Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The biosolids are piling up in the Capital Regional District with few options in the short term other than Hartland Landfill to bury the remnants of sewage treatment. Of the 2,908 tonnes of biosolids produced last year, the CRD put 2,233 tonnes into controlled-waste trenches in the landfill with other hazardous materials. About 680 tonnes were shipped to a quarry reclamation site in Cassidy, south of Nanaimo, and the remainder — just 67 tonnes — went to the on-again, off-again operations of a Lafarge cement facility in Richmond to fire its kiln. Now the CRD is talking with another Nanaimo-area private quarry about taking some more biosolids, which isn’t sitting well with its counterparts to the north . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

To assist communities facing increased gun and gang violence throughout British Columbia, six programs aimed at enhancing efforts to prevent, disrupt and combat this violence will receive sustained funding through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund from Public Safety Canada. “Prevention and intervention at the community level are important parts of combating the gun and gang violence that we’ve seen across our province ,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “ Working with our federal, municipal and community partners, we can strike at the root of the problem in our neighbourhoods to ensure our youth are resilient to the lure of gangs and gang violence, helping them make positive life choices while laying the groundwork for a safer, more positive future for all citizens in B.C.” Chris Pettman, Executive Director of the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre Society (one of 6 organizations receiving funding) commented to me th...

Tomorrow (Wednesday April 24 th ), the Central Cariboo / City of Williams Lake Joint Committee whose membership is made up of the entire Williams Lake City Council and the Cariboo Regional District Directors for Areas D, E, F, J, K will consider a request of CRD Area ‘D’ Director Steve Forseth.   This request will be to have the City of Williams Lake, and the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Chief Administrative Officers’ report back by June on an action plan to create a new Air-shed Management Plan.   The plan is to include engagement of local First Nations including the like Williams Lake and Soda Creek Indian Bands, along with the Tsilhquot’in National Government.  You can view Director Forseth’s memorandum to the Joint Committee by CLICKING HERE Back in 2006, after public consultations, a 10-year Air-shed Management Plan was created to deal with air quality, and how to improve it with key actions from various stakeholders; these being loc...

Have you ever heard of the Local Government Leadership Academy, otherwise known as the LGLA?   I hadn’t either until a couple of weeks ago, and so I checked around to find out who, and what, the LGLA was ... better yet, is it important?  It certainly seems so, which is disappointing as I feel confident saying I believe most (nearly all) British Columbians have any idea what it is. One good source of information, on the LGLA, turned out to be right in my own back yard.  Kamloops City Councillor Arjun Singh, actually chairs the Board of the LGLA .  While unsure of when it began (I discovered it was 2005), he told me: “ For many of local government elected officials, when first elected, these sessions have been incredibly helpful to learn about our new roles, and to draw on a province-wide resource of knowledge and expertise .” And indeed, the website for t he   (LGLA) indicates that it is ... a leadership initiative for B...

Frank Leonard asks, "Family first, or at least a close second?" A year after getting elected Saanich Alderman in 1986, I was elected to the Capital Regional District Board, and one year after that I became Chair of the newly minted CRD Environment Committee.   The environment was becoming a key political issue and we were struggling with two key issues: the need for sewage treatment; and the need for more landfill space.   Becoming Chair of the Committee that owned these files was a great opportunity and an incredible responsibility. My first weekend in this new position witnessed quite the setback.  Not only did we have a meager recycling effort but the one facility we had to receive recyclables burned down.  I recall driving to the Borden Street location as only smolders remained thinking that I really did have to tackle the reduction of waste from the ground up. My instincts told me that in order to expand the landfill we ne...

Today, an exciting post filled with intrigue, suspense, ethics, chaos and more!!!  No … actually it’s about GARBAGE.  I know, NOT exciting at all, however a topic with is important if the next generation isn’t to be overrun by it.  A week and a half ago (September 8 th ) the Government of BC, issued a media release , " Changes to Organic Matter Recycling Regulation proposed " .  The Organic Matter Recycling Regulation ( OMRR) is currently undergoing a comprehensive review to, as the government states, ensure it remains protective of human health and the environment. The 2018 Intentions Paper is now available for review, and comment, with those interested invited to submit comments by November 8 th , to be considered in preparing the proposed revisions to the regulation. Review the 2018 Intentions Paper (PDF) In reading through the media release and intentions paper, I was interested to note that food scraps, grass clippings, and ani...