Republished November 04, 2014 - 6:18 PM
Original Publication Date November 04, 2014 - 5:30 PM
INVERMERE, B.C. - The B.C. New Democrats and governing Liberals can't agree on whether the day lodge for the New Jumbo Glacier Resort is being built in the path of a dangerous avalanche zone.
Opposition Leader John Horgan asked Environment Minister Mary Polak to withdraw Jumbo's permit in the legislature on Tuesday, saying the lodge is in a class-four zone, the second most dangerous classification for avalanches.
But Forests, Lands and Natural Resources spokeswoman Vivian Thomas says the lodge is actually 56 metres away from the "avalanche run-out" area and its location was considered during the assessment process.
The proposed $1-billion year-round ski resort west of Invermere, B.C., had been rushing to meet a provincial construction deadline before its government-issued environmental assessment certificate expired on Oct. 12.
The NDP later released a statement saying the Liberals are making a mockery of the environmental assessment process and rewarding bad behaviour.
Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall says the day lodge isn't the only violation of Jumbo's certificate, and that a preliminary look at the certificate requirements show the company is in violation of three other conditions.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014