Here is the one I sent.
As an Esquimalt resident, property owner, taxpayer, voter and angler I wish to express my great displeasure with the decision to close down the Fleming Beach Boat launch and trailer and truck parking area for three days to run some sort of Art flea market.
That period of time has acceptable tides/currents for deep water sport Halibut fishing and there are not very many of those days, especially with safe weather. Anglers come from up island and the mainland to fish out of this launch in addition to all the locals.
There is no other equivalent launch in the Greater Victoria area and it is absurd that this critical marine infrastructure is to be closed down for such a purpose for three whole days. This is especially true when one considers all the alternatives Public Parking lots that are available for such a purpose including the Gorge and Saxe Point Parks.
This will I assume also put this launch out of action for official use in the event of a nearby marine disaster . Should such an unlikely event occur, the press will have a field day with this decision.
There are hundreds of thousands of Salt water fishing licenses sold on this coast each year and other communities recognize the great financial benefit that sport fishing brings to their communities and actively spend money to promote and attract tourists to come and fish. That is why Port Alberni and Campbell River fight it out to claim the title of Salmon Fishing Capital of the World.
In addition to angling tourism they want those with a great love of fishing to retire in their communities and bring with them a lifetime of accumulated wealth contributing millions to their local economy. Esquimalt has great fishing including Salmon and Halibut that is second to none, how unfortunate that with this decision Esquimalt appears to have chosen to do the opposite.
The on line fishing forums frequented by thousands of anglers are abuzz with this questionable decision. Hopefully this special event can be moved and never repeated at this location in future years.