Editor:
Saturday’s community forum on docks in Pender Harbour was a sad experience, tainted by disrespect, loud-mouthed confrontation, near mob-rule and a noticeable police presence. We all lost!
How can good people be so aggressive? The forum failed because there were no answers to the questions people want answered. The community asks, “Why have the Sechelt been put in the driver’s seat?” The civil servants point to the province’s New Relationship initiative. It is a policy matter.
Civil servants are limited to technical questions. And rightly so! The question on the community’s mind can be answered only by the minister responsible or a committee of the Legislature. It is time for elected representatives to meet the community. That is the appropriate outlet for the frustration over this public policy decision, and it is the only hope for a more constructive outcome.
Stumbling about in a dead-end sows seeds of discord. Cooler heads need to chart a course out, starting with our elected representatives, not civil servants and definitely not lawyers.
Nick Loenen, Garden Bay
