Clear Full Forecast

PACHA Reviewing Task Force Report

By 250 News

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 04:01 AM

Haze hangs over Prince George during Air Quality Advisory   ( photo opinion250 archive)

Prince George, B.C. -  The President of PACHA (People’s Action Committee for Healthy Air) says it is too early to say if the interim report from Mayor’s Task Force on Air Quality will make a difference.  “We will wait to see if there is some movement.”  (click here to  see all 31 recommendations)

“We have to go through the recommendations, and we have some concerns about some of them, but we will be making comments on all of them” says Fuller.

There are 31 recommendations in the   interim report, the first one calls for an air quality co-ordinator’s position to be created.  That position was suggested at the City’s budget discussions a year ago, but was put on hold until this report was delivered.

 Fuller says one of the most positive recommendations calls for a significant reduction in particulate matter, calling for  a 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2016  “I think that’s  fantastic that we’ve finally put a number on it, and I want to see who’s going to  do that, who is going to follow through and get this done?”

Fuller says a couple of the studies show there is impact from the pulp mills “We want to ask Canfor what are  they  going to do about it.  There is more and more studies coming out showing that the mills aren’t using the best technology, so are they going to put their money where their mouth is now that the rubber’s hitting the road?”

Fuller says PACHA will be actively involved in the public consultations.

There is a public session set for Saturday from 10-4 at the Bob Harkins Library,  there is a second session set for Monday November 5th at the Civic Centre from 7-9 p.m.

The  Task force says it wants to hear the answers to the following questions:

  • What did we get right?
  • What did we get wrong?
  • What did we miss?

    You can pass along your answers  by visiting the website  or by sending an email:


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Posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 8:22 AM
The web site still does not work ..... sort of like the City's committment to air quality .... the committment to web page quality is not there either ....

Hand out a web address..... make sure it works ... sort of a no brainer.

Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 8:29 AM
"40% reduction in particulate matter by 2016"

They put a number on it???? I see .... 40% of what. Output? Output by whom? Output where? Ambient measure? Where? Downtown? Miller addition? South Fort George? The new subdivison on the Fraser Banch? ... let us not forget that questionable subdivision approval.

40% is an easy number to throw out. Without ensuring that it is 40% of a meaningful number it is simply a political number, not a scientific number.
Comment Posted by: northman on October 30 2007 8:32 AM
Parody song idea for prince george....
-Purple haze in the sky, I feel funny and i dont know why. Excuse me while i die...
Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 8:33 AM
BTW ... I want ot read the report ..... where can I get a copy???
Comment Posted by: iwundery on October 30 2007 10:08 AM
It looks like the website address has not been entered correctly - try [url]http:///.www.city.pg.bc.ca/pages/maqtaskforce/[url] and you will find the information. I also understand you can pick up a hard copy from City Hall.
Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 10:23 AM
That is the right city url now, but not the right directory .....

This is the task force site:

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/cityhall/committees/airquality

click on the interim report, or go directly here:

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/cityhall/committees/airquality/aqtf_interim_report_2007-10-21.pdf
Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 10:41 AM
One and a half years later, after the "in crowd" has looked at this thing, the public gets a one day open house, a two hour session for personal input, and a questionnaire and an e-mail address to send comments to.

And this is called public consultation?

On top of that, the report identifies that the two hour session will consist of:

1. A mini-presentation to provide a common starting point for discussion, and to help focus on the key issues to be addressed.

2. A process by which participants collectively determine acceptable communication guidelines and a structure for the duration of the session

3. A small group formation that allows participants to choose and work on the issues they perceive as priorities. (sort of a preconceived outcome of item 2, isn't it)

4. Small groups present their findings to the group as a whole, which then has opportunities to provide input and validation. (ditto ... a preconceived notion of what should be established under item 2 ....)

And all that in 2 hours ..... nothing ever changes ... led by the nose through a process which is supposed to be open .. and not given enough time for meaningful discussion ......


Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 10:47 AM
Then it goes on to state:

"Success will rely on active outreach and recruitment of participants.

Simple advertising alone will not generate the attendance levels needed.

Task Force members have agreed to support a “snowball” approach to outreach – individuals contacting personal networks to recruit potential participants – to ensure that thoughtful, passionate and committed people are made aware of the consultations and are encouraged to attend"

"thoughtful, passionate and committed people" ... I see ... sounds a bit condescending to me by putting such conditions on seeking out people to attend. Does anyone really think that thoughtless, impassionate and uncommitted people will bother to attend?
Comment Posted by: owl on October 30 2007 10:49 AM
It also says:

"Following receipt of this Interim Report by City Council, the Task Force will conduct a second round of consultation with the general public and stakeholders to seek input on this report and its recommendations"

Did I miss the first round of consultation with the general public? Guess I was not considered to be thoughtful, passionate, and committed.

Comment Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on October 31 2007 7:41 AM
Oh, I don't doubt owl is thoughtful, passionate, and committed. Oh look! Owl has six of the nine posts! Heehee!