Dear editor,We have been told that the Environmental Review Process is objective and fair.Not true. It鈥檚 a great big 鈥減ants-on-fire鈥� fib. Here鈥檚 why.Premier Christy Clark has put her credibility on the line. She bragged that in her new jobs package her government is supporting the development of eight new mines and the expansion of nine others. It is a key plank in her whole jobs strategy.The civil servants conducting the review process report to their political masters. Do you think they will remain objective in the face of this political decision.In November 2011 Premier Christy Clark introduced new legislation that enables some new mines to develop without any environmental review. Who needs a review process anyway? At an industry conference in Fort Nelson in October 2011, Premier Christy Clark said, "I'm tired of hearing people say, 'No, I don't want that development. No, I don't want those trees cut down. No, I don't want that mine. No, I don't want that well drilled.鈥漌ill that statement have any influence on the objectivity of civil servants conducting the review process? Of the more than 100 projects that have gone through the process only one has ever been turned down by provincial officials. What are the chances that this one will be turned down?More than 5000 people spoke at public meetings in the Comox Valley and Port Alberni or sent in written submissions. The vast majority said they don鈥檛 want the mine.But government has stated that in this objective and fair review process 鈥渘ot wanting the mine鈥� is irrelevant. It is not a valid objection. Is this fair and objective?In December, Compliance Energy produced its tracking table. It dumped 1,100 pages of responses on the public indicating those concerns the company would address.The responses were difficult to review and contained many errors and inaccuracies. The public鈥檚 comments about the errors and deficiencies remain unanswered.But here is the kicker. The public had only 15 days to comment on the tracking table. Is that fair and objective? Look at the Clark government鈥檚 track record. The Taseko Corporation filed a new and revised plan for its highly controversial Prosperity (Fish) Lake Project.Even before the federal government reversed its previous decision and announced a new environmental review process, the provincial government gave the company permission to make 59 test pits, drill 18 holes and develop 23.5 kms of roads.If you were on Taseko鈥檚 Board would you spend millions of dollars in capital projects if you did not know the project would sail through any review process? On Oct. 11, 2011 Premier Clark gave the Order of B.C. award to James C. O鈥橰ourke, the chairman of the board of Compliance Energy. In December 2011 the government announced a grant of $320,000 to North Island College to start a mine training program. Talk about getting all your ducks in a row.If you were in the cabinet in the B.C. government, would you approve this kind of expenditure unless you were assured that the Raven Project would ace the environmental review process? After their review of Compliance鈥檚 documents and comments from the public 鈥� and before any environmental assessment 鈥� the joint federal and provincial review bodies stated that, 鈥淭he Agency and other federal departments are not able to identify any residual significant adverse environmental effects that may result from the proposed Project.鈥漌ith this emperor-has-no-clothes approach, why even pretend to be conducting an objective and fair environmental process? You will only believe that this environmental review process is fair and objective if you also believe in the tooth fairy. The current process discriminates against the home owners in Fanny Bay and the Comox Valley. It discriminates against the shellfish growers in Baynes Sound. It ignores the opposition of the K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation.It obviously discriminates against a fair and objective approach to preserving our environment. It is hypocritical.Bottom line: This environmental review process just won鈥檛 pass the smell test.Mike BellEditor's note: Mike Bell is the co-chairperson of Sierra Club Comox Valley.
