Dear editor,
James Powsey's letter to the editor on Feb. 17 was the best letter I have read so far regarding the proposed Raven Coal mine.
Mr. Powsey's letter was eloquent and entirely from the heart.
There are many people in the Valley actively working to stop this insane project from proceeding. We have attended dozens of meetings, written thousands of comments and letters, generated dozens of professional reports and yet we still feel like the decisions regarding something so toxic to our way of life are not ours to make.
What motivates us to work so hard? It certainly isn't money. It's love.
Love of this place, of the bounty nature bestows upon us every day, of our wild places, our ocean, our locally grown food, and especially the love of our children and a sincere hope to leave them something good for their future.
The people who would mine the Comox Valley know nothing of this place except that it is an opportunity to make money, with no regard for the consequences. The lost opportunities in the Valley would far exceed the potential jobs created by the mines.
I had no idea that the community of Campbell River went through the same waking nightmare we are currently experiencing in 1981. Residents of Campbell River were appalled when they heard news of the proposed Quinsam Coal mine.
Despite widespread public opposition, supported by Colin Gabelmann, their MLA at the time, and and many submissions from 36 organizations, as well as the mayor and council of Campbell River, at a formal Public Inquiry, the Quinsam mine was issued a permit.
Stephen Rogers, the Minister of Environment at the time, acknowledged the public opposition but stated "that's not the only criterion we're going to use."
In 2010, Dr. William Cullen, a respected scientist from UBC, conducted an environmental investigation in the Quinsam watershed, including Long Lake beside the mine workings.
Dr. Cullen's research found arsenic levels in Long Lake as high as 630 ppm. (B.C. provincial guidelines are 11 ppm in sensitive aquatic habitats).
More frightening, experiments showed that mussels in the lake were absorbing the arsenic in their tissues. Dr. Cullen stated that the Quinsam mine's denial of the mine causing the heightened arsenic levels was "a gross distortion of fact."
Despite this non-compliance, in January 2012, Rich Coleman, the Minister of Energy and Mines, announced the granting of a permit to Quinsam to extend their mines 3.5 kms from the present site.
If the Raven mine gets passed, there likely will be no environmental assessment done when they decide to expand to the Bear Project, which would be an open pit mine above Cumberland and Comox Lake, the major source of drinking water for Comox Valley citizens.
The fact that Quinsam was given an another permit despite being in non-compliance should be a wake up call. Compliance has mineral tenures over 71,660 acres stretching from Fanny Bay to Black Creek. Once the beast is out of its cage, there will be no stuffing it back in.
The project is going through an Environmental Assessment right now, but it is important to note that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office seldom turn down projects, and once approved, these projects rarely get the scrutiny they deserve.
There are not enough trained field staff in government to protect your water, your shellfish, and the species which will be impacted.
I know there are thousands of people in the Comox Valley who are opposed to this mine. A total of 1,500 people showed up at public meetings held in Courtenay, Union Bay and Port Alberni. Well over 3,000 comments were submitted during the public comment period.
We need public pressure. Lots of public pressure. Pick up some paper and a pen and write a letter to Christy Clark, MLA Don McRae, MP John Duncan, or Rich Coleman.
Tell them from the heart why we don't need coal mines. Be respectful; they have tough jobs to do, but they need to be convinced that it is in their best interest to not approve the mine. A hand-written letter has much more impact with government than an e-mail.
Another idea is to stage an event. A talk, a rally, a dance, a parade, a flash dance, whatever gets people out and talking. Talk to your friends and neighbors, and spread the word far and wide.
We live in paradise. Let's keep it that way.
Lynne Wheeler,
Fanny Bay