TOLD YOU SO...MILL CREEK RECOVERY AS YET UNKNOWN

Nine days ago I advised here that caution in and around Mill Creek and Shade's Mills was a good idea for some time to come. I did receive some minor criticism for that from a biased source as well as undoubtedly adding to the resentment and anger long held towards me by the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Their alleged professionalism has long suffered from political interference such that only those technical employees who are truly isolated from that interference, by simply doing the technical jobs they are asked to do, are able to maintain professional standards. It is hard to believe that the rest are not infected with the disease that starts at the top and works its way downwards into the organization. How is it possible for inherently decent human beings not to be negatively impacted on the job as they slowly learn that their careers and livelihoods are mostly to serve the facade that is the MOE (MECP)? The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has always been at the mercy of the provincial Cabinet whose primary function is to make the government of the day look good.

The latest article in today's Waterloo Region Record is titled "Mill Creek recovery far from complete". Just like my posting of nine days ago it advises that to date there have been no fish tissue results. Basically there have been no results regarding how fish have been affected at all. It's merely conjecture and wishful thinking on both the MOE/MECP and Grand River Conservation Authority's (GRCA) part.Biologists are supposed to be studying the creek's fish populations and that work has not been started.

Interestingly the MOE have advised the volunteer group "the Friends of Mill Creek" not to send their crew of teenaged "rangers" this season into the creek to do their normal rehabilitation work. It could appear that the MOE are saying one thing privately while publicly advising that all is well. Furthermore the Friends of Mill Creek will not be doing their usual stocking of the creek with brown and brook trout this season because of the fuel spill last January.

Finally citizens on the scene shortly after the spill have reported confusion and disorganization on the part of the authorities doing the cleanup and remediation of the creek. Also there are concerns about a lack of followup testing of local drinking water wells. For me having followed the actions of the Ontario MOE for the last thirty years, none of this is any surprise.