Taking action

Air quality is a legitimate concern for everyone in the Nicola Valley.

Unlike our southern neighbours, poor air quality in the Merritt area is most likely the result of dust or smoke. Although it is easy to point fingers toward the beehive burner that dominates the city’s skyline, it is important to remember that when you point the finger of blame to someone else three point back at you. If you are the City of Merritt this couldn’t be closer to the truth.

There are so many things that can be done to help minimize the problems that exist in Merritt. And yet for years no concrete plans for change have fallen into place. It isn’t because the problem is new. Merritt has been a dust bowl for hundreds of years and will be for thousands to come. The problem is it was never top priority. There is always something more pressing.

But with respiratory problems peaking and the health care costs starting to hit the $12 billion mark annually, this is a problem everyone should start taking seriously - especially a town like Merritt that is trying to attract thousands of visitors each year. The sight of dust blowing through the streets and black smoke pumping out of the beehive burner are not terribly appealing to the average Joe looking for a place to visit.

The seriousness of this problem goes well beyond the loss of tourism dollars. Over 3 million Canadians cope with serious respiratory diseases - asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, influenza and pneumonia, bronchiolitis, tuberculosis (TB), cystic fibrosis and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Respiratory diseases exert a great economic impact on the Canadian health care system. They account for nearly $12.18 billion dollars of expenditures each year.

Nobody is free from its clutches as respiratory diseases affect people of all ages.

There are a lot of things we can do to protect ourselves, like not smoking, avoiding second-hand smoke and staying away from particularly dangerous situations. But when it comes right down to it nobody is safe.

The City of Merritt has finally decided to take a major step towards solving the air quality problem in Merritt. They have formed a group to oversee the subject of air quality. This is our big chance to make a difference.

For a few years there was regular testing of the air quality in Merritt. These tests proved concerns over the air quality were legitimate. Unfortunately, the city did not ensure that testing continued and expanded.

It has been proven time and time again that the biggest changes come when you get the public involved. The first step was forming this committee. The next will be making sure it is a vessel for change, not a group that looks impressive but accomplishes nothing.

Most things come about because people are offered information. The air quality committee will give Merritt a chance to have the kind of information that could lead to changes.

The solution to the air quality challenges is a long way off. We are not going to wake up one morning and breathe perfect air. But now that we have the information it is up to every member of this community to make sure the City of Merritt and the newly-formed committee live up to our expectations. They are our voice. Let’s make sure they speak up on our behalf.

This is cache, read story here