The Feb. 4 editorial slamming the provincial government for its handling of Western Forest Products' land was excellent, but missed one major point.

Premier Gordon Campbell is trying to put on a "green" image and his carbon tax is definitely a step in the right direction.

However, the shameful affair of WFP land is very far from green. Forest, even clearcut, will eventually regenerate and be a useful carbon sink, but land developed into houses, asphalt and the inevitable cars is lost forever in terms of a carbon sink.

The tragedy, too, is that much of this waterfront land will be bought by people who do not even live in B.C. and will spend only a few months, weeks or days here each year.

The government should immediately reverse its decision and help the University of B.C. to purchase it, even if that means my taxes will go up.

As for Ida Chong and her appalling foot-dragging in this matter, she deserves to be thrown out.

Charles Simpson

Victoria