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Comox Valley MLA 'missed a golden opportunity'

Dear editor, I witnessed a letter-writing event held Saturday in Fanny Bay centred around the Raven Coal Mine issue.

Dear editor,

I had the opportunity this past Saturday to witness a letter-writing event held in Fanny Bay centred around the Raven Coal Mine issue.

The Ground Zero Coal event was appropriately named due to Fanny Bay’s close proximity to the massive coal mine, and organized by a local grassroots citizens' group.

People were asked to write handwritten letters to local and provincial candidates expressing their concerns about the proposed Raven Coal Mine.

Realizing the importance of the mine issue to the folks in Fanny Bay, candidates Kassandra Dycke, Diane Hoffman and Chris Aikman stopped in to observe and ask questions. Bruce Jolliffe, our Area A CVRD director, also took time out of his day to visit and chat with the locals.

I was disappointed that incumbent Don McRae didn’t find the time to come down to listen to the concerns on the Raven Coal Mine, especially since all of the local governments in the Comox Valley have requested a more rigorous environmental assessment process than is currently underway.

Is Mr. McRae still defending the current process as world-class, rigorous and thorough?

Mr. McRae missed a golden opportunity to engage with the local residents of Fanny Bay. Given the motivation shown by the people who sent in their handwritten letters, it’s clear the Raven Mine will be in their minds when they cast a ballot on May 14.

John Snyder,

Fanny Bay