Meeting belies democratic rights
On Tuesday, November 26, at Powell River Town Centre Hotel’s conference room, the democratic right to attend a public meeting about the looming ferry service cuts died [“Ferry cuts galvanize community,” December 3]. More than 400 Powell Riverites, 300 in the hallway and 100 outside the hotel, were unable to enter the meeting area and listen to or address Kevin Richter, assistant deputy minister for the marine portfolio of transportation and infrastructure, about how the proposed cuts would affect this area.
It is due to the incompetence of Richter and his staff that the insufficiently-sized venue was selected.
I was one of the people in that hallway. I was very insulted, as a citizen of this town, by Richter when he was totally indifferent to us. Then to top that there was the rudeness of his staff toward us when we were asking them questions. The most insulting behaviour was when they called up the RCMP because they apparently felt threatened by our presence. Three RCMP members showed up and one female officer demanded a gentleman explain what he was doing on his smartphone. He was listening to the live-streaming of the meeting. He was not doing anything wrong.
As far as I am concerned the assistant deputy minister and his staff abused their power. It was his fault and his staff’s fault they picked the incorrect venue for the event, which could not hold 800 people.
They killed democracy in Powell River.
Ken White
Harvie Avenue
Library wish
This year a new library is on my wish list to Santa, having just visited the Vancouver Public Library [“If it were only $19,” December 4]. My preschoolers wanted to move in.
Don’t get me wrong, we love the current Powell River Public Library space; after all, having windows or space in the children’s area would simply distract the poor things. Fortunately, we are no longer crammed into the airless space for storytime. Unfortunately, storytime is now in a school.
To have windows, books and events all in one space? A dream indeed.
However, although the building of the Vancouver library expands the senses like Dickens expands the mind, no place compares to Powell River for the people. The Powell River library staff is vibrant, helpful, and creative. It is no wonder that the library was awarded the Council of the Federation Literacy Award, given that the staff does so much with so little.
We should recognize, though, how much effort is needed to remain vibrant and current in a space that is tiny and inefficient. We should recognize the importance of the programs, including everything from writing workshops to backcountry skills, and the long-term costs of not having these initiatives. Not only do these free programs provide great information, they connect like-minded people in the community and help develop an understanding of how to find information beyond the Internet.
They also develop a love of learning and involvement in children that lasts a lifetime, builds good citizens and ensures the vibrant future of Powell River.
Wendy Cocksedge
Library Board Trustee
Amendments negate act
Recently, Bill C-38 received Royal Assent. Buried within it is the Fisheries Act which was amended [“Environmental laws,” November 20]. The core provisions of the Fisheries Act, once heralded as the most important environmental law in Canada, are now under threat as follows:
1) The Fisheries Act now gives discretionary powers to the minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to authorize activities which can harm and destroy fish and fish habitat by exempting waters or activities from the provisions of the act.
2) The amended Fisheries Act will only apply to fish that are part of, or support, an existing commercial, recreational or aboriginal fishery. All other fish and their habitat will not be protected.
3) The amended Fisheries Act does not allow for permanent damage to a fishery, but would tolerate “temporary” damage. What constitutes permanent damage? How is “temporary” defined?
4) The amended Fisheries Act allows the minister to offload historical requirements for environmental assessments, cleanup—even potential liability—to private companies, provinces and other jurisdictions. It is possible that, in some cases, accountability for environmental damages and health consequences may be beyond the scope of any given jurisdiction.
One has to ask, whose interests are being served by the reduction of protections afforded by the original Fisheries Act?
Reid Westland
Chilco Avenue
