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Jumbo issue rising in Victoria again
The pressure is on the provincial government, once again, to once-and-for-all deal with the almost two decades-old Jumbo Glacier Resort issue.
The Ktunaxa Nation Council and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald have both called on the ruling Liberal government to hear the people of the Kootenays on Jumbo.
In a recent press release the Ktunaxa Nation (KN) renewed its call for the province to stop the “cultural and environmental disaster, by saying ‘no’ to a resort in the Jumbo Valley.”
The KN’s opposition to the estimated $1 billion, three-season ski resort proposed for the upper Jumbo Valley, 55 km west of Invermere, has been well documented the past decade but it hit a new height in November 2010 when it delivered to the Legislature the Qat’muk Declaration, which outlined the cultural significance of the region, and provided principles for appropriate activities and usage in the sacred area.
“The Qat’muk Declaration was delivered by a delegation of Ktunaxa Nation Citizens, and was read aloud in the BC Legislature Building, with local Victoria-area First Nations there in support,” the KN press release noted.
“Located in southeastern British Columbia, this area, known as Qat’muk (GOT-MOOK) to Ktunaxa, is the home to the Grizzly Bear Spirit and the core of a culturally pivotal sacred site. It also provides key habitat for grizzlies and numerous other wildlife species,” the KN reminded.
“We had strongly hoped the Qat’muk Declaration and media campaign would convey to the province how culturally significant this area is for us,” said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Chair. “The Qat’muk Declaration is a very even-handed document that specifies a core area that is protected, and a buffer area in which appropriate activities that respect the land may take place. It speaks to our stewardship of the area, as well as our willingness to work with others to make sure this area is accessible in its current state for future generations.”
Macdonald reminded the Legislature last week that the KN’s voice has not been heard, nor have those of other residents of the Kootenays who have demanded to have a say in how this long-running Crown land issue is handled.
“One of the highlights from my time here as an MLA was being invited to participate and witness the Ktunaxa’s first visit to this Legislature,” Macdonald said. “They came here and issued the Qat’muk Declaration, stating that the Jumbo Valley was sacred, and insisting that it be protected from development.”
Macdonald questioned the government about why it has decided to listen to the people of the region when it comes to the Flathead Valley, but not about Jumbo Valley.
“The government has shown a willingness to listen to local residents in its decision to protect the Flathead, but has yet to show that same respect for local opinion when it comes to the Jumbo Valley,” he said.
Speaking to Bill 2, which restricts mining, oil and gas development and coal bed gas extraction in the Flathead Watershed Area, Macdonald lauded the government’s willingness to listen to local residents in this case, and asked the government to apply that same standard to the decision on whether or not the application to develop Jumbo Glacier Resort should be approved.
“One of the reasons I am supporting Bill 2 is that I believe that the people in the area broadly support this compromise,” said Macdonald. “I believe that local support is critically important. But we are also dealing with another land use decision in the Kootenays; Jumbo Valley. If we apply the same standard to that decision, the government will have to decide not to allow the development of a resort in that area.
“I look for the principles of local decision-making and respect for the views of local residents to be applied not only to this one case but also to the decision on Jumbo Glacier Resort.”
The KN decided to bring the Jumbo issue to light again because the one-year anniversary of the Qat’muk Declaration is approaching.
“We would like to once again point out the risks associated with this resort. Approval would not only cause serious and irreversible harm to the Ktunaxa way of life, but also be an environmental disaster in southeastern British Columbia. The provincial decision-makers now have an opportunity to say no to this resort and stop this jumbo mistake,” Teneese stated.
The Ktunaxa Nation has never extinguished its Aboriginal Title within their traditional territory, and government has a legal obligation to consult about and accommodate impacts upon Ktunaxa interests. The Ktunaxa Nation has continuously opposed the development of the proposed resort due to its impacts on Ktunaxa rights and interests. The Ktunaxa Nation wants to ensure that any development happens in a manner that is consistent with the Qat’muk Declaration that can be found at www.beforejumbo.com, the press release concluded.
Additionally, Teneese pointed out the provincial government’s lackadaisical approach to ensuring that remediation work is being done in the Farnham Glacier area, by Glacier Resorts Ltd.
“When questioned, the Province acknowledged that there were issues with Glacier Resorts being in compliance,” Teneese said, adding, “Perhaps the more troubling aspect for us was the province’s indifference to the non-compliance. There has been, and continues to be a lot of secrecy and misinformation about this resort and the special treatment the province has given the proponent.
“This should be causing the public a lot of concern. Why should we trust that the proponent will do any better with the much more stringent and comprehensive requirements it would be under if the resort is approved? Will the government even be bothered to ensure they comply?”
Glacier Resorts Ltd. has a license of occupation for the Farnham Glacier area, which is part of Qat’muk, the KN stated. The licence allows Glacier Resorts to conduct various low impact alpine activities, and also carries with it legal remediation responsibility.
“Throughout the summer reports started to surface that Glacier Resorts’ remediation responsibilities were not being fulfilled as required by their license,” Teneese said.
Finally, on Oct. 20 Macdonald asked in the Legislature when the Liberals would take “Jumbo off the table?”
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Steve Thomson said government “will continue to do our due diligence,” while noting that the Jumbo proposal has been through “17 years” of processes.
Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation fired back that the NDP’s “constant destructive approaches” to the provincial economy were being shown in the timing of Macdonald’s demand. “On a day when 4,000 people in B.C.” are getting high paying jobs, from the Canadian Royal Navy contract announcement, “what do we hear” from the NDP?
Several other relevant provincial government agencies did not respond to e-KNOW’s requests from comment. In fact, this story has sat on the shelf for up to two weeks, to give an idea as to the length of time the government was afforded to make comment.
For more on Macdonald’s Oct. 20 Legislature request go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGD5WNP2jxQ
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
