Editor,
Recently, I read an article from the National Observer, where environmentalist David Suzuki chastised Green Party leader Andrew Weaver over his decision to support the new NDP Government’s decision to continue with the Site C Dam project.
Though I empathize and feel Mr. Suzuki’s remorse and frustration, I also understand the very difficult decision that had to be made by the Green Party Leader.
Though Site C is an environmental disaster when it comes to destroying valuable farmland and the uprooting of indigenous cultures, it will produce decades of clean energy.
Though Site C will cost us more to produce than what it will sell for, placing increasing pressure on our own domestic rates, we will have more than ample amounts of electricity for decades.
Though Site C has created a huge distraction away from clean and renewable energy systems, it has also put downward pressure on domestic solar, making it extremely competitive, with escalating BC Hydro debt, and which will continue to escalate, with the Site C boondoggle.
However, when push comes to shove Mr. Weaver and the BC Greens had no other alternative than to support the Government in power. For one thing, more constituents than not, whether informed or ill-informed, wanted the Site C project to go ahead.
In actuality, Mr. Suzuki had more opportunity to educate and reach out to the constituency than the poverty-stricken Greens. Mr. Suzuki iterates about how great past premier Dave Barrett was, yet doesn’t want to reach out politically himself.
In all due respect, Dave, if you want to make a difference, sometimes we have to get our hands dirty and put ourselves in uncomfortable positions. Ask Andrew.
Unfortunately, the bottom line is the BC Greens could not have stopped the Site C project. If they’d voted down the government, the Liberals would have won in spades and the project would have gone ahead regardless.
We’re very sorry, David. Like yourself, the announcement of the Site C project going ahead caused my tears to flow like the Peace River. But, as former prime minister Brian Mulroney once stated after losing a round of NAFTA talks, “Losing a battle is not losing the war. You consolidate your lines of communication, and prepare for another day.”
We have lots to fight for, David. Don’t give up on our grandchildren, don’t give up on our beautiful planet and please, David, don’t give up on us. We need each other.
Arthur Green, Hope
Fraser/Nicola Greens