Minister Heyman is still refusing to meet with us about Burnco
January 22, 2018
Tracey Saxby
We're getting desperate. We have tried for months to meet Minister Heyman, but his staff claim he is "too busy." As soon as the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO) delivers their report on February 2nd, Minister Heyman can no longer speak with stakeholders (that would be us!) about the proposed Burnco gravel mine.
We have grave concerns about the integrity of the environmental assessment process, and the use of the professional reliance approach to assess the Burnco gravel mine. This highly destructive project threatens McNab Creek, which is one of only three salmon-bearing estuaries in Howe Sound. It feels like Minister Heyman is being kept under lock and key.
This is of the utmost urgency. Our estuaries are irreplaceable. Why would we put McNab Creek estuary at risk when there are many alternative locations to put a gravel mine in less sensitive habitat? Here are a few ways you can help:
1) Sign our Burnco letter
More than 3,000 letters have already been sent! Can you take two minutes to send a letter too?
2) Tweet or email the Minister directly
Ask Minister Heyman why he won't meet with representatives from My Sea to Sky to talk about the Burnco gravel mine. Be respectful, and keep it short and sweet.
Twitter: @GeorgeHeyman
Email: env.minister@gov.bc.ca
3) Join us outside Minister Heyman's constituency office on Friday 26th January
If the Minister won't meet with us, we're going to take the message directly to him. Our estuaries are too important for our wild salmon and the seventy-six remaining resident orcas that depend on them. Can you join us?
WHEN: Friday, January 26th from 10:30am to 12pm
WHERE: 642 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z1G1 (2nd block west of Cambie St)
RSVP ON OUR WEBSITE or RSVP ON FACEBOOK
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We're resubmitting your letter for the Federal public comment period for Burnco
Back to back public comment periods are never fun, so we're going to take all of the letters that have already been sent, bundle 'em up, and submit them through the Federal CEAA process. We're also going to take all 3,000+ letters and deliver them directly to Minister Catherine McKenna. There. Job done. (Make sure you send a letter too so we can include yours!)
Our research team will make a submission on behalf of My Sea to Sky, and we're continuing to engage directly with MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and MP Jonathan Wilkinson along with our partners.
For those folks that want to submit your own comments, the deadline for the Federal (CEAA) public comment period for Burnco is this Friday, 26th January.
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Here's what we said about Professional Reliance
The professional reliance approach has failed to protect the communities around Howe Sound. From a lack of baseline data, to suppression of reports, to the inherent conflict of interest of data that is bought and paid for by the proponents, we outlined 14 key issues and made 61 recommendations to help fix the professional reliance approach. Phew!
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Every little action adds up. Thank you for standing up to protect Howe Sound.
Tracey & the My Sea to Sky team
P.S. We're still looking for 50 Howe Sound heroes to help support our campaigns by becoming monthly donors. Will you be one of them?
My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and 100% powered by the passion of our volunteers from 2014-2016. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to protect Howe Sound. Every dollar helps.