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Keep him there!

January 27, 2012 5:33 PM

Editor, Sir;
Regarding the manager of the Golden Spruce Motel requesting a reduction on his water bill during lean times.
This is one time when council could be forgiven for making a hasty decision. There shouldn't even be cause for hesitation: He and his business are a valuable asset to the town, so they should do everything in their power to keep him there!
If a town this small can't let compassion override policy in a case like this, then what hope is there for upper levels of government to change their ways?
Gloria Tauber
Masset

Yeah, Nathan!

January 27, 2012 5:33 PM

Editor, Sir;
As a Political Science student, I feel I need to stand up and voice my concerns on something close to home. The Northern Gateway Project, an issue that can become so life altering in a negative way.
There has been a lot of talk about pipes lately, and not the kind you get after working out at the gym for a long time; pipelines bringing oil across delicate ecosystems and people's livelihoods. If it is a concern for people's livelihoods (such as the case on Haida Gwaii where the supertankers will be crossing some of the roughest waters in North America, increasing the chance of a spill) the pipeline shouldn't happen. And there is much more opposition than just one group, there are thousands of people who oppose it. And with such a terrible record that Enbridge has, as pointed out in David Suzuki's Article: What's so radical about caring for the Earth and opposing Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline? Suzuki writes: "a reasonable concern, in light of the more than HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enbridge" \l "Spills_and_violations" \t "_blank" 800 pipeline spills that Enbridge, the company in charge of the Northern Gateway, has had since 1999."
The opposition to this is the very example of how democracy should work and be a wakeup call for people like Mr. Harper. Consent of the governed (people, not numbers) was given to this Conservative government and it is their job not only to serve the people who voted for them, but all of Canada (the majority of which did not vote for his party, confusing I know, he has a majority government still).
That's where the need for a strong and practical person comes in. A person like Nathan Cullen. Every debate I have watched of Mr. Cullen shows a composed, compassionate, and overall great person who understands what people want. His speeches and debates are usually well applauded for his great sense of people first. Mr. Cullen was basically called a radical environmentalist by PM Stephen Harper and Joe Oliver (Minister of Natural Resources) along with anyone else opposing Enbridge's Northern Gateway project. Now don't get me wrong, the attraction for jobs and economic prosperity are very real for a project like this, but we have to find better and brighter ways of being economically stable and at the same time thinking about our environment; the single most important thing that gives us life and prosperity. In the same article that David Suzuki wrote, he said: "While an investment banker like Joe Oliver or a former oil industry economist like Stephen Harper may look at Canada and only see numbers, we see a country rich in natural resources, wildlife, clean water, a diverse population of educated and caring people, and institutions that have been built up over the years to put the interests of Canadians first." With such an opposition, I don't see why Mr. Harper cannot see the logic to Cullen's (or any other persons) reasons for opposing such a risky project. Mr. Cullen responded to these comments on his website: "These accusations are just a distraction from the issue at hand, which is the environmental risk of the proposed pipeline and the right for people to voice their concerns," said Mr. Cullen. "We're not going to be bullied into silence by foreign oil money." Mr. Cullen is running for the NDP leadership and I think we as a people concerned like him (and his NDP colleagues) should rally behind him and the NDP for a better government that sees us as people, not numbers. This should be a choice of the people who will be affected the most if an oil spill happens, and those are BC citizens. The insulting words towards people against the N. Gateway project are ridiculous and Mr. Harper needs to stop thinking so much about corporations and more about small town people who it'll affect the most. We need to put morals over money this time. We don't work for Stephen Harper, he works for us.
Joshua McLeod
Prince George

Keep off the beach

January 27, 2012 5:34 PM

Editor, Sir;
To the two motorcyclists who came over on the walking tide to Robertson Island and raced around in front of our house in the low tide: Please refrain from riding on the beach. Especially in such a low tide. There is a lot of life in the mud and under the rocks that you are disturbing. As well, your speedy riding is simply dangerous. We have two little boys who like to run up and down the beach, not only here, but also at Spruce Point. They were very startled by your brisk appearance. There are many back roads where you can race around without disturbing as many people or animals. Please stick to those roads!
Haawaa!
Kiki van der Heiden
Robertson Island
Queen Charlotte