The contaminated-waste dumping that is being allowed to continue around Shawnigan Lake should be stopped immediately.
This is a serious man-made disaster in the making that will have a serious impact on future generations and their drinking-water supply.
The Capital Regional District and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, as stewards for watershed protection on southern Vancouver Island, must stop trying to get this issue resolved, and do what they have to do to stop this mess in its tracks — now.
Shawnigan Lake is part of the Sooke Lake watershed area, which is the main feed for the Greater Victoria drinking-water supply.
Environment Minister Mary Polak and Premier Christy Clark also seem to be sitting on the sidelines. They, too, have the ways and means to stop this mess from proceeding further.
This drinking-water tragedy that will affect generations to come can be stopped by the stroke of a pen. Where is that person, and why has this matter been allowed to continue for so long?
As Canadians, we are fortunate to have the resources we do, having almost 20 per cent of the world’s fresh-water supply, seven per cent of that water renewable. Sadly, some of us take our water supply for granted, either by sitting on the sidelines or actively engaging in destroying it through profiteering.
Richard Chadwick
Halton Hills, Ont.
