Abnor: Bruce The Dragon Slayer

By Abnor. Patricia Ross has never been very good at (or very interested in) boring things like water, sewer, roads or city finances. You know … the stuff we pay her to pay attention to.

She has always preferred to chase paper dragons that are far enough away that, if they do turn out to have any real bite, she can get out of the way.

Slaying Dragons Instead Of Real Problems
Ross joined the SE2 fight several years ago and, with the help of heavy lifting provided by MP Ed Fast, MLAs John van Dongen and Mike Dejong as well as direct lobbying from both the Prime Minister and the Premier, she scurried to the front of a huge groundswell of grassroots protest to claim victory. Ever since she has somehow been inextricably linked to the environment and SE2, almost to exclusion of all else.

When Vancouver announced its intention to burn a portion of its garbage in a waste to energy incinerator she saw the issue for what it was – a great opportunity to make residents forget all about the environmental damage by gravel companies she has overseen on Sumas Mountain as Chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District and the paving of several miles of pristine forest for the Discovery Trail for which she voted.

(Can you be a part-time environmentalist while driving a Lexus?)

Instead of considering the reduction in harmful emissions from semi trailers which drive Abbotsford’s garbage to Vancouver and then back through the Valley to dumps in the interior, Ross preferred to simplify the issue as only she can. Smoke bad … clean air good. Who could possibly disagree.

Former Mayor George Perry and a couple of councillors pointed out that, since Abbotsford relies on Vancouver to take our garbage away, it might not be wise to fight them too hard in their attempts to reduce their garbage footprint by converting it to energy.

But she soldiered on, creating a media wake behind her.

Ever noticed no one thinks of Patricia the Dragon Slayer when they think of the Abbotsford Heat subsidy, the Abbotsford Entertainment Centre (AESC) subsidy, the water shortage, our terrible roads, our abysmal parks and rec department or the financial crisis at City Hall? She is as responsible for all those as anyone else on Council.

Banman Takes A Page From The Dragon Slayer’s Playbook
After taking over from one-term mayor George Peary, Bruce Banman has discovered that his ‘awe shucks let me sing you a tune’ folksiness hasn’t solved any of the City’s problems. In fact, some of the folks who voted for him are beginning to wonder if the change he promised is ever going to happen.

So no one should be surprised with his front page feature on the Abbotsford News website joining Patricia the Dragon Slayer in the fight with Vancouver over their garbage.

At least its a battle no one expects him to win. (Don’t think Bruce didn’t notice that the top vote winner the last two elections running was the Dragon Slayer herself). Which means, as issues go, it doesn’t feel at all like the failures associated with the AESC, the Heat, water, sewer, roads, Parks and Rec or City finances.

Banman is miffed at Vancouver for going back to its previous meeting methodology whereby cities like Abbotsford, which are not part of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, are, once again, being asked to cool their heals in the visitors gallery instead of having a seat at the table where the real discussions and decisions happen.

Thanks Patricia. You got us kicked out of the room.

Blessing In Disguise

This may be a blessing in disguise for Abbotsford citizens …. Now Mayor Banman gets to feel the same way Abbotsford residents do when they want be heard by their City Council …

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Abnor:

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Editor’s Note:Abnor joins us from time to time with a question or two about what he sees around him. He has plenty of time on his hands and he spends a great deal of his time wandering the streets of Abbotsford wondering about what he sees and hears. He’s a modern day hobo with a Blackberry.

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