Push needed now for cleanup
By Keith MacDonald
Cape Breton Post Weekend Feedback
Sat. April. 3, 2004
Our community is at a pivotal
moment for the Muggah
Creek watershed cleanup, a
critically important initiative
for our area. Specifically mentioned
in the most recent federal budget,
the project seems
poised to move ahead after a
lengthy planning period.
Common sense would suggest
that now is the opportune
time to foster an environment
in which government can
complete crucial negotiations
and finalize preparations.
There is ample evidence
that the community understands
the vital importance of
engaging the process in preparation
for the actual remediation
effort, but what is not
obvious is the vehicle
appropriate for this purpose.
Clearly, the energies of
community have to be focused
in a way that makes it abundantly
plain to the federal government
that the cleanup must move forward
with dispatch and optimal
effectiveness.
Citizens should not assume
that because the federal and
provincial governments have
declared their intentions to
make money available for the
remediation of the tar ponds
and the coke ovens site that
the future of the cleanup is
secure. Far from it.
There are varied and complex
issues ahead, any one of
which could derail the project,
to the enormous disadvantage
of the community. For example,
cost-sharing negotiations
between Ottawa and Halifax are
not complete. In fact, there
is a major difference of opinion
between the parties.
As if this were not concern
enough, there is the potential
that the project could be
delayed up to five years or
more, and possibly derailed,
by a cumbersome federal
environmental assessment.
The community needs to be
heard on the cleanup, and at
no time must government be
unclear on the disposition of
the majority of residents on
key issues such as those I've
noted. For this reason, the
Metro Cape Breton Junior
Chamber has started an informal
consultation with key
local organizations and
groups on the formation of a
representative committee to
orchestrate community support
for the cleanup.
Our expectation is that the
merit of structured community
intervention at this important
time will be clear and
that a credible vehicle can be
fashioned for this purpose.
Keith Macdonald
President, Metro Cape Breton Junior Chamber
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