Tofino mayor thankful for Japan’s donation
Posted March 13, 2013 2:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TOFINO (NEWS1130) – Japan is pledging one million dollars to help clean up the incoming waves of tsunami debris on BC’s coast, a contribution welcomed with open arms in Vancouver today by the provincial and federal environment ministers.
Is it the answer to the problem that coastal communities have been looking for?
Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne says she too is pleased with the funding, but will it be enough?
“Well it’s hard for me to comment,” she says. “I understand that [Environment] Minister Terry Lake has already said that it’s cost about $500,000 for clean up efforts to date and I feel that we’re probably just starting to see the tsunami debris so my guess is no, a million dollars isn’t going to cover it.”
But Osborne says it’s a good start. “There’s, I feel, a sense of urgency to have a plan in place and know that the province and the federal government have our backs, so to speak,” she adds. “We need to know that as soon as tsunami debris comes in any amount or something large, we’re going to deal with it right away.”
An environmental group on Vancouver Island News1130 spoke with is also pleased with the funding, but Will Soltau, Director of Clear the Coast with the Living Oceans Society adds it’s not going to address the much larger ocean garbage and debris issue that’s been plaguing the coast for decades. He says at the very least, the disaster has raised awareness.
