LETTER: Thornhill weigh scales project falls short of B.C. government's own green standards

New buildings at Thornhill weigh scales fail to meet B.C. Energy Step Code targets, raising questions about government's commitment to environmental initiatives

An illustration of the Terrace Commercial Vehicle Inspection Station, also known as the Thornhill weigh scales. (Government of British Columbia)

To the editor:

Do as I say, not as I do — government edition.

Why is it that the government tell us to do things, but do not want to do those things themselves?

An example would be the new Thornhill weigh scales and its buildings.

In 2018 the British Columbia government enacted changes to the B.C. Building Code, the B.C. Energy Step Code, to reduce emissions and energy use. It mandates all new buildings be net-zero and emissions-free ready by 2032, but when the scales building was built in 2023, energy efficiency was only minimal — and, instead of setting an example about what would be the future, saving a ton on costs for heating and cooling, it did the opposite.

Earlier this year, I wrote a letter to B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Rob Fleming with specific questions about efficiency related to the Thornhill weigh scales, and I received a written reply with complete answers.

The B.C. government wants to reduce carbon emissions and fossil-fuel use by 30 to 40 per cent by 2030. How will they do that without setting an example on how it can be done?

The two buildings that comprise the Thornhill weigh scales only meet step two and not the step five provincial government carbon emission reduction targets required by 2032 — less than nine years from now.

While that’s disappointing, it’s not my only concern.

Thornhill is, at times, extremely windy and even has solar potential, but I was told that “local weather conditions, especially during winter months, are unfavourable” to a wind turbine. In reality, Thornhill’s windiest periods come in the winter months.

When asked about landscaping and specifically planting and assisting pollinators, Minister Fleming noted that the reason they decided to plant large, grassy areas outside the Thornhill scales was to “promote early grass growth to mitigate soil erosion.”

In contrast to the provincial government’s words — and, in this case, actions — a public document and website meant to serve as a guideline to support its Food For Bees initiative, which “promotes the planting of bee forage on public and private lands, to support wild pollinator populations,” contradict what it wants to see from the general public.

On the Food For Bees initiative’s website, it explicitly states that it is seeking voluntary involvement from public and private institutions, including the provincial government and other public agencies. “The Food For Bees initiative seeks the voluntary involvement of public and private institutions … YOU can make a difference,” the provincial government writes.

Not only would a wild flower mix — and maybe even local, low-scrub plants — not only be beneficial for pollinators, it would have been a cost-saving measure, as opposed to having to mow and maintain the large grassy areas outside the buildings once a year, instead of every week or every other week. After all, bees and other insects shouldn't be a hinderance for transport trucks.

So, perhaps somebody other than the government, can tell me why our government is asking us, the public, to do things they appear unwilling to do themselves? Until then, I’ll await Minister Fleming’s response to a follow-up letter I sent in early September.

Martin Holzbauer

Thornhill, B.C.

Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of The Skeena Reporter. To submit your letter to the editor, please email viktor.elias@skeenareporter.com.