Editor:

Members of the PIPE UP Network thank MP Mark Strahl for a constructive meeting on Nov. 23.

It was a lively discussion, beginning with the clarification that Mr. Strahl did not mean to imply that the threats of violence mentioned in his letter to the Chilliwack Times had any connection to the PIPE UP Network ("MP responds to anti-pipeline protesters" Nov.

15).

As community minded residents, PIPE UP members are committed to showing respect for others in all interactions and events, and to working in the best interests of our community.

The discussion with Mr. Strahl ranged from the environmental risks to the economics of tar sands pipelines, and addressed both local and global consequences. We found agreement with Mr. Strahl about the importance of jobs and the economy, the threat posed by climate change, and the need for policy to be advised by science.

Our views diverged about acceptable risks to human health and the environment, Canada's role in contributing to climate change and credibility of the National Energy Board to decide the future of pipeline development in our community.

We also differed about the vision of where our environment and our economy should be in 30 to 50 years. We believe that government should consider not only short-term economics, but also the longer view, and the kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to inherit.

We hope that Mr. Strahl's constituents in the communities of the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding will engage with him as their federal representative and ensure he pays attention to the impacts and risks posed by the transport of tar sands, not only on our global climate, but also to our drinking water aquifer, local waterways, businesses, properties, farms, and schools.

We encourage members of the PIPE UP Network and our communities to educate themselves and engage with their political representatives about current tar sands shipments and the proposal by Kinder Morgan to build a second tar sands pipeline through our region. We encourage residents to connect with us at: pipe-up.net and join in piping up for the health and well-being of our community and our environment.

Sheila Muxlow, Rick Zaleski,

Ian Stephen, Michael Hale PIPE UP Network