Leaf Rapids and the clean up of the tailings pile at the Ruttan Mine - where were the NDP this year?

Bond Ryan, administrator of the Town of Leaf Rapids took us to see the tailings pile left after the Ruttan Mine closed (top photo Bond Ryan points out details of the tailings pile to my son Charles who joined me on this northern trip). The tailings pile at Leaf Rapids needs attention. The Ruttan Mine was closed four years ago, and yet the tailings pile sits exposed rather than being covered over so that the toxic minerals in the material won't continue to leach. When the tailings are exposed to air and water, there is a progressive acidification and leaching of the toxic minerals. Action is needed to finish the job of cleaning up this site (bottom photo).

Town leaders were under the impression that the work on the tailings pile would begin this summer - but then no one showed up. They are wondering what happened.

It is in the nature of tailings piles like the one at Leaf Rapids that the problem will only get worse if it is not addressed. It is time for action now. Indeed, being engaged in the clean up now will help to create some badly needed employment in the area. It will also clean up this eyesore so that Leaf Rapids can continue to boast of its positive features to tourists, instead of having to explain why this has not been attended to .