LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- March 18, 2008
To The Editor;
After having read the various letters to the editors in the local papers pro and con the current Kobau national park proposal and having attended the forums in Keremeos and Cawston, I began to suspect that an important piece of a larger truth was missing, and indeed it is.
Are our representatives, elected and otherwise, have not been completely forthcoming and indeed remiss on not reminding their constituents of the historic significance as to what may actually occur if Kobau Mountain is turned into a national park? After having made a few well-placed calls, I was made aware of an American driven park proposal that would take the current parks of Manning through to the Cathedral provincial park system.
I believe the next step would be to absorb the areas to the east of those parks through to Kobau Mountain.
This American proposed park system would go deep into the state bordering BC. This American park initiative would drive the park boundaries from Princeton to as far north as Pike Mountain that's half way to Merritt! That area is historic summer range for the Similkameen Valley ranchers. Further, the forest industry in that area would be shut down. We all know about the soft wood lumber agreement it certainly doesn't benefit an already crippled Canadian industry. There would be a blurring of national boundaries in areas already sensitive to illicit activities.
Kobau is just a small foot in the door to a much bigger, more insidious land grab. Keep in mind the most recent American dam proposal of the Similkameen River that has once again been brought to the table. A further example of the arrogance of our neighbours to the south. Having done the calculations, my family farm will be at kilometre 19 of the 23-kilometre flood zone. Currently our farm is situated several kilometres away from the river. I have no interest in waterfront property.
Can you Alex, and you Ross, tell me that you are truly representing Canadian interests and your local constituents welfare or my family directly? Please don't tell me that you are. Please don't tell me that you were not aware of the American parks initiative. It's been on the books for more than 10 years. Drop that paternalistic behaviour and don't tell me that what I may have to
'swallow' is good for me and my family.
I am firmly committed to vote for a different candidate and party at the next election if the park goes through. I am firmly committed to the abolishment of the senate. Now there's an initiative I would definitely back!
- Mary Nash, Cawston
To The Editor;
In your edition of the News Leader dated March 11, 2008, you state that I made the 'announcement' at a Chamber of Commerce meeting held the previous week that "Copper Mountain mine will go into production in 2010."
This statement is inaccurate. At the Chamber meeting on February 28, 2008, at the request of our Chamber Manager, I spoke to the press release
'2007 Review and Financial Results' issued by CMMC dated February 26, 2008. (This press release ran in both local papers during the week of March 3 and 4, 2008).
I explained that the preliminary assessment indicated good results to date with anticipated production beginning in late 2010.
Also, I made it very clear that I do not speak for CMMC and that any announcements come from the principals of the company. I stated that anything I had said was on the Copper Mountain website and insured that all present had the website address
(www.CuMtn.com).
While I share the optimism of local citizens regarding the Copper Mountain project, it is absolutely necessary that any information stated in the press be accurate.
- Frank Armitage, Princeton
(Editor's Note: Our reporter got the information from the March 3rd Town Council meeting where a member of council made the announcement. She reported accurately on what that council member said he heard at the Chamber meeting).
