Who Speaks for the Kipawa river

In reference to a recent letter by Scott Sorensen published in the Témiscamingue Le Reflet newspaper, as president of Les Amis de la rivière Kipawa I wish to make the following comments.

For the people of Témiscamingue region it seems clear that the proposed Opemican Park is unwanted and most could care less about the Kipawa river. Hydro-Québec has made some grand promises to the MRC of Temiskaming and they have the power to construct their Kipawa River Diversion Project within the proposed Opemican Park in any case. To many this just seems crazy but it is the sad reality.

In the province of Québec, Hydro-Québec seems to be able to do anything it wants to do. The population doesn't see the consequences of diversion of the Kipawa river as negative but something that will bolster the local economy. It seem that the general population believes that any new industry is preferred over the preservation of a prestine natural resource such as the Kipawa River flowing in its natural stream bed.

However, as a river preservation organization, dedicated to the ecological and recreational values of the Kipawa River we do not agree that the annual payments to the MRC are the way to gain the endorsement of the local population. The MRC mayors have made their decision based mostly on the promised cash, a short term view and r less about the future, the environment and other long term possibilties.

Further, the provincial minister who wants (and will ultimately create) the park has no power to stop Hydro-Québec's Tabaret project To Les Amis this all seems a bit too surreal. It's incredible that the Kipawa River, where we have run our Kipawa River Rally for the last 24 years may soon become a dry gulch.

Some of the local municipalities want the Tabaret project to proceed, and others prefer the private proposed Gordon (Innergex project). It certainly seems that there are no mayors who chose neither hydro project. Lets be clear however, just because the majority is chosing an option, this does not mean that the best alternative for Temiskaming includes diversion of the Kipawa River or the construction of a powerstation in the midsts of a proposed provincial Park, Opemican.

Recently the Laniel water control Dam was refurbished and modified to prevent the public from using the sluice of the dam as a recreational resource. Les Amis petitioned the government all the way to the Supreme Court to maintain this right of navigability but ultimately lost. But who really loses in a case like this? Ultimately it is the people of Temiskaming who have lost.

Les Amis believes in the collective power of the people, firmly grasping the facts of the situation and with a clear head to the future. It is not the 'fault ' of the Kipawa River that is does not lie close to a major center like Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa. It is not close enough that people would be easily familiar with its virtues. It is a remote place and that is both its strength and its weakness.

Tabaret

The sky is vast, my blood runs cold, so who will speak for me?
with skin like rock my soul is old, and ancient as the sea
From whence I came the age knows not and source is lost in time
And where I go no end is clear except as ocean's brine
Memories lost pour ever more a wish - a breath exspired
Clock ticks rumbling with the stones within my depths inspired
Measured for a concrete suit and kilojoules of light
overlooked by countless those who'd rather see than fight
Sold for wages and of sin by disembodied drones
Nameless those triumphant boffs of steel and glass -atone!
Could ride my back, explore my ways consume what I have sown
But take not blood away from me from which their life has grown


Let me assure you , we will continue to lobby on behalf of the river since nobody else seems to want to do this. Our position is that no water should be diverted from the Kipawa River - period. We would consider run of the river projects on the river itself or the use of the Laniel dam as a generating point. True, there is loss of electrical potential at this point but the trade off is water flowing within the river itself, now and for perpetuity. We also encourage the further development of the Kipawa River Trail and its extension along Lake Temiskaming. We feel that the public will see this as the right decision in future, and an opportutnity lost should the MRC leaders opt for cold hard cash in exchange for the natural wonder that is the Kipawa River.