Letters to the Editor Jobs come first

I’ve been a Cream Silver Mines shareholder for five years and I’m puzzled by the Strathcona Park (on Vancouver Island, B.C.) issue. I understand that environmentalists have protested the drilling and arrests have been made.

What I can’t understand is why men, women and children aren’t at the site protesting for a go-ahead at the property, in order to provide them with work or be supported from that work. The creation of jobs and tax revenue should be the top priorities.

Many might not be aware that to get to Cream’s property you have to use a road put in by Westmin Resources. Westmin has also provided a camp site near its mine. In other words, if drilling wasn’t permitted, no road would be there and people couldn’t get out and enjoy that part of Canada.

Cream’s property is at the far end of a very large lake, next to Westmin’s property. Cream’s claims exist in a designated “low- beauty” area. There has to be employment and productivity. Let this drilling occur in low-beauty areas. This provides the perfect give-and-take.

I’ve been told by the B. C. ministry of environment and parks department that Cream Silver has obeyed all requirements and requests imposed on them by that ministry.

I feel that a fair solution is for Canada to get jobs and taxes, for environmentalists to protect their higher-beauty areas, and for Cream Silver to get the chance to produce an excellent mine. Joseph Perdue Second vice-president Shearson Lehman Brothers Morristown, N.J.