Editor:
A number of years ago I wrote a letter to Coast Reporter expressing my views on the Northern Gateway project and wondering what if this project was in our waters.
Well, Sunshine Coast, they’re here…LNG proposal in Squamish, gravel pit proposal on McNab Creek and the laughable but serious proposal to ship Lower Mainland garbage to Port Mellon to feed an incinerator. The waste to energy Port Mellon project is on hold and will not be pursued as the business case is cost prohibitive for the Lower Mainland municipalities.
However, after many years of recovery, Howe Sound is viewed as the best place to build an LNG plant. We were denied an open house here because apparently we are closer to West Vancouver than Bowen Island. I would suggest that the B.C. government has trouble googling a map or felt the opposition would be more pronounced on the Sunshine Coast. Your guess is as good as mine.
The issue is the same as Northern Gateway — this is absolutely the dumbest place to build an LNG terminal with LNG tankers plying such a narrow fiord. Throw in a few islands and the navigation is a problem. Since the cargo is so dangerous, transport restricts all other vessels moving during arrival and departure through Howe Sound and Georgia Strait. Or does it? There is no current restriction of greater than five km between vessels.
Your Member of Parliament John Weston believes this is the economy and the environment working. He was very disappointed when the mayor and council of West Vancouver opposed the LNG proposal. Weston, you have never opposed anything this government has done. This is your record and you will face your constituents in 2015.
Bonnie Nicol, Gibsons
