We are now known as Texada Action Now Community Association (TAN for short). Our aim is to preserve and enhance the environmental, economic and social fabric of Texada.
Texada Action Now (TAN) is opposed to the WestPac proposal to build an LNG facility and gas fired power generation facility and transmission links on Texada.
We know it threatens our way of life and how we want our island to be.
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THANK YOU for your help and support.

Since we heard of the WestPac proposal, the response has been wonderful. We have a large number of volunteers, and a growing number of paid memberships and donations. We are overwhelmed!! Thank you.

The proceeds of donations and membership fees are being used to pay the costs of operation, some travel expenses, office supplies, and some office equipment. We are also building a war chest for possible legal, media, lobbying or other costs. Please note donations can be made at the Credit Union in Van Anda, or send to Texada Action Now (TAN), P.O. Box 128, Van Anda, B.C. V0N 3K0
On-going fundraising efforts consist of sales of bumper stickers, T-shirts and shopping bags. To order any of these great items, call Leslie Goresky at 604 483-8423. Beadzerks, a new gift shop at 4116 Gillies Bay Rd. is also featuring these items (all proceeds of these to TAN) for sale in their store in Gillies Bay. Hours are: Friday to Sundays, Noon to 4PM.

There will be a FUNDRAISING DINNER at the Tree Frog Bistro in Gillies Bay, 5 -8 PM, Monday 5th of November, 2007.

Summary of Activities:

TAN has held two public meetings. During the second one, TAN members approved an Executive with Chuck Childress as Chair.

The membership approved that we would proceed with a Texada-wide petition and approved the question to be put to Texada residents. Leslie Goresky has been busy with the legal side; we have now made formal application to become a registered non-profit organization as the “Texada Action Now Community Association”

Our executive: Chuck Childress (Chair), Richard Fletcher (Vice-Chair), Judy Stanford (Treasurer), Paula Brunelle (Secretary) plus five directors who serve as the chairs of the sub-groups- Rob McWilliams, (Government Relations), Mickey Feldman (Research), Leslie Goresky (Fundraising), and Doby Dobrostanski (Communications) and Heather Stephen (Networking).

Collier Quinton has been busy setting up our web site which can be found at www.texadaactionnow.org. There are links to other sites and organizations, so if you can, please go to our website for information. We will keep it up-to-date as possible.
Volunteers have provided photography of the marine (both shore line and underwater) and terrain habitats, which may be affected by the LNG project, and the proposed electricity transmission line right-of-way.

PETITION:

As you now know our petition on Texada has been underway since last week. For Texada Island regular residents, the petition will close on November 18th, 2007; for off island rate-payers the petition will not close until November 25th, 2007. So please, if you have not responded to the petition, and would like to do so, please contact Leslie Goresky at 604-483-8423. Once the results are final and “official” these will be released on Texada and to the media.

MEDIA:

As well as our on-Texada activities we have been busy with the media both in Power River and further afield with radio and TV. A number of you have written to the “Peak” and other newspapers, thank you. We will of course intend to maintain a strong media presence as the campaign develops. It will be a long haul no doubt, but we are not going away.

PRRD:

Locally at the Power River Regional District, Dave Murphy our Texada representative has been successful in putting a “Texada Island Protection Bylaw” on the agenda. This process will take time and involve public hearings here on Texada.
The Regional District discussed the subject of a referendum at its meeting in October. They referred the subject to legal advice as to their powers. We will know more at the November meeting.

INTERVENTION:

TAN made a late intervention with the BC Utilities Commission on the Mt Hayes storage facility proposed by Terasen Gas. We said that approval of the WestPac LNG Corporation proposal is highly problematic and raises public interest issues. Once in operation, Mt Hayes would optimize the Vancouver Island Pipeline and facilities on Vancouver Island using conventional pipeline gas. So we support the Mt Hayes project so long as it has local approval, while keeping fair and affordable rates.

CO-ORDINATION MEETING:

There are many other items to report as we have been busy in different directions. As the TAN membership directed at the public meeting we will be joining fellow Georgia Strait organizations in early November to co-ordinate our approach.

TAN IN VICTORIA:

Representatives from TAN were in Victoria, Thursday for meetings with Government and to attend the Question Period in the Legislature.
Chuck, Rob and Richard had a productive meeting with the Minister, the Hon Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and indicated to him that TAN is a non-partisan organization that is not anti-development, but favours sustainable non polluting development. Rob stated that a poll commissioned by the Dogwood Initiative showed 84% of coastal BC residents said they are opposed to tanker traffic in the Georgia Straight and added that 600,000 people could be affected by the tanker route.
After doing a couple of TV interviews Chuck, Rob and Richard attended question period in the Legislature where Gregor Robertson MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, brought the issue to the Legislature by asking two questions. Gregor had attended the Oct 14 TAN public meeting in Gillies Bay and has visited the proposed Westpac site.

WESTPAC LNG ANNOUNCES DELAY:

The day after TAN’s visit to Victoria, Westpac announced that it is delaying the project. We know little behind the real reasons for the announced delay. This “delay” of course gives us time to consolidate. It is important we do not relax but use the time wisely to prepare and work with other communities and organizations so that sooner rather than later this project is declared “dead”. You can be confident that TAN is here for the long haul and is not going away. We will proceed on our initiatives as if no “delay” has been announced.

Thank you again, members, for your support!! We will try to keep you posted regularly on activities and developments.
TAN dive team photographs evidence of submarine life at Kiddie (Coho) Point.

More info re: TAN: Paula 604-486-6774

www.texadaactionnow.org