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Re: Raising a stink, June 12.
The Citizen editorial rightly says that the city’s massive dump of raw sewage in 2006 at least served to draw attention to the inadequacy of the city’s sewage system.
The editorial also makes the point that the public has a short attention span for this sort of thing and that our elected officials do not consider the issue to be a priority item. While you might be right with respect to this latter point, I submit that it certainly doesn’t have to be so.
I am one citizen who is appalled, not for the moment but for the long haul, not just by the one massive spill, but even more so by the routine dumping of raw sewage that continues to take place. I would like to think that I am not alone.
The question is, what can we do? I have written to the mayor and my city councillor. I have also joined the Ottawa Riverkeeper, an advocacy group for protecting the rivershed.
Undoubtedly, many other Ottawa residents will need to take action before our politicians take notice. Has the public a short attention span? I’m sure that this is one instance where the Citizen would be happy to be wrong if we demand action from our council members.
Brad Latta, Ottawa