Below is today's article in the Vancouver Courier.

Please write letters to the editor editor@vancourier.com.

Commissioner Lorretta Woodcock talks at the end about the "ethics" of holding a referendum when there are 10 years still left in the aquarium lease. Never does she mention the "ethics" of the NPA that signed a freaking 15 year lease! The lease should be of no concern with holding a non-binding referendum, it's just a sampling of public opinion and the aquarium and the park board have no obligation to act on the results of the referendum vote. Besides, the park board has had numerous contracts with the aquarium trying to restrict its footprint in Stanley Park - but the contracts, leases and bylaws have been unable to stop the aquarium from taking over our park, piece by piece..

Woodcock also says "that (she) promises one (a referendum) will be held well before the aquarium's lease expires in 2015...and in light of this announcement (the aquarium proposed expansion) Woodcock said she will bring a motion to the board again Oct.17.".

What she fails to tell us is that she plans to ask for a motion to hold a Whale Referendum in 2008!!! That's unheard of, voting on a motion for future park boards to do soething like that. Besides, 2008 is not only too late, it's a ridicoulous promise. With the aquarium's plans to make bigger whale pools, comes plans to bring more whales. By 2008 the tanks will be full, no doubt.

Please come to the October 17 meeting at the Dunbar Community Centre and show your support for a referendum. There might be a chance to speak to Loretta's proposed motion, and there will be a question period at the start of the meeting where you might be able to take the microphone.

15 years of asking for and waiting for a whale referendum is long enough. Please help the whales.