Watching and listening to the various media around Canada, I had some trouble with the sensationalism regarding the Mount Polley mine disaster.
Two major television networks interviewed individuals who were strongly suggesting the mine spill would contaminate the Fraser River and kill all the salmon.
Why do they have to sensationalize stories before the truth is known?
When people in the media were talking about tailings pond breach and destruction they suggested there were many such incidents.
They didn’t mention these were world statistics, as apparently beaches have been rare in Canada.
The local media have done a good job in reporting.
I wish folks would take claim on real observation and science rather than theoretical, images and hypothesis.
While the Mount Polley spill is being dissected by many in this country, especially on the mining side and from the environmental point of view, there is much work going on at and around the mine site to mitigate the damage and do clean up work.
I would guess there will be more tailings pond inspections and hopefully the government can respond in an orderly fashion when it comes to requests from companies to discharge some water because of all of the rain earlier this year.
The biggest negative impact toward mining companies and ultimately the economy, is the ever-growing number of dollar destroyers who take the benefits from the mining industry.
They include some environmental groups, some First Nations, and other groups. These folks and the NDP don’t like mining, pipelines and tankers carrying crude oil and other economical advantages.
Perhaps they want the taxpayer to dish out more money to have all that we have now without the wealth mining, oil and gas, along with current pipelines.
No wonder it is hard to build an economy when there are so many who want to rip the fabric out of the wealth generators of this country.
When Gibraltar Mine came into the Cariboo it took 39 months to go from discovery to a mine permit.
Today it takes about 11 years of processes before you can pull out any ore.
Fortunately, for now at least, many of the Mount Polley workers are still employed and there is money being generated from the spill for our economy.
Ken Wilson is a freelance columnist with the Tribune/Weekend Advisor.
