Last Chane to Save the Ashlu! Help Now!

[bodyboatblade]

Hello Everyone,

As many of you already know, the Ashlu River in Squamish BC has been under threat by Ledcore Corporation's micro hydro project. This river is one of the most amazing rivers I have ever paddled! The SLRD board has already held two public hearings on the issue. Shane Robinson and myself attended the last meeting in November, which was meant to be the final chance for outside opinions. There were more than 200 people in attendence and it was a very long, heated night. NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD! (the attached email at the bottom gives an explanation for why they are holding another meeting) While many of us are from the US and not BC, we must let them know by showing a huge amount of opposition that the Ashlu is a very important outdoor recreation resource for us. Outdoor rec and specifically kayaking is a viable economy for the Squamish area and if LOTS of us show opposition to this project from the states it helps prove this point!

Please make an effort to be involved!! We need you!!
We have A LOT of opposition and really need everyone that cares to participate.

Reference the email below; Please, I say with a heavy heart, take the time to write a letter (doesn't have to be long) to the SLRD expressing any concerns you have about an IPP development going in on the Ashlu and do your best to come out to the hearing the 10th of January and say a couple words. Every voice counts, and you must stand up to be counted (unfortunately this is true--luckily all you have to say is a simple yeh or neh)...

Wednesday 5 January is the last day for WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS to SLRD.

Monday 10 January is the FINAL HEARING at the Sea to Sky Hotel, 7:00 pm.

Here is a quick cute and paste list of the emails that you should be sending a letter to. There is also an address for hand written letters. A HAND WRITTEN LETTER IS THE BEST WAY FOR YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD! At the last meeting the SLRD board had a tally of all the letters in opposition and in favor of the IPP. They are counting them and we need everyone to write!

District of Squamish Contacts
------------------------------------
Ian Sutherland (Squamish Mayor)
isutherland@squamish.ca

Raj Kahlon (Squamish Councillor)
raj@rajkahlon.com

Jeff Dawson (Squamish Councillor)
jeff.dawson@cfdchs.com

Dave Fenn (Squamish Councillor)
dave_fenn@hotmail.com

Sonja Lebans (Squamish Councillor)
admdept@squamish.ca

Corrine Lonsdale (Squamish Councillor)
clonsdale@squamish.ca

Ray Peters (Squamish Councillor)
raypeters@shaw.ca

For quick cut and paste: isutherland@squamish.ca, raj@rajkahlon.com, jeff.dawson@cfdchs.com, dave_fenn@hotmail.com, admdept@squamish.ca, clonsdale@squamish.ca, raypeters@shaw.ca

Mailing Address
--------------------
Squamish Municipal Hall
PO Box 310
Squamish, B.C.
VON 3G0
kanema@squamish.ca

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards,
Bryan Smith
360 472 0261
lohitexpedition@hotmail.com








----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Morrison" <SayNoToAllIPPs@telus.net>
To: <SayNoToAllIPPs@telus.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2004 11:18 PM
Subject: Third Final Hearing and Vote on the Ledcor Ashlu IPP rezoning


> Doug Morrison, SayNoToAllIPPs@telus.net
> Phone (604) 898-9876
> Box 333, Garibaldi Highlands, BC V0N 1T0
>
> Hello Squamish Labour Group, North Shore Kayak Club Group, Upper Squamish
> Valley Residents, and others,
>
> As you're probably aware, the Minister of Sustainable Development, George
> Abbott hijacked the Ashlu IPP vote on Friday 17 December, forcing us into
a
> third final hearing and vote on the Ledcor Ashlu IPP. Please see articles
in
> Squamish's The Chief and Whistler/Pemberton's The Question and the Pique
> Newsmagazine.
>
> We have been instructed by SLRD directors and staff, who are also quite
> concerned about the government interference, to simply carry on doing all
> the same things we did before, and so we should - write to directors and
> staff of the SLRD, write to newspapers and attend the final hearing, as we
> did before.
>
> To repeat, SLRD directors and staff are hearing us, BUT we must go through
> the entire process again on a very abbreviated timetable, to continue to
> make our voices heard.
>
> Please note that John Turner is now CHAIR of the SLRD, elected at the last
> meeting, December 17.
>
> Here are the DEADLINES:
>
> The Chief: TUESDAYS BEFORE Fridays 31st December and 7th January for last
> letters into The Chief. Remember to ask for publishing in sister
> publications The Question and the Lillooet-Bridge River News at the same
> time if you wish. (I'll follow this with some email addresses, although I
> don't have one for the Lillooet-Bridge River News.)
>
> Wednesday 5 January is the last day for WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS to SLRD. (I'll
> follow this with an update on SLRD addresses for your group emailing.
>
> Monday 10 January is the FINAL HEARING at the Sea to Sky Hotel, 7:00 pm.
>
> Tuesday 11 January 9:00 am is the SLRD vote in Squamish Municipal Hall
> Chambers.
>
>
> SLRD Chair, Directors and Staff, 2005: Office (800) 298-7753
> Basic information below is as provided at the SLRD front desk,
> and is subject to constant change.
>
> Chair John Turner, Electoral Area D, johndturner@telus.net
> (604) 896-0209, 2 Beach Drive, Furry Creek, BC V0N 3Z1
>
> Director Ian Sutherland, Mayor of Squamish, isutherland@squamish.ca
> (604) 815-5005, DOS Box 310, Squamish, BC V0N 3G0
>
> Director Raj Kahlon, Squamish Councilor, rsk@rajkahlon.com
> (604) 898-3212, Cell 892-4665, his Lillooet Store (250) 256-7514
>
> Director Hugh O'Reilly, Mayor of Whistler, mayor@whistler.ca
> (604) 932-2075, MH 932-5535, 4325 Blackcomb Way Whistler, BC V0N 1B4
>
> Director Elinor Warner, Mayor of Pemberton, villageofpemberton@direct.ca
> Mun Hall (604) 894-6135, Box 100, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0
>
> Director Susan Gimse, Electoral Area C, gimse@uniserve.com
> (604) 452-3201, Box 363, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0
>
> Director Russ Oakley, Electoral Area A, roakley@goldtrail.com
> (250) 238-2519, Gralorne Avenue, Gold Bridge, BC V0K 1P0
>
> Director Mickey Macri, Electoral Area B, mic88@telus.net
> (250) 256-4560, Box 741, Cache Creek, BC V0K 1H0
> (living on Pavilion Lake)
>
> Director Greg Kamenka, Mayor of Lillooet, greg.k@telus.net
> Mun Hall (250) 256-4289, Box 610, Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0
>
> SLRD Administrator Paul Edgington, pedgington@slrd.bc.ca
> (800) 298-7753, extension
>
> SLRD Planning Manager Steven Olmstead, solmstead@slrd.bc.ca
> (800) 298-7753, extension 228
>
> SLRD Planner Susan Stratis, sstratis@telus.net
> (800) 298-7753,
>
> All SLRD Staff: (800) 298-7753, (604) 894-6371
>
>
> Four main local newspapers serve the SLRD in Squamish,
> Whistler/Pemberton (2 competing papers) and Lillooet.
>
> For letters to The Chief in Squamish: sqchief@uniserve.com
>
> For WH/Pemberton you can send to the Question: dburke@whistlerquestion.com
> Also WH/Pemberton you can send to the Pique Newsmagazine:
> edit@piquenewsmagazine.com
>
> And for Lillooet you can send to the Lillooet-Bridge River News. I don't
> have an email for them at this time.
>
> You can also send to The Chief, or drop off a letter to the Chief in
> Squamish, and request copying to its sister newspapers The Question in
> Whistler/Pemberton and the Lillooet-Bridge River News in Lillooet.
>
> And there are also local papers throughout the lower mainland and the rest
> of the province, as well as the
> Vancouver Sun sunletters@png.canwest.com and
> Province provletters@png.canwest.com.

[shanerobinson]

Hello Everyone,

I need to ask you one more huge favor in regards to saving the Ashlu River. Please take 2 minutes and act immediately after reading this with a BREIF letter stating your opposition to the Micro Hydro Project on this special river. THIS IS WORKING, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE EFFORT!!! This has to happen by Jan. 5th.

To make this as easy as possible, here you go: (please include your name and address)

Cut and Paste these addresses: isutherland@squamish.ca, raj@rajkahlon.com, jeff.dawson@cfdchs.com, dave_fenn@hotmail.com, admdept@squamish.ca, clonsdale@squamish.ca, raypeters@shaw.ca, johndturner@telus.net, mayor@whistler.ca, villageofpemberton@direct.ca, gimse@uniserve.com, roakley@goldtrail.com, mic88@telus.net, greg.k@telus.net, pedgington@slrd.bc.ca, solmstead@slrd.bc.ca, sstratis@telus.net, SRM.Minister@gems6.gov.bc.ca

Cut and Paste this into the subject: Oppose the IPP on the Ashlu River

If you have been to the Ashlu River here is a message you can cut and Paste:
I have spent time enjoying the resources of the Ashlu River in their natural state, and oppose the micro hydro project proposed for this river. Please reject this project.

If you haven’t been there, you can use this message:
While I have never been to the Ashlu River, I have read about this destination and heard of its beauty from friends who spend time there. I would someday like to travel to this region to enjoy such a place, especially if it remains in its natural state. Therefore I oppose the micro hydro project proposed for this river. Please reject this project.

Or even better, write a brief statement telling where you are from, that you oppose the IPP on the Ashlu River, and that you would enjoy seeing this special place protected. Include you address and name.

Thank you!

If you want some background or further details, read on:

The lastest news goes like this. On Nov. 17th the SLRD (Squamish-Lilloeet Regional District) had the “last meeting” for comment. Myself and another friend drove up to British Columbia to attend the meeting and show our opposition. The meeting was standing room only with about 300 people. At the meeting they stated that they had received approx. 100 letters on the project with 80 in opposition, about 50 of those being kayakers, and around 30 being from the States. The meeting saw over 100 people speak their mind with at least 60% opposing the project. They said they would vote on the project on December 17th. Well, on Dec. 16th,the Minister of Sustainable Development, George Abbott hijacked the Ashlu IPP vote. Basically read this as the Provincial Government getting paid to try and push this through the local government. This entire project has been the story of a big, multi-national businesses privatizing utilities by coming into small communities, buying out everyone they can and creating studies and science that backs their claims. Now there is “suddenly new information that should be considered”, so the provincial government made the SLRD postpone their vote. Supposedly they were about to vote in opposition due to the majority of citizens being against the project. Therefore they are accepting written comments until Jan. 5th, with a “new final meeting” Jan. 10th, and a vote on Jan. 11th.

This project is being touted as a “green, sustainable project.” True, micro hydro is sustainable. But green??? First of all, the Ashlu, is truly a special river with grizzly and salmon habitat that deserves protection not exploitation. Second, I have seen the very same project happen on a river just to the north of the Ashlu (the Rutherford). It entails, the creation of a 4 lane dirt road built so machines can get up there, a 10 foot high damn, that will make a reservoir bigger than a football field, Tons of blasting and dirt moving to build the road and the diversion pipe, that will certainly end up in the river. This will drastically cool the valley (it’s a glacial flowing river) adding to micro climate warming, a cause of global warming. I could go on an on. This is not a green project.

I am going to stop here. If you want more info on this project, email me or check the links at the bottom. But please write a brief letter. Thanks.

Shane Robinson
206-465-4740

More info: http://www.ashluriver.ca/index.cfm

A local news article: http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?content=ashlu+IPP+thrid+hearing+1152