We should be thanking Christy Clark for Site C, reader says
Former premier Christy Clark should be blamed for the Site C dam? Are you serious?
To Clark, this British Columbian says: Thank You! Thank you so much for standing up to all those tree-hugging environmentalists who believe that the loss of one tree is one too many. It’s time for them to grow up and accept that good government is about having to compromise and make tough decisions to serve the interests of all British Columbians, not just one special-interest group.
So kudos to her for giving us the Site C dam.
Michael Aiello, Vancouver
Site C is a win for B.C.
So letter-writer Edward Fox suggests that if Site C were “being considered today, it would be defeated?” Baloney! I don’t know anyone who thinks Site C should be defeated. Maybe if Fox looked at the clean energy Site C will still be creating in 30 years, he might have a different opinion, but I doubt it. In this day and age, all people want to do is see their own narrow-minded view of everything.
I get it that there have been — and will be — some very extreme environmental issues in building Site C, but the many years of clean hydro energy and the economic value should have some merit in this conversation.
Steve McGuire, Duncan
Every vote should count
If “50 per cent plus one” is insufficient support for the “proportional representation” side to win, why is less than 50-per-cent support sufficient for “first past the post” to win?
I guess FPTP proponents are so used to getting their way with support in the low 40s, they fear true democratic voting. In 2005, FPTP defeated election reform with just 42-per-cent support, and now they want to stack the deck again.
Some people are concerned about the behaviour of PR governments. But FPTP governments have their shortcomings too. If we had had PR in 2009, it’s unlikely the Liberals could have got the necessary support to pass the HST and B.C. would have saved lots of money avoiding the whole implementation/de-implementation mess.
Having a system where every vote counts should result in a government that more accurately reflects the wishes of the voters.
Steen Petersen, Nanaimo
Grant signals larger problem
The mysterious $200,000 grant to Surrey’s New Horizons Village Society was only one of 300-plus grants totalling more than $8 million made by the former Liberal government just before the May provincial election.
While the New Horizons grant is indeed suspicious, why focus only on the one group? The bigger issue is the Liberals’ blatant, widespread attempt to buy votes.
The feeble investigation of the scandal by the current government is also a mystery. It must be a disappointment to Delta-North MLA Ravi Kahlon, who uncovered it.
Blaise Salmon, Mill Bay
Front page too negative
I was very disappointed in the picture chosen for the front page on the last paper of the year.
It was mean-spirited and small-minded to pick such a negative portrayal of former premier Christy Clark’s surprise exit from office as the photo to illustrate the most important news of 2017. Why not pick a photo that shows the new government celebrating its decisive win to show a more uplifting and upbeat path to the new year?
It appeared that someone just couldn’t resist taking a final jab at Clark. At this time, more than ever, we need to feel that the news can choose to be a more positive force.
Sue Fryeskul, Vancouver