East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett on Jumbo Glacier Resort
September 18, 2006
From www.billbennettmla.bc.ca:
"September 15, 2006 -- East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett today issued the following statement on the Jumbo Resort development project:"
"For more than 16 years, the Jumbo resort proposal has been a major source of discussion in our area. It's a project that has been subjected to the most comprehensive environmental review in British Columbia's history, it is consistent with the resort development that was identified in the Kootenay Boundary Land Use plan and it is time for a decision to be made.
Despite attempts to misconstrue my recent comments, I have been clear in urging the Regional District of East Kootenay to simply make a decision. Attempting to reproduce the exhaustive process of 16 years makes no sense and should not even be under consideration by the RDEK. Making difficult decisions amidst controversy is part of providing leadership. The only people who benefit from further delay are those who thrive on division for their own success.
Some facts to consider:
• Two NDP premiers supported this project.
• The project's environmental assessment certificate is constrained by more than 200 conditions that the province's Environmental Assessment Office imposed to ensure an environmentally responsible project.
• There have been extensive public consultations over the past 16 years, with everyone having opportunity to present their views.
• The Jumbo Valley was identified for resort development in the East Kootenay Land Use Plan Ð a plan that was supported by the same environmental groups who are loudly opposed today and was heralded by the then-ombudsman as an example of how plans should be created
• The Master Development Plan is just about complete.
The question, at this stage, is simple: who benefits from not making a decision? Not the proponent and not the community, only those who feel a need to reject any development and the political opposition whose sole motivation is scoring political points. People like Norm McDonald and John Bergenske of Wildsight talk about respecting the process but in reality they're trying to subvert the process because they haven't liked the results so far. These people either refuse to acknowledge the facts or just don't get it.
BC's economy is booming, but our success is based on a permitting and approvals process that is rigorous but fair and timely. It is important that investors looking at British Columbia see that our process has integrity and that a decision can be made in a reasonable amount of time. This company has gone through every hoop that four different governments have presented them with and yet some still demand more talk, more meetings, more process.
Jumbo Glacier Resort will very shortly have all provincial government approvals required to proceed. The investors have achieved success in the provincial process. What is it the opponents don't understand about this? As the chairman of the REDK admits, there is no way the regional district has the resources to duplicate the work already done. Let's get on with it."
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