Letters: Airport expansion proposal

Letter to the Courier-Islander:

From the Courier-Islander, Dec. 4, 2009:
"...rather than going to the time and expense of a referendum for taxpayers' permission to borrow the money, the city has launched the Alternate Approval Process. Under that process, the borrowing is considered approved by the taxpayers unless 10 per cent of those on the voters list, or 2,332 people, formally sign forms by January 4, 2010 demanding the city go to referendum or drop the proposal."

Until a few days ago I thought the council we elected a year ago was looking after our interests quite responsibly. Now I'm not so convinced.

$2.78 million dollars added to our tax bill and no referendum? Is Council delusional?

I don't know if I'm for a runway extension or not; there simply hasn't been enough discussion of the issue. But surely we have to have the discussion. And, thanks to Council, that means 2332 people have to sign the forms by January 4, 2010.

Last time we participated in one of these schemes, it was the cruise ship terminal that was going to boost our local economy. Thanks a lot, Council, for apparently not learning anything from that experience.

Letter to the Mirror:

Is it not somewhat appalling that the Campbell River City Council proposes to add $2.78 million to our tax bill to pay for an airport runway expansion that we are unlikely to need and haven't discussed at all?

Yes, there is federal money on the line, and provincial money as well. But why do we need a longer runway when Comox, which has the second-best airport in western Canada, is only 45 minutes away?

If we want to have the discussion, 10% of the electors, or 2332 of us, need to fill in one of the forms, available from City Hall, that ask for a referendum. And we have to submit these by January 4, 2010. Otherwise the money will be borrowed, and we'll have to pay.

Has Council learned nothing from the cruise ship terminal fiasco? Do they still think that, "if you build it they will come?"