I was talking to a friend last week and asked what he thought I should write about.
His immediate answer was Taseko's proposed New Prosperity mine. What an excellent choice, I thought.
Is the mine a good thing? The answer from the Ministry of the Environment would appear to be no - not once, but twice. When it comes to protecting the environment and respecting the land, this mine falls way short.
But the whole debate is not new. It is a long drawn out saga that has been in play for the past 10 years. The company is arguing that it will provide jobs for hundreds of people. The people are arguing that jobs are not as important as having a place to live.
However, whether or not the mine is a good thing isnt really the point. It is the attitude of Brian Battison, vice-president of corporate affairs for Taseko, that is perhaps most telling in this whole equation.
He is quoted in the Citizen as saying: This is not the end. Saying no to this project is just simply not acceptable to us.
As I was talking about this with my friend, I happened to walk by a poster on one of the universitys bulletin boards that said: No means NO. Anything else is rape.
I couldnt help but point out the juxtaposition of the two sentiments. I am not suggesting by any stretch of the imagination that Taseko is planning to rape the land but at some point, no has to mean no. Simply bashing away at the proponents and pursuing legal challenges until you get to yes is what is not acceptable.
As for some of the proponents, such as the mayor of Williams Lake, who point out that the mine will provide employment for 25 years, that may be true. But the surrounding land and lakes will be dead forever. Dead forever trumps 25 years.
Maybe more to the point, the gold and copper arent going anywhere. Maybe in 10, 20 or 100 years, it can be extracted without damaging the environment. So why not wait until better technology comes along?
Could it be that Taseko Mines will be out of luck for now?
Anyway, after discussing the mine, our conversation switched topics. My friend suggested that the teachers might be another topic.
True. The interaction of the government and the teachers union is a great topic of discussion. But as columnist Les Leyne pointed out, until the two sides actually exchange positions, everything is pretty much theoretical. He actually used the word whiney but I dont see it as whining.
However, the real discussion is being missed in all of the rhetoric about strike mandates, bargaining positions and legal action. The real discussion should be about what type of education system do we want in this province?
That is the question that needs to be answered. After that, both sides can bargain to create the system that we want.
I have met a lot of teachers over the years and been in a lot of schools. For the most part, the teachers that I have met are dedicated, hardworking individuals who frequently go above and beyond to ensure that their students needs are met. I know teachers that spend their own money on school supplies or give up their weekends to provide activities for your kids.
Being a teacher is not an easy job. It requires a university education. It requires years as an apprentice waiting to get a full time position. It requires patience and perseverance to deal with kids. It is not a job that most of us would want. Indeed, if we did want the job of educating our kids we wouldnt need schools in the first place.
Our schools produce some of the top-ranked students in the world. Mathematics and science testing has B.C. ranked in the top five internationally. Our schools are doing a good job.
However, there is a price to excellence. And, as I said last week, the drive to save the taxpayer money means that government doesnt have the funds.
Still, the question that should be asked is - what are you willing to pay to ensure that your children have a happy, healthy, and fulfilling future? If the answer is not a lot, then we are on the right track and the government can bargain hard.
If your answer is everything, then maybe we need to go a different route.
Having discussed mines and education, my friend suggested that maybe I should write about snow clearing. That is a landmine in this town. Surely, there has to be a better way to do things. But, again, if we want it done well, it is going to cost money.
What are you willing to pay? I dont know anyone that has an answer for that question.
