LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- May 07, 2007
Dear Editor;
I would like to thank the West Kootenay EcoSociety for putting on a fantastic
conference addressing one of the most important issues facing our planet -
climate change. This conference is a great first step in making this region a
leader in environmental stewardship to protect this planet from devastating
climate change.
Although I was unable to attend the conference due to parliamentary business,
two of my staff members, Ann Harvey and Jayme Hadikin, attended the event on my
behalf and have discussed with me the all the presentations and workshops that
took place. Both were very impressed with the entire event. While learning a
great deal, they enjoyed the opportunity to meet with all the speakers and
participants who showed an obvious and deep commitment to address climate
change.
The federal government has a very important role to play when it comes to
climate change and the environment. We have an opportunity to pass legislation
to meet our Kyoto commitments. The newly amended Bill C-30, the Clean Air and
Climate Change Act, does just that. However, the Federal Environment Minister,
John Baird, has said that the cost of meeting Canadaıs Kyoto commitments would
send Canada into a recession. During a live video link at the conference, the
Mayor of Güssing, Austria, Mr. Peter Vadasz, talked about how his community was
suffering because of the unemployment rate and the out migration of the young
people. That is when the community decided to reach for self-sufficiency and
renewable energy. In the last ten years, because of the renewable energy sector,
there are 1,000 new jobs in a town with a population of 4,000.
When Mayor Vadasz was asked by a conference delegate what he thought of Minister
Bairdıs comments about sending Canada into a recession, he replied, Moving to
self-sufficiency and renewable energy creates jobs, it doesnıt kill them. Why
would you pay for imported energy, when you can pay for local energy so that the
jobs and money stays local? Self-sufficiency should be at the top of your
countryıs agenda. In my opinion, Mayor Vadasz has it right.
Thank you again to everyone who is working to address climate change. Together,
with all levels of government involved, we can make a difference.
- Alex Atamanenko, MP - BC Southern Interior
To The Editor;
Hello George,
I hope things have been going well for you since we last talked.
I thought I would let you know about an award my book, Interred With Their Bones, Bill Miner in Canada, 1903 to 1907, is to receive in early May.
I have been advised by the BC Historical Federation that I will receive an Honourable Mention Citation in Victoria May 11th. The Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnola will be presenting the award along with a number of others initiated for historical writing by the Federation.
The book is now into its third print and reaction to the exhaustive and comprehensive look at life in British Columbia 100 years ago has been extremely positive. Many of the comments posted to the authorıs website at
www.billminer.ca tell of readers exploring the country around Princeton, Hedley, Tulameen, Aspen Grove, Nicola, Douglas Lake, Quilchena and all along the Otter Valley Road, trying to trace the footsteps of Bill Miner and all of those who were affected by him over 100 years ago. The maps and the detailed descriptions of the incidents taking place in the book have piqued the interest of lovers of BC History in the interior.
The Princeton and District Museum and Archives continues to carry copies of the book, and sales have been steady in Princeton since it was published less than a year ago.
- Peter Grauer, Kamloops, BC
peter@billminer.ca
