Campbell River Mirror

January 29, 2009 12:00 PM

I am writing this article to shine some light on what the NDP and their psuedo-enviromentalist bought-and-paid-for associates are doing in their attempts to discredit First Nations involvement in run-of-river development projects.

Real environmentalist organizations should ask for a First Nation perspective on the facts (as they have many times in the past) before embracing the fear-mongering hysteria being perpetuated by the NDP and unions as it tarnishes their credibility as stewards of the land.

I have personally attended several of these NDP so-called “public meetings” (they would not let me speak at one) on run of river issues, two of which were in Campbell River and one was with Rafe Mair in attendance.

It was a “million dollar” experience I would not pay a nickel to do again. I now know these people will say or do anything to get in control of your tax dollars.

Truth and facts do not even enter into their blathering as they are only concerned with promoting their political agenda.

After enduring some union officials drone on about how many union office jobs were lost at BC Hydro, the meetings deteriorated into nothing more than a rehash of comments by political hacks and deliberate misinformation regarding the environmental footprint.

I personally corrected some of their “stated facts” at one event as did several other First Nations Chiefs, but they have chosen to ignore the facts and they continue to disseminate out-right fabrications.

The political reality is quite clear, their position on the facts is misguided and infirm of purpose, and motivated by the NDP’s desire to access your tax dollars in order to build mega projects using union labor (fast ferries and the Inland Island Highway are a great example of their business ability) rather than see private enterprise build them on time and on budget.

Our lands and our traditional territory have sustained us for thousands of years and we are not about to allow activity dangerous to our environment or our people.

Contrary to Mr. Mair’s statement that there is no environmental assessment of these projects, the Klahoose First Nation participated in drafting the terms of reference for a two-year environmental assessment and then paid our own consultants to review it and found that it addressed all our concerns.

Mr. Mair, at one time, was a well respected voice of common sense, but after listening to him rant at a recent event it is quite clear that he doesn’t have his finger on the pulse of what British Columbians want and he is unequivocally on the wrong side of the science with regard to these projects.

I cannot speak to all run of river developments, but those in our territory have a very small footprint, do not flood our lands, do not interfere with salmon and return water to our streams unaltered.

Our people and residents of the Sunshine Coast communities are benefiting directly from this activity without public funds being siphoned off to unions and a left wing government.

I find it strikingly odd that in this current economic downturn anyone could vilify a group that is prepared to inject $5 billion into the coastal economy and, as a result, create an abundance of jobs and generate carbon emission-free energy that would potentially remove 800,000 tons of green house gases from being released into our atmosphere.

In closing, we as First Nations involved in these community power projects feel proud to not only participate in a solution to green house gas emissions, but also to use this incredible opportunity as a historically huge stepping stone to economic self-sufficiency.

These are unprecedented times for First Nations in this province and we will stand our ground and do whatever it takes to maintain these prosperous times.

Ken Brown,

Chief Councilor Klahoose First Nation