Editor, The Times
This letter is in response to Jim Lamberton’s of 28 August 2014 in which he advocates that the Clearwater Valley should be logged from top to bottom, thereby effectively severing Clearwater’s economic life line to the wilds of Wells Gray Park.
I hope Mr Lamberton will kindly forgive those of us who are trying to work for some kind of future for our little town in the uncertain times ahead.
There are those who believe that Canfor will one day run out of wood. What then? Perhaps the Harper Creek mine will come to the rescue. Or perhaps not.
In either event, surely the key to a healthy economy is diversity.
It is my view that Clearwater is in fact sitting on two gold mines: one to the south in the form of precious metals, and one to the north in the form of Wells Gray Park.
Clearwater doesn’t own Wells Gray, but it does own its relation to Wells Gray. Decisions made in coming weeks and months promise to affect our relation to the park in the long term. If that isn’t worth giving serious thought to, I’m sure I don’t know what is.
Erik Milton should be thanked, not condemned, for heading up the Wells Gray Action Committee. I’m told the group now has 250 members, and is growing larger every day.
New members are always welcome: ThinkWellsGray@gmx.ca.
Trevor Goward
Upper Clearwater, B.C.