Editor:
Re: “Sechelt overpopulated,” Letters, March 8.
To say we used to live in a nice quiet, peaceful little town of 8,000 without worry then someone let in the “developers”?
First of all, no one let them in. There is no wall or border crossing in Horseshoe Bay. Thankfully we still have the choice to live or do business where we choose to, as the letter writer did. Who has the right to decide the magical number of a town’s population?
I think the causes of the writer’s frustration are misguided.
From construction workers to developers, we all pay large development fees, building permit fees, income tax and land tax fees that are supposed to be associated with the infrastructure development to support the population.
The water shortage is not a developer, realtor or building labour issue – it’s a political one. If you believe the 162 people moving to Sechelt annually, which is likely not that many because it doesn’t account for any self-growth, is clogging the arteries of your ferry trip, it’s not. That’s a BC Ferries issue. You think a six to eight hour wait in the ER is an anomaly? That is a B.C. health care issue, everywhere.
We directly and indirectly employ several young people in the building trade who are working hard and raising families here, who were born to parents who were born here long before this town’s population was 8,000.
For anyone to suggest that if 2,000 people would just leave their community it would be very nice, as the letter states, is quite self-indulgent and ludicrous.
Be happy you’re still here – it’s actually not that bad. I know I’m not signing up for the Sechelt 8,000 Forever Society.
Dave Hutt, Halfmoon Bay
