Editor,
I am writing in response to last week's article titled "GAS plan moving ahead." (Feb/6/09), specifically to GAS CEO Mike Esler's comments that there are "no issues with water supply." Last March the Environmental Assessment Office, under pressure from a lawyer from West Coast Environmental, put GAS on hold for the second time due to lack of information on GAS impacts, particularly regarding water supply. Water supply has been the main reason why investors have pulled out of this development proposal over the past two decades, while others have lost money, and why the previous provincial government shut it down in 1998. It seems GAS, to date, despite ample time and money thrown at the problem, has not figured out how to solve it. Meanwhile, GAS continues to push forward because if approved, they will purchase over 4,901 hectares of Crown Land at five per cent of market value (or $5,000 per acre). If the ski hill goes belly up, the provincial government is on the hook to bail it out (i.e. taxpayers). The GAS proponent will reap the profits on the real-estate portion, regardless. District of 撸奶社区taxpayers will be on the hook for all long-term service and infrastructure costs, including water supply.
Jessica Reid
Squamish
