Prince George, B.C.- Prince George paediatrician, Dr Marie Hay, is the new president of PACHA.

 

In her acceptance speech, Dr Hay stated she believes there are 5 areas where PACHA needs to focus its efforts:

 

(1) to determine if there is formaldehyde or not in the air.....with as many tests in as many places, as affordable.

(2) to work to ensure that there is no more industrial development allowed in the bowl area that will contribute further to air pollution,; which includes downtown biomass plants and the increased road traffic and exhausts such  plants would bring into the downtown. This is especially pertinent because of the Stantec report, which says road dust contributes significantly  to fine particulate pollution in PG.

 (3) to increase awareness within the medical profession and the wider public at large, regarding the acute and chronic adverse consequences to human beings (young, pregnant and old) exposed to multiples exposures over long periods of time.

 (4) To work closely with the other concerned citizen coalitions to increase PACHA’s political lobbying /voting power. To show people they do have power if they choose to vote.

 

(5) To hold  local and provincial politicians accountable for taking decisive action to clean up  polluted airshed.

 

In his outgoing President's report, Dave Fuller  stated that while he is “encouraged by the significant improvements that are in the works in terms of upgrades by industry that will greatly improve air quality in Prince George”  he has “serious concerns about the relationship between Canfor Pulp and Northern Health where the chair of Canfor is also the chair of Northern Health… how can one remain unbiased in that position?” he asked “ what comes first profits or health?”

The new board of PACHA consists of Dr Marie Hay, President, Betty Bekkering, Dave Fuller, Kathleen Haines, Diana Mould, Scott Roberts, Dr Kenneth Parker, and Dr Jocelyn Campbell