Keri Sculland, Alberni Valley Times, June 9, 2011

After three public meetings, I'd say the citizens of Courtenay, Port Alberni and Union Bay spoke their opinions loud and clear on the environmental aspect of coal.

What I saw in Port Alberni was a pretty calm rendition of the other public meetings, but it was exciting nonetheless. I can only imagine what federal and provincial environmental assessment representatives and Compliance Coal president and CEO John Tapics had on their minds. It was 11:30 p.m. before the meeting ended, and even then, a handful of people hovered, waiting to ask their questions after the meeting had come to a close.

The entire event was based around having people's voices heard. Before the question and answer period, there were displays set up around the Alberni Athletic Hall, and people were given the opportunity to post their comments online as well through a wireless router Raven Underground had brought with them. Even Tapics said the most important part of this process was hearing what people had to say about the project that could export coal from Port Alberni. The five representatives sitting at two tables in front of a crowd as large as 600 were pounded with tough questions, and at times, accusations.

If it were me sitting in front of the room, I probably wouldn't have put up with the nonsense. From the start, people were ignoring the two-minute rule for asking questions, and it only escalated from there.

Two high-fives are deserved for that. One to the panel of experts and the other to the people of Port Alberni for ensuring their questions were thought-out, concise and heard.

Even before entering the Athletic Hall that evening, there were protesters in front of the doors, the Wilderness Committee was handing out pamphlets, anti-coal signs were posted and a "dead canary" rested in front, representing the canary miners would send into the mine to check for gas.

If it didn't come out, it wasn't safe to go back into the mine yet.

The meeting at Union Bay echoed the sentiments of Courtenay and Port Alberni from earlier in the week. At times there was yelling, musical instruments, and they sang a song in protest together.

If these three communities didn't muster up enough fuss for the federal and provincial governments to take notice, democracy has failed. There weren't many positive comments from the public as I watched, though there was a few times I took a break (guilty). But, who knows, they could prevail through online and written comments. All of the questions and comments voiced aloud were transcribed at the event. I'm surprised she kept up with the pace of it all, and there was barely any time for breaks.

In Port Alberni, we heard from a few of our key players in the community. They commended Tapics and the environmental assessors for answering questions that evening.

I was speaking with someone a couple of weeks ago, who grew up in a coal town. He said it generates revenue and jobs for the town, and it wasn't really much of an inconvenience or eyesore to have. There are positive comments out there, but right now, they are being overshadowed by the negative.

KSculland@avtimes.net

© Alberni Valley Times 2011

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