A CHALLENGE TO A NEW COUNCIL - AWAKENING TO A NEW (OLD) REALITY

This morning I couldn’t abide the permeating aroma of chlorine in our water, and when it becomes this concentrated, such that I smell it just washing my hands, I won’t even have coffee....which by rights, in the process, should have steamed off at least some of the gas.

When I was covering District Council, back in the 1980's for the former Herald-Gazette, I was turned onto a story that had come from a southern Ontario hamlet, having problems with its water supply. Industrial contaminates were getting into the ground water and municipal source for community consumption, and causing a major panic, particularly because there was a food processing facility using the same water.....and potentially contaminating those who consumed the product.

I remember talking to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, for Muskoka, and asking about the routine tests on the water for contaminates that might have some cancer causing potential. I was told then, and I’m assuming it holds today, that while sampling is taken, the process is expensive and not done frequently. Maybe I’m wrong. The real issue is bacteria to stop another Walkerton tragedy. But as we’re finding out nationally, our water supply is full of contaminates, from cast off medication, to industrial waste, and there’s not much being done about it. It’s changing the reproductive capabilities of some species of aquatic life. It’s pretty scary stuff and while you’re trying to prevent cancer by eating correctly, it probably isn’t enough prevention. Add on to this contamination, the constant radiation bombarding us from every where, including our pockets and homes, and well, good luck in the future.

Issues of wireless internet will be affecting school officials and municipal authorities locally, at some point soon, as more national and international attention is focused on our self-inflicted atomospheric pollution. And it will come down to the grass roots level, where most rebellions have commenced in history, and these issues, while not as immediate as having to approve or deny the next zoning amendment, or minor variance, I do believe it will be an issue sooner or later, when a District councillor, representing our town, says to the Water Department, for example, “why does my drinking water taste like a public swimming pool?” And do increased amounts of chlorine cause any medical problems down the road? Why is the chlorine level bumped up at certain times of the year? Is there a sewage treatment problem and an ongoing contamination of our own water source? What are the ailments connected to a high level of chlorine treatment of the water......other than our white laundry getting really white?”

How many times in a given year, do you hear about someone being diagnosed with cancer? There are those who would say that asking such a simple question, is no way to conduct a survey of incidents of cancer, diagnosed throughout the country. This is true. But none the less, as random and unscientific as it is, doesn’t this troubling news in your family, neighborhood, community, make you wonder who’s next. While there’s always a guarded response, as to “Why me,” and “We just don’t know why and from what,” thinking about potential carcinogens that may be in our drinking water, every day of our lives, makes me ponder aloud sometimes, about our ability to ever come back from this natural destruction of the planet.

When we’re told “it’s safe,” to have or consume, by government standard, but there is conflicting evidence from the public, such as in the case of drinking water deemed safe, and wireless internet that is causing alleged maladies in some children, are we daft enough to wait ten years to find out just how much damage the experiment has done.......when, like cigarettes, the ill-effects were finally acknowledged but not before massive loss of life. With our various forms of high tech communications we use daily, young and old, that emit levels of radiation, (which over the long term could have adverse effects), what is most obvious to me, is that capitalism and its well being are infinitely more important, than whether or not we might get cancer some time in the future. And when we do, what was the cause? Radiation or the pollution of our drinking water?

Gravenhurst council hopefuls might look at a blog like this and say, “this isn’t what our job will be at a municipal level.” “What can we do to change society?” “Even if we explore more thorough testing of our water for carcinogens, what can we do to stop the contamination?”

As I began this series of pre-election blogs some weeks ago, my mission above all else, was to prove to everyone that power belongs to those who pursue enlightenment, knowledge and who are believers that education is an ongoing necessity of survival. Many gave up on the matter of ongoing education after high school. If you wish to be among the enlightened, I’m willing to bet that a matter as simple as water quality, is a question worth pursuing with authorities. Then taking that information garnered, and moving on to the next step of information discovery. You may be surprised, shocked, dismayed or possibly even relieved, in the process of such investigation. But once you know the truth, you’ll feel an amazing liberation. You might just consider yourself a lowly council member, looking at bylaws and amendments all the live long day but never dismiss the fact you are representing the good folks who live in this town, who are potentially becoming ill because of what occurs in this town. It may be a time when municipalities are going to stand-up to other levels of government, and demand these issues get the attention they deserve.....changes to be made accordingly.

Just remember the incredible work of citizens of the past, who without rank or social standing, took on major issues of international weight, and won, if only it was to inform us about something that was dreadfully wrong, and needed government action.

There are a few council hopefuls who have the idea being elected, to town council, is a means of getting a few extra bucks every month. There are others who have special interests and agendas to cultivate. Some have a sincere interest in making Gravenhurst stronger and more financially dynamic. And there are some who will be disappointed by how dull the process of local governance can be, day to day, sitting hour on end at meetings and conferences. Yet, if you appreciate any of the above opinions, truth is, the ambitious councillor who wants to make a difference, has a lot of room to wiggle. The protocol of following the mayor is okay in procedure but not as a matter of control.

As a reporter / editor for many years, I used to get so bloody mad that councillors always felt they had to hide or defer from our inquiries. Even when we did open up something, like the water quality issue, it always seemed to be such a pain in the ass effort, to get members to react with a sense of responsibility, to an undeniable problem we clearly identified.....not simply to sell papers but because we were all interested in the welfare of the place we lived. We just learned to push and push hard for action because otherwise, most of these issues weren’t important enough, to outweigh those same minor variances and re-zonings. What I know now, is that they simply wanted to do their job, and not hunt down extra responsibilities they hadn’t signed-on to perform. We used to argue back that, what does a council representative do in the case of a serious, widespread community disaster? Look it up in the municipal government handbook for councillors before reacting? Some circumstances require stepping outside the box. If you knew clearly, and with the contaminates listed on a civic document, that you were potentially risking cancer by drinking the town water, supposed to be safe for drinking, would you want your family to remain blissfully unaware, or would you be a vigilant campaigner for more information and warnings?

I don’t expect municipal councils will be able to kick the arses of those in higher government without consequence. It takes added effort and commitment. But when I hear these council hopefuls now, spouting off about “making change,” and “improving our community,” and all about their “dedication,” and “passion,” is this truthfully the spark of fire in the belly that demands of the elected representative, to push beyond the commonplace of council business, into the complicated realm of health and welfare issues that affect each of us hometowners 24-7? Think about these issues on the occasion of attending another ribbon cutting, or a grip and grin photo op for something or other.....and let conscience enter into it. Is this all there is? Is this what I ran for election to do?

I will not write any more on the subject of municipal elections before it is determined who will represent us for the next four years. My hope is that all successful candidates will come together, despite differences of opinion and agenda, and run our municipality responsibly, and without fear that enlightenment is a burden.....or that ongoing education is redundant. It is important for all of us here, to have respect for those who represent our interests......our health and welfare is as much in your hands, as any where else in this grand dominion. And don’t think that the voice of inquiry, or the mission of discovery is ever a waste of time and effort.....it is the reason we have cures for much of what ails us, with new discoveries ongoing. We appreciate the fact you have stepped forward to help us, and our hometown, deal with the future with the decisions of today.