Dear Editor:

I would like to respond to a letter printed in the December 21st, 2012 edition of the Columbia Valley Pioneer that suggested that I am ill informed in regards to the creation of the Jumbo Mountain Resort Municipality, the handing over of 6,000 hectares of publicly-owned land to a group of BC Liberal insiders.

My position on the creation of a real estate development in the Jumbo Valley is consistent with the majority view of the people I represent as MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke.

The majority of residents hold that view because they believe that a resort in the Jumbo Valley does not make economic or environmental sense. I represent that view, and I represent it vigorously.

Immediately following the announcement that the BC Liberals had created a resort municipality and appointed a mayor and council in an area that had not a single resident, I received 77 emails from constituents. 75 of those emails were from people who thought this was a very poor idea.

And recently I attended a Rod and Gun Club meeting where we discussed this issue, and not a single attendee thought that giving away 6,000 hectares for a resort was a good idea. Not one.

So I represent that view. Just like I represented the majority view on HST. And when you had the opportunity to make your opinion clear on HST, 66 per cent of you rejected the BC Liberals attempt to force this tax on you.

In the upcoming election in May, residents will get their opportunity to make their opinion clear on Jumbo. The BC Liberal candidate has chosen to stake his candidacy on his support for and connection to Jumbo Glacier Resort.

People will decide whether they support the giveaway of this land to a handful of BC Liberal supporters, or whether they want decisions on the landbase to be made in the best interest of British Columbians.

Im very happy to be the candidate who stands with the majority of citizens in this area who believe that this land giveaway is the wrong direction to take.

Norm Macdonald, MLA