Dear editor,
As I react to the results of the election, I find that I regret my decision to vote for the Green Party.
Though I was admonished by some to vote NDP for the sake of defeating the Liberals, I decided to vote from my heart, sharing the view that, "If we don't vote for what we believe in, we will never get the change we want."
In retrospect, I see that strategic voting would have allowed both Green and NDP supporters to defeat the Liberals in our Comox Valley riding and I deeply regret my decision.
When I look at the political map of B.C., I am ashamed to be part of the Comox Valley. Is it not interesting, that all of the ridings on Vancouver Island elected NDP or Green, except for Comox Valley and Parksville/Qualicum, both of which are retirement communities?
I feel frustrated with those retired individuals who are part of a generation that has contributed to major environmental damage, but continue to keep blinders on and pretend that the environment is fine, or choose not to care because they won't be around to suffer through the consequences.
If you go to the Student Vote website, you see that had only young people be allowed to vote in this election, the NDP would have won a majority government with 54 seats, the Liberals would have won 20 seats and the Green party would have won eight seats with the BC Conservatives not winning any seats.
I feel it safe to say that in general, young people vote similar to how their parents vote. Which means that most people with a vested interest in the future of B.C., whether they be parents looking out for their children or young people themselves looking to their own future, would have elected an environmentally conscious government.
I call on Don McRae to be very aware of the fact that the majority of voters in the Comox Valley did NOT vote for him. In fact, 50 per cent of voters in the Comox Valley voted for the NDP or Green parties.
It is Mr. McRae's duty to represent all the people in his riding, not just those who voted for him. For the sake of our environment, as well as our children's future, I ask Don McRae to speak out against the Raven Coal Mine, as well as the Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan pipelines.
Let us not be shortsighted in our economic goals.
The strong economy that the Liberals are working towards will come at huge environmental costs, if they do not choose more sustainable goals. Our children must not be made to suffer through our mistakes.
P. Cross,
Comox