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Letters to the Editor for the week of Feb 23rd, 2012

From Whistler with love
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On December 16, 2011 Typhoon Sendong destructively hit Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, 800 km south of Manila, Philippines. Overnight, floodwater rose by 3.3 m (11 ft) in less than an hour while the 95-km/hr typhoon caused havoc and landslides. Over 1,200 people died; 500,000 individuals lost all belongings and 15,000 homes were severely damaged.

Whistler has lots of connections with the Philippines. That was one of the reasons why so many have helped. As of Feb.11th, we have shipped eight big boxes that were filled with 500 high school textbooks, blankets and clothing from our community to the disaster relief centre in Cagayan de Oro.

We were overwhelmed with the support from so many individuals. We would not have been successful without the help from teachers at Whistler Secondary School (specially Ms. Norrie and Ms. Shoniker), the Youth Group at our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church under the leadership of Jeanette Callahan and Arnel Edigo, the Matchett Family (Connor, Christina, Shannon and Brad) and all the generous donors. A huge thank you goes to Marissa Peña of Manila Express in Vancouver. I got in touch with Marissa in January explaining our project and after one email she generously offered to sponsor the sturdy balikbayan (which means "back home") boxes along with the freight from Vancouver to Manila. Through the further assistance of Our Lady of the Mountain parishioners, we are raising funds to cover the freight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro.

Again, a big "Maraming Salamat!" to the donors and everyone who gave a hand to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong.

Anita and Marc Facundo

Whistler

Mountain safety a priority

I would like to thank Rob Boyd, of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, and Doug Forseth, of Whistler Blackcomb, for their very quick and professional responsive to an incident that occurred on Friday. While skiing on Upper Dave Murray and heading into the Toilet Bowl my ski partners and I came upon four racers tucking over the blind roll onto Toilet Bowl proper. There was a coach spotting the kids; however, the "training session" ended when my ski partners and I intervened and explained in no uncertain terms that race training on a public run, especially in such a usually congested area, should not be occurring.

I mistakenly thought the coach and racers were from the WMSC and sent an email to Rob Boyd. He responded almost immediately and assured me that safety was a priority for the club and that the training of their racers included instruction in when and where it was okay to go fast. He very quickly talked to all his coaches and eventually discovered that the coach involved was from a Lower Mainland club.

That coach called me to apologize and in doing so tried to explain that he thought he was training his racers in a safe manner. This may have been true, however, what he failed to realize was that the public, and especially young people learning to ski/board, want to emulate what racers are doing. If the public see racers tucking a blind roll they are going to copy that behaviour, without realizing that the racers had a coach ensuring the area was safe.

This incident reinforces that everyone enjoying the runs on the mountain should do so responsibly. If you witness an unsafe situation talk to those involved, in a respectful manner, or report the situation to the safety department. Young people and those learning to ski/snowboard want to emulate those better than them. Everyone using the mountain has a responsibility to demonstrate that the mountains can be enjoyed without endangering others. This will go a long way to reducing collisions on the mountain.

I spoke with Doug Forseth at Whistler/Blackcomb and they are taking this incident very seriously. He assured me that the Ptarmigan race area is the only sanctioned race area on the mountain and that they will reinforce to visiting race teams the WB policies regarding racing training.

We want people to want to come back to Whistler to enjoy the skiing and riding, not be afraid that they may be "taken out" by someone skiing irresponsibly.

As an emergency nurse I have had to look after far too many people who have been injured by collisions. Some of them have been fatal, some of them have left people with permanent disabilities and almost all of them have ruined a week or a year of skiing or riding.

I would like to thank Rob Boyd and Doug Forseth for their timely response and genuine concern about the above incident.

Anne Townley

Whistler

Take a deep breath

One recent report indicated that the asphalt plant owner intends to alleviate the plant emissions. Would it not be prudent for council to wait for the results before spending more money on legal fees?

Gordon Knight

West Vancouver

A solution?

So...why doesn't the muni just buy the asphalt plant? Just asking...

Sean Dinwoodie

Whistler

Think of others on the road

Last night my husband, who was catching a ride up to Whistler from our home in Squamish to get to work, texted me and told me there, was a really bad accident. I said I hoped everyone was OK, to which he replied, "I don't see how they could be. It's pretty bad."

It got me thinking about the last accident a couple weeks ago where a truck crossed the centre line and killed someone. That got me thinking about how many times my husband, friends and I drive that highway — always assuming we are going to make it to work or back home OK. It just takes one person to do something stupid, and if you are unlucky enough to be in their path at the time, then your life could be changed forever, or even ended. Most of us have people who depend on us. I know I have a few. Everyone has people who love them, people whose lives would be changed forever if that person were lost.

This morning I was driving to work and in a single lane section of the highway a few cars were slowed down due to someone driving a little below the speed limit, but everyone was driving safely, keeping a safe distance and waiting for the passing lane. Better late than dead, I always say. But then, being the last car in line ... I see in my rearview mirror a car fast approaching behind me — a dark grey, flashy new Mercedes sedan driven by a male. Mr. "Too cool for the road" drove right up onto my bumper.

As we approached the double-lane section, myself and the car ahead of me went into the passing lane to get by the slower vehicles ahead, but the car behind me drove up onto the bumper of the car I was passing and tried to get ahead of me, even though I was making good time. Then the vehicle quickly pulled out behind me, and back onto my bumper and tailed me until I passed the car ahead. It then pulled ahead of them a safe distance, then whizzed past me at about 150kph. I then heard on the radio about a turned over vehicle close to Bayshores.

With all the accidents claiming lives on the road, how can people still be driving so dangerously? Do they really think that their need to drive fast, or be where they need to be on time is worth their own lives and possibly the lives of others?

I think about how I would feel if something happened to my husband, or what would happen to him or my mom if something happened to me, and it makes me angry to know there are still people on the road who just don't seem to care.

Karen Junger

Squamish

Nature Centre ready to go

Stewardship Pemberton Society would like to update the community on the new One Mile Lake Nature Centre and some exciting upcoming programs. The Nature Center, located in One Mile Park behind Pioneer Junction, is now ready for action. Though we have had a few setbacks, countless hours of volunteer work have allowed us to finally launch our environmental education programs for all ages!

We will be offering programs over March break and if you are interested please check out our Facebook page for updates. We are currently looking for volunteers to help out with some of the upcoming programs at the Nature Centre as well to help monitor some of our local streams. You don't need any experience and it can be done with any age group.

If you are interested please send an email and I'll be happy to let you know more about this great learning experience!

The BC Wildlife Federation will be running the Wetlands Institute in the Sea to Sky region (Pemberton to Squamish) from July 9-15. This is an exciting opportunity to participate in learning about our local wetlands, the critters that live there and how to restore wetlands.

Please visit the website at www.bcwf.net for details and how to register or feel free to contact me for more information.

The Stewardship Pemberton Annual General Meeting will be held at the One Mile Lake Nature Centre at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 25 and is open for everyone to attend. We will be discussing the programs and nature center so if you have ideas, suggestions or would like to find out more about Stewardship Pemberton make sure you don‚t miss it!

We are still in the planning stages for these programs and would like some feedback from the community. Please contact Jocelyn at Jocelyn.sereda@gmail.com if you have any great ideas or would like more information.

Jocelyn Sereda, Stewardship Pemberton Society

Pemberton, BC

Death and taxes in cross border love

An issue not commonly known to people entering into matrimony with a U.S. citizen is that as a non-U.S. citizen you also marry the I.R.S. until death do you part.

Unbelievable as it may seem from a country that claims, particularly by the current Republican presidential candidates, the moral high ground on family values, and the belief that marriage is exclusive to a man and women, the definition of marriage only counts if both parties are U.S. citizens.

The U.S. does not recognize the transfer of assets from one spouse to a surviving spouse in the event of death of a U.S. citizen to a non U.S. citizen, even if the non U.S. citizen spouse has never set foot in the U.S. — i.e. marriage apparently only counts if both parties are U.S. citizens.

This has grave ramifications for Canadians married to a U.S. citizen in that should your U.S. spouse die before you, the IRS will tax 50 per cent of the estate at a non U.S. resident (read higher) rate of tax.

They do not permit the transfer of assets from one spouse to another unless both are citizens.

Fortunately in Canada our government recognizes the transfer of spousal assets regardless of nationality. This does not however release a Canadian married to a U.S. citizen of the obligation to pay the IRS on demand.

There are ways to mitigate a Canadian's liability to the U.S. tax authorities and I would urge any Canadian married, or considering marrying, a U.S. citizen to seek advice from a qualified tax attorney.

Not being qualified in this field I am simply offering up advice I received by a qualified cross boarder tax lawyer upon returning to Canada with a U.S. wife.

Chris Ford

Whistler

Winter camping — nowhere to park?

My boyfriend and I wanted to camp on Oboe a couple of weeks ago. As we knew we would be getting back in-bounds late we needed to park in the village. We thought that we could park in Lot 4 or 5 overnight, but both signs said "no overnight parking." We took a risk and left the car anyway, but where can we park legally for an overnight winter camping trip? It was never an issue previously.

Sarah Louise Bourne

Whistler

Thanks to Pure Bread

A heart-felt thank-you from the 6th grade class at Myrtle Philip Community School for donating a tray of brownies for our bake sale. It was a generous gift and we appreciate your kindness. From all of our children and parents who enjoyed your goodies — yum and thanks!

Beverly Lucas

Whistler

Enbridge Pipeline....no thanks

I write to beg for your help in abolishing the Northern Gateway oil pipeline proposal put forth by Enbridge. It poses a looming threat of environmental disaster that could change the face of B.C. as we know it. I think this is bigger than just British Columbia, we have to stand up against this as a country, saying, "No," you will not take away our right to decide, to speak and to act on what I believe is a massive wrong in the eyes of my province.

In my 30 years on this planet I have been confronted with loads of varying disappointments none, however, as heart wrenchingly painful as the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project. My mouth hangs agape at the knowledge our government didn't show these guys the door when they brought forth a proposal that reeks of environmental destruction and hazard. It is not a matter of "if" an oil spill happens it is absolutely a matter of "when," and please look at Enbridge's oil spill track record and clean up efforts. (I think) it is appalling... On top of that trying to play us all off as idiots by even using job creation as a bargaining chip in this time of economic need as if we don't see that big picture! What are we left with when the job is done? A ticking time bomb of environmental disaster!

If we were to list the pros and cons, ask yourselves what do we have, we have (temporary) job creation on this pro list, and well that's it.

Let's see the cons list: Environmental destruction in the building of the pipeline, the certainty of an oil spill (pretty big one), the pain, suffering and death of our unique coastal species and ultimately extinction of the more delicate species, our waters becoming too polluted to fish, swim, farm etc. creating mass job loss in related sectors, super tankers trying to navigate our tricky coastal inlets (HA HA good luck. Just see how well that's gone for Norway and Alaska), the erosion/deterioration of the pipeline years from now releasing oil/other toxins into the inland watersheds, poisoning and rendering useless whole farming communities, neighbourhoods and wildlife habitat, the possibility of a naturally occurring event i.e.: landslide, rockslide, avalanche etc. taking out sections of pipeline spilling its contents onto B.C. soil (please note we have some of the most unstable terrain in the country), and oil clumping and coating in our waters and resting on our shores, suffocating our coast, creeks, watersheds and riverbeds.

If we stand by and watch the Great Bear Rainforest, over 100 lakes and rivers, and our coastal inlets polluted ... there will be nothing we can do about it.

We need to look ahead to what this pipeline means in our future, years and years down the road, not at the temporary benefits. This proposal to murder our landscape is not the legacy I want to leave for my daughter and I will sure as hell not go down without trying to make my voice heard on her behalf. She wants to swim, and fish and enjoy the outdoors as I did as a child. I am not (an) extreme environmentalist. I recycle modestly, I am guilty of idling my car in the winter, I am a mother and an employee struggling to make it in a health care system with little money and no jobs.

I am not writing this because I believe all industry should die, or (because) I do not see the importance in fossil fuels (as) I do understand our need for it.

I am writing this because of the sheer absurdity that believing a catastrophic event wouldn't occur in the installation of these pipelines. I am writing this because I am not willing to sacrifice my beautiful B.C. for product. Maybe the people who stand to make a fortune off this deal don't care about their children's future and the future of our B.C., but I do.

So forward this message in my words or your own to everyone and anyone you can, we need to fight for our environmental freedom and the power to protect our home.

I am frightened for our future, because if this goes ahead this will no longer be my B.C. or my Canada. I will have lost faith that our government is representing our best interests, or the best interests of Canada and we might as well strike "Beautiful British Columbia" straight off our license plates.

Be a part of the process, make your voice heard! http://gatewaypanel.review-examen.gc.ca/clf-nsi/prtcptngprcss/nfrmtnsssn/qckrfrncgd-eng.html

Natalie MacDonald

Pemberton