City Denies Coal Petition Request

By David Wiwchar PORT ALBERNI — According to the actions of city council Monday night, it's easier to seek forgiveness than ask for permission.

Chris Alemany has launched a petition against trucking coal through the Valley, telling council that if Alberni is to become a coal port, then rail is the only way.

“There is lots of opposition to trucking coal through Port Alberni, which is not sustainable,” said Alemany. “We want transportation by rail only.”

Alemany wanted to set up a small petition-signing table at Echo Centre, and came before council seeking permission to set up inside a city-owned building.

Councillors Hira Chopra and Ike Patterson worried that allowing the petition would give the impression the city agreed with Alemany.

“We’re neutral on this,” said Patterson, who went on to say council had never agreed to host petitions before, and shouldn’t set a precedent now.

Council members asked city manager Ken Watson if petitions had ever been allowed at Echo Centre, and he said “no.”

Council voted down the proposal but told Alemany he would be free to set up outside the municipal buildings.

Council’s answer didn’t sit well will school board member Rose-Marie Buchanan, who was an observer at the meeting.

She waited until public question period at the end of the council meeting before reminding city councillors that Echo Centre was one of the central signing stations for the recent petition against the HST and has been host to many other petitions over the years.

“I guess people already know that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission,” she joked afterwards.

For more information on the petition, or copies of your own go to: http://www.norailnocoal.ca/