the province. WFP should have the chance to explain its approach to developing and selling the new homes. The public's questions and concerns should be addressed formally and completely.
So far, the province has failed the people of this region every step of the way in this process, as the auditor general's report clearly showed.
It's time that the public interest in the future of our communities was recognized.
