Port Metro Vancouver is paving paradise and putting up a parking lot: a massive parking lot, consuming 500 hectares of farmland in Delta, destroying bird habitat, and affecting the fragile estuary of the Fraser River, impacting our salmon stocks [“B.C. to replace Massey Tunnel with new bridge, Premier Christy Clark announces”, web-only].

Deltaport Terminal 2 is huge and it is coming to your back yard. Vancouver, you should be concerned, very concerned.

We have already lost the rich farmland of Lulu Island to the development of Richmond; how much of South Delta will we allow to be swallowed up in a quest for money and a blatant disregard for the environment? As families and communities striving to reduce our carbon footprint and buy local, this massive port expansion is a huge, misguided step. It must be stopped.

Our roads are congested with huge diesel-burning container trucks spewing their exhaust as they idle in long lines of traffic moving slowly up and down Highway 99. Panamax ships are capable of carrying 13,000 containers—yes, 13,000 per ship. The numbers are staggering, as is the negative impact on the quality of our lives in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Port Metro Vancouver is desecrating the foreshore and destroying wildlife habitat. It is causing noise and air pollution and increased traffic congestion.

South Delta has already “done its part” by accommodating Deltaport to allow for the movement of goods in and out of B.C. However, enough is enough. I understand that Prince Rupert has room for port expansion and that the people there support growth of their existing facility; redirect container shipping there.

Join Citizens Against Port Expansion and make your voices heard.

> Katherine Hammond / Delta

Premier Christy Clark states: “Congestion at the tunnel is frustrating for families and stalling the economy. A new bridge will improve travel times for transit, commuters, and commercial users, and open the corridor up to future rapid transit options.”

Time and time again Clark has announced megaprojects, many as public-private partnerships, guaranteeing long-term profit. Sadly, while money can be found for bridges and making a four-lane highway to Prince George, the provincial government is ordering TransLink to cinch its belt.

HandyDART, which provides a vital link to society for seniors and disabled people, has had its service hours cut by TransLink, with that money given to taxis. Clark claims to understand the frustration of families when it comes to commuting by car but is blind to the frustration of thousands of HandyDART users and their families refused rides and forced into taxis. In desperation, TransLink is trying to stem a tsunami with a Band-Aid.

It costs less to care for healthy people. HandyDART is an integral part of keeping people healthy. Safe public transportation for all is not a burden, it is a savings. Taxpayers do not object to their money being spent wisely.

> Mark Beeching / Langley