Open letter to BC Premier Gordon Campbell:
There can be little doubt that following the current period of recession, we can expect growth in resource sectors of northwestern British Columbia.
As a consequence of its geographic location, airport facility, future railway and pipeline potential and highway access to the port of Stewart, BC, Watson Lake, Yukon is well situated to accommodate the ongoing needs of most enterprises engaged in future development of mineral and forest resources in this region.
Watson Lake is currently preparing to finalize an Official Development Plan. Some members of council seem hesitant to recognize the need to set aside an area for future use by new local business enterprises.
If they could be persuaded to do so, it will still require at least three years to complete engineering, design and infrastructure development before it would be able to offer a variety of supplies and services designed to meet growing demands of regional industrial growth.
If you should agree that Watson Lake will have an important and necessary role to play as a future communication and supply centre for northwestern British Columbia, any comment or suggestions your government may have to offer would be very helpful at this juncture.
Don Taylor
Watson Lake