Attorney General Wally Oppal takes a tough question from Bernadette Kudzin, a member of Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines (TRAHVOL) during a speech he made at the Tsawwassen Business Association meeting Monday. Oppal nearly didn't appear because TBA members wanted him to speak on the South Fraser Perimeter Road, the port expansion and power lines. Oppal said those issues came under the jurisdiction of other ministries, however, his ministry is responsible for the BC Utilities Commission. Oppal's office also intervened in TRAHVOL's unsuccessful court action against the commission's decision to take the lines through Tsawwassen.
'Not afraid' of tough questions
by Maureen Gulyas - Delta Optimist
Attorney General Wally Oppal does not intend to take ownership of the power line issue - he'll leave that in the hands of Energy Minister Richard Neufeld - but he's sympathetic to residents' concerns.
"I understand their passion and concern," Oppal told the Optimist following a speech he gave at the Tsawwassen Business Association meeting Monday.
It was a speech he almost didn't make.
Oppal agreed to speak at the weekly business association lunch nearly a month ago. But while ironing out details last week, he said the TBA wanted him to talk about issues that did not fall within his ministry's mandate. On Saturday his assistant Tom Brown told organizers Oppal would not attend.
"Sustaining a 25-minute speech and a 20-minute Q&A on issues outside of the AG's expertise and responsibility would not only be difficult to sustain but would not be appropriate given the fact that responsibility for those issues lay with other ministers," Brown wrote in an e-mail to Dave McIlroy, a TBA director.
Tsawwassen Residents Against High Voltage Overhead Lines (TRAHVOL) viewed Oppal's visit to the TBA as an opportunity to ask him why his ministry intervened in court action they filed against the B.C. Utilities Commission decision to allow the power line proposal to proceed. The B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the action.
When TRAHVOL heard he cancelled they accused the attorney general of "bailing" because he was reluctant to face difficult questions. But by Sunday, Oppal changed his mind again and agreed to speak at the meeting.
The attorney general denied he was reluctant to face tough questions from residents upset over a provincial project that will carry 230 kiloVolt lines through 150 backyards in Tsawwassen.
He said when the speaking notes landed on his desk Thursday he thought, "This is (Transport Minister) Kevin Falcon's speech." Organizers wanted Oppal, a Tsawwassen resident whose kids go to public school here, to reflect on issues facing the community in which he lives including construction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, port expansion, and the power lines.
"It had nothing to do with confidence, it has a lot to do with protocol," Oppal told the audience of 50 at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn. Oppal said he has a unique role in government that is separate and distinct from the usual role taken by other ministers. As the attorney general and the province's top cop, he is at arm's length from other cabinet members.
"There was no intention here to duck difficult questions. I'm not afraid of difficult questions," Oppal, a former Delta Crown prosecutor and B.C. Court of Appeal justice, said.
So, Oppal, facing a tough crowd Monday answered some difficult questions. TRAHVOL member Bernadette Kudzin told Oppal that during the court action, her group felt government lawyers outnumbered them. TRAHVOL lost that court action.
"We counted at least 10 lawyers on the other side. We had this illusion of fairness in the courts, but it really is not fair," she said.
"Joe Arvay (TRAHVOL's lawyer) is an excellent lawyer and the fact he was outnumbered doesn't mean he's out-skilled," Oppal said, adding there were several lawyers present because so many entities were involved including the province, B.C. Hydro and the Crown corporation proposing the project, the British Columbia Transmission Corporation.
TRAHVOL spokesperson Maureen Broadfoot questioned Oppal on the sweeping powers of the utilities commission and how the government appointed tribunal ignored the advice of the Canadian Cancer Agency on concerns over the health effects of electromagnetic fields.
"Under administrative law they have the right to be wrong...they're entitled to make errors in a factual sense," he said, admitting, "These tribunals have an enormous amount of power."
Oppal also faced tough questions from school trustees who are deeply concerned about the health implications of the higher voltage lines passing over school grounds and about safety concerns surrounding the 120-foot towers coming down in an earthquake. South Delta secondary estimates that up to seven exits could be blocked by downed transmission towers.
"You have a daughter about to go into our high school. We need a champion where none seems to exist ... as a father and as a resident what can you do and what are you prepared to do?" asked school trustee Heather King.
"I'm prepared to listen and I'm not ducking it. I'm the attorney general and it's an issue that deals with another ministry," he stated once again.
Later Oppal told the Optimist that his 17-year-old son sometimes debates him on the power line issue. "This is a difficult issue," he conceded.
The transmission corporation estimates the new line, to boost power for Vancouver Island residents, will be built by October 2008.
published on 06/06/2007
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New TBA Board for 2007
The new TBA Board was announced at the TBA AGM in December and Annay Mannering and Rocio Gonzalez were subsequently added to the Board as follows:
Paula Hlll, Scotiabank - President
Michael Anderson, NewWest Enterprise Property Group - Past President
Mike Renwick, Great Pacific Bioproducts - Vice President
Anna Mannering, Re-Leaf - Secretary
Rocio Gonzalez, Arte Filum - Treasurer
Dave McIlroy, 777 Online Media - Director
Bob Bracken, Re/Max and South Delta Minor Hockey - Director
Dana Carroll, MudBay Wines - Director
Sean Hodgins, Century Group - Director
Rick Connors, Tsawwassen Soccer Club - Director
Sean Bracken, South Pointe Academy - Student Director
Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison, South Delta Secondary - Student Director
Thank you for volunteering!!
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Power Brunch a Huge Success Monday Nov 27
On Monday, Nov 27th at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, 26 businesses engaged in a fast-paced power networking concept. Every six minutes, participants sat at a new table with three others and took 60 seconds to promote their business, then listen to three others doing the same. 1.5 Minutes were taken to brainstorm, critique and ask questions as a group. 30 seconds to change tables. And so on six times until you spoke to all participants! "We will definitely do at least two of these next year, perhaps one with the Ladner Business Association" said organizer and Newly appointed TBA President, Paula Hill.
Congratulations South Delta Rams!
Historic day for Rams!
The South Delta Rams community football club capped off its best season ever Sunday with a hat trick of wins under the dome.
The Rams walked away with three division titles at the B.C. Community Football Association's provincial championships at B.C. Place Stadium.
The Atom Rams got things started with a 48-6 win over the Abbotsford Falcons; the Pee Wee Rams followed with a 39-26 victory against Abbotsford. The Bantam Rams capped a memorable afternoon with a 28-6 triumph over the Kelowna Fury.
"It's going to be a tough act to follow next year," laughed Rams president John Jutras. "You have got to hand it to the players and the coaches. They have done a great job this year.
"They are a good bunch of kids and all the teams get along, which is a tribute to the coaches for making sure the egos are kept in check. These are good life lessons for the kids and at the end of the day they come out of it with a medal and feeling good about it. We are very proud of them."
South Delta teams combined to go 33-7 in the regular season.
The Junior Bantam Rams advanced to league semi-finals before bowing out of the playoffs.
The Bantam Rams completed the year with a 19-0 record and became the first local team in the 14- to-15-year-old age group to win a provincial title since 1987.
story courtesy of Mark Booth - Delta Optimist (reference to Dec 3rd)
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TBA ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
We’re very excited this year to host a wonderful dinner event at the lovely Coast Tsawwassen Inn Wednesday December 20th, 2006. Cocktails at 7:00, dinner at 7:30
And after dinner, The Diplomats will entertain us. Featuring, Saxophone, Piano, Bass and Drums, accompanied by their fabulous vocal styling’s, they are sure to please. From Doo Wop 50’s hits to 60’s and 70’s classics, you can count on some toe tapping and lots of fun. Please feel free to bring a guest, the cost is $20 per person and each TBA member is encouraged to bring a door prize. 
No rushing back to the shop or office, a great time to mingle with friends old and new.
Tickets are available from Paula Hill at Scotiabank, 1139 –56th Street Tsawwassen. Please call or email to reserve: paula.hill@scotiabank.com or 604-948-4210.
Hope to see everyone there because the warmth we feel this time of year is even better when it is shared.
Click here to register - members and non members
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Process Flawed: Public Must Speak UP
Follow this link to download copies of the correspondence
Click the image of the letter to the left to read the official response from the Minister of Energy and Mines.
SALIENT POINTS
* TBA LUNCH MEETING REVEALS BROKEN PROMISE OF LIBERAL GOVERNMENT'S MINISTER NEUFELD AND FLAWED PROCESS
* VIABLE, CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS OF HIGHWAY 17 AND SUPER-PORT NEVER ANALYZED DURING 18 MONTH STUDY BY BC TRANSMISSION CORP
* CANCER SOCIETY DECLARES EMF RADIATION A HEALTH RISK AND URGES PRUDENT AVOIDANCE
* 1 METRE BURIED CABLE OPTION PROPOSAL BY BCTC IS CLASSIC BAIT & SWITCH - PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF EMF RADIATION
* BCTC FAILS TO DISCLOSE TO PUBLIC THAT 2-3 METRES IS THE STANDARD DEPTH IN OTHER LINES SUCH AS THE BURNABY - VANCOUVER LINE
* BCTC USES TSAWWASSEN'S REFUSAL OF 1 METRE DEEP CABLES AS A NEGATIVE MEDIA CAMPAIGN - WRITES LETTER TO PREMIER ON SEPT 29, 2006
* DELTA SCHOOLD BOARD DECLARES TOWERS AS A KILLER IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE
* 7 SDSS ENTRANCES WOULD BE BLOCKED BY FALLEN TOWERS
* EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DECLARE BAN OVERHEAD TOWERS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS
* BIG BUSINESS WANTS PRECEDENT FOR TSAWWASSEN TO APPLY TO OTHER RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES IN BC
* DELTA CABLE VIDEO OF MEETING TO BE DELIVERED TO CTV, GLOBAL, CITYTV AND CBC
* URGENT LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TO POLICITICIANS NOW REMAINING HOPE
BC UTILITIES COMMISSION URGED BY TBA
TO EXPLORE HIGHWAY 17 OPTION AND OTHER VIABLE OPTIONS
SUCH AS THE DELTA SUPERPORT CORRIDOR
Send us your letter of protest to be posted on our website TBA Powerlines Forum
Write your letters of protest immediately to the following people:
1. BCUC: Send communications c/o BCUC Commission Secretary Tobert J. Pellatt. Email Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com
2. Premier Gordon Campbell: premier@gov.bc.ca - there might be another email - maybe at his constituency office - we will try to find it.
3. Minister Richard Neufeld, Energy, Mines & Resources: EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca (Minister's Offices - Victoria), Constituency Offices in Fort St. John Richard.Neufeld.MLA@leg.bc.ca , and Executive Council, Victoria EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
4. Minister George Abbott, Health Ministry: Hlth.health@gov.bc.ca (Minister's Offices - Victoria), Constituency Offices in Salmon Arm George.Abbott.MLA@leg.bc.ca ,
5. Minister Shirley Bond: Minister of Education: minister.educ@gov.bc.ca (Minister's Offices - Victoria),
3rd annual South Delta Jazz Festival July 2 - 9 
South Delta Jazz Festival Calendar
Features include a FREE outdoor concert July
2nd at Diefenbaker Park. The Gala Concert -
Djangophilia July 8 at the Coast Tsawwassen
Inn Ballroom
Idealy scheduled the week following Vancouver International Jazz
Festival, our own South Delta Jazz Festival has held over some of the
most popular players from the previous week. They will now be
performing on our stages for what are mostly free concerts right in
our backyard!
Support the arts, live music and experience the wealth of talent from
our community and those visiting us internationally. Bring the whole
family to one or all of the concerts during the lunch or in the early
evening. Do not miss this magnificent showcase.
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The Youth Legacy Project launched in the fall of 2005 has evolved into the Community Enrichment Initiative. It was presented to the TBA and guests in April of 2006. Given recent debate pertaining to the Library and playing fields combined with the Smart Growth series presented by Century Group, it would seem the TBA's initiative is more relevant than ever. Have a look at the presentation complete with audio and slides. This presentation in 2 parts plays in your web browser using Flash. Click on Part 1 or 2 to play the presentation.
Part 1
Part 2
JAZZ NIGHT IN TSAWWASSEN
Benefit Concert for the Delta Jazz Workshop
SOLD OUT!
Featuring Delta Community Music School
Jazz Ensembles 1 and II
Delta Jazz Workshop Summer Faculty
Jared Burrows - guitar
Stephen Robb - clarinet / piano
Rob Kohler - bass
Stan Taylor - drums
with
Marty Franklin - vibes
Friday March 31st, 2006 (click on the date to register for tickets)
6:30 pm Reception, 7:30 pm Concert
After Concert Party - Illuminate Restorante - 10 pm
Tsawwassen Arts Centre, 1172 - 56th Street, Delta BC
About the Delta Jazz Workshop:
Listen to an excerpt from last year's workshop
* a one week program designed to give musicians the opportunity to explore and deepen their knowledge of jazz improvisation and performance.
* An opportunity that allows musicians to focus on becoming better jazz players and performers.
* an exciting opportunity for music students to learn about jazz and improvisation from great musicians.
* Open to young people and adults 12 years and older
(Adults are welcome!!)
* At least 2 years of previous playing experience for beginners
* All instruments (including voice) are welcome!
* Students will be placed in classes and an ensemble according to their ability and experience.
1. Find out how you can benefit through block advertising in the newspapers and radio - incredible savings!
2. Increase your bottom line, manage your stock, improve your sales
3. Attract new clients and customers
4. Get recognized for your contribution to Tsawwassen
5. Improve your advertising and marketing plans
6. Learn how to negotiate a better lease, what the trends are and how you can benefit
Our next speaker on March 22 is Preferred Lease Advisors, Gord Petrie, who will outline the latest trends and innovations in the Canadian retail and service industries.
We'll also have Tom Lucas of CFUN on hand to explain to you how you can reap the benefits of block advertising through CFUN. Find out how you can be oin the radio and get $950.00 value of radio advertising for $200.00 and bring in new clients from outside the South Delta area.
Register now by finding this event on our Calendar Module and clicking on Register (as Member or Guest).
A great opportunity to learn and network. Ongoing topics include retail recruitment, window display, retail trends, increasing your bottom line, managing your business and retailers' political voice, plus more.
We have instructed our WebMaster to set up a Resource Centre right here on our Website so that you can find the help you need in your business.
The benefits of being a retail member of our organization are many.
• Providing information and education through networking events, seminars, workshops
• Lobbying government on issues that affect retailers in our area
• TBA is a great vehicle for promotion of retailers services & products through networking, web-site promotion & advertising and distribution of your printed materials
• Access to members with years of experience in professional fields, offering a wide variety of services to retailers
• Involvement in committee who's mandate is to create a stronger, more positive climate for Tsawwassen retailers
• Source for recruiting both mature employees and students
• A place where your voice is important - an opportunity to tell us what retailers want in this community and a place to take action together with others in Tsawwassen
• Marriage with other retailers & TBA members to promote your business
• Partnerships with other association such as BIA's or Chambers, Retail B. C. Org., BC Shopping Centre Association
• New friends, associates and good times
Our program will build a "Shop Tsawwassen" theme, and expand your customer reach by getting your story published throughout the GVRD in newspapers, Retail Connections Magazine and on TV.
Upcoming Retailer Speaker Series
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Beach Grove Golf Club (upstairs)
TBA Networking Breakfast
Trends Strip Centres vs. Shopping Centres
Featured Speaker: Gordon Petrie, Preferred Lease Consultants, Commercial Leasing
gwpetrie@shaw.ca
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Beach Grove Golf Club (upstairs)
TBA Networking Breakfast
Featured Speaker: John Anderson of Retail BC Org. , RMA of BC, www.retailbc.org.
(TOPIC: Benefits of Retail B.C. Membership, Political Voice for Retail Owners, - labour codes, taxes, RAV Line, WCB, Employment Standards)
Welcome to new TBA Member Delta Deas Rowing Club and Michael Clark and Head Coach Gavin McKay at (604) 946-3064, email mgclark9@telus.net
CIBC has joined the TBA in February! Please welcome Branch Manager Alana Lee and Ted Menges, Financial Advisor. Alana can be reached at 604.948.2201 ext 222 and Ted can be reached at 604.948.3206.
Salon Fifty-Six & Spa are new members of the TBA. Please welcome co-owner Stuart Holmes , Spa Manager Cleo Tilley, Jema Holmes and the rest of the Salon Fiftu-Six team. Please welcome them today at 604.943.1014.
Welcome to the TBA the Kinsmen Retirement Centre and Executive Director Brian Kines. Brian can be reached at (604) 943-1055 Ext 223 or by email bkines@dccnet.com
Also a welcome to new TBA Member Ladner Trophies and owner Karen Brouillette at (604) 940-1797, email karen_ladnertrophies@telus.net
Taylor Van Zant has replaced Brian Noer at My Munch Music. Taylor can be reached at (604) 948-1811 or by email at Taylor@rockandrolldream.com
Pacific Advertising’s Carl Smith has been added to the contact list for Pacific. Carl heads up the Tilbury office and can be reached at (604) 946-3930 or by email pacific@netxsystems.ca
Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce elected new President Emily Smith… Emily can be reached at (360) 945-2874 or by email at info@WhalensPark.com
Welcome New Members Pro-Graphics & Signs Joanne and Mike Dynneson… contact either at (604) 943-1796 and email graphics@dccnet.com
Scotiabank Tsawwassen has a new branch manager Paula Hill … Contact Paula at (604) 948-4210 or by email at paula.hill@scotiabank.com
South Delta Leader has a new publisher – Josh O'Connor. Contact Josh at (604) 948-3640 or by email at publisher@southdeltaleader.com
Welcome to new members Tsawwassen Soccer Club and President Rick Connors. Rick can be reached at (604) 943-4671 or by email at richard.connors@dccnet.com
Zen Wellness Centre are also new members with a new owner - Arlene Vaillancourt. Arlene can be reaced at (604) 948-9290 or by email at zenwellness@dccnet.com
And we have another Delta Municipal Councillor joining our ranks – please welcome Jeannie Kanakos to our group. Jeannie can be reached at (604) 312-5831 or by email at jkanakos@dccnet.com
Also joining the TBA in January was Alpha Aviation Inc.’s Sandra Stoddart-Hansen. Sandra can be reached at (604) 946-5361 or by email at shansen@alpha-aviation.ca
Ambiente Gifts will be importing Harry Hirsch direct from Germany….Harry will be announcing some exiting new developments for Ambiente in March and has promised to bring his “farm market” experience to our proposed market once he moves here. Harry can be reached at his Germany email harry_hirsch@web.de
The B.C. Lions Football Club have appointed Mike Romero to the Tsawwassen area for community liaison. Mike replaces Kathy Wirtanten. He can be reached at (604) 930-5481 and by email at mromero@bclions.com
Eileen Currie has joined BMO Bank of Montreal, replacing Patricia Webber. Eileen can be reached at (604) 948-3605 or by email at eileen.currie@bmo.com
Neil Corbett will be heading Tsawwassen’s new Canadian Cancer Society office at Windsor Woods…Drop in to see Neil or call him at cell (604) 202-7007 or email ncorbett@telus.net The Canadian Cancer Society are new members to the TBA.
Also new members are Devine Web Design where Denise Flower can be reached at (604) 760-6139 or by email at denise@devinewebdesign.com. Denise has also agreed to join the TBA Board of Directors in the capacity of TBA Vice President – thanks Denise!
Envision Credit Union has a new branch manager – Reggie Sahota. Reggie can be reached at(604) 501-4232 or by email rsahota@envisionfinancial.ca
Anna Mannering has developed a new business focus with Re-Leaf using Bausmans Natural Body Alignment techniques. Call Anna at (604) 961-9155 or anna@goldleafproductions.com
Kelly Guichon is the new President of the Ladner Business Association. Kelly’s numbers are (604) 946-2025, (604) 834-4653 or email kcwebb@dccnet.com
"A series of Youth Forums were held during the past weeks identifying infrastructure and amenities desired by youth" reports Youth Sub-Commitee Co-Chair Kelly Kennedy. 
"We continue to work towards identifying a core group of youth who are interested in leading this initiative and developing a strategic plan that will end in implementation" said Youth Sub-Comittee Co-Chair Ben Phillips. "We are working on a plan now to implement a Youth Page from the TBA Website where youth can participate, administrate and activate" says Project Chair Dave McIlroy. "We have had very positive meetings with 75% of our target youth organizations and stakeholders including South Delta Public School Principals, the Boys and Girls Club, Sports Field User Groups, Parks and Rec and Air Cadets says Youth Partner Organization Chair Patrick Conroy.
Those in attendance at the Wednesday breakfast meeting of the TBA witnessed the start of something BIG!
