Alberta surplus

[cakadu]

Don't forget the flip side cowman. As emrald says we are only custodians of all the land. Our post-secondary students pay some of the highest tuition in the country - all this money floating around and you would think they could be paying a whole lot less.

1 in 3 jobs in Alberta is generated through either primary production or some form of agri-business. Farming was the backbone of the country long before oil ever came along.

Not all roads are really good, many are being sacrificed so all this oil exploration can go on. We are leaving an as yet unknown footprint on the landscape, we have seriously depleted our water resources and the oil industry IS reponsbile for millions of gallons being taken out of the hydrological cycle forever.

There is no doubt that things are good in the province and we have an awful lot to be grateful for. We also have a long way to go to sustain what we have into the future.

[cakadu]

Oh and let's not ever loose sight of the fact that even if I wanted to preserve what I have and try and make it better for future generations, I have absolutely no say in whether or not that can happen. If someone decides they want to try and get at whatever I have under my land, or use my land to get to other resources i.e. a power line, I cannot stop them. I have to take what is decided is best for me and the compensation can in no way make up for what I know and believe is being lost.

But it's all good, right?!?!?!

[cakadu]

Linda are you aware of the groups that is amalgamating to oppose the power line ? I have had some discussion with the chairman of the local group and apparently they are having a meeting soon to get things rolling.

[cakadu]

I am aware of one group in my area but not of too many others, but I'm sure there are many forming.

I also haven't heard if the Terms of Reference for the EIA are in fact completed. Anyone who submitted comments on the proposed Terms were to get a copy of the final document and be advised as to when the EIA was going to be released for tender. Has anyone heard?

[cowman]

Well excuse me if I am wrong here...but isn't this a "done deal"?
I wonder if it is a "done deal" then why bother opposing it? Has the government ever changed its way of thinking once a project gets the green light?
I'm old enough to remember when the government decided to build the Dixon dam? There was some pretty strong opposition from a lot of the people in the area? They had a big story about "That Damned DAM" in all the papers, protests, petitions etc.? But the government had made up their mind and just bulled it through!
Now I would suggest the same thing is happening here? I think the government has made up its mind, and no matter what... that line is going to be built? Or is that wrong?

[cakadu]

There isn't a shred of doubt in my mind that this power line is going ahead - the question is where will it be going.

In my opinion, there is no point in starting to say "we don't want it" because that is essentially what the power company is waiting for people to do. They have bigger guns, more legal power and more money than all of us put together, so to fight it on a purely we don't want it standpoint is a non-starter.

Of course we don't want it running through our quarter because that would put us smack in the middle of two power lines and we have absolutely no desire to be there. We have many other concerns as well and I did write and put in our comments on the Terms for the EIA. The best case scenario for us is if it runs parallel to the existing lines that are about 1/2 mile away from us.

The best way to approach this - and again this is my own personal viewpoint - is to point out that if they are going to do this, then let's make sure it is the "model" powerline and takes into consideration a number of things.

You can still hold their feet to the fire and make it reasonably challenging for them to do anything. One still needs to "fight the good fight" and make their voices heard. Stranger things have happened and remember - David did slew Goliath.

[cakadu]

Linda, I would suggest that you contact the Warburg group, it is my understanding that they are amalagmating with groups in central AB., to request another hearing over the issue.