Dear Editor: There doesn’t appear to have been much discussion around Thomas Resources drilling in the city’s watershed but should there not be public attention and debate on this issue?
Considering this is our water supply and given the importance of this irreplaceable resource, how is it possible this company has been able to come in here and drill without even a murmur or concern from our citizens or council?
Seems to me there were rumours circulating that a company was trying to drill in our watershed but it appeared at the time there was little support at that time. Did this company have to wait for a friendlier council maybe even able to fly under the radar?
Daily we typically see in the news counties, cities around the globe and even in this province people in desperate need of potable drinking water.
Considering there are thousands of acres across this province not touched which would be within provincial control mechanisms and they come to our backyard? Is it possible the very item in The Western Star on Dec 18 provides the answer where Paul Barnable, the City of Corner Brook’s director of community services stated that it is not uncommon for mineral exploration to take place in watershed areas and the difference with this particular project is that it is the municipal levels of government that make the denison as to what takes place in its water supply areas as opposed to the provincial government calling the shots in most other watersheds.
Would it not make taxpayers wonder if the municipality has the resources and talent to police this initiative and accurately monitor any potential environmental hazards?
Is it just me or does the this company have easy access to get appropriate licences or leases at our city hall? How many citizens consider it appropriate that Thomas Resources can drill in our watershed and what about the long-term consequences?
Considering the next municipal elections are coming soon — September 2013, can we leave it to this mayor and council to do the right thing and hold off on any hasty decisions regarding this critical matter and make informed conclusions based on adequate and sufficient data as to any environmental consequences.
Given their order of priority immediately following their being elected was to give themselves a substantial pay raise and in the last budget voted down an opportunity for slightly lowering their travel expenses, and the other stuff we see time to time, I’m not so sure anymore what will happen.
But then, it was curious to see council in the last year of their mandate discover a new found interest in seeking public input regarding budget allocations. Miracles just never cease.
Steve Ransier, Corner Brook
