Dear Editor,
As a very active member of the former organization Concerned Citizens of Manitoba in the 1980s, opposed to the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in the province, I stumbled over this issue again this past summer while on vacation in Manitoba.
In 1987 our organization, CCM, dragged the kicking and screaming NDP provincial government of the day into the legislature and forced them to pass the High Level Radioactive Waste Act. It was a vigorous four-year campaign.
I noticed the recent letters to the editor in The Reminder regarding the dangers of toxic radioactivity.
I would like to simplify the issue for residents of the Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, The Pas and Creighton area who may not understand the complicated technical aspects of the debate.
You do not have to understand the technical issues, as there are other ways to judge the dangers of the nuclear/uranium industry that not only hit close to home, but right on your front doorstep.
Take a look at your homeowner insurance policy. Read it and see what coverage you have to compensate you for loss due to contamination from nuclear/uranium industry radiation.
Let me save you the effort. You have no insurance coverage to compensate you and you never will. This includes personal health/life insurance policies.
The reason for this is because the insurance industry does very careful research into risk and financial consequences before selling you an insurance policy. They are not in the business of losing money.
All nuclear waste destined for a possible repository in the Creighton area must pass through Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage and The Pas by road or rail.
The safety standards for high-level radioactive waste shipping containers are dubious and outdated at best.
Read the brochure distributed by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization and then think of the very tragic Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, rail disaster. Then add high-level radioactivity and volunteer firefighters from a small-town fire department.
Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage and The Pas are downwind, downstream and downhill from Creighton, as are the constituency offices of Member of Parliament Niki Ashton, who did not answer the direct question of The Reminder, “Do you support the concept of nuclear waste disposal near Creighton, an issue of importance to many of your Flin Flon constituents?” She gave a fluffy non-answer showing a distinct lack of political integrity.
Niki Ashton will be long gone with a lucrative pension by the time the first nuclear waste shipment passes by your children and grandchildren out playing in the yard of your home not covered by your insurance policy.
Who are you going to call after the tragedy? You certainly won't be calling Niki Ashton, because she will be nowhere to be found.
Speak now or forever hold your peace.
