Talk is essential

We were glad to see about 150 Bragg Creek area residents attend an information session about the Province’s plan to harvest more than 700 hectares of forest, Aug. 2. (See story on page 1).

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development plans to clear the land for fire management purposes but many residents are against the move, saying it will negatively impact wetlands, trail systems, cause soil erosion and ruin country views. They are also upset that the main financial beneficiary, Cochrane’s Spray Lake Sawmills, is a stakeholder in discussions about the plan.

No matter what side of the debate you are on, it is important that people in the affected communities are able to have their say on the issue before a decision is made.

Whether you believe the clear cutting will help save people’s homes in the event of a wildfire, or you think it is a money grab that will detrimentally effect the environment in one of the county’s most scenic areas, a healthy discussion is necessary for the upkeep of democracy.

We hope these open forums are not just the Province going through the motions and that the voices of local residents are seriously considered and their concerns are taken into account when the powers that be make a decision on the logging issue in the coming weeks.

All eyes are on them now and we will be paying close attention to the final judgement.