"ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM MUST STOP" - RECORD ARTICLE LAST THURSDAY (Feb. 17/22)

The article was an Opinion piece by Susan Koswan and focused on long-term drinking water advisories. She particularly and appropriately was offended by drinking water advisories that remained in effect over a decade and longer. Ms. Koswan pointed out the greater likelihood of these occurring in Black, indigenous and poor communities in general. Her concerns also included Ontario's infamous "Chemical Valley" in the Sarnia area home to many including the Amajiwnaang people. While I agree with everything Ms. Koswan wrote I'm going to point out an even closer to home example of "environmental racism". ............................................................................................... Right here in Elmira we have 27 farming families located along the Canagagigue Creek downstream of Uniroyal Chemical/Lanxess Canada all the way to the Grand River. Most, nearly all, are Old Order Mennonite families. While their religious beliefs generally make them good neighbours and excellent citizens unfortunately they can also leave them vulnerable to the very same environmental racism inflicted upon Black, indigenous and poor families across Canada. Old Order Mennonites do not believe in going to Court to address grievances and assaults upon their health. This I believe was a huge incentive for Uniroyal Chemical to locate along the Canagagigue Creek in Elmira. They knew beforehand that they had a potential sewer located in the middle of their property. The only fly in the ointment was how aggressive the downstream farming residents would be as Uniroyal turned their beautiful creek into a chemical sewer. Imagine their glee upon learning that non-violent pacifists with a bias against settling issues in court would be their downstream neighbours. ...................................................................................................................................... The result is history and it is a shameful history of environmental destruction of a watershed as well as of the local drinking water aquifers. Note well that a drinking water pipeline from Waterloo quickly restored the rest of Elmira citizens' drinking water. Far too many non Old Order Mennonites would have crucified Uniroyal and all local politicians otherwise. The creek however has suffered since the mid 1940s and continues to suffer. The so called Risk Assessment of the Canagagigue Creek is a sham and a shame and glosses over more than seventy years of damage that still affects lifeforms in the creek and nearby humans. Small wonder when our authorities cheerfully allow the responsible/irresponsible corporate entity to be in charge of the investigation, Risk Assessment and final cleanup. All the rest including alleged public consultation is window dressing and greenwashing.