Letter from Neil Powell to Mayor Wright re: Metro Vancouver's interest in Canfor Site

On Monday, Voice director, Neil Powell, sent the following letter to Mayor Wayne Wright.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Mr. Mayor,
As you know the issue of waste management is of concern to all of New Westminster’s residents and businesses, particularly those living in Sapperton.
On Friday, January 30th, you will hopefully be attending the Metro Vancouver Waste Management Committee representing New Westminster as the region plans how best to handle the region’s waste. One of the items this committee will be discussing is the Inquiry Officer’s Report re: the attempted expropriation of the Canfor Lands. I’ve read the report and found it to be quite interesting. Of particular interest was the following quote, “Burnaby as a municipality is not supportive of further expansion of waste to energy facilities, whereas New Westminster appears to be encouraging of such developments: Transcript Sep 3/08, p.67.” (p.6, paragraph 16 of Inquiry Officer’s Report)

I had discussions with Metro Vancouver staff today in order to try and understand where this appearance of encouragement emanated from. I was informed that it was a result of Ms. Spitale and Councilor Harper’s visits to incinerators in England and Japan respectively.

Mayor Wright, I ask that you please not spend any additional taxpayer’s money on this issue until you consult our residents and businesses to see if we are interested in an incinerator, and the accompanying health, environmental and traffic concerns it will bring to our City.

Thank you,
- Neil Powell