Work camp approval given, despite concerns
Despite concerns from some in the Pink Mountain community, the Peace River Regional District has approved the temporary work camp permit, pending approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
"As much as I would love to give preference to those in the community who have invested blood, sweat and tears to be here and stay here, it’s not within our mandate to say who can have a business and who can’t,” Director Lilia Hansen said during Thursday’s PRRD board meeting.
Melody Magaton, who has owned and operated two lodges at Pink Mountain for 25 years, was present at the meeting on November 16, and again expressed her concerns about the 200-300 person temporary work camp. There is already plenty of accommodation in the area, she said. Adding another camp will draw business away from the existing camps that are still operating.
She fears that if another camp comes into the area, she will have to close her doors. It costs $2,000 a day in diesel fuel to keep her generators running, and she says they don’t have other income or financial resources to offset the loss of income when customers are drawn away by this new camp.
“It’s devastating to us,” she said. “If you let big industry come in with their camps and take money out of the community, the community’s going to be gone.”
Magaton was also concerned about the potential for this temporary camp to become another in a long line of abandoned, derelict work camps in the area, when the company no longer had a need for the workforce.
Other landowners in the area have a very different view of the situation. Jim and Lexi Gordon, also of Pink Mountain in their written comments to the PRRD, said that the property in question was developed and used on a temporary permit in 2020, a permit for which there was no opposition or concerns expressed, they said.
“On completion of use, the property was cleaned and regroomed for future use, with no unsightly garbage, or state of disrepair, or environmental impacts,” their letter read.
The Gordons listed a variety of reasons the temporary permit should be granted, including safety for workers and the public with reduced travel and traffic on the Alaska Highway between Fort St. John and Pink Mountain. Encouraging economic and industry investment in the region was another.
If all the rules are followed, investment in the area should not be discouraged, they said, adding that “competition generally leads to improved service on the part of all providers.”
Blueberry River First Nations, through John Warren of Royal Camp said that they have deep concern and disagreement regarding the temporary work camp permit. If the PRRD did decide to approve the permit, they asked that the recommendation be amended to read “subject to approval by Blueberry River First Nations, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.”
Right Choice Camps and Catering – the company applying for the temporary use permit – in their written submission, assured the board that they would be employing two local First Nations in their operation, and that they’re committed to using local vendors.
“We’re currently working to ensure that water and wastewater treatment will be permitted and in compliance with all regulations.”
To address the concerns that the camp could eventually become an eyesore, Director Darryl Krakowka suggested the board add a stipulation that the camp be removed, “not abandoned and left there.”
“To me that’s a concern. When we have residents that live there, build there and have been there for a long time and supported the region, and their camps still there,” said Krakowka. “We’re issuing a temporary one, so I think we have a say when it comes to that.”
Area B Director Jordan Kealy noted that Right Choice has assured him that clean-up is part of the process. He also agreed with Hansen, saying that the board must stay within its wheelhouse.
Many people use Magaton’s lodges at Pink Mountain, said Director Allen Courtoreille. He knows many First Nations people and others who regularly stop there while hunting, and travelling to Fort Nelson.
He feels the board had the right information in front of them, and that its their job to protect the economics and people of the region.
“To me it smells,” said Courtoreille. “I don’t like it, and I will not like it if stuff disappears from our community that’s been there for a long time.”
The board voted 8-3 in favour of authorizing the issuance of a temporary use permit for a three-year term to construct at 200-300 person temporary worker camp, subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Directors Krakowka, Courtoreille and Alternate Director Ponto voted against the motion.