Too good to be true?

Sometimes things just sound too good to be true. That’s how many North Islanders feel about the promises North Island College is making about the Port Hardy campus.

College president Lou Dryden has promised new programs, including prerequisite courses, for the Port Hardy campus by September. He has promised a five-year plan and he says the college will work with the North Island Post Secondary Education Committee on a memorandum of understanding.

The problem for most North Islanders is we’ve heard these kinds of promises before. When campuses were closed down in outlying communities like Alert Bay and Sointula, we were told they would be serviced by programs offered at Port McNeill. When Port McNeill and Port Alice campuses were closed down, we were told a bigger better campus in Port Hardy could better serve the whole region and offer more for everyone.

Instead, we’ve seen programs offered without the opportunity to get the prerequisite courses. We’ve had students sign up for programs only to learn they would have to travel to Campbell River for some classes. We’ve had programs cancelled and staff cut while North Island College campuses in Campbell River, Courtenay and Port Alberni continue to grow.

This time, instead of just keeping our fingers crossed, North Islanders like those who showed up at the college board meeting last week must keep vigilant and keep reminding the college of its commitment. Write letters, make phone calls, talk to local politicians.

Otherwise it’s just another batch of the college’s pie crust promises: easily made, easily broken.