The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations recently approved seven applications to extract water from the Jervis Inlet, green lighting a commercial water bottling licence the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has opposed from the start.
Correspondence from the Ministry dated April 27 confirmed that seven creeks were approved for water extraction beginning May 14. The lease has a term of 30 years.
"I want the hardest line we can draw, drawn," said Elphinstone director Lorne Lewis at the May 17 planning committee meeting.
That committee voted to have staff draft a Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) resolution opposing the commercialization of the Coast's water, as well as "the resulting loss of local control over this matter."
In addition to penciling a resolution, the committee also decided to voice their distaste in a letter to Premier Christy Clark and the UBCM executive.
"This is an indication of consultation not happening or consultation without any listening from the government's point of view," said Sechelt Indian Government District (SIGD) director Jordan Louie.
Louie described the announcement as further evidence of the "death by a thousand cuts" that led the Sechelt Nation to announce last week it would pursue litigation against the provincial and federal governments over land and resource title. (See related story page 3.)
The SCRD first became aware of the applications during the fall of 2010, according to a staff report.
Those applications -originally, there were eight - met opposition from the community, including First Nations. Later that year in December, the SCRD sent a letter to the Ministry voicing their non-support.
"Despite the SCRD and the [Sechelt] Nation's effort to stop these applications, [the Ministry] approved seven of the eight applications," the report states.
"To have this done this way is wrong. To not listen to the First Nation in the affected territory is wrong," Louie said, giving his support to the committee's motion.
Pender Harbour director Frank Mauro called for a more moderated approach.
While he described the 30-year term and possibility of losing control over the water as "inappropriate," Mauro pushed for a resolution that would not close the door on a refined proposal that could see an economic benefit for the community.
Halfmoon Bay director Garry Nohr also wanted a gentler motion.
"I agree with the motion, but at the same time if it's done right in the right areas, it possibly could be something that's viable for First Nation and regional areas," he said. "I don't think I would vote for [the motion], but I'm not voting against it."
Directors Donna Shugar (Roberts Creek), Lee Ann Johnson (Gibsons), Lee Turnbull (West Howe Sound), Lewis and Louie chose not to change the request for a resolution, instead upping the ante with a letter to the premier.
"For the province to so unilaterally ignore local government and local resources and First Nations is quite outrageous," Johnson said.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Minister Steve Thomson were unable to respond by press time Thursday morning.
