Letters: Randy Hawes Drags Liberal Colleagues Down With Arrogant Response To Constituent

UPDATED 08/07/12 – In a series of emails regarding the Aggregate Pilot Project (APP) and the Liberal government’s consistent siding with the gravel industry over landowners, environmentalists and constituents, MLA Randy Hawes reveals how he is helping to drag down his Liberal colleagues in the eyes of voters with his arrogant response to those concerned about their land and the environment.

Liberal MLA Randy Hawes

Randy Hawes has been involved in the gravel conflict since the beginning when he was Minister of Mines and has consistently been accused of backing the industry against the interests of his constituents, environmentalist and local property owners.

Much like Abbotsford ‘environmentalist’ councillor Patricia Ross he has overseen a process that many say has run roughshod over the interests of local people.

08/07/12

Failed Politician Randy Hawes’ Reply Demonstrates Liberal Contempt For Constituents

Dear MLA Hawes,

I’ve been a Liberal supporter most of my adult life until it became clear that the party got hijacked by a corrupt ideology. BC citizens are discouraged that the dignity and responsibilities of high office have been debased by so few, on behalf of so many.

Along with other BC citizens, I will be voting to show you and your “party” to the exit, at the next election. That will be your referendum. As was the case with the HST referendum, the hardworking citizens of BC will explain to you, at election, what they think of ideologies that drive the reckless promotion of corporate interests at the expense of all other reasonable considerations meaningful to human beings.

Conflict Gravel is just one symptom of that ideological sickness. The FVRD had been given no choice regarding the APP. Unfortunately, FVRD Directors (except for Adamson and Bales) not only failed to stand up to your belligerent tactics, but, it also failed to stand up on behalf of its constituent’s best interests.

You’ve inaccurately stated, in the past, that there are only two options, take it or leave it. Although many better alternatives to the flawed APP exist, you/your party have choked off all other opportunities because of the blindness induced by that apparent sickness. Constituents have repeatedly offered to help fix the APP: an example of democracy at work. You have dismissed each of those generous offers for help: an example of democracy trampled. You and your “party” are solely responsible for the APP’s failures and all resultant negative outcomes. BC citizens will ensure that those failures are fixed/cleaned-up and that the failed politicians are held responsible.

What do you do sir, when the facts lay before you?

Voters have watched all of it, as it happened, and are aware that the integrity of political office and democracy have been undermined in the process. For those reasons, voters will look first and foremost at the integrity of politician actions, rather than the cynical “message management” approach seemingly preferred by despotic politicians.

But your emailed response is just a distraction, an attempt, perhaps, to misdirect attention from the specific issues related to this letter?

I had asked some simple questions below and still await simple, honest answers. Can you do that for me today?

Walter Neufeld, President
FVRD Citizens Association

On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 10:20 AM, Hawes.MLA, Randy wrote:

A majority of Fraser Valley residents? Please send me the results of the referendum. The decision on the APP lies with the FVRD at this point.

06/07/12

Open Letter To Randy Hawes

Dear MLA Hawes,

I’ve read your day-long email exchange with Jan and am appalled by your verbal bullying.

Jan’s email narrative* depicts a woman and community that have been pushed up against the wall by Conflict Gravel mining practices. Jan’s integrity was earned through years of community volunteerism in Lake Errock.

In front of you are some plain facts, a majority of Fraser Valley constituents have rejected Aggregate Pilot Project (APP) as a grossly flawed document and yet your party continues to push-it-through-the-approval-process. You have shown yourself untrustworthy and not believable. You have accused critics of being fear mongers when in fact you are the monger of fear.

Adversely affected communities have been pleading with you for help, but it has all fallen on deaf ears. Many folks wonder what’s wrong with you?

You’re an elected MLA. When will you begin representing the best interests of your constituency rather than the narrow interests of gravel miners?

The APP’s failures are the result of your negligence and belligerence. It could have been so much more.

You taunt Jan by asking, “Just a simple yes or no—is more land isolated from aggregate production

with the APP than without it?”

Why didn’t you ask her if there was anything you could do to help her?

I have a few simple “yes” or “no” questions for you to answer:

will you stop misleading the public about the APP and the process driving it?
will you respect the adversely affected constituency?
will you allow public input to fix your flawed APP?
will you exhibit the missing integrity expected from an MLA?
will you be honest?
will you allow democracy to breath?

An apology to Jan and her husband would be a good first step toward your rehabilitation.

Are you man enough? “Yes or “No”?

If you can’t/won’t answer the simple questions posed, I recommend you enroll in Chirsty Clark’s anti-bullying “ERASE” initiative.

Sincerely,

Walter Neufeld, President
FVRD Citizens Association

Jan Longmore’ Emails With Randy Hawes

*Jan’s emails are published with permission

—–Original Message—– From: my3cats@telus.net
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 10:13 PM
To: Hawes.MLA, Randy

Subject: Re: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

Are you asking me if there is more land “protected” from aggregate
production with the APP or without it?? By protected I mean environmentally
sensitive areas as well as community sensitive areas.

—–Original Message—– From: Hawes.MLA, Randy
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 9:10 PM
To: my3cats@telus.net
Subject: RE: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

Just a simple yes or no—-is more land isolated from aggregate production
with the APP than without it?
________________________________________
From: my3cats@telus.net [my3cats@telus.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 6:08 PM
To: Hawes.MLA, Randy

Subject: Re: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

Randy,

I am aware that it is in the hands of the FVRD but trust me, that does not
give me any great comfort. They will not vote against the progression of
this plan – it means money to them. Also, as Ms Gaetz so eloquently
mentioned at least 5 times during the course of the June 26th meeting,
“….folks, this (zoning) has been accepted in essence….”. You are
telling me that no land around the Lake Errock pit is being bought by the
aggregate producers. I am intrigued by this as I understood that
approximately 250 acres have been purchased for expansion of the aggregate
mining in this area and that a permit is pending as we speak. Were you not
aware of this as you have just said to me that “Lake Errock is on the outer
fringe of economic viability and unless the aggregate closer to the major
population is exhausted I do not anticipate there will be any major
expansion in your area”? I will not admit that the APP makes sense
because it doesn’t. It is flawed and you, of all people, know this. It is
heavily biased towards the aggregate industry and takes into no
consideration the people living near these pits. It was a secretive
document drafted and designed by the aggregate producers. I know what the
politicians and aggregate producers get out of this document if passed but
how will the average resident benefit? I fail to understand the statement
that you have made “the APP does nothing to make it easier to obtain a
permit, why would they buy up land..?” if this is so, then why are the
aggregate producers so gung-ho to get the APP approved, you would think that
they would be stating in no uncertain terms their objections as they do not
strike me as a shy lot of people.

We do agree on one thing Randy, this is not about resident inconvenience or
dust issues – it is about so much more. There is actual and real danger
facing the community of Lake Errock. The instability and grade of the Lake
Errock pit is undeniably a worry to the residents living directly below this
pit. I know that you are not particularly concerned about the environmental
issues voiced by so many residents, but they are major issues. It is so
much more than just aggregate – it’s about unrestricted lumber clear cut
eradication, top soil removal, and quite possibly the most important issue
of all, watershed control.

If you honestly believe that the aggregate producers would be better off
without the APP then scrap it. Go back to the “drawing board”, include all
the stakeholders (especially public), and draw up a plan that will benefit
everyone. If you really want to stop “conflict gravel” then stop the
secretive closed door meetings, morph into a transparent government, show us
that you are really trying to make things better for the constituents. I
know that this won’t happen – I was there at the farcical meeting on the
26th and I saw our politicians at work. Pathetic!!

Jan Longmore

From: Hawes.MLA, Randy Sent: Tuesday, July
03, 2012 3:13 PM
To: mailto:my3cats@telus.net
Subject: RE: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

The process is in the hands of the FVRD. If they approve the mapping, then
the industry will vote on it at one of their meetings and the provincial
government will look at a Memorandum of Understanding to move it forward. If
the FVRD does not approve the mapping, then the process will end. Your
question about Lake Errock actually tells the whole story about your
opposition. Why not admit that the APP makes a lot of sense but you do not
agree with the mapping of the Lake Errock area? There is no land being
bought up by the industry or anyone else for aggregate production. If you
think about it, the industry is better off without the APP. They are free to
apply for a permit anywhere in the Lake Errock area without the APP and
there is no red zone in the valley. Since the APP does nothing to make it
easier to obtain a permit, why would they buy up land? There is no area that
the APP makes easier to obtain a permit. The Lake Errock area as it now sits
without any APP is open to all of the aggregate producers and it has always
been open to their application for a permit. I do not believe there will be
any more pits with the APP than without because the market dictates how much
aggregate is needed and whether a pit is economically viable. Lake Errock is
on the outer fringe of economic viability and unless the aggregate closer to
the major population is exhausted I do not anticipate there will be any
major expansion in your area.
The Hatzic Prairie area was originally red because there is a history of
slides there. Over the past 10 years the government has paid millions of
dollars to mitigate the damage from slides and mining on the valley slopes
would exacerbate an already bad situation. This is not about resident
inconvenience or complaints about dust, but rather it is about actual and
real danger. Four years ago a number of properties were purchased and homes
torn down because people were told they could no longer live there because
of slides. That is not the case where you live.

________________________________
From: my3cats@telus.net [mailto:my3cats@telus.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 2:47 PM
To: Hawes.MLA, Randy

Subject: Re: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

Randy,

Please lower your voice – are you saying that the aggregate producers are
wrong in their assumption that it (APP) will definitely be “pushed through”
as stated by one of your aggregate friends at the June 26th meeting?? Are
they also wrong in the time frame of August 1st 2012 that they are
expecting as mentioned by one of your aggregate friends at the June 26th
meeting??

Are you suggesting that this plan will put a restricted red zone around the
community of Lake Errock? I love the idea of red zones, however, I keep
going back to the fact that the public has no input into where these red
zones will be – that lies in the hands of you, your fellow politicians, and
the aggregate producers. You (collectively) obviously can remove a red zone
and place it into yellow as witnessed on Tuesday night in Chilliwack when
John Conroy brought the Hatzic prairie issue to light. What did you say
then, oh yes, ‘….it could be changed back to red….’ – who makes that
decision obviously someone has the power to make these changes and I know
that it is not the public who has the power to do this – hence it only
leaves the government and the aggregate producers? We have a few supposed
small red zones pencilled in for Lake Errock, however we are surrounded by
yellow. The aggregate producers are buying up the land surrounding these
red areas and we already know that acres of land are being planned for
aggregate use – why would they be doing this if they were not positive that
the APP was going through?? The Lake Errock pit is finished and yet the
reclamation has not begun, instead, we have it in all probability being used
as a “staging pit” for the adjoining pits thus promoting more mining.

Please try to be factual and truthful in your response.

Jan Longmore

From: Hawes.MLA, Randy
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 1:37 PM
To: mailto:my3cats@telus.net
Subject: RE: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

I won’t correct you again on the ridiculous assertion about legislating the
APP. That is absolutely impossible and if you understood anything about the
process, you would know it is impossible. I would like to know though how
having a “red” area which disallows mines applications where today they are
accepted means allowing more mining. RED MEANS NO!! Today there is no red
and the Chief Mines Inspector will approve an application anywhere that
meets the criterion. There is no change to that criterion and the same
standards will apply after as before the APP. Please explain how putting
some restricted areas where there are absolutely none today promotes more
mines. Please try to be factual in your response.
Randy

________________________________
From: my3cats@telus.net [mailto:my3cats@telus.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 11:26 AM
To: Hawes.MLA, Randy

Subject: Re: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

Mr. Hawes,

Thank you so much for your concern over my comments. As my elected MLA, it
is always comforting to see that you are listening to all of your
constituents. Yes, you did definitely say that “the APP would be legislated
through …’ and a number of people have heard you say that (including at
least two area Directors), not just me. You keep refuting this comment but
you also keep saying that this whole process is a “tri-partite agreement.
Does this not mean that it is an agreement between the provincial government
(you and the Ministry of Mines boys), the FVRD, and the aggregate producers?
Where is the public involvement? You will say that you and all the
government officials speak on behalf of the public but how can you, as
clearly your agenda for allowing more mining in this already “over mined”
area is not in the best interests of the community members? You are saying
that the APP can only go through with full agreement from all three
parties – well Mr. Hawes, I think that is already accomplished as it looks
to me as if all three parties are in full agreement and I truly believe that
your partners in both provincial and local government (FVRD included) all
feel the same way as you do and i quote “I really don’t care what comments
you wish to make……”. The aggregate producers appear extremely
comfortable with their comments regarding the fact that ‘the APP will be
pushed through as all it will take is a three word change by the provincial

government….’. To me “legislated through” and “pushed through” mean
exactly the same thing – the words used are just semantics. This has been a
“done deal” since the beginning with the closed door meetings, gag orders
placed on area directors, and using a pains taking approach for keeping the
public in the dark! If there had been open and honest dialogue between all
parties including the public from the very beginning we could have reached a
fair solution to all but by taking the approach that you have (collective
you), you have gained nothing except public distrust and alienation from
your constituents. However, I understand only too well that none of you
truly care what the public thinks but you have “open ears” when it comes to
the aggregate producers and corporations that “run” our province.

Jan Longmore
Lake Errock

From: Hawes.MLA, Randy

Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 9:27 AM
To: mailto:my3cats@telus.net
Subject: RE: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

I really don’t care what comments you wish to make, however, the one
statement that rankles is that I have said the APP would be legislated. It
cannot be, it is not possible, and as it is a tri-partite agreement, it
cannot exist without the approval of all three parties. I would never have
said the APP could be legislated, however, I would have said that the
legislative solution could be to change the definition of extraction to
include primary processing. It is absolutely impossible to legislate the APP
against the wishes of the other 2 parties to the agreement. I suggest that
those who think I said it could be legislated perhaps misunderstood what I
may have said about legislation. The APP will never be legislated. Just keep
in mind that if the APP fails there is no “red” zone and the industry is
free to make application anywhere in the region. Maybe you will get your
wish and the entire FVRD area will be open for application for the aggregate
industry just as it is now.
r

________________________________
From: my3cats@telus.net [mailto:my3cats@telus.net]
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 10:24 PM
To: astobbart@fvrd.bc.ca; bdickey@fvrd.bc.ca; cstam@fvrd.bc.ca;
dadamson@fvrd.bc.ca; dlamson@fvrd.bc.ca; Taje, Eddy MEM:EX;
Fkelly@fvrd.bc.ca; Gdaneluz@fvrd.bc.ca; Gkingsto@fvrd.bc.ca;
gpeary@fvrd.bc.ca; jsmith@fvrd.bc.ca; Berardinucci, Julia F FLNR:EX;
kbecotte@fvrd.bc.ca; lfisher@fvrd.bc.ca; lforman@fvrd.bc.ca;
lfrench@fvrd.bc.ca; mcdermid@fvrd.bc.ca; mlane@fvrd.bc.ca;
pclark@fvrd.bc.ca; pross@fvrd.bc.ca; Hawes.MLA, Randy; rboucher@fvrd.bc.ca;
sgaetz@fvrd.bc.ca; sgibson@fvrd.bc.ca; tgidda@fvrd.bc.ca; wbales@fvrd.bc.ca
Cc: art.liz@shaw.ca; Baker Trail Village FVRD Area E;
ctoth@abbotsfordtimes.com; news@ahobserver.com; cbefire@telus.net;
cindykwan@shaw.ca; Debbie Oster; dehliasimpere@yahoo.ca;
editor@theprogress.com; khlangmann@hotmail.com; kwahamaa@shaw.ca;
lawrencemac@shaw.ca; muxlux@gmail.com; ‘Lea Ricketts’; Lynn Perrin;
news@missioncityrecord.com; nogo17@shaw.ca; Richelle Meneghetti;
satyakaur@live.ca; sylvialangmann@hotmail.com; The Valley Voice;
thistledewtwo@shaw.ca; tonydrees@gmail.com; Tony Rees;
vern.oster@hotmail.com; wallykwan@shaw.ca; elizabeth; walter; **ACES ***;
kwillwin@telus.net; Daniel and Cynthia; lake4me@telus.net; mbok@telus.net;
my3cats@telus.net; theresafuller@telus.net
Subject: Fw: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

Subject: Re: Ridiculing Democracy – June 26th, 2012 APP Meeting – Evergreen
Hall, Chilliwack, B.C.

I, Jan Longmore, a resident of Lake Errock attended the APP public
information meeting on June 26th, 2012 at the Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack
hosted by the FVRD. To all intents and purposes this was to be a meeting
whereby essential questions and concerns regarding aggregate placement
(zoning), aggregate production, and community impact would be addressed in a
factual, truthful, and efficient manner.

Sadly, this was not the case. Ms. Gaetz and the FVRD board (with the
exception of Director Bales and Adamson) had in essence once again attempted
to keep their constituents (people who actually pay the board’s wages) in
the dark. They refused to approve massive mail outs to each and every area
resident announcing the time and place of this important meeting which was
supposedly to explain the APP process which so drastically affects all of us
in so many different ways – environmentally, physically, monetarily, and
emotionally. They opted to placing the notification on their website
knowing full well that a large percentage of people do not own a computer
let alone have computer knowledge. How many of us actually visit the FVRD
website on a regular basis? They also opted for local newspaper ads,
however, most rural residents do not receive these papers. For instance in
Agassiz, there is no paper delivery and instead the papers are put into
“paper boxes” that are placed sporadically outside convenience stores etc.
hence not reaching the vast majority of residents. How many of us have
seen these papers littering our streets unread? The FVRD once again
“dropped the ball” on notifying the public. The meeting was strategically
planned for a Tuesday night thus making it incredibly difficult for
“working people” to attend. Many of the residents of our Area C work in
Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Delta, etc.

I have been active with, and in my community, opposing the unfair practices
of: the aggregate producers, the local government, the provincial
government, MLA Randy Hawes, the Ministry of Mines, and the FVRD. I have
attended all public information meetings held, have written opposition
letters, written emails to politicians, had private meetings with government
officials – but this meeting was the worst that I have ever attended! The
audience were respectful, considerate, supportive of their community
members, and ready to “listen” in regards to the “milestone achieved” as
touted by Ms. Gaetz. There was no “milestone moment”, just more of the
same. Ms. Gaetz chaired the meeting despicably refusing to allow polite
applause or supportive “hear, hears”. She ridiculed the residents and spoke
disparagingly to their valid concerns. Ms. Gaetz and the FVRD board members
(except for Directors Bales and Adamson) do not seem to realize that these
residents are comprised of doctors, nurses, news reporters, artists,
accountants, hospital managers, lawyers, teachers, business owners, and
professionals in all “walks of life”. Ms. Gaetz spoke to these people as
if they all fell below her intellectual level. How dare she! The only time
that she showed any patience or compassion was when the two aggregate owners
stepped up to the microphone. She positively glowed when MLA Hawes spoke.

I found the meeting to be extremely disturbing to say the least. The staff
avoided answering our questions appearing disorganized and unprepared for
such a supposedly important “milestone” meeting. There were some sneering
faces, board faces, blank faces, and venomous faces on the FVRD board
members (except for Directors Bales and Adamson who tried to answer our
questions in their capacity as board members). One director even had the
audacity to play with his Blackberry after stating that the audience were
“out of line” with stating their concerns as there was nothing new presented
and it had nothing to do with the APP. How absurd and arrogant!

Outrageous – we were treated as if we were pre-school children. We were
give continuous “time outs” and warnings that if we didn’t behave the
meeting would end. The gavel thundered for no reason. Yes, there was anger
but it was controlled by the people – the ones out of control were the FVRD
board members (except for Directors Bales and Adamson).

For the past few years it has been a bone of contention that the public were
denied the same rights as the aggregate producers of sitting in on the APP
meetings that were held behind closed doors for five years. We were told
that our input at the public information meetings would be taken into
consideration and changes would be made to the APP to include those
concerns. How can this be when the final decision will be made behind
closed doors, once again, with the FVRD, MLA Hawes, Ministry of Mines, and
the aggregate producers present and with no public member present? Past
history does not infuse the public with trust.

MLA Hawes has stated publicly that if the APP was opposed too vehemently by
the residents then “….it (APP) will be legislated through…” he denies
this comment but it has been confirmed by a number of people (including two
FVRD directors). Now, at this very meeting on June 26th 2012 at the
Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack we have the chair Sharon Gaetz saying a number
of times during the course of the evening, ‘….it (APP zoning) has been
approved in essence….’ and we have an aggregate owner speaking to a
resident at a “time out” and blatantly stating ‘if the APP doesn’t go
through soon then all it will take is a three word change by the provincial
government and it (the APP) will be pushed through anyway …” and it was
also mentioned that August 1st of 2012 was the planned for date. This is
not a democratic process it is undemocratic to the utmost degree. Ms.
Gaetz, the FVRD (except Directors Bales and Adamson who carry out their
duties on a professional basis and work with their constituents), and MLA
Hawes, owe the area residents an apology. We have been lied to,
manipulated, placated, intimidated, openly mocked, and worst of all –
ignored.

Shame on all of you – you are elected representatives of the people – now
start acting on behalf of all your constituents and not just for the “chosen
few”!!

Jan Longmore
Lake Errock

—

Walter Neufeld

*Walter Neufeld was born and raised in Abbotsford. He manages a development company operating in BC and in Alberta. Walter has been a critic of the provincial government’s dysfunctional Mines Act for about 12 years. Neufeld is the president of the Fraser Valley Regional District Citizens Association (FVRDCA). Most recently, he’s critiqued both Honourable Randy Hawes and the gravel industries Aggregate Pilot Project which he believes to be a harmful private production document which Hawes is currently trying to offload onto BC’s public domain.

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