Dear editor,
Subject: Coal mine warnings related to 2010 Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) announcement by CSIS director.
The matter of this coal mine is completely political as noted by CSIS director Richard Fadden in a rare June 22, 2010, interview where he indicated that certain B.C. provincial and municipal politicians were being influenced by various Asian powers, one being China. This coal mine represents part of his message.
Vancouver Island is returning to a natural environment for habitat, flora, wildlife, fish, and most notably for retirement, tourism, recreation and general living. The past involved a coal mine, mills which have destroyed much of the above in those areas. Port Alberni which is beginning to recover from the disaster of the past and embracing retirees, tourism and a place to live would be thrown backwards in time, let alone the infrastructure, including transportation, etc. be seriously affected in the waterways, highways, traffic, etc. Why would tourists or retirees come to these areas?
My suggestion is to create an Island-wide petition to send to the provincial Liberal government, supportive local municipal governments, and the federal government a message stating that Vancouver Island residents do not want this coal mine.
The petition would indicate that Vancouver Islanders’ would vote against the provincial Liberal government in the next provincial election if the coal mine is pushed forward. Therefore, if you apply this pressure on the Liberal government then you reduce or limit this Asian political influence for our raw deposits at our environmental and pollution expense.
The persuasion of these governments would rather rape our resources for short term profits/jobs for their continued production at our ultimate expense.
Dr. Sterling Desmond,
Comox
