Hello! I'm back from a sixmonth sabbatical. It's hard to believe I started contributing to this column back in 2005; time sure passes.
My "off time" was spent working on the provincial election and then holidays in the Caribbean, Gulf Islands and Victoria as well as lots of work around our home in South Delta.
During my break it's been "snowing" in Delta. That's right, we have been "snowed" by several matters, all coming straight at us.
Regionally, Joe Oliver, our federal minister of environment, proclaimed in May that pipeline companies henceforth would have to be able to access $1 billion for liabilities in case of a spill. Perhaps that's good news to B.C., but the greater risk is with tankers leaving Kitimat. There the liability is maxed out at $140 million. "So what," you say? Well, the Exxon Valdez cleanup is $8 billion and counting and BP in the Gulf is $42 billion and counting.
If you live in Ladner, you have seen that a very effective campaign was mounted to get the ancient agreement for Marina Garden Estates freshly approved to increase the density of the remaining area.
If you live in Tsawwassen and commute, you know that a bit of a road obstacle has occurred as the South Fraser Perimeter Road is made ready to take you about three kilometres out of your way enroute to the George Massey Tunnel.
If you are wildlife lover, you may have heard and seen how the port, in an attempt to justify doubling its size, has removed what it calls log debris from the foreshore of Boundary Bay. As one expert observed: "Nonsense statements for log removal, even dead wrong statements about log removal... the snowy owls have been so close to the dyke in recent years probably because of previous log removal further down the shore."
If you live in Tsawwassen, you may be hearing that our neighbour to the south is about to erect massive radio towers 300 metres beyond U.S. Customs and the signal may affect various wireless devices. Our federal government thus far has "no comment." The application to the U.S. FCC suggested no population between the border and Ladner.
Best of all, the tunnel is going to be replaced by a bridge - maybe. Details on what happens on either side to follow. In the run-up to the announcement, our premier did not consult with MLAs for Richmond or Delta. In response to why she didn't, no answer was given. It's too soon for details on tolls. What happens to the existing tunnel? Too soon for that too. Will Port Metro Vancouver pay the extra costs for bridge vs. second tunnel? No response.
We're being snowed upon in Delta!
