anonymous - October 20th, 2005
WWW.TEDNEBBELING.COM IS AN INTERESTING SITE FULL OF INFORMATION ON HIS PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL AS HIS MANY PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

anonymous - October 21st, 2005
I believe Ted Nebling to be self serving and dishonest. I think that it would be detrimental to Whistler to have this man as an elected representative.

anonymous - October 21st, 2005
Self Serving? I think serving the best interest of our community is more accurate. When Ted was Mayor, positive things were happening all the time. We were on top of the game. Council actually made decisions, and got things done. We had positive leadership. How many units of employee housing got built this last term? How many years behind schedule is the library? And how much over budget?
We don’t need more bureaucratic studies that our current council members all voted for unanimously.
We need someone who will help lead us on these hard decisions, and get things done. What other candidates can actually open doors in Victoria? Who else has worked on the Olympics?

We need to get Whistler back on track. I think Ted Nebbeling is best suited to the job

anonymous - October 22nd, 2005
This blog has already broken its own rules and is printing slanderous comments. It is hard to sue someone who doesn't identify themselves, but it is possible to sue someone who publishes slander. John Konig. Oct. 22, 2005

whistler - October 22nd, 2005
Hi John,
I don't quite get what you’re talking about? I haven't yet posted any of my own comments; all I’ve done is some reposts. This is an open forum and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. As far as slanderous comments it’s tough to decide where that line is. As far as ‘someone who doesn't identify him or her are you talking about me? All you have to do is go to the main page and click 'about me' to find out all about me. If you’re talking about the anonymous posts, in today’s computer age they could be tracked by ip address if it was at all important. I don’t know who I’m voting for and would like to make an informed choice as to who I do, that’s why I’m doing this. I am a neutral party as far as this blog goes. I have had many positive emails regarding this free service to the public that is costing me time and money. Call me if you have any concerns.

Duane Perrett 604-932-5125

anonymous - October 22nd, 2005
I sure hope this election is about our future not our past. We all change as we grow older and mature with our experience. I certainly think that Ted has learned a lot in his travels through politics and for my part, we need that experience to move ahead and not back. Let's try and look into our future and the Olympics and what we need in this community. We do not need a mayor who votes NO for everything including the Olypics! We need a consensus builder with a strong council voice. The number of people running for mayor with little or no experience in the political arena or with consensus building(the previous council) is appalling. Our election is a joke. If you seriously have concerns for this community, start at the council level and learn something. We need to have a filtering system in future. Have 100 people sign nomination papers and post a $1000 fully refundable bond if you get 100 votes on election day. Whether it is our right to run or not let's shoq some reasonableness in our pursuits and not waste taxpayers money because we can!

anonymous - October 23rd, 2005
We need a strong mayor who will not allow another 'dyfunctional' council who micro-managed every decision. Ted will get our economy back on track as only a successful business person can do. We need a positive, can-do attitude who will create more employee housing and ensure that the Olympics are a huge success for Whistler. Please vote Ted for mayor!

anonymous - October 23rd, 2005
I agree this election should be about our future. It is only prudent though to refelct on history. Recently Ted was quoted in the Pique as saying he was surprised when he returned to Whistler (after being our MLA for 9 years)to find brown paper on windows, economy suffering and then proceeded to blame the current/ previous Mayor and council. Does the role of our MLA not have anything to do with it's constituents? Shouldn't he have perhaps seen where he could add value in that role? Surprised by the biggest economic generator in his riding not doing well?? Has Ted attended a council meeting since he was elected MLA? (a full 8 months before his former term of Mayor expired) I know we can say he wasn't invited but I also think a strong leader could have, should have been more visible!

anonymous - October 24th, 2005
Hey Ted and Yan thank you for posts # 1 & 3 nice try!
Not that Ted did not have Whistlers best interests in mind, it's just that they ran second to his own. This guy is a proffessional politician in the worst sense of the term. Hugh gets crap for leaving a couple of months early and at least tries to stay in touch. Nibbles was out of here so fast the sign in function is still spinning and was that 8 months pre-mature? Victoria didn't work out so well did it? If elected will he pass up his first 8 months of Salary? His swarmy arrogance is about as non-whistler as you can get. No thanks. Having to look at his stupid name on that bridge is about all the Ted Whistler should have to endure.

anonymous - October 25th, 2005
Havn't we had enough poffesional Political Kronyism? Do we learn nothing from watching CNN and following the
Gormery Inquiry?s

Big business politicians are bad for communities. They come with BIG EGOS
and hardline policies. And remember that those who don't learn from the past.............

anonymous - October 25th, 2005
10 years ago EVERYTHING in Whistler was great. Was this because of Ted? Let's not be hasty in applying occam's razor here. Just because he was around during the "good ole days" doesn't mean that he was solely responsible for this era.

anonymous - October 25th, 2005
Amazing the attention that Ted's been getting here - is it because he's the frontrunner? While his time on council was before my time (and maybe some of the negative comments are deserved), the other leading candidates have their own "issues" - we've read about some of Nick's stuff in the paper and Kristi has her own sugardaddy developers paying her way(JH,...)? So what to do?!!

anonymous - October 27th, 2005
Hello? Do you people who want Ted as mayor have such long term memory loss? Were you even here 12 years ago? A voice in Victoria ? You've got to be joking! Gordon Campbell made his opinion quite clear when he dethroned him last year! And the reason things were so good when Ted was here was because WE HAD SNOW THEN people! EVERYTHING WAS GOOD! And by the way, Ted wanted the library to be in the high school back then. Do I hear the word "sensorship" , or how about strangers having easy access to our children's school? Give me a break. The only thing that will be accomplished if Ted gets elected is any developer and their dog will be invited to come and build here ( he'll figure out a way)and we may have the wonderful pleasure of betting at a local casino. Hope you don't have addictive personalities! Try to remember the past, or at least research it before you consider where to place your "X".

anonymous - October 27th, 2005
Hey Shane, nice to see you finally figured out how to use spell check!
By the way if you are going to continue making false claims why don't you state the source. Don't you think that might give you some of the credibility you so desperatly need and seek?

$50,000 from the Liberals? Prove it! I, like every one else would love to see the basis for this stretch!

whistler - October 27th, 2005
NOTE: We are running close or over the line here on some topics. Any more accusations must be backed up with a link or facts or the complete post will get deleted ASAP.
Thanks,
Duane

anonymous - October 27th, 2005
All these readers need to do is go to
www.whistlerpolitics.com

anonymous - October 27th, 2005
Duane,
Is this policy retroactive? If not why? There are many unsubstantiated statements in this thread already.

anonymous - October 27th, 2005
It looks obvious to me that the Nebbeling campaign has been feeding this blog. ie: the statemement just before this one.

whistler - October 27th, 2005
Note: I have been trying not to delete any posts at all. I have only deleted one post to date and it wasn't even in this category. I started off this forum with only two rules no swearing or slander but as this forum has progressed and I have had to make some additional rules. I know that some of the past posts have crossed these new rules. These rules are for everyone. I would hate to have to shut this down just because of a few people.
Thanks,
Duane

anonymous - October 27th, 2005
yes Pllllllease visit whistlerpolitics.com
It may not impact on how you vote re. Ted but it sure as heck will impact how you vote for its paranoid author

anonymous - October 28th, 2005
Please don't shut this down- it is far too hilarious! Considering the format the Chamber is offering for the All Candidates meeting, there really is no other option in town for people to voice their questions, comments and philosophies. You would hear these comments anyway at a "normal" All Candidates meeting, and very few people in town would be so malicious and/ or uneducated to viciously verbally attack a candidate. That's not what we are about here. Let's continue to use this forum to air our concerns and pose the questions to the candidates that we will not, unfortunately, be able to do at the Chamber's meeting. What happened to Rick Clare anyway? He was the BEST mediator and could have EASILY handled all these candidates! Did anyone think to ask him this time? Just curious.....

anonymous - October 28th, 2005
I agree. This this flowing. Ted can't handle an audience which is what the people of Whistler want. He is already shutting us up. Vote for Ken Melamed. He is honest and fair. He wants an open forum.

anonymous - October 28th, 2005
Funny this comment above as it was Ted who initiated the annual Whistler Town Hall meetings in which all citizens engaged in spirited public debate regarding the issues of the day, and has promised to bring them back. So I am curious where the above author thinks Ted is shutting anybody up.Is that a reference the Chamber's(an independent body)decision to change the format? How does that work? And remember that Ken was on council when the minutes from the meeting July 19/05 stated, "council members advised that it had not yet been determined whether the public would be engaged in the process" regarding the decision for the sledge hockey arena. Why did Ken have to be forced into allowing public input? Answer me that please anyone!

anonymous - October 28th, 2005
Maybe staff bullied them all into keeping quiet! They certainly seemed to be pressuring council into not accepting the VANOC 20 million deal! The proposal they came up with was laughable at best! And, Ken probably remembered the town hall meetings and didn't want to endure ten thousand opinions!!! I don't know if Ted actually initiated the town hall meetings- more likely someone else suggested them to him. In any case , it was Hugh O'Reilly who held them far more frequently than on an annual basis!(And speaking of Hugh O'Reilly, who for some reason everyone likes to dislike because of his early departure- does everyone forget that Ted also left us early? I think it was almost a year early in fact!)Likely,the only reason the meetings were discontinued was because EVERYONE had an opinion and only their opinion mattered and everyone else was wrong!

anonymous - October 28th, 2005
People really need to look back in their diaries if they think Ted Nebbeling has anything to do with the "good old days". He left here 8 mos early and still collected his paycheque, got run out of provincial politics because the Liberals recognized him as the vicious self serving politician that he is. He betrayed this community by not getting the commitments from the province needed for Whistler to sustain the costs and legacies of 2010 (he was the minister responsible for gods sake! If he couldn't do it from that position then who could?). Everyone who knows him knows that he is motivated by ego and self interest...just like the worst of our politicians in society. Why is the majority of support from senior developers and other large businesses that need growth at any cost to keep making money? It would be a very black day indeed if Ted got elected. The end of Whistler's chances to be a commnity for everyone...not just the very rich.

anonymous - October 28th, 2005
I would like to see people attaching their name to comments on this site other than individuals running for office; thanks Duane for creating the site. I would like to see a higher level of conversation on what should be a very useful tool. Ken is not going to destroy the Town and neither is Ted. They have very different styles and ideas which will influence the policy direction in the hall and on council.

Pick your top four or five issues and go out and talk to Ken, Ted and the others running for council. Post your concerns on this sight or the candidates sites.

Are the only people visiting this site closely connected to the candidates? Fear is a powerful motivator but we can do better can’t we?

Stuart Munro

anonymous - October 29th, 2005
Well said!

anonymous - October 30th, 2005
I believe that most people in Whistler are closely connected to a candidate!I wonder if there exists such great passion surrounding elections anywhere else in Canada? People probably don't want to attach their names to posts because the town is so divided over who they want as mayor that best friend is fighting with best friend and brothers are fighting with brothers for Heaven's sake. The people of Whistler are more vocal than the candidates!

anonymous - November 01st, 2005

Ted
Rainbow lands rezoning is taking forever what would you do as Mayor to cut through the red tape?
Stuart Munro

anonymous - November 02nd, 2005
In Ted's ads in the papers this week, he says FACT "more affordable housing was built during his time" and one of the "completed or approved" projects he lays claim to was 19 Mile Creek. I was on council in 1998 when 19 Mile Creek was approved and Ted wasn't. Nancy Wilhelm-Morden

anonymous - November 02nd, 2005
I would like to post the same question about Rainbow on Ken's comment thread. I am unable to post two times in a row. Can some one help out with a posting? Love to have a reply from Ted!

Stuart Munro

whistler - November 02nd, 2005
Stuart create an account and then you can post again. Duane

anonymous - November 07th, 2005
Ted Nebbeling has a lot to say about how shocked he is about the RMOW's financial situation and how he can improve it. Remember Ted that you were a part of the same provincial government who off-loaded programmes and expenses onto all municipal governments without also devolving commensurate means to fund these programmes. Got hypocrite much Ted? ---- Lee Lau ----

anonymous - November 08th, 2005
It's possible he even contributed to the financial situation the RMOW is in, but I'm not positive. Maybe ask Helmet Banka.

anonymous - November 08th, 2005
Ted's opponents try to define him as being in the hip pocket of the developers. This is a red herring. Whistler is so overbuilt with hotel rooms, restaurants and retail and commercial space; most of the developers have left town. What we need are more tourists, which means reversing the trend of the last 4 years. Time for a change.

Allan Jenner

anonymous - November 09th, 2005
No snow, no tourists. Speak to God.

anonymous - November 10th, 2005
The mayor seat is one that demands leadership. I can't think of ANY other candidate that could remotely be considered a leader, lets not forget that 2010 is upon our door and I'd rather have Ted in the driver's seat. We truly have much to do between now and then. Perhaps a leader is what is needed at this point in time.

anonymous - November 12th, 2005
Max got it dead right in the Pique - 10 November
"..when Ted was mayor, he was the beneficiary of two very important forces. The first was the planning, rezoning and approvals for projects that were put in place when Drew Meredith was mayor."
(Note: Not a single new affordable housing initiative was created when Ted was mayor.)
"The other powerfull force Ted rode during his term as mayor was the uphill lifecycle curve Whistler was climbing."
(Note: Drew Meredith's administratiuon built the wave, Ted just rode it.)

anonymous - November 13th, 2005
Great posting Drew.

anonymous - November 14th, 2005
Does it really matter if Drew posted it or not? The most important point is that IT'S TRUE!!!!!!!!!Ted rides the free wave all the time! I'm told that he's asking those candidates that are likely not going to win, to bring their support and whatever votes they can to his camp! As if...... No thanks Ted, I'll stick with the historically honest candidate: Ken.

anonymous - November 14th, 2005
Another great posting Drew.

anonymous - November 15th, 2005
Ted, the Whistler Forum meeting audiotapes make it obviously clear that you are not the greatest listener. Consensus building?

anonymous - November 15th, 2005
After having gone to the Mayoralty meeting and hearing Ted speak about the favor he got from a large development company in town to build the Meadow Park sports Centre for HIM (didn't hear us) at a cost of 5 Million Dollars I am confused.

I have had people who were involved in the project tell me the Meadow park centre cost in the neighborhood of 11 to 12 million. Can anyone help me with this? I am confused as to what the large discrepancy is.

anonymous - November 15th, 2005
I think if people are wondering whether they should vote for Ted or not, they really need to listen to the audio of the "All Candidate's Meeting" that is posted on this great website. He does NOT answer the question, he doesn't listen and after Jamie Kramer asked him he hangs out and takes the abuse, why he doesn't just go away, Whistler does not need someone like him, his response was not that of a leader. He is meek. He needs to just go away and leave Whistler to the people who really care, and that is, of course, KEN Melamed or anyone else for that matter.

anonymous - November 15th, 2005
I thought I heard Ted say in response to Jamie Kramer's question was that he had given up his condo somewhere in Mexico. I am not sure what that had to do with the question but it does reinforce the previous comment of how well he is willing to listen.

Or perhaps it explains where he was when we thought he was in Victoria "representing us?"

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
I wonder if Ted would consider offering his talents and connections in the position of 'executive director for the 2010 Games - Whistler'. Of course then Max would have to figure out a Jim/Ted unit exchange rate.

whistler - November 16th, 2005
Comment deleted due to inapprorate content. Please sign your name or back it up with facts.....Duane

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
Ted: At first I thought you were a shoe-in – you had my vote. After listening to the audio of the mayoral forum I’ve changed my mind. You appear arrogant, rude, dismissive, negative and condescending. I need a mayor that will work with council and staff, not ride them like cattle. Sorry you lost my vote and I’m going with Kristi. Good luck.

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
Ted, your true side was seen at the Mayoral forum and watching how rude you were has lost my vote. Treat people with respect...

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
Ted does not know how to respect others. That's why the Premier would not invite Ted to meetings in Whistler on taxation issues.

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
Ted was effectively booted out of Victoria, therefore his claim that he has the connections there to get Whistler what it needs is to be taken with a grain of salt. Veteran muni workers have threatened to quit if Ted is re-elected. He comes across as disinterested, arrogant and rude at meetings.

I don't get why people are still willing to vote for him. Do they really believe that he did anything great for Whistler the last time? He was just a figurehead in a good economic climate.

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
Ted is an optimist and he was attacked by Ken's 'planted questions' in teh Mayoral forum. And let's talk about Ken - aka Mr. NO. It is easy to present the problems and much more difficult to find the solutions. Ken's history says that he is not a solution finder and Ted's history says that he seeks the solutions to make the projects succeed. Vote for Ted, Vote for the Optimist!

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
You mean Vote for Ted, Vote for the Opportunist! At this late stage please consider Ken as the option. It will be so close, that a vote for any other candidate will unfortunately be a vote for Ted. Sorry...

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
There appears to be sense of desperation from some of Ted’s detractors. Best attack with all guns blowing. Perhaps you should go and see Chicken Little at the theater this week. The sky is not falling. It seems there has been a coordinated attack on this blog today. Are these the same folks who made the coordinated attack at Saturday’s dialogue? I would like to Thank Duane for removing some of the more offensive postings.

I have been involved with Ted’s campaign from the beginning. I phoned Ted over the summer and asked him if he would consider running for Mayor. I was not the first, or the only one. The reason Ted is running for office is that many supporters asked him to. If you believe what is written here, it is Ted’s ego running out of control. Many local supporters tried to convince Ted to run. For a while, we were worried he would not run. He was retired, after all. As Jamie asked, “Why Bother?” I believe Ted bothered, because he cares about Whistler. Same as Jamie. If you ask Ken why he is running, you will get the same answer. He was encouraged to run by his supporters, and he is running because he cares about Whistler.

Each candidate for office has stuck their neck out on the line. I think they all deserve our respect. While I differ with Ken on many issues, I still have great respect the service he has provided our community.

I would like to address some of the allegations from this blog, and elsewhere around town.

There has been a whisper campaign going around town with many hurtful rumors. Today on this website Ted was called a ‘racist liar’ Friends of mine have been told this same story by other prominent locals, including members of our civil service. Next time I see these people, I will be sure to ask them if they were really spreading such rubbish. I can only hope they were misquoted.

Ken’s assistant campaign manager, PJ O’Heany asked several questions during the all candidates meeting on Saturday. (Ted’s campaign team made a decision not to stack the audience with attack questions) He did not live in Whistler at the time so he was unsure of the claims being made in Ted’s ads. He thought they were incorrect. Apparently Hugh told him so when he was packing up for Hawaii.

I remember when the first BC transit busses arrived in Whistler in 1991. They were the Cadillac of busses, and are still on the road today. I know this as I drove them for a few years. The province picked up most of the cost of this system. Whistler’s costs were covered by the fare box revenue. As I recall, it did not cost Whistler taxpayers anything for this great service. I believe Ted was the mayor when this deal was put together.

While I am not the skateboarding type, I believe there was a park built in Whistler during Ted’s term in municipal office. It was expanded due to its success.

Both Nancy and Ken are apparently upset that Ted stated he was involved with the 19 Mile Creek project. The development application process dragged on for years after Ted’s term. The property was rezoned to allow affordable housing while Ted was mayor. I remember it well, as I live up the street. I was very happy that we would have a community of young families nearby. Many of my neighbors were NIMBYS at the time. I think all of the council’s that were involved with this project deserve our praise. It is silly to suggest that only those who approved the final reading of the development permit should take credit.

And the Arena? Was built for 5 Million. On time and on budget. Phase 2, a few years later, was the pool, for 5.5 Million. Also on time and budget. Just like the Olympic projects need to be.

Ted has a large and committed group of supporters. We are all proud of Ted, and his many accomplishments. We are optimistic about Whistler’s future. We would welcome any of you to join our team, so we can move forward and Get Whistler Back on Track.

Jim Watts
www.tednebbeling.com

whistler - November 16th, 2005
I have to continue to delete slanderous remarks if you are not going to sign your name to them. Or if you don't want them deleted email me with your name and number and it will be kept confidential. Duane

anonymous - November 16th, 2005
The reason Ted has been called a racist liar (in print, including the The Sun, Saturday March 29, 1997 and the Province, April 1, 1997) is because he mocked NDP backbencher Jenny Kwan in the Legislature, then denied it. Fortunately he was caught on tape and eventually had to admit what he had said.

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
With all due respect,the pool is nothing to brag about Jim. It's worth a dollar admission,if that. There is NEVER any heat on - hear the screaming children? I hear tourists(our bread and butter)complain about it everytime I go. After each "closure for maintenance" there still remain many holes in the cement at the bottom of the pool. And how many more times do we have to endure hot tubs closed due to whatever reason and the little kid's pool being shut down because the contractor who built the pool apparently- as this is what we all heard at the time- cheaped out so much that the foundation underneath was not constructed properly and has to be "shored" up all the time?
I could go on and on...But what I really wanted to say Jim, is that all you Ted supporters seem to think that he is going to somehow magically deliver us from whatever poor financial circumstances we (individually) find ourselves in. That's a lot of faith my friend. I think you'll find that as long as there is a huge snowfall this year, there will be such reaping of benefits, that it doesn't matter who is at the helm. I'll stick to the nice guy. I'll vote for Ken.

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
You're right - no mayor is going to make a big difference. He or she is just one member with one vote. Vote for the person you'd most like to go out for a beer with. In my case, it would not be Ted.

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
Hey Ted
Please explain the sunridge development.How your former campain manager and you pushed that through without proper fire protection or water supply. The you left town and the taxpayers of Whistler had to pay millions for a water reservoir.

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
It is also of interest that the Sunridge development is built on very shaky ground, much like Eva Lake. One little tremor and there is a good chance that the whole place will slide downhill.

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
How much did his face lift cost ? I mean the second one

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
Please,any personal attacks are unecessary and reflect back on YOU! Ted is not my choice for mayor, however I am always open to reading intelligent dialogue on a site such as this ...please do your bantering elsewhere and show respect

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
If we can't take a light-hearted stab at people who undergo unnecessary plastic surgery, we're being way too serious. Caricatures are a prime example of satire directed at those who place themselves in the public eye. Think of the above post as a political cartoon and you'll be less offended.

anonymous - November 17th, 2005
A vote for Ted is a Vote for the Rich getting Richer

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
Years ago when Ted was a businessman, I went into his shop on a busy Sunday in the winter and took a number. After waiting a while and not hearing any number I finally made my way to the front and asked Ted why he wasn't using numbers. He turned to me and said "Get out of my shop. I don't need your business". I was shocked. The following summer when things were slow , I was walking through the town center when Ted said " Where have you been? I haven't seen you in a long time. Come on into my shop". I kept on walking. To me this is the real Ted not the one who professes to such a community guy.

Jim Kennedy

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
One more reason not to vote for Ted:

Bill 75: Streamlining or steamrolling

Local lawmakers decry proposed legislation as provincial power grab
By David Burke
Reporter

Local officials’ authority to control major developments within their jurisdictions could be “steamrolled” if a bill currently working its way through B.C.’s legislature becomes law, one local activist said last week. Whistler’s mayor, meanwhile, predicted a “huge backlash” from municipal and regional lawmakers if the provisions of the bill, ominously called the Significant Projects Streamlining Act, are used to override local planning and approval authority.
Bill 75, introduced last week in the legislature by Kevin Falcon, B.C.’s Minister of State for Deregulation, “will create a competitive climate for business and investment here in British Columbia,” Falcon said in the legislature last Thursday. “It will reduce red tape and regulation and streamline processes for both government and business.”

The act would allow the government to assign special status to projects “deemed to be significant and that will positively benefit the economic, environmental and social well-being of British Columbia,” Falcon said.

Under the bill, if the provincial Cabinet believes such a project would be subject to inefficient or prolonged approval processes, it may designated as provincially significant. A minister will then be assigned to oversee the approval process for the project — fast-tracking it through the various levels of decision-making required.

“Once the project is designated, approval authorities will be required to take all reasonable actions to move through the complex decision-making process faster and more efficiently,” Falcon said.

For example, under the legislation such projects could see different ministries review such projects simultaneously, he said.

Local MLA Ted Nebbeling defended the bill, saying it merely helps the government reduce the amount of red tape when a project comes up for approval.

As an example, he cited the Callaghan Valley, where a number of venues related to the 2010 Winter Olympics are planned.

“With the Callaghan, there is forestry impact, First Nations impact, environmental impact, and all these various agencies have to be involved in the approval of that project,” Nebbeling said.

“Because it’s in the SLRD (Squamish-Lillooet Regional District), you deal with the regi onal district as well. You get an enormous amount of benefit by coordinating (the approval process) as one strategy. Declaring it a significant project would force all these groups to come to the table and find ways to bring it to completion.”

But the bill is meeting with vocal and, it appears, widespread opposition.

Eckhard Zeidler, a board member with the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE), said that as written, the bill would give Cabinet and individual ministers sweeping new powers.

“What’s really scary about it is it trumps local government authority,” Zeidler said. “I don’t see anything barring them from putting a nuclear reactor in the RMOW if they see fit, over the wishes of local residents.

“We stand to get the surprise of our lives in Whistler if the Olympics is one of the things that they have in mind for this, because we could see things happening within our municipal boundaries that people don’t particularly want.

“This is just the latest in a gr eat wave of things in this direction that are coming out of Victoria. If it’s passed, it’ll be just one of many things that local planners have to deal with. If Victoria wants to do something that doesn’t fit with what they’re doing, then our local planners will just be streamrolled.”

At Monday’s SLRD meeting, Susan Gimse, SLRD Area C director and a member of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) board, called Bill 75 anti-democratic.

A motion from Gimse opposing the proposed legislation passed by an 8-1 vote, with only Lillooet Mayor Greg Kamenka voting in opposition.

“This legislation, to me, completely ignores the public’s views and that, to me, is wrong,” Gimse said.

“We agree that, at times, there may be a need for streamlining legislation that can move things forward,” she added, “but we don’t agree with legislation tahat overrides democracy and we don’t think local governments should be included as one of the potential constraints.”

Zeidler compared the bill to le gislation already in place in Alberta. There, large projects may receive pre-approval from a body such as the Natural Resources Conservation Board. Under Section 619 of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, those pre-approvals take precedence over local planning authority.

In Canmore, Alta., the power of local residents to affect the details of the huge Three Sisters residential and resort project has been limited for many years because of that legislation.

“They ended with all this development that wasn’t part of their plan and there was nothing they could do about it,” Zeidler said.

Mayor Hugh O’Reilly on Friday said that if the Province were to try to fast-track projects without proper review using Bill 75, local citizens and officials would likely be quite upset.

“I would have to think you would have do that with the utmost of caution. I wouldn’t think you could do that (override local authority) without a huge backlash,” he said.

“We’ve been fairly good about negotiating, giving where we could, but standing our ground when we had to. We’ve built a billion-dollar economic engine here. It’s a fragile engine and if it’s not treated very carefully it could be damaged, significantly.”

Nebbeling said the Province isn’t trying to override local authority. It’s merely trying to ensure that important projects don’t get bogged down in bureaucracy.

“When a project comes forward, people have to deal with one level of bureaucracy, and another level, and another level,” he said. “Dealing with them all in one swoop is definitely a big step forward.”

NDP leader Joy McPhail noted that a few months ago, Nebbeling — who is Minister of State for Community Charter — brought forward a new Community Charter, which spells out the relationship between the Province and local governments.

McPhail said Bill 75 takes back much of the power granted to municipalities in the charter.

“Greater independence? Empowering? Greater autonomy? Planning and revenue tools?” McPhail said in the legislature last Thursday. “The Minister of State for Community Charter must be wondering what the heck he’s been doing for the last two years. Bill 75 overrides the Community Charter. It’s paramount.

“This legislation… shows just how sincere this government is about empowering local governments.”

whistler - November 18th, 2005
Note: Please try not to double post (you too Stuart) it makes reading everything a lot harder to follow and wastes everyones time. Keep it on the topic, post once and that's it. thanks, Duane

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
Ted gave the Pique free rent for a year or so in exchange for shares and/or future favours...so take any editorial in the Pique with a grain of salt.

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
From the North Shore News

Knocking Mr. Nebbeling
IN less than a year as the provincial representative for West Vancouver-Garibaldi, Ted Nebbeling has become an embarrassment.

Since he seems completely incapable of explaining or justifying his most recent juvenile behavior, the unenviable task falls upon me.

So what if Nebbeling seems an ignorant racist? Admittedly, this is one of the lasting impressions of the tangle of deceit in which he was caught after he mocked NDP MLA Jenny Kwan. Towards the end of her contribution to the throne speech debate last week, Kwan explained to the House that she was going to summarize her remarks in Cantonese.

This was not without precedent in terms of parliamentary practice. In fact, over the years, many languages have been spoken in the B.C. legislature -- particularly on special occasions.

What's unique is that Kwan is one of two MLAs who are the first Chinese-Canadians ever to be elected as members of the provincial legislature. By itself, this remarkable fact seemed worthy of recognition to everyone in the House.

Well, almost everyone.

So what if Nebbeling was less than candid? He initially denied using "pidgin" Chinese to heckle Kwan while she was delivering her speech.

At the time, several MLAs noted that he appeared to be making fun of Kwan while she was speaking in Cantonese.

Later, Nebbeling was steadfast in disavowing such idiotic behavior, claiming he didn't understand Chinese anyway.

After a few days of political discomfort and denials, a review of the legislative videotape revealed that Nebbeling had actually heckled Kwan with the words "gong dye wah." The phrase essentially means "you're a liar." He'd been coached on the correct Cantonese pronunciation by the legislature's other Chinese-Canadian MLA, Liberal Ida Chong, who was apparently dismayed when she discovered how he was using his impromptu language lesson.

Once caught, Nebbeling changed his story, claiming he'd been offended because he was required to listen to Chinese in the House.

So what if Nebbeling is a boor? When forced to apologize to Kwan and the legislature for his actions, he seemed glib and insincere.

A few days later, when Kwan broke down in tears after recalling how the incident evoked memories of the racist taunts she had endured as a child, Nebbeling responded with surprising insensitivity. He said that if Kwan is going to demonstrate human emotion and get so upset over being called a liar, then she's unfit to be an MLA.(In other words, all politicians should be content to be labelled liars.)

So what if Nebbeling is now being widely denounced? Members of the legislative press gallery in Victoria are referring to him either as an "oaf" or as "an embarrassment to his party and his constituents."

Chinese radio commentator Ronald Leung says: "I think someone who is offended by someone who speaks a language other than English should resign. He's not suitable to be an MLA."

So what if Nebbeling's actions aren't really much of a surprise? In fact, this most recent incident is entirely consistent with the man's past behavior. Those familiar with his career as a municipal politician in Whistler, or as a lifetime member of the Social Credit Party or, more recently, as a provincial Liberal, know full well of his erratic, often childish actions. In last year's provincial election campaign, for example, it was appalling to observe how he bullied and intimidated his female NDP opponent. The only difference is, now that he's an MLA, his dreadful conduct is coming under closer scrutiny.

So what if Nebbeling has now been brought down to earth?

Late last year he approached a senior representative of the Reform party in West Vancouver, asking if she was ready to join the provincial Liberals. She told him that would never happen so long as Gordon Campbell was the party's leader. Nebbeling responded by asking if she might change her mind when he becomes leader.

So what if the Liberal party has declined to reprimand Nebbeling? It's a measure of the official Opposition's amateurism that the party has once again let the NDP administration off the hook by focusing attention on their own ineptitude rather than government policy.

So what if the phrase "gong dye wah" will now always be associated with and applied to only one B.C. politician: Ted Nebbeling?

So what?

-- The North Shore News believes strongly in freedom of speech and the right of all sides in a debate to be heard. The columnists published in the News present differing points of view, but those views are not necessarily those of the newspaper itself.

And Also from the North Shore News

Two sides to Ted and Jenny spat
A storm in a China teacup says it all about last week's well publicized spat between rookie MLAs Ted Nebbeling and Jenny Kwan.

As you'll recall, Ms Kwan took it upon herself to conclude her reply to the throne speech with a four-minute summary in Cantonese. From the opposition benches Mr. Nebbeling (Lib., West Van-Garibaldi) interjected "gong dye wah," a Cantonese phrase in which he'd been coached by a fellow Liberal MLA meaning "you're telling a big lie."

MLAs not being allowed to call each other liars in the House, our Ted -- after dodging the issue for a day or two -- eventually apologized to the Legislature and Ms. Kwan. Though he certainly didn't emerge smelling like a rose, there the matter would normally have ended -- were it not for that "R" word that plagues so much of public life nowadays.

So Ms. Kwan celebrates Good Friday by calling a press conference where -- backed by the B.C. flag and wiping away tears -- she demands that Nebbeling apologize to the whole Chinese community. Not surprisingly, Vancouver's Chinese media rally behind her, some clamoring for Ted's resignation. As a political aphrodisiac nothing today beats "racism."

But just who is being "racist" here? Brief use of other languages is permitted in the Legislature, mostly to welcome non-English-speaking visitors. However, Jenny Kwan's Cantonese reply to the throne speech was a strictly political statement during regular House proceedings.

Since there's no translation system in the Legislature, her remarks were incomprehensible to all but a tiny handful of Chinese-speakers present. So surely it was Ms. Kwan who -- in order to score Brownie points with her Chinese constituents -- didn't give a damn about offending her fellow MLAs by making political statements they couldn't follow.

Agreed, Ted Nebbeling was naughty to call a fellow MLA a liar in any language. But his frustration -- and doubtless that of other non-Chinese-speaking MLAs -- is certainly understandable. Having made amends, even if a little tardily, as required by House rules, is he now supposed to crawl on hands and knees through Chinatown clad in sackcloth and ashes?

If so, I've another idea for Jenny in her campaign against "racism." How about making Caucasian Canadians feel a little more welcome in Richmond's famous Chinese shopping mall -- where scarcely an English word is ever uttered, nor an English sign ever seen.

After all, those pesky Caucasians were there first, Jenny. Can you imagine a "no-Chinese-customers-wanted" mall in Beijing or Hong Kong?

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
I think that full page ad Ted put in this week's paper cost him some votes. It just goes to show how black and white he is. No one is going to take any of it seriously. Ken may have voted 'no', but people know there are reasons that go along with that. Nothing is black and white or in Ted's case, black, white, or yellow.
So what?, you ask? I think beneath all of the rhetoric is a simple answer. There are intelligent ways to behave and engage in productive conversation and debate. There are intelligent and meaningful ways to design a full-page ad. The only people that don't feel comfortable in Richmond's Chinese mall are people who are paranoid. And lastly, it wasn't the Caucasians that were first.

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
I wonder how many of these posts (IP addresses) can be traced back to Muni Hall?

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
Interesting to listen to people who were going to vote for Ted until they attended some of the public forums. After listening to the candidates it was clear that Ted is not the man to represent this community. Yes, Ted is a smooth operator, but the informed people of this community are not so easily fooled by these types.

whistler - November 18th, 2005
Duane here... I have the logs and yes the muni hall has been buzy here also.
ex.
11/18/05 || 4:25:03 PM || 208.181.70.237 || m70-237.rmow.whistler.bc.ca || Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0
Note times are eastern.

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
From the RMOW employee handbook: (January 2004)
‘Political Activity’
“You may not conduct any political activity during working hours or in Municipal uniform because the Municipal Administration must be and be perceived as apolitical."

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
Duane, I thought you were making available an "anonymous" blog forum for people to discuss their points of view. Why are you revealing such information about the Muni? I for one have a computer that MANY people use and would hate to think you would reveal it's useage on this blog and have evreyone assume it is me . I am really disappointed in you and I don't think you have ANY business revealing such information. This IS NOT the spirit in which people have participated in this, your creation.

anonymous - November 18th, 2005
In light of the fact that municipal employees “may not conduct political activity during working hours”, perhaps Duane should disclose all postings from Muni Hall.

anonymous - November 19th, 2005
Posting anonymous messages on a blog site does not violate the spirit of that rule. If those workers were wearing "Vote For Jamey" pins on their uniforms, or were using their municipal email to send political messages, that would be different.

Put another way, which activity calls into question the apolitical stance of the Administration: the posting of anonymous blogs without any reference to their origin, or a large group of Muni workers at a weekend pro-Ralph Forsyth rally? If you look at the letter of the law, the former is not allowed, but the latter is.

whistler - November 19th, 2005
All I can trace is the 'isp' and the isp for the muni is themselves. Who actually is using that service I cannot tell. Your ‘anonymity’ is still safe. With the authorities or isp’s help it could be traced to the actual computer but it’s not within my ability. Who’s to say that it isn’t a councillor doing research in his/her lunch break or off hours? I didn’t post it to say that muni workers aren’t working. As a matter of fact they have been very helpful with me. I keep the logs more for a matter of record as to the posting of slanderous matters and have only had to block one isp and that was only for a short time. Duane

anonymous - November 19th, 2005
Using our tax dollars (Municipal Equipment, Municipal Internet Service while on the Municipal payroll) to campaign is not proper conduct. I am sure that the Muni logs all their internet traffic and email. Even reading such material while at work would be inappropriate, given that our tax dollars pay for it.

anonymous - November 19th, 2005
Did 40% of the traffic come from the Muni's ISP?

anonymous - November 19th, 2005
All this sounds like the ridiculous,nay desperate, attempt of the Ted camp to sway voters. So sorry.....look for Ken at the podium.

whistler - November 19th, 2005
Less than 2% of the visits to the home page were from the muni.

anonymous - November 19th, 2005
And can these visits be traced back? Is anyone at Muni getting nervous? Perhaps they should be.

whistler - November 19th, 2005
That would have to be done internally. I only get the isp info.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
Vote for Ted if you want someone who will lead ....
Vote for Ken if you want someone who will work with council ....
Vote for Kristi if ... oops, don't vote for her unless you want someone who can't lead or work with others ....

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
Ted, the "Ken's Record" ad was a really bad idea. It made you look like a mean, small minded jerk, and made some of us realize that all those "No's" that Ken is accused of making were actually some stuff we agreed with...

The ad alone lost you at least 5 votes that I know of.

Scott A.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
I believe that it actually just cost him the election....who on earth was his campaign manager? It was the final straw for us and we were ardent fans when he first threw his hat in the ring.
C.J.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
Yes, the fact is that if one half of the difference (177) in votes changed from Ted to Ken that made the difference.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
Too Bad Ted!

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
Thank you thank you thank you for putting that absolutely unbelievable ad in the paper. It showed your true colours AND the good guy won partly because of it.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
Ted, at 1st I was going to vote for you, but then your true colours showed. Did you get paid off by London Drugs??? I hope so.

anonymous - November 20th, 2005
I wasn't sure who to vote for but I too felt that the ad was mean spirited and therefore I couldn't vote for someone who went to that extreme. Seems like I wasn't alone.

anonymous - November 21st, 2005
Ted its time for your to fade back into the mist where you have been for the last 6 years

anonymous - November 21st, 2005
It's SO nice to know that good guys do finish FIRST in this town! Thanks for that ad, Teddy. You only slammed yourself and Ken, who ALWAYS took the high, WON! And Whistler is so much of a better place for it! I can breath again.