On Sunday, Oct. 12, I wrote several e-mails to political officials and other RDN officials complaining about the smoke problem resulting from the Island Valley Farms land-clearing burn going on near Church Road. I also phoned in a complaint to the conservation officer at the RDN and the B.C. Air Quality Office.
Here is a list of the officials that were contacted: Earle Plain (air quality meteorologist), Jim Standen (assistant minister of the environment), B.C. Air Quality Office, RDN bylaw complaints department, conservation officer, MLA Michele Stilwell, RDN Area G Director Joe Stanhope.
Out of those contacts, only two replied, and those were Stilwell’s office and the Office of Environmental Complaints. The latter informed that the burning had been suspended pending an investigation by the conservation officer.
This issue affected the health of many people over a wide area of Oceanside and the lack of response from the officials contacted is cause for concern.
Jerry FilipskiFrench Creek