I should have phrased things better in the post below...

After I wrote the post about voting against Domtar's environmental permit extension, I got calls from all the local media, as well as from CBC in Kelowna. CBC chose not to interview me in the end, which I am actually pretty happy about.

I made an error in phrasing which understandably the media has been keying in on. I did say below that I thought "now or in the near future" would be the best time for the mill to close, if that were to happen. I should have made it clearer. Here is a letter to the editor to Kamloops This Week, who really ran with my below statement, that clarifies my position I hope:

Regarding your article "pulp friction", I want to first offer an apology for some sloppy phrasing on my blog - yourkamloops.com.

When I wrote that "now or in the near future" is probably the best time for a mill closure, I was not at all advocating for the mill to be shut down now or in the near future.

I should have said that a mill closure would be really painful for the community at any time. I don't advocate it happening, but if it did, I hope it happens in a good economy, so it is easier to weather the detrimental effects. Easier, but not easy at all.

My essential point is that the 7 years (2000 to 2007)the ministry of environment gave the mill to bring its emissions down was quite generous. And I think the mill should be paying financial penalties for non compliance. These penalties do not have to be so high that the mill goes out of business, but high enough so that Domtar management feel the pinch. Perhaps, the penalties can kick in and / or escalate if Domtar falls behind on its deployment schedule for the promised emissions reducing technologies.

If the Ministry of Environment accepts council and Interior Health's recommendation, I am concerned about the lack of measures to ensure Domtar's compliance.

I think most people no longer want or need to sacrifice our health and our environmment for short or even mid term economic gain.

Comments

[Ken McClelland]

Arjun, I don't think your comments indicating that it really wouldn't be the end of the world if Domtar closed down because the economy is good and those people could find new jobs with no trouble, are very productive. Domtar employees have houses, mortgages, kids in sports, etc., not to mention spouses working for other companies in our community. I agree that their emissions permit work should be monitored closely, but not at the expense of losing this good corporate citizen and the significant contribution they make to our local tax base. That, too, would be a pretty big hole to fill in the municipal budget. While the mill was operated by Weyerhaeuser, they made substantial donations in the way of sponsorships, gifts and grants to many worthy organizations in our community. Lets not forget about that for the sake of not meeting the letter of the emissions permit under a pre-determined time-line that does not account for varying economic conditions. All has not been rosy in the world of pulp and paper production for several years, and prices have only recently started to once again allow a modest profit.

[Gisela Ruckert]

I agree with your comments, although sounding like you advocate a mill closure is unfortunate! I have long been disgusted by the "smell of money" in Kamloops. When I moved here in 2000, I was told that I'd only notice the odour a few days a year. Evidently, longer-term residents must develop a reduced sensitivity to the smell, because I notice it a few days a month. I understand that the pulp mill provides good jobs and a significant contribution to the tax base, but I also think people should factor in the cost to the city in smelling like boiled cabbage on a regular basis. I agree that Domtar should have to pay penalties for non-compliance, and the excuse that they just recently bought it is no excuse at all -- the deadlines were in place when they purchased the mill and the due diligence process they went through prior to the purchase would clearly have identified this issue as a factor. My fear is that they will be granted a cheap extension, then sell it again when time runs out, and the whole scenario will repeat itself. Not acceptable.

please do not shut down our economy, make it more efficient. thank you.

Joe from the loops.