Wednesday - Sept. 18, 2024 - A mayor and a premier walk into a conference

🌦 High 20C

Good morning!

I went fishing with the kids Monday evening. We Olsens are neither frequent nor productive anglers. If we get through a day without ruining a rod or reel, it counts as a victory. On Monday, there were fish jumping, but we were skunked. But our tackle remains usable for another day. And the other competent anglers also seemed to have no luck, so I’ll call it a draw for the Olsen clan.

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– Tyler

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Traffic & Weather

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NEWS

Why the last Nooksack task force failed

Sumas Prairie was failed once by politicians. The question is whether they will fail it again.

In the early 2000s, a group of BC flood experts presented an animation to provincial bigwigs previewing the consequences of a major Nooksack River flood. But a lack of political will and support left an international task force convened to prevent such a disaster unable to actually accomplish its goals, according to Neil Peters, BC’s former inspector of dikes and a former co-chair of that task force.

Today, that failed task force has a new successor. And Peters, who left government work in 2016, says he is optimistic that it may finally find success. But, he warns, it will take political will, creativity, perseverance—and a lot of money.

• Yesterday, we wrote about Peters’ suggestion of a floodway that might be cheaper than the plan Abbotsford unsuccessfully pitched to the federal government. Today, we have a conversation between Tyler and Peters about the past and future of Sumas Prairie flood protection talks.

Related

Need to Know

👉 A man stabbed in Langley Tuesday isn’t co-operating with police [Langley Advance Times]

🏈 A documentary about a legendary Abbotsford football coach’s struggle with dementia will be screened this month [Abbotsford News]

🚲 A ‘bike bus’ is helping Chilliwack kids get to school safely on two wheels [Chilliwack Progress]

👉 The parents of an Abbotsford girl who died of a suspected overdose say the expansion of involuntary care has come too late [CBC]

🎬 Agassiz will function as a stand-in for Paris in a new Netflix movie [Agassiz-Harrison Observer] (No, not that Paris.)

📊 A new poll suggests the BC Conservatives hold a massive lead over the BC NDP in the Fraser Valley [Research Co.]

🗳 All-candidates meetings have been set for four ridings in Abbotsford, Langley, and Mission [Abbotsford News]

💰 Taxpayers could end up paying the severance of BC United employees terminated after the collapse of their party [CBC]

👉 A local prison has been warned about violations to provincial wastewater rules [Fraser Valley Today]

👏 A Mission paddler won six medals at a recent international event [Mission Record]

😸 Cat Kid Comic Club The Musical arrives at Chilliwack Cultural Centre this Sunday, September 22! Don't miss out on this perfect family night out.*

📚 Experience the difference a polytechnic education makes. Discover 140+ diverse programs at KPU's Open House on Oct. 5. Save your spot and register today!*

*Sponsored Listing

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The Agenda

Premier and Lytton mayor finally meet

Lytton Mayor Denise O’Connor wanted to talk about her village’s rebuilding troubles with BC Premier David Eby. The feeling did not seem to be mutual until Tuesday, when O’Connor forced Eby’s hand.

A year after Lytton residents staged a rally to highlight difficulties linked to archeological bureaucracy, the same problems continue to bog down the rebuilding of the community. O’Connor says property owners have been told it will cost tens of thousands of dollars to undertake archaeological work necessary to dig beneath prospective building sites. One property owner was hit with a quote of $82,000. That has caused them to abandon rebuilding plans, though they worry that they will also find it difficult to find a buyer for the property, O’Connor said.

You can read our story from last October about the archaeology work and how it led to the protest.

After last year’s rally, the province sent two officials to Lytton to learn about the village’s trouble, O’Connor told The Current. But while village officials and residents had expected that visit to result in changes, O’Connor said they have seen little progress.

“We're just not seeing any answers to our issues, particularly around the archaeology process and the costs to our residents,” O’Connor said.

Lytton would like the province to pay for archaeology work it declares necessary. If that isn’t possible, she said residents would like to see the rules changed so that property owners only have to develop an archaeology process after an artifact is found during rebuilding work.

O’Connor wrote Eby twice to ask for a meeting with no success. The premier (or his office) replied to O'Connor’s first request for a meeting in the spring, but without actually addressing the possibility of a meeting. A second request for a meeting this summer was met with silence. That prompted O’Connor to send out a press release and hold a media conference Tuesday morning asking for more action on rebuilding and a meeting with Eby.

Just hours after that press conference, a government spokesperson emailed The Current to say meetings “are happening.” O’Connor later texted The Current to confirm she had met with Eby.

The province’s statement also said “community navigators” had met with property owners to try to support rebuilding in the village and that additional staff had been hired to provide residents with more support. It didn’t mention any changes to reduce the archaeology-related expenses.

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Classifieds

• Jack's food bank jam, needs jars, 604-826-1205

• Hiking this fall? Search & Rescue can help! Click here

  Annual FVC members can find a link to submit their annual classified in the weekly FVC Insiders Edition. Become an FVC member here.

🗓 Things to do

Songwriter workshop: Learn about stagecraft from Juno award-winner Cara Luft at Langley's Bez Arts Club on Thursday, Sept. 19. Topics include stage set up, choosing a set list, audience engagement, and tuning while talking. Workshop participants get a discount for Luft's Friday concert. Tickets online.

Veterans walk: Canadian Walk for Veterans is happening at Abbotsford's Mill Lake on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10am. Walk around the lake to honour Canada's military and raise funds for True Patriot Love. This year's donations go to support Team Canada at the Invictus Games being held in BC. Pre-register here.

Paddle the Fraser: Hope Mountain Centre hosts a guided paddle Sunday, Sept. 22 to mark World Rivers Day. Paddle the Fraser from Hope to Agassiz in your own boat or a voyageur canoe. Register online.

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Catch up

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