- Target:
- The Corporation of Delta
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.burnsbog.org
This petition is now closed. If you wish to sign our new petition against MK Delta and Pineland Peat using the Species At Risk Act we encourage you to visit our website for more details: www.burnsbog.org
History of MK Delta Lands Group & How it happened:
In 2004, Burns Bog owners the McLaughlins were under foreclosure. The McLaughlin family asked Jack Matthews to rescue the Bog from foreclosure. He did. (J.M. Pers. Comment, 2004.)
Four levels of government came together to purchase Burns Bog for conservation. They offered Jack Matthews $78 million for the 5,500 acres of Burns Bog. Unfortunately, Jack Matthews left $5 million on the table.
Matthews sold 5,000 acres of Burns Bog to the four levels of government. He kept 525 acres of ecologically significant land.
In 2005, the Kerbel family (Ontario) and Jack Matthews (originally from Ontario, now Dallas, Texas) created MK Delta Lands Group Inc.
Present day.
MK Delta Lands Groups is applying to the Corporation of Delta for an Official Community Plan Amendment and Rezoning application at 7969 Highway 91 Connector. They want to build an industrial park on 155 acres of land located on the edge of Burns Bog (Lot 4).
The following are parts of their application:
• Proposed Agricultural Land Reserve Exclusion
• Official Community Plan Amendment
• Rezoning
• Regional Growth Strategy Amendment
• Sanitary Sewer Area Extension
• Development Permit
• Subdivision Application at 7696 Highway 91 Connector
In exchange for this development, they are offering Delta 328 acres of land in Burns Bog and financial contributions.
Why should you be concerned?
- MK DELTA’S PROJECT WILL AFFECT FISH AND FISH HABITAT.
- THE PROJECT HARMS INSECTS, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, & MAMMALS.
- THERE WILL BE IMPACTS ON MIGRATORY, BREEDING, AND NESTING BIRDS.
- THE PROJECT WILL LEAD TO LOSS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT.
- THERE WILL BE MORTALITY OF AQUATIC WILDLIFE.
- CONSTRUCTION AND POST-CONSRUCTION: VEHICULAR COLLISIONS WITH TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE.
- PLANT SPECIES AT-RISK WILL BE DAMAGED.
- WILL RESULTS OF WILDLIFE MONITORING STUDIES BE KEPT FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE WITH SOUTH FRASER PERIMETER ROAD STUDIES?
Here are what others said about MK Delta Lands Group’s proposal in 2012 (we successfully stopped this project):
“There is a limited amount of “green space” in the Lower Mainland that is causing detrimental effects to not only human health but to our natural environment. It would be regrettable to see anything happen to Burns Bog, especially because of how sensitive the ecosystem is.”
- Olivia Woodburn
“As someone who has lived nearby for over twenty years I am appalled to learn that MK Delta Lands Group is proposing to potentially destroy one of the greatest natural environments on the west coast of British Columbia.”
- Asha Young
“No amount of mitigation and no amount of money can offset the impacts to the site and the local and global ecosystem if the proposed development is allowed…They CAN’T re-create this bog. Please DO NOT ALLOW this development.”
- Diane Ryba
Please sign the petition. Your support makes a huge difference. Your gifts help us continue to fight for Burns Bog. Click here to give now.
To the Honorable, the Council of the Corporation of Delta in the Province of British Columbia in Council Assembled
The petition of the undersigned residents of the Province of British Columbia, states that;
Whereas: A business consortium led by developers are attempting to convert unprotected areas of Burns Bog into commercial, industrial and residential developments; and
Whereas: the peatland is part of the largest raised peat bog on the west coast of North America; and
Whereas: former Premier Campbell attempted to buy this unprotected peatland as a buffer zone in 2004; and
Whereas: these peatlands are critical to the long term survival of the Burns Bog Conservation Area; and
Whereas: these peatlands, along with the Burns Bog Conservation Area are critical to the ecosystem that supports the Pacific Flyway, the largest salmon-bearing river in the world, the Fraser River; and
Whereas: Canada has signed a number of international agreements, including the Ramsar Convention that recognizes Burns Bog as a wetland of international importance and the Migratory Bird Convention Act;
Your petitioners request that the Honourable Council demand that the Corporation of Delta of British Columbia publicly condemn the proposed industrialization of peatland that is part of the largest raised peatland on the west coast of North America and declare its commitment to protect all of Burns Bog peatland.
The Save Burns Bog. Fight MK Delta's Industrial plans in Burns Bog. petition to The Corporation of Delta was written by Aliya and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.