I was disturbed by the tone of the cartoon in your May 26 edition, showing a revised map of Canada excluding B.C.
The NIMBYism that seems so prevalent here is most unfortunate. Virtually every development that gets proposed engenders immediate negative response, regardless of what its prospective merits may be, and what approvals (conditional or otherwise) may have been granted.
Canada was built on the backs of natural resources extraction, our ability to move product to port and develop trading relationships around the world. Without that effort by our forefathers, few of us would enjoy the lifestyle that we have become accustomed to.
Yes, protecting the environment is absolutely critical and as a society we have been less than stellar about this in the past. But that does not mean that new development should be automatically resisted — there must be a balance.
Provided that reasonable safeguards are put in place, and the interests of all parties are fairly considered, new developments that are in the best interest of the country need to be allowed. Otherwise, economic growth will stagnate and we will leave a legacy for future generations, even more dangerous than environmental damage. We can have it both ways.
Bruce W. HealyParksville