LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- August 26, 2008
To The Editor;
Attending the August 14th SOS meeting on Coalbed Methane (CBM) I was impressed by the large turn out of people who were against CBM exploration, or should I better use the term exploitation.
People were even sitting and standing outside the building listening to what was being said.
It really is a no benefit project by Petrobank for our town and outlying areas. Any gas produced will go elsewhere. The few jobs created, I was told at a previous meeting perhaps three jobs - would not be much of a bonus.
Sure, a few landowners and ranchers get paid for granting drilling rights, but the two who spoke at this meeting certainly had nothing good to say about their experience with Petrobank. Damage to their hay fields and water supply was very serious. The lady rancher from Alberta had her ranch environment ruined and now has to import water to drink and bathe in as the well dug contaminated her domestic supply, causing skin and general health problems. Her final words of advice were, "Say no to CBM exploration."
When one looks at the negatives we have nothing to gain and everything to lose in our beautiful Similkameen Valley.
As far as a moratorium on drilling CBM I strongly disagree with the mayors of our area who signed any agreement which would allow consideration of future CBM efforts.
In my study of this method of gas exploration, all areas have been negatively affected. I hope the mayors reverse the moratorium and make a no CBM drilling statement - 100% against!
With the losing battle over our forests, namely with the mountain pine beetle, we are going to need other industry to strengthen our future economy in BC. Tourism is presently important to all of us in the Similkameen Valley. It will only increase, probably ranking third after forestry and mining in the near future. And if, as it seems likely, the beetles win, we may see it second in importance.
So for many reasons CBM makes no sense for us.
Let's keep our water and our environment clean - for our health and the future residents of our valley.
- John Sandness, Princeton
To The Editor;
On Friday afternoon, August 15th, an accident closed the Hope-Princeton Highway.
A friend of mine and a co-worker were assigned to tell people the highway may be closed up to five hours.
She received a barrage of verbal abuse from the motoring public. She is one of the most experienced traffic control people in this province and I might add, one of the nicest people I have ever met.
Traffic control people are there on the road to inform people why the highway is closed. It is NOT their fault the highway is not open to travel.
Traffic control people do NOT need your in-your-face abuse or comment from you as you drive by.
Remember, You, the travelling public are the reason we are at an accident scene or closing the road to travel.
The bottom line is: Don't shout at the messenger!
Sincerely,
Dale Shanks, Princeton
(Editor's Note: Thank you, Dale for this very important reminder for all of us!)
To The Editor;
You don't know how close you came to seeing my name in the obituary column of the newspaper. Thanks to a good neighbour, she came over.
Because of the threat of losing my home, I have been quite ill as well as others in the park.
The trailer park, behind the Fire Hall on Penryn Avenue, was put up for sale.
How little we knew what was involved, it wasn't the trailer park for sale, but the land.
We are all stunned.
Some owners of trailers have been here since 1973, 1978 and I have been here for 24 years. The rug - so to speak - was pulled from under us. We lose everything, our homes and our investments. Under the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act we would get twelve months notice to vacate. We would, of course, be paying rent during these twelve months if we stay the twelve months.
Out we go with nowhere to live. We can't get a mortgage because we are too old even if we had the money, which we don't.
There is no affordable rentable housing in Princeton. We can put our names in for Vermilion Court but in the meantime, where do we live?
Princeton has six mobile home parks. Stop and think if owners sell the land where these homes are situated, where will you go? The mobiles are too old to be moved, they will have to be destroyed.
Ladysmith is a prime example, Clinton and Coquitlam as well. If you read The Province awhile back look what happened to them. They lost their mobile homes out of the blue - the land was sold.
The owners of the parks get the honey (and so does the realtor) and the developers reap the benefit of new apartment buildings and homes worth over $300,000.
The mobile home owners are mostly seniors who thought they were able to live their lives peacefully, knowing they had a little money to enjoy.
No, think again.
You have lost everything, home and security. The Minister of Housing has no compassion for them, the attitude being: Buyer Beware.
Princeton mobile home owners, don't be too complacent. Look into whatever agreements you have with your
park. Money speaks louder than words and with the possibility of the mine opening here in 2010, with 240 men being hired to work there, where will they find homes? Valuable land sits where your mobiles are.
Our little group have had one briefing with Town Council to let them know of our plight, but without support from the residents of Princeton, we have an uphill battle to save or get fair value for our homes.
Don't let us down, we need your support in body not just verbal.
Sincerely,
Cathie Orser, Princeton
To The Editor:
RE: Princeton BC News
I called you this morning about acquiring copies of your next installments of Princeton BC News for my Grade 5 class.
I think intermediate teachers would find your guide very useful! I was really impressed with the photos and stories within the first Summer '08 issue and am really excited about using them as a valuable BC learning tool this coming year.
You said you might be able to send me more copies throughout the year as they become available and I am looking forward to seeing them if this is possible. Thank you!
- Tamara Scott
Brentwood Elementary School,
Brentwood Bay, BC
(Editor's Note: Issue #02 should be printed in October).
