Many
environmentalists were delighted when Premier Campbell repented
and reinstated the Ministry of the Environment. The new
minister, Barry Penner, said during an interview on the
Rafe Mair show that he would defend the environment rather
than front for industry. Where has he been since then? On
August 10th the Ministry of the Environment issued an "information
bulletin" with respect to CN Rail's August 5th
chemical spill in the Cheakamus River. That is the only
item with respect to the environmental damage that can be
found on the government website, and that item is not included
on the top page. Penner is not quoted or mentioned in the
bulletin. Why hasn't he visited the site, witnessed the
fish kill and spoken to those whose well water may be contaminated?
CN also
had a serious spill in Lake Wabamun just outside Edmonton
. The Alberta
government's website contains pages of information on
the spill, and its Minister of the Environment has been
in the news regularly expressing his outrage with CN and
his intent to hold it responsible to the full extent of
the law.
It is
true that the spill in Alberta is potentially far more dangerous;
a known carcinogen was dumped in lake water used by residents
for showers and dish washing. CN is alleged to have delayed
its report, as well as initially misreporting the nature
of the contaminant. Nevertheless, both governments are dealing
with the transport of dangerous substances by the railway.
Of course in BC, CN is a major contributor to the BC Liberals
who recently returned the favour by giving it BC Rail. In
Alberta a bold Minister has let the public know that the
government will hold CN to account. In BC a rookie Minister
has disappeared and his Ministry put out a bulletin a week
late emphasizing the role of the federal government. If
the Cheakamus spill indicates what we can expect of Penner,
a lot of trouble lies ahead.
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