I concur, what a sad relic of a country Canada is. I'm moving away as soon as I finish school.

That's right, just leave... when a country needs the support of people to stick around and fight for it.

i dont think the problem is kayakers and hippies as it is that the quarry just isnt ON the water. thus they need to build a conveyor. and from the look of it... theres a lot of forest and wildlife between the quarry and the water. so they probably the noise from building one tunnel is going to affect the wildlife less than 10 years of gravel moving.

Actually, open pit mining is one of the three founding enterprises of 'british columbia' (cringe), along with subsidised, mass-overfishing and subsidised, endless clearcut logging. It is nothing new.

Please appreciate that Canada is just a poor developing country, far from constituting any significant manufacturing or technology prowess or otherwise (political, intellectual etc). It is simply not a scholarly nation, and it lacks the intelligence to strike out in new directions for it. It is a colony of poorly educated, simpleminded fools looking to the successful exploitation of the past for hope. This country is not founded upon intelligence; it is founded upon not being the states, which while even more retarded, doesn't mean Canada is better.

If there is a story here, it is that most Canadians talk out their fears of Americans invading and stealing 'their' resources, then move to the tarsands etc and do it for them. Duh, eh?

I just think it's hillarious, in a sad kind of way, that they took the time and money to make a TUNNEL so they could transport the rocks "discreetly".

RS,

I'm not certain if you are being sarcastic or actually are that ill informed?

Canada is a country that significantly relies upon an educated workforce.

Canadian education and R&D is generally respected throughout the world. While we may not have the breadth of industries that the US possess, in many of the industries that we as a nation have taken an interest in we have excelled. Telecom for one, generic computer programming as another, and then there is our efforts in the medical fields.

Sincerely,

An educated Canadian

Educated Canadian,

Weird opening sentence, but sure, I'm ill, and informed, and sometimes sarcastic; its no false dilemma, really! Lots of people can be all these at once - I promise!

Where have you been that you had someone talk to you about how great Canadian Tech is? hahahaha, please... stop it... my stomach hurts...

Better luck with the next troll, and do try to travel before you finish your bach degree and find yourself stuck in the workforce.

Check your numbers! California did NOT approve 222 billion of bonds. Altogether, is was almost 43 billion. Still a lot of debt.
$19.93b: transportation
$ 2.85b: housing
$10.41b: schools
$ 4.09b: flood prevention
$ 5.40b: water & parks

ps: be nice to Canada!!

This article is short on facts and long on ill-informed, sneering disdain. As a resident of British Columbia, and former resident of the Port McNeill area on the north end of Vancouver Island, I felt it neccesary to make a few comments of my own.

"Moving stuff in big ships is probably the most energy efficient method"

I'm not sure how you imagined bulk construction aggregates were transported up until now. By taxis, maybe?

"They can't be right on the water on the Canadian end because it might be seen by kayakers and hippies, so they are building it inland"

It is a misconception that Vancouver Island is exclusively peopled by kayaking hippies. Sadly, most of us don't have trust funds to enable us to enjoy such leisurely lifestyle. The locals generally work for a living. Nice stereotype, though. Is that what people back in Toronto imagine?

Also, I'm pretty sure Polaris aren't trying to conceal the existence of the Orca quarry from any imaginary kayaking hippies -- given the website, public announcements, press-releases, etc.

"Polaris promises that "Progressive reclamation will occur throughout operations,... All disturbed land will be reclaimed." and 12% of the project is owned by the local native people, and of course such a project could not have proceeded without proper environmental study. And, as we have said, ship transport is highly efficient."

Right, and your complaint about this is what, exactly?

"Still, this TreeHugger thinks that we will never get out of this mess"

And what 'mess' would that be? People on Vancouver Island having jobs?

"if people don't understand where things come from or where things go"

Where's the mystery? Not only is it clear where the sand and gravel are coming from and where it's going, but also exactly how they're doing it. They've got pictures, and everything. What part are you still confused about?

"that there is a cost to everything."

Well, in this case, it's a cost all concerned parties are obviously willing to pay.

"If Californians want to build highways and bridges, they can approve a gravel pit on their own turf."

So glad to see your deep concern for our precious non-renewable resource of sand and gravel. At this rate, we'll probably run out as soon as 1,000,000,000 years from now.

"If they see the environmental costs of their decisions perhaps they will think of lower-impact solutions- perhaps concrete roads and bridges have had their day."

Sure, we can just go back to building roads and bridges they way they did in the good old days -- out of imported Belgian chocolate.

You keep alluding to some sort of incalculable environmental cost, yet you never bother to provide any details to back up your vague complaint.

"As for Canada, what a sad relic of a country. It was bad enough being a hewer of wood and drawer of water; now we are a boiler of oil and breaker of rocks."

Ah, so now I think we're getting a little closer to the true nature of your complaint. I'm going to take a wild guess and speculate you've probably never spoiled your manicure either hewing wood, or drawing water, so your undisguised contempt for those of us that make our living like that is understandable.

It may be difficult to comprehend, but many of your countrymen, myself included, put on our hardhats and safety boots every day and try to make a living. True, we lack your delicate sensibilities and refined tastes, but not all of us had the foresight to style ourselves into Miata-owning, exclusive real estate promoters in Toronto.

I suggest you re-read the news article in the Victoria Times-Colonist which you linked to. You clearly have no appreciation for the high-tech and skilled trades work being generated by this project, the majority of which will go to Vancouver Island based companies.

And if you're still convinced Canada is a 'sad relic of a country', the solution should be apparent to you -- leave. Toodle-oo, and don't let the door hit you in the ass.

You're one angry troll, Milty.

Angry? Yet I'm not the one who believes Canada is 'a sad relic of a country'.

What is it that I've said which makes you think I'm a 'troll'? You should address the points.

LA: I will try to address a few points. First, Indigo, the 222 billion was not what was voted on, but what my source article said was projected over the next 10 years.

to Milton, "hewer of wood and drawer of water" is from Deuteronomy 29 and has long been a phrase used when expressing concern about Canada's prime role as an exporter of natural resources rather than manufactured products.

I put on a hard hat and safety boots every time I go on a job site, they are my uniform as well. I have spoiled my manicure using my chainsaw and have written posts about great things we are doing here in sustainable forestry. I think it is great that people are moving to the Yukon to cut diamonds. I just think we are better than just an exporter of gravel and oil- I think we can make things from it that add value.

I think people should know where their energy sources come from, where their food comes from, what happens when they flush a toilet and where their garbage goes. I think Californians should have to look at a gravel pit and hear the rumble of gravel trucks through the countryside and think about how much carbon is released in making concrete, instead of importing it.

Clicking on your name connects to a joke site designed to parody the environmental movement. Its not a joke. Your BCforests are being destoyed by beetles that thrive because it is getting warmer. If this keeps up we will not have anything to sell but gravel.

You're one angry troll, Milty.
The only troll here is me in this post and whom ever wrote the above.

I think Milton is right to be angry. I enjoyed his post. Why would Llyod leave Toronto? It's clean there, they send all their trash to Michigan.

I have been in the mining industry for over twenty years, most of it in California. It continues to amaze me to see anyone point out the environmental impacts of any mine, but ultimately, no one can reasonably say "where" to dig next. For every person who does not agree with this material being mined on this island, then they should be getting on the band wagon for Cemex to approve their proposed mega mine for aggregates in Santa Clarita and force Californian’s to dig for their own aggregates. Who will ultimately make the decision as to whose environment will be impacted for whom? The Sierra Club is great for telling you where not to dig but have never been able to say where to dig.

Most environmentalists do not want to take responsibility for the demand for minerals taken from the ground to sustain modern day society. Everything you use is either mined or grown, including your kayaks and guitars. Peace, love, joy.

I just finished reading something in the Economist that said that Ontario has the most educated workforce in the G8.

Questions for the "educated Canadian": who built the first jetliner in North America? Which plane carried the first jet airmail in North America? Why was it cut in half in the hanger the weekend before the Boeing 707 was rolled out (years later)? What was the name of the American who was Canada's Minister of Supply? Why was he given a gold medal by the US Aeronauctical industry?

Just one example of many.

"Educated" does mean informed.