Shooting of bears
Like many residents I was shocked, disgusted and angry about the killing of the cubs and their mother [“Resident shoots bear cubs,” May 18]. These bears frequented our property and we all managed to live peacefully. There is no justifiable reason to have killed these bears. This individual shot the cubs then had to call the Conservation Officer Service to deal with the ordeal of killing the mother, placing not only the conservation officers in danger but the public as well. The killing of the bears is now being investigated by the conservation officers and hopefully justice will be served.
This tragedy drives home the need for Powell River to have an effective human-bear conflict management plan. Nothing will change this continued situation until the City of Powell River takes a proactive, rather than reactive approach to human-bear conflicts.
The community of Whistler has adopted a Bear Smart initiative and has reduced the killing of conflict bears by 50 per cent over the last 10 years, even though the bear population has greatly increased. Kamloops, the first designated Bear Smart city, saw the killing of bears reduced from 100 10 years ago to three in 2009.
We need to form partnerships with RCMP, council, conservation officers and residents to mitigate these fatal conflicts and adopt a non-lethal bear management program. Education, enforcement, proper waste management, and safe and secure keeping of domestic livestock are vital to reduce these potentially fatal encounters. By working with such organizations as the Bear Smart Community Program and Bear Aware, communities can begin to implement positive changes in the way they manage their wildlife population.
We must not allow the deaths of these bears to be in vain. Let us instead use this as a catalyst toward becoming a community that sets the example of effective bear management. I urge council to begin the process in making our community Bear Smart and ask those who support this initiative to contact council and make your voice heard.
Audrey McLeish
Irvine Street
Questions over value
Since the City of Powell River announced its agreement in principle with Catalyst Paper Corporation, I’ve heard many ask how this agreement was reached, most significantly the cost of $750,000. Now I read in the Peak, that the cost has been reduced by one third to $500,000 [“Catalyst reduces fee,” May 11]. Again I have to ask, does either party know the value of this service?
I understand that this is an agreement in principle and not binding but why would the city agree to pay so much? How did it determine that this would be good value for the taxpayers of Powell River? Catalyst, which has no active competition for this service, determines that it would be earning too much and in turn reduces its costs.
This from a company that refused to pay taxes it owed? I think this shows a lack of credibility by both parties involved.
I don’t know enough about the whole waste water management process to be certain which method is best. However, I do feel that there are far more “what ifs” in going the Catalyst route than maintaining a publicly owned and operated system.
Don Allen
Marlatt Avenue
