VANCOUVER - Conservationists opposed to development of the Jumbo Glacier ski resort will be in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver today to argue that the creation of a resort municipality with no citizens in it is unconstitutional.
The province, in 2012, approved the incorporation of Jumbo as a mountain-resort municipality, with a mayor and two councillors, to help expedite development of a year-round resort that was first proposed in 1991 and was granted an environmental approval in 2004.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety launched a petition in B.C. Supreme Court in 2013 challenging the province’s decision and the group’s counsel, Judah Harrison, said the hearing is scheduled for two days.
Jumbo’s developers are also waiting on a ministry of environment decision on whether work last fall to pour foundations for a day lodge, utility building and ski lift will constitute a substantial enough start on construction to warrant the permanent continuation of its environmental approval.
Environment Minister Mary Polak delayed that decision after the Environmental Assessment Office required a new avalanche risk assessment to determine if the proposed buildings fall within Jumbo Glacier’s avalanche zone.
