HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL

MICROPLASTICS IN THE GREAT LAKES

I have two newspaper references for this posting namely the New York Times "For lakes, Small Beads Pose Threat" and the Waterloo Region Record "Group of 100 cities calls for action on "microplastics". These microplastics are tiny little beads that are used in used in personal care products such as facial and body washes, deodourants and toothpaste. They do not biodegrade but in fact are mistaken for food by fish. They also tend to become coated with poisons already in the water such as PCB's. These beads therefore bioaccumulate and could eventually work their way up the food chain, back to humans. Apparently these plastic beads are so tiny that they are not screened out at water treatment plants (ie. sewage treatment plants). This health care threat to wildlife and humans shows the wisdom in the O'Connor Report dealing with the Walkerton, Ontario water crisis over thirteen years ago. Justice O'Connor recommended a multi barrier system to keep toxins out of our water, namely not counting on end of the pipe treatment to cure all ills. Clearly Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and others counted on our sewage treatment plants to deal with this problem of their making. Poor decision.

NORTHERN GATEWAY PIPELINE

O.K. first off the proposed Northern Northern Gateway Pipeline is a very long ways away from Woolwich Township. So sue me for my being geographically challenged. A week ago Friday (Dec. 20/13) the Waterloo Region Record carried this story "Review panel supports Northern Gateway pipeline, but with 209 conditions". My experience with support for a project with so called "conditions" involved is that they are essentially meaningless. Here in Elmira, Ontario "conditions" on Certificates of Approval or on Control Orders are mostly window dressing. They are supposed to alleviate and mitigate concerns simply by being put on paper. In other words the 209 conditions are only as good as the integrity and ethics of both the review panel and the proponent. Hence they could be significant or not at all.

From this far away and being basically retired it's very easy for me to throw stones and bemoan the incredible environmental risks involved. These risks are more than just tangible and possible; they are most likely probably going to happen. The more miles, the more volume, the more rivers and streams that are crossed accompanied with typical Canadian oversight and supervision environmentally means there will be spills, leaks and God help us out and out disasters eventually. Does Canada as a whole actually benefit that much from this project or is it the usual very few and very wealthy simply becoming more so? We, Canadians, have become skeptics but for very good reason. Our governments at all levels lie to us constantly and without shame. Then they act surprised when we tell them we no longer believe a word they say.

WOOLWICH IN FAVOUR OF KEEPING TRANSFER STATIONS

Well there you go. I went down to Lazer Video this morning to pick up a DVD for the wife and I this evening as well as to get this week's Woolwich Observer. So I get home and I'm finding the Observer seems somewhat familiar. I check the date and sure enough it's last week's edition. What the heck!!! So either it's late today or it's not coming out till tomorrow. Regardless I notice a little tiny article I had missed last week. The article is titled "Woolwich to fight for transfer stations".

Quoting Mayor Cowan in the article "Addressing the issue at this week's council meeting, Mayor Todd Cowan said the savings would pale in comparison to the inconvenience caused to rural residents, noting the Elmira facility alone has seen some 25,000 visitors this year.". Well this is a good thing that our council are on board. As per yesterday's posting here I agree with him that the savings are very minor versus the services rendered. Now of course the big problem is for our one regional rep (Mayor Cowan) to be able to disuade the rest of regional council from this token, ineffective course of action.

FALSE ECONOMY IN CLOSING WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Four waste transfer stations may close". Firstly the amount of money to be saved is a pittance. Secondly why pick on the services to the Townships other than they are low voting areas and regional councillors in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge vastly outnumber the single reps from each of the Townships. There are certain core, fundamental areas of government responsibility and I would argue that waste collection and handling is one of them. Residents here in Elmira are conscientous about taking to our waste transfer station on Howard Ave. things that can't go out in the weekly garbage.

We pay our police department $135 million per year. These four transfer stations together will save $300,000. Policemen are all rapidly approaching the $100,000 mark on wages. Yes regional councillors and others are belatedly recognizing that police salaries and wages are not sustainable. They aren't the only ones. Teachers, firemen, politicians and municipal and regional staff all have to wake up and smell the taxpayer angst. Our costs are constantly rising while our incomes are stagnant.

Cutting back on a proper outlet for our garbage will increase vehicle trips to out of town landfills/transfer stations and or increase illegal dumping. Too little too late our politicians are waking up to the reality that taxes are not a bottomless well.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO FRIENDS, FAMILY, ELMIRA ADVOCATE READERS AND ALL

WOOLWICH TO RECEIVE SOURCE PROTECTION FUNDING

This article was in last Thursday's Elmira Independent and the title under Woolwich Council Briefs was "Township to get Source protection funding from province". Boy talk about a classic case of slamming the gate after the horse has bolted. Granted the funding is only about $30,000 and it's to cover costs of changes to zoning by-laws as well as public education programs.

The irony comes in a number of issues. First off Council are currently attempting to stop underground fuel tanks being installed on Earl Martin Drive almost beside the former south wellfield (E7/E9). The car wash would like to install them as part of their business. The question is whether that wellfield will ever be up and running again. Certainly putting underground fuel tanks beside it hardly is a vote of confidence and could be the straw that breaks the camel's back, down the road. The village of West Montrose are having their local infiltration wells in the Grand River floodplain replaced with a pipeline from Conestogo. The wells in Conestogo being used will be the ones west of the Golf Course Rd. wells which are also somewhat impacted by Grand River water.

Last but not least we look at the village of Heidelberg. A little birdie has advised me that the gas station on the main corner is being excavated again to remove source material ie gasoline. My belief is that the former owner was Elmira's illustrious, longtime former mayor, Bill Strauss.

Source protection of water supplies is a good thing but preferable when done before the wells are contaminated.