March 21, 2007
Premier
Gordon Campbell
PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E1
Dear Premier:
Re:
We are writing, once again,
with respect to the Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project
(VITRP). Regulatory and legal processes have yet to resolve the dispute between
the B.C. Transmission Corporation (BCTC), the Corporation of Delta and the
Tsawwassen residents group (TRAHVOL) and we feel it is incumbent upon us to
take a fresh look at the issues and see if we can work with the Province of
British Columbia to come up with a solution that works for all of us.
We refer in particular to
the option of routing the transmission line along
§
the seismic
concerns were not supported under cross examination of the expert engineers who
acknowledged that the entire geographic area faces the same seismic challenges;
§
there would be
significant cost savings to BCTC of approximately $22 million;
§
there is
potential to use the upgraded transmission lines to provide shore-to-ship power
for Deltaport, and the potential use of federal
funding through the EcoFreight program, to achieve
air emission and greenhouse gas reductions from marine sources - there would
also be potential to provide power for future port expansion projects; and
§
road, rail and transmission lines would be consolidated
into the Pacific Gateway Corridor and
We have had discussions
with the Vancouver Port Authority regarding this matter and they are supportive
of such an initiative (VPA letter attached). Furthermore, Delta’s Chief
Administrative Officer, Mr. George Harvie, has met with Chief Kim Baird of the
Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) regarding this issue. Although TFN is not able to
make any specific comments at this time, a commitment was made by Mr. Harvie to
involve the TFN should the Province agree to this request to review the Deltaport Gateway Corridor option.
This has the potential to
be a win-win situation for all concerned. For the community of Delta, the Delta
School Board and the Tsawwassen residents and businesses who wish to see the
lines routed away from residential areas; for BCTC to fulfill their mandate to
provide power in an economic and timely manner to Vancouver Island; for VPA to
advance their Green Port Initiative; and for the Provincial and Federal governments
to fulfill their mandate to protect air quality and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
We appreciate that BCTC has
a tight construction schedule, however, much of the technical work regarding
the
We are asking for your
leadership as Premier, to direct BCTC to postpone work on the South Delta
section of the VITRP and work with the Corporation of Delta, VPA, TFN and the
community group, TRAHVOL, to make a proper evaluation of the Deltaport Gateway Corridor as an alternative to the option
currently being proposed. Let us take this opportunity to do right for the
community and the environment.
Yours
truly, Yours truly,
_files/image003.gif)
_files/image002.gif)
Lois E. Jackson
Mayor Tsawwassen
Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines
cc. The Honourable Barry Penner, Minister
of Environment
The Honourable Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy
The Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Health
The Honourable Wally Oppal, Attorney
General of BC
The Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Education
The Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation
The Honourable Michael de Jong,
Minister of Aboriginal Relations
The Honourable Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development
The Honourable John Cummins, MP, Delta-East
The Honourable Sukh Dhaliwal, MP, Newton-North Delta
Valerie
Roddick, MLA, South Delta
Captain
Chris Badger, A/President and CEO, VPA
Chief
Kim Baird, TFN
Jane
Peverett, President &
CEO, BCTC
Delta
Council
George
V. Harvie, CAO
B.
Iversen, Senior Policy Analyst