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.
The Open House was an opportunity to tell WFP that we oppose their subdivision applications, and that what we really need is a public hearing.
In terms of the 'compensation' that WFP gave the province when their lands were released from the TFL. A road that was all ready a de-facto public road, was officially made public. So, how does that play out? It means that now we, the taxpayers, have to pay to maintain an old logging road and WFP is calling that compensation to the public.
Raucous meeting leaves lands in limbo
Despite residents' anger, decision over ex-TFL lands around Jordan River remains with official
Sep 11, 2008Times Colonist
By Judith Lavoie
In the wake of an impromptu public meeting at Shirley Community Hall Tuesday evening, the future of waterfront land around Jordan River, Muir Creek, Shirley and Otter Point remains in the hands of the Highways Ministry approving officer and a solution to local concerns is no closer.
About 120 people took over a Western Forest Products open house, which was supposed to showcase plans for 319 acreages in the area, resulting in angry accusations, lobbed insults and little progress.
"I do think it achieved something. People are really distraught and it brought it to a community level," said environmental activist Vicky Husband, who acted as an unofficial MC after people grabbed chairs, set them out in rows and insisted that Duncan Kerr, WFP chief operating officer, answer questions.
The anger and frustration falls into two categories. Some are furious that the plans could proceed, possibly affecting drinking water supply and cutting off some waterfront access, without a public hearing.
"Watersheds are a huge concern for this community. It's a far more fragile environment than you seem to believe," Jane Munro of West Coast Road told Kerr.
Maurita Prato of the Dogwood Initiative said the massive subdivision is one-and-a-half times the size of the municipality of Oak Bay.
"But we haven't had any chance to speak out about this," she said.
WFP applied for subdivision under old rules while the Capital Regional District was waiting for new, more restrictive zoning bylaws to be signed by the province.
The company has until April to get approval from Highways approving officer Bob Wylie and build the infrastructure for the proposed subdivision.
However, much of the fury is directed at the province, which gave WFP the go-ahead to remove private land from tree farm licences.
Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan said freeing up the land meant community plans and the regional growth strategy were tossed out of the window.
"The reason for the uproar is because there was a public process underway in these communities. People had spent hundreds and hundreds of hours trying to grow these communities in a way they want and with a stroke of the pen it went," said Horgan, who was given a standing ovation.
Kerr said in an interview there has been misinformation about the TFL land and the government received "millions of dollars worth of consideration from WFP."
One consideration was the access road to Cape Scott provincial park, he said.
WFP has also discovered that waterfront land around Sandcut Creek belongs to the Crown, not the company, Kerr said, which will result in greater public access in that area.
Deletion of the private lands took more than two years, and during that time the information was public, Kerr added.
Erik Lund, regional director for Juan de Fuca electoral area, was not at the meeting, but said in an interview that ideally the company should apply for rezoning and go through the process with the communities.
"There's never been an opportunity to really deal with issues such as water and transportation. It's a mess," he said.
"Rezoning would take a while, but, there's a better chance of doing it right.... They might find [local] government is not as mean as they think," Lund said.
Two cases, expected to be heard in B.C. Supreme Court early next week, will form the next steps in the process.
WFP is challenging the CRD's rezoning bylaws, and the B.C. Landowners Association is challenging the CRD voting process in the electoral area.
The outcome of those cases will determine the direction WFP, area residents and the CRD take in the future.
About 120 people took over a Western Forest Products open house, which was supposed to showcase plans for 319 acreages in the area, resulting in angry accusations, lobbed insults and little progress.
"I do think it achieved something. People are really distraught and it brought it to a community level," said environmental activist Vicky Husband, who acted as an unofficial MC after people grabbed chairs, set them out in rows and insisted that Duncan Kerr, WFP chief operating officer, answer questions.
The anger and frustration falls into two categories. Some are furious that the plans could proceed, possibly affecting drinking water supply and cutting off some waterfront access, without a public hearing.
"Watersheds are a huge concern for this community. It's a far more fragile environment than you seem to believe," Jane Munro of West Coast Road told Kerr.
Maurita Prato of the Dogwood Initiative said the massive subdivision is one-and-a-half times the size of the municipality of Oak Bay.
"But we haven't had any chance to speak out about this," she said.
WFP applied for subdivision under old rules while the Capital Regional District was waiting for new, more restrictive zoning bylaws to be signed by the province.
The company has until April to get approval from Highways approving officer Bob Wylie and build the infrastructure for the proposed subdivision.
However, much of the fury is directed at the province, which gave WFP the go-ahead to remove private land from tree farm licences.
Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan said freeing up the land meant community plans and the regional growth strategy were tossed out of the window.
"The reason for the uproar is because there was a public process underway in these communities. People had spent hundreds and hundreds of hours trying to grow these communities in a way they want and with a stroke of the pen it went," said Horgan, who was given a standing ovation.
Kerr said in an interview there has been misinformation about the TFL land and the government received "millions of dollars worth of consideration from WFP."
One consideration was the access road to Cape Scott provincial park, he said.
WFP has also discovered that waterfront land around Sandcut Creek belongs to the Crown, not the company, Kerr said, which will result in greater public access in that area.
Deletion of the private lands took more than two years, and during that time the information was public, Kerr added.
Erik Lund, regional director for Juan de Fuca electoral area, was not at the meeting, but said in an interview that ideally the company should apply for rezoning and go through the process with the communities.
"There's never been an opportunity to really deal with issues such as water and transportation. It's a mess," he said.
"Rezoning would take a while, but, there's a better chance of doing it right.... They might find [local] government is not as mean as they think," Lund said.
Two cases, expected to be heard in B.C. Supreme Court early next week, will form the next steps in the process.
WFP is challenging the CRD's rezoning bylaws, and the B.C. Landowners Association is challenging the CRD voting process in the electoral area.
The outcome of those cases will determine the direction WFP, area residents and the CRD take in the future.
