Editor:
Re: Candidates off and running in what should be a close race, Publisher's Perspective, April 17
I respectfully disagree with Tom Siba's statement: "This election there isn't a burning local issue the Liberals have to overcome."
There is a huge "burning issue" and that is the specter of Terminal 2. This issue has many aspects to it - too many to cover in this or any other letter. But, let me at least try.
Construction of an additional port and the associated structures - additional railway lines, warehouses etc. - would have extreme impacts upon the quality of life enjoyed by citizens of South Delta. To name just two, consider the additional noise and air pollution that would be created.
The construction of the second port would result in dredging of a large area of land as the new port would be the size of Stanley Park or greater. This would result in the disappearance of the existing marshlands and the nutrition and resting places it provides to migratory birds.
The great Pacific Flyway would become history and would impact not only the growing ecological tourism industry here but also eco-tourism in the American states to the south.
Moreover, the potential loss of ALR farmland - not just the 558 acres of optioned land - but more acreage in the future, would be a loss to the food security in our province.
And, it would entail a loss of benefits to our local citizenry. In 2012, more than 4,000 people signed a petition to the provincial government imploring it to keep this land as agricultural and not turn it over to industrial uses.
However, Terminal 2 has received the blessing of the provincial Liberal government. In providing its assent to a larger port, the current government has ignored the wishes of our citizens.
Yes, international trade is important but for heaven's sake, a better, less environmentally and socially destructive way to accomplish this needs to be found.
When the citizens of South Delta vote on May 14, I hope they will consider and vote for whomever has the best track record of speaking up for our community.
Anita den Dikken
