07/16/2008: "Petersen Has Stirred It Up In Victorian"

A story by Times Colonist Rob Shaw headlined “ “Victoria sewage raising a stink on San Juans”, (and a related story in the Vancouver Sun) focuses on a You/Tube video made by Mr. Petersen, which suggests if we “apply economic pressure on the residents and leaders in Victoria” they may take greater action to treat their sewage.

Petersen is quoted in the Colonist story as telling the reporter: "The more people who understand the problem, the more tourism is going to suffer in your town." The story also contains quotes from some of the other candidates that had responded to the question on what they would do to “influence the government of B.C to stop the release of raw sewage.”

Gordy Petersen’s video was part of an answer to a question by the Island Guardian to candidates for county council, on what they would do about sewage from Canada if they were elected to office. When the Guardian posted the answers -and a link to the video, the story was picked up by the media in BC, and the first to respond was the Times Colonist. The sewage question story has now generated a radio show interview with Petersen, a report on BC TV, as well as emails and letters from BC.

The issue of what to do with Victorian sewage is not just a question for candidates in San Juan, as the Colonist story points out that “Sewage treatment is expected to also be a controversial issue during Greater Victoria municipal elections Nov. 15.”

One of the ongoing issues is the ongoing moving forward of a date when the problem is to be solved. Earlier projections had some of the candidates, most notability Chairman Howard Rosenfeld and Councilman Alan Lichter implying in their responses that there may not be a problem, since, as Lichter responded in his answer, there may be a plant on line in approximately one year, or less.

In his answer, Rosenfeld said “Victoria is supposed to present a plan … by June 30,” and suggested in his response that “let’s see what the June 30 plan proposes.”

As predicted by those who have been concerned about the lack of action in BC, there was no plan on presented on June 30. At this point none is expected for -at least- another year; and by the earliest estimate it may be 2016 before a plant, or plants, can be built. Can be built that is, if one billion or more dollars can be found to build them.

Peterson was direct in his criticism of the slow pace in BC, and was quoted that "The way we treat our sewage here in the San Juans is a source of pride for all of us. We just wish that our neighbors ... would feel the same national pride in their treatment of the environment. I feel Victoria is one of our most beautiful cities in the world, but I can't go there anymore because I don't agree with dumping raw sewage in our pristine waters."

Peterson is still on the problem, and following the video, he wrote a column on the same subject, which in turn generated a letter from a member of Responsible Sewage Treatment Victoria (RSTV) that took him mildly to task, and also included a letter signed by 10 Marine Scientists that had been published in the Victoria News that concluded “In our judgment, Victoria’s current sewage disposal practice is a relatively minor issue. If marine environmental protection is the goal, then much greater benefits could be achieved through a variety of other innovative actions.”

But while he included the letter from the scientists, he also said "I wholeheartedly agree with the import of your article."