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Negative reaction has greeted Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter’s contention that the plan to spend millions to keep raw sewage out of the Ottawa River is wasteful and a “knee-jerk reaction.”
Hunter said it would be impossible to keep the river clean all the time and that a huge outdoor swimming pool at or near Petrie Island Beach should be built so people would have no reason to go in the river.
Federal Environment Minister John Baird said while he respects Hunter, he disagrees with him on this issue.
‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’
“This is 2008 and it’s not acceptable to dump raw sewage in our waterway,” Baird said. “I think the average taxpayer is stunned that this goes on.”
He added with funding available through both the provincial and federal governments, “it’s time to strike while the iron is hot. We want to leave the planet better than how we found it.”
Others couldn’t hide their mixture of anger and astonishment.
“This is brutal and very naive,” said Ottawa Riverkeeper director Meredith Brown. “I think it’s a very sad day when someone believes people shouldn’t go in the river. Enjoying Canada’s lakes and rivers is a big part of the Canadian identity.”
RIVER NEEDS CLEAN UP
Ottawa Sailing and Powerboat School director Kim Moffat agreed. “It’s not a healthy thing. We must get it cleaned because of negative short- and long-term damage. I’m not sure what he means.”
The reaction was equally negative at Sierra Club Canada, where national water campaigner Celeste Cote had to get hold of herself before speaking.
“Where do I begin?” she asked. “I know for a fact that building a pool won’t solve anything. Nothing constructed can replace a natural space. We can’t have just an ignorance-is-bliss solution to this problem.”
(C) Ottawa Sun