PROVINCIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES MINISTER BLAIR LEKSTROM AND LOCAL NDP MLA JOHN HORGAN GOT INTO A VERBAL SLUG-OUT TODAY OVER THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ARBITRATOR IN A HIGHLANDS WATER ISSUE.

THE ARBITRATOR WILL DECIDE ON CHANGES TO THE CAPITAL REGION’S URBAN CONTAINMENT BOUNDARY – CHANGES THAT COULD ALLOW CRD WATER TO SERVICE PARTS OF THE BEAR MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT.

THE NDP’S HORGAN WAS ON THE CFAX NEWSLINE PROGRAM TUESDAY SLAMMING THE APPOINTMENT WHEN THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE, LEKSTROM, CALLED UP TO OFFER HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.

HORGAN TOLD LEKSTROM, “THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND YOU’RE PUTTING IT OFF TO SOMEONE TO MAKE A BINDING DECISION [AND] PEOPLE ARE BEING CUT OUT OF THE EQUATION. THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THESE ISSUES IN UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. YOU COULD HAVE WAITED SIX WEEKS.”

LEKSTOM RESPONDED, “JOHN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE’RE CLEAR ON THIS: NOBODY’S CUT OUT OF THIS AT ALL. MY HOPE IS THE PEOPLE INVOLVED STILL REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THEIR OWN.”

LEKSTROM CONTINUED, “THIS IS NOT GOVERNMENT MAKING A DECISION, THIS IS ASKING AN ARBITRATOR TO COME IN, HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES AND BASE HIS DETERMINATION ON WHAT THE BEST PROPOSAL IS.”

THE URBAN CONTAINMENT ISSUE HAS BEEN CAUGHT UP AT THE CRD LEVEL FOR OVER TWO YEARS.

THE FORMER MAYOR OF THE HIGHLANDS, KAREL ROESSINGH, SAYS THE ONLY PARTY INVOLVED WHO WANTED ARBITRATION IS BEAR MOUNTAIN. HE DOESN’T SEE ANY OTHER REASON FOR IT.

TO THAT END, HORGAN IS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT BEAR MOUNTAIN DEVELOPER LEN BARRIE HELD A $10-THOUSAND DOLLAR A PLATE FUND RAISER FOR THE GOVERNING LIBERALS.

- RYAN PRICE