Editor:
We are writing to applaud Karsten Heuer for his Letter to the Editor on Oct. 15, 2020. He introduces the irrefutable moral argument that calls on us to place the more-than-human world before greed.
Fifteen years ago the citizens of Canmore, supported by town council, undertook a visioning process called Mining the Future. The consensus was to avoid a scenario named the “Gates of Wealth” – in which the pursuit of economic wealth tears the social fabric and degrades our unique environment.
Unfortunately, successive town councils are culpable in not stewarding the outcome of the year-long process that engaged over 1,000 Canmorites.
What are our values? We suggest that each of us write a letter to our parents, siblings, children or grandchildren and explain to them what we did when TSMV came to town yet again, and robbed us of an adequate wildlife corridor, overran our municipal services, and otherwise degraded our quality of life – to satisfy the insatiable quest for money.
What are our values? We don’t seem to realize that the profit-at-all costs, business model is broken, based as it is on the infinite exploitation of a finite planet.
What are our values? The decision on TSMV is a matter of conscience, morality, ethics, and doing the right thing. Overtourism and multiple homes are not the future, as clearly indicated in Mining the Future.
Regrettably, Canmore is now unsustainable, having committed its future to cheap jet travel, hotel rooms, entertainment, and shopping.
Posterity will be unkind should we choose not to act with courage, integrity, and foresight. The more-than-human world is mute, and therein lies our collective responsibility to provide these creatures and their homeland a voice.
What future do we see for ourselves? What are we willing to stand for?
Robert and Priscilla Janes,
Canmore
