What about the $20 million blank cheque?
Heintzman defended
Editor,
As a long-time resident of Squamish I feel compelled to respond to two letters to the editor appearing in The Chief, Oct. 28, primarily because the second letter clearly "crosses the line" of reasonable and fair comment.
Firstly, with respect to "Heintzman apologizes" I wish to compliment Ms. Heintzmen for acknowledging her indiscretion as it pertained to the new managing director of the Chamber, and the fact she has apologized to those her actions may have offended. Working relationships, in order to be professional and harmonious, need be based on trust. Given this new managing director's credentials, presumed ethics and abilities, one simply would not anticipate him betraying her trust in this fashion. She has obviously learned from this, handled it appropriately under the circumstances, and appears prepared to take this experience with her for her future endeavours.
With respect to the second letter, "Heintzman upbraided" are we to applaud Mr. Day's genius (see his multiple presidencies and 37 years of experience) and his overt condemnation of her? He states Ms. Heintzman is incompetent, queries how she would behave if she were mayor (a position she isn't running for), and then goes on to state she be held "personally responsible for any Chamber money that was misappropriated as a result of your own negligence". Are there not judicial remedies available for the recovery of such "misappropriated" funds if in fact they are not to be returned?
So let us now take a moment and refresh our memories. Is Douglas R. Day not the same person who was signatory to an earlier ad(s) in this newspaper, the purpose being to entice the citizens of Squamish to vote YES on a referendum for $20 million. To be spent on what? And what were his motives? Yes, it was to be a "signed blank cheque" with no "pay to the order of" on it by the citizens of Squamish. Fortunately 73 % of the populace didn't buy into this. Mr. Day now has the unmitigated gall to pass judgement on Ms. Heintzman, who does not have multiple presidencies nor 37 years experience, and publicly accuses her of incompetence, outrageous behaviour, misappropriation of funds and negligence. Why? Because she naively signed some blank cheques for the Chamber managing director? It is your comments Mr. Day which are "outrageous", not Ms. Heintzman's actions.
Does it follow then the citizens of Squamish can expect you Mr. Day, and your contemporaries (New Directions) at city hall, to reimburse our community for all costs incurred by the aforementioned referendum. This was a proposal all of you knew, or ought to have known from its inception, had no chance of succeeding, all the while "misappropriating" our taxpayers money on this ill-conceived plan? Negligence? I offer this to be a reasonable expectation of you based on your clearly stated expectations of Ms. Heintzman.
I do not personally know Ms Heintzman, but from what I have observed I surely hope she is successful in becoming a municipal councillor. She came forth and readily accepted responsibility for her "incorrectly" trusting someone. Her explanation and apology in dealing with this issue I find to be acceptable and refreshing.
Chuck Cook
Squamish
Disappointed over missing the ferry
Editor,
The 2010 Bid Book (page 79) described Passenger Ferry to Squamish as an integral part of the 2010 multi-model transportation plan serving app. 30 per cent of the spectators traveling between Vancouver and Whistler.
The Squamish Community (being Heart of 2010) had celebrated this component of the plan for its potential impact as a legacy. In addition, the travel would have taken the visitors through downtown Squamish that was anticipated to dress up for the occasion. The development of a ferry terminal was the only tangible benefit Squamish would have drawn from the 2010 Olympics. A cancellation is an immense disappointment.
The Squamish Town Centre Association (STCA) wishes to publicly express our disappointment over the way Squamish has been treated by the Olympic Committee. We urge the residents of Squamish to write to the VANOC to let their feelings be known.
Mohammad Afsar
President STCA
A dismayed voter
Editor,
I am dismayed by the continuing trend towards partisan politics in our municipal elections. Although I'm sure all of the people running on the New Directions slate are fine citizens and probably deserving of my vote, I won't be voting for any of them.
I would like to think that each councilor would attend meetings with an open mind, ready to listen to everyone's point of view, debate the issues and then vote as an individual. Hopefully they would also take into account what their neighbors and fellow citizens are saying when they vote. At present I feel decisions are made before meetings and instead of getting six people to represent our interests we have only one directing the others.
I am also dismayed that there was only one other candidate (hats off to Terrill Patterson) besides Mr. Sutherland running for mayor. However by electing councillors who are not part of his team maybe we can make our mayor more fiscally responsible in the next three years.
Betty Hinkema
Squamish
Power to the people
Editor,
I fail to see why we, the people of Squamish, or B.C., should rejoice over the opening of Canadian Hydro's IPP under the present agreement.
Will it help lessen power shortages in B.C.? For the next 20 years yes, after that maybe, if the price is right.
Do we need the power now? Yes. Do we need it even more in 20 years? Yes.
So why should we celebrate the giving away of a resource for one hundred (100) years but only have guaranteed access for twenty (20) years.
What are we thinking? Or better yet, what are our elected representatives thinking? Case in point: our government gave Alcan the right to divert water to generate electricity to produce aluminum and create jobs in Kitimat. If excess power was generated it could be sold.
Now many years later it is cheaper to produce aluminum elsewhere.
Does the water flow back into and restore the river? No. Are the jobs still there? No. Does the electricity help our power shortage in B.C? No.So who is benefiting from the use of the peoples' resource? The people of B.C.? No.
Someone please tell me why we should celebrate the giving away, after twenty (20) years, the electricity generated, forever, by the "Upper Mamquam run-of-the-river independent power project"? I am waiting for the answer.
W. Berg
Brackendale
No gold, no glory
Editor,
Unbelievably, one day after the Esso fiasco boiled over John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee in an effort to gain public favour and manipulate the masses bought a full page colour ad in the Vancouver Sun and stated, "This week, Bell's $15 million commitment to support our athletes in their quest for excellence demonstrates their leadership position in Canadian business and is an inspiration for Canadian athletes to go for gold. In this world of millisecond and millimeter differences between winning a medal and going home empty handed, the science of sport technology plays a critical role."
How's that John? Are you agreeing with Nike? "You don't win Silver. You lose Gold? Furlong's statement of "going home empty handed" implies that if you don't win a gold medal you are an empty handed loser. Nice John. Maybe we should get a few Canadian silver medallists together so you can tell them to their faces you think they are losers. I'll call Karen Cockburn, Jake Wetzel, Barney Williams, Cameron Baerg, Thomas Herschmiller, Alexandre Despatie, Ross Macdonald, Mike Wolfs, Marie-Helene Premont and Tonya Verbeek to let them know where you want to meet. Next time you want to make a public statement maybe you should first run it by VANOC puppet master IOC President Jacques Rogge.
Don't believe Furlong for a second when he says he gallantly defends all athletes. It is clear after this statement that he puts Olympic organizations and elite athletes first, ahead of the Vancouver/Whistler community, and especially the bulk of Canadian athletes. Local media must quit playing into his hands.
Most Canadians don't know it, but it cost Australian taxpayers $40 million per gold medal to own their podium - in 2000 on their home turf they won 58 medals total including 16 gold, 25 silver and 17 bronze. Do the math. Hopefully Bell and all the other corporate sponsors like RBC, Rona and HBC will pick up the tab so taxpayers and small business don't get stuck with it.
Own the Podium? How about own your home or own your business?
Maurice Cardinal
OlyBLOG.com
Brackendale development controversy continues
Editor,
I would like to make a couple of points regarding the development of Brennan field, the recent information meetings and the ensuing article and letters in the Chief.
The first point is with respect to Mr. Gardner's statement that increased traffic will not be a problem in the area (regardless if the cars are on Brennan Road or Judd Road). The irony in this statement is really quite funny when you consider that Mr. Gardner is the owner of the local GM dealership. GM is the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. It would follow, then, that more traffic on any road is a good thing if you make your living selling cars.
The next point speaks to previous attempts to develop Brennan Field. The previous owners tried to develop the property, however, were denied permission. At that time it was the responsibility of the Provincial government to allow development on the flood plain.
Recently the responsibility has been downloaded to the local municipal governments. The question I ask is, why would the District of Squamish approve development in an area that the Provincial government deemed unsuitable for suburban development, given that our local government admittedly has fewer engineers, resources and expertise to make this kind of decision?
There is a growing number of residents in Brackendale who are uniting to help steer the course of the growth of our community. If you would like more information or would like to become involved, please email me at [email protected].
Martin Fichtl
Brackendale
Duelling bingosEditor,
For the past 10 years or more the Big Chief Youth Society has been having bingo's on Monday nights except holidays and funerals and for summer breaks. On the Stawamus Reserve the old Totem Hall and now new Totem Hall have been having bingos regardless if there is 50 or 10 players. The reason is because we are a non profit society hoping to help others achieve their goals whether it be the canoe pullers traveling to compete, or the sports groups that need to fundraise for their uniforms or to host various traditional events like the fourth Annual Veteran's Pow Wow that will be located at the new Totem Hall on Nov 11 to 13. There are about 20 different groups that utilize the bingos as it is the only way to fundraise.
So why is the Legion holding their bingo's on Monday nights without contacting anyone at the Totem Hall about having their bingos on Monday nights? When the other bingo company that was coming to Squamish, the Legion used its voice and said that they did not want another bingo to come to Squamish as it would hurt their bingos, well now look at that, they are hurting our bingos at the new Totem Hall, and to let you all know we do have a voice too.
Monday nights we are going to continue to have bingos to help our non profit community achieve their goals.
Swanamia (Diana Billy)
Letters Policy
The Chief welcomes letters to the editor.
Send your letters of up to 400 words:
BY E-MAIL to [email protected]
BY FAX to 604-892-8483
BY MAIL to Box 3500, Squamish, BC, V0N 3G0
DROP OFF at 38117 Second Ave. (downtown Squamish) during business hours.
The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Tuesday for Friday's edition.
All letters must be signed and include a phone number for verification plus the name of the writer's hometown or neighbourhood. Unsigned letters will be discarded.
The Chief will not publish phone numbers and addresses.
The Chief does not publish letters with the writer's name withheld except under specific and special circumstances, in which case the writer must still divulge his or her name and phone number to the editor. Contact the editor for details.
Letters may be subject to editing for length, clarity, grammar and legality. The Chief reserves the right to decline to publish letters.
Letters under 400 words in length about local subjects have priority over longer letters or letters dealing with non-local issues.
Letters longer than 400 words that are subject to editing for length will be published unedited on our website at www.squamishchief. com.
Letters are the opinions of their writers only and do not reflect the opinions of The Chief.
