Racism Not the Root of ACC Objections

(Aired on March 2, 2010)

I am a Canadian. I believe in the rights of our First Nations, I believe in a true and just settlement for their concerns. But I am not a racist if I have some
concerns over a situation just because it involves First Nations. And I object strongly when the so-called "race card" is brought out whenever that
happens.

Those who are opposed to the Aboriginal Cogeneration Plant are not, in my view, racist because they oppose the plant The fact that some of the proponents of the plant have blood lines that were here before mine shouldn't enter the equation. This is a plant that might be built in a community where air problems have persisted for decades. Those opposed aren't sure the technology is proven and there aren't hidden dangers. They may be wrong. But they have the right to declare their opposition without being branded.

In the end, the technology may be fine, and if it is, let the plant go ahead. But let's make sure. That is not racist. Does racism exist? Of course it does. And that's wrong. It's uncalled for. It should be weeded out. In fact, there have been racist emails apparently sent to the proponents of the project. And if ACC spokesman Kim Sigurdson says his reference to racism refers to those people, and not the entire group opposing the plant, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

A group of people opposing something because they believe it will harm their health is not racist. Let's look at the facts of this case without bringing up prejudice and talking about racism. We need to have answers based on a logical and progressive examination of the technology and its impact. Nothing else will be satisfactory.

Penner Should Take Lead on ACC

(Aired January 21, 2010)

I think B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner should get off his duff and take the lead to solve the controversy that's brewing over the proposed gasification plant down on Mission Flats. The Environment Ministry has approved a permit for the plant, with, it would appear, very little assessment of the plant, its technology, and its potential. Kudos to MP Cathy McLeod, who has taken some initiative and done some research and found that the plant received funding from some "arms length" agency called Sustainable Development Technology Canada. She's checked into what legwork was done, and she's got some major concerns. She says an environmental assessment wasn't done because STDC is considered an "arms length" agency, and not a federal agency. I'm not sure why that should have made a difference before approval, but apparently it did. McLeod is taking up the matter with the federal minister, the ministry, and the agency.

Good for her. I'm calling on provincial Environment Minister Barry Penner to get on board too. He needs to call for some public hearings, an environmental assessment, and some full blown investigation into the technology before the plant can proceed any further. The fact that the City expressed opposition should have triggered that right off the bat, but the government, in my view, dropped the ball. They should pick it up. What harm can it do? Let's be transparent about this issue, and do it right. If the proposal stands up, let it go ahead. If not, well, the time to stop it is before it causes any problems. McLeod is concerned about the stacking of the ties, the proximity to the river, as well as the technology itself. I agree there are concerns. Can those ties leach into the river? Has that been looked at? If Domtar doesn't buy some of the energy, who else could be a customer? There are still many questions to answer. We need some answers now.

An Emotional Issue

Kim Sigurdson of ACC told CFJC's Tanya Cronin this week that mayor and council decided not to support his gasification project based "on emotion."

In my mind, this proves that Kim Sigurdson has never met Peter Milobar.

Of Garbage and Industry

(Aired on January 8, 2010)

The communities of Ashcroft and Cache Creek are happy this week. They have an extension to their landfill that could keep the operation open until 2037. All well and good, but of course they need customers, and that's a bit of a problem, considering their major client, in fact their only client, is making plans to dispose of their garbage elsewhere. And as much as I like having jobs in our area, surely we're to the point in our development that we should be looking at alternate technology to disposing of garbage in a landfill. Incinerators are a good option if handled properly. Technology is available that would create virtually no toxins from incineration. It might cost more, but maybe that would start to get the message out to "go green" and try to make some positive changes.

On another environmental topic, I wonder how long it will take before Kamloops gains back its reputation of being a big industrial town and start driving away business that could come here. I remember years ago when the Cancer Clinic was being talked about, some doctors had a major say in driving the project to the Okanagan, because they said they didn't want to come to Kamloops because of its reputation as some sort of big industrial centre. And at that time, we only had the pulp mill. Now we're going to have a gasification plant that burns creosote ties, the mere mention of which scares me half to death, and possibly some sort of biofuels plant on the Reserve. I wouldn't imagine it would take long to get that bad reputation back at this rate. Seems a shame when we've spent so much promoting the great lifestyle here in Kamloops. Doesn't take much to turn that image 180 degrees in the opposite direction.