EDITOR,
Re. "Slow, but moving ahead," Letters, Chief, May 2.
Three years ago the Environmental Assessment Office concluded that GAS presented "potential significant adverse, economic, social, heritage and health effects." Water supply represents one of numerous issues with the 22,000-bed-unit proposal. Others identified by all of the municipalities in the corridor include building 100 kilometres of new road, a declining ski industry, the viability of 25 chairlifts on Brohm Ridge given the steep grade and highly variable weather conditions, 500,000 square feet of commercial space, environmental impacts to wildlife and habitat, and the socio-economic impacts to local First Nations, local businesses, and the DOS. These same problems were identified in the development's previous incarnation by the NDP government in the mid-'90s, and here we are 15 years later waiting for the solutions. I feel now as I did three years ago: the GAS proposal makes wildly optimistic claims of viability and prosperity that are not based on current market research for the sole purpose of purchasing Crown land at 5 per cent of market value. But don't take my word for it. The Environmental Assessment can be found via Google search with the words "Garibaldi at Squamish assessment 2010." The links associated with this search are also worth reading.
Jessica Reid
Squamish
