New Parks, Recreation & Culture Plan downplays the importance of nature and the environment

Statements, goals, and strategies to honour nature and protect the environment have traditionally formed a major part of Maple Ridge’s parks, recreation and cultural planning. 

However, in the latter part of its term, the outgoing Council contracted out the creation of a new plan to a firm that has created a radically different 2022 plan which almost totally neglects the emphasis on nature and the environment featured in previous plans. 

The 2010 Parks, Recreation, and Culture Master Plan opened with this Vision Statement:

"Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are physically beautiful communities, with extensive forests, mountains, rivers, creeks, lakes, and agricultural lands. People choose to live here because of the natural and rural environment, and also because of the strong sense of community. . . A wide variety of linked parks, trails and recreation facilities support diverse activities, resulting in a healthy, active community. People work together at all levels to ensure that the community retains the characteristics that drew them here originally."

The 2010 plan also contained many findings and recommendations which are congruent with the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Here is a small sampling of them:

"The health of the environment ranks high on the list of priorities for residents." 

"Demonstrating innovation by creating a policy that all new municipal buildings achieve minimum energy performance targets, and creating a green building program for residential, commercial and industrial buildings." 

"Work with other departments and both municipalities to improve consistency with regard to sustainability measures."

"Initiatives which contribute to positive environmental impacts should enjoy a higher priority than those that do not."

The 2017 Cultural Plan contained the following:

"Celebrating the natural environment" was identified by citizens as the number one priority.

"Guiding Principles: Maple Ridge’s cultural development is sustainable and ensures a high quality of life for residents."

"Nature is deeply valued and enhances our experience of arts and culture." 

If Council adopts the new plan as recommended, many of the environmental initiatives put in motion by Maple Ridge’s previous Parks, Recreation, and Cultural planning will be lost.  

Adopting the new plan would also be a lost opportunity for the new Council, most of whom campaigned as progressives in regard to climate change, to take serious actions in harmony with the previous planning and recognized priorities of Maple Ridge citizens. 

Citizens still have a chance to express their concerns regarding the new plan. 

Council is accepting input on the final draft of the 2022 plan through this PRC Master Plan: Final Community Check-in Survey, which contains a box for comments, until December 31.

Time for a new furnace? Consider a heat pump

Heat pumps cool your home in summer, and heat it in the winter

If it’s time to replace your furnace, there are lots of reasons to consider a heat pump. Our family’s main purpose was to reduce the climate impact that came from burning gas to heat our home. That goal, coupled with the provincial and federal government rebates, made an electric heat pump the ideal solution.

Because it’s a relatively new industry here in BC, the process for finding an experienced installer, selecting your heat pump and applying for rebates is not nearly as straightforward as calling up your local heating expert to install a new gas furnace. But the advantages are worth it, and in this post we’ll share both the benefits of heat pumps, and the steps that are needed to have one installed and get the available rebates.

Benefits of a heat pump

Heat and cool your home with the same unit

With our climate heating up, surviving summer heat waves has become a serious consideration, even here in BC’s normally cool and damp south coast. Now that we have our heat pump we’ve been comfortable even during the hottest days – what we used to call scorchers growing up in Saskatchewan. And contrary to popular myth, our heat pump is more than equal to the challenge of winter weather on the Lower Mainland. No backup gas furnace required.

Save money on your energy bills

We pay less for heating our home in winter, cooling it in summer, and charging our electric car, than we used to pay just to heat the house with our “high efficiency” gas furnace. And that saving will continue to increase as the price of gas increases, which it is legislated to do.

Dramatically reduce your carbon footprint

BC’s power is largely supplied by clean hydroelectricity. So switching to electricity to heat your home really does make an important difference.

Getting a heat pump and applying for rebates

If you are replacing a gas or oil furnace with an electric heat pump, you should qualify for both provincial and federal rebates. Combined, these rebates are intended to bring the cost of a heat pump down to the point where it’s competitive with gas furnaces.

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get your heat pump installed and receive your government rebates.

1. First, sign up for the Canada Greener Homes program. This program provides grants and interest-free loans for home evaluations and home energy upgrades. Eligible work includes installing a heat pump, adding insulation, and sealing windows and doors.
   
   
2. Make an appointment with an Energy Advisor to inspect your home before you do the upgrades. The BC government’s CleanBC website lists qualified advisors for our area. They’re in big demand, so book your appointment as soon as you can. They will come to your home and do a thorough assessment of the current energy demands of your home, then provide a report that includes recommendations for how you can improve your home’s performance, i.e. reduce the energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. This service is eligible for a Canada Greener Homes rebate of $600, which is generally what the energy advisor will charge.
   
   
3. Next, find a contractor to remove your furnace and install your heat pump. This is not easy, as not all contractors are experienced with heat pump installs. We recommend getting at least three quotes. The Clean BC website has a list of registered contractors who service our area.  You must use a registered contractor in order to qualify for the provincial rebate. But just because they are registered, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will give you good advice, or that they are experienced with heat pumps. We got wildly different quotes and advice from each of the four companies who gave us estimates. Find someone who is well-experienced with heat pumps, can provide references, and doesn’t try to upsell you by telling you you’ll also need a back-up gas furnace. 
   
   It will be helpful to show the contractor the energy advisor’s report so they  know what size of heat pump is needed. Each contractor will carry a different brand. Our heat pump is a Mitsubishi and we’re happy with it.
   
   
4. Once you have installed your heat pump, you can apply to Clean BC for your provincial rebate. Our installer did that for us. The application must be submitted within six months of the invoice date.
   
   
5. Last, bring the energy advisor back for a post-upgrade assessment and report. You'll need that final report to apply for the Canada Greener Homes grant, which you signed up for in Step 1. Best to do this after you have completed all of your upgrades. We had our heat pump installed last winter, and are booked to get more attic insulation added this winter. Once that’s completed we’ll bring the energy advisor back and apply for the federal government grant. 

Learn more about heat pumps

Last year the Climate Hub hosted a webinar with a speaker from CleanBC. To learn more about heat pumps and the provincial rebate program, watch the recorded video on our YouTube channel. Bear in mind that the webinar took place in 2021, so some of the program details may have changed.

And on behalf of the climate and future generations, thank you for considering a heat pump to warm and cool your home. 

Alouette River development: Controversy, climate and reconciliation

 
The recent discovery of the bodies of more than 200 children buried in unmarked graves on the grounds of the Kamloops Residential School hit many of us in a visceral way that even the agonizing testimony from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) somehow did not seem to when it released its report in 2015.

The TRC’s final report contained 94 Calls to Action (CTAs). Many focus on federal and provincial accountability, but there are actions that local governments can take as well. One CTA is particularly relevant in Maple Ridge today.

The Union of BC Municipalities points to CTA #92, which calls for business (and by extension municipalities as incorporated entities) to:

• adopt and apply the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) to policy and land considerations 
• commit to relationship-building and consultation, and informed consent on economic development projects* 
• ensure equitable access to jobs, training, and professional development ensure Indigenous communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects 
• provide education for management and staff on Indigenous history, UNDRIP, Indigenous law and government-to-government relations.*

*emphasis is ours

Development proposal on the Alouette River

Recently a controversial development proposal on the Alouette River has exposed how very little of the important work of reconciliation has been accomplished at Maple Ridge City Hall.

The proposal is to build more than 25 homes along the south bank of the Alouette River at 240^th Street. Some of the land will be protected as wild space, but the overall density of the new homes at this location is raising serious concerns about the effects on the health of the Alouette River and the salmon stocks that rely on it. The Alouette River Management Society is so concerned that they are raising funds to take the City to court if the development is approved.

Failure to consult

Equally serious is the realization that the City has failed to consult with the Katzie First Nation on this proposal. Chief Grace George, when alerted to the proposed development by a concerned resident, wrote a two-page letter (p. 90 of the Public Hearing agenda) voicing strong objections to the fact that the process has unfolded without meaningful engagement on a project “that has significant potential to impact Katzie Aboriginal rights, including title.”

In an article in The Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows News, a city official is quoted as saying: “In this particular case, council resolved that no additional consultation was required beyond the posting of the OCP amendment on the city’s website, the developer-required development information meeting, and the city hosting a public hearing to consider the matter. 

“This is consistent with our normal development process and is compliant with the requirements of the Local Government Act. The Katzie First Nation did not express any concern as part of the original public hearing.”

This is all true. Not consulting with Katzie in matters that directly affect their rights and title is the City’s normal practice. And yes, this practice is also compliant with the current Local Government Act, which leaves it up to a city to decide whether or not to consult. Lumping the Katzie First Nation into the category of the general public is insulting, but it is not illegal.

But these practices are massively out of step with UNDRIP, which has been formally adopted by both the federal and BC provincial governments, the Calls to Action from the TRC, and the spirit of reconciliation.

And while the province works to embed UNDRIP principles in all its legislation, including the Local Government Act, municipal governments must show leadership and embrace opportunities such as this development process to embed the spirit of reconciliation within their practices and policies. There is nothing in the Local Government Act that prevents this.

In fact, when a development triggers a change to the Official Community Plan, as this one does, local governments are encouraged under section 475 of the Act to consult with first nations.

Climate and reconciliation

What does reconciliation have to do with climate change? As we learn more about the path to climate resilience, we are coming to understand the interconnectedness of environment and climate with social and economic health. 

Our planet is our life support system, and we cannot have a thriving planet if it isn’t a just one. Reconciliation in Canada is a path to climate justice that we must walk together, if we are to achieve a sustainable future in every sense.

Info session, and public hearing

 A public hearing on the proposed development is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15 at 7 p.m. This is a final opportunity to voice your opinions to Council, either in writing or in person, or both.

The Maple Ridge Climate Hub is hosting an online information session on Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. Cheryl Ashlie, past president of ARMS, will present the ARMS perspective on the environmental issues surrounding the development proposal.

Register for the online information session.  

See the ARMS update on what you can do to help (pdf) for information on how to participate in the public hearing and/or send a letter or email to Council.

Taking the electric vehicle plunge

Saying goodbye to the trusty but GHG-emitting Accord

I bought my 2001 apple red Honda Accord when it was two years old. The prized ride of an elderly gent who had recently given up driving, this little darling had only 20,000 well-maintained clicks when I purchased her through the buy-and-sell at work.

Since then she has gamely ushered our family through two career changes, one engineering degree, a host of short-haul trips around the Lower Mainland, and innumerable errands. Most recently, I loaned her for a few months to my daughter, a nurse who needed Covid-friendly transit to and from work. 

It’s been 17 years and 235,000 km of (mostly) reliable, comfortable transportation. Much appreciated by all of us.

But it’s over. Last year she started to show signs of age that spell the end for any car of mine. I am loyal, or maybe I’m just lazy, but I’m not crazy. When the annual repair bills are bigger than the insurance costs, I’m out. 

My husband and I started plotting to buy a new car – and this time it would be an electric vehicle (EV). 

Why buy an EV? 

We knew we didn't want to keep driving a gas-powered vehicle. This was our chance to take a big step toward reducing our family's carbon footprint. So we started with research. What kind of mileage are EVs getting these days on a charge? What rebates and incentives could we qualify for? What are they like to drive? 

We took a few cars out for a spin. Turns out they are a blast to drive. When EV fans talk about instant torque and quick acceleration, they’re not kidding. And I love the idea of zooming around without spewing CO₂ into the air.

Running costs are lower too. An EV costs about $2 for the electricity to go 100 km, compared to $12-$14 worth of gas. The ChargeHub calculator helped us figure out how much we'd save over a year.

And EV drivers save a whack of money on maintenance, since the electric motors are so much simpler than combustion engines.

As more EVs roll off the assembly lines, their battery power is increasing. Now a standard battery will get you well over 400 km. You’re no more likely to run out of battery power now than you are to run out of gas.

The network of charging stations is expanding too. PlugShare is a free app where you can see all the charging stations on your route. The app displays the type of charge available (regular or fast, aka level 2 or 3), user ratings and whether there's a spot open.

Currently it doesn’t cost anything to use a charging station in BC, though it won’t be that way forever. But it’s a nice short-term incentive.

Incentives and rebates

Speaking of incentives, the provincial and federal governments have some pretty great ones for EVs.

BC offers up to $3,000 off the price of a new battery electric vehicle and up to $1,500 off the price of a new plug-in hybrid electric (a car that uses both gas and electric power). These incentives are managed through car dealerships. The rebates apply to vehicles up to $55,000 in value. A prorated amount is available for leased vehicles too. 

This is a time-limited program that happens each year, so it's important to time your purchase carefully. 

The federal government’s iZEV program offers up to $5,000 off the purchase price of a new battery-powered vehicle, and $2,500 - $5,000 for a plug-in hybrid. These incentives are also managed at the dealership.

What to do with your old vehicle? SCRAP-IT. That’s the the program that recycles your old gas-powered car and pays you $3,000 if you’re purchasing a used EV, or $6,000 if you’re purchasing new. There are quite a few caveats to qualify for the SCRAP-IT program, so read all the fine print before you even start to shop.

Information on the provincial rebates, federal iZEV program and SCRAP-IT, as well as rebates on home charger installation, can be found on BC Hydro's EV Incentives in BC web page.  

From the Canada Revenue Agency there’s more good news. Businesses can write off 100% of the value of their EV up to a maximum of $55,000. As a business owner, you can either apply for the iZEV program or write off the value of the vehicle – but not both.

The happy/sad ending

So... after deliberating, tire-kicking, researching, mulling it over and going through the gazintas a bazillion times, we finally took the plunge and are now the proud owners of a kicky little Kona. Which, as noted earlier, is a blast to drive. 

RIP little red Accord. We'll always think of you kindly. But we won't miss your pollution-producing, GHG-emitting ways.

This article was originally published in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News and has been updated for the Maple Ridge Climate Hub blog. Yes, it did take us a year to plan, plot and buy. So start early.  

Maple Ridge Transportation Plan ready for five-year overhaul

Biking in Copenhagen

Last week I went for a bike ride.

I’m one of the lucky ones who worked from home even before COVID-19 came to visit, so my work routine hasn’t suffered while we all stay at home and master the art of Zooming.

But my exercise record has definitely suffered. So with the incredible weather we’ve had egging me on, I performed an archeological dig in my garage and retrieved my bike.

And shortly after biking queen Jackie Chow re-posted a 20-km “easy” bike route from the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Cyclist website, I hopped onto my bike and headed out. 

Discovering my new/old home

Of course HUB Cycling is not currently hosting their group rides due to the pandemic, so this was a solo venture. I had my phone tucked away in case I got a flat or ran out of steam. I had water. I had the flashing lights I bought from MEC two years ago and never used. I had my helmet, my gloves, my emergency rations. I was set.

I'm a fair-weather, lily-livered rider who had really not ridden much other than on the dikes. Traffic concerns me. And it still does, but Jackie’s route kept me out of trouble.

It took me through neighbourhoods I had never seen in the 20+ years I’ve lived in Maple Ridge. I rode through lovely little pocket parks. I passed grand estates. I encountered sheep (I think that was the bleating I heard). I got a tan (this is April, people). I got home in one piece. 

A week later I’m still going to bed early to recover.

Transportation plan could lower emissions 

Later that day I attended (online through streaming video) the workshop where the city’s manager of engineering, David Pollock, made a presentation to council on the strategic transportation plan, which is up for renewal this year. (David also appeared in January as a guest speaker at Maple Meadows Green Drinks, where the topic was green transportation in our communities.)

The city’s transportation plan sets the stage for the next five years – the roads we'll build, the bike paths, sidewalks, etc. Although it looks forward 20 years, it prioritizes concrete actions in five-years stages. The transportation strategy will integrate with Translink’s plans for mass transit, and the province’s plans for highways.

It’s a huge opportunity for this community to get ambitious about green transportation options. We know that more than half of our district-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) come from the cars and trucks on our roads. How can our transportation plan help Maple Ridge curb our emissions?

Council considers

The (virtual) talk around the council table was encouraging, with some councillors enthusiastic about exploring micromobility options, such as wide pathways to accommodate electric bikes and scooters as well as regular bikes and pedestrians. There was talk of bike lockers around the R3 bus stops.

Others pointed to the need to complete and enhance the existing network of bicycle and pedestrian options, which I can attest to after my excursion last week. 

With traffic at an all-time low it was a calm experience, but the presence of a painted line being all that separated me from moving vehicles, while I cycled along 18 inches of marginally maintained blacktop – at points interrupted by parked cars – doesn’t inspire me to keep going when traffic returns to normal.

Consulting the public – that’s us

The city is now ready for a consultant to draft the strategy. Part of their work will include public consultation.

What that will look like during lockdown isn’t clear. But if you’re eager to see a fully-developed transportation network that is safe for pedestrians and cyclists, that integrates smoothly with public transit, and stretches from north to south and east to west throughout Maple Ridge, stay tuned. 

We’ll do our best to let you know when and how to make your support known.