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6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer December 14, 2012 perspective Jumbo issues not going away By Greg Amos Pioneer Staff When the Jumbo Glacier mountain resort municipality was announced as a done deal on tuesday, November 20th, many who supported that move appealed for people in the east Kootenays to accept and embrace the decision, to allow for a community healing process to begin. That might be hard to do when many feel as though there’s still a knife in their back. And if a few events that have transpired since are any indication, the deeply entrenched positions not ready to give up the fight just yet. Let’s start with the regional district board, who are still in shock at the prospect of having a non-elected member casting votes at the regional table. That’s slated to happen, unless the quaint hamlet of Jumbo Glacier grows much more rapidly than most are predicting. Having a corporate representative voting on local government decisions would be a first in B.c., and the regional district is right to be concerned about it. Then there’s the even thornier issue around the credibility of the Ktunaxa Nation’s 2010 Qat’muk declaration. While more than 300 Ktunaxa members and supporters marched through the streets of cranbrook on November 30th in support of the application for a judicial review of the resort’s approval filed that day, a new website, www.beforeqatmuk.com , was launched by Jumbo Glacier proponents on the same day. The site’s headline statement, that the declaration is not credible, suggests the importance of Qat’muk has been greatly exaggerated by some. i recommend anyone reading the site take a look at troy Hunter’s letter of support for the project in 2003, which mentions an elder’s recollections of a people called Q’atmuknik. An author i interviewed earlier this week told me about the time legendary mountaineer conrad Kain and a partner once colluded to blow up a chunk of the Jumbo Glacier. At this point, one can only speculate about the forces they may have unleashed in doing so. is independently owned and operated, published weekly by Misko Publishing Limited Partnership. Box 868, #8, 1008 - 8th pioneer Ave., Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0 Phone: 250-341-6299 • Fax: 250-341-6229 Email: info@cv-pioneer.com www.columbiavalleypioneer.com Rose-Marie Regitnig Publisher Historical Historical Lens Lens A pair of Christmas tree inspectors keep an eye out for blight as they tag trees for size at a Columbia Valley tree farm in this photo taken by J.W. McLeod in the 1950s. If you have any more information, e-mail us at info@cv-pioneer.com . Photo A1040 courtesy of the Windermere District Historical Society Dear Editor: FIPPA is a poor fit for Canada Steven Harper has done it again with his treasonous approval of the Chinese governmentcontrolled Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) takeover bid for the Canadian tar sands giant Nexen. This deal gives the Chinese between three and six billion barrels of tar sands oil. Harper’s approval came with no public input and was announced late on a Friday afternoon - a clear attempt to sneak it under the public’s radar. The deal is bad for several reasons, the most important being this is a gift of a Canadian resource to a foreign government. Even worse is the fact that Harper could at any time approve the Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPPA). If he Greg Amos Editor Kate Irwin Reporter/ Special Publications Editor Evergreen team Kristian Rasmussen Reporter approves this Act, CNOOC (and any other Chinese corporation invested in Canada) will be able to sue Canadian governments (federal and provincial) in secret tribunals if our governments do anything which CNOOC perceives as a threat to its corporate profits. This would include any environmental protections and job creation efforts. Harper’s latest action is just one more example of his failure to protect the interests of Canada. Canadians must wake up to his treachery and tell him that Canada is not for sale. The hypocrite Harper, who in the past railed against the Communist Chinese government, must protect Canadian democracy and our natural resources. He must be told not to ratify FIPA. Norm Funnell, Radium Hot Springs Dean Midyette Advertising Sales Angela Krebs Advertising Sales Emily Rawbon Graphic Design Amanda Diakiw Office Administrator/ Classified Sales
December 14, 2012 The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7 Dear Editor: LETTERS Taft responds to letter writer’s critique Regarding the letter ‘Chamber is correct about mini-Mac’ in your December 7th edition, I don’t know what a ‘mini- Mac’ is, I don’t have any provincial political aspirations at this time, and I think Mr. Berzins is mistaken: Invermere is a great place to live, visit and do business in. I make no apologies for having safe municipal water with low turbidity — we are working on meeting the excessive Interior Health requirements that presently only three out of over 12 water systems in the Columbia Valley meet. I also make no apologies for helping to save and preserve historic buildings, recognizing the importance of sustainability (including local food) and keeping garbage off the sidewalks downtown (yes, the garbage cans are solar, that’s so they can compact the garbage and we can keep our streets clean and the locals and visitors happy during the busy times). Our economy and the local business community are important, so are our lake and our overall environment, and so are the non-profit and volunteer groups in the community. Everything needs time, attention, and in some cases money, to create success, and the District of Invermere council is committed to achieving success. There are no blacklists, just hardworking people trying their hardest. If Mr. Berzins thinks that Invermere isn’t a great place to live, I hope he takes his negativity and bitterness somewhere else. Gerry Taft, Mayor of Invermere Invermere needs more gardens Dear Editor: I wonder if the District of Invermere would consider expanding the mandate of its talented and popular group of gardeners to oversee the setup, planting and growth of vegetable gardens strategically placed on the outskirts of district lands. These people are already employed by the district. New employment of no income, low income and other individuals to do the work in the gardens with expert supervision and know-how would assist residents of Invermere and surrounding communities with earning a living. We want to hear from you Email your letters to info@cv-pioneer. com or visit our website at www.columbiavalleypioneer.com. Mail your letters to Box 868, Invermere, V0A 1K0, or drop them in at 1008-8th Avenue. We do not publish open letters or third-party letters. Letters for publication should be no A regular or constant supply of all kinds of vegetables would become available locally to individuals, families and stores. Deer could be allowed to visit a portion of all these gardens, perhaps causing them to move out to areas where they would interfere less with residents in the more populated areas of Invermere. Deer culls would perhaps not have to be considered, and people would begin to lose their fear and hostility toward the deer. I could see this working for the benefit of all, as things should be. Mark Pocock, Invermere longer than 400 words, and must include the writer’s address and phone numbers. No attachments, please. Letters may be shortened for space requirements. We reserve the right to edit for space, clarity, civility and accuracy. Opinions expressed are those of the writer, not The Pioneer. ARE YOU LITTLE-BLACK-DRESS READY? Fusion Wellness Spa 250-341-3511 60 minute facial 45 minute pedicure 45 minute manicure $200 + HST Book now at the following locations: All Angles is now Add on a 30 minute Jane Iredale makeup application for $30 + HST Fusion at Copper Point Resort 250-341-3522 Check out our Facebook page ~ www.facebook.com/selkirktv 7th Avenue, Invermere • 250-342-6415 With the same great service you’ve come to expect! Call us for your heavy duty towing We also offer: • Towing • Flat deck service • Locksmith • Boat recovery • Off road recovery • Free recycling of scrap cars
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