A8 The Delta Optimist January 18, 2013 Opinion Page Published every Wednesday & Friday by the Delta Optimist, a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership #207 - 4840 Delta Street, Delta, BC V4K 2T6 Phone 604-946-4451 Fax 604-946-5680 www.delta-optimist.com Publisher: Tom Siba tsiba@ delta-optimist.com
Dust finally settles on black stuff
Distribution: 604-249-3332 iford@van.net Classified: 604-630-3300 Fax: 604-630-4500 classifieds@van.net Editor: Ted Murphy editor@ delta-optimist.com Sports: Mark Booth mbooth@ delta-optimist.com Reporters: Sandor Gyarmati sgyarmati@ delta-optimist.com Dave Willis dwillis@ delta-optimist.com Jessica Kerr jkerr@ delta-optimist.com Photographer: Gord Goble ggoble@ delta-optimist.com Sales Manager: Dave Hamilton dhamilton@ delta-optimist.com Sales Representatives: John Gallinger jgallinger@ delta-optimist.com Ruth VanBruksvoort rbruks@ delta-optimist.com Features Manager: Bob Ferguson bferguson@ delta-optimist.com Office Manager: Trish Factor pfactor@ delta-optimist.com Sales Support: Linda Calendino lcalendino@ delta-optimist.com Canadian Publications Agreement #212490 CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012
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TED MURPHY
MURPHY’S LAW What do you know, it looks like it was coal dust after all. Last fall we published a number of letters, including a couple from Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington, about the “black stuff ” that was blanketing cars, patio furniture and pretty much anything else left outdoors in Tsawwassen, particularly in the westernmost part of town. It looked like a duck and walked like a duck, but the powers that be were reluctant to identify it as a duck. This assertion seemed curious given the presence of North America’s busiest coal port on the community’s doorstep. Then later in the fall Huntington wrote a second letter after receiving word from Westshore Terminals, operator of the coal port, that a certain percentage of the dust, as much as 20 per cent in some cases, was indeed coal. It was hardly a startling revelation, but it was nice to hear it confirmed nonetheless. Huntington’s letter also included news that substantial upgrades would be made to the dust control systems at the coal port. This week Dennis Horgan of Westshore Terminals came before Delta council to outline the improvements that will be carried out this year, work that will total a not-so-insignificant $7 million. It might appear strange to applaud a company for carrying out needed mitigation measures, for merely acting as a responsible corporate citizen, but in this day and age when the wishes of the little guy aren’t routinely heeded, it was heartening to see Westshore commit to the costly improvements. It could have buried its head in the sand, or the dust for that matter, and stuck to a line others were shopping about how the mysterious black stuff wasn’t coal dust, but it stepped up, admitted responsibility and is taking action. To be fair, not all the black soot that’s landing on property in Tsawwassen could possibly be attributed to activities at the coal port given everything else we’re putting into the airshed these days. It would defy logic if some of that unwelcome coating weren’t from the emissions of ships, trucks and trains that frequent this area, among other potential pollutants in our midst. Even if the coal port is more than likely just part of the problem, and thus can only remedy what’s in its control, it’s still encouraging to see the operator take ownership of the issue and commit millions to combat it. It would be even better if this corporate responsibility thing became contagious around here.
Councillors issued challenge for Tour de Tunnel time trial DOUG HUSBAND
COMMUNITY COMMENT During the Christmas break I drove into Vancouver through the George Massey Tunnel. The weather was decent, there was minimal traffic and significant time was saved. The first business day of 2013 changed all that. A provincial delegation has attended Delta and adjacent municipalities seeking input on the future of the tunnel, but as has been stated many times before, any crossing improvement is likely decades away. Kudos to the provincial government for visiting Delta for input, but it strikes me our own council could initiate a similar forum seeking short-term solutions. The last council initiative on tunnel improvement was in the early 1980s resulting in the counterflow lane. I stand to be corrected, but none of our local elected officials use
the tunnel daily as a commuter, therefore do not share our anxiety and frustration. I appreciate they have much on their plates with numerous issues and committee time, as well as looming land use hearings, but seeing and experiencing makes believers of us all. I’m offering a friendly challenge to one of our municipal politicians by organizing the Tour de Tunnel time trial. It involves one of our leaders with a sense of adventure to debark by car from municipal hall at 7:45 a.m. on any Monday in the next 30 days. They would navigate Highway 17 through the tunnel using the right lane and exit onto the Steveston Highway overpass westbound, make a left turn at the west end of the overpass and proceed southbound through the tunnel on the way back to municipal hall. Off rush hour this is a 10-minute trip. Should he/she return to the hall in less than 40 minutes, I will donate $500 to a charity of their choice in their name. All I ask is that if the experience is noteworthy, he/she initiates some dialogue with our beleaguered Delta drivers to seek input for any short-term improvements. Delta’s traffic safety committee
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might have a role in this as well. A major bottleneck northbound in the morning is the Steveston Highway overpass, which backs traffic into the tunnel and slows/stops the right lane. I am a believer in the collective wisdom of a large group of people; surely there are other thoughts and ideas worth considering. I would like to think Delta council with staff support could engage in discussions with Richmond council. Surrey council could add its weight to discussions as its constituents are part or the problem and encounter lengthy delays at the tunnel, which will only get worse. To loosely paraphrase a famous quote, it is far better to take on a challenge with the risk of an occasional setback rather than be one of those who are afraid of failure so do nothing. This is a decades-old problem. We need an advocate who will work with adjacent municipalities and put pressure on our provincial government. Any takers? Let’s initiate some dialogue and perhaps improve a vexing issue. As they say, timing is everything and we have a provincial election in May. And a good night to you, councillors.
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