Marc Gaudreau, Comox Valley Echo, November 02, 2010

Our provincial government is REQUIRING municipalities to institute targets, policies and actions for greenhouse gas reduction to comply with bill 27. Does anyone understand it?

We spend money for the planning; spend who knows how much to make it so, whilst at the same time the government seems to be on the road to supporting the commencement and extraction of new coal mines.

Coal I say! What would be the point of cutting some greenhouse gas only to add on the world's dirtiest fossil fuel? What kind of a trade off is that? A magician's slight of hand trick hoping the general public only sees a wage at the end of the rainbow?

It is looking more and more like our whole province is quickly becoming the latest resource boom of Canada. Our provincial government has found the easiest method of taking us into a new era, the problem being, that future generations might not be able to stomach the destruction created on the way.

I speak not only of coal. Whole communities all over the province are at risk with new projects on the books. The latest announcement from our Premier seems to insinuate that our rich natural resources are ripe for the taking, and those that are in the path are not of a significant consequence to worry about.

It's easy to place our heads in the sand and never voice an opinion until it happens to us. We see it all over the news how these incidents are common place all over the developing world. Truly tragic stories abound.

With no serious opposition from we the public, our entrusted politicians continue to push the bar on free reign to rape and pillage as they see fit.

The newly created "Ministry of Natural Resources Operations" appears to be yet another smoke screen towards unending unaccountability. Is it yet another method to stonewall the public by fast tracking resource extraction with little or no public input? For those who don't watch the news, time after time the European nations do not stand for it. Millions take to the street on a regular basis to express their right to do so. They have figured it out; the government has and will work for the people, none other.

We Canadians have become a gullible lot. The belief that our politicians have our best interests at heart seems epidemic. Maybe at some time in history that statement was true, but, as times become more desperate it is evident people will resort to desperate measures.

Our politicians are no different than the man on the street with regard to those affairs. Their jobs are as important to them as the couple living next door. It is each and everyone of our responsibility to question the soundness of decision making and the ramifications thereof. The garden path is laden with beauty but don't forget to check out the cactus garden on the way.

Marc Gaudreau
Fanny Bay

© Comox Valley Echo 2010

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