Printers 12 pg Express 5.29 5/27/02 2:58 PM Page 4 Page 2 EXPRESS May 29, 2002 express on line – www.expressnews.ca Purer water for locals New Drinking Water Act for BC will mean area water systems must meet new treatment standards by Charles Jeanes set up by the Province could apply for fed- Rural water systems and users of untreat- eral-provincial grants for infrastructure, but ed drinking water are about to face major the government changed that about five changes in how government regulates health years ago, and now they cannot qualify standards for water, meaning RDCK com- unless the Regional District takes over their munities are going to need to study their water system,” said Dawson. “Otherwise water sources. BC will pass a new Drinking they can’t get the grants. That’s why Water Protection Act (Bill 20) in the present Erickson applied to the RDCK to have its session of the Legislature, governing how water system be taken over by us.” water is tested for safety and paid for by In Area G, water users were invited to an consumers. The bill has received three read- information meeting Sunday May 19 at the ings in the BC legislature and is in review. Ymir community hall by their director, Hans Cunningham, to hear an engineering report on possibilities for “multi-barrier” NELSON BECKER PHOTO “...more funding is needed water treatment, including purification and Morgan LeBlond, baby Olivia, Taylor Caron, baby Arlo, and Ellen Gray, take part in the six hour occupation of local MLA representative Blair Suffredine. to reduce the risks...” filtration. David Marshall Ymir now has surface water sourced from Quartz Creek with no purification Mothers demand advocacy treatment, and a boil water advisory has On Friday, May 24, six women, four children and three unborn babies occupied the “It is time that we paid the full price of been issued by the Province for surface office of MLA Blair Suffredine for six hours. They were demanding that he commit to protecting our drinking water sources and of water users everywhere. Deep wells do not advocating on their behalf to ensure the continuation of obstetrical services at Kootenay building and maintaining the infrastruc- have the health risks of surface water and Lake Hospital (KLH) in Nelson. ture,” according to the press release by the are not under boil advisories. The mothers met with Suffredine in the morning, looking for answers to questions Chair of the review panel on BC water, Ymir water users at the meeting told regarding the hospital’s capacity to do emergency C-sections and emergency neonatal David Marshall, executive director of the Cunningham they don’t want to purify their care after the changeover deadline of July 24. They are concerned that the plan to for- Fraser Basin Council. “It is clear that more water with chlorine and decided to study the bid specialists from practising at KLH will jeopardize all births. “We consider this to funding is needed to reduce the risks to feasibility of getting their water from a well be an emergency situation as of July 24,” said participating mother Jocelyn Carver. drinking water.” by test drilling. Cunningham, noting that “There will be dangerous and potentially lethal gaps in emergency maternity care ser- Al Dawson, director for Area F, said that Salmo has a deep well source, told the vices.” in his area new applications have been made meeting there is federal-provincial funding Ellen Gray, another participating mother, added, “We just want [Suffredine] to assure to the RDCK to be under Regional District for the test project. us that he will work actively and publicly to try to ensure us full obstetrical and neona- authority, because that is the only way water A final Review Panel Report on tal coverage. To leave gaps in this area of health care amounts to playing Russian improvement districts become eligible for BC water is available at roulette with our lives.” grants from the federal and provincial gov- www.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/dw . Copies of the In the end, the mothers achieved what we wanted to achieve. “Suffredine gave us his ernments, and because of potential liability engineering report on Ymir water can be assurance that he will advocate for complete emergency obstetric and neo-natal care,” issues. obtained by calling Mould Engineering at said Carver. Suffredine also arranged a meeting with Rick Riley, COO for the “Years ago, a water improvement district 250-868-2072. Kootenay-Boundary area of the IHA, for Monday May 27. + Legislation to generate mining opportunities, says Suffredine Amendments to the Mineral Tenure Act and the Mines Act will provide greater certainty for the mining industry and open the door for a new era of exploration, said Nelson- Creston MLA Blair Suffredine. “Cutting red tape and eliminating unnecessary burdens for miners and prospectors will reveal this industry’s full “Save Our Hospital” opens Baker St. centre by Charles Jeanes A crowd of about 60 people agreed May 22 at the North Shore Hall to pay for rental of a Baker St. headquarters office for the “save our hospital” cam- paign. The meeting was organized by a health care sub-committee of the a vacant second-floor space at the Nelson Trading Co. on the corner of Baker and Stanley. Hamilton confirmed May 24 the deal for the space has been made with Ernie Mason, the owner’s agent, and the office could open on the weekend of need that.” The group is meeting at the centre May 29. The space will be an information and administration centre for the campaign and Hamilton said it needs donations of office furniture, floor lamps, coffee- maker, “anything to make it a comfort- potential,” said Suffredine. “The map of the West Community Action Network (CAN) May 30. There will be great visibility able place to drop in.” Hamilton is the Kootenays is dotted with the names of towns and ghost pursuing strategy from a previous pub- for the campaign, he said, since Mason contact for the Save Our Hospital group towns founded because of mining. This industry has played lic meeting in Nelson’s arena, where will let organizers use the street-level at 825-9372, until the centre has an important role in our history and there’s absolutely no 1,000 people came to hear doctors and display windows of Appleyard Co. phones. The centre is at 402 Baker St. reason why it cannot play a significant role in our future.” to brainstorm health care solutions. “I think any debts will be forgiven upstairs next to Rooftop Futons. The amendments are aimed at streamlining processes to Joyce Macdonald, who chaired the in the flush of gratitude when we save Areas E and F directors Josh encourage mineral exploration. For example, changes to the arena meeting May 15, said the group the hospital,” Hamilton said. “We Smienk and Al Dawson gave grants- Mineral Tenure Act will create a two-zone system that meets often to plan activities. want people who are committed to in-aid at the RDCK board meeting defines lands as either open or closed to mining so explo- The “town-hall-style meeting,” saving the hospital as their first priori- May 25, covering rental of the Hall ration groups have more certainty when they are interested chaired by schoolteacher Earl ty. People who don’t think it can be for the meeting, and of the centre for in specific areas. Hamilton, told Hamilton to try and get done should stay away – we don’t the campaign. Changes to the Mines Act will give the chief inspector of mines the ability to authorize permit exemptions for low- level mining exploration if the proposed work meets regu- Fast • Fun • Fitness lation criteria. 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