Re: “Bighorn sessions a must, says MLA Nixon,” (page 2, Jan. 22 Gazette)
Mr. Jason Nixon (UCP MLA Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre) says, “The reality is we are not going to accept a fake consultation process that is rush and not done adequately with the community”. Fake? Sounds like the Trump and Doug Ford mantra to me. Anything they don’t like is called “fake."
Who does Mr. Nixon “really” represent? Real estate developers? Natural resource industries? Banks and mortgage companies? Those business interests who want to expand their operations into the Bighorn Country?
Do these interests want to turn the West Country into one gigantic parking lot, RV resorts, resorts, housing developments, industrial lots, etc.? Like Lake Tahoe in California? Canmore? Whistler, B.C.? Is the bottom line money? Greed?
Yes, I do support public consultations, and I did encourage Shannon Phillips, minister of environment and parks, to hold more of them as long as she provides security to these meetings. In that way no one can claim that they were being threatened to speak for or against the issues.
If the UCP wins the next election – don’t count your chickens before they hatch – will it allow for a referendum on these proposed new provincial parks? Or, once in power, will they forget about having referendums, like all oppositions demand when they are not in power?
George Thatcher,
Trochu
