Lately I have been paying some attention to Squamish local politics. Possibly too much attention. Three main reasons for this: 1. it is not the climbing season, so I have had more free time than usual; 2. anyway I injured my wrist before new year and was in a cast for a month; 3. for a small town, there is plenty happening.
The easiest place to sample the town's controversies is Facebook Squamish Speaks, a tetchy discussion group on (obviously) Facebook. I experimented with joining in there, but after a while realised it was a path to madness. I do not think Facebook is well-suited to debate; it gets too personal too quickly. Real web forums that allow anonymity or semi-anonymity work better. That said, I have got to know some new people through the group, which has led to some interesting private conversations.
I felt like I wanted to distil what I have learned, so below is a short guide to the headline political issues; all private sector projects of various kinds. There are routine topics that are also important, like budget management by the local municipality (DoS: the District of Squamish), but I will leave those for another time, maybe.
For context - as I have written before - Squamish is a classic post-industrial town. Twenty years ago there were several large industrial employers including a pulp mill, saw mill, chemical plant and railway engineering works, supporting a substantial blue-collar workforce. But all those places were closed down by 2005. Now the largest employers are DoS, plus Walmart and Quest University; with jobs that require different skills - or pay less - than those that have disappeared. Over the same period, relatively low house prices have sucked in a growing number of young couples and families who mostly commute to work to either Whistler or Vancouver. They typically have different values to the longer-established residents: more environmentally-concerned and less sympathetic to the resource sector. So there's a definite political divide between the old and new "tribes". In relation to development proposals, that means there is always someone who is against any new proposal. However the biggest BANANAs are definitely found amongst the newer residents.
Also for context, here's a map:
I have tackled the topics in ascending order of popularity (as far as I can judge). Most-hated first.
Garibaldi at Squamish is a ski resort proposal for an alpine area just north of Squamish that has been concept-only for at least twenty years. It would totally transform the town as the tourist season is currently almost purely summer-only. In theory it is do-or-die time this year, as BC's Environment Assessment Agency are set to pronounce on it shortly, after which it is a political decision. The proponents say they will abandon the proposal if turned down. Recently they abandoned the lower-third of their proposal - a couple of golf courses and associated residential sites by the highway - in an apparent final bid to sway opinion.
People who seem to dislike this project: amazingly, given the obvious economic benefits, almost everyone in town. The organised opposition is an unusual coalition between snowmobilers (old tribe!), who cunningly obtained tenure of the threatened alpine area decades ago, and environmentalists (new tribe!), who fret about disruption of salmon rivers and some other things.
What I think: in favour, now that the proposal has been reduced to ski resort only. Brohm Ridge, the resort's focal point, has incredible views south and west, and should be a key backcountry access point, for example, for climbing Mt Garibaldi. Currently the snowmobile club restrict access with a locked gate on the forestry road, well below the alpine level.
What is going to happen: someone, whose opinion I trust, reckons 50:50 odds at this stage.
Woodfibre LNG is a proposal to build a small-scale gas liquefaction plant on the abandoned site of the Woodfibre pulp mill, until a decade ago one of Squamish's large employers and tax-payers. WLNG's investment would be more than a billion dollars, and would likely make them the biggest tax payer in Squamish by a large margin. The business will be there for at least 30 years and is estimated to create 300 jobs during the build phase and 100 permanent jobs once operating. The company will also provide training locally in industrial skills that are likely to be in high demand throughout BC, as the current provincial government was elected with a mandate to push LNG exports.
People who seem to dislike this project: all the environmentalists, who hate that a proportion of the gas will come from fracked sources in Northern BC, and that it will be shipped substantially to China, adding to that country's carbon emissions. And they fret about tankers in Howe Sound. One even admitted that she didn't much like the idea of Squamish filling up with blue-collar workers again (the snob!).
What I think: in favour as long as the company uses electricity to power the liquefaction, and doesn't instead burn gas on site. Squamish desperately needs new tax dollars and another large employer. And I am familiar with LNG plants from living in the Gulf; as industrial facilities go, they are clean and pretty unobtrusive within the landscape.
What is going to happen: it will go ahead, as it has strong political backing at the provincial level and there is little that DoS can do to obstruct. For example, the site is already zoned for heavy industrial use.
Squamish Oceanfront is a large parcel of de-commissioned industrial land, where the Squamish river delta meets the ocean. DoS acquired it for a dollar about ten years ago. Though it was initially ring-fenced from the municipal finances within a special purpose company - the "SODC" - large amounts of debt have since been accumulated through dubious spending on consultants, then, in an act of monumental stupidity under the previous mayor, that debt was guaranteed by the municipality, so that we taxpayers are now all liable. However, after years lying unwanted and serving as little more than a dog toilet, a developer is apparently negotiating with the council to build on the land. Just in time, as SODC has to make the first debt repayment in May this year. As I understand it, any development has to follow a template established through community consultation: mixed residential and business use with a hotel and public areas.
People who seem to dislike this project: A previous prospective developer was chased out of town in 2006, apparently because of local political infighting. But after years of controversy and failure to do anything with the site, interest within the town in this project has become jaded and apathetic. Sadly, people generally seem too financially illiterate to understand how nefariously it has been managed.
What I think: I'd like to see the site bought and the debt paid off. However, if that does not happen soon, it should be made into a park, then the municipality restructure the debt. Either way, there should be a very thorough enquiry into how the debt was accumulated).
What is going to happen: Hard to know. A well-informed source told me that the cost of bringing services (sewage, etc) out to the land makes profitable development impossible.
People who seem to dislike this project: As mentioned, a small group. Otherwise, oddly few people, given that the thing will be a visual eyesore (a reason touted widely for opposing the LNG plant nearby).
What I think: Vaguely in favour but the (failed) opposition include some people for whom I have great respect. Improved access to the alpine terrain there (including Mt Habrich which I climbed in 2012) is a definite plus.
What is going to happen: Hopefully it will be a success.
Squamish Valley Music Festival an event run by brand.LIVE, a Vancouver firm, has been taking place in August for several successive summers. However from 2014 the council have approved a greater than doubling of event capacity and an expanded footprint across the town's business park and sports fields. The negotiations took place "in camera" so there is little detail except that the deal is for eight more years. This year's headliners will include Bruno Mars, Arcade Fire and Eminem.
People who seem to dislike this project: In 2013 the event gridlocked the town for a day. High official camping charges encouraged visitors to look for free sites, mostly in sensitive riparian areas (bad for the salmon!). And bins at the site overflowed causing garbage to blow across town. In 2014, with vastly larger attendance, these problems are certain to mushroom. But, bizarrely, almost everyone in town is in favour! The limited opposition are people living close to the site and various sport user groups (for example, much of the town's soccer field capacity is being closed for a month).
What I think: Nothing exemplifies the collective idiocy of Squamish than this event! The municipality and organisers hype the positive economic impacts, yet mid-summer is already when the town is at its busiest, whilst the gridlock and mess will surely piss off the people from all over the world who visit Squamish to climb or ride the MTB trails. The short term nature of the event means no new jobs will be created. Major music festivals usually take root organically (ie Glastonbury) or are foisted on towns that otherwise have nothing else to offer the world; Squamish fits neither category.
What is going to happen: It seems unlikely that eight years can pass without something going badly wrong with this event. Hopefully, when that happens, it will be revealed that the council had the foresight to build break-clauses into the contract and can tell brand.LIVE to go find some other small town to trash - but I fear otherwise.
The easiest place to sample the town's controversies is Facebook Squamish Speaks, a tetchy discussion group on (obviously) Facebook. I experimented with joining in there, but after a while realised it was a path to madness. I do not think Facebook is well-suited to debate; it gets too personal too quickly. Real web forums that allow anonymity or semi-anonymity work better. That said, I have got to know some new people through the group, which has led to some interesting private conversations.
I felt like I wanted to distil what I have learned, so below is a short guide to the headline political issues; all private sector projects of various kinds. There are routine topics that are also important, like budget management by the local municipality (DoS: the District of Squamish), but I will leave those for another time, maybe.
For context - as I have written before - Squamish is a classic post-industrial town. Twenty years ago there were several large industrial employers including a pulp mill, saw mill, chemical plant and railway engineering works, supporting a substantial blue-collar workforce. But all those places were closed down by 2005. Now the largest employers are DoS, plus Walmart and Quest University; with jobs that require different skills - or pay less - than those that have disappeared. Over the same period, relatively low house prices have sucked in a growing number of young couples and families who mostly commute to work to either Whistler or Vancouver. They typically have different values to the longer-established residents: more environmentally-concerned and less sympathetic to the resource sector. So there's a definite political divide between the old and new "tribes". In relation to development proposals, that means there is always someone who is against any new proposal. However the biggest BANANAs are definitely found amongst the newer residents.
Also for context, here's a map:
I have tackled the topics in ascending order of popularity (as far as I can judge). Most-hated first.
Garibaldi at Squamish is a ski resort proposal for an alpine area just north of Squamish that has been concept-only for at least twenty years. It would totally transform the town as the tourist season is currently almost purely summer-only. In theory it is do-or-die time this year, as BC's Environment Assessment Agency are set to pronounce on it shortly, after which it is a political decision. The proponents say they will abandon the proposal if turned down. Recently they abandoned the lower-third of their proposal - a couple of golf courses and associated residential sites by the highway - in an apparent final bid to sway opinion.
People who seem to dislike this project: amazingly, given the obvious economic benefits, almost everyone in town. The organised opposition is an unusual coalition between snowmobilers (old tribe!), who cunningly obtained tenure of the threatened alpine area decades ago, and environmentalists (new tribe!), who fret about disruption of salmon rivers and some other things.
What I think: in favour, now that the proposal has been reduced to ski resort only. Brohm Ridge, the resort's focal point, has incredible views south and west, and should be a key backcountry access point, for example, for climbing Mt Garibaldi. Currently the snowmobile club restrict access with a locked gate on the forestry road, well below the alpine level.
What is going to happen: someone, whose opinion I trust, reckons 50:50 odds at this stage.
Woodfibre LNG is a proposal to build a small-scale gas liquefaction plant on the abandoned site of the Woodfibre pulp mill, until a decade ago one of Squamish's large employers and tax-payers. WLNG's investment would be more than a billion dollars, and would likely make them the biggest tax payer in Squamish by a large margin. The business will be there for at least 30 years and is estimated to create 300 jobs during the build phase and 100 permanent jobs once operating. The company will also provide training locally in industrial skills that are likely to be in high demand throughout BC, as the current provincial government was elected with a mandate to push LNG exports.
People who seem to dislike this project: all the environmentalists, who hate that a proportion of the gas will come from fracked sources in Northern BC, and that it will be shipped substantially to China, adding to that country's carbon emissions. And they fret about tankers in Howe Sound. One even admitted that she didn't much like the idea of Squamish filling up with blue-collar workers again (the snob!).
What I think: in favour as long as the company uses electricity to power the liquefaction, and doesn't instead burn gas on site. Squamish desperately needs new tax dollars and another large employer. And I am familiar with LNG plants from living in the Gulf; as industrial facilities go, they are clean and pretty unobtrusive within the landscape.
What is going to happen: it will go ahead, as it has strong political backing at the provincial level and there is little that DoS can do to obstruct. For example, the site is already zoned for heavy industrial use.
Squamish Oceanfront is a large parcel of de-commissioned industrial land, where the Squamish river delta meets the ocean. DoS acquired it for a dollar about ten years ago. Though it was initially ring-fenced from the municipal finances within a special purpose company - the "SODC" - large amounts of debt have since been accumulated through dubious spending on consultants, then, in an act of monumental stupidity under the previous mayor, that debt was guaranteed by the municipality, so that we taxpayers are now all liable. However, after years lying unwanted and serving as little more than a dog toilet, a developer is apparently negotiating with the council to build on the land. Just in time, as SODC has to make the first debt repayment in May this year. As I understand it, any development has to follow a template established through community consultation: mixed residential and business use with a hotel and public areas.
People who seem to dislike this project: A previous prospective developer was chased out of town in 2006, apparently because of local political infighting. But after years of controversy and failure to do anything with the site, interest within the town in this project has become jaded and apathetic. Sadly, people generally seem too financially illiterate to understand how nefariously it has been managed.
What I think: I'd like to see the site bought and the debt paid off. However, if that does not happen soon, it should be made into a park, then the municipality restructure the debt. Either way, there should be a very thorough enquiry into how the debt was accumulated).
What is going to happen: Hard to know. A well-informed source told me that the cost of bringing services (sewage, etc) out to the land makes profitable development impossible.
Sea-to-Sky Gondola does not really belong in this list, as it has already been approved and will be running from May this year, but it is illustrative of inconsistent public opinion! In 2004 a developer tried to gain permission to build a gondola to the top of the Chief from a private land parcel by the highway. Thankfully the proposal was defeated and a covenant placed on the land to prevent any recurrence. However, another group (possibly whilst consulting to the SODC) dreamed up the clever work-round of running a gondola to a higher view point above and to the side of the Chief, thus reducing the opposition. They still had to win approval to annex a strip of land from the provincial park; an awkward precedent fought hard by some access purists. Generally it seems that pushing the tourist dollar benefits to Squamish whilst wooing the outdoor lobby with promises of improved backcountry access tipped the scales in their favour.
People who seem to dislike this project: As mentioned, a small group. Otherwise, oddly few people, given that the thing will be a visual eyesore (a reason touted widely for opposing the LNG plant nearby).
What I think: Vaguely in favour but the (failed) opposition include some people for whom I have great respect. Improved access to the alpine terrain there (including Mt Habrich which I climbed in 2012) is a definite plus.
What is going to happen: Hopefully it will be a success.
Squamish Valley Music Festival an event run by brand.LIVE, a Vancouver firm, has been taking place in August for several successive summers. However from 2014 the council have approved a greater than doubling of event capacity and an expanded footprint across the town's business park and sports fields. The negotiations took place "in camera" so there is little detail except that the deal is for eight more years. This year's headliners will include Bruno Mars, Arcade Fire and Eminem.
People who seem to dislike this project: In 2013 the event gridlocked the town for a day. High official camping charges encouraged visitors to look for free sites, mostly in sensitive riparian areas (bad for the salmon!). And bins at the site overflowed causing garbage to blow across town. In 2014, with vastly larger attendance, these problems are certain to mushroom. But, bizarrely, almost everyone in town is in favour! The limited opposition are people living close to the site and various sport user groups (for example, much of the town's soccer field capacity is being closed for a month).
What I think: Nothing exemplifies the collective idiocy of Squamish than this event! The municipality and organisers hype the positive economic impacts, yet mid-summer is already when the town is at its busiest, whilst the gridlock and mess will surely piss off the people from all over the world who visit Squamish to climb or ride the MTB trails. The short term nature of the event means no new jobs will be created. Major music festivals usually take root organically (ie Glastonbury) or are foisted on towns that otherwise have nothing else to offer the world; Squamish fits neither category.
What is going to happen: It seems unlikely that eight years can pass without something going badly wrong with this event. Hopefully, when that happens, it will be revealed that the council had the foresight to build break-clauses into the contract and can tell brand.LIVE to go find some other small town to trash - but I fear otherwise.
