Do We Question SCC Survey Results...again?

[Oscar]

----- Original Message -----
From: Elaine Hughes
To: CBC morning ed.
Cc: David Suzuki Foundation ; Dion, S. LIB ; Dr. David Schindler ; Ducks Unlimited Canada ; Earthcare ; Edwards, Dr. CCNR ; Elizabeth May ; Greenpeace Canada ; Karwaki,D.SK Lib. ; Nature Canada ; Nature Sask ; Parkland Institute ; Priscilla Settee ; Sandra Finley, Sk Green ; Sask Eco Network ; Sask Environmental Society ; Sask. Wildlife Fed. ; Sierra Club - Can. ; Sierra Club - US ; Brad Wall Sask Party ; Breitkreuz, Garry - M.P. ; Premier Calvert ; Prime Minister Harper ; SK Party Caucus ; NDP Caucus ; J. Layton, MP
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9:34 AM
Subject: NUCLEAR: P.A. chamber of commerce backs uranium industry growth

Dear Morning Edition:

Regarding your piece this morning on the support for the nuclear industry in this province (inspite of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce uranium/nuclear so-called 'survey' results), please check this background information:

Attached is Cameco Survey from 2006 (apparently they do one every year - *** Permission to post this Survey was requested but never received. EH)

Below recent article is Special Letter from Sandra Finley of Saskatoon regarding Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Survey of 2006 - Saskatoon Star Phoenix, August 24, 2006.

Plus several other major resources.

Thank you.

Elaine Hughes
Archerwill, SK

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http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoe ... 8759fcfb62

P.A. chamber of commerce backs uranium industry growth

Carter Haydu, Saskatchewan News Network; Prince Albert Daily Herald
Published: Wednesday, May 30, 2007

PRINCE ALBERT -- The Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce supports uranium industry expansion in Saskatchewan.

The chamber environment committee's recent uranium industry expansion survey, given to chamber members, was returned with 83 per cent of responding members supporting expansion of the uranium industry, including construction of a refinery.

Of those members responding, 83 per cent support construction of a nuclear reactor, generating steam to produce electricity, while 90 per cent support the development of research facilities in Saskatchewan.

Larry Aitken, incoming chair for the local chamber, said no matter where a refinery is located in northern Saskatchewan, Prince Albert, as the link to the north, would benefit substantially. He said mines at Cigar Lake and Rabbit Lake show definite promise for mining.

He believes the jobs from uranium expansion would benefit the Prince Albert area.

"I believe it's a huge opportunity, not just for this province, but for this area."

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce had determined, in co-ordination with uranium industry representatives, that another uranium refinery is needed and the decision to proceed would be made this year.

Ann Coxworth, program co-ordinator for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, said expanding the province's uranium industry and building a nuclear reactor would create problems at both the local and worldwide levels.

She said unless the nuclear industry can find a way to deal with waste byproducts from uranium mining and nuclear fission, her organization would continue to oppose that form of power.

Coxworth criticizes uranium mining as polluting the surrounding ecosystem with bits of misplaced radioactivity and other toxic chemicals.

"We don't see (nuclear power) as an ecologically or socially sustainable source of energy," she said.

(PRINCE ALBERT DAILY HERALD) © The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007

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This Letter and other documents at: http://forum.stopthehogs.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=51

Chamber misleads on uranium issue
Sandra Finley, Special to The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, August 24, 2006

Following is the viewpoint of the writer, a resident of Saskatoon.

I am concerned about the manipulation of information in our society generally. When I heard that a Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce survey showed "massive support" for more uranium development, I did my own little survey.

The chamber surveyed all the bodies of local governance, which makes a census. Its press release says: "The survey, sent out to all First Nations, tribal councils, and all levels of municipal governments, from cities to resort villages ..."

There are 849 bodies of local governance in Saskatchewan. This is made up of 468 urban municipalities (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association membership), 297 rural municipalities (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities membership), 74 First Nations; and 10 tribal councils.

More information about the survey was requested from the chamber. Its response: "The chamber's survey on uranium opportunities was circulated on behalf of the chamber by SUMA to 368 RMs, towns, villages, and cities with known e-mail addresses. We also sent the survey out to all 84 First Nations and tribal councils and requested the FSIN to follow-up on this, again on our behalf." (The information does not say how the survey got from SUMA to SARM.)

The chamber's response goes on to say it received responses from 66 communities -- 66 responses out of 849 local governance units in the province makes a response rate of 7.8 per cent. On that basis the chamber issued a press release on Aug. 4, saying: "Municipal survey shows massive support for uranium facility in Saskatchewan."

It elaborates by saying, "From the responses received, over 95 per cent were highly in favour of such a facility."

As I said, I did my own little survey. The third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Prince Albert, according to its city clerk, did not receive a survey from the chamber.

But I focused on RMs. I asked some RMs if they had received the survey and if so, what was their response? There were 17 replies. One had responded to the chamber survey in favour of further uranium development. Ten did not receive the survey and six did not reply to it.

I conclude that the chamber press release is infl ated -- a lot. It is manipulated information. Maybe the ""survey" is only a gimmick.

Why would I pay any attention to information put out by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce?

Worse than the credibility factor, the chamber undermines the value of information. Civilizations decline when the knowledge base is corrupted.

The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006

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Please note:

***Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce website contains NO SURVEY INFORMATION as of this message.
http://www.saskchamber.com/surveys.php - EH
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Resources:

- Office of the Auditor General of Canada Report on the Uranium Industry 2005 (beginning with Section 8.21):

http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca:80/domino/repo ... 908ce.html

- Saskatchewan Environmental Society: http://www.environmentalsociety.ca/issu ... clear.html

- Inter-Church Uranium Committee Education Cooperative: http://www.icucec.org/

- Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility: http://www.ccnr.org/

- Sierra Club Uranium Life-Cycle: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200505 ... _cycle.asp

- Additional Background Information: http://forum.stopthehogs.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=20