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Letters: Important issues; Sewage solutions

Important issues Two articles in the December 7 issue of the Peak highlight the confusion generated when they refer to BC’s gross domestic product (GDP) to highlight their points of view.

Important issues

Two articles in the December 7 issue of the Peak highlight the confusion generated when they refer to BC’s gross domestic product (GDP) to highlight their points of view.

In the first case, the article on the Green Jobs BC Conference [“Conference pushes green economy,” December 7] cites BC Stats as stating that “oil, gas and mining-related jobs” account for only 3.4 per cent of BC’s GDP.

First of all, the GDP for BC is the value of all goods and services produced by our province. In 2015, our GDP was $250 billion. Therefore, 3.4 per cent equals $8.5 billion. That seems like a lot of money to me, and makes oil, gas, and mining very important industries.

In the second case [“Viewpoint: Why CETA matters to Powell River,” November 30], an American study predicts a decrease of $20 billion to Canada’s GDP over seven years under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Canada’s GDP in 2015 was over $1,550 billion, so a decrease of $20 billion (over seven years) would be 1.29 per cent, or 0.185 per cent per year (assuming the study is accurate).

My problem with such articles is simple. Let’s all be more honest when we start throwing around numbers and distorting them to bolster a particular viewpoint.

Any arguments against international trade ignore the incredibly important fact that Canada is a trading nation and our standard of living would deteriorate without trade.

I would prefer that Canada remain as a first-world nation for my children and grandchildren.

Brian White
Algoma Avenue

 

Sewage solutions

How many millions has City of Powell River spent on the Westview sewage treatment plant [“City covets liquid-waste grant,” November 23]?

Wildwood and Townsite have maintained theirs with no major cost at all for all of these years. I realize the only major expansion has been in Westview, but if having plants in each area of town is working properly, leave it alone.

Build a second treatment plant in Westview where it belongs. How about that vacant eyesore property on Alberni Street? A closed plant would not be an eyesore or smell. It would cost less than screwing up Wildwood and Townsite.

Does our mayor also want to extend a new sewage line to the property by the Italian Hall in Wildwood? I heard he even wants Tla’amin Nation to pump theirs up to Wildwood and then down to Townsite.

I can see one water system, but this sewage treatment is a totally different ball game.

K.D. Scott
Manson Avenue