The hypocrites across the river are at it again.
Last week Richmond council voted 8-1 to tell senior governments that it’s opposed to a plan to expand FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG plant and build an adjacent marine jetty, citing environmental and public safety concerns, among others.
Now, neighbours are certainly entitled to have a say regarding what might take place over the back fence, but that kind of input starts to wear thin when those doing the complaining adopt a “Do as I say, not as I do” approach.
Richmond politicians have every right to be concerned about potential impacts of this proposed LNG expansion, but is this not the same group that was OK with a jet fuel tank farm setting up shop on the other side of the riverbank, much closer to its own citizens? Sure is, but who said principles had to be consistent?
It was much the same last year when Richmond, the land of non-stop development and farmland mansions, opposed an industrial park plan along the South Fraser Perimeter Road in Delta over concerns about farmland, wildlife and industrialization.
It was more of the same two years ago when Richmond did what it could to scuttle Gateway’s efforts to build a casino at the old Delta Town & Country Inn site in Ladner by citing a laundry list of worries when it was patently obvious the only real concern was the impact a nearby gambling hall would have on the River Rock Casino Resort, a cash cow Richmond has milked for more than $200 million over the past two decades.
As I say, Richmond politicians have every right to offer their two cents on projects being proposed in Delta when they could negatively impact their constituents, but when you look around at what’s taking place north of the river these days, that’s about all their input is worth.
