Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

2 comment(s)

To the editor:

I am deeply concerned about uranium mining in New Brunswick. I am fairly new as a resident to the province since 2007. I purchased 25 acres in Kings County, and within a month I received a letter informing me that my property has been staked for mining for the "good" of the province. They never did say what type of mining, but I am assuming it could be for uranium.

I was not aware that I do not own 100 per cent of my property as I had in other places in Canada. I was absolutely shocked that I did not own the mineral rights to my property. I wonder if everyone in New Brunswick knows that unless they are prospectors and have filed a claim, they do not have 100 per cent ownership of their land's resources. I wonder if people know that the province has given permission to allow prospecting on private land. This is the law.

When I decided to move to New Brunswick it was to retire and relax. Now I am extremely worried that my beautiful property will be destroyed and I will not have any way to protect it, not to mention any of my neighbours property also who have been staked for exploration. We must change the law.

Uranium is very dangerous. Ecologically, when mined it can ruin water tables for hundreds of years. But worse, the people who live where the uranium is being mined are in danger. Shame on the premier of New Brunswick for not changing this law and protecting us.

He is well aware of the growing concerns by the outcry this has created. Voters elected these people to represent and protect us; they are not doing their jobs. Isn't that what the government and laws are supposed to do, protect us? I don't feel very safe until the law has changed.

There are groups of local citizens and investors ready to build viable wind farms if supported by our government.

Our government won't allow this as it would exceed its allotment for renewable energy. Wind can easily surpass what uranium exploration and mining would produce without damage to our land and people. We currently produce around 4,000 Mw with oil, gas, hydro and nuclear. Studies have indicated that we could produce 40,000 Mw of electricity by wind alone.

Financially speaking, yes it would bring money to the province, but in the long run, what will happen to the people? Will we have to move away, or get our water trucked in to us to be able to live on our land? Would this water be as good as what we have today? What about all our farmland that is staked already? We want to protect what we already own and use everyday. I believe that is what we should be doing with laws, protecting society as a whole.

There is not too much I can do alone. Do others in New Brunswick realize we need to go to our legislators and let them know this is unacceptable?

Other provinces in Canada have a moratorium on uranium prospecting. Don't we deserve the same protection? British Columbia, Nova Scotia and others take the peoples' interests first before allowing big companies to destroy the land. I don't know how it came to be that the people of New Brunswick could accept prospecting on their private property. Try to imagine having a mining crew on your property, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

It's not too late, they haven't started mining yet, at least not around where I live. If we change the laws we can preserve what we thought was ours.

Ghislaine Bochi Gillies

Belleisle Creek