Editor:
Re: ‘Huge disappointment’ leads to rail forum, Aug. 1.
I counted 28 rail tanker cars – each loaded with 160,000 pounds of propane – on a recent walk at the White Rock waterfront.
That’s enough propane to thoroughly barbecue the entire White Rock hillside.
And if anyone were to survive the explosive flames and searing heat, they’d have to contend with clouds of chlorine gas and other toxins.
Never mind that Semiahmoo Bay wildlife would be wiped out.
Meanwhile, our beloved member of Parliament, Gordie Hogg, who in his election campaign implied he was buddies with our prime minister, has kicked the rail relocation can down the road (Relocation ‘long-term’ goal, July 6).
It seems our previous MP, Dianne Watts, was able to get a commitment from Ottawa to fund a “relocation study” (Rail safety – not relocation – on agenda, Feb. 24, 2016; Moving train tracks ‘could cost billions’, April 20, 2016). Now, Gordie says he can’t get the same commitment. Why not?
It’s time Gordie stopped posing for selfies and Facebook posts and started kicking some butt among his Liberal buddies in Ottawa.
This is a matter of life and death for tens of thousands of citizens in White Rock and South Surrey.
Gordie, tell Justin your friendship is being strained.
Paul Griffin, White Rock
• • •
An open letter to MP Gordie Hogg, White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin and MLA Tracy Redies.
It is time that we put the idea of relocating the train line in and around White Rock to bed.
It is not going to move and neither should it – most of my friends who live in our proximity agree with this as being a stupid idea. It would cost just far too much to move it and I as a taxpayer will not pay for its moving.
There are far too many other projects in B.C. that are much more deserving of solution rather that this stupid idea of some elderly NIMBYs that live in and around White Rock.
If they can come up personally with the zillions of dollars that it would cost, then have at it. I will not be contributing and I will not be voting for any MP or MLA who supports such a movement.
Just because a small minority of well-to-do bleaters is making some noise it does not mean that common sense should go out of the window at the expense of the vast majority. So stop having all of these costly meetings, costly investigations, and costly discussions regarding this and get on with the more important life issues that are affecting the future generations of the country.
Ivan Michael Scott, White Rock