Public Eye - June 18

Fire plans ready by November

The fire risk surrounding many of British Columbia’s resorts is high, Public Eye has learned. As a result, the ministry of tourism, culture and the arts will prepare wildfire protection plans for three of those resorts—just as the province’s fire season is heating up. But those plans won’t be ready until November 2009.

According to documents posted recently on BC Bid, an analysis completed by the ministry’s resort development branch in 2009 indicated “the fire threat risk is high on many resorts within Controlled Recreation Areas on Crown Land in BC.”

That’s a threat to “millions of dollars in recreational improvements (i.e. ski lifts, bike trails/courses) on Crown Land as well high value properties and infrastructure on adjacent private land.” And, should a catastrophic fire occur, the ministry’s goals of making British Columbia a world-class all-season resort destination and doubling tourism revenues by 2015 could be “impacted.”

As a result, the ministry is looking to hire consultants to prepare wildlife protection plans that will assess interface fire risks around Big White, Panorama and Silver Star and “provide recommendations on how the hazard can be reduced to low and moderate levels.”

The budget for each plan is approximately $11,000—but they won’t be complete until after this year’s fire season. In response, a ministry spokesperson said tourism, culture and the arts assumed responsibility for controlled recreation areas in 2006. And the preparation of those plans is part of that responsibility. The spokesperson also said plans will eventually be written for all of the 31 areas under the ministry’s control.

Hat tricks

As of last week, provincial Liberal legislator Mike de Jong isn’t just the government’s house leader. He’s also British Columbia’s new attorney general—replacing Wally Oppal. And that dual role should be a concern to voters.

In an interview with Public Eye, former British Columbia Appeals Court Justice Ron Cheffins, a recognized authority on the Canadian Constitution, said, “I think it’s inappropriate to combine in one person the partisan office of house leader with the detached responsibility of the attorney general who is the chief law officer of the Crown.”

But Premier Gordon Campbell seems to disagree, telling reporters, “I don’t think there’s a conflict. I think Mike de Jong is perfectly capable of being house leader and attorney general.” M

Sean Holman is the editor of Public Eye (publiceyeonline.com) and host of Public Eye Radio, which can be heard 8-10 a.m. Sunday mornings on CFAX 1070.