Victoria BC – Mary Polak, BC Minister of Environment bowed to reason and tremendous public pressure in declaring that the Jumbo Ski Resort did not substantially start in time to maintain its environmental approval. The full explanation for the Minister’s decision can be found here.

The long-awaited decision has resort opponents celebrating after more than 20 years of opposition. In order to continue, the resort would have to go through a new environmental assessment, a costly and time-consuming effort.

“We’re very happy with the decision, and we’re grateful to Minister Polak for doing the right and reasonable thing. Hundreds of people have worked for over two decades to see this terrible idea put to an end,” said David Reid of West Kootenay EcoSociety. “Now it remains to make sure that the Jumbo Valley stays wild forever.”

West Kootenay EcoSociety has a court case pending to eliminate the Jumbo Resort Municipality created by the province in 2012. The municipality has no residents and is developing an official communtiy plan. The BC Supreme Court will hear the case on July 15.
 
“We’re continuing with the case,” said Reid. “That so-called municipality sets a very undemocratic precedent for getting around local zoning processes, and we are determined to eliminate it.  We hope the Province will consider dropping their defense of the municipality and allow it to dissolve.” 
 
Last year, the Province of BC briefly eliminated the requirement for environmental assessment for ski resorts and some natural gas processing facilities. The Order in Council was quickly rescinded under pressure from First Nations groups. Polak stated at the time that the change would not affect the Jumbo Resort.
 
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