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.
It is important that we hold the provincial government accountable for what is happening around Jordan River.
As John Horgan said yesterday, if they won't offer us a public hearing, we will bring the hearing to them!
Keep your eyes open for more action on this.
Check out www.savejordanriver.com for more details on how you can get involved.
RALLY HELD AGAINST BLASTING AND CLEARING OF JORDAN RIVER LANDS
Jul 10, 2008
By NIKKI EWANYSHYN
A RALLY DEMANDING A PUBLIC HEARING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS IN THE JORDAN RIVER AREA WAS HELD THIS AFTERNOON OUTSIDE THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICES IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA.
EXTRA SECURITY WAS ADDED FOR THE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS HAS ALREADY STARTED TO BLAST AND CLEAR THE LAND TO MAKE WAY FOR ROADS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE PROVINCE.
MAURITA PRATO WITH THE DOGWOOD INITIATIVE SAYS WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS IS ABLE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE WORK BECAUSE IT IS ON PRIVATE LAND. "BUT THEY ARE REALLY TAKING A MASSIVE GAMBLE, A CHANCE THAT THESE SUBDIVISIONS WILL NOT BE APPROVED. SO WE ARE CALLING ON BOB WYLIE WHOSE THE APPROVING OFFICER, AS WELL AS OTHER MINISTERS IN THE PROVINCE THAT KIND OF HAVE A SAY, OR THEIR PORTFOLIO IS CONNECTED TO THIS, TO SAY WE NEED PUBLIC HEARINGS."
MALAHAT JUAN DE FUCA MLA JOHN HORGAN SAYS THE PUBLIC HAS ALREADY TOLD THE CRD THEY DON'T WANT THE LAND DEVELOPED. "THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN VERY CLEARLY ON THIS, UH THE MINISTER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICES OR COMMUNITY SERVICES DELAYED THE PASSAGE OF THE BYLAWS WHICH ALLOWED WESTERN TO GET IN UNDER THE WIRE, SO, IT'S KIND OF A SNEAKY THING BY A SNEAKY GROUP AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY."
HORGAN SAYS PEOPLE CAN BAND TOGETHER TO SAVE THE SENSITIVE RESOURCE LANDS FROM DEVELOPMENT.
THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT INTO HOW THE GOVERNMENT HANDLED REMOVING PRIVATE LAND FROM TREE FARM LICENCES IN THE JORDAN RIVER AREA IS DUE IN THE COMING WEEKS.
- NIKKI EWANYSHYN
EXTRA SECURITY WAS ADDED FOR THE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS HAS ALREADY STARTED TO BLAST AND CLEAR THE LAND TO MAKE WAY FOR ROADS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE PROVINCE.
MAURITA PRATO WITH THE DOGWOOD INITIATIVE SAYS WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS IS ABLE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE WORK BECAUSE IT IS ON PRIVATE LAND. "BUT THEY ARE REALLY TAKING A MASSIVE GAMBLE, A CHANCE THAT THESE SUBDIVISIONS WILL NOT BE APPROVED. SO WE ARE CALLING ON BOB WYLIE WHOSE THE APPROVING OFFICER, AS WELL AS OTHER MINISTERS IN THE PROVINCE THAT KIND OF HAVE A SAY, OR THEIR PORTFOLIO IS CONNECTED TO THIS, TO SAY WE NEED PUBLIC HEARINGS."
MALAHAT JUAN DE FUCA MLA JOHN HORGAN SAYS THE PUBLIC HAS ALREADY TOLD THE CRD THEY DON'T WANT THE LAND DEVELOPED. "THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN VERY CLEARLY ON THIS, UH THE MINISTER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICES OR COMMUNITY SERVICES DELAYED THE PASSAGE OF THE BYLAWS WHICH ALLOWED WESTERN TO GET IN UNDER THE WIRE, SO, IT'S KIND OF A SNEAKY THING BY A SNEAKY GROUP AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY."
HORGAN SAYS PEOPLE CAN BAND TOGETHER TO SAVE THE SENSITIVE RESOURCE LANDS FROM DEVELOPMENT.
THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT INTO HOW THE GOVERNMENT HANDLED REMOVING PRIVATE LAND FROM TREE FARM LICENCES IN THE JORDAN RIVER AREA IS DUE IN THE COMING WEEKS.
- NIKKI EWANYSHYN
