qathet Regional District (qRD) will attempt to further educate itself regarding pesticide regulations after reviewing letters on the subject.
At the July 16 committee of the whole meeting, directors reviewed a set of 11 letters pertaining to Western Forest Products’ (WFP) pest management plan for TFL 39, Block 1, which is a large tract of land in the regional district.
At the meeting, Electoral Area C director Clay Brander moved to receive the 11 letters. Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said she didn’t think receipt of the letters was adequate when there is concern being expressed by the directors’ constituents. She said she was thinking that the board should write a letter to the minister of forests to point out that there has been a significant level of concern expressed.
“We need to bring that to his attention,” said McCormick. “I would move that as well as receiving these letters, we bring this to the minister’s attention.”
Chief administrative officer Al Radke said he had a proposition for the committee to consider. Rather than just writing a letter, he said he thought the committee should ask the various line agencies to come in and do presentations to the committee regarding the matter of pesticides.
“The committee could then better understand the approval processes and environmental regulations, the use of pesticides, et cetera,” said Radke. “You could use this as an opportunity for education and to raise awareness, both for yourselves and the public that is writing in. Hopefully, everyone could gain a better understanding of how the provincial and federal environmental regulations guide these provincial approval processes.”
Committee chair and city director George Doubt said it sounded like McCormick was making an amendment to Brander’s motion to include a letter to the minister of forests.
Electoral Area A director Patrick Brabazon said with respect to McCormick, he thought the amendment was out of line.
“I’ve read through the correspondence and I’m not sure how many of these people have read or understand the subject at hand, which is the pesticide management plan, which is approved by the province,” said Brabazon. “I’m not sure how many other people have read and understood the plan. I support the CAO’s recommendation that we bring in some knowledgeable provincial representatives, who will explain to people what is involved.
“When I look through the correspondence and I keep seeing the word ‘spraying’, I have visions of helicopters coming over and nuking the forests. It doesn’t happen that way. It’s not going to happen that way. It’s not allowed to happen that way.”
Brabazon said he is not in favour of a knee-jerk reaction, writing a letter to the minister.
City director CaroleAnn Leishman asked if WFP had sent a response after the regional board sent comments and its integrated pest management policy. Corporate officer Michelle Jones said a response had not been received.
Leishman said she sent her own personal comments to WFP and she referenced that the regional board had sent comments. She said she had received a response from WFP and the company acknowledged receiving comments from the regional board and the policy.
“I thought the response was quite good and quite detailed,” said Leishman.
Doubt said many of the letters sent to the regional district were addressed to a large number of people, such as local government, the MP, the MLA, Western Forest Products and the provincial government.
“None of these letters would come as a surprise to the ministry of forests or provincial government,” said Doubt. “We wouldn’t be teaching them anything by sending them another letter.
“I agree with what the CAO has said. There is a lack of detailed information of who has jurisdiction and who makes decisions. There is plenty of room for an educational program.”
Doubt said he thinks a public meeting with all of the experts would be a really good idea.
McCormick said part of her reason for suggesting sending a letter to the minister is to point out concerns being expressed in the community and suggesting that education might be a way to alleviate concerns.
“Clearly, there’s a disconnect between what the ministry is doing and what people are hearing,” said McCormick.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the letter the regional district sends, if it chooses to send one, shouldn’t just state there are concerned residents.
“We should send a letter that says we have quite a bit of correspondence from our residents, there is a great deal of concern in our community over the application of pesticides, and we would like to request that the ministry send some of its experts to engage with us,” said Gisborne. He added that a meeting could be streamed online so anyone could watch it.
Brander said he didn’t know how much good a letter would be. He said he likes the idea of a meeting to educate the board and public.
McCormick’s amendment to write a letter to the minister outlining the community’s concerns failed.
The committee then carried a motion to receive the 11 letters.
Gisborne then made a motion for the committee to direct staff to request a presentation from the appropriate line agencies to outline provincial processes and environmental regulations. The motion carried.
