Gillian Trumper, MLA
Alberni-Qualicum
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
February 16, 2004
Trumper offers link to facts on Cathedral Grove
MLA's website has link to information about years of planning
for park
Port Alberni - People can get all the facts on the parking lot
at Cathedral Grove thanks to a new government web page.
Alberni-Qualicum MLA Gillian Trumper said her website at www.gilliantrumpermla.bc.ca
now links to the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection's
web page on the planning process for improved parking lot at
Cathedral Grove.
"Those of us who drive through the park on a regular basis
know the safety issue parking in MacMillan Park represents,"
Trumper said. "Protecting lives is why our community leaders
have said again and again we have to make this happen."
Trumper said extensive meetings have been held and numerous
environmental concerns have been addressed. What especially
bothers the MLA is the impression the parking lot opponents
are trying to leave that the improved safety somehow involves
logging in Cathedral Grove.
"I can only suspect this is another misinformation campaign
trying to fool foreign donors into supporting their organizations.
It's shameful that these people are putting their own bank accounts
before the safety of the million visitors a year who come to
our marvellous park," Trumper said. "Like everyone
who calls this area home, I would oppose any plan that disrupted
the majesty of Cathedral Grove."
The parking lot being criticized isn't even in the original
park - it will be located on two hectares of a 20-hectare parcel
adjacent to the park. That land was acquired from Weyerhaeuser
with the sole purpose of building a parking lot. The extra land
- which is second growth forest - will be added to MacMillan
Park, expanding it from 136 hectares to 157 hectares.
"I've been working on this issue for almost 20 years -
as Mayor, with the regional district, and now as an MLA,"
Trumper said. "I'm proud to say we are moving finally moving
ahead to protect public safety - and an international fundraising
campaign based on misinformation by preservation groups will
not stop us."
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For more information: 250-720-4515 or 1-866-870-4190
Read the response to this letter by the Carmanah Forestry Society
<<here>>
