CBC Radio 1 Calgary Eye Opener

October 19, 2006

I’ve been thinking about how societies encourage good behaviour. Most start with the golden rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.

Social sanctions provide a second incentive for moral behaviour. Fear of shame is a powerful motivator that keeps most lawns cut and hedges trimmed.

When altruism and social pressure aren’t enough, society has laws designed to help people live together. These work when they are applied consistently.

Back in 1997, a group of squatters moved into the former Harvey Barracks, which the army had leased from a native band. The Tsuu T’ina leaders named the squat Black Bear Crossing and tolerated the squatters, many of whom were natives. The federal Liberal government looked the other way.

In the ensuing nine years, Tsuu T’ina leaders allowed this formerly pristine military housing to decline into a festering barrio, complete with graffiti, garbage and vehicles parked on weed-infested lawns.

Anywhere else, Black Bear Crossing’s squalour would result in fines or other sanctions, but all levels of government have taken a see-no-evil approach with the Tsuu T’ina.

A recent fire at Black Bear Crossing reminded us that the units are filled with asbestos. This can’t have been a surprise, since buildings of that vintage were routinely insulated with that carcinogen. The squat is now under voluntary evacuation.

That evacuation hasn’t stopped a couple of other thriving Tsuu T’ina enterprises. The Sarcee Asphalt plant, started up in 2004, upwind of Oakridge community, burns dirty bunker oil instead of cleaner natural gas or propane. The Tsuu T’ina just never bothered to get the required federal permits and have run the plant illegally for two and a half years.

After over 500 Calgarians complained that the plant is making their kids ill, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said he wouldn’t shut down the illegal facility, unless stack tests prove its emissions exceed legal limits. I guess more than 500 complainants might be faking.

A busy asphalt plant craves gravel, so the Tsuu T’ina have been running a rock crusher at night for months. Lakeview residents, who’ve endured the Black Bear Crossing eyesore for nine years, are now treated to a nightly racket loud enough to wake me up a kilometer away.

City police will not enforce noise bylaws when the noise comes from within the reserve, adjacent to Lakeview. Gravel industry best practice cloaks crushers with sound-deadening material, but that, like using clean fuel, would cost more.

Meanwhile the Tsuu T’ina leadership, more accustomed to expecting forgiveness than asking permission, have started building their casino, without first arranging road and utility access from the City of Calgary.

Complaining to the Tsuu T’ina leaders about all this has been futile, because we have taught them that their actions have no consequences.

The current federal government didn’t create this mess, but they control the only thing Tsuu T’ina leaders seem to care about: federal money.

Mr. Harper’s government needs to:

• demolish Black Bear Crossing, which is not now fit for habitation
• close the illegal asphalt plant until it meets environmental standards
• and require the rock crusher to stop running at night or at least install appropriate noise mitigation

Concerned Calgarians should write to Stephen Harper, whose riding includes all the communities affected by the Tsuu T’ina actions, and Jim Prentice, who’s responsible for Indian Affairs. Tell them you’re mad as hell and you’re not going to take it anymore.

For the Calgary Eyeopener, I’m Fred Kerr