Editor:
Regarding the recent letter written by my friend Charlie Wyse, many soldiers in the first, second, the Korean wars and today continue to make tragic sacrifices in Afghanistan, for what we Canadians believe in.
When I hear a politician urging someone to give up a fight, without making every effort for their cause, I cannot help but wonder what kind of representative that person would be for the people he represents.
Canada is a free nation today because in two world wars men never gave up. They often fought and died against overwhelming odds, to give us the freedom we as Canadians, today enjoy and take for granted.
The Prosperity mine issue is not about animals, fish or even the environment.
The issue is about land claims.
The First Nations population of the Chilcotin want the land claims issue settled.
They want to know how they will eventually fit into the great mosaic called Canada.
I do not know the record Charlie Wyse’s NDP have in regards to land claims settlements. I do know this: not all members of the NDP will automatically give everything to the First Nations populations that the First Nations want.
I do not for one minute blame the First Nations population for using the development of the Prosperity mine as a powerful bargaining chip in their land claims. Nor would I urge them to give up their fight for a satisfactory land claims settlement.
However, each one of us needs to keep in mind, similarly, as we expect our fighting men to be dedicated to our country, for Taseko Mines Ltd. to just turn its back and walk away from the Prosperity project now or at some future time, all Canadians will pay some price for the efforts, or the lack thereof, by this company.
The original criteria put forward by the First Nations that the mine should not be constructed, has been recognized and dealt with by the mining company; I see little reason why the mine should not now go ahead.
Doug Wilson
Williams Lake