Editor:
It was refreshing to read the letter from Richard Austin (“Let’s be open-minded,” April 30) regarding the proposed, now cancelled trial from BC Ferries. I may have written too but I was too busy delving into the proposal and making an effort to see exactly what was being proposed. It took me a few reads of the article in the paper and more than a couple of visits to their website and time spent listening to Mr. Collins’ presentation to the Sechelt Chamber of Commerce to be able to really grasp the concept of the proposal.
Will there ever be a system that works for everyone? Most likely not. Are we happy with the current system? Most likely not. Will it work for me? Maybe. But I won’t know until it can be tested. Now it won’t be tested and I really won’t know. Community engagement is very important and from what I can see this was done. Was every citizen consulted? No, this would be an impossible task. Was there opportunity? Absolutely there was. Maybe they did not knock on your door but there is always opportunity to comment.
At the end of Mr. Collins’ presentation he explained why the trial was cancelled. One of the reasons shocked me, or maybe it didn’t. He said that they had received verbal abuse from residents. You have a right to comment but verbal abuse is just not acceptable. The guilty parties should be ashamed. You proved nothing but your ignorance.
Come on, people. Don’t be afraid of what can go wrong, be excited about what could go right.
Bonnie Beaman, Roberts Creek
