Re: ‘Fake news’ is coming at us from angles, Opinion, Jan. 19
Ironic that Tom Fletcher’s editorial regarding “fake news” is itself such a fine example of fake news. Fake news has an agenda and Fletcher’s is clearly anti-environmentalist.
Fake news can be lies, but more often is based on misleading or selected facts, leaving out important information. Fletcher’s first shotregarding cancer in Fort Chipiwyan is an example.
Increased cancer in Fort Chipiwyan came to media attention in 2006 when Dr. John O’Conner observed high cancer rates in thatcommunity. His numbers were found to be exaggerated, but a 91-page report by the Alberta Cancer Agency in 2009 verified theincidence of cancer in Fort Chipiwyan was significantly higher than expected. At that time, there was insufficient evidence to link theincreased rates of cancer with tar sands pollution. Lack of evidence is not the same as innocence; it simply means the data todemonstrate the link wasn’t there. No government or industry body was willing or interested in gathering the evidence.
In 2014, the University of Manitoba working with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Mikisew Cree First Nation released the reportEnvironmental and Human Health Implications of Athabasca Oil Sands. This 242-page report is consistent with tar sands pollution as afactor in the decline of human and environmental health in that region.
The word limit here does not allow me to address all of Fletcher’s statements. Many are misleading, limited in scope and simply fake news.
Eric NormanNanaimo
