Dear Editor,

An open letter to Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission MP Randy Kamp:

Dear Mr. Kamp,

Please, on behalf of your riding constituents, British Columbians, and Canadians, stand up for the environment.

I do not mean chaining yourself to the Peace Clock, but tell Mr. Harper that his stance is silly, divisive, and unnecessary.

There are myriad examples of this "one way or the doorway" approach being wrong. That holds for either end of the spectrum: development with no regard to the impacts to the environment has left us with terrible messes; totally eliminating any development or progress and allowing pockets of "wilderness" to be left to run wild also brings economic and at times environmental consequences.

Humanity has grown in numbers that are putting a strain on the planet. Humanity has become the most influential organism on the planet, and also the largest consumer of the planet's resources.

Canadians are not against economic development, but they want development to be done right, without unacceptable environmental or social impacts.

Why is creating jobs a national issue, but damaging Canada's environment is not?

Why is not ensuring our remaining fresh, free-flowing waterways are protected not a national issue?

Why is your government needlessly taking Canada back into the dark ages? Why not build upon and improve the environmental protection and regulatory processes? Your government's public spinning suggests this is what is happening, but if it were true, why is your government hiding many of these changes in an omnibus budget bill?

Why is your government imposing constraints on Canadians to become involved in the assessment of the exploitation and movement of the very resources that we as Canadians own?

Why is your government afraid to consult with Canadians about the proposed changes? It's cowardly at best, deceitful at worst.

These are not actions of a democracy. None of these changes were part of the Conservative election platform.

Mr. Kamp, I urge you to stand up to Mr. Harper. Stop the silly, destructive proposed changes to our environmental legislation and processes. Strive to maintain a balance in making critical decisions.

John Kelly, Maple Ridge

[Note: A fuller version of this letter is online at www.mrtimes.com.]