Editor:
Re: “Time to think again about road link” (Coast Reporter letters, Oct. 3).
Robert Cannon-Brown has made a very good suggestion and I’d like to add some more thoughts in support.
We currently have an opportunity to make this a reality, but our three local governments have made a knee-jerk decision that has essentially “killed the golden goose.” The Woodfibre LNG proposal is the perfect opportunity to offer project support in exchange for a road link along the west side of Howe Sound — yet our governments chose to oppose the project, with little thought.
All over the world, industrial projects include infrastructure projects as part of the deal. This could be no different. An extension of the highway from Port Mellon to Squamish would have numerous benefits (I’m sure we can all think of many), not the least of which is to open up the Woodfibre LNG project as a potential employer for Sunshine Coast residents.
I expect any road would be built as a P3 project, and be tolled. This shouldn’t be an issue for us as we already pay a toll to get to and from anyway. The project proponents could head up the P3 and be the beneficiary of the tolls, allowing employees from the Sunshine Coast to be exempt or reimbursed.
It may not be too late for our governments to change their mind.
Ryan Medd, Gibsons
