City gets raw deal on lake grant, says MP

By Dan Hilborn
Published Jan. 26, 2005


Could Liberal favouritism be standing in the way of the City of Burnaby's planned $27-million project to rejuvenate Burnaby Lake?

That's the assertion from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, who has found evidence of a major discrepancy in Ottawa's official explanation as to why the Burnaby Lake project was rejected for funding under the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF).

Julian held a press conference at the Burnaby Lake Pavilion on Monday afternoon, where he unveiled several letters that indicate Burnaby Lake funding was rejected even though a very similar lake revitalization project was approved in the riding of federal finance minister Ralph Goodale.

"The appearance here is that two standards are being applied - one standard for Liberal ridings and another standard for all the other ridings," Julian said. "And I think what we're seeing, again, is British Columbia being ignored by this federal program."

Among the documents Julian unveiled was a May 13, 2002 letter co- signed by Jim Sproul and Ardath Paxton Mann, the B.C. and federal co- chairs of the Canada/B.C. Infrastructure Program, stating the Burnaby Lake application was rejected because it did not meet the eligibility requirements.

"Specifically, this project is not a construction, renewal or expansion of infrastructure for public use or benefit, and it is not an eligible project category. Lake dredging is considered to be a maintenance or repair activity and not the construction of public infrastructure," said the letter.

Also presented was a Nov. 30, 2004 letter to Mayor Derek Corrigan from Stephen Owen, the Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State for Sport, expressing regret at his inability to find a suitable program to fund the lake rejuvenation project.

"I support in principle any endeavour to increase sport participation and development opportunities for Canadians," Owen said in the letter. "The Sport Canada branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage, however, does not have any programs that could provide funding for the type of infrastructure project that you describe."

But Julian also presented another document that appears to contradict the assertions in the two other letters.

On Oct. 3, 2003, Goodale, the MP for Regina-Wascana, announced the federal government was pitching in $14 million towards a total $30 million to dredge, deepen and renovate Regina's Wascana Lake and build a new 130,000 square foot, multi-purpose complex at the site.

Julian noted the Burnaby Lake proposal would have only required 33 per cent federal funding, while the Wascana Lake work - which is now underway and has its own website at www.wascanalake.com - received 50 per cent funding from Ottawa.

"The Liberals say they want to embrace B.C. This is an example that they haven't got it yet," he said. "The project clearly meets the guidelines that I've seen that were used to approve Wascana Lake."

Julian also noted that the Burnaby Lake project has some urgency to it because of a variety of environmental issues that can only be addressed by a thorough rejuvenation project. Among the issues at stake are the ability of fish to travel upstream into the lake's tributary streams and creeks, the water quality of the Brunette River, the removal of contaminants in the lake bottom sediments, particularly near the inlet of Still Creek, and improved public recreation.

"This is an area I feel very strongly about," Julian said. "I grew up in this area, and I've been coming to Burnaby Lake since I was a kid. Generations of my family have enjoyed this lake."