To the Editor,
With the acquisition of the Somass Lands, the City of Port Alberni has secured a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enrich the ecological, economic, cultural, and social future of our community. The opportunities for rehabilitation and/or redevelopment of the site are varied and exciting, and will fundamentally transform our city.
However, we feel that the best and most equitable return on the city’s investment, and the one that will best provide adaptability to future generations, can only be achieved by the city either retaining public ownership of the lands or returning ownership to the legal First Nations owners, should they so desire.
Selling the land to developers, as happened when Oceanfront Squamish was sold to Matthews West, would be a once-in-a-generation mistake. It will extract wealth from our community for the one-time benefit of a non-local company with non-local interests.
The city can both redevelop the site and retain public ownership of the land. There are many alternatives to outright sale that should be explored. Public land ownership opens up opportunities for equitable and non-market driven use of the land, and would be a gift to future generations in an uncertain future.
Leonora King and David Reid,
Port Alberni
