First of all I would like to thank Kinder Morgan for making its presentation to Sooke council, and answering questions about the increased tanker traffic through the Strait.
Last week (April 1) in your editorial you suggested those who would show up to the meeting would not be the polite Canadians we are famous for. You were certain, even a week before the meeting, that the people of Sooke would show up in mass and simply rage at Kinder Morgan and not allow them to state their case before the council.
While you are correct in being confused as to why Kinder Morgan would come to Sooke, considering the pipeline and their legal responsibility ends on the mainland, it was logical that Sooke residents should be concerned about Kinder Morgan, as everyone who lives in Sooke sees those tankers traveling past Sooke on their way to foreign markets.
I was there on April 7 for the Kinder Morgan presentation as a concerned citizen who wanted to know what the corporation’s representatives would say, as a ship-sourced oil spill could have a disastrous impact on the community. There were also a number of like-minded people there. There were no banners being raised at the meeting, no one brought any. I am pretty sure I didn’t see any pitchforks, or torches, as you suggested in this week’s cartoon. We listened attentively to the entire presentation and did not interrupt. When it came to question/comment time the questions were for the most part respectful and while there was some applause, it often came after someone made what others felt was a valid point. The representatives were not interrupted either.
You said Canadians are an intelligent bunch and I agree. To be intelligent is to ask questions, to not take information at face value, and I cannot imagine many people would appreciate being patted on the head and sent to the corner because their opinions differ from yours.
The threat is very real as I am watching the news of a large oil-slick spreading through the middle of Vancouver that is neither pipeline based nor from an oil platform. Clearly your paper does not think highly of your own neighbours who you have insulted with your recent editorial.
Katie Armitage
Sooke