The two recent “open house” events held at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel relating to the proposed Fraser Surrey Docks’ coal export facility had nothing to do with public consultation.
You could only meet one-on-one with a representative from either the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) or Fraser Surrey Docks (FSD). There was no opportunity to hear what others were discussing; no chance to hear other questions or answers given; no way of knowing if the answer you got was the answer given to someone else; little expectation your comment would become part of the public record; and no chance to develop some momentum or consensus on any given issue through open dialogue.
Completed feedback forms went to FSD, the group with the greatest interest in this project, rather than an independent authority. The whole sham was pointless, biased and left folks disillusioned and intimidated.
Contrast the FSD events with the public consultation process last year surrounding the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal near Bellingham, Wash., the original port destination for the four million metric tonnes of Wyoming coal that is now slated to come to North Surrey annually.
Seven public meetings were held across Washington State over a four-month period, attended by over 8,000 interested parties. A dedicated website was created to handle comments, pro and con. Tens of thousands of comments were registered and considered, and summarized in a 140-page report by an independent body. The auditorium-style public forums were well advertised in newspapers, other media and websites. Environmental and public health oversight was considerable, both at the state and federal level, with rigid controls in place.
After everything was considered, the proposal was scrapped.
The issues that applied in Washington State are the same ones we face now; the reasons the Gateway proposal was rejected no less pertinent.
What’s with the cloak-and-dagger surrounding the FSD “open houses?” Why such a pathetic attempt at advertising the events? Why use the “open house” format versus a more transparent and open one? Why hold the events in North Surrey rather than in each community that may be affected by this new operation?
It is not too late to become informed. There is a wealth of info available relating to this and the defunct Washington State proposal – including the negative impacts of coal dust; the impact of coal operations on residential property values; the effectiveness of coal dust suppression techniques; and the toxic affects of coal on plant and aquatic life.
There is still time to voice your opinion. This is not a done-deal.
At least I sincerely hope not.
Shaun Garvey
