Dear Mr. Van Baalen,
Manager, BC Blueberry Council
Earlier today I sent an email to the bylaw officer in Surrey, which I neglected
to send to you for your information. I apologize for the oversight, and I have
attached it below for your information and records.
Given that the violations have continued for many years without apparent
reduction, I also ask that the Blueberry Council acknowledge its inability to
manage or even significantly influence the behaviour of its membership. Under
these circumstances, I further request that the Council take action to actively
support the banning of propane cannons as a method of curtailing bird presence
in the fields. Such action might include political action in support of banning
the cannons, or perhaps more direct action taken against Council members
themselves.
I realize the significance of an organization's seeking to effectively punish
its own membership, but to date your organization's efforts have been
ineffective in demonstrating goodwill to residents who live near blueberry
farms, so a dramatic shift in direction is necessary. Despite Nazam Dulat's
courteous and friendly manner, to continue the system of asking this individual
to monitor your members is completely futile at best, and seems--perhaps more
accurately--to be a cynical and deliberate method to pretend to address the
problem.
More must be done to ensure a long-term resolution.
Homeowners in the neighbourhood of some blueberry fields are able to coexist
with farmers, because some farmers are considerate of their neighbours, and
have found other less invasive methods to protect their crops, even if such
methods are slightly more expensive.
In my neighbourhood, our farmer-neighbours have proven to pay little to no heed
to our complaints, demonstrating their utter disregard for our quality of life.
Cannons fire at all hours of the day, in numbers exceeding the allowable limit,
and when there are no birds present.
I urge you to plan and follow through on an action-based method to enforce
compliance among your members. Several of them are giving all of you a bad name.
Sincerely,
PO'ed in Surrey
