Dear Editor,
Keith Baldrey (July 29) may be correct: B.C. is experiencing growing polarization around energy, economic and environmental policy. But he dubiously characterizes it as “those who support the development of natural resources (versus) those who do not.” That description implies that First Nations territories, B.C.’s beautiful terrain and our economy’s landbase are simply “natural resources” to be “developed” or not. It also implies that those who want more sustainable development, more green jobs and more responsible use of non-renewable resources are simply naysayers.
Investment in renewable energy, ecologically responsible tourism and emission-reducing infrastructure like public transit, creates far more long-term jobs than extracting fossil fuels for export. Moreover, Alberta’s oil crash and B.C.’s tax-giveaways on LFG (liquefied fracked gas, let’s be honest) show the economic folly of relying so heavily on extractivist industries that contribute to humanity’s climate crisis. Even Premier Clark, on a photo-op with forest firefighters, admitted that B.C. is already suffering from climate change.
The real polarization is between extractivist corporations, often foreign-owned, and communities and workers who need an urgent transition to low-carbon prosperity. It’s not just a B.C. issue. In October, we can evict the Harper government before Canada becomes an authoritarian petro-state.
Bob Hackett, Burnaby
