First though, let’s tip our hats to David Schindler, an Alberta scientist who released a study last month (the study was peer-reviewed and published in a respected science journal) “that says the oilsands industry is polluting the Athabasca River.” (Oct. 1, London Free Press)
Not that the oil industry couldn’t have told us pretty much the same thing - they just wouldn’t.
“Schindler found pollutants downstream from oilsands developments” (incl. mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium, metals known to be toxic at trace levels) and his study finally found it’s way up the nose of Jim Prentice, Canada’s fearless federal Minister of the Environment.
(“We have an environment,” you might well ask. “Well, yes we do,” I must say. “We just don’t normally hear much about it from our Environment Minister.”)
For those surprised that the Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program RAMP), the organization that currently monitors the Athabasca River, didn’t publish such a study first, don’t be.
RAMP is an industry-funded organization and toxins are so darn hard to find.
Jim Prentice now admits he’s worried about the water downstream from the Alberta oilsands and has announced that a panel of scientists will look at whether the river is being properly tested.
In other words, he’s right on it.
The panel will go to Alberta (“Find Saskatchewan, turn left toward the smell.”), speak to people in the provincial government as well as other scientists, and report back in 60 days.
For some reason, Alberta scientist David Schindler isn’t on the panel.
Will we soon know more about the effects of the oilsands?
I hope so, but what are the odds?
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To be fair, I earlier read that two Liberal MPs want Schindler to be on the panel.
And learning about the omission of Schindler from Prentice’s panel inspired me to write this post.
Please click here to read more Climate Change Concerns.
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