About 1,500 people attended last week’s public meetings

The proposal for a massive underground coal mine in the Comox Valley met overwhelming opposition at all three environmental assessment public meetings that took place last week in Courtenay, Port Alberni, and Union Bay.

“It’s obvious the public has deep concerns about the proposed coal mine and the approval process,” said CoalWatch Comox Valley president John Snyder after the final public meeting concluded in Union Bay Friday night.

Nearly 600 people crammed into the Filberg Centre on Monday night, over 400 people attended the meeting in Port Alberni on Thursday, and an overflow crowd of over 450 people came to the Union Bay Hall on Friday night. Another 600 people watched the Port Alberni meeting on-line.

The Union Bay meeting was so packed that fire marshals had to restrict access at the door. MLA Don McCrae had to wait outside about 20 minutes until enough people left the hall so he could get in.

In total, about 200 speakers expressed strong objections to the mine while one person spoke in favour.

“Public opposition to the mine is overwhelming,” said Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee. “It’s time for the federal and provincial governments to listen to what people are saying. There is simply too much at risk for this proposal to proceed.”

Snyder said people expressed a wide variety of objections to the mine.

“The proposed mine puts hundreds of jobs in the shellfish industry at risk, it threatens our drinking water, air quality, and road safety, and it does not conform the vision our communities have for the future,” he said. “That’s why it’s crucial for the government to establish an independent expert panel review with full public hearings before any further consideration is given to this proposal.”

The public comment period for this stage of the environmental assessment is open until June 27th. For details on how to make a submission, visit www.coalwatch.ca

For more information please contact:

John Snyder, President, Coalwatch Comox Valley (250)335-2246
Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner, Wilderness Committee, cell: 250-686-9249