Mixed response to BC Government Jumbo municipality approval decision
By Bruce Fuhr
The decision by the B.C. Government to incorporate the site of the Jumbo Ski Hill expansion as a mountain resort municipality isn’t sitting well with most environmental groups fighting to Keep Jumbo Wild.
“We know this was going to be the next step, but that doesn’t make it any better . . . it’s still a step in the wrong direction in so many ways,” executive director of the West Kootenay EcoSociety David Reid told The Nelson Daily Tuesday after hearing the news.
“With the environmental impacts that are so well documented for Jumbo . . . for the tax impact now that the taxpayers are going to have go pay to keep the road up to Jumbo cleared and the uncertain economic climate (Glacier Resorts Ltd.) launching into in terms of how much demand there might be for skiing, it remains a bad idea.
“That’s why it’s been on the shelf for 23 years.”
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett made the announcement in Victoria Tuesday that Cabinet has approved the incorporation of Jumbo as a mountain resort municipality.
Bennett, who said the project has gone through the most exhaustive public consultation in B.C. history, appointed a municipal council for a term ending Nov. 30, 2014, and an interim corporate officer has also been named and will serve until the first council meeting of the new municipality.
Jumbo’s first mayor and councilors are Greg Deck, Nancy Hugunin and Steve Ostrander.
Phil Taylor will be the interim corporate officer, ensuring that the municipality is operational by its incorporation date of Feb. 19, 2013.
“The regional district and local taxpayers would have been saddled with years of additional controversy, expense and uncertainty,” said Kootenay East MLA Bennett.
“This will give our communities an opportunity to heal from this 22-year-old controversy and move on.”
Despite the news, environmental groups vow to continue to pressure the government to change their decision.
“For over 20 years, the regional population has remained unwaveringly opposed to Jumbo Glacier Resort,” said Bob Campsall of the Jumbo Creek Conservation Society (JCCS).
“This announcement demonstrates the current government’s blatant disrespect for public opinion, for democracy, and for the role of elected local governments as managers of local land uses”.
Robyn Duncan of Wildside said the decision “is a public land grab.”
“For 20 years, the people have said no to the Jumbo Resort, grizzly bear scientists have said no to the Jumbo Resort and the Ktunaxa Nation has said no to the Jumbo Resort,” said Robyn Duncan, Program Manager with Wildsight.
“In September, the Union of BC Municipalities said no. This decision changes the face in democracy in BC.”
The municipal approval comes on the heels of the Jumbo Glacier Resort’s Master Development Agreement was approved in March 2012 and is welcomed by the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce is pleased that a project which has met all the criteria set forth by five Provincial Governments over 22 years continues move forward through the legislated process,” Susan Clovechok, Executive Director at Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce said from Invermere.
“Jumbo Glacier Resort has the potential to bring significant investment to the Columbia Valley which will result in well paying jobs throughout the construction phases and then on going jobs of all level in operations.”
The new council’s role is to protect the public interest and to ensure that the resort is developed with future residents in mind and that the services and amenities are in place to accommodate them.
Mayor Deck must also consider the protection of the environment, the interest of First Nations and economic development interests of the provincial government and the resort developer.
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