This is a copy of a letter written to the District of Squamish council that was forwarded to The Squamish Chief for publication:
Congratulations to council for deferring the decision on industrial activity within the Skwelwil’em, Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The clear intention of the 1999 Squamish Estuary Management Plan (SEMP) was to allow industrial, commercial and residential uses outside the WMA area, not within the WMA. The intention of DOS jurisdiction over the training dike which bisects the WMA was to honour existing use by the windsports group; not to permit industrial activities, temporary or not, in the middle of the WMA. Endorsing industrial activity in the WMA breaks the intention of the 1999 SEMP.
Case in point, a number of years ago there was an application to site a temporary, test wind turbine in the WMA to asses wind generation opportunities. At the suggestion of the provinces behind the scenes, the application was quietly withdrawn. The temporary industrial use could have significant and potentially catastrophic repercussions for the entire land use plan, for example revisiting
the 7th Avenue connecter.
Yes, the province can overrule any District of Squamish resolution, the province can, in fact, dissolve or create any municipal government in B.C., period (with the possible exception of Vancouver). And, yes, times and legislation change; however, great care must be taken in oversetting the 1999 consensus agreement. I hope we can trust this and future councils, along with other signatories to the agreement, to defend the integrity and intention of Skwelwil’em, Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area.
Meg Fellowes
former DOS Councillor 1993 – 1999
2007 Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Plan planning participant
