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?