On Wednesday night, residents, politicians and environmentalists packed into the Sechelt Seniors' Centre to rally together to voice concerns about Pan Pacific Aggregates' mine exploration and to plan their next steps in fighting the mine. Daniel Bouman, Sunshine Coast Conservation Association executive director, revealed a mining inspector's report stating the Ministry of Environment is investigating the company for Fisheries Act and B.C. Water Act violations in the Carlson Creek area. The Ministry of Energy and Mines' district inspector ordered the company to stop exploration near riparian areas, streams and wetlands.
"What we're looking at now is a number of Fisheries Act violations," Bouman told the crowd. "This is winnable. I'm not convinced there is going to be a mine up there, ever."
Inspector Ed Taje's report states: "Work was undertaken on stream crossings, in wetlands and within the required setback area." The report also cites new culverts for water flow having no consideration for migrating fish. As well, Taje wrote, the sediment traps are ineffective in blocking fine drilling cutlings from getting into the water.
Bouman added there are venues for accountability, which may be in court or through the Forest Practices Board. Bouman plans to file Freedom of Information requests for the company's mining permits and urged the public to do the same.Sunshine Coast Health Officer Paul Martiquet told the crowd of his plan to test air quality from dust particles near the mine site. "I can guarantee you're going to have an air quality monitor at that site," he said. He hopes if he finds evidence of health hazards, this would halt the mine permitting process.
Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) chair Ed Steeves said the SCRD is looking into issues with zoning and land use.Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons said he would not take sides on the issue, but rather his responsibility is to reflect the community's views to the government.
"I need to have people behind me," Simons said in his presentation. "There is a disconnect between the will of the community and what's taking place in the community."
He suggested a longer-term solution is for the community to get a land resource management plan through the provincial government.
Resident John Keats presented a summary of his mine tour June 22.
When the floor opened to questions, people raised diverse issues in a lively discussion, including permits, laws, conveyor belts and media coverage.
John Marian, SCRD director for Halfmoon Bay, said the mining laws being in place for a hundred years doesn't make them legitimate.
"The laws are well overdue for a complete review," Marian said.
He said the Vancouver stock market is "notorious for scams" and added it's possible this could be another scam. He said there's a need to protect the interests of investors.
West Sechelt resident John Hunt suggested the company run a conveyor belt across Premier Gordon Campbell's front yard in Halfmoon Bay.
Local media took hits from the audience, with accusations of biased reporting of the mine. Bouman advised the crowd they are trying to stop a mine, not reform a newspaper.
Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk stood up to say he was "upset and disturbed" with the tone of the meeting because people were dealing with emotion, instead of with fact. He said truth must also apply to Internet sites, citing the residents' groups' Stop It Sechelt website for spreading misinformation about his views on the mine.
"You have strong allies at the regional board," Janyk said. "Do not shoot your allies, especially in the back."
He said the SCRD would pursue every avenue to ensure the mining exploration is legal. "If it isn't, we're going to kick some butt," Janyk said.
Some in the crowd raised the question of why members of Pan Pacific were not there to respond and if they were in fact invited.
"They were invited through the same means you were," responded Jan Williams, a resident who chaired the meeting. But in a phone interview Thursday, Pan Pacific spokeswoman Gayle Bukowsky said the Stop It Sechelt website made it clear Pan Pacific was not welcome at the meeting, as the site said the meeting was not to discuss the pros and cons of the mine.
"They made it quite clear that we were not invited," Bukowsky said.
Pan Pacific has set dates for its open houses. They will run from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Sechelt Indian Band Community Hall July 20, the Roberts Creek Hall July 21, Cedars Inn July 25, Madeira Park Community Hall July 26 and Coopers Green Hall July 27.
"What we're trying to do is work with the community," Bukowsky said. "There is a lot of folks that want to work us. We'll try to dispel a lot of the myths and give people the opportunity to know us better."
As for those in the community who want the company to pack up and leave town, Bukowsky said, "We have a lot invested in the community, and we intend to be a part of the community."
