Editor:
I am for the proposed Ajax mine.
In 1914, while the CPR railway was being built through the Fraser Canyon, a large rockslide came down and dammed the river, stopping the fish from swimming to their spawning grounds.
It did not stop the CPR and it sure did not stop the fish.
It took some time. Fish ladders were installed and they came back.
Accidents do happen and life goes on.
If we start to fear everything, then nothing gets done.
When the Mount Polley mine disaster happened, no one died.
The disaster may affect the fish, and drinking water may be affected.
It was not like in Lac-Mégantic, Que., when a train loaded with crude oil derailed and blew up, killing 47 people and destroying part of the town.
Both were accidents.
We also have trains pulling tank cars through Kamloops on a daily basis — and that could happen here.
Accidents do happen, but it is how you deal with them that counts.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, fear-mongering was used as control — and it does work as we have seen at our borders.
The ones doing the fear-mongering always have an ulterior motive, be it financial or political.
A few years ago, a company wanted to start a gasification plant in Kamloops to get rid of railway ties and produce electricity.
There was such an outcry that the company left town, leaving the ties to be burned, polluting the air.
Kamloops needs Ajax.
It will give our children a place to work and bring some industry to town.
If one wants a place to retire and pay lots of property taxes, try Penticton as that town is anti-industry.
Tom Turner
Kamloops
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