Reaction to Metro Vancouver directors鈥� vote Friday to endorse 性视界传媒鈥檚 plan for industrial development in the environmentally sensitive South Campbell Heights area has been predictably diverse.
性视界传媒 Board of Trade president and CEO Anita Huberman was quick to respond to the decision with a statement of support.
鈥淭he 性视界传媒 Board of Trade is pleased with this monumental decision in favour of economic competitiveness, industrial land, business and job growth,鈥� she wrote.
鈥淭his is a signal to the global business community that we are ready to do business, grow business, and bring business into 性视界传媒 and in the Metro Vancouver region.鈥�
Sebastian Sajda, president of environmental activism group Force of Nature, said, however, that his organization 鈥� and other similar groups 鈥� were 鈥渧ery, very disappointed by the vote鈥� which amended Metro鈥檚 Regional Growth Strategy to move South Campbell Heights outside of the 鈥榰rban containment鈥� boundary.
鈥淚t was an incredibly close vote,鈥� he said, noting that some directors who had previously indicated they would be voting against the move, or had supported deferral of the decision, ultimately voted for the amendment.
鈥淢etro Vancouver has historically had a great vision for the region 鈥� and its Metro 2050 strategy has even stronger language about urban containment, environmental concerns and consultation.
鈥�(The vote) seems counter to both the historical and currently-stated vision of Metro.鈥�
Going forward, he said, each development within the South Campbell Heights area will have to be approved by 性视界传媒 and also meet provincial and federal regulations, all of which will be closely observed by environmental groups alert to the possibility of ecological crisis.
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鈥淭here will be a need for people to keep a clear eye on what is being done and to make sure all of it is being done appropriately.鈥�
Christy Juteau of environmental stewardship group A Rocha said it was 鈥渜uite incredible鈥� that regional leaders would 鈥渨ash their hands鈥� of concerns about the plan at a time when attention is focused on Indigenous reconciliation, environmental protection and climate change.
鈥淎 Rocha will continue working alongside SFN, together with other governments on both sides of the border, toward (advancing) environmental protection.鈥�
Also expressing disappointment was Chief Harley Chappell (Kwo鈥檖okton) of the Semiahmoo First Nation 鈥� in whose traditional territory the South Campbell Heights area is located, and for whom any industrial development is upstream of where the salmon- and other fish-bearing Little Campbell River (Ta鈥橳alu) flows into Semiahmoo Bay.
He said Monday he viewed the outcome as a 鈥渕issed opportunity鈥� for Metro Vancouver to show that it is truly acting in the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and forthcoming changes in provincial legislation designed to bring laws, regulations and policies in line with the declaration and the principles of reconciliation.
鈥淲e had high hopes, because the opportunity was there to do business in a different way.鈥�
It鈥檚 happened frequently over the years, he said, that various levels of government have moved forward with development plans impacting First Nations 鈥渙nly to take a step back and say 鈥榦ops鈥� we forgot to consult (them),鈥� he added.
鈥淎t the 11th hour the First Nations are brought into the picture.鈥�
Changes in provincial policy and legislation, he said, have 鈥渕ade us hopeful that we鈥檙e able to work in a little bit different way now,鈥� Chappell said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a question of how will that work, and how will we do that in future. I saw (the Metro vote) as a chance to change that, and allow us to find a seat at the table.鈥�
Chappell said he鈥檇 yet to discuss the vote with members of his council, and it鈥檚 too early to say what recourse SFN will have to ensure its interests are addressed as the South Campbell Heights plan moves forward.
鈥淔rom my lands, I really believe we have to get into the process now,鈥� he said.
A meeting between 性视界传媒 council and the SFN council, scheduled for March 14, is likely to be closed to the public, he said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e requested to discuss the South Campbell Heights plan at that meeting, and we鈥檇 like input on that agenda as well.鈥�
The nation鈥檚 overriding concern is reducing the flow of contaminants from the Little Campbell River into Semiahmoo Bay, he said 鈥� a situation that could be exacerbated by the introduction of industry and impermeable paved surfaces in the South Campbell Heights area.
He noted also 性视界传媒 Mayor Doug McCallum鈥檚 avowed intent, expressed at Friday鈥檚 meeting, that consultation with SFN improve.
鈥淎s we move forward these discussions need to happen,鈥� Chappell said.
鈥淢y goal is a zero net loss 鈥� no impact on the river or its tributaries flowing through our lands.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a high bar 鈥� but a very important bar to set.鈥�
alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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