Dear Editor,
When the fight against this proposed dump started I knew it would be a tough battle, but now that I have read the recent letters to the editor.
Recently two letters to the editor revealed that persons such as myself are misinformed about this dump and the benefits it will bring to the community. The funny thing about being told that I am misinformed and misleading people is that it is coming from the very people that are fighting to get this dump into our community. Do you think that sounds a bit biased? Because I do not want one of the biggest proposed dumps in North America beside my house for obvious reasons makes me misinformed and misleading?
Look at where this is coming from the Project Manager for Prairie Sky and a business owner in Blackie that does not reside in the area. When I asked the question if there is a risk to our groundwater, the response I received is that science does not lie and there is absolutely no risk whatsoever to our groundwater. Many of you have seen the past few years how much rainfall we can receive and the potential for water runoff is significant. To me that seems a bit overzealous and I am sure to many others. The area between Blackie and Brant are blessed with significant water aquifers with many neighbouring residents that have abundant water wells, there are many areas in Alberta that have no water at all and rely on pipelines to get water.
To me this is BFI’s last chance to locate a dump of this magnitude close to Calgary and will stop at nothing to make it happen.
Many say there will great employment benefit if this proposal comes in. Keep in mind that BFI is unionized and that they are closing a dump to start a new one out here, with our proximity to Calgary I would think that the unionized employees will get the first chance at the jobs here and will likely be driving from Calgary since it is not a far drive.
Over the past two months we have collected thousands of signatures on our petition to stop this proposal. Prairie Sky’s response? Twenty signatures on the back of a promotional newsletter with many of those not residing in the area.
I am passionate about protecting the environment and the community of Blackie. I am fighting for what I believe in and for the majority of the people in the Blackie area and I know that many of you that read this if you were put in my shoes would as well.
We have heard over and over that this dump has to go somewhere. Why? This is just a private company that has run out of room at their Chaparral site in Calgary, the MD of Foothills’ dump and the City of Calgary dumps have plenty of life left in their existing sites. There are alternatives to dumps of this magnitude, waste to energy is the future not just maximizing tippage fees and burying the problem.
Watch an episode if Trashopolis, countries like Germany and Japan do not even bury garbage anymore. I, like the majority of others in the Blackie Community are tired of arguing with a corporation that is not listening to us. We are standing up for what we feel is right for our family farms and neighbours, not what BFI deems best for our MD community.
Kelly Malmberg
MD of Foothills
