Letter to the Editor
Helen Grond
“Never assume malice when incompetence will suffice as an explanation” -Hanlon’s Razor
“Sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice” -Fred Clark’s Law
It has been shown that if government officials have been caught side stepping their own
legislated procedures, protocols and laws, the public is willing to forgive them if they promptly
take responsibility and appropriate action to correct the situation. Unfortunately, they typically
do the opposite. Governments normally double down on their mistakes, attempt to cover
them up or lay the blame on their chosen fall guy. This is how they lose public confidence.
This is exactly what happened in parliament on September 22 nd when the Trudeau government,
somehow, unbelievably invited a former Nazi SS veteran to be honoured by parliament. It’s
impossible to imagine how a world leader could make such a blunder. Trudeau refuses to take
personal responsibility and the reputation of our country (especially Trudeau) has been trashed
worldwide. Canadians of every stripe are unified in their shared horror. Right on cue, Trudeau
named speaker of the house, Anthony Rota as the fall guy to take the hit for his colossal failure.
In case you thought that government malfeasance was restricted to the Trudeau
administration, look no further than our local government – the Islands Trust. Concerned
residents are shocked at the behavior of Trust planners with respect to an ongoing debacle
regarding a proposed cell tower application by Rogers over the last 16 months. At every turn,
the Trust has avoided following due process. Those actions have potentially compromised our
Trustees and cast serious doubt on the fairness of our local elections held in 2022. The Trust
has been exposed providing advantages to the corporate interests of Rogers over the rights of
local residents. This has been substantiated by a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
release. A lawyer retained by concerned Hornby residents doesn’t hold back when she says the
whole thing stinks to high heaven.
If only the Trust would take responsibility for their actions! Instead, the seeds of a cover up
have already been planted with hints that a formerly employed junior planner may be poised to
take the hit. The Trust must take mature, decisive and corrective measures to avoid disgrace or
worse. Let’s hope they step up and do the right thing because the alternative means we do not
have a functional democracy!
Timeline of important dates in the Rogers application process
June 10, 2022 – Brian Gregg (Rogers’ agent) opens communications with Islands Trust.
August 17, 2022 – Rogers makes a formal application to install a tower on Hornby Island and the
Trustees are not informed.
September 9, 2022 – Local Trust Committee passes model strategy for cell tower placement on
Hornby Island.
October 15, 2022 – Trust elections take place with the community being kept in the dark during
the campaign about the August 17 th , tower application.
November 21, 2022 – The community and the Trustees first learn of the Rogers’ application in
local papers and the consultation process is advanced quickly through the holiday season.
January 13, 2023 – Rogers closes community consultation without carrying out a legally
required, in person public meeting on Hornby. The Trust seems to accept this and doesn’t press
for the required public meeting as of October 3 rd , 2023.
September 8, 2023 – A staff planner at an LTC meeting claims that the Trust planners were
unaware that the adoption of the more rigorous Model Strategy had occurred in a September
9, 2022 LTC meeting. The planning staff had full control over all meeting agendas, motions,
briefings and had themselves developed the model strategy.
