An all-candidates meeting is being held at Straiton Hall on April 30th at 7:00 pm with the specific topic of "Gravel quarries on Sumas Mountain" --- and we are officially inviting all Sumas Mountain residents to make plans to attend.
The Sumas Mountain Rural Property Owners Association has organized the meeting in order to allow local landowners to familiarize the candidates with the issues surrounding gravel quarries on the mountain, and also to hear the candidates' views on this important issue.
John van Dongen
Simon Gibson
Darryl Plecas
Preet Rai
Don Stahl
Aird Flavelle
Because there are two ridings which cover the mountain (Abbotsford South and Abbotsford-Mission) we have invited all the candidates from both ridings to attend.
The meeting is being held for Sumas Mountain residents. This is your chance to speak to the candidates directly, to ask your questions, and to hear their points of view.
It's important that you attend. Here's why:
First, it's the provincial government, not Abbotsford city hall, which regulates the gravel mines on Sumas Mountain. Therefore it's your MLA who's representing you on this matter.
Second, it's the provincial government which approves all new gravel mine applications, including the application for a new quarry towards the top of the mountain, near Chadsey Lake and adjacent to the inter-regional park --- which would remove 225,000 metric tonnes of gravel per year for 100 years, if approved. It's your MLA who will want to hear your thoughts on this.
Third, the existing gravel mines are here to stay --- but in order to effectively regulate the quarries, your MLA needs to be informed about the issues which affect people. Things like: safety issues relating to gravel trucks being on public roads, blasting and its effects on peoples' dwellings, significant and some would suggest negative visual impact on the landscape of pits and quarries, and so on.
The all-candidates meeting is meant to facilitate an open-dialogue and will be Q&A format.
We're looking forward to see you there!
