Letters: Plan for Eau Claire isn't what it seems
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Don't be fooled by the spin in this article. If you have attended the QuadReal information sessions on this development, you know that creating an 'urban village' is not the plan.
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If you are imagining interesting retail such as small shops, restaurants and coffee places that cater to both residents and area visitors, think again. Note the use of the words 'convenience retail.' That says it all.
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There will also be a storage facility. The very small footprint of the residential units proposed will require a storage building. And QuadReal owns 5th Street in the proposed development area, and unless something changes (such as QuadReal selling it back to the city), there is a distinct possibility 5th Street will be closed.
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This plan is nothing like the one that enticed people to live in or visit Eau Claire in the first place. This area is where Calgarians bring their out-of-town guests. Where they come to hear music, attend festivals, have ice cream, see the geese, go for a walk and see the iconic Peace Bridge. This new plan is about density — nothing more.
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No need to call us out. It is not like Canada enjoys it. We are not doing it to you deliberately.
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What is Canada supposed to do? Make forest fires illegal and not bother fighting them because they are illegal and not supposed to happen? Make laws against the wind blowing?
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Nobody can tell God or Mother Nature what to do — we could make the laws, but that won't make any difference to the wind or the forests or the fires.
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Come on, think about it before you make yourselves look like arrogant and overprivileged Americans who think they can run the world.
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Brian Leslie Engler, Ladner, B.C.
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Missed opportunity
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Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is missing an opportunity to meet the Longest Ballot Committee and listen to their concerns. Instead, he calls it a scam.
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Back in early 2022, Poilievre mingled with the noisy truckers and anti-vaccine protesters in Ottawa. He even served them coffee. This Longest Ballot Committee is a quiet protest in comparison.
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