Public consultations, BC residents (https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018ENV0003-000298# )
All feedback will be summarized into a public ‘What We Heard’ report that will be posted to this site in summer 2018. New spill regulations are anticipated in 2019.
From the Govt website, http://engage.gov.bc.ca/spillsregulation:
. . . Email your written submission to SpillResponse@gov.bc.ca before April 30, 2018. Written submissions will not be posted online but a list of organizations and individuals who submitted will be included in the final ‘What We Heard Report’.
Please do not include any personally identifiable information about yourself or others in your responses. . . .
Thank you for your interest and participation in the development of enhanced spill regulations in BC.
MY INPUT:
TO: Dept of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, BC Govt
CC: Premier John Horgan
There are many issues tangled up in one. Some of the inter-relationships have to be addressed, if we are to have right outcomes.
We have to be tougher than tough in the Spills Regulations – – and in the ENFORCEMENT of such Regulations, regardless of who the “spillers” may be, and what they are spilling.
“Spill” regulations is in the CONTEXT of:
We now have cholera and norovirus in the waters off Vancouver Island. To date, in spite of rhetoric, our REAL WORLD ability to protect against unsafe water (poisons, pollution going into the marine environment, whether of First Nations OR non-native communities) is one-way – – down. There are huge economic consequences, let alone health consequences, not only for local people. But for the unsuspecting people to whom food from those waters is exported. Please see http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=21002. The link in item #1 is to “spills in the context of”.
Point #2 at http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=21002 addresses, through specific example, the REASSURANCES we are always given. Why we continue to fall for them, I do not know. All the bradaggio, hubris and outright lies about “rapid response to emergency” professionalism that will SAVE US is farcical when you pull back the curtain. The perpetrators of the propaganda are . . . (I will spare your ears the word that comes to mind). What’s behind the curtain, is again, the REAL WORLD. Believing in fairy tales can get you into serious trouble.
In closing,
I recall the 2001 Supreme Court decision about the right of municipalities (Hudson, Quebec) to regulate in defence of the safety of their citizens. As I understand, the Supreme Court said:
Local government has NOT ONLY the RIGHT, but the RESPONSIBILITY to regulate to protect their people.
That was a ground-breaking decision of the Supreme Court. The right and DUTY would extend to Provincial Governments.
Thank-you for the opportunity to provide input. I hope it will actually be considered.
Best wishes,
Sandra Finley