Chumbawumba
Member
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ach-deal-over-floating-lng-facility-1.3197901
Thoughts? Any chance of this actually going through?
Thoughts? Any chance of this actually going through?
Malahat First Nations announces LNG Facility
- Thread starter Chumbawumba
- Start date
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Truthfully not a chance in hell, and hope all parties push this to the curb. We have two sensitive streams the Shawnigan Creek system that supports coho salmon and Goldstream that supports chum/coho. Both are important, and are under threat with just the SIA project in Shawnigan alone. Goldstream hasn't even recovered from the oil spill yet 4 years ago. In the LNG case the Malahat may want it but I think you will find Saanich first nations blocking it especially if there is impact on Goldstream. As well as all the local anglers, and associations.
FYI Malahat is already backpedaling in court right now over the SIA remediation site it fully backed. They got bigger problems to worry if this is proven true. Here is news from last week on resignation from the chief:
VICTORIA — The chief of the Malahat First Nation has resigned over allegations he was receiving a consulting fee from the operators of a controversial soil dump near Shawnigan Lake.
The allegations, which have not been proved in court, are contained in the latest filing by the Shawnigan Residents’ Association, which is fighting to shut down a contaminated soil landfill owned by Cobble Hill Holdings and operated as South Island Aggregates. No response has been filed to date, but the time to file a response has not expired.
The association alleges that recently disclosed documents show the companies and their partners paying Malahat Chief Michael Harry a “consulting fee per tonne of soil.”
Lawrence Lewis, Malahat’s chief executive officer, confirmed Tuesday that “due to recent allegations,” Harry stepped down as the elected chief effective Monday, “while these matters are being investigated.”
“I think Chief Harry, in light of these allegations, has done the right thing,” Lewis said in an interview.
“He’s stepped aside (to) take his personal matters and his relationships out of the equation as far as the nation is concerned, so that we can continue on with the important work that we’re doing.”
Lewis said he had no idea whether the allegations are accurate, but said they appear to suggest a “personal relationship” between Harry and the site’s operators.
“I can’t comment on it,” he said. “I wasn’t aware of it. The nation wasn’t aware of it, so I can’t speak to it.”
Harry could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
In 2013, the B.C. government granted Cobble Hill Holdings a permit to receive up to 100,000 tonnes of contaminated soil a year at its Stebbings Road quarry. The Environmental Appeal Board upheld the permit this year.
The residents’ association is pushing to stay the board’s ruling after uncovering what the association says is a secret profit-sharing deal between the site’s owners and Active Earth Engineering, which was hired to do the environmental risk assessment.
The residents claim documentation of the deal, which was given to the association anonymously, placed the engineers in a conflict of interest and raises questions about the site’s safety. Residents fear contaminants will leach from the site and pollute their water supply.
Mike Kelly, Cobble Hill’s president, declined comment on Tuesday. He said previously that a deal was signed in February 2013, but he said it was never acted upon.
“The parties simply changed their minds and the agreement was abandoned thereafter,” he stated.
In its latest court filing, however, the residents’ association says Active Earth has disclosed 77 pages of emails that show the agreement “was in no respects abandoned.”
The association argues the emails show Cobble Hill Holdings, South Island Aggregates and the engineers working closely together in a new company named South Island Remediation through 2013 and into 2014.
The association says the documents show the partners exchanging information on a range of business activities, including finances, budgets, invoices and job summaries, including several that show an “M. Harry” receiving consulting fees per tonne of soil.
The association alleges the documents refer to Malahat Chief Michael Harry.
Calvin Cook, president of the Shawnigan Residents’ Association, called Harry’s resignation “unfortunate” in light of his hard work on behalf of the Malahat people.
“The Malahat band has a lot of tremendous people working for them and they’ve got a lot on the go; they’ve got a lot of positive developments.”
The Malahat have appointed Coun. Tom Harry as the interim chief, while Lewis said he will continue to handle the nation’s business and operations. Tom Harry is Michael Harry’s uncle.
“We continue to focus our efforts to look after the nation’s interests, its citizens and its business enterprises,” Lewis said.
Read more Island news at timescolonist.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
FYI Malahat is already backpedaling in court right now over the SIA remediation site it fully backed. They got bigger problems to worry if this is proven true. Here is news from last week on resignation from the chief:
VICTORIA — The chief of the Malahat First Nation has resigned over allegations he was receiving a consulting fee from the operators of a controversial soil dump near Shawnigan Lake.
The allegations, which have not been proved in court, are contained in the latest filing by the Shawnigan Residents’ Association, which is fighting to shut down a contaminated soil landfill owned by Cobble Hill Holdings and operated as South Island Aggregates. No response has been filed to date, but the time to file a response has not expired.
The association alleges that recently disclosed documents show the companies and their partners paying Malahat Chief Michael Harry a “consulting fee per tonne of soil.”
Lawrence Lewis, Malahat’s chief executive officer, confirmed Tuesday that “due to recent allegations,” Harry stepped down as the elected chief effective Monday, “while these matters are being investigated.”
“I think Chief Harry, in light of these allegations, has done the right thing,” Lewis said in an interview.
“He’s stepped aside (to) take his personal matters and his relationships out of the equation as far as the nation is concerned, so that we can continue on with the important work that we’re doing.”
Lewis said he had no idea whether the allegations are accurate, but said they appear to suggest a “personal relationship” between Harry and the site’s operators.
“I can’t comment on it,” he said. “I wasn’t aware of it. The nation wasn’t aware of it, so I can’t speak to it.”
Harry could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
In 2013, the B.C. government granted Cobble Hill Holdings a permit to receive up to 100,000 tonnes of contaminated soil a year at its Stebbings Road quarry. The Environmental Appeal Board upheld the permit this year.
The residents’ association is pushing to stay the board’s ruling after uncovering what the association says is a secret profit-sharing deal between the site’s owners and Active Earth Engineering, which was hired to do the environmental risk assessment.
The residents claim documentation of the deal, which was given to the association anonymously, placed the engineers in a conflict of interest and raises questions about the site’s safety. Residents fear contaminants will leach from the site and pollute their water supply.
Mike Kelly, Cobble Hill’s president, declined comment on Tuesday. He said previously that a deal was signed in February 2013, but he said it was never acted upon.
“The parties simply changed their minds and the agreement was abandoned thereafter,” he stated.
In its latest court filing, however, the residents’ association says Active Earth has disclosed 77 pages of emails that show the agreement “was in no respects abandoned.”
The association argues the emails show Cobble Hill Holdings, South Island Aggregates and the engineers working closely together in a new company named South Island Remediation through 2013 and into 2014.
The association says the documents show the partners exchanging information on a range of business activities, including finances, budgets, invoices and job summaries, including several that show an “M. Harry” receiving consulting fees per tonne of soil.
The association alleges the documents refer to Malahat Chief Michael Harry.
Calvin Cook, president of the Shawnigan Residents’ Association, called Harry’s resignation “unfortunate” in light of his hard work on behalf of the Malahat people.
“The Malahat band has a lot of tremendous people working for them and they’ve got a lot on the go; they’ve got a lot of positive developments.”
The Malahat have appointed Coun. Tom Harry as the interim chief, while Lewis said he will continue to handle the nation’s business and operations. Tom Harry is Michael Harry’s uncle.
“We continue to focus our efforts to look after the nation’s interests, its citizens and its business enterprises,” Lewis said.
Read more Island news at timescolonist.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
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Fisherman Rob
Well-Known Member
Other than the site is zoned industrial, there does not appear to be any logical reason to have an LNG site there. I've read that there's no LNG on the island and there would have to be a significant pipeline project to bring it over from the mainland for processing.
The news story was just updated.... this LNG plant they are proposing is going to be a FLOATING LNG plant. That should make it even more interesting.
Saanich/Brentwood first nations will only oppose this until they are satisfied with the compen$ation they are getting. We can all be bought for a price.
Saanich/Brentwood first nations will only oppose this until they are satisfied with the compen$ation they are getting. We can all be bought for a price.
Dogbreath
Well-Known Member
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Yeah we are at 3 years now battling up here on just the toxic dump alone. I dont have a lot of respect for the administration of band put it that way. Turned there back on salmon and the watershed, and I think it is disgraceful myself if those documents on profit sharing are proved true. When that news came out a lot of anger in our community,but it wasn't shocking for many. The LNG project wont happen. Its a pipe dream. Well I guess we hope.
Right now if anything happens to Shawnigan creek up here where the dump is next to creek your coho salmon in goldstream will be in trouble. If Shawnigan creek falls, and gets polluted( we already have material leaking in it from adjacent site) it will no longer be the go to for hatchery for coho brood stock in times of need. The goldstream hatchery is still recovering from spill years back. Victoria residents need to wake up and realize its not just a north of Malahat issue. Imagine adding this LNG project on top of it and you will have another that can do major damage to gold stream and shawnigan creek. No more fish and no more goldstream river walks in the fall!
Sad times!
Right now if anything happens to Shawnigan creek up here where the dump is next to creek your coho salmon in goldstream will be in trouble. If Shawnigan creek falls, and gets polluted( we already have material leaking in it from adjacent site) it will no longer be the go to for hatchery for coho brood stock in times of need. The goldstream hatchery is still recovering from spill years back. Victoria residents need to wake up and realize its not just a north of Malahat issue. Imagine adding this LNG project on top of it and you will have another that can do major damage to gold stream and shawnigan creek. No more fish and no more goldstream river walks in the fall!
Sad times!
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Chumbawumba
Member
Any chance this is just a political play, where the band gets a bit of $$ and a LNG corp. gets to use it as a bargaining piece.
If you recall, the whole Bamberton area has had developers attempt to develop, even going as far as to remediate things only to be shut down. Noteworthy, was with the recent purchase of the site by Malahat FN the CEO Lawrence Lewis is quoted as saying,
“Our perspective is that the Malahat Nation is a government in Canada. It has the full right and jurisdiction and authority over its lands. It will work closely with the province and with Canada in terms of any further proponents or interests at the site"
This could have been a bit of foreshadowing, or perhaps I'm reading too much into it. I agree though, I doubt this will ever get approved. Something smells fishy (and not in a good way).
If you recall, the whole Bamberton area has had developers attempt to develop, even going as far as to remediate things only to be shut down. Noteworthy, was with the recent purchase of the site by Malahat FN the CEO Lawrence Lewis is quoted as saying,
“Our perspective is that the Malahat Nation is a government in Canada. It has the full right and jurisdiction and authority over its lands. It will work closely with the province and with Canada in terms of any further proponents or interests at the site"
This could have been a bit of foreshadowing, or perhaps I'm reading too much into it. I agree though, I doubt this will ever get approved. Something smells fishy (and not in a good way).
Chumbawumba
Member
Edit: Double Post
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