Don't let JAG die, says ChairTanya Collier MacDonald |
The chairperson of the Joint
Action Group is warning the
community it will lose its
footing as an equal partner in
the cleanup of Canada's
worst toxic waste site if the
community-driven process is
shut down.
The MOU between the three levels of government and the community will be automatically renewed for another five years in September unless one of the three partners gives a written notice of termination this month. Government partners are
meeting with JAG members
Monday to discuss the
group's future but some
recent reactions from government
has Fraser doubting
the MOU will be renewed.
In a letter by David Darrow,
chairperson of the executive
committee representing
the three levels of government,
it was learned that two
representatives from JAG are
not permitted to take part in
the finalization of a Sydney
Urban Area Statistical Analysis Report.
Although there is a partnership
in place now, citizens
can't take part in the project
until after it is completed
even though the work was
funded under the $62 million
cost share agreement supporting
cleanup efforts and
came from a JAG motion.
Instead of being treated as
an equal partner, JAG is
deemed simply as an interested party,
said Fraser. The statistical analysis is expected to outline the degree of contamination within a three kilometre boundary of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites. The focus is on the amount of outfall from stacks on the site during the steel plant's operation.
In 1977, stacks at the SYSCO
coke plant were reported to
have spewed out the highest
amount of dust in the country
in that year - far surpassing
major centers such as
Toronto and Hamilton at that
time. JAG was also refused funding in May for a study aiming to take a retrospective look at the health of steel and coke ovens workers in relation to working at the local steel industry. It was the first time JAG was flatly denied money by its partners. They were also informed government will be seeking participation from the Cape Breton District Health Authority when it comes to determining funding for studies addressing the future health of this community. Fraser said even though that is a change in direction, JAG wasn't party to any discussions regarding that issue.
The chairperson said government
has gained a great
deal of credibility during
JAG's existence.
The community has also
benefited from monthly
access to two regional director
generals from the federal
government and the CEO
from the provincial Sydney
Tar Ponds Agency. Fraser said his fear is that once the community is no longer considered a partner, citizens will only get "what government decides you should have." tc.macdonald@cbpost.com |