VICTORIA— The B.C. Liberals are making a mockery of the environmental assessment process by considering giving Jumbo Glacier Resort permanent rights to public land after they poured a concrete foundation for a day lodge in an avalanche zone, say B.C.’s New Democrats.
“The B.C. Liberals are very good at saying what people want to hear, then they do whatever they want. That’s why they talk about the importance of having strong environmental laws, then allow the day lodge for this proposed resort to be built in the path of a potential avalanche, which is a direct contravention of the conditions of their environmental assessment certificate,” said Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.
“This company has shown it is unwilling or unable to follow even the most basic requirements imposed on them by their environmental assessment certificate. But instead of showing them the door, the B.C. Liberals continue rewarding this bad behavior by propping up their project.”
Jumbo had to show significant progress on building their resort before their environmental certificate expired on October 12, so they hastily poured concrete for a day lodge in an avalanche zone, violating a key requirement of the certificate, which requires “that the proposed residential and commercial structures [would] be located completely outside the avalanche hazard area.”
“Pouring the foundation for their day lodge in the path of class 4 avalanches isn’t the only violation of Jumbo’s certificate,” said Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall. “The ministry of the environment did a preliminary look at just a fraction of the requirements attached to their certificate and found the company in violation of three other conditions.
“The B.C. Liberals are sending the message that environmental assessment certificates are meaningless because there are no consequences for simply ignoring the rules.
“Meanwhile, the B.C. Liberals go and tell the public how important it is to have world class environmental standards. They know what to say, but then they do what they want,” said Mungall.