I am compelled to write about a serious problem regarding the catastrophic event that took place near Gogama in March 2015. Do you remember the CN rail accident that occurred in the area, where 35 rail cars spilled four million litres of oil (bitumen) into the environment?

In the year and a half since this disaster happened, have you heard much in the news about the actions taken by CN to remediate or the province to enforce cleanup? No, neither have I. Were there any fines laid on CN? No. Is there oil still polluting the area, a year and a half later, especially the rivers in the area, killing and poisoning marine life and wreaking havoc on local waterways. Yes, there is.

If you want graphic evidence without actually visiting the site, I strongly urge you to visit the Gogama Fire Department’s Facebook page, a public group, as well as the Friends of Minaki River and Mattagami Headwaters Facebook page. There are numerous, recent photos of oil slicks on the Makami River and dead fish on the beaches and floating in the water. Photos don’t lie. These areas have been deemed clean by the province and CN.

Outrageous and frustrating. Don’t be fooled by a recent media blitz by CN, saying that all is well. Seems it is trying to keep the public quiet, deluded and misinformed in its own corporate interests.

One does not have to be a scientist to know the extent of the damage still occurring. The Mattagami and Minisinakwa rivers are also being polluted by the migration of oil. If it continues, all of the waters along that watershed, as far as James Bay, will be affected.

There have been obvious stalling tactics, deceit, deluding attempts, more monitoring and no more cleaning being done. What is going on here? This cavalier attitude by those responsible and provincial enforcers is not acceptable. Enough is enough. We need to make noise. Write your MPP. Write your MP. Write Premier Wynne. Water is sacred, everyone’s lifeblood. Join the peaceful protest on Monday, 11 a.m. on Highway 144, Old Gogama Road.

CN needs to get a corporate conscience, make things right and clean up its dirty mess now. It needs to be much more accountable for this disaster.

Is that too much to ask?

Deb Belisle

Council of Canadians