Pubdate: Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Author: Jack Emberly

GRASS FACTS HIDDEN FROM RESIDENTS

Dear Editor:

A medical marijuana operation in Whonnock? Let the people decide.

Residents of Whonnock watching construction of a huge medical
marijuana greenhouse in their quiet rural neighbourhood finally got to
present their case against it to proponent Dan Sutton and government
enablers of the grow-op.

Health Canada, the provincial ALR, and the previous Maple Ridge
council all opened doors to the facility, and skipped consultation
with the people most affected.

Grow-ops use a lot of water, but there's a limited source in Whonnock.
It isn't on city water. Water comes from wells drilled into an aquifer.

Health Canada, the ALR and the last pro-development council
(convenient zoning amendment) didn't consider that, or issues of
security, salmon in York Creek, and noise and light pollution.

Worse yet, Health Canada, the proponent said, encouraged him to lie
about what he'd grow, and to conceal the scope of his project. Nobody
is allowed to know how many plants - water guzzlers - are planned or
how many thousands of gallons will be sucked from the aquifer. That's
outrageous governmental manipulation.

When I was asked to speak at the meeting, I focused on a growing issue 
in Canada: the historical rights of citizens to natural resources such 
as water, rights inscribed in the Magna Carta. The "Great Charter of the 
Liberties" of 1215 asserts the rights of ordinary people (commoners) 
over those of individual land owners, while the Public Nuisance Doctrine 
gives neighbours "the right of quiet enjoyment."

Gunfire around a known grow-up location wouldn't be quiet.

Ottawa ignores citizens' rights and secretly dilutes laws to enable
private enterprise (The Fish Act, Species at Risk Act, Mining Act,
others). In doing so, it attacks democracy at its roots.

Folks in Whonnock - hundreds of them - made it clear they won't stand
for that in their community. I hope others follow suit.

In recent history, Teddy Roosevelt said that the rights of the public
to the natural resources outweigh private rights, and must be given
its first consideration. Are our governments listening yet?

Jack Emberly, Whonnock
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt