Editor:
The Mount Polley mine tailings pond collapse was an environmental catastrophe like no other in British Columbia.
Despite reassuring water quality testing results only days after the breach, I don’t think anyone is sitting back feeling that everything will be fine.
When your region in British Columbia begins the national news for a few nights in a row, you know it’s a leading story nationally, and possibly globally.
I am only one local citizen who is asking, what now?
What will we as British Columbians do to ensure that a preventable disaster like this never happens again?
Will our elected leaders now uphold the necessary legislation, policy and practices?
Who wants low taxes when a gem like Quesnel Lake and all natural resources downstream are vulnerable for decades?
Are low taxes worth it?
Possibly higher taxes may save us money, and a lot of grief, in the long run.
I sincerely hope that August 4 is a turning point in British Columbia.
We can look back and say that on Aug. 4, 2014, British Columbia became truly serious about environmental protection.
Jane Perry
Williams Lake