Open Letter to the premier of British Columbia
Dear Ms. Clark,
The Northern Sentinel of September 28 reported that you said “I think the Northwest is going to be the economic engine of BC.”
We do need some well paying permanent jobs, businesses and industries to ramp up our tax base, but not “anything goes”.
From our own research, door knocking and other communication with residents, we have learned that at least 80 per cent of our citizens are very much opposed to the Enbridge Northern Gateway proposal.
This is consistent with provincial figures.
We had a public forum on September 20 about this proposal, one that we had lobbied for for a long time and which Enbridge always rejected until now.
It was very short notice and extremely poorly advertised by the sponsor [the District of Kitimat], so a few citizens had to stuff mail boxes etc. at their own expense to make the event known.
During question period not one person from the audience said anything in favour of the project.
Early on in the consultation process Enbridge stated that they would not proceed if the people did not want it.
Now their representative said they would press ahead regardless of public opinion.
A very disturbing item at the forum, at least to some people, was that four uniformed RCMP officers were present, two stationed at the door through which everybody had to pass.
Also two officers in civilian clothes and a body guard were present. Are metal detectors next?
Is there something wrong when this appears to become a necessity for politicians and heads of industry?
Do not get me wrong, I have always been a great supporter of the RCMP and offered help when I could.
Then there was for me this disturbing report on CBC radio September 23 that the Canadian military is establishing a base for the Mountain Rangers with a weapons cache in Prince George.
A peculiar location and timing. What kind of a country are we turning into?
Dieter Wagner,
Douglas Channel Watch.