folc.ca's comment on HAZCO's answer to FAQ #9

Note: The background text in the following was copied from the Frequently-asked Questions page at HAZCO's website, Nov. 2, 2005.  HAZCO's answers to "frequently asked questions" deserve further comments.  Those comments are inserted where required in HAZCO's text and are shown on yellow background.

From HAZCO's FAQ web page (quoted verbatim):

FAQ #9. Why do you think so many local people are opposed to your project?

Actually there is a lot of support for this project and through continued honest and transparent communication; we believe that the community will accept Hazco based on the sound design, construction and operation of the proposed facility.  

We believe those opposed lack of understanding about the project as well as apprehension about what this project means to local property values and existing lifestyle.  So it’s our job to ensure we provide them with as more information as possible to make an informed decision.  

Comment: HAZCO is entitled to its beliefs (that HAZCO consistently fails to substantiate), but the fact is that there is a large and growing opposition to its proposal.  While there are about 4,200 residents in the County of Lamont, as of now more than a thousand individuals of voting age signed the petition opposing HAZCO's proposal.    HAZCO has been less than transparent with its communication.  Moreover, the details of the story it told kept varying from the start.    When HAZCO had its initial open house in Bruderheim in June 2005, the event was scheduled to coincide with awards night, so that many parents could not attend, given that their children's comfort and requirements were more important to parents with school-aged children than a sales pitch by an environmental waste management company.    It seems that HAZCO counted on that circumstance.  The guest book provided by HAZCO at its open house was too small (it provided space for 55 interested parties) to accommodate the signatures of all of the visitors that showed up.  HAZCO had to add more pages to their guest book to make it possible for the unexpectedly large number of visitors to sign in.  There were a total of 64 signatures, nine more than the space in the guest book had provided for.    Lack of understanding is most definitely not a problem with Lamont County residents, although they do have a good number of serious concerns with HAZCO.  Not the least of those concerns is that HAZCO consistently appears to be less than forthright in providing satisfactory answers to the questions by residents. HAZCO's "continued honest and transparent communication" mentioned nothing about the fact that two of their prior choices of locations were flatly turned down; not until being repeatedly prompted did HAZCO comment on those two previous failed attempts to locate its sulphur-storage and handling facility.  Why should Lamont County accept what other counties in the vicinity sensibly want to have no part of?  We would have to have rocks in our heads to accept what two other counties rejected.

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Created Nov. 4, 2005
Updates
2006 10 16 (reformated)Updates:
2005 11 20 (provided count of guest book signatures, according to HAZCO's guest book at the June 2005 open house in Bruderheim)
2006 10 16 (reformated)