Those in Prince Rupert Not Flush in Cash, could use a little advocacy on latest water notes

From West side to East, the issue of lead in the home water in Prince Rupert
could impact many, perhaps it's time to find out just how many homes
in the city have been affected by the issue and find out if there is any
provincial help out there for those who may need it.
(Photo from City of PR website)

So far, much of the focus of the recent stories on the renewed look at lead in the water of homes in the city has been that of how the City has responded to the sudden national spotlight.

An approach which has taken on a somewhat defensive stance from City Hall and in a few instances a narrative relayed through the local media.

Lost it seems amidst all the noise, is the fact that there are still seemingly a lot of people that are shocked to learn that their water may have issues of concern and that is something that probably needs to be looked at a little more diligently at the local level.

Those residents didn't factor much into the conversation at City Council on Monday, where there was no mention noted  of those living in the homes that had been tested or of their concerns.

Nor did their plight make it into an editorial page item in the weekly paper yesterday, a review which included many of the city and Mayor's talking points of the last few days, and followed much of the city's narrative as to how the national media got their research all wrong.

The paper's view also indicated that much of the onus towards attention and remediation now falls to the homeowner, something which may be a viable theme for those living on Graham Avenue or Silversides; not so much for those on a tight family budget and living in a rental unit, or in public housing in a very stressed housing market.

Like a helpful parish priest, the weekly paper's themes provided for some absolution for the city on the latest water themes; all that was missing was a reminder for us to say Five Hays 2.0's and 3 Redesign Rupert's as a form of Prince Rupert penance.

The declarative statement of the piece from the local paper providing for the viewpoint of the editorial team at the Northern View that  ...

Sadly, there really isn’t anything more the city can do.

Now while correct in the concept that the issue of the lead in the homes of those residents currently aware of the issue, is not the responsibility of the city.

That doesn't mean that the City can, or should just wash their hands of the woes of those that are left to deal with the situations that they may be facing.

There are some ways that the elected members of Council, can become very active advocates for the very people that elected them to office and at the moment could use a little help.

The first might be to try and get a better understanding of just who, or what areas of the city may be the most impacted by the issue and that would require a much more comprehensive and free testing program than the recent hodge-podge  approach of testing conducted so far.

Such a project would work towards providing for a true picture of the situation and to map out if you will, where the largest issues may be.

The cost in participating in something like that may be prohibitive for those living on the margins of our society at the moment, so perhaps the City could find a way to provide those testing kits, or do the testing themselves, provided through the parameters of whatever financial limits for participation they choose to fit that socio-economic footprint.

Maybe our council members could make use of some the resources of Prince Rupert Legacy, that pool of money we never hear much about. The fund is something rarely mentioned in public session and is a financial instrument of the city that we have not been offered a public update about in years.

Or, perhaps Council could scale back some of their current vision planning for the more tangible goal of a water survey, last month we made note of a call for bids for a project to rebrand the city's image and logo, you haven't heard much about it, because so far none of the council members have made mention of it in a public session.

Yet, they could ask themselves if the latest exercise in brand vanity is really necessary and if whatever money (again we don't know) has been allocated might not have a better use ... say for a large scale civic water survey.

Those reading at home, work or at school can probably think of any number of other areas or decisions from the past few years, where the city is currently spending money and where the funds could be re-directed towards the more immediate concerns.

If that isn't in their wheelhouse, then they could always knock on the door of North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice's office over at the Ocean Centre, just a few short steps from the eastern entrance to City Hall.

Maybe the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Planning might have some suggestions towards provincial funding to get a better understanding of the lead in the water issue for homeowners.

Which some might suggest, might fall within the scope of such a lofty office door title.

Not more than  a few years ago, as an Opposition MLA Ms. Rice was leading the NDP charge on the issue of lead in the water at schools, surely she might want to expand that advocacy for homeowners and those who rent in the community.

Though it should be noted, that since the national media attention came Monday, the North Coast MLA has not had one word to say on the topic through her social media feed, where much of her message making takes place these days.

While they're talking to the MLA, the city councillors might ask on behalf of the community if the Province has any home remediation programs currently available for residents to access; something that delivers for free water testing, or can offer funding or grants to remove any lead plumbing in homes, apartment buildings or commercial spaces.

And if none exist, perhaps Ms. Rice could be an advocate with her NDP government to create one; since as the national media has shown, the lead issue, is an issue that would seem to be having an impact on many communities.

That would be something that might help improve the odds that this story won't keep coming up again and again, like some kind of version of Prince Rupert Groundhog Day while we all wait until the city's third phase of the water project comes along.

Mayor Lee Brain and MLA Jennifer Rice celebrating the August announcement
of federal/provincial funding for the third phase of Prince Rupert's water plans

When it comes to civic infrastructure, that's one area where City Council can again can take some action and be far more dedicated towards effective and fulsome communication with those of us who call Prince Rupert home.

For the most part, all the residents of the city know to this point about the city's work, is that the city staff have been very good at filling out the forms required.

With those working on the file at City Hall having successfully accessed the grant funding available from the provincial and federal governments towards the three elements of the project, something for which they should be congratulated on.

Yet as far as progress goes, all we have so far is as the Mayor noted on Monday night, a hope that one day the final phase will be in place.

It seems that the dam construction phase is already a fair bit behind schedule from those early days, according to the Hays 2.0 presentation of 2015, the dam was supposed to have been well under construction by the start of this year.

Yet Council has not said much about the timeline of the work, or when it is expected to be completed and deemed operational.

In fact, they haven't discussed the dam much at all, at least not in the public council sessions.

We do know that they apparently chose to go with a hydro generating model, though they never really explained why they went that route, or if they will ever be able to sell the power should it be generated.

There has also been little discussion in council, as to just how much of a difference in cost that may have brought to the project, or if that decision has been part of the seemingly delayed start to the project.

Then again, with meetings that rarely last more than half an hour in many cases, there seems little interest  from the Council membership in providing for those updates in that public forum.

Council members have not provided much in the way of details, or asked many questions, towards the path ahead for the water system plans, leaving it very much anyones guess as to when they will turn on a switch at the shiny new treatment station and remove those 99.9 percent of the problems we face.

Until then, we imagine that for many the daily routine will be that of running the water for as long as you believe it needs to run in order to have a glass of water.

So really, if you think about it for just a few seconds ...

There is still very much that the City Council can do on the issue of water, most of which involves just a bit of empathy, a little advocacy and much more transparency and communication.

For more notes on the themes of discussion at City Council see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.