Bear Friends and Bear Experts,

Here is link to letters to the editor for North Shore News...this is the
most widely read paper on the North Shore(65,000
circulation)...unfortunately, Grouse Mountain is a huge advertiser with them
but we hope both sides will be brought out? District is voting on this
re-zoning within two weeks or so.

Please write your views to
http://www2.canada.com/northshorenews/letters.html .

Letters have to be in by late Monday or early Tues for the next Wed's paper.

Please send to anyone who would like to comment on this proposal. You can
also write to DNV council on this issue: dnvcouncil@dnv.org and
barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca (Minister of Environment)

If you would like more background on Grouse you can go to
http://www.lifeforcefoundation.org/newsitem.php?id=100 or I can send you
the 2005 7 page proposal with few specifics and the latest proposal brief
from a volunteer in Dec 08, which still lacks specific protocols and
technical details but gives you the overall idea. No peer review by
qualified and/or licensed bear rehabilitators or zookeepers has been done on
this proposal except one that has not been released to the public by
Ministry of Environment. I have requested the review thru Freedom of
Information but again, the proposal reviewed was very rough and
non-specific. Hard to review properly until full disclosure available.

Thank you,
Barb Murray

PS I have sent my letter to editor in stating that:
1. I was the advocate who helped over turn gov't outdated policy of killing
orphans before the last pre-election promise happened in April 05 for the
same proposal and with the same funds and that I oppose this proposal.
2. 'Middle school' is not needed for bears and would be risky and highly
experimental
3. District of North Van did not re-zone last time as this was a non-peer
reviewed, experimental proposal
4. BC gov't wildlife authorities always have maintained that a zoo doing
rehab would be a conflict of interest.
5. Critter Care and the 3 other financially struggling rehab centres in BC,
with proven track records, should be given the monies.
6. Grouse Mountain does not need our tax dollars to expand
7. Crazy promises are made during pre-election times and we need to use bear
sense now.