The idea to build the Jumbo ski Resort started 22 years ago and has followed a long and divisive path. However, they have completed all environmental impact assessments and mitigation plans according to the existing standard, with 195 environmental committements that they have to meet. There is no reason for development not to go ahead. What those who are opposed are really saying is that the current government sanctioned environmental protection levels are not good enough and even though the Jumbo Resort meets the standard, they still don’t want to see it build under any circumstances.
Don't get me wrong. If it is bad for the environment that is an issue, but then the problem was with the government standard that was defined. It is too late after everything is met to change the rules.
Don't get me wrong. If it is bad for the environment that is an issue, but then the problem was with the government standard that was defined. It is too late after everything is met to change the rules.
We simply cannot do business that way. If the standard is not good enough, then lobby to have it changed. However, until it is, if a business has proven that they meet the current standard, they must be allowed to continue doing business. If that were not the case, we would not see any investment in our province at all. Why would anyone risk investing in an area that will change the rules once you have met the requirements?
To say that the economics aren’t currently as good as they were and so the environmental impact is not worth the investment may sound good but it is not. In a free market, the government DOES NOT dictate production, industry does. If the current reduction in tourism makes this less attractive then it will not attract investors, which seems to be the case. However, they must be allowed to make that decision for themselves. The government does not know if having this resort won’t increase tourism. If it doesn’t, and this resort has to compete for the existing clients against other resorts like Whistler, then the consumer will win with cheaper ski packages. That is the way it is supposed to work.
The real issue here is that it took 2 decades to come to a decision either for or against.
"the project had passed all necessary regulatory and environmental hurdles, but stalled on final provincial approval"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/20/bc-jumbo-glacier-approval.html?cmp=rss
We must not ignore the environmental concerns, rather we must put the right safeguards in place. Then we must abide by them in a reasonable timeline. Surely 22 years is long enough for everything to have been reviewed.
"the project had passed all necessary regulatory and environmental hurdles, but stalled on final provincial approval"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/20/bc-jumbo-glacier-approval.html?cmp=rss
We must not ignore the environmental concerns, rather we must put the right safeguards in place. Then we must abide by them in a reasonable timeline. Surely 22 years is long enough for everything to have been reviewed.
