Dear Editor:

I, like many other British Columbians, have many questions for Premier Christy Clark.

I have been watching the TV news on a regular basis and comparing what I saw to what I learned by accessing as much information on the internet as possible, I’ve come to two conclusions.

Firstly, the mainstream media sources have no will or desire to find out the truth relative to all facets of foreign investment in B.C., and the B.C. Liberal government has no will or desire to be transparent and forthcoming with governmental/ foreign corporation dealings, and the extent to which these matters negatively affect the labour environment and the lives of citizens of this province.

It seems that both the federal and provincial governments are applying a “trickle-down economic policy” whereby the operations of corporations are being financially facilitated in the hope that some prosperity will trickle down to the masses.

Former American President Ronald Reagan proved that this did nothing but increase the inequality in the class structure. The hush-hush of secrecy lends credence to the reality of corruption beyond the borders of Quebec.

Knowing that our government chooses to deny us taxpayers the knowledge needed to make an educated assessment as to the extent of how well our government is harvesting our natural resources by contracting out to foreign transnational corporations, I have a few questions for Christy Clark.

I want to know why has the B.C. government chosen foreign transnational corporations to extract our minerals and energy instead of transparently operated Crown corporations whereby the profits would come to the citizens of this province without the fear of lawsuits when future governments act in a way beneficial to the taxpayers but limit the profits of said corporations.

Our hands are tied. I recommend more people read about the case involving the Province of Quebec versus Lone Pine Resources.

I want to know why does there exist a 100 per cent completed business plan for LNG extraction and sales besides the “$100 billion over 30 years” numbers being thrown around willy-nilly by your government and exactly how much money will be deposited in our coffers to offset the environmental degradation that we will be left with?

I want to know why is it that proposals by foreign transnationals such as Golar LNG of Bermuda and BG Group PLC of Britain propose fabricating LNG liquefaction plants overseas and then floating them across the ocean to B.C.?

Is this in the best interest of workers residing in B.C.?

I also want an answer to the fact that since provincial and federal education subsidies for B.C. students are at a decades-long low, will the entailing lack of educated B.C. students result in more Temporary Foreign Workers taking our jobs?

Once again, exact numbers are shrouded in secrecy.

Why is there no information coming from the Premier’s office relative to resource extraction proposals from foreign corporations until the ground is broken?

Why is there no public disclosure and restriction of toxic chemicals being used by corporations in the LNG hydraulic fracturing process?

How will we use this poisonous ground water in the future when we direly need it, remembering that water is infinitely more precious than natural gas? Is there a plan for the very same fracking companies to also provide water purification procedures in the future?

These are just a few of the many questions that I would like to have honest answers for.

I will be anxiously awaiting your reply Christy.

Dale Hopkins

Osoyoos, B.C.