HOWE. SOUND SOCLETY

May 12, 1980 Sunset Beach, Box 32
West Vancouver, b.U.
V7W 297

Mayor G.:R. Laking and Council, C 0 J
City of Port Coquitlam,

2272 Mc Allister
Port Coquitlam, B.C, MAY 26 1980
V3C 28

Tee,

.

Dear Sirs:

Last Fall, you were in receipt of a form Letter from
us dated October 22, 1979 in which we discussed the threat of
open-pit mining on Gambier Island, We called for your support
to save Gambier and Howe Sound by writing the Premier, the
Minister of the Environment and both the MLA ana MP. for this
TIQiNg.«

; Since that time our group has become incorporated under
the Societies Act of B.C, Our ultimate purpose is “to persuade
all levels of Government to officially designate Howe Sound as a
recreational area in perpetuity”. We therefore appeal to you as
the governing body of a community within the Lower Mainlana
generally, and Howe Sound particularly, to support us at the
Provincial Government Level,

You undoubtedly know that the Provincial Government E.L.U.C.
g-awaited report regarding Gambier was sukunitted to Cabinet
in mid-March, has not had their report made public. However,
Environment Minister, Stepnen Rogers gave 20th Century Mining the
green light to continue their mining exploration until such time
‘as they are ready to submit application for a production lease.

‘We agree with the view of the Islands trust, who insist
that Cabinet should invoke the Islands Trust Act of 1974 and stop
this exploration now. This particular Act gives the Trust wide-
ranging powers to protect the Environment of all the Islanas in
Howe Sound and Georgia Strait. fire them, we believe that the
matter should be speedily resolved. it does not seem fair, either
to the promoter spending time and money, or to the public awaiting
a sensible decision that this, their own Crown Land, be used for
their own recreation, We, the public, do not dare to lose this
decision either py apathy or default on the part of government or
citizens.

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