2009 November :: Barry Penner is AWESOME!

A flood of Barry Penner quotes

Nov 21
2009

Anyone who lives in BC’s Lower Mainland knows that it rains here. A lot. I don’t have the exact numbers, but it’s something like 363 days a year of rain (we also get one day of snow and one day of sun, just to keep things fresh). This past week has been particularly rainy, to the point of creating a flood threat. Of course, Barry Penner had some important advice for everybody that may be facing flood waters.

“So everyone is going to have to pay attention. If you’re out near riverbanks and streams, best to avoid that if you can. And local community responders are going to have to watch carefully in case the water gets near the top of the banks.” – CBC News

Pay attention… and if you are out near rivers or streams, avoid being out near rivers and streams. If you aren’t out near rivers and streams, then you are safe to go out near rivers and streams. Makes sense to me.

“I’m not saying (flooding and landslides) will happen, but it’s something we are watching for,” Penner said. “I’m telling people to pay attention and stay away from rising rivers.” – Vancouver Sun

Pay attention… and keep away from rivers.

As the weather front moves through, Penner said he has two words for the public: “Pay attention.”

He urged fishermen to stay away from the rivers, parents to keep kids away from pooling water and storm drains, and drivers to use extreme caution on the roads.

“People insist on fishing even when the rivers are raging,” said Penner. “That’s not a good idea.” – Vancouver Sun

Pay attention… and don’t go fishing.

I think Barry Penner’s message is perfectly clear. Pay attention to the water. It’s tricky stuff, you know. You turn your back on the water for one minute, and BAM! Flood. Just like that.

Tags: BarryPenner, Environment, Quotes, Water, WeekendWordsofWisdom

Trackback • Posted in Weekend Words of Wisdom

I can’t stop staring at his ankles

Nov 20
2009

Barry Penner always stands up straight, regardless of the terrain. No silly mountain will mess with his heroic pose.

[SOURCE]

Tags: BarryPenner, Outdoors, Pictures

Trackback • Posted in Penner Pics

Everybody knows how awesome he is

Nov 19
2009

There was a little exchange during question period the other day that is certainly worth a quick look. Barry Penner answered a question (showing off his undeniable skill with the English language), but it’s what came immediately before that grabbed my attention. Here, have a read (draft transcript from here):

GRAVEL EXTRACTION
FROM FRASER RIVER

V. Huntington: Last week emergency management B.C. announced that the province will proceed with gravel extraction along unspecified portions of the lower Fraser River from January to March 2010. The province has insisted that this is all about public safety and reducing the flood risk. However, a former regional director with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has stated that there is a general lack of information that demonstrates that gravel removal has or will reduce flood hazard. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Similarly, the federal environment commissioner said in a report earlier this year that engineering and scientific studies concluded there was no reduction in the flood profile after gravel removal and that gravel removal would not significantly affect the potential for flooding. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

My question is to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. What scientific studies has his ministry used or conducted to justify the removal of gravel for flood protection measures? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Interjection.

Hon. B. Penner: Thank you for the intervention from the member for Delta North. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

The B.C. government is committed to flood protection, and certainly, given the recent weather events, the last 72 hours, we can see that our investments are paying dividends. It’s important that we continue to maintain our flood protection programs in British Columbia but that we do it in a balanced way. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

In the 1990s we know that the other party did put a moratorium on gravel removal and walked away from a federal-provincial funding program for flood protection in the province. Our government ran on a commitment to restore our protection programs and to return to a well-managed, environmentally sustainable and balanced gravel removal program in order to advance flood protection. That has been our commitment, and that has been what we’ve delivered. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]

Well, as fascinating as that is (investments! dividends! Even more proof that Barry Penner is doing the job of the Finance Minister as well as his own when looking after the province’s water)… I’m wondering what exactly the listed interjection is from the member for Delta North. It must have been something notable to have Barry Penner take the time to thank him for it, professional that he is. Well, you can get the video (here), so let’s go to the tape. The ‘Interjection’ is about a minute in, if you don’t care whatsoever for context):

For those of you that don’t have all of the MLAs and their ridings memorized (you weirdo), the member for Delta North is none other than Guy Gentner, NDP. So there you go… Barry Penner is so awesome that even the Official Opposition has to admit it. It’s now a matter of public record.

Tags: BarryPenner, Quotes, Video