Editor:
Not too long ago there was a "divine right" to "rule and govern" by such proponents as Louis XVI of France and Czar Nicholas of Russia, both of whom lost their heads in the process because of their autocratic decisions and not listening to valid complaints by the "demos" - the people.
Canadians consider their governments at all levels democratic.
The people directly affected by council's past and future decisions have spoken very clearly on several occasions not to entertain a proposal for developing the Southlands.
When Krista Engelland ran for mayor she topped all polls in Tsawwassen with her outspoken opposition to Southlands development.
When Sylvia Bishop ran for council, she also topped all polls in Tsawwassen because she opposed the Southlands development.
Council received approximately 250 letters in favour and about 1,250 against development.
This should convince even the most compliant councillor that the demos, the people, have spoken.
The argument that only a small percentage of the demos do not want development does not hold water when compared to the last municipal election participation - it was decided by only 33 per cent of the population entitled to vote.
Is the Southlands worth the additional staff hours of work at taxpayers expense to please a lean speculator - I don't think so.
The people most effected have clearly spoken. It is worth it to the developer?
Yes, like several million dollars. The proposal is not worth it to the people who have consistently opposed it. No, it is a degradation of Tsawwassen and its constituents.
Has there been a thorough evaluation in light of the new flood construction levels?
Has there been a thorough independent study of buildings on a flood plane? \Has there been a study of the potential hydrological problems of this annually flooded land?
Specifically the demos, the people, don't want to see in that process that this process might potentially take three years that would bestow 46,000 truck per annum, at 300 days a year and eight hours a day, one would enjoy 20 trucks per hour, or one every three minutes, followed by an untold number of cement trucks, followed by a multitude of lumber trucks plus pick up trucks for trades people.
Only an autocrat could approve this scheme of the century.
Siegfried Puetz
