Media Statement: August 6, 2014
Testing and Cleanup is the priority for Mount Polley mine breach
For Immediate Release

Victoria B.C. – The tailings pond breach at the Mount Polley copper and gold mine near Likely B.C. is estimated to have released 10 billion litres of potentially contaminated water, and 4.5 million cubic metres of metals-laden fine sand. All of the mine tailings are an eco – system and financial risk flowing into the creeks, rivers and lakes of the Cariboo region, possibly into the Fraser system, just as salmon return This is an unprecedented situation for the province, with both the company and the government appearing ill-prepared to respond.

Stark warnings to the residents of the region: ‘do not even touch the water’ and now, two days after the breach, a local state of emergency has been declared. The immediate concern is ensuring downstream drinking water is safe for use, Longer term, there are questions on how far the contaminated sediment will spread through the river and lake systems, the potential effects on groundwater and on fisheries and wildlife.

“The problem now is not what we do know, but what we don’t know” said Andrew Weaver. “I have asked the Minister of Environment to consider independent testing of the water and sediment mixture to reassure local residents, and everyone potentially affected downstream, that the information is complete and impartial”

Media Contact
Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
mat.wright@leg.bc.ca
1 250 216 3382

This post is part of an ongoing series in which MLA Andrew Weaver will be sharing key information from inside the National Energy Board hearings on Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline proposal.

In recent weeks there has been widespread news coverage concerning the disappointing and incomplete answers Trans Mountain provided many intervenors when asked about their pipeline proposal.

Back in May, my team and I spent countless hours poring over the 15,000 page application, dissecting Kinder Morgan’s claims and evaluating their evidence. For a small office like mine, that is a big commitment. Yet we gave it the due diligence it deserved because my constituents, and British Columbians across the province, have been clear: They are concerned about the prospect of substantially increasing heavy oil tanker traffic on our coast and they expect their MLAs to do something about it.

Collectively, intervenors submitted more than 10,000 questions to Trans Mountain. Of these, I submitted nearly 500. Unfortunately, the answers we received failed to address many of the questions I, and other intervenors, asked.

To give you a sense of what I mean, let me offer an example.

Geological and Geographic Factors

One of the biggest concerns for south island residents is the risk of an oil spill. In reviewing the oil tanker route analysis, I found that, surprisingly, the section on “Geographic and Geological Factors” along the route was only three sentences long. This was surprising because geographic and geological factors—such as islands and rocky shorelines—often play a role in incidents that lead to oil spills. Not only that, but according to the Federal Tanker Safety Expert Panel the route these tankers would take is a “very high risk” area.

Here’s that entire section on “Geographic and Geological Factors”:

“The Southern coast of British Columbia has a wide range of geographic and geological formations. The proposed waterways have a variety of Sandy to rocky shore lines and scattered with islands, coves, and inlets. The proposed route is deep and wide enough and currently providing safe transit for vessels similar to the project vessels to and from Vancouver harbour.”

While I appreciate that ships already transit the area, this fact, on its own, does not provide an adequate assessment of risk along the route. I therefore asked Kinder Morgan to elaborate on this section and to provide a more complete assessment of geographic and geological factors that could contribute to an oil spill.

Unfortunately, Kinder Morgan’s response was to simply refer to me the very section I asked them to elaborate on. If I still wanted more information, they then suggested I “refer to the appropriate navigation chart”.

Challenging these Answers

I find this answer highly disappointing. Unfortunately, it is also typical of many of the answers we received.

If Kinder Morgan is truly trying to earn the social license to build this project and ship additional oil through our coastal waters, I think it is fair to require them to have a more detailed assessment of the islands and geological formations that make up the route they will use.

Let me be clear: My concern, at this stage, is not about receiving answers that I disagree with. We received many answers that I believe British Columbians will be concerned about—but at least in those cases we received answers.

My concern here is that Kinder Morgan is refusing to provide actual answers to important questions.

The Province of British Columbia, the City of Burnaby, the City of Vancouver and many other intervenors have all voiced this same concern.

These questions form the basis of the entire hearing process. This is where we get to test the validity of Trans Mountain’s evidence so that in the end the National Energy Board can make a fully informed decision about whether the pipeline should be approved or not.

The fact is that given the massive outpouring of opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline and the serious concerns that have been raised about heavy oil spills, it is hard to believe that Kinder Morgan would not be doing everything possible to address the concerns of intervenors and of all British Columbians.

Media Statement: July 29, 2014
Poll Shows Greater Victoria Residents Keen on Governance Study
For Immediate Release

Victoria B.C. – An Angus Reid survey, commissioned by Amalgamation Yes, clearly shows the vast majority of residents, in all 13 Greater Victoria municipalities, are concerned about local and regional governance and support exploring options.

The key findings are:

89% of respondents support a non-binding referendum on amalgamation.
84% of respondents are in favour of some sort of amalgamation.
80% of respondents support an independent, comprehensive cost-benefit study and analysis of amalgamation.

While a majority of respondents are satisfied with the services they receive from local government, there are concerns around the efficiency of service delivery across the Capital Region, as well as with planning, decision making and cooperation between municipalities.

There is an opportunity to place a non-binding question on the ballot for the November municipal elections which would directly inform councils and the CRD about existing support for a regional governance study. The Province can fund a study should a group of municipalities, or the region as a whole, seek assistance.

“This is an important survey. People in Greater Victoria are clearly engaged and interested in how their communities are governed and want a say on future directions. I encourage Mayors and councils in each municipality to put a question on November’s ballot on studying options for improving local and regional governance,” says Andrew Weaver.

For the full Angus Reid survey results, analysis and background material please see www.amalgamationyes.ca

Media Contact
Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
mat.wright@leg.bc.ca
1 250 216 3382

Media Statement: July 29, 2014
Andrew Weaver Elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
For Immediate Release

Victoria B.C. –  Today Andrew Weaver has been elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union for his contributions to Earth Science. The AGU represents over 62 000 members and scientists residing in 144 countries. Only 1 in 1000 AGU members are elected to Fellowship each year. Established in 1962, the Fellows program recognizes AGU members who have attained acknowledged eminence in the Earth and space sciences as valued by their peers and vetted by a Union- wide committee of Fellows. Primary criteria for evaluation in scientific eminence are a major breakthrough or discovery, paradigm shift, or sustained impact

The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science guided by core values of the scientific method, dissemination of knowledge, open exchange of ideas and information and the benefits of science for a sustainable future.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this honour and recognition from the American Geophysical Union.  It is profoundly humbling to be recognized by my peers for my contributions to climate science over the last two decades.” says Andrew Weaver. “Now, more than ever we need research and science to inform policy deliberations as we seek to address the great environmental challenges of today”.

For more information and the list of Fellows please see the American Geophysical Union statement.

Media Contact
Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
mat.wright@leg.bc.ca
1 250 216 3382

This is the third in our series of stories celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of youth in our community. These inspirational young adults are enriching our lives with their passion and commitment to the betterment of society.

Vicki Kleu

We arranged to meet Vicki at my neighbourhood Starbucks near the corner of Feltham and Shelbourne, literally steps from where we had set up office during the 2013 election campaign. It seemed like an appropriate location. Vicki knew it well as she had just graduated from nearby Lambrick Park Secondary School. But imagine my surprise as we stood in the lineup for coffee. Vicki pointed to the barista and said “there’s my mentor, Cheryl Nigh”. And so, our conversation began.

Vicki was born in Pretoria, South Africa and moved to Victoria with her family when she was 10. She sincerely appreciates the numerous opportunities that Canada has afforded her family. Many of us simply take these opportunities for granted. Vicki, on the other hand, recognizes how fortunate we are in Canada and is determined to take advantage of them. Her achievements are a testament to her success in this regard.

Vicki attended Hillcrest Elementary, Gordon Head Middle School and graduated from Lambrick Park Secondary in June. School principal Kevin Luchies describes Vicki as a “renaissance student” who is a “tireless volunteer” and “student leader” and “one of the kindest humans one could meet”. She has been active in school leadership since grade 5 and a powerful leader in student council over the past three years.

For the last few years Vicki has volunteered as a reading buddy for children at Hillcrest Elementary. She loves working with children and told us “little kids make me happy”. More generally, Vicki elaborated to say that when “other people are happy, I am happy”. When she was younger, her dream was to be a kindergarten teacher (or a ballerina). But now, after becoming fascinated by the wonders of science and deeply touched by a very young relative who suffered from cancer, she sees herself training to become a pediatrician — a pediatric oncologist or cardiologist to be exact.

It’s always fascinating to discover what inspires the remarkably talented youth that we’ve had the honour of profiling over the last few weeks. A consistent pattern has emerged: teachers, friends and family. And Vicki is no different. Whether it’s feeding the ducks at Beacon Hill park or getting together with relatives, Vicki loves to be with friends and family. And it’s pretty clear to us that her friends and family are also inspired by Vicki. Here’s just one example. Having watched several relatives struggle with, and thankfully beat, cancer, Vicki took it upon herself to head up a cancer campaign at Lambrick Park last year.

Vicki is articulate, joyful and enthusiastic about life in general. She loves ballet and dances twice a week at Stages Performing Arts School. She is passionate about science — a passion that blossomed through the nurturing of her mentor Cheryl Nigh. Vicki has been participating in school, regional and national science fairs since she was in grade 7. She’s won so many science fair awards over the years that just listing them takes up three pages on her resume! When you see the outcomes of her innovative and creative approach to scientific inquiry, it’s pretty obvious why.

In grade 9 Vicki’s national award-winning project was titled Reducing Arterial Turbulent Flow Through External Stents. By Grade 11, she had developed Fully Biodegradable Adsorbent Pads to Clean Small Scale Marine Oil Spills. These pads could hold 50 times their weight in motor oil and potentially allowed for up to 95% oil recovery. Her invention is patent pending and she’s working on developing a few more patents this year.

Back in May of last year, Victoria News published a feature story on Vicki’s success. But what many people don’t know is that Vicki and Cheryl Nigh managed to get her Grade 11 project in front of CBC’s Dragon’s Den. While they didn’t air the segment in which she made her pitch, she did manage to get an offer from Arlene Dickinson and Jim Treliving.

Through her science fair projects Vicki continually searches for practical solutions to important problems. Most recently, her attention turned to the very real threat of oil spills on our coastlines. In her fourth venture to the National Science Fair this year she, along with partner Austin Sawyer, expanded upon her Grade 11 efforts through the development of Fully Biodegradable Booms for Oil Spill Recovery and Containment. Once again Victoria News published feature story detailing her trip to the nationals earlier this year.

A short time after we’d met up with Vicki I went back to Starbucks to have a chat with Cheryl Nigh, Vicki’s inspirational science teacher and mentor for the past six years. I asked Cheryl to describe Vicki in three words. These were her choices —choices that precisely described our first impressions as well: “meticulous, compassionate, and dedicated”.

It’s Vicki and youth like her that inspire me with a sense of hope. We can take comfort in the fact that these amazing young adults are certainly up to the task of finding innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.