Stacey Gaiga, Alberni Valley Times, August 09, 2011

Even if a coal port facility was located "outside city limits," it wouldn't solve or prevent the toxic effects it would have on ocean life.

No matter where a coal port is located it would inflict enormous damage to the surrounding land, air and water, and considering nothing can stop salmon from instinctually spawning in the river they were born in, including travelling through toxic water, a coal port anywhere on the Inlet is wrong.

It is proven that coal is deadly no matter where it's located and it's why the mayor of New York City just gave $50 million to fight coal last week and it's why CNN covered why America has to get off coal and how ending reliance on coal will clean our air, improve our health, create jobs, and expand our economy.

Council may not have a say regarding what federal land is used for, however, the city's OCP Shoreline Master Plan was developed in conjunction with the federal government's Port Alberni Port Authority.

They agreed on principles and developed public policy mutually establishing use of our city's waterfront.

If council were familiar with this document, they would know that the proposal for an 80,000 ton coal storage facility and coal port can be vetoed by council because it is in opposition to sustainable development strategies that are established.

Mayor McRae stated the coal decision is not council's to make, however, is it not council's job to listen to, and act in the best interest of the people who elected them?

Public opinion already exists with over 4,000 unanimous submissions to the government in opposition to the Raven coal project.

It's there for everyone in the world to see, so it's clear that council's choice to not pay attention to the majority who have expressed they don't want coal in their lives, is a conscious decision. The question is why?

Perhaps the "exercise in frustration" Mr. Whiteman referred to would be learning the level of frustration constituents have regarding council's lack of empathy, lack of effort and refusal to stop coal from coming to our community.

Stacey Gaiga
Port Alberni

© Alberni Valley Times 2011

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