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No Crying Over Spilt Caustic Soda. (08.17.07)
Oh how I yearn for the day when I can’t type the words “The District of Squamish is once again a laughing stock of a community.” It is with no joy I have to once again defend the town I love against those rightly pointing and laughing at our perceived weak will.
Of course these latest attacks come from anyone hearing the news that after CN Rail poisoned an entire river; the District of Squamish chose not to take legal action. While many were quick to simply add this to the laundry list of reasons why they will not be re-electing certain officials, I could simply not accept the reason given, “Our lawyers told us not to… we can’t win.”
Well one thing’s for sure; no one ever accused Squamish of sticking up for itself.
Even if CN Rail could drag it out in court, the least we could have done is filed the papers as a symbolic f-you. But no, we do what the District of Squamish always seems to do and that’s just roll over and take it while practically begging for more.
This whole thing is even more repugnant when you realize it’s just another odor in the foul smelling sale of BC Rail to CN making it that much harder to see this thing clearly.
Of course I’m not a lawyer but it is absolutely flabbergasting to think no financial compensation could come from our negatively affected reputation or the quality of life for our residents. Certainly more than the pathetic hundred grand (in two instalments!) CN appears to be giving the District as hush money, yet again reinforcing our cheap image.
It doesn’t matter if you think we’re the Outdoor Recreation Capital or not. The fact remains that we as a district have invested countless millions trying to convince people to come here for the outdoor beauty. Each and every one of those dollars was rendered worthless once the national media blitzed the headline that we were a poisoned pit.
In the political game if you want respect you have to show you’re not a bumpkin town that will let anyone poison a river (or estuary). Sadly, our Mayor and council would probably be damned if they do or don’t in this case since they would have to spend money on lawyers after being told they can’t win. And once you’re told you’re a looser it’s easier to hang your head than fight back.
Unfortunately we all know that the law favors those with the better lawyers
and it’s now clear we would have lost for that reason alone. But
when first hearing that we wouldn’t stand a chance in court I thought
“if OJ can go free, surely we can bend the law in our favor.”
Then, sadly, I realized my fundamental mistake. You see, I was under the
assumption that the District of Squamish was OJ. I now realize that Squamish
isn’t OJ, we’re just the woman who’s brutally defiled
corpse will never see justice.
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