Children's Commissioner appointed.
I'm a bit out of the loop for sure. As my last post suggests the start of an incredible winter season has kept me busy and I haven't had a lot of time to pay attention to the news. So, in trying to catch up I happened upon a headline from CBC News (on the internet) stating "Judge appointed as BC children's watchdog." This is great news and I for one wish Judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond well as she settles into her new and very important post.
The appointment of a children's commissioner in BC accomplishes one of the key recommendations in the 172 page "Hughes Report: BC Children and Youth Review", completed by retired Judge Ted Hughes in April 2006. Since the completion of this report, the BC NDP have repeatedly called for the government to re-instate a children's commissioner. In the above mentioned CBC piece Carole James calls the appointment of Judge Turpel-Lafond "a victory for children and an admission of failure by Premier Gordon Campbell." Interesting!
The newly appointed commissioner is quick to point out that her office will be free of partisan politics and that she hopes to keep said politics out of child protection in this province. Great idea, unfortunately thanks to our most loyal opposition her very appointment has been tainted by political expedience. I think that if this was my new job I'd be just a bit concerned about the actual importance placed on the appointment compared to say... bottled water?
Maybe I've just missed something? Perhaps all of this time on the slopes has frozen my brain a bit (I know many people who would agree). Of course it is not unusual for Carole James and the NDP to blame someone for something (the government has been blamed for the affects of recent floods, water turbidity, global warming and snowfall, to name a few) but didn't the BC government plan to have a children's commissioner appointed over a week ago (22 Nov), after a one-day sitting of the legislature? What happened? Its curious to me that anyone so apparently concerned about the welfare of children in this province would even consider refusing unanimous consent to the appointment of a commissioner. This should have been the priority of the sitting as it was intended and it is extremely unfortunate that the NDP has seen fit to once again lay blame for a situation rather than participating in the achievement of an appropriate and immediate solution.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
epic powder day at Grouse Mountain
While most of the city seemed to be stuck today, wondering what this white stuff falling from the sky was and how they were going to deal with it, I spent the day practically up to my knees in powder up at Grouse Mountain. OK, so I work at Grouse and therefor had very little choice in the fact that I was there, but I can't remember the last time we had this much powder this early in the season. Almost 2 feet in 24 hours and its only November 26. If this is any indication to the ski season we are going to have then I recommend that you all dust off the gear and I'll see you on the slopes.
While most of the city seemed to be stuck today, wondering what this white stuff falling from the sky was and how they were going to deal with it, I spent the day practically up to my knees in powder up at Grouse Mountain. OK, so I work at Grouse and therefor had very little choice in the fact that I was there, but I can't remember the last time we had this much powder this early in the season. Almost 2 feet in 24 hours and its only November 26. If this is any indication to the ski season we are going to have then I recommend that you all dust off the gear and I'll see you on the slopes.
Monday, November 20, 2006
"Its not the time for politicians to be debating with each other in the legislature. Its time for politicians to listen to the people..." (Mike Harcourt in the Vancouver Sun September 1992)
It's unfortunate that the BC NDP of today is still getting mileage out of the fact that the fall session of the legislature has been cancelled. Its also unfortunate that the media seems to be providing them with the vehicle to keep this alive when they clearly didn't feel it that important back in the 90's when the NDP government of the day cancelled the fall session all but twice.
Whats most unfortunate however is the fact that the BC NDP appear poised to voice their displeasure (over the cancelled fall session) by dragging out the planned one day session of the legislature this Wednesday using every trick that they can think up.
The purpose of this Wednesday's session is to appoint a new independent children's commissioner, an appointment that the NDP agrees is important. The question then is, will the NDP stick to the agenda and help see Ted Hughes recommendations become reality or will they once again try and find political opportunity in an otherwise tragic event.
It's unfortunate that the BC NDP of today is still getting mileage out of the fact that the fall session of the legislature has been cancelled. Its also unfortunate that the media seems to be providing them with the vehicle to keep this alive when they clearly didn't feel it that important back in the 90's when the NDP government of the day cancelled the fall session all but twice.
Whats most unfortunate however is the fact that the BC NDP appear poised to voice their displeasure (over the cancelled fall session) by dragging out the planned one day session of the legislature this Wednesday using every trick that they can think up.
The purpose of this Wednesday's session is to appoint a new independent children's commissioner, an appointment that the NDP agrees is important. The question then is, will the NDP stick to the agenda and help see Ted Hughes recommendations become reality or will they once again try and find political opportunity in an otherwise tragic event.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Into everyones life a little rain must fall... or something like that.
Oh my Goodness! A little bit of rain combined with a boiled water advisory and look what happens! Fights break out at Costco, hundreds of people line up at Real Canadian Superstore, sell outs at Canadian Tire and virtually every other retailer in the neighbourhood, police called in to control riotous crowds...for what? The new Playstation 3? No, that was the day before, this time the most precious item on everybodies shopping list was bottled water.
I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself. I was walking past the Save-on-Foods in Lynn Valley yesterday at the same time as a poor, beleaguered store employee was pulling a large pallet of 500 ml water bottles from the store and into the mall entrance for the waiting horde. The pallet jack wasn't even lowered to the ground when the employee was literally pushed out of the way, the shrink wrap torn from the pallet and people, like locusts swarmed taking as many cases as they could barely carry. It was incredible to watch and I couldn't help wonder if these bottles contained water from the fountain of youth itself.
Why the panic? Recent heavy rainfalls combined with high wind have caused mudslides into each of the lower mainlands three water reservoirs. This mud and silt has caused turbidity levels to rise, up to 90% at the Seymour Reservoir and 70% at Capilano. (Turbidity has dropped significantly since and advisories for the Coquitlam reservoir have now been lifted). Despite these high levels we have been assured by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority that the boil water advisories are "precautionary" and in place due to the potential for bacteria to become embedded in silt particles, making it difficult for chlorine to kill.
Panic is an extremely dangerous thing. I deal with a certain amount of panic all the time through my job and the other things that I'm involved with and I've seen panic do some strange things to otherwise calm and rational people. But panic need not happen and the easiest way to reduce panic in an emergency (or precautionary boil water advisory) is to be prepared for it. One easy way to get prepared is to develop a family emergency plan that identifies these 10 elements:
1. Family meeting place - Determine a place to go if you can't stay in your house.
2. Out of town contact - A person to phone to get information and to check in.
3. Home hazard hunt - Identify and correct the hazards in your home.
4. Emergency kits - Create Grab and Go and Stay in Home kits.
5. Emergency Supplies - Including things like food and water.
6. Utilities - Locate gas and water shut offs and learn how and when to shut them off.
7. Sanitation - What will you do if your toilets don't work.
8. Kids and Disasters - Prepare everyone in your family.
9. Pets and Disasters - Are the special considerations for your pets in a disaster?
10. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Looking at water alone, your family should have enough clean, potable (bottled) water on hand to supply 4 litres (1 gallon) per person, per day for at least 3 days. Remember that (depending on the nature of the emergency) this water may also be needed for things other than drinking like brushing teeth and cooking so keeping a bit more on hand is probably a good idea. Another great way to ensure that you are prepared is to educate yourself about the potential emergencies that could happen in your community and the hazards that they would likely present for you in particular. Most communities provide some sort of basic emergency preparedness training to residents free of charge and there is plenty of information available to you at your local library or through the Provincial Emergency Program. Please check out the links below and do yourself and your families a favour by getting prepared.
Oh my Goodness! A little bit of rain combined with a boiled water advisory and look what happens! Fights break out at Costco, hundreds of people line up at Real Canadian Superstore, sell outs at Canadian Tire and virtually every other retailer in the neighbourhood, police called in to control riotous crowds...for what? The new Playstation 3? No, that was the day before, this time the most precious item on everybodies shopping list was bottled water.
I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself. I was walking past the Save-on-Foods in Lynn Valley yesterday at the same time as a poor, beleaguered store employee was pulling a large pallet of 500 ml water bottles from the store and into the mall entrance for the waiting horde. The pallet jack wasn't even lowered to the ground when the employee was literally pushed out of the way, the shrink wrap torn from the pallet and people, like locusts swarmed taking as many cases as they could barely carry. It was incredible to watch and I couldn't help wonder if these bottles contained water from the fountain of youth itself.
Why the panic? Recent heavy rainfalls combined with high wind have caused mudslides into each of the lower mainlands three water reservoirs. This mud and silt has caused turbidity levels to rise, up to 90% at the Seymour Reservoir and 70% at Capilano. (Turbidity has dropped significantly since and advisories for the Coquitlam reservoir have now been lifted). Despite these high levels we have been assured by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority that the boil water advisories are "precautionary" and in place due to the potential for bacteria to become embedded in silt particles, making it difficult for chlorine to kill.
Panic is an extremely dangerous thing. I deal with a certain amount of panic all the time through my job and the other things that I'm involved with and I've seen panic do some strange things to otherwise calm and rational people. But panic need not happen and the easiest way to reduce panic in an emergency (or precautionary boil water advisory) is to be prepared for it. One easy way to get prepared is to develop a family emergency plan that identifies these 10 elements:
1. Family meeting place - Determine a place to go if you can't stay in your house.
2. Out of town contact - A person to phone to get information and to check in.
3. Home hazard hunt - Identify and correct the hazards in your home.
4. Emergency kits - Create Grab and Go and Stay in Home kits.
5. Emergency Supplies - Including things like food and water.
6. Utilities - Locate gas and water shut offs and learn how and when to shut them off.
7. Sanitation - What will you do if your toilets don't work.
8. Kids and Disasters - Prepare everyone in your family.
9. Pets and Disasters - Are the special considerations for your pets in a disaster?
10. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Looking at water alone, your family should have enough clean, potable (bottled) water on hand to supply 4 litres (1 gallon) per person, per day for at least 3 days. Remember that (depending on the nature of the emergency) this water may also be needed for things other than drinking like brushing teeth and cooking so keeping a bit more on hand is probably a good idea. Another great way to ensure that you are prepared is to educate yourself about the potential emergencies that could happen in your community and the hazards that they would likely present for you in particular. Most communities provide some sort of basic emergency preparedness training to residents free of charge and there is plenty of information available to you at your local library or through the Provincial Emergency Program. Please check out the links below and do yourself and your families a favour by getting prepared.
Next time I'll tell you about where you can go to get a coffee the next time we find ourselves in a nasty boiled water advisory
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Sand-bagged by Simpson
I hate this time of year! The fall is particularly difficult for me for a number of reasons but perhaps one of the biggest is the affect that the rain has on my backyard. The lane behind my house has been built up so that its higher than my yard, so every time we get any significant amount of rain my garage and parking spot flood. This makes them pretty much useless to me until the spring and it drives me crazy. I keep meaning to do something about it but...
As frustrated as the fall rain makes me, I really do count myself lucky compared to those living along the Chilliwack and other rivers this past week. Our recent record-breaking rain falls were an inconvenience to me for sure, but my plight seems insignificant when stacked against those forced to evacuate their homes as swollen rivers took over. I sincerely feel for these people, as a human being and as a volunteer with two emergency preparedness organizations.
Thankfully, no one was hurt or worse and homes will dry out allowing repairs (albeit expensive ones) and life will go on for these people.
Disturbed as I was lying in bed and listening to the rain, this time around I think it was the wind that bothered me the most, and I'm not talking about mother natures warm fall breezes! What really got my back up against the wall was the wind generated by Vancouver-Hastings' own NDP MLA Shane Simpson and his inappropriate timing in turning a communities struggle into a political opportunity for a struggling political party.
Its certainly no surprise to see Simpson or the NDP using the backs of those disadvantaged as a soap box and this time around it was to accuse our provincial government of neglect in dealing with flood protection over the past 5 years. This despite the fact that it was a now past member of his own party (while in government) that placed the sole responsibility for dike and levy repair and maintenance on the shoulders of local government. Even Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames refused to blame the provincial government citing that the storms of the past week were 1 in 200 to 500 year events. How do you plan for that?
So here are a few of the things that Shane Simpson forgot to tell us about.
1. In May of 2003 the BC Liberals introduced the Flood Hazard Statutes Amendment Act and provided $1 million for the development of flood hazard management tools.
2. During the NDP's reign in the 1990's the Fraser River Flood Control Program, an agreement with the Fed's to undertake massive improvements of dikes along the Fraser River (established in 1968), was allowed to expire. This despite the fact that studies completed in 1994 identified substantial risk of flooding with the potential to cause $1.8 billion damage affecting 300, 000 people, should the Fraser rise beyond its banks.
3. In June 2001 the BC Liberals announced a 2 year funding commitment for the Flood Protection Assistance Fund.
4. After the Chilliwack River flooded in 2003, the BC Liberals spent $500, 000 to help strengthen dikes along the river and they provided a further $56, 000 in grants to study further upgrades.
5. Since 2001, the BC Liberals have spent $9 million in flood mitigation projects in British Columbia.
Its extremely unfortunate that events like this happen in our communities, the fact that they do is one of the reasons I volunteer, and it really sucks that my back yard and garage flood (for me at least). But they do and they always will. The best we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best and when they do happen, all of us should have some responsibility to help. Shane Simpson says that sending Barry Penner in to fill sandbags isn't enough. I suspect that in reality, if asked Barry would be right there doing this, would Shane?
I hate this time of year! The fall is particularly difficult for me for a number of reasons but perhaps one of the biggest is the affect that the rain has on my backyard. The lane behind my house has been built up so that its higher than my yard, so every time we get any significant amount of rain my garage and parking spot flood. This makes them pretty much useless to me until the spring and it drives me crazy. I keep meaning to do something about it but...
As frustrated as the fall rain makes me, I really do count myself lucky compared to those living along the Chilliwack and other rivers this past week. Our recent record-breaking rain falls were an inconvenience to me for sure, but my plight seems insignificant when stacked against those forced to evacuate their homes as swollen rivers took over. I sincerely feel for these people, as a human being and as a volunteer with two emergency preparedness organizations.
Thankfully, no one was hurt or worse and homes will dry out allowing repairs (albeit expensive ones) and life will go on for these people.
Disturbed as I was lying in bed and listening to the rain, this time around I think it was the wind that bothered me the most, and I'm not talking about mother natures warm fall breezes! What really got my back up against the wall was the wind generated by Vancouver-Hastings' own NDP MLA Shane Simpson and his inappropriate timing in turning a communities struggle into a political opportunity for a struggling political party.
Its certainly no surprise to see Simpson or the NDP using the backs of those disadvantaged as a soap box and this time around it was to accuse our provincial government of neglect in dealing with flood protection over the past 5 years. This despite the fact that it was a now past member of his own party (while in government) that placed the sole responsibility for dike and levy repair and maintenance on the shoulders of local government. Even Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames refused to blame the provincial government citing that the storms of the past week were 1 in 200 to 500 year events. How do you plan for that?
So here are a few of the things that Shane Simpson forgot to tell us about.
1. In May of 2003 the BC Liberals introduced the Flood Hazard Statutes Amendment Act and provided $1 million for the development of flood hazard management tools.
2. During the NDP's reign in the 1990's the Fraser River Flood Control Program, an agreement with the Fed's to undertake massive improvements of dikes along the Fraser River (established in 1968), was allowed to expire. This despite the fact that studies completed in 1994 identified substantial risk of flooding with the potential to cause $1.8 billion damage affecting 300, 000 people, should the Fraser rise beyond its banks.
3. In June 2001 the BC Liberals announced a 2 year funding commitment for the Flood Protection Assistance Fund.
4. After the Chilliwack River flooded in 2003, the BC Liberals spent $500, 000 to help strengthen dikes along the river and they provided a further $56, 000 in grants to study further upgrades.
5. Since 2001, the BC Liberals have spent $9 million in flood mitigation projects in British Columbia.
Its extremely unfortunate that events like this happen in our communities, the fact that they do is one of the reasons I volunteer, and it really sucks that my back yard and garage flood (for me at least). But they do and they always will. The best we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best and when they do happen, all of us should have some responsibility to help. Shane Simpson says that sending Barry Penner in to fill sandbags isn't enough. I suspect that in reality, if asked Barry would be right there doing this, would Shane?
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