Deeper Shade of Green

What is going on with the Coquitlam council? One would think that the council only sees green – but not the green you’d think. I am suspicious that too many of our dear councillors only think about developments and the money that brings along with it – at the peril of our environment.

There’s really no other way to explain the total lack of accountability when it comes to sustainability within the city of Coquitlam. Between Lou Sekora’s ramblings that make little sense, Mae Reid’s uneducated comments about the few green initiatives prospective developers should do being too harsh and demanding, and Brent Asmundson’s silly remarks about the tree bylaw ‘impending on homeowner’s privacy’, one has got to wonder what our city will look like in mere 10 years.
This council just doesn’t get it. At time when Vancouver has got the greenest city council in years, Barack Obama (let’s throw him in for good measure) saying the science on climate change is undeniable, and many other cities promising to make theirs the most sustainable, our city council wouldn’t understand sustainability if it hit them over the head.

Let’s get something straight. Forests are carbon sinks, we need them – and badly – to combat climate change and to rely on the many economical benefits they give us. Let alone the beautiful surroundings it creates for us to live in. Our environment is something we cannot live without. So stop messing around with it and get on board. We can have both prosperous economy and preserve our environment.

Axing the environmental committee, rezoning to build within mere 10 metres of creeks, and not passing a tree bylaw that has teeth is the wrong way to go about it. I bet you that in not so distant future, the actions of this council will be deemed by future generations near criminal.

Strong words? You bet. But let’s stop pretending all is well.