Pimm’s Cup Runneth Over

A report in the Globe and Mail outlines how the development of a rodeo ground on agricultural land that was rejected by the Agricultural Land Commission, where the current Minister of Agriculture lobbied in favour of the prospective builder has actually been build, despite the rejection (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/rodeo-development-proceeds-without-government-approval/article15406994/). An administrator with whom I worked used to say quite often that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission, and why to I suspect that forgiveness is already built into this project because of the imprimatur of Pat Pimm, the possibly very conflicted minister, and the general attitude on the part of the current régime in Victoria that it would be more than convenient if the ALR were to just disappear so we could all get on with the real business of drilling for oil, gas, or whatever else it is that the Liberal money pots want in return for their largesse? What should happen? I recall the story of a design job by a certain architect who was mindful of seismic risks and who ensured that the specifications for the foundations of a certain school called for considerable reinforcing steel. When he showed up at the job site for the pre-pour inspection, he was apprised that the cement had arrived and that he pour was complete and curing. Said architect got a sledge and started to do some random sampling on the foundations and discovered that there was no rebar at all in the footings. Result? take it all out, redo it to spec. Everything that developer Terry McLeod has done in contravention of the ALC ruling should be taken out at his expense, and any delay in action or payment for the removal and remediation should result in forfeiture of the subject parcel. Any bets on whether there will be any such action?