COUNCILLOR MERLIHAN ATTEMPTS TO BOW OUT

Two citizens that I am aware of, with two separate issues from mine (asbestos cement pipe), have advised me of a pattern of behaviour from Councillor Merlihan. Unfortunately my experience has now been similar. When questioned or pushed for either further answers or clarifications he refuses to do his job. He appears to be looking for the five minute answer and will take whatever the current staff position is. There is also a disconcerting appearance that he is not prepared to stand up for his constituents against staff or council positions. This is ironic considering his newspapers strong criticism of Woolwich councils both past and present especially in regards to budgets and spending.

Councillor Merlihan refused to respond to my repeated written requests regarding an update on the asbestos cement water pipes here in Elmira. I finally firmly but politely had to advise him of his duties and responsibilities as a Woolwich councillor yesterday morning. His response was amateurish, ignorant and rude including a small rant about this Blog and allegedly inaccurate information as well as small readership. Totally and completely irrelevant to the issue of asbestos cement water pipe in Elmira. I then e-mailed him back and made it clear that I interpreted his remarks as simply an attempt to avoid discussion or debate on this serious matter. He still has not answered any of my relevant questions and concerns nor has he even acknowledged the existence of reports contradicting claims of limited to no health issues with ingested asbestos fibres. These include U.S. EPA guidelines for asbestos fibres in drinking water (7 million fibres per litre) as well as confirmation that asbestos fibres increase the production of benign (at least initially) polyps in the colon..

Late last evening he responded to my lecture about his behaviour with a much smoother, polished, and polite response. He sent me links to Health Canada reports that claim that there is not evidence of health effects from ingested asbestos fibres. Unfortunately even the report dated June 2019 actually was showing Health Canada's 1989 and 2005 conclusions. The other links were also fifteen to seventeen years out of date. It does not please me to see our national Health Agency downplaying health effects of any substance. They also (strangely?) advise that "Canada mines approximately 1.5 million tonnes of asbestos annually, principally in the province of Quebec." Political interference anybody???

I will credit Health Canada with publishing the results of a survey of drinking water supplies at 71 locations across Canada. They estimated that based upon the survey that 5% of the population of Canada drink water with asbestos concentrations higher than 10 million fibres per litre. That is approximately 1 3/4 million Canadians. Is Elmira one of those communities?

Health Canada also confirm that asbestos cement water pipes contribute to asbestos fibres in drinking water although there are various factors such as alkalinity, ph and water hardness involved.

Councillor Merlihan has also advised me in writing that he will not respond to further e-mails regarding Asbestos cement pipe in Elmira. He feels that passing the problem on to Councillor McMillan is satisfactory. It may very well be so however the councillor is confused. That is not his prerogative. He works for us, not the other way around. Cutting and running when the company position doesn't hold water is not why we elected him nor why we pay him (albeit modestly).