(This letter was sent to B.C. Premier John Horgan and copied to Coast Reporter.)
Mr. Horgan:
I recently listened with interest as BC Ferries CEO Mark Collins talked about BC Ferries’ acceptance of the reality that much work needs to be done at Horseshoe Bay to prepare it to improve service to the Sunshine Coast (and the islands, of course). He acknowledged that the Sunshine Coast is not well serviced and that a “boom” is happening here now and likely to continue.
All good news, except that our highway cannot safely handle the traffic we now have, never mind any additional.
My point in raising this is that I understand – and support – the desire to keep British Columbian construction workers employed. And I understand the pressure that brings to keep Site C going in spite of overwhelming lack of support for that project, politically, economically, and environmentally. It is simply not a supportable project in the 21st century.
So why not put those British Columbians to work building infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast that is needed? It is needed to improve existing unsafe conditions on the highway, it’s needed to enable growth on the Coast that will bring a younger demographic here to fill the jobs that our businesses so desperately need, and it is needed to relieve pressure on the Lower Mainland in terms of affordability, and pressure to develop Richmond and Fraser Valley farmland. I see no downside to this approach.
To sum up, I heartily support improvements to ferry service, I strongly advocate for highway improvements on the Coast, and I adamantly oppose the continuation of Site C.
Vickie Morris, Sechelt
