Premier Christy Clark recently stated: “We have a record that shows we can grow the economy while reducing emissions.”
Twenty-five tandem dump trucks are making three trips a day, five days a week, from Nanaimo to the Malahat to dump toxic soils that are barged from Port Moody. That equals 1,500 round trips per month.
About 100 dump-truck loads per day are travelling from Victoria, some carrying toxic waste from Victoria to the Malahat. That equals about 500 per week and 2,000 round trips per month.
The existing permits allow this trend for 50 years.
Notwithstanding, the toxic dump site on the Malahat overlooking the Shawnigan Lake watershed is a poorly located site, causing great concern for about 12,000 Shawnigan residents who rely on the lake for drinking water.
I question Clark’s credibility when growing the economy means locating a toxic-waste site near a watershed with about 3,500 dump truck trips in just one month covering Nanaimo to Victoria, emitting significant emissions, especially while travelling the Malahat.
Ian Ritchie
Shawnigan Lake
