To the Editor,
I am, of course, extremely happy with the overall results of the 2020 B.C. election. I am also sad that a quality candidate like Sadie Hunter does not get a chance to represent us locally. Much of interior B.C. continues to shoot itself in the foot, politically.
Interior B.C. is still dependent on an extraction natural resource economy and to a lesser extent, tourism, hunting and fishing.
My fellow small urban and rural British Columbians do not believe that the Horgan government represents their interests. This conservative attitude is largely false and Horgan himself, following his majority government victory, said that he needed to get his message out to rural British Columbians to gain their trust.
I believe that Horgan and the NDP party fully appricate where the majority of our wealth comes from, but they also realized that the development of these resources must be done responsibly and sustainably. Raping and pillaging for the benefit of a few is wrong. Fair wages and responsible profits are necessary for a healthy, sustainable small urban and rural economy.
Smaller-scale extraction and manufacturing may be the way of the future in the interior of B.C. An outstanding example on the extraction side would be our own community forest company which has returned great value to the North Thompson region.
Perhaps this could also be accompanied by smaller-scale local manufacturing giving us value-added potential: “Go smaller or disappear” could be our slogan. In fact, there are signs that may be already happening with the purchase of the Canfor mill by Brian Baardo of Peak Renewables and Brian Fehr of the same.
Secondary manufacturing and smaller scale could provide a local market for timber harvested by the likes of the Wells Gray Community Forest. The Horgan government would be supportive of these efforts in the North Thompson and elsewhere in the B.C. Interior.
Our resources, our way to the benefit of us all.
Wes Morden
Blackpool, B.C.