Two major land use decisions expected in the next few weeks will have a lasting impact on the Kootenays.

Near Invermere, an hour's drive from Calgary, a proposal that has been under review for a decade for a $450 million, 6,000 bed, alpine ski resort, Jumbo Glacier Resort is expected to go before the Campbell cabinet. At its completion the resort would be twice the size of Invermere, which is one of the reasons it has taken a decade to study not only the environmental impact of the proposed resort, but also issues of water supply, sewage disposal, the economic feasibility of the proposal and its impact on neighbouring tourist attractions. Dozens of documents regarding the proposal can be found on the Environmental Assessment Office's website, but you won't find their report to cabinet. The District of Invermere opposes the resort proposal while the Council of Radium Hot Springs, supports it, with the caution that it does so "… with the firm expectation that the province will meet its critical responsibility to ensure that the technical solutions, outlined in the EA review for development in the back country, are built into the project and operated properly for the life of the project." In the New Era of deregulation, that "firm expectation" may require a major leap of faith. Whatever the Campbell government decides, the decision is bound to disappoint some and produce controversy in the riding of Columbia River - Revelstoke.

Not far to the south an even bigger controversy is about to explode. On Wednesday this week, the provincial government will close the bidding process for tenure rights for coal bed methane exploration despite concern that the Flathead River near Fernie would be polluted by the exploitation of the resource. The comment section of the August 23rd Globe and Mail contained an excellent analysis by UBC Professor Michael Byers of some of the problems associated with the Campbell government's rush to exploit coal bed methane. Byers pointed to the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, Article 4, which protects Canada and the US from suffering pollution generated by each other. The poisonous water which is extracted in order to get coal bed methane can destroy river systems. The governor, senator and local media in Montana have been vociferous in their calls for a thorough environmental review before wells are drilled. Notwithstanding an environmental cooperation agreement signed by the Campbell government with Montana in 2003, their concerns have been arrogantly ignored. The provincial riding of East Kootnenay will no doubt see the coal bed methane decision play an important role in next May's election; Campbell Liberal MLA Bill Bennett (no relation to the Socred Bennetts) has been outspoken against local environmentalists.

The Kootenay decisions may raise the environmental impact of the Campbell government in the minds of voters. Anyone who is in doubt about what the upcoming decisions will be only needs to look at the "heartlands" economic strategy for the Kootnenays which says (page 5) "The province is working to ensure Kootenay communities realize their full potential through transportation investments that will open up the region to increased tourism, and by developing new opportunities - like coalbed methane - that will create new jobs and economic prosperity."