Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes- Political Blogger
Many worried and stressed Shawnigan residents have been wondering why Shawnigan Director Bruce Fraser and the BC Liberal friendly CVRD Board have been dragging their feet over the SIA application to dump 5 million tons of contaminated soil in the Shawnigan Watershed.
Although facing unthinkable harm to the watershed, creek, lake and drinking water the CVRD have been pursuing a remedy with the speed and vigour of serious competitors in a slow bicycle race.
CVRD Directors move with the speed of ‘Slow Bicycle’ Racers
The politicians are armed with a bylaw already approved by the province and yet enforcement has just not been in the cards for reasons difficult to comprehend. Well, that is until you delve into the political dimension.
Director Fraser has made a great deal out of the so called ‘collaboration’ with BC Liberal Environment Minister Terry Lake.
In fact Minister Lake has been bussed around the South Cowichan region on an illegal dumping tour with CVRD Directors and personnel.
Where did that get us and what was the result you might ask? Nothing, that is what.
There is no room for partisan politics when facing this challenging threat but that is what we have here, in spades.
Shawnigan Lake CVRD Director Bruce Fraser-Captain of the Slow Riders
Now after a couple unsatisfactory public meetings that foreshadowed the situation faced today rumours of preliminary approvals have surfaced. In fact they have been made on Shawnigan Director Bruce Fraser’s website.
You will notice that BC Liberal candidate Steve Housser is all over it and of course why wouldn’t he be. His thinly veiled stroking of Director Fraser is no accident. Housser did not arrive he was sent.
Cowichan BC Liberal President and Mr. Housser’s Campaign Manager is none other than Patrick Hrushowy. Hrushowy has been retained by the CVRD to act as a communications liaison for the CVRD to stick handle this issue with his BC Liberal friends in Victoria.
Christy Clark has run out of time. Somebody better tell her CVRD Farm Team.
Good grief it seems to be that the CVRD’s web of deceit and manipulation mirrors that of their leader Christy Clark. Could this be another arm of their discredited ‘Quick Win’ Strategy? Threaten and rescue is an old ploy and nothing would surprise me at this stage.
The role of local government politicians is to represent the communities that elect them and local representatives should not allow themselves to be co-opted as is the case with the many of the CVRD Directors today.
The residents of Shawnigan have been left to twist in the wind while their Director plays provincial political games attempting to prop up the likes of ‘Do Nothing’ Environment Minister Terry Lake.
Cowichan BC NDP MLA Bill Routley
It is not only Premier Christy Clark that has behaved badly in office. Her farm team at the CVRD need to be thoroughly investigated as well. Their handling of this issue makes you wonder why they are there offering themselves up as political representatives.
The BC Liberal friendly CVRD Chair Hutchins and the South Cowichan CVRD Directors have chosen to be political handmaidens instead of vigorous representatives standing up for their community. It is not good enough, not even close.
Savvy Shawnigan voters understand that NDP MLA Bill Routley will be re-elected and sit as member of the next NDP government.
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This is an issue that stuns me to no end.
For years we have faced the illicit dumping of waste in our environs, yet we are powerless to do anything but listen to hapless, sycophants of BC liberalism, provincial government apologists extraordinaire, wax un-eloquently about their inability to do anything to stop such outrageous, unacceptable behavior.
Maybe we should just take the billions they plan for a sewage waste disposal plant and let them just continuously dump this never ending stream of utter Bull!@#% upon us, given our “elected representatives” are so incapable of standing up to this onslaught.
It makes you wonder why we even bother with local representation. I mean if they cannot prevent the dumping of a never ending stream of toxic garbage on us, what exactly is it that they can do?
“Savvy Shawnigan voters understand that NDP MLA Bill Routley will be re-elected and sit as member of the next NDP government.”
What? How do you know that Richard? Your last poll did not have “Undecided” as a choice. Savvy Shawnigan voters will likely vote for the person who promises to protect their watershed, not necessarily Bill Routley. He has been notably silent on this matter. Jiggery Pokery, indeed.
Well we know what the BC Liberals have done about it. Nothing! Just Jiggery Pokery!
Bill was not a member of the BC Liberal Government but he will be a part of the next Adriax Dix led BC NDP Government.
Yes very good, now Don Hughes I would guess you have spoken with Bill in regards to this. If by that time it is not too late then maybe a positive outcome? Probably we will hear the same old retorical “if only I had known sooner”. I sure hope not. So. Thanks
Actually I have not spoken with Mr. Routley for several months. Rick, by all means let our MLA Bill Routley know that you want him to speak up on the threat faced by Shawnigan residents. He has made representation to the Minister but with these latest developments the heat is really on and who stands where is significant.
I agree with Sharon. Where are Bill Routley and John Horgan on this issue? I can’t believe this is a “threaten and rescue” ploy (although who can say with certainty). Whoever trys hardest to stop this absurdity gets my support!
Much of the problem Dave is that the body responsible for land use is the CVRD and as you now they have failed to act although a provincial government approved bylaw is in place that could have been acted upon but has not. This is incomphrehensible.
As far as your Shawnigan Director Fraser goes he has created a great deal of smoke but has lacked the fire to insure that the bylaw is used to protect your watershed, lake creek and of course your drinking water. Collaborating with BC Liberal Environment Minister Lake to put a stop to the illegal dumping as proposed by SIA has produced this 11th hour of uncertainty and understandable concern.
While Shawnigan Director Fraser and others have been doing a slow dance the applicant has not. You can be assured that SIA has their lawyers are pressuring the BC Liberal government for approval. So far Dave we can see what the Liberals and the CVRD have done to protect Shawnigan from 5 million tons of contaminated soil destined for their Stebbings Road watershed property. Nothing!
So the question becomes what will the BC NDP do when and if elected? Well let’s ask them. This appears to be in the Ministry of Environments Court so Victoria Hillside NDP MLA Rob Fleming is the most likely candidate to be our next Environment Minister in those circumstances.