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.
NDP, critics blast land-bylaw delays
Forest giant trying to beat deadline for lot restrictions
Apr 14, 2008
By Judith Lavoie
<jlavoie@tc.canwest.com>
Provincial delays in approving a controversial Capital Regional District forest-land bylaw are making a mockery of public process, NDP Leader Carole James says in a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell.
The bylaw, which makes dramatic changes to lot sizes in an area stretching from East Sooke to Port Renfrew, needs the approval of Community Services Minister Ida Chong before it can be enacted by the CRD.
The CRD gave third reading to the bylaw Feb. 14, but Chong said the bylaw is still being studied by staff and has not yet reached her desk.
There is no time limit for the province to approve bylaws, but most are completed within a month.
The letter to Campbell from James and Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan asks that government approve the bylaw without further delay.
"This is simply unacceptable. Residents of the southwestern corner of Vancouver Island have spoken clearly on this matter," the letter says.
"For a government that alleges commitment to local decision-making, First Nations consultation and transparency, on this file, you have failed on all counts."
The delay has allowed Western Forest Products to do an end-run around community interests, the letter says.
The controversy started when the province allowed Western Forest Products to remove more than 28,000 hectares of private land from tree farm licences without paying compensation.
WFP then made a conditional deal to sell 2,500 hectares of high-profile land to developer Ender Ilkay.
After a community outcry, the CRD limited lot size on most of the land to 120 hectares, but, because the new rules have not been enacted, WFP has applied to the provincial approving officer under the existing rules for 319 acreages, ranging from two to five hectares.
"This maneuver by Western Forest Products will have the result of completely disrupting the Regional Growth Strategy, put in place after countless meetings, consultations and votes by locally elected councils and the CRD," says the letter from Horgan and James.
Horgan said he cannot understand Chong's delay.
"It's not as if this is news to her. She should have been watching the debate unfolding for 15 months," he said.
Meanwhile, a rally is being organized by the Dogwood Initiative outside Chong's office on Oak Bay Avenue at noon today.
Organizers are using Facebook to get people out, and there are plans to hand over a large pair of ears and a pen "so she can hear what her constituents are saying and sign the bylaw," said Dogwood forests campaigner Maurita Prato.
One of the speakers at the rally will be environmentalist Vicky Husband, who is incensed by the bylaw holdup.
"What a betrayal of the public trust. This is approaching a scandal," she said.
The bylaw, which makes dramatic changes to lot sizes in an area stretching from East Sooke to Port Renfrew, needs the approval of Community Services Minister Ida Chong before it can be enacted by the CRD.
The CRD gave third reading to the bylaw Feb. 14, but Chong said the bylaw is still being studied by staff and has not yet reached her desk.
There is no time limit for the province to approve bylaws, but most are completed within a month.
The letter to Campbell from James and Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan asks that government approve the bylaw without further delay.
"This is simply unacceptable. Residents of the southwestern corner of Vancouver Island have spoken clearly on this matter," the letter says.
"For a government that alleges commitment to local decision-making, First Nations consultation and transparency, on this file, you have failed on all counts."
The delay has allowed Western Forest Products to do an end-run around community interests, the letter says.
The controversy started when the province allowed Western Forest Products to remove more than 28,000 hectares of private land from tree farm licences without paying compensation.
WFP then made a conditional deal to sell 2,500 hectares of high-profile land to developer Ender Ilkay.
After a community outcry, the CRD limited lot size on most of the land to 120 hectares, but, because the new rules have not been enacted, WFP has applied to the provincial approving officer under the existing rules for 319 acreages, ranging from two to five hectares.
"This maneuver by Western Forest Products will have the result of completely disrupting the Regional Growth Strategy, put in place after countless meetings, consultations and votes by locally elected councils and the CRD," says the letter from Horgan and James.
Horgan said he cannot understand Chong's delay.
"It's not as if this is news to her. She should have been watching the debate unfolding for 15 months," he said.
Meanwhile, a rally is being organized by the Dogwood Initiative outside Chong's office on Oak Bay Avenue at noon today.
Organizers are using Facebook to get people out, and there are plans to hand over a large pair of ears and a pen "so she can hear what her constituents are saying and sign the bylaw," said Dogwood forests campaigner Maurita Prato.
One of the speakers at the rally will be environmentalist Vicky Husband, who is incensed by the bylaw holdup.
"What a betrayal of the public trust. This is approaching a scandal," she said.
