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Health Canada's Golden Rule
When Dr. John O'Connor raised concerns over oil industry activity and the possible linkages to illness in the community of Fort Chipwyan, Alberta he must have known that he was breaking Health Canada's - Golden Rule - the one with the Gold makes the rules. The approach seems to be that unless there are scads of data to prove that a problem exists, it cannot even be mentioned as a potential problem.
Solutions a must for water woes
Earlier this year, CBC radio broadcast a national documentary called “Slow Boil” that investigated water quality issues in Aboriginal communities. That same morning, I fielded 10 live interviews from different regions through the CBC broadcast centre in Saskatoon.
Light at the end of the tap?
Politicians of all stripes in municipal, provincial and federal government departments, as well as all levels of the civil service, have one thing in common: they want to be remembered; a footnote in history. What better way to gain recognition than to support cutting edge projects such as the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron at the University of Saskatchewan?
Safe drinking water: a key to tourism development
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) host- D ed an international conference in 2000 titled "Small drinking water and wastewater systems: Technology for the 21st Century". It brought together scientists and water treatment experts from North America and beyond. At the end of the conference the delegates were invited to debate a drinking water challenge.
The drinking water saga continues
The federal and Ontario governments, with major political posturing, went into the deeр end of drinking water issues in Kashechewan as visions of Walkerton re-emerged as E. coli had invaded yet another First Nations community in Canada.
Water quality education: what we all need to know
During the recent E. coli outbreak in Kashechewan I was interrogated by a string of reporters in print, radio and TV. After having explained the appalling issues to one of the reporters for about 30 minutes, he asked: “What are coliforms?”
Ponds of stagnant polluted water pose a threat in Alberta
An article in the Economist magazine (June 2003) stated: "There's oil in them tar sands!" The article made a comparison of global oil reserves and recognized the potential for the tar sands of Northern Alberta to be the second largest oil reserves on earth.
First Nations, INAC and resident experts improve drinking water
Despite Walkerton, North Battleford and countless other incidents of unsafe drinking water distributions in Canada, implementing rural water quality regulations is a formidable life challenge, which we have desire to tackle.
Due diligence equals safe drinking water
Water plant operator Tony Steinhauer has struggled to maintain good water quality from the poor water quality found on the Saddle Lake reserve.
Why are airlines posting water contamination advisories
I spend much of my time working away from home building improved drinking water and wastewater treatment systems in Indigenous communities.
The tsunami carries lessons for aboriginal drinking water systems
The recent tsunami destroyed water infrastructure and is raising fears of deadly repercussions as sewage and corpses are contaminating water supplies.