Dear Editor:
So, here we are — had to happen eventually — dealing with our very own, made-in-Saskatchewan oil spill as Husky Oil’s muck and chemicals move down the beautiful North Saskatchewan River on its way to the open ocean and beyond.
Sort of our initiation or ‘coming of age’ into this modern, bottom-line corporate world, addicted to fossil fuel.
Left behind are 20 - 50 years of rehabilitation for the riverbanks, the wildlife, the people — First Nations, Metis and settlers alike — and, the life of the River itself. Along with the fear, anger and frustration experienced by all of the other communities around the world held hostage by this industry.
There are many questions about this tragic event: when did Husky Oil really know about the spill? Why the confusion about the date and time? Is the best we can expect from their data collection? When did they inform communities downriver about the break in their pipeline near Maidstone or did they let the media do that? Can we see it in writing, please: Husky Oil will pay for ALL EXPENSES incurred due to this grotesque tragedy?
Will the 30-km overland waterline from the South Saskatchewan River really be ready by July 29?
How long will it have to be maintained before Prince Albert and area residents can trust that the normal source of their water is safe to drink: 2 months? 6 months?? With freeze-up some 100 days away, how and at what expense (Husky’s?) will that waterline be kept open, and for how long?
Will the needless tragedy now playing out on the North Saskatchewan River change Premier Wall’s obsessive pursuit of the ENERGY EAST pipeline: it will be much larger and much longer, crossing some 3000 waterways on its route from Alberta to New Brunswick?
How many communities and their precious drinking water are at risk in that scenario . . . .?
Elaine Hughes
Archerwill, SK
