Give residents the voice they deserve

Editor’s note: this letter was originally sent to Bowen Island council in advance of the July 10 discussion on how toproceedwithMetroParks’requesttoallowcampingonits new Cape Roger Curtislands It has been editedforlength

I am deeply concerned that if MV satisfactorily responds to all of BIM’s conditions, or perhaps just some of them, that MV will automatically interpret that as a commitment for BIM to approve their application

Julie Vik’s No Camping at Metro Vancouver’s Regional Park at Cape Roger Curtis petition, which now has 1,565 signatures and growing, reinforces the position of a significant portion of us community residents/property taxpayers, many of whom are strong environmentalists, on this delicate and divisive matter The strong opposition to camping is not simply because 1,565 residents do not like camping as a recreational activity; we have performance-based concerns for our overcrowded, late and too-often cancelled ferries, under the present vehicle/passenger demand levels, which as BC Ferries CEO Nicholas Jimenez admits: (a) is a problem that has not just occurred overnight; (b) and will take many years at great expense with great frustration, disappointment and disruption to resolve

The reality of the record number of forest fires, over half of which are caused by irresponsible and uncaring individuals, with surely the prospects of a catastrophic fire on our island community, is worthy of a “ no ” second reading vote by council

I encourage BIM to conduct a non-binding opinion poll, at MV’s expense Why not give local residents the “official voice” we deserve? Why subject both MV and BIM to the excessive investment of time, effort and money on the overall initiative if the majority of residents still said NO to camping?

An unprecedented negative change/compromise to our community’s way of life should not have to be made/forced upon us just because MV made an irresponsible and questionable decision to invest $40 million for the purchase of the 240-acre Cape site, without the certainty of having permission for their, not ours, beloved camping sites

Bruce and Dorene Russell

BowenTrunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC,V0N 1G0

604 947 2442 Fax: 604 947 0148 bowenislandundercurrent.com