To the editor,
I am very grateful that our new government has chosen to have the B.C. Utilities Commision review the Site C dam proposal, which has already started, contravening laws that should include First Nations’ right to be consulted and have a decision in the project. I wonder how legal the decision to change ALR laws to accommodate flooding of farm land in the Peace region was? A partisan decision based on philosophic agendas?
Also, considering climate change, not only should we humans figure how to use less energy, we need to retain all the farm land that we can. Foreign nationals are buying land all over the globe, including Canada, which speaks to the increasing value of land. How foolish it would be to flood perfectly good farmland, so we can continue to increase energy wants and waste! Flooding the land, as you must well know, increases the release of methane. Importing food increases release of carbon in the transportation. We need to be more self-reliant on our food needs, moving into the future. With climate change, the season for growing will likely be extended in northern areas of Canada. Consider that droughts in the south could impede our ability to grow here.
The more we mess with nature, the messier life becomes. Forest fires and floods come to mind, not to mention social unrest, crime and expense.
Lavonne Garnett, Nanaimo