6 Terrace Review — Wednesday, August 7, 1991 - EDITORIAL | The Major Project Review Process (MPRP). What is it? If you dare: say you don’t know — OF that you have an idea, sort of, but aren’t really sure — will you be laughed at? We've already had two major projects in the Northwest subjected to this process. Right? Everyone should know what the MPRP is. Right? , | Perhaps this explains why there are so many people running around town, city aldermen included, with such diverse views of the process. No one really wants to say: “I don’t have a clue. Explain it 10 me." Instead, we have heard everything from, "We're fully protected under the Major Project Review Process," to, "It’s a black box process, You put the project in one end and it comes out sanitized.” How can there be such differences of opinion in a process devised to put faith back in the system? It will be an arms-length process, we are told, that will keep politics out of the decision-making process. Decisions will be made by evaluating environmental and. socio- economic concerns. The voice of the people will be heard. Unfortunately, though, many people believe the process is not only arms-length from politicians, it’s arms-length from the people too. Why should people feel that way? We have witnessed the MPRP in action here. There was the Kitimat port proposal. Under MPRP guidelines, public meetings were held locally by project proponents. ‘A member of the Major Project Steering Committee (MPSC) attended those meetings and explained the MPRP — for about two minutes. ; , ‘The MPSC met a few times to discuss information they had received... But they met in Vancouver. Did they have'a true measure of the mood of the people affected by their decision? " We never really had an opportunity to find out. Federal Fisheries objected to the port's location, even though they apparently identified — the site in the first place. The process ground to a halt. What's happening with the port now? It depends on who you ask. Some say it’s in Stage II; some say it’s been scrapped; some say it’s in the Cabinet Committee on Sustainable Development and some say it’s going to be built anyway... It doesn’t matter what the MPSC says. Then there was the Orenda proposal south of Meziadin. This time, some said, we will see the MPRP in action, gain insight, understand. ‘The project proponents held public meetings. But again, the MPSC ‘met in some obscure Vancouver board room. Suspicion doubled. Who are these people? What are they talking about? How might they shape our future for the betterment of all? No one seemed to know. Suddenly, from a sky with only a few scattered clouds, a bolt of lighting. Orenda had changed their mind and was scouting for a - different location, Why?, Again, it depended on wl had something to do with land claims, or fear of environmental disaster ahead. The idea, at that particular location anyway, was . scrapped. The best insight might have come from the MPSC. Particularly after Orenda announced they iad decided on the Dubose Industrial Site. But the steering committee wouldn’t talk. They said the process had not been completed, so they were under no obligation to tell anyone anything. Some people, understandably, are now very suspicious. What is the process trying to hide? We may never know. Perhaps the process és a "black box" and it’s inner workings will never be known. It would be a shame, though, if sensible economic development is the eventual victim of our growing mistrust. T.S. ae iN Second-class mail registration No. 6896. Established May 1, 1985 The Terrace Review is published each Wednesday by All material (including original art work) appear- Close-Up Business Services Ltd. Ing In the Terrace Review Is protected under Ganadian copyright Ragistration No. 382775 and - Publisher: cannat legally be reproduced for any reason Betty Barton without permission of the publisher. . Errora and omissione. 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Dosanjh Me Ganada 0.00". Art and Graphics: Out of Ganada $100.00 Seniors in Terrace and District $30.00 Seniors out of Tarrace and Disirict $33.00 GST will be added to the above prices, Marlanne Brorup Weston Mark Twyford, President _ Close Up Business Services Ltd. Letters to the editor will be considered for publication only when signed. Pleese Include your telephone number. The editor reserves the right to condense and edit letters. Opinions expreseed ere not necessarily those of the Terrace Review. , VICTORIA — Will taking a firm stand on the law and order issue help the Social Credit gov- ermment in the fall election, you ask? Well, given the increase in the number of crimes of violence, — more smash-and-grab jewellery store raids, and the fears raised by such events as Penticton’s recent Mini-riot, the answer must be Yes. — ; ; Whether feeding that fear will be enough to help the Socreds to retain power is unknown, perhaps - even unlikely. But you may rest assured it will be milked for all it is worth, politically, and could be the difference in some of the close seats being won or lost. Most people generally believe in fair play and justice, although most of us also cheat on parking tickets or taxes. So when the startling statistics about increased juvenile crime, or lenient sentences, or court back- logs are trotted out next month —- and they will bel! — there will be various degrees of outrage at the terrible state to which we and society have fallen. Watch then for some not-Sso- subtle suggestions from the So- cred strategists that only a tough- talking, right-wing government can deal with this issue properly. The implication which would coddle criminals-and their rights, and which would ignore victims and theirs. This scribe does not believe for a moment that it is coincidental that Premier Rita Johnston, Attorney-General Russ Fraser and Solicitor-General Ivan Mess- mer have all produced some of that tough talk themselves in recent days. They know that the majority of people agree with them when they call for tougher punishment to fit the steadily-increasing num- ber of crimes. There’s also sup- port for calls for harsher treat- ment of newly-arrived immigrants who break our laws... support which often has dangerously racist overtones. But, the Socreds’ reason, if you RESVBMIT-> RE -RUBi STAGE 7 —> RES \) MPRP BLACK BOX lo GS DEMIT > REVIEW > 40 DAY WAIT x RESUBMIT -> RE-REVIEW