He was referring to the reported future sale of the Grouse Grind trail and council's agenda item requesting postponement of that decision prior to an extensive public debate. The land in question was formerly controlled by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, but has been or soon will be transferred to Grouse Mountain Resorts. There is no word yet on what the company intends, although it benefits significantly from hiking on the mountain. In a Vancouver Sun article of April 23, Bob Paddon, communications manager for the GVRD, is quoted as saying that one reason to sell the trail used by 100,000 hikers annually was the liability factor. Lisa Muri agreed, commenting that several other areas within the municipality were also in debris flows but that was a risk in a community like the district.
Liability is a red herring.
MacKay-Dunn is concerned that closing the Grouse Grind Trail would also close the Baden Powell Trail. Council agreed that the public needs to be brought into any decision process. Muri suggested that although the GVRD owns the land, it falls within the district and is subject to the municipality's rules. To urge the GVRD to erect suitable signage warning the public of risks in inclement weather. To request the GVRD undertake a public process before making any decision on the future of the Grouse Grind and its possible impact on the Baden Powell Trail.