Editor:
Have you wondered why more and more fossil fuel projects are being pushed through the Lower Mainland, including Delta? I believe biased decisions are being made by the port board who receive bonuses when projects are approved. And our federal government is allowing this to occur even though citizens and communities are saying no.
I attended federal court mid-May to observe the case presented by Voters Taking Action Against Climate Change and Communities and Coal versus the Port of Vancouver. The position: the port is not acting impartially in its decision making about the development of a transfer facility for American thermal coal at Fraser Surrey Docks.
Evidence was presented showing the port received thousands of submissions from citizens, groups of health professionals, health authorities and advocacy groups who expressed concerns about the impact of the project on health, safety and the environment. Yet port communications retrieved through freedom of information requests showed the port repeatedly reassuring the coal company the project would go ahead and discounting the concerns expressed as simply "anti- coal" long before the approval deadline.
A federal judge will make a decision in a few months regarding the question posed.
Why would a group in charge of making impartial, evidence-informed decisions in the best interest of Canadians dismiss these concerns and imply the project was approved before weighing all the evidence?
Evidence was presented that the board and CEO stand to receive substantial bonuses with the project approval. That is they have incentives to approve the project regardless of the health, safety and environmental risks posed or the concerns of citizens.
Decision makers at the port claim “supremacy” over B.C. lands and waters. I believe they are not acting in the best interests of Canadians. I think their prime interest is in making corporations happy and personal gain.
I truly fear for our community when more and more fossil fuel projects impact our community. And why does our federal government not arbiter contentious decisions like this?
What's next? Tankers filled with bitumen cruising down the Fraser?
Brenda Ross
