FEDS ARE OVERWHELMED ENVIRONMENTALLY

Twenty plus years ago there was federal interest in our world class pollution problems here in Elmira, Ontario. Various studies were done involving toxic contaminants in the Canagagigue Creek which runs through the centre of the then Uniroyal Chemical site (now Chemtura). The quick explanation I've heard about their sudden departure seems to revolve around politics. Politics as in the province essentially asking them to get lost. I haven't been able to confirm that scenario but certainly something happened. Also I'd really like to know all the factors involved in an environmental crisis coming under federal jurisdiction. Clearly the great lakes which border both Canada and the United Staes are an obvious example. Also coastal areas appear to be under federal jurisdiction.

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried a story about a number of environmental crises under federal jurisdiction titled "Giant Mine cleanup rises to nearly $1 billion". The other locations mentioned include two west coast problem areas and an air force base in Labrador. Finally we have another mine in the Yukon. These examples would seem to be in line with federal jurisdiction as I believe mineral wealth and mines do fall under federal responsibility. Perhaps the only reason there was initial interest by the Feds in Elmira is because the Canagagigue Creek drains into the Grand River which then discharges into Lake Erie. The problem with that logic is that all our creeks and rivers eventually discharge into a coastal area hence leaving very little for our provincial environment ministries to be responsible for.

One mine in the north-west territories could cost Canadian taxpayers $1 billion. Another mine is estimated at $590 million. There are "...6,765 known toxic sites, including 2,709 "priority" sites." Good Lord! The Giant Mine, the focus of the Record's article has a quarter million tonnes of arsenic stored underground and 3,600 cubic metres of arsenic and arsenic-contaminated material are in above ground buildings which are in disrepair. Arsenic occurs naturally in certain geological areas and is also used as part of the mining process to separate out valuable minerals. That being said who was in charge in the first place? What government agency, federal or provincial, allowed private companies to rack up these incredible environmental and financial liabilities and then walk away from them? This is the scandal here namely the unbelievable lack of oversight and supervision by Canadian and provincial authorities. These ongoing expenses make it clear that our federal government are hardly in shape to be taking on other contaminated sites such as ours in Elmira, despite the overwhelming need.