Libby Says Stop the Stink!
July 9, 2010
Updates from Libby
I wrote to the Chair of Metro Vancouver's Environment and Energy Committee about the noxious smells emanating from the West Coast Reduction plant at the foot of Commercial Drive. Here it is:
Dear Mayor Trasolini,
RE: Bylaw to Address Noxious Smells from West Coast Reduction located at 105 North Commercial Drive, Vancouver
I am writing on behalf of constituents who have contacted my office about the noxious smells emanating from the West Coast Reduction rendering plant located at 105 North Commercial Drive, which is next to a large residential population. This has been an ongoing problem since at least 1997, when I was first elected as Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, so this problem and its efforts to address it have moved at a “glacial pace” as some residents have frustratingly described.
Specifically, I respectfully request that the Environment and Energy Committee exercise its authority to pass a strong bylaw to regulate these odours as soon as possible.
While I recognize that the plant serves a purpose, and there have been some improvements to contain smells over the years, please note that their presence still exists and can be not only highly uncomfortable, but also detrimental to physical and psychological health. The improvements have been described as a superficial and non-effective resolution to a long-standing and very significant problem in the community.
I have received regularly letters, emails, faxes, phone calls and visits from residents, all of which vociferously protest against the odours. I know that residents have also contacted Metro Vancouver and have clearly, and patiently, articulated the problems over the years and want to resolve the situation once and for all. Given that Metro Vancouver is responsible for air quality in our region, I respectfully request that the Environment and Energy Committee pass a strong bylaw to address noxious smells.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies, MP
Vancouver East
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Comments
Bill C-304
Hi Libby,
Thank you for your fine representation as an elected member of parliament.
I am the chsir person of the Ottawa Health and Social Services Advisory Committee, and although our committee has recently moved to support the essential intentions of Bill C-304 , an Act to ensure that all members of society are adequately housed, with affordable, accessible, and suitable housing, one issue remains to be reviewed in the Bill, and that is the fact that the Bill does not address the issue of timeliness.
How long should Candians have to wait for affordable housing solutions before they can seek representation before the legislative assembly to sue the governmental department for failing to provide accessible, appropriate, affordable, housing for Canadians as a matter of necessity, and need according to the submission of the party requesting affordable housing and who will assume responsibilty to ensure that the Bill C-304 addresses this issue, as well as the applicants percieved issue of need?
What component in the legialation provides for legal representation in such issues? What aspect of Bill C-304 deals with access issues in a timely manner? Does the Canadian Citizen have to wait, 3 months? 10 years? 5.00791 years???????? How long must one wait for affordable housing, and who decides what the client perceives, as there own subjective bona-fide need?
Revenue Canada agents are aware of what the needs are, so there is no reason for failure in our tenure to provide for the justifiable needs of our fellow Citizens, is there?
Shouldn't we establish provincial housing ministries through out the country to deal more closely with affordable housing initiatives in designated community neighbourhoods, according to the needs of the municipality in question, and shouldn't the United Federation of Municipalities work closely with the Special Senate Committee in charge of scrutinizing this legislative framework?
As we work to establish a national housing strategy in support of such initiatives, we must ensure that the full intention of any legislative proposal's meet the intended needs of Canadian Citizens, according to their individual, and collective constitutional rights, shouldn't we?
And shouldn't we be meeting those needs in a reasonable period of time, especially in the lifestime of persons in need?
How can we help people to prosper and grow if they are experiencing housing insecurity? Who will be the judge of who qualifies for housing and what type?
These remain significant and challenging issues.
Carol Lever
Ottawa Health and Social Services Advisory Committee Chair