Dear editor,This letter is in response to Mr. Porteous' letter of April 19, 2012. Wow! Compliance Energy Corporation gets free coal from the Raven鈥檚 project, no royalties!That is big news to the government of B.C. and great news to CEC. I am running to my stockbroker to buy shares. Unfortunately, Mr. Porteous is wrong! Who is lacking in research information? Possibly, he should call his local government official and check that the loophole of 鈥渇ee simple鈥� does not apply to CEC at the Raven Coal Mine project.Mr. Porteous is also incorrect regarding his statement that immigrant workers will take many of the jobs. Well, maybe he is right on this if he considers workers from mainland Canada as immigrants.Of course, with the lack of commitment to encouraging business to keep our families working, Mr. Porteous might be right in considering them immigrants as so many young people have left for other areas of Canada to be able to support a family life.Do these immigrants need a place to live while working at Raven? Will these immigrants from mainland Canada spend money in the community? Could they possibly help deter B.C. from becoming a 鈥渉ave-not province鈥� by 2013?I have been looking back (researching) into the history of coal mining on Vancouver Island, and I am amazed that the Island has a vast history of mining. Coal was even washed and refined (cooked) at Fanny Bay for over 20 years.Back at the turn of the century, the government lacked concern for the marine life. The good news is that the coal mining back then did not seem to have affected the marine life that abounds in Fanny Bay today.I believe our elected officials and government workers care about the environment and will ensure CEC complies with all regulations.I am sure Mr. Porteous means well, but he must have received information from a 鈥渉earsay鈥� source and not from the government of B.C. or CEC.The Raven project is positive growth that will be a major opportunity for Vancouver Island to show positive growth. The B.C. government is responsible to ensure that CEC conforms to environmental regulations.Possibly, with the extra income the government of B.C. receives from the Raven mine can be used to assist BC Ferries to ensure they can operate the subsidized service to Denman and Lasqueti Island, which the local residence deserves. Michael Loftus,Parksville
