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Recent PostsCome across a hot news article, know something the rest of us don’t, or just want to comment on a news story you haven’t seen on Inside Langford yet? Bring the rest of us up to speed by leaving a comment below. Please provide links, or other supporting information, when available. All comments are subject to the normal comment posting guidelines.
Ann Cochlin said
Len Barrie fails to come up with cash, offers NHL another letter of credit
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/article1019394.ece
Lightning co-owner Len Barrie said Thursday the NHL is “satisfied”
with his letter of credit.
“The league is satisfied and things are progressing nicely,” Barrie said from New York, where he met almost two hours with commissioner Gary Bettman at the league offices.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the sentiment.
“We had the meeting,” he said in an e-mail. “We’re satisfied with where things stand, and things are moving forward.”
Barrie had to come up with either $10 million in cash or an irrevocable letter of credit from a financial institution and payable to the NHL to cover his portion of the team’s projected losses for the fiscal year beginning July 1 while also providing a funding cushion.
Barrie’s next deadline is Aug. 1, when he must come up with $3 million to repay co-owner Oren Koules for a cash call Barrie missed last season that Koules apparently covered. Additionally, Bettman is wading through briefs and papers filed by both Barrie and Koules as they vie for ownership control.
For the time being, though, things presumably are status quo in the Lightning front office. Koules is still CEO and governor and, with general manager Brian Lawton, controls most of the day-to-day activity surrounding the team. Barrie still has managerial rights in that he must sign off on all “major” player transactions.
Jul 17, 2009 04:46 PM
Ann Cochlin said
Two more stories – I wonder why it’s not being reported?
Langford developer sued for millions
http://wtflangford.blogspot.com/2009/07/les-bjola-sued-for-millions.html
Quote: “Sysco Victoria, part of the multinational food conglomerate Sysco Corporation, is seeking millions of dollars in damages from developer Les Bjola and his partners for breaching a development contract”
Langford “Abandons” Spencer Interchange Project
http://wtflangford.blogspot.com/2009/08/langford-abandons-interchange-project.html
Quote: “The Spencer Road Interchange (also known as the Bear Mountain Interchange) was scheduled for completion in August 2009. Instead, it appears abandoned. All the heavy equipment, construction crews, and security personnel were withdrawn from the construction site in early July. Gravel roadbeds and a concrete overpass sit unfinished and empty.”
Anonymous said
The Sysco action is newsworthy given that Sysco is certainly a credible organization and Les has substantial involvment in a number of projects in the community.
The Spencer road item is largely speculation at this point. Perhaps a reporter could make a few calls to see what is going on, but given that most of them are trying to juggle a dozen stories at a time with downsizing, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Kim Hughes said
The ongoing Spencer Interchange drama continues with a Goldstream Gazette article and a highly charged (and amusing) rebuttal on the WTF blogspot page.
http://wtflangford.blogspot.com/2009/08/update-langford-not-abandoning.html
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/53138652.html
Kim Hughes said
The oft quoted hero of Inside Langford, in this weeks Monday Magazine. Very cool!
http://www.mondaymag.com/articles/entry/making-new-media
Langfordite said
Be sure to point out to all your friends and neighbours that the city of Langford DID in fact BORROW $5-$6 million for the to-be-developer-paid unfinished Spencer Rd. Interchange from the City of Langford’s $9.75 million line of credit. This fact was erroneously reported as not being true in the print version of the “Langford in no hurry to finish interchange” article in the Goldstream Gazette because the facts were not checked until after the paper had gone to the presses! So the online version has the correction. Pretty wild error, I wonder how prominent the retraction/correction will be in the next printed edition?
Cheryl McLachlan said
At the last Parks and Rec Committee meeting that I attended Councillor Lanny Seaton announced that (West Shore Parks & Rec) WSPR had completed a deal for a WildPlay facility to go in at Juan de Fuca Rec. He explained that a lot of schools and programs were currently busing children to the WildPlay in Nanaimo so it would be great to have one here. You can check out what WildPlay is at:
http://www.wildplay.com/nanaimo/activities/index.php
And the Times Colonist story on it coming to Juan de Fuca Rec at:
http://www.timescolonist.com/WildPlay+adds+Colwood/1926611/story.html
Cheryl McLachlan said
Report claims Len Barrie misappropriated monies from Bear Mountain Resort, using $2.5-million to buy his share of NHL team.
The on-going saga of Bear Mt. Development continues, in the sports section of the Globe and Mail:
“The Victoria accounting firm of Norgaard Neale Camden Ltd. made the report to Bear Mountain’s executive committee last January and then resigned as the auditor on April 15 because it felt some financial transactions were illegal and because Bear Mountain’s directors did not take action.”
“One source with knowledge of the committee’s deliberations said Mr. Barrie may soon be replaced as CEO of Bear Mountain by an interim leader from a Toronto company that specializes in corporate rescues.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/lightning-owner-accused-of-misusing-funds/article1271363/
Andrew F said
It is over.
Barrie will soon be replaced and then the shareholders will go after him and Scansa. As long as money is flowing you can count on the business community to keep their mouths shut and play the game, but as soon as the wheels start to come off the bus the same people will crawl over each other like cockroaches to try and distance themselves from the sorid affair. The only question will be how far uphill the poop rolls.
Down by the old Millstream... said
Re:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/lightning-owner-accused-of-misusing-funds/article1271363/
Somethings you know weren’t right from the beginning…
puzzled? said
Under the freedom of information act do we have access to that report? Also, the report raises questions about 25.8 million dollars being paid to Mr Barrie or companies under his control. Where did that money come from? Mayor Young and council told Langford taxpayers that they needed to lend 25 million to Mr Barrie to build the Spencer Road interchange. Could someone please shed some light on this for me as I’m really not sure what the heck is going on? Am I a part owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning or not?
Langfordite said
Heard it on FB: “HST protest with John Horgan and Maurine Karagianis: Saturday, Sept 5, 10:30am – 2:30pm WestShore Town Centre Mall (formerly CanWest mall) outside Fairway Market – Jacklin Road.”
Ann said
Interchange loan payback “postponed” indefinitely
http://interchangeconsultation.blogspot.com/
Len Barrie, owner of Bear Mountain Resort and LGB9 development company, has failed to pay back $4.8 million owed to the City of Langford for Bear Mountain Interchange construction. The city’s agreement with Barrie originally called for the loan to be repaid on March 2, 2009.
John Manson, Langford’s chief engineer, confirmed on Friday, September 4 that Barrie has not paid back any of the funds Langford borrowed for interchange construction.
Langford has not set a new payment date. Instead, Manson would only say that repayment has been “postponed.” In the meantime, Manson said, the city has stopped work on the interchange until construction can begin on the new development north of the freeway, and until the city finds out whether federal and provincial grants will be delivered for the project.
Manson said that around $14 million has been spent on the interchange in total, and the city still hopes for a federal and provincial grant for what the calls “phase two” of the project, consisting of additional cloverleafs and on-ramps linking the TransCanada Highway to Bear Mountain Parkway just west of Spencer Road.
Sam Snipes said
I see Zoe Blunt is claiming on her blog that she spoke with a City Engineer from Langford who states that Len Barrie didn’t make a $5M payment to the City in March and that the total amount spent to date on the interchange is not $0, or $6M but instead $14M!
If this is true then in my opinion it raises serious questions about disclosure from the City of Langford and how a deal can we written such repayment terms on a loan are open ended.
Cheryl McLachlan said
An editorial in today’s Times Colonist, “Spencer bridge to nowhere”
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorials/Spencer+bridge+nowhere/1966116/story.html
A complaint about the lack of cohesive transportation planning in the region, but also an explanation of some of the funding sources of the Spencer (or Bear Mt.) Interchange.
Cheryl McLachlan said
If you are wondering, with all the recent articles on the schedule for completion of the Spencer Road (or Bear Mt.) Interchange Project, what the original proposed completion dates were, you can check out the downloadable PDF document on the “2007 Open House on the Spencer Road Interchange” on the City of Langford’s own website, a link off their Home page, scroll down to:
Spencer Road Interchange – Review reports and plans for the new interchange planned on the Trans Canada Highway
SpencerRoadInterchange/Open House October 30 2007
A graph on p. 13/14 shows:
- Bridge construction to be finished – early Dec. 2008
- Road Paving & finishing – to be completed end of May 2009
with “Note: subject to change” at the bottom of the graph.
Herman Surkis said
“The only question will be how far uphill the poop rolls.”
More like downhill.
I wish that my lenders would decide, to let me decide, if and when and at what rate I can pay back a loan.
Last time I was a day late (forgot) on my Realty Tax, I got nailed with a big penalty. One day late for gods sake, and I am hit with the full penalty. Wonder what Len’s penalty will be for being half a year late, or more?
None perhaps?
How come we don’t get deals like that?
Anyone notice that the press is now on about how the Interchange is to benefit a few developers, and Langford is quiet. Not so long ago they were all about how this was to benefit the larger community, all the way up the Malahat and into Victoria.
How quickly times change!
Talking to various and sundry highway engineers, and the all say wrong, place wrong design, and will only make traffic up the Malahat and into town worse…add several thousand extra cars and you have gridlock before the cement is dry.
Any wonder the Feds, and even the Prov. are staying away from this.
Having your predictions proved right is a small consolation.
At least they are not blowing billions of our money on a two week party. Another very small consolation.
Langfordite said
Found on the web:
Media release – September 8, 2009
Langford Interchange payment “postponed” indefinitely
Zoe Blunt
A crucial piece of information regarding the Langford interchange funding controversy came to light Friday afternoon. Langford city staff confirmed Friday, September 4th that Len Barrie’s company, LGB9, has failed to repay $4.79 million, his share of the $9.8 million that the city borrowed on behalf of developers to build the Spencer Road interchange (formerly the Bear Mountain Interchange.)
Barrie, the owner of Bear Mountain Resort, was questioned recently about diverting up to $25.8 million from the resort to the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team and to his own companies. Barrie denies the allegations but may face an investigation.
The original terms of the Langford Interchange loan called for Barrie’s company to hand over the $4.79 million repayment on March 2, 2009, “or such other date as may be mutually agreed to by LGB9 and the City.”1 No new repayment date has been set, according to city engineer John Manson, who spoke to Zoe Blunt of the Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network on Friday.
Coincidentally, March 2 is the day that Rob Buchan suddenly left his long-time position as Langford’s clerk-administrator, for reasons that are still unclear.
Ten days later, on March 12, Langford called a special meeting of council and voted unanimously to apply for Building Canada infrastructure funds for the interchange. The mayor and council gave no explanation for the application and no public participation was allowed. The applications may include up to $32 million in federal grants2 to complete what Langford calls “phase two” of the Spencer Interchange and the road connecting the highway to Bear Mountain Resort.
At the end of June, work ceased at the interchange site, which remains half-finished and empty. Manson said the city has spent over $14 million on the project in total, with funds coming from development cost charges and other sources, including the city’s line of credit with TD Bank.
Several rather unconvincing explanations for the stoppage have been offered by staff, but so far, no one has mentioned Len Barrie’s missed payment. Langford’s mayor, Stew Young, and its councillors have been conspicuously silent on the interchange issue.
Conflict over the interchange funding dates back to December 2007, when Langford Council voted at a special meeting to authorize up to $25 million in loans that developers, including Barrie, agreed to pay back. 3
Local residents immediately mounted a counter-petition to bring the issue to a referendum. 4 Even though they gathered more than 2200 signatures, the referendum was rejected on the basis that the project would be “100% funded by developers,” according to Stew Young. 5
Shortly after, the Municipal Finance Authority declined to provide favourable terms for the loan, citing its “non-traditional” nature. 6 The city then pursued funding from TD Bank.
Now, concerned residents are looking for ways to compel full disclosure from Langford on the financing of the interchange. Questions about the city’s 2009 budget are causing unease as well. Included is $50 million – over 60% of the total budget – in grants that may not be awarded. 7
Notes:
1. Staff report to council, August 18, 2008:
1. In this Agreement,
(a) “Local Area Service Petition” means the petition for the Spencer Road Interchange Project, the sufficiency and validity of which was certified by the City’s Corporate Officer on December 27, 2007,
(b) “Payment Date’ means March 2, 2009 or such other date as may be mutually agreed to by LGB9 and the City, and
(c) “Project” means the Spencer Road interchange project and defined as the “Project’ in the Spencer Road Interchange Construction Management Agreement entered into concurrently by LGB9 and the City.
Payment Obligations
2. LGB9 shall pay to the City in respect of each of the parcels shown in column 2 of Schedule A the amount shown for that parcel in column 3 of Schedule A.
Timing of Payment
3. LGB9 shall pay to the City the amount required under section 2 of this Agreement on the Payment Date.
Form of Payment
4. Payments required to be made to the City under this Agreement shall be made by LGB9 providing to the City on the Payment Date the following:
(a) cash in the amount required under section 2; or
(b) a clean, irrevocable letter of credit in the amount required under section 2,
(i) that is issued by a Canadian Chartered Bank or Credit Union having a branch office in the City of Langford,
(ii) that has a term of at least 1 year, and
(iii) that is in a form acceptable to the City’s Director of Finance.
Schedule A
Owner Parcel Required Payment
LGB9 Development Corporation 009-853-081 $148,335.80
LGB9 Development Corporation 009-853-103 $192,247.49
LGB9 Development Corporation 009-858-636 $342,725.33
LGB9 Development Corporation 009-858-652 $2,085,269.40
LGB9 Development Corporation 026-228-203 $84,074.81
LGB9 Development Corporation 026-228-211 $129,057.51
LGB9 Development Corporation 026-632-209 $129,593.01
LGB9 Development Corporation 026-886-472 $41,234.14
LGB9 Development Corporation 027-055-680 $115,134.29
LGB9 Development Corporation 026-952-076 $73,364.64
LGB9 Development Corporation 025-838-563 $1,097,256.55
LGB9 Development Corporation 026-867-494 $29,988.47
LGB9 Development Corporation 025-695-126 $328,802.11
Total $4,797,083.54
2. As reported in the Times-Colonist. “Spencer Bridge to Nowhere,” Sept. 5, 2009.
3. “Interchange loan riles Langford citizen group,” Rick Stiebel, Goldstream Gazette, January 11, 2008.
4. “Interchange loan riles Langford citizen group.”
5. “Spencer interchange battle heats up,” Rick Stiebel, Goldstream Gazette, November 09, 2007.
6. “Loan plan for interchange abandoned,” Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist, March 13, 2008.
7. “Various and sundry meetings,” InsideLangford.ca, posted May 10, 2009. http://insidelangford.ca/2009/05/10/various-and-sundry-meetings/
See also: “Langford’s Fudge-it Budget,” WTF Langford?, posted May 2009. http://wtflangford.blogspot.com/2009/05/langfords-fudge-it-budget.html
Ann said
Hi Puzzled (Sept. 2)
I think that the report was private and confidential, but then it was leaked to the Globe and Mail. So I doubt we can get it from freedom of information.
Yes, it’s strange how the loan bylaw and Barrie’s (alleged) embezzlement are about the same amount – $25 million.
What next said
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Bear+Mountain+owes+taxes/2019354/story.html
Bear Mountain owes taxes
Company appeals assessments, stalled interchange ‘not involved’
BY CARLA WILSON, TIMES COLONISTSEPTEMBER 22, 2009
Work on the Spencer Road interchange on the Trans-Canada Highway has been on hold since June.
Photograph by: Darren Stone, Times Colonist, Times Colonist
Bear Mountain Development Holdings owes more than $400,000 in taxes to Langford, but the municipality and resort head
Len Barrie say this has nothing to do with stalled Spencer Road highway interchange.
The partly completed interchange has been on hold since June.
Five developers, including Bear Mountain, have agreed to help finance the interchange. They met with Langford officials and the date for their payment — originally due in March — was moved to the end of this year, municipal staff say.
“We haven’t had reason to draw upon those [developers'] funds yet,” Langford manager Jim Bowden said yesterday.
Extending the agreement was a “mutually agreed-upon decision because we haven’t needed the funds.”
Work on the interchange stopped in June because the economic slowdown meant fewer developments were proceeding, the municipality has said.
Phil LeSeur, a director of Bear Mountain Development Holdings, said yesterday that the company is appealing assessments on the two parcels it owns with outstanding taxes. It hopes to have their B.C. Assessment classification changed from being zoned for business and thus reduce their assessed values, which are reflected in municipal taxes.
Barrie, the Bear Mountain president, said he does not consider the amounts levied by Langford as unpaid taxes.
“Every year we have had appeals, for five years, so it’s nothing new,” he said yesterday.
The highest amount owed, at $351,990, is for a Bear Mountain Resort site. It’s the location of the planned 200-unit Soaring Peaks condo project and should be assessed as residential, not business, LeSeur said.
More than $100,000 has been paid to Langford since 2007 to cover what would have been levied on a residential use of that property, he said.
A second Bear Mountain property is listed as having $75,810 in outstanding taxes.
LeSeur said $12,000 has been paid on that lot, which he said is to become parkland and therefore should have its assessed value reduced considerably.
LeSeur said he is hopeful that these and other outstanding Bear Mountain appeals will be resolved before a B.C. Assessment appeal board hearing slated for Dec. 7. The appeals were originally filed in January 2007, he said.
The Spencer Road interchange has been a contentious issue because it was structured to include developer financing and because of concerns that sensitive ecosystems would be damaged.
It was planned to provide access to other residential developments on Skirt Mountain in addition to the Bear Mountain Resort. Together, the payment required from the five developers amounts to $9.75 million.
Of that, Bear Mountain’s portion is $4.797 million, Langford treasurer Steve Ternent said.
“We have time to slow down a little on the construction of the interchange and take advantage of some of the better pricing that’s available now,” Ternent said.
“We won’t demand they [the developers] give us the money until we actually need it.”
That may be done through a letter of credit, allowing Langford to draw on funds as required, he said.
There is no link between the tax issue and the overpass, Barrie said.
He and LeSeur point to strong sales this year, saying $60 million worth of real estate has been sold.
“We are hoping to be building some new buildings in the spring,” Barrie said, adding that a townhouse project and a 100-unit condo project are planned to start then.
Heather Scott said
Bear Mountain condo land up for tax sale
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/60695682.html
This is the Gazette article on the same topic as the Times Colonist one someone posted but this one has some juicy quotes, like Phil LeSeur admitting they have 20-50 properties they are challenging with the BC Assessment Authority, Stew Young saying not to worry that we’ll get all our tax money eventually, and Langford’s administrator saying “We’ve slowed the (interchange) project to a point where we are not spending money.”
Ann said
And apparently this public scandal is the fault of some “anti-Bear Mountain bloggers.” Hm!
Avid Reader said
Langford, Colwood, and Sooke to create joint sewage treatment utility project.
Gazette: Langford, Colwood team up to control sewage destiny
T-C: West Shore wants to go it alone on sewage
CFAX: WESTSHORE PURSUES INDEPENDENT SEWAGE TREATMENT
"no longer shocked" said
I guess this means the effluent will be controlled coming and going.
Taking shots said
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2061530&p=1
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Taking shots
Former NHLer’s business dealings drawing scrutiny
Brian Hutchinson, National Post
Darren Stone, Victoria Times Colonist Files
Book smarts aren’t needed to make a fortune in real estate, says Len Barrie, a former pro hockey journeyman turned luxury resort impresario.
“It’s simple-stupid,” says the stocky 40-year-old, just before stepping onto a fresh sheet of ice for some shinny with other ex-NHL grinders. “You build it and sell it, and pay your debt down.”
His rudimentary approach seemed to work on Bear Mountain, Mr. Barrie’s multi-billion dollar golf and luxury home development.
People clamoured for a piece of the 1,500-acre property, west of Victoria, with its endless mountain and ocean views, two Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses, a sumptuous Westin hotel and fully serviced lots with enough room to build 6,000 high-end houses and condominium units.
All of this was conceived, executed and promoted by Mr. Barrie, a high school dropout whose nomadic hockey career took him from his native Kelowna to the NHL, albeit briefly, with stops in many non-hockey hotbeds such as Frankfurt, Germany, and San Antonio, Texas.
After leaving the game in 2001 and getting into real estate, he had only known “good economic times. Bring on something, it sold. Borrow money. It all was easy.”
Too easy, perhaps. Sales and construction activity was frantic until the global economic crisis hit last year. Vancouver Island’s go-go housing market collapsed. Banks stopped lending developers money. Mr. Barrie found himself in a classic real estate squeeze.
Conditions have improved. Mr. Barrie crows about $65-million worth of Bear Mountain deals that have closed since March. But he has other worries: He is facing serious allegations from detractors on different fronts.
In December, an annual Bear Mountain audit raised troubling questions about financial transactions that were attributed to him. Last month, a post-audit report prepared by Bear Mountain’s Victoria based accounting firm was leaked to the media. So was the firm’s strongly worded letter of resignation, penned in April.
The post-audit report suggests that Mr. Barrie consented “to misappropriate funds [from Bear Mountain Master Partnership] for personal purposes.” The report refers to fund transfers totalling $28.6-million.
The auditor’s subsequent resignation letter refers to “a number of instances where senior members of [Bear Mountain]management had engaged in a number of activities that, in our view, were improper and, in some cases, illegal.”
Mr. Barrie is president and chief executive of Bear Mountain Resort’s development company, and holds shares in Bear Mountain Master Partnership, a private holding company that owns the resort; it has other shareholders including more than a dozen former and current NHL players.
Allan Neale, the Victoria accountant who wrote the report and the resignation letter, would not discuss directly the contents of either document. He did say, however, that information contained in the documents was accurately reported in the press. He said yesterday that he “stands by” his findings.
Independent of the accounting firm, a former member of Bear Mountain Master Partnership’s executive committee alleges that Mr. Barrie used company money to pay for a 35% stake in the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning last year. The stake is valued at US$40-million.
Mr. Barrie denies having improperly or illegally diverted money into his own accounts and companies.
He admits that Bear Mountain has always received annual audits that are critical. “Every year,” he adds. “At first you don’t understand what an audit report is all about, which I didn’t. It’s like, I want to fight the guys. But … there were banks that ran out of money, stuff that I counted on that didn’t happen, that led into some of these things.”
He’s not a detail-oriented person, he confesses. “I’m a visionary guy. I’m not a day-to-day guy that wants to come in and give someone s—because they missed his budget by five bucks. The only thing I know in life is hockey.”
—
Concerns about Mr. Barrie’s credibility are being raised elsewhere. He told a Toronto newspaper last month that Bear Mountain has hired accounting giant KPMG International as its new auditor.
Not so, said KPMG’s Torontobased national director of communications, when contacted by the National Post. KPMG is not conducting audits for Bear Mountain,said Gordon Braun-Woodbury.
Yet Mr. Barrie continues to promulgate the notion. “I’ve used KPMG in the past and we’re moving forward with it,” he said in an interview this week. “I’m not going to put anyone on the spot because that’s what everyone goes and does. And professionals don’t like that. And so that was a mistake. I shouldn’t have said that in the first place.”
A new audit by KPMG is forthcoming, he indicated.
The trouble on Bear Mountain could not have come at a worse time for him, or for others with interests on the property. Several major housing projects — including a $1.4-billion condo development called Capella — have been in limbo since the real estate collapse last year.
Capella developer Robert Quigg says that while Bear Mountain “is an amazing place,” and he admires what Mr. Barrie has been able to achieve in just a few years, it is “not everything it was made out to be by its management. We bought land there based on certain promises that were made to us. Information that we receive from Bear Mountain is not always correct.”
A lawsuit initiated by Mr. Quigg against Bear Mountain and Mr. Barrie was settled out of B. C. Supreme Court last year; however, Mr. Quigg says that certain issues remain unresolved. His says his lawyers recently filed another writ and the matter is back in court.
—
Mr. Barrie has been trying to attract foreign investment to Bear Mountain. A purported $350-million deal with investors from the United Arab Emirates was to have been finalized this week or next.
It would have seen Siraj Capital (Dubai) Inc. acquire a 25% interest in Bear Mountain.
In an interview conducted on Thursday, Mr. Barrie said that an agreement has not been reached. “We kind of set a date with them, closing in November,” he explained. “And if it doesn’t happen by January 1, we’re going to move on to other things.”
Unless new investors are found, some developments on Bear Mountain will remain in limbo. At least one construction crane stands idle amidst an unfinished condo tower at the resort. Home prices will have to drop to attract buyers, says Mr. Barrie; however, construction costs have fallen too, so he isn’t worried.
But then there’s Tampa Bay, where he is also in tough. His relationship with Lightning co-owner Oren Koules has disintegrated, he admits. What started last year as a disagreement over the future of Lightning star centre Vincent Lecavalier is now an irrevocable split. The two co-owners are both attempting to raise funds from outside investors to buy out the other.
Mr. Barrie now denies reports that he had first crack to arrange a buyout, and failed.
In fact, the ball was in Mr. Koules’ court, says Mr. Barrie. “I waived my [negotiating opportunity] about five weeks ago, giving [Mr. Koules] the exclusive period,” he says. “I told Oren that if he can come up with something, I would be happy to take my $40-million back.”
Yet there’s as much uncertainty over the value of struggling NHL franchises these days as there is in real estate.
“What’s the value of anything right now? That’s what everyone in the world is trying to find out,” says Mr. Barrie.
He expects he and Mr. Koules will both end up losing some of the money they spent on the Lightning purchase last year.
“We had big ideas and big dreams, and it was a tough year for everybody,” says Mr. Barrie. “Being in 29th place [in the NHL standings], and the economy in Florida being one of the worst in North America, and season ticket sales going from 14,000 down to 9,000 down to 7,000, it’s been a challenge.”
He likens his recent experiences to those he endured as a struggling pro hockey player. “If you win, you’re a hero. If you lose, you’re a bum. That’s hockey.” And that’s business, too.
Langfordite said
The “movers and shakers” in Langford keep making the news, and not in good ways:
Bjola faces civil lawsuit
Sysco Victoria sues developer for $2.3 million
Times Colonist October 2, 2009
“Sysco alleges insufficient fill was brought onto the site and bringing it up to the grade required by the City of Langford will cost $450,000.”
“Sysco alleges the developers failed to meet municipal standards for suppressing noise with berms and walls. Sysco is asking for $500,000 to cover the additional costs of addressing the problems.”
“Sysco said the defendants failed to provide sanitary sewer connections as required by the contract, resulting in a shortfall of $905,000.”
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Bjola+faces+civil+lawsuit/2063139/story.html
Langfordite said
Les Bjola is in the news again, this time as chairman of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society, which operates the Juan de Fuca Recreation complex on behalf of West Shore municipalities. He and WSPR are having a disagreement with some local cyclists and others who think the closure of the velodrome is more about politics and future plans for the land then the safety reasons cited.
http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Cyclists+claim+discrimination+over+velodrome+closure/2039120/story.html
Herman Surkis said
The same people keep getting in the news, and not in a good way. Yes, mentioned earlier, and needed repeating.
And this is only the beginning, if even 10% of the rumours turn out to be true. I wonder how far the dirt will fly, where it will land, and who is wearing Teflon? Perhaps the Westshore will really need its own sewage plant…just to handle all of this.
Sam Snipes said
I think that the most telling part of the National Post article is Barrie’s comment that if the Siraj deal doesn’t close by Jan 1 then he will look elsewhere. Don’t know how we got from a “done deal” to “no deal” but this has pretty significant implications for Langford and the ratepayers. Aside from the taxes and loan installments that we know that BM team is not paying, you have to wonder what else is on the Langford books that is now at risk as well. If I recall, the April loan repayment was deferred to December (which was after the Siraj deal was supposed to close). I guess we will see.
I was suprised to see the article on Les as the story is 3 months old and was covered in local blogs. The article didn’t carry a byline so I guess the editor can just claim it was content inserted by National! Les is also head cheerleader for the Colwood Corners development of course and his group just filed an offering memorandum to try and raise money to fund the project. Although not yet quite the money pit that BM mountain is, it looks like Les has the Barrie knack for losing money at a pretty good clip! Details are on the bcsc website. Search under Cityzen.
Herman Surkis said
Les has gone belly up at least once before, it happens, and the Bear Mountain crew have been censored by the Real Estate Board several times. So no surprises here, we have their track record.
What is really interesting is that we the poor, ignorant, unwashed, voting public were recently telling them that Langford was setting it self up, and putting themselves and us, at risk for exactly what is now happening.
How is it that the brilliant minds in council and their developer buddies could not see what we could.
Or is it that they actually could see it, but did not care, since the public would pay the price, not them.
Heather Scott said
One of the two graffiti court cases Langford was pursuing has been settled out of court.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/63772602.html
Broom Basher said
A local group of residents, with years of experience removing broom from sensitive environments, planned a broom bashing party this Sunday on land designated as protected in the OCP. This land has a rare deep soil Garry Oak meadow that is gradually being overtaken by broom and daphne. The response to this community effort by the landowner’s lawyer was to threaten the volunteers with arrest by Westshore RCMP if they ever enter the land. The response by the City of Langford was to demand a development permit “this email is to inform you that the area that you intend to work in has been designated as a environmentally sensitive Development Permit area for Potential Wildlife Habitat and Biodiversity, pursuant to Sec. 919.1(1)(a) of the Local Government Act. As such, no alteration of land may occur without first obtaining a Development Permit from the City of Langford.”
If this landowner and the City of Langford really cared about this land, they would have removed the broom and other invasive species as well as the piles of garbage, years ago. Who cares about protection of natural areas in Langford?
"no longer shocked" said
amazing that Langford staff take time to babysit this issue and write this letter. Let the individual property owner carry her own issue! And why should the RCMP be called, at taxpayer expense for this issue? What happened to dialogue?
Is this why we pay taxes???? or is this the new Langford position on finding funding….go look for any issue to demand a permit fee??
….anything goes as long as they can get a cut! Guess that will help pay the hole that len Barrie’s tax bill caused.
Ann said
Re: Broom Bash threats
That has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard (and living in Langford, I’ve heard a lot.) How can pulling broom possibly be construed as development?
Cheryl McLachlan said
Requiring a biologist report (that costs $) and a development permit (that usually costs $) to carry out ecosystem restoration is a huge disincentive to the landowner or any community group willing to put out the effort to actually carry out such a worthwhile endeavour. I really wonder how rules were passed that include remediating land as the same as developing the land………..
JH getting caught up on the GG said
I was suurprised to read:
Langford Seeks Sportsplex Funds in Wed., Nov. 4th GG p. A5
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/67254962.html
I thought the deal with the Federal infrastructure stimulus spending money was “shovel-ready” projects, where the local government already had their 1/3 portion in place, would get funding. So why is Mayor Stew Young quoted as saying, “the City is trying to get future facility operator Xcalibur Bowling to pay $4.46 million to build the bowling centre.” And Councillor Lanny Seaton suggests, “If Xcalibur doesn’t come up with the funding, the City will need to go through a counter-petition or referendum process to get public permission to borrow the money.”
Since when does the City of Langford need new money, and possibly borrowed money, to complete a project that been on the books for at least 2 years?!
Ben said
There’s the Bear Mt. Master Partnership (Len Barrie) payment of $4.79 million that was due to be paid to the city of Langford on March 2, 2009 that is “postponed indefinitely” that would nicely fill the $4.46 million bill for the Sportsplex Langford needs to pony up ASAP.
JH getting caught up on the GG said
The City of Langford suggesting they have money to complete the section of the Rail Trail the CRD says it does not have the $ for, so instead it would route Rail Trail users up steep Wale Rd.
“Langford is considering building one of the most difficult portions of the E&N rail-trail, otherwise known as the Millstream ravine.”
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/67254732.html?mobile=true
But where is the money to come from?
Herman Surkis said
But where is the money to come from?
Dumb question.
Langford has the deepest pockets anywhere.
YOURS!
Stan Bower said
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ex-lightning-co-owner-subject-to-probe/article1376388/
Ex-Lightning co-owner subject to probe
Canada Revenue Agency looking into handling of finances at Len Barrie’s Victoria development
David Shoalts
TAMPA — From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail
Published on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 10:10PM EST
Last updated on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 10:37PM EST
Len Barrie is still listed in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s media guide as a co-owner of the NHL team, but those close to the team say he is out of the picture.
His financial problems with the Bear Mountain golf resort and housing development near Victoria were severe enough to scuttle his attempt to buy out fellow owner Oren Koules in late summer. Now it appears as if the problems will worsen.
In the wake of a damning report by the company’s former auditor that accused management at Bear Mountain of misappropriating funds, a source said Canada Revenue Agency is looking into the development’s finances.
Barrie, who was accused in the report and by a member of the development’s executive committee of improperly financing at least part of his share of the Lightning with Bear Mountain funds, did not respond to a request for comment.
Bear Mountain is limping along with some housing sales, although at least one condominium project was halted and a large financing deal has not materialized. Barrie had said an agreement with Siraj Capital, a company based in Dubai, was to inject $350-million (all currency U.S.) into the development by October, but it has not come to fruition.
Barrie had tried to get Anthony Sansone Jr., a St. Louis real-estate developer, to be his partner in buying out Koules. But that, too, did not pan out and Barrie informed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman he was pulling out of the process.
Sansone has told the local media in Tampa he is still interested in the team. How that will work out with Koules remains to be seen.
Bettman orchestrated the buyout plan after Koules and Barrie told the commissioner last June their relationship deteriorated so badly it could not be repaired. The commissioner came up with a sort of double-barrelled shotgun buyout that gave Barrie the first shot. He was given until late September to try to buy out Koules. If he failed, Koules was to get until Nov. 23 to complete his own buyout.
Koules tried to make a deal with Miami real-estate mogul Jeff Greene, but he declined. Koules has also explored going it alone with the support of the Lightning’s former owner, Palace Sports and Entertainment, which has about $100-million in loans tied up in the franchise.
People close to the Lightning think Barrie may resurface looking for some cash if Koules completes a buyout. However, there will be a lineup of creditors, including a large group of current and former NHL players who invested in Bear Mountain, eager to part the cash from Barrie.
Heather Scott said
Langford Councillor Denise Blackwell supports Geoff Young for CRD Board Chair
http://www.cfax1070.com/newsstory.php?newsId=11509
CRD TO ELECT CHAIR – YOUNG SEEKS REPEAT
Nov 30, 2009
THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD WILL ELECT A NEW CHAIR AT ITS WEDNESDAY INAUGURAL AND BUSINESS MEETING.
CURRENT CHAIR GEOFF YOUNG SAYS HE WILL BE PUTTING HIS NAME FORWARD SEEKING ANOTHER YEAR IN THE JOB.
SO FAR, IT LOOKS LIKE A ONE HORSE RACE. SEVERAL OTHER BOARD DIRECTORS SAY THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED AND HAVEN’T HEARD ANY OTHER RUMBLINGS SUGGESTING ANY ONE ELSE IS LOOKING TO BECOME CHAIR.
VIC DERMAN AND DENISE BLACKWELL BOTH SAY YOUNG STAYING ON AS CHAIR WOULD BRING SOME CONTINUITY TO THE BOARD AND THE CURRENT PROJECTS THE CRD HAS UNDERTAKEN SUCH AS REGIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT.
- LIZ MCARTHUR
Ann said
Google Street View comes to Langford
The Google Street View people drove all over Victoria and Langford last summer. Let’s see what they photographed!
http://wtflangford.blogspot.com/2009/12/google-street-view-comes-to-langford.html
Langfordite said
Jan. Focus Magazine – a sad review about Bear Mt.
Jan. Focus p. 12
“The sound of sprawl hitting the wall”
by TRISTIN HOPPER
Bear Mountain is facing the music—and it’s sounding like a dirge. We offer a brief review.
http://www.focusonline.ca/downloads/Focus_2010-01_January.pdf
Ann said
WTF Langford? Disastrous predictions for 2010
Happy new year! 2009 sucked like a wind tunnel, and 2010 will probably suck like a black hole ripping open the fabric of the space-time continuum. Welcome to the future — misery, confusion, and public policy scandal, with running commentary from the wise-asses here at WTF Langford? (Our motto: “Sorry we’re so darn right all the time.”) Enjoy our eight worst predictions, and don’t say we didn’t warn you.
http://wtflangford.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-most-disastrous-predictions-for.html
Cheryl McLachlan said
Reading back through the Reader News Section of Inside Langford – I declare Len Barrie News Maker of 2009!!! Its not many people that can simultaneously be covered in the Sports, Business, International and Local News sections of a variety of newspapers throughout North America…………. pity none of it was about his accomplishments but about the unravelling of many, many a deal gone bad…….. Even sadder is that the major backers mostly likely to not be repaid – not the not so poor NHL hockey compatriots – investors in ther Bear Mt. resort, not the others that make money from the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the tax payers from the City of Langford. In their dubious wisdon, against the advice of more than 10% of the citizens who wanted the decision to be put to a referenduum, the City Council of Langford financed the Spencer Road Interchange on the promise of being repaid. That same Council has declared the Bear Mt. Partnership (aka Len Barrie and cohorts) are not in default – just a delay of payment of $4.79 million that was due March 2, 2009….. and I think by now another payment might be due? The City of Langford passed a bylaw to borrow up to $25 million, planned to borrow $9 million, and has borrowed somewhere around $6 million paying for most if not all the work done so far on the overpass from nowhere to nowhere. The City of Langford now owns some of those expensive Bear Mt. properties, due to a lack property tax payments in the past years, that were the collateral the Council promised guaranteed the loan. The loan from the line of credit the City of Langford took out from TD Bank, after the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA), the place municipalities normal borrow money from, declared the loan for the to-be-paid-for-by-developers-Spencer-Road-Interchange did not meet their low tolerance for risk standards. So when you already own some of the collateral for the loan, and the property prices and developmnent are far, far below expectations – how much collateral actually exists to collect from, and how much will be left after the direct investors scrape their money out?
Sam Snipes said
I think that Mayor Young and council can keep the wheels on the bus for another 18 months. They will keep deferring monies owed by Barrie and Bear Mountain and until the economy picks up, the banks will likely not be too quick to act on foreclosure as long as some condos and lots continue to sell.
My prediction then is for 2011 and not 2010. I don’t think that Mayor Young or his long term council members will run in 2011. We will thus wind up with a relatively inexperienced team in office when the enormity of the problem finally comes to pass.
no longer shocked said
I wonder if Bear Mountain is still paying Langford $25,000. per year for naming rights to the arena. Hope this bill is still a priority for the company….
Ann said
Here’s a feel-good piece about how the Bear Mountain is doing just fine, from the Gazette.
Dubai funds a no-show for Bear Mountain
Resort moving on without $350M ‘sukuk’ investment
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/80860477.html
Langfordite said
Busness as usual means not paying back City of Langford and not paying BC property taxes??? What is business gone bad then?
ian said
If the real-estate sales have been so good and the future is so optimistic as noted by Mr Sproule and Mr. LeSeur of Bear Mountain why aren’t they paying back the citizens of Langford the money they( Bear Mountain) owe us ?????? THE SPIN CONTINUES!!!!!
Herman Surkis said
That was not a news item, it was a press release/advertorial from Bear Mountain Developments.
When you have city council in your back pocket, you do not have to pay any d_ _ n taxes, or keep any promises. That is business as usual, not just in Langford.
It is up to ‘we the people’ to do something about it. But we don’t, so we continue to vote same old, same old and get the same old results.
Time to stop blaming council, it’s not as if we do not know how deceptive they are, they have been doing this for many elections. It is time to blame US. If we do not like it, we CAN change it. It appears that we do not care, or worse actually like it.
Do not blame council, since we reward that kind of behaviour, why would they act any differently. The developers reward them with money, and we reward them with votes. For them to act differently would be stupid.
The ‘we’ I refer to is generic, before some people get upset. I know that many have fought hard and valiantly to change things.
no longer shocked said
And so ‘we’ should all consider that we suggest to Langford that we too, can withhold our taxes “until required, no problem” as proposed and described by Langford in previous news releases.
Anonymous said
There is an old saying …
If you owe the bank a little bit of money then you have a problem. If you owe the bank a lot of money then the bank has a problem.
Langforder said
Langford borrowing $4 million for Sportsplex
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/81381072.html
Anonymous said
Hmmm.
So back in November we are told that the City is trying to get Xcalibur to come up with $4M to pay for the centre. Guess Xcalibur didn’t have the $$$ so now the City wants to essentially loan them $4M to be repaid over “decades”.
Perhaps someone with $6 may want to check out BC Courts online and the recent foreclosure action related to Xcalibur before we cut a check!
https://eservice.ag.gov.bc.ca/cso/esearch/civil/searchPartyResult.do?serviceId=5605409
Save our forests! said
—– Original Message —–
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 9:50 PM
Subject: Please Act on WFP lands, the government needs to hear your voice.Preserving lands for the future now.
The Wild nature of Sooke/ Port Renfrew is up for commercial developement unless a collective voice is heard. Generations before us acted to save the existing parks. It’s our turn to continue the tradition. The Western Forest Product Lands are scheduled to be back on the public market on March 8. At this point the provincial government has stated that unless they see public support for these lands to be considered for parklands and protected in other ways they will not block there sale on the public market. If you wish to see these wilderness/ recreation ares preserved please act without delay to make your wishes known to our levels of government. Your voice is needed. Please forward this email as you see fit.
Thankyou from the bottom of my hiking boots.
Lee
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Sid/Rosemary
Date: Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Subject: FW: JdF Community Trails reqests support for WFP land purchase
The Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society was incorporated in 2005 with the aim of advocating for the preservation of public access to existing trails and the development of trail systems to promote alternate transportation modes mainly in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area. Since 2007, our society has been challenged, with the rest of the community, by the release of private land from the TFLs in the electoral area.
We would very much appreciate any effort by your membership to support the preservation of these lands for resource, conservation and recreation uses. We believe that if there is enough public support, the three levels of government involved will facilitate purchase of all or most of these parcels. Please see the attached correspondence from our Member of Parliament, Dr Keith Martin.
The need is urgent. There is only a brief window between now and March 8 when Western Forest Products will begin accepting bids for these parcels. Our society supports the University of British Columbia’s proposal to purchase the lands from WFP and keep these lands as part of the forestry resource of our island. Apparently, the university needed support from the provincial government but we are told by the government that there is not public interest in purchasing private land for public use.
There is enormous public interest and with your help, the public may yet persuade the government it is in everyone’s interest to assist in acquisition of these lands. There may still be an opportunity to reactivate the UBC proposal. However, at this point WFP has put only a fraction of the former TFL land back on the market. Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Director Mike Hicks has taken action to gain an option on Sandcut Beach and the Jordan River Surfing Beach at a price tag of just over $3 million. There are other important parcels such as those just east of the Sooke River which include part of the Charters River valley. Charters River is identified as a salmon spawning stream with potential for a fish hatchery. All of the TFL parcels are important to the ecological balance of the Capital Regional District and properly managed, according to the Regional Growth Strategy, they will contribute to the sustainable future of our area. Residential development will add to the degradation of our future.
We would appreciate your assistance promoting a coordinated effort by all levels of Government to buy the WFP TFL lands. In effect, to provide the necessary backing for the original UBC plan. Please write to
Stephen Harper pm@pm.gc.ca and Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca
BC minister of Community Development Bill Bennett Bill.Bennett.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Federal Minister of the Environment (also charged with Parks Canada) Jim Prentice minster@ec.gc.ca
BC Minister of the Environment Barry Penner env.minister@gov.bc.ca
Federal Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl is from BC Ottawa@chuckstrahl.com
BC Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation George Abbott abr.minister@gov.bc.ca Federal Minister of Natural Resources Christian Paradis paradC@parl.gc.ca
BC Minister of Range and Forest Pat Bell for.minster@gov.bc.ca
BC Minister Tourism, Culture and the Art Kevin Krueger TCA.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Yours truly
Sid J. Jorna, President
Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society
(250) 642 2767
From: MartiK1A@parl.gc.ca [mailto:MartiK1A@parl.gc.ca]
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 3:34 PM
Subject: RE: Purchase of WFP lands
Dear Sid,
I recently had a meeting with MLA John Horgan, CRD Regional Director Mike Hicks, and Chief Planes from T’Sou-ke First Nation along with Chief Chipps from Beecher Bay. We have come together as a group to show there is commonality and common purpose between non-First Nations and First Nations communities, as well as across 3 levels of government. I believe that there are many ways in which the Western Forest Products (WFP) lands can be utilized to integrate preservation, protection of sensitive ecosystems, and sustainable utilization of the land with a small environmental footprint, but in a fashion that creates jobs and a sustainable economy. This is necessary for the communities that live in and around this region and will enable large tracts of these lands to be protected. The University of British Columbia has a very innovative plan to essentially use these lands as an experimental forest, where low impact logging can be conducted and for other uses such as (what I am advocating for) ethno-cultural and ecotourism opportunities.
Now we are trying to get the two senior levels of government to sit down with the local players so that we can cooperate and work together to provide a long term legacy for these lands instead of simply selling them off for development. I am working hard on this and with the local leaders who have been wonderful in the cooperation that they have shown to work together to develop a more enlightened vision for these lands.
Thank you for writing and for encouraging the province to take an interest in this important issue.
Sincerely,
Keith
Dr. Keith Martin, MP
Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca
Office: 250.474.6505 | Fax: 250.474.5322
666 Granderson Road, Victoria, BC V9B 2R8
Cheryl McLachlan said
March is Community Social Services Awareness Month
http://www.communitysocialservicesmatter.ca/
The campaign to raise awareness of the importance of community-based social services is being supported by municipal councils across B.C. To date, 30 city councils have passed resolutions declaring March as Community Social Services Awareness Month.
Councils have recognized that community social services “help improve the quality of life for everyone” and that “greater recognition and understanding of the critical role these services play in our communities is needed to ensure their continued availability and improvement.”
Councils passing the Community Social Services Awareness Month motion include Burnaby, Central Saanich, City of North Vancouver, Colwood, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Oak Bay, Parksville, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Moody, Prince George, Richmond, Saanich, Surrey, Terrace, Vancouver, Victoria, View Royal, Village of Belcarra, Williams Lake, Campbell River, Trail, Squamish, Cranbrook, Powell River, Ladysmith, and Mission.
http://www.cupe.bc.ca/cupe-sectors/community-social-services/507
A variety of community outreach events are underway, and in Victoria, HEU members have organized the second annual Walk for Community Social Services, which will take place on Saturday, March 27.
http://www.heu.org/MemberNews/2010/03/Newsletter6857/index.cfm?call2=HOMEPAGE&type=3
Langforder said
Take 2 on borrowing more money:
Langford replays Sportsplex loan request
By Edward Hill – Goldstream News Gazette
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/news/87098527.html?period=W&mpStartDate=03-02-2010&
Plan to finance Langford’s $3.9 million Sportsplex hits a snag but expected to roll forward
By Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist
http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Plan+finance+Langford+million+Sportsplex+hits+snag+expected+roil+forward/2631251/story.html
Public sewage said
Public sewage treatment could be over $100 million cheaper
VICTORIA – A new report by B.C.’s most respected forensic accountant, Ron Parks, finds in favour of public operation of sewage treatment in the Capital Regional District (CRD).
Parks’ review of the business case in support of provincial funding for sewage treatment finds that the assumed cost of public operation is inflated in a number of ways, including double-counting risk, unjustified assumption of higher public costs, and using a discount rate that is too high.
The business case uses an assumed discount rate of 7.5 per cent, while Parks suggests a more appropriate rate would be 5.19 per cent – linked to the current cost of public borrowing through the Municipal Finance Authority. Using the lower rate, public operation is actually $116 million cheaper than a full public private partnership (P3) and $58 million cheaper than the mixed public/P3 (hybrid) option.
Parks says that unsubstantiated estimates of higher construction and operating costs for models that include public operation seem to be based on “the general assumption that the private sector can always do things for less than government can.”
This gives elected directors in the CRD a powerful reason to listen to residents who have repeatedly said they want public, not private, sewage treatment according to Barry O’Neill, president of the B.C. division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “P3s are a rip-off. I am pretty sure that CRD taxpayers would rather see the tens of millions go to improve parks, recreation, transit and roads, than to pay for what amounts to “privatization premiums,” says O’Neill.
The Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee is scheduled to make a recommendation on project procurement to the CRD board on March 24. The CRD board is scheduled to make a final decision on how the project will be procured at its March 31 meeting.
Ron Parks was asked by the Canadian Union of Public Employees to address ten questions about the business case. He is with the firm Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc.
Please see the full report: http://www.cupe.bc.ca/sites/default/files/Parks%20Report%20-%20CRD%20March%202010_2.pdf
A concerned Langford taxpayer said
Did Mr. Barrie ever pay the city of Langford the money he owes?
Len Barrie sued over multimillion-dollar jet loan
Borrowers miss payments, owe millions: lender
BY CARLA WILSON, TIMES COLONISTMARCH 3, 2010
Bear Mountain Resort CEO Len Barrie, BM Jet Corp. and Robert Johnson are named in a lawsuit filed by GE Canada Equipment Financing G.P. for what it claims is a default on a multimillion-dollar loan to buy a private jet.
Provincial company records state BM Jet Corp., a Victoria-based company incorporated in December 2005, is not in good standing. Barrie, Johnson and Phil LeSeur, a director of Bear Mountain Development Holdings, are listed as directors.
According to the statement, GE, a financial institution in Montreal, agreed on March 3, 2006, to lend BM Jet Corp. $4 million to buy a 2001 Cessna Citation Bravo, model 550.
Written guarantees were made on March 3, 2006, by Barrie for up to $3.5 million, and by Johnson of up to $575,000, the document said.
Under the agreement, the loan was to be repaid in 60 monthly instalments. BM Jet defaulted when payments were not made in October, November and December 2009, the statement of claim said.
GE notified BM Jet in November that the October and November payments were not made. In December, GE demanded repayment but no payment was made, the claim said.
As of Dec. 22, 2009, BM Jet owed $3.4 million under the agreement, with interest adding up at $262.83 per day, the statement said.
GE is claiming $3.5 million from Barrie, $3.4 million plus interest from BM Jet, and $575,000 from Johnson.
A statement of defence had not been posted on the provincial court services online website by yesterday.
Lawyer Colin Brousson, who is representing GE, said that he could not comment. Barrie and LeSeur could not be reached.
Cessna, a long-standing U.S. company, has produced a global fleet of 5,000 Citation jets, manufactured in several models, the company website states.
Citations are described as top-performing mid-size business jets featuring luxurious cabins.
Three of the top-selling business jets of all time are Citations, the website says; “our business jets have outsold the combined total of their competition.”
One website selling a 2001 model-year Citation Bravo is asking for $3.39 million. Another website, which doesn’t list a price for the jet, describes the plane it’s selling as having seats for two crew members and seven passengers.
GE’s lawsuit is the latest challenge facing the Bear Mountain project and Barrie.
Negotiations were going on in recent weeks between the 17-member Bear Mountain Master Partnership and a potential buyer over a group of properties on Skirt Mountain. There’s been no recent word on whether a deal was reached.
Over the past couple of years, the partnership has come close to selling chunks of the 500-hectare development but so far, it appears a deal is still to be concluded. One agreement said to be worth about $350 million was not completed. It would have seen the residential portion and future land, which could be developed, sold.
Bear Mountain is one of the capital region’s biggest and most ambitious development projects. The property is in Langford and the Highlands. It has two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses, a hotel, restaurants, other businesses, condominium buildings, and single-family houses.
The Hockey News and tampabay.com have reported that Barrie will lose money when he sells his stake in the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, saying that the sale price to a Boston hedge fund manager is considerably less than what Barrie and his partners paid.
The sale of the Lightning team is subject to approval by the NHL board of governors.
Also, in 2009, an audit of Bear Mountain’s financial dealings raised questions about some transactions.
cjwilson@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
no longer shocked said
of course not, langford doesn’t “need” it yet. Try that one on for others.
Langforder said
If Langford does not NEED the money from the Bear Mt./Spencer Road Interchange, why the HECK is Langford holding a petition to see if we citizens are noticing they are going to:
- finance, through long-term debt, up to $3,900,000 (three million, nine hundred thousand dollars) of the total capital construction cost of $14,153,101 to construct a Sportsplex consisting of an ice arena and bowling facility in City Centre Park.
Oh wait – that would be the 2nd time they are doing the petition thing, they were so sure the 1st time they started the loan process before the petitioning time ended.
Wow, it is great to know how much OUR council cares what WE think!
Westshore Resident said
Public Sewage all the way. P3s are a rip-off. There is no doubt about it. I sure hope as a CRD taxpayer that the Mayors of the Western Communities will seek public consultation before deciding what is best for me and my family. Besides, I would rather see the money saved by going public vs. private go towards the infrastructure; ie. improve parks, recreation, transit and roads, than to line the pockets of these private business.
Cheryl McLachlan said
Forwarded from: Kim Manton March 21, 2010 at 9:23am
Subject: The recommendations are out and privatization is coming to town…vote on Wednesdayat 10:30am.
Hi all,
So the CRD has put up the procurement recommendations on their website http://www.facebook.com/l/e1fe6;www.crd.bc.ca/reports/corearealiquidwastem_/2010_/03march24_/index.htm
The CALWMC (CRD Steering committee) will be voting on these recommendations on Wednesday at 10:30 at 625 Fisgard – we must not let this debate or decision go unwitnessed – if they are going to vote for a P3 to come to town then they will have to look us in the eye when they do it.
If you live in the Westshore and are interested in speaking at the meeting on Wednesday morning you have until Monday at 4:00 to register…your CRD rep’s need to hear from you. Langford – Councillor Denise Blackwell (denise.blackwell@shaw.ca) and Colwood – Mayor Dave Saunders (mayorsaunders@telus.net).
Here are the recommendations…
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee recommend to the Board that:
1. the business case be approved and forwarded to the provincial government for funding consideration;
2. McLoughlin Point, Clover Point, Saanich East plant, the energy centre, conveyance, pumps and outfalls be procured using a traditional approach (design-bid-build, design-build, or construction management at risk); and
3. the ***Westshore plant*** and the ***resource recovery component of the energy centre*** be procured with an alternative service delivery (design-build-finance-operate, or design-build-operate).
Remember that the CRD owns all the treatment plants so legally has the responsibility for the Westshore and Resource Recovery, if something goes wrong – WE ALL PAY. Why allow the Westshore politicians to make decisions that affect us all…
See you Wednesday morning,
Sewage Girl (Kim Manton)
whoduvthunkit said
Bear Mountain partnership placed under creditor protection today
BY ANDREW A. DUFFY, TIMES COLONISTMARCH 25, 2010 2:02 PM
Len Barrie, President and CEO of Bear mountain Resort announced that the Bear Mountain Master Partnership is donating land valued over $1 million for the building of the very first Ronald McDonald Family Retreat in North America. (Oct. 10, 2007)
Photograph by: Bruce Stotesbury, Times Colonist
VICTORIA — The Bear Mountain Master Partnership is under creditor protection as the ownership group behind Bear Mountain Resort and the residential development on Skirt Mountain tries to work out a deal with one of its lenders.
Today in Supreme Court, the partnership was placed under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act which will hold off any creditor action while the group attempts to reach an agreement with lender HSBC Bank Canada.
“This is a step to protect the project and the investors,” said Len Barrie, Bear Mountain CEO in an interview. “We have deals in place with all of our other lenders, this is just about HSBC and we need work on a positive resolution over the next period of time to make HSBC happy and get building again.”
Barrie said the partnership owes HSBC in excess of $200 million.
The CEO also pointed out he has been working for the last four months to refinance the 500-hectare development straddling Highlands and Langford.
“We have new investment we will be bringing forward,” he said, noting there are currently four different groups negotiating to buy into the development. “We thought we would have six months to do it, but I think we’ll now have to do it over the next 30-to-90-day period and I’m confident we’ll get something done that is a good resolution for everybody and more importantly get money to build and go forward.”
According to Barrie the deals being talked about range from straight refinancing to swapping debt for equity in the development.
“One of the reasons to (opt into CCAA protection) is it will be a fair process,” he said. “This will bring a mediator between (the partnership and HSBC) and do what’s best for the project to move it forward.”
The court has appointed Prowis Inc. as the chief restructuring officer for Bear Mountain and PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as monitor.
In a statement obtained by the Times Colonist, the Bear Mountain Master Partnership said it will be business as usual for customers and suppliers during the restructuring period.
It added there will be “no interruption to the large number of events that are planned to take place, including all conference reservations, golf tournaments and the esteemed TELUS World Skins Game to be held June 21 and 22. The company’s bank has indicated that it will provide continued support during the restructuring.”
Calls to HSBC had not been returned by 1 p.m. Thursday.
In the past two years, the Bear Mountain partnership has been close to selling parts of the development.
There were rumours in February that a deal had been completed, while another deal rumoured to be worth close to $350 million was scuttled last year — that deal was for the residential component of the development and future development potential of the area.
The agreement would have seen the Bear Mountain Master Partnership, which has 17 investors, including former NHL players such as Mike Vernon and Joe Nieuwendyk and current players Ray Whitney, Ryan Smyth and Rob Blake, hold onto the two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses and the resort’s luxury hotel.
Barrie, the majority shareholder of the partnership, has estimated the entire development, which is expected to include more than 3,500 homes when it’s fully built out in 20 years, could be worth $2.5 billion.
He said there’s no way at this point to say what the ownership structure will look like until they reach a deal with one of the four groups currently at the table looking to buy in and have emerged from CCAA protection.
Happy Valley said
The bank wants it’s $200+ million loan paid back. I doubt they will give Barrie another cent. They will get money before any contractors or small time investors. Barrie tries to spin this as no big deal. You’re nuts if you’re thinking of investing on Bear Mountain now. The place will look like a dump with all the unfinished construction. The condos are not selling and they are now slashing the prices. He also lost 100 million on Tampa Bay, owes Langford 4.9 million, owes a few million on a jet, and HSBC 200+ million. Maybe they can hire Bernie Madoff, Ian Thow or Earl Jones to sort this out. We just need them out of prison.
Observer said
And to think that it was only a very short time ago that anyone who questionned the way Bear Mt was approved and the financing of the Interchange were called…let’s see…”naysayers”,”negative” ( and those are the polite comments).
It did not take a rocket scientist to see this coming. It’s just that the main players were willing to take big chances to make big bucks.None of them cared what the risk or consequences would be for the Taxpayers of Langford.
Mayor Young should be held completely accountable for enabling Len Barrie to scam the taxpayers out of $4.5 Million for the Interchange.
Many residents spoke against this happening but were not only ignored but villified and ridiculed by the Mayor himself.More than 10% of the citzens of langford signed a petition demanding a Referendum be held before a single penny was borrowed for Len Barrie and others. Mayor chose to ignore that too.
I think he and Council should be writing a cheque to the City for that money…not the taxpayers.
Ironically, I am grateful now (though not at the time) that a new Council did not get voted in last election.Imagine how the blame would have been laid on the new guys for all this.
Perhaps an audit of all the main players in this town is in order.
I
Anonymous said
This process is far from over. The TC stated this morning that the court appointed monitor has 30 days to report its findings back to the court. That is true but in all but the simplest cases, it takes far longer than 30 days to work through the process so the monitor asks for an extension(s). I wouldn’t be suprised if it was a year before the monitor’s final report was delivered and the court decided the outcome.
HSBC will likely provide interim financing to keeps the wheels spinning. That money along with what the lawyers, accountants and monitor are owed (with respect to the CCAA process) will all be paid back first. Next will come secured creditors, unsecured creditors and then shareholders. The other variable here is what the CRA is owed as rumours have persisted now for some time that they are auditing BM finances.
The monitor’s report will all likely be made public via PWC. Should be extremely interesting reading as time progresses!
Heather Scott said
Barrie ousted as Bear Mountain CEO; partnership placed under creditor protection
http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Barrie+ousted+Bear+Mountain+partnership+placed+under+creditor+protection/2725946/story.html
Sam Snipes said
Looks like Anonymous is batting a thousand!
http://www.pwc.com/ca/en/car/bearmountain/index.jhtml
naysayer said
http://www.timescolonist.com/Langford+looks+silver+lining/2734489/story.html
Langford looks for a silver lining
Mayor blames recession for problems at Bear Mountain
quote:
Young said. “Who could have predicted the economy would have done what it’s done?
——————————–
Well Mayor Young, just about everybody with half a brain saw this recession coming. The ones involved in the ponzi scheme were the only ones who said everything was just fine. So many people tried to warn you, but you dismissed them as naysayers.
I hope the people of Langford wake up before the next municipal election and realize that new blood in council can only help this town.
living at the bottom of "the" mountain said
From the TC article- “Bear Mountain has been a boon to Langford, with Young noting it provides millions in property taxes and fees and about 1,200 jobs, to say nothing of the slew of jobs created when there’s a hive of construction activity on Skirt Mountain.”
Ain’t those houses the ones who are arguing the tax rate and haven’t paid their property taxes? The City of Langford ended up owning 2 or 3 wasn;t it?
Ain’t that the development that missed a $4.9 million payment to the City of Langford cofures for the unfinished overpass, and another $4.9 mill at the end of the year? How’s that a “boon”? – more like boom and bust!
1,200 jobs, really? Maybe that’s where all that traffic on VMP comes from!
As for “hive” looks more like ghost town, mostly in fog or socked in by clouds. Might need those neon golf balls to find’em. They could be a speciality product – Bear Mt. glow balls.
No Corporate Vote said
The BC Liberal government’s decision to keep submissions to the task force secret is shameful and a disgrace to our democracy.
March 25, 2010
Local elections need level playing field
BURNABY—Local elections in British Columbia should be conducted under the supervision of BC’s Chief Electoral Officer, and the province should reject calls to grant corporations the right to vote, CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill said today in a submission to the Local Government Elections Task Force.
“The civic elections in 2008 saw an average voter turnout of just 27 per cent,” said O’Neill. “That’s nowhere near good enough, and we believe that increasing transparency and accountability during election campaigns could be a significant factor in encouraging citizen engagement and participation in the democratic process.
“CUPE members are taxpayers and voters too, and it’s important to us that local elected officials are accountable to the public. Improved standards of disclosure will go a long way to improving that accountability,” said O’Neill.
The BC Liberal government formed the task force late last year, and directed it to make recommendations to improve local elections, reporting to the government by May 30, 2010. The key areas of legislation under examination by the task force, along with CUPE BC’s position, are as follows:
• Campaign finance, including contribution/spending disclosure and limits, and tax credits. CUPE BC position: provincial standards of disclosure should apply; any new limits to local election contributions or spending should also apply to provincial elections.
• Enforcement processes and outcomes. CUPE BC position: that enforcement provisions for local government elections be revised to be substantially similar to those in the BC Elections Act.
• Role of the chief electoral officer (B.C.) in local government elections. CUPE BC position: Elections BC should be given the authority to provide oversight of the local government elections process. Such authority should include providing training and advice to local elections officers as well as candidates, electoral organizations and campaign organizers and would ensure consistency in interpretations and applications of the rules.
• Corporate vote. CUPE BC position: Only one other jurisdiction in the world (the financial district of London, England known as “the City”) allows corporations to vote, and those lobbying for a corporate vote in BC have simply not made the case for allowing non-humans to vote in elections. There should be no corporate vote in local elections, for the same reasons we do not allow corporations to vote in provincial or federal elections.
O’Neill said he was disappointed by the BC Liberal government’s decision to keep submissions to the task force secret, and urged the government to change course and post all submissions on the Internet. “How can closed-door meetings and secret policy submissions result in better democracy?” said O’Neill.
What Goes Around.... said
Eventually comes around…
It looks like Lady Luck has finally run out on Mr Barrie. Who will be next? Mr. Bjola? Should the city of Colwood be concerned about the proposed development at Colwood Corners? And, if the City of Langford doesn’t meet their quota of 40 or 50 houses per month will Lady Luck run out on Mayor Young and his council? Probably. Who will be left to clean up this mess? You and me.
End of an era at Bear Mountain
Published: March 30, 2010 1:00 PM
When Bear Mountain announced it was forced into creditor protection last week, it came as shock, but not that big of a shock.
Last summer, then Bear Mountain president Len Barrie was eager to lock in $350 million in cash that would have seen a Dubai firm become a major stakeholder in the company.
In the midst of a recession, Bear Mountain needed the capital to move on new condo projects and, more importantly, to pay down debts. But the chickens came home to roost in Dubai too — its economic bubble burst, leaving far-flung projects in Canada in the wind.
Bear Mountain kept selling condos and housing lots, but with its second golf course opening and an economic slump in the world, debt kept piling up.
Barrie said the development arm of Bear Mountain sold $110 million in real estate last year, but that wasn’t enough to keep creditors at bay. In court documents, HSBC Bank revealed Bear Mountain owes it at least $250 million. With other lenders, that could go beyond $300 million.
It’s a world away from just three or four years ago when condo units and housing lots sold like hotcakes in an overheated market. In November 2005, 271 condos sold in six hours. In 2006, Barrie was up for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Pacific region.
With HSBC Bank pulling out the rug, Barrie and other executives have been ejected from controlling the massive resort that grew out of his grudge with the Royal Colwood golf course.
Some residents and environmental groups are probably cheering — Barrie and Bear Mountain were both controversial at the best of times, notably with the cave conflict in 2006 and the Spencer (Bear Mountain) interchange.
But little is likely to change. The interchange will eventually be finished and golfers up on the hilly 36 holes will keep teeing off.
It may have a “under new management” sign on the door, but as lenders try to figure out how to extract their money, it will remain business as usual at Bear Mountain.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/goldstreamgazette/opinion/89494622.html
told-you-so said
Financial woes land interchange project in limbo
Brennan Clarke
Victoria — From Monday’s Globe and Mail Published on Sunday, Apr. 04, 2010 10:10PM EDT
Bear Mountain Resort’s deepening financial woes have landed a developer-funded interchange on the Trans-Canada Highway in a permanent state of limbo, leaving Langford taxpayers with a $9.75-million debt and a half-finished “bridge to nowhere,” critics of the controversial project say.
“At this point I have to question whether any of these developers have any money to pay anybody,” said Langford resident Cheryl McLachlan, who helped organize an unofficial petition drive against the interchange two years ago.
“We had a large portion, over 10 per cent of citizens telling [Langford]) council they were concerned this could happen, and now here we are.”
Bear Mountain, which is under court-order creditor protection, was supposed to contribute $4.8-million to the initial phase of the $30-million project, with four other landowners slated to kick in an additional $5-million, according to an agreement with the municipality.
Langford borrowed the money on their behalf and signed a complex agreement requiring the developers to make their contributions by March 2, 2009.
But the housing market cooled off, the payments never materialized and construction has been stalled for months as bankruptcy looms over the project’s largest contributor.
“Things pretty much shut down well over a year ago,” said Ron Rayner, who lives near the half-completed project.
“With the receivership and possible bankruptcy of Bear Mountain, who knows how long it will stay that way? It’s a real eyesore.”
However, Langford Mayor Stew Young said even if Bear Mountain’s assets end up changing hands, the municipality will be repaid eventually because the loan payments are linked to property taxes on future development.
“Whoever buys the property, they still owe us the money because it’s charged on the property,” Mr. Young said. “That’s the protection we have.”
So far, Mr. Young said Langford has spent about $8-million on the interchange, just enough to complete the main bridge structure across the highway and lay the crushed rock foundation for the on- and off-ramps.
While Langford’s private partners have yet to make any payments on the principal, they have agreed to pay the interest on the loan while the project is in limbo.
This year, the bill came to $98,000, split between Bear Mountain, Totangi Properties, Goldstream Heights Properties, Bear Mountain Parkway Estates and reclusive Victoria property owner Clara Kramer.
“The interest is so low they’re not going to be fighting us on it,” Mr. Young said. “I’m just working with everybody and hoping that the recession turns around.”
When the economy picks up, there will be plenty of revenue from new development to cover the interchange costs, he said.
The province has agreed to cover $4.5-million, most of which is payable only on completion of the project.
The interchange was triggered by the need for a second access road to and from Bear Mountain, which is now home to several thousand residents, and plans for another 2,800 houses on nearby Skirt Mountain.
Two years ago when Langford was preparing to start work on the project, RCMP were called in to remove a group of tree-sitting demonstrators from a forested swath of Crown land on the southern approach to the new overpass.
Protesters marked the start of construction with demonstrations along the highway and disrupted council meetings as the project moved through various approvals in 2009.
B.C.’s Municipal Finance Authority, which provides low lending rates to municipalities building major projects, rebuffed Langford’s application for a $25-million loan, forcing council to scale down the initial building phase and seek private-sector financing.
Last month, a group called the Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network, led by interchange protester Zoe Blunt, launched a court challenge arguing that Mr. Young “abused the public process” during a public hearing last year on the Skirt Mountain development.
Ms. Blunt, whose real name is Tracie Park, said the structure of the interchange deal, coupled with the recession, has left Langford with a “chicken-and-egg” dilemma.
“These guys need to sell condos so they can build their road, but they have to build their road before they can sell any condos,” she said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/financial-woes-land-interchange-project-in-limbo/article1522630/
Sam Snipes said
Probably not a suprise but Mayor Young isn’t telling the truth. Municipal taxes fall behind secured creditors during bankruptcy proceedings in Canada. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy_in_Canada
There is no guarantee that Langford will receive any of the funds it advanced developers or taxes / dccs from BM.
Axel Brock-Miller said
The following is a one-paragraph excerpt from the April issue of FOCUS Magazine by Gordon O’Connor p.15 who is the forest campaigner with the Dogwood Initiative. It just applies so beautifully to Langford that one cannot help but think of Langford while reading it.
(bold emphasis and [comment] are mine)
Happy Valley said
The Valley View subdivision developer is proposing some radical changes to the current subdivision plan next Monday night at a public hearing. Originally a single story commercial lot was allowed for a corner store or coffee shop etc. Now the developer has applied for a 3 story, 35 foot high building with 16 condos above an expanded commercial space. They are also trying to build 21 duplexes on lots as small as 3300 sq. ft. The current bylaw is for duplexes on lots over 8000sq. ft. Home owners in the subdivision were told that no duplexes are allowed in Valley View (http://www.westshoreprojects.com/pdfs/schedule_of_restrictions.pdf) and the commercial space would be one storey. Sounds like a bait and switch to me. The gloves will be off Monday night.
Cheryl McLachlan said
The City of Langford announces:
Green City Grant Applications
The City of Langford is happy to announce that they are now accepting Green City Grant applications for 2010. This year, the program will provide grants to local non-profit organizations for sustainable projects that demonstrate action in reducing energy and water use, and greenhouse gas emissions. The deadline for submitting an application is July 2nd, 2010.
http://www.cityoflangford.ca/newsarticle.asp?TopicID=757
Langfordite said
Barrie still holding out hope of saving Bear Mountain
HSBC Bank Canada, which has taken over the company, does not share his optimism
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/barrie-still-holding-out-hope-of-saving-bear-mountain/article1595595/
Sam Snipes said
Three years ago I stopped believing a single reported comment made by Len Barrie. I don’t see any reason to change that view.
Stewpid said
The road to hell
KATHERINE PALMER GORDON
Three controversial infrastructure projects highlight the need for a better way
to decide what projects are most important to residents of the region—and which get funding.
July 2010 • FOCUS focus
http://www.focusonline.ca
February, 2008: Dozens of RCMP, some armed with assault rifles, swarm a campsite in Langford and arrest six unarmed citizens, charging them with mischief. As many as 300 police officers surround a nearby neighbourhood for several days afterwards, ques tioning local residents as they travel to and from their homes. The campers have been occupying the proposed construction site for the Bear Mountain interchange at Spencer Road and the Trans Canada Highway, protesting Langford Council’s plans to build the interchange and help finance it.
After being removed from the construction site, the protesters are threatened by the mayor of Langford with a lawsuit to pay for the costs of the police action. Civil liberties groups across the country react with outrage, defending the rights of citizens to engage in civil disobedience. The mayor backs off, and Langford taxpayers bear the undisclosed expense.
Another astonishing scene is played out a few days after the arrests, at the next public Langford Council meeting. Keen to get its hands on close to $5 million of provincial government funding, Langford bypassed public calls for a referendum and rushed through a decision to support the interchange at a hastily-called meeting just two days after Christmas 2007. Then, in another meeting in late February 2008, the room is packed with pro-development advocates cheek-by-jowl with infuriated opponents of the interchange. In complete chaos, the meeting is adjourned, but not before Councillor Denise Blackwell is caught on film raising her middle finger to the crowd of protesters. Does that sound like part of a normal, reasonable and objective munic ipal decision-making process about road infrastructure priorities?
Case no. 1: The Spencer Road decision
Here’s part of the problem: There’s no binding regional transportation plan in the CRD that sets out clear priorities for spending on regional road infrastructure and to which individual municipalities like Langford can be held accountable.
When Langford decided to support the building of the Spencer Road Interchange, it cited traffic congestion at the existing lights, along-side the vital need to provide access to the Trans Canada Highway for residents of the ever-expanding Bear Mountain development and proposed adjacent subdivisions. Mayor Stew Young also stated at the time that failure to build the interchange would “kill” not only the Langford economy, but the Victoria economy.
The project was supposed to be paid for by a combination of developers’ contributions and provincial infrastructure funding: a freebie for Langford taxpayers. But so wedded to the new develop-ments and their backers was Langford Council that they even agreed to carry the developers’ financing for the balance of the cost. That decision flew in the face of a number of facts. Despite Young’s claims about “traffic backing halfway up the Malahat,” the reality is that there was, and still is, very little traffic trickling down the road from Bear Mountain. In addition, Langford’s own OCP identifies congestion at the McKenzie intersection—not Spencer Road—as its most pressing transportation issue.
The McKenzie Road intersection on Highway 1—the main culprit behind the infamous Colwood Crawl—was identified in both regional and provincial government plans ten years ago as a top priority for action to relieve traffic congestion. Yet it remains untouched while other less pressing projects have jumped the regional priority queue. Even if there were congestion at Spencer Road, the OCP states that the solution is not simply to build new road infrastructure, but to increase urban density and provide sustainable alternatives such as commuter rail: “Any increases in the number of automobile focused roadways will attract people away from transit. Building more roadways will only encourage people to live in single family units.”
This did not however appear to be among the criteria applied to Langford’s decision-making, which seemed to be less about traffic congestion, as opponents suggested, than it was about meeting the wishes of the Bear Mountain developers. Zoe Blunt of the Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network, who is now suing Langford on alleged abuses of public process, says unequivocally: “Langford Council ignored public input, due process and democratic principles. The people of Langford are being abused by the people who are supposed to represent them.”
At the height of the protests against Langford Council, respondents in various media surveys and in talk-back media were calling Langford’s approach “a blind rush to develop and destroy”; “ a lack of true democracy”; “corrupt”; and a “shut-out” of public participation. One caller into a CFAX radio show said bluntly: “This council seems to be accountable only to developers and their friends.”
In the meantime, as anyone who has travelled under the Spencer Road overpass recently will know, construction on what has been dubbed “the Bridge to Nowhere” has stalled. In March, the heavily debt-laden Bear Mountain Master Partnership was placed under creditor protection for defaulting on some of its payments, and the overseer has now has been given the go-ahead for bankruptcy. Langford Council agreed to defer payment by the Partnership of interest on the $7.5 million Council borrowed on its behalf.
Is this really how a major road intersection on the Trans Canada should have been dealt with? Stew Young, who was certain in the development’s early days that it would be good for the economy, is now shrugging his shoulders and claiming that no one could have predicted what the economy has done. But Gordon Denford, an experienced local developer, told the Times Colonist that many other developers questioned the risk behind the project right from the beginning: “Most of us felt the Victoria economy wasn’t big enough to handle it.”
In the meantime, Langford treasurer Steve Ternent told the same paper in late March that the interchange will proceed “when the market warrants it.” Hang on. Weren’t we told that the interchange was crit-ical for the economy—not the other way around? Oh, and yes—wasn’t it vital to ease traffic pressure on the Millstream Road Connector? Is that no longer the case?
Clearly, the Spencer Road decision-making process leaves much to be desired. Contradictions abound, and the consequences of trying to have it both ways seem to have become painfully clear.
maverick said
Why don`t you get over it,really.
It will get finished in time,in the mean time, why not make up some signs stating you want an overpass built to help with the congestion on the highway and McKenzie,grab Zoe by the arm and head off to the Premiers office and let him know you want the new overpass at McKenzie,if you don`t get any results, lets set up a camp of some sort along the highway and bring this to the attention of others that feel the same way you do.
This whole Interchange/Langford Council thing seems to be a sour passion for some people,lets move on to continue making Langford a better place for all of us.
Zoe said
Yes, it would be great to see a return to sanity in transportation planning in this region. Lots of people are working on that, as noted in the article above. VIC FAN works for environmental causes, like rare species, caves, and wetlands.
Maverick, as the owner of an excavating company, more interchanges would certainly benefit you, right? Go right ahead and start a grassroots campaign for more interchanges. It would be refreshing to see you put your money where your mouth is.
Observer said
Maverick,
There is something called “Accountability”.The taxpayers of Langford will be able to “move on” once they know for certain they are not on the hook for a truckload of borrowed money, when they see a finished Interchange,and when our Mayor publicly recants his obviously ill-informed statement that not building the Interchange would “kill” Langford and Victoria’s economy (among many other over the top statements he has made to sway public opinion).
People are all for “moving on”, but you have to clean up the mess first not just sweeping things under the rug.
maverick said
Zoe it would be my luck that in the process of developing a new interchange I`d find some reg legged frogs in an old swamp that had to be destroyed for the interchange and some hole in the ground that has been eroded over time that people now call a cave.After finding all that then I would have you and all your followers to deal with,it would not be a pretty site.
Donald Seaton said
Hey Mav I got your back on this one.
Well Zoe Blunt or Should I say Tracie Park which name do you prefer, or will you go under another assumed name if you want to have a cause put your REAL name to it instead of hiding behind screen names like some kind of avatar
If VIC FAN is truly about environmental causes then why not work with local government in assisting in them planning, why not ask them to help in environmental impact studies. Instead of getting huge mobs of people, protesting about out the atrocities of Local Governments look at the big picture less cars idling equals lower carbon footprint, but I sure most of you university drop out have a problem of looking at the bigger picture.