The company hired by MM&A to clean up waterways contaminated by the oil spill was shocked to find out they were not being paid after responding to this emergency situation at MM&A's behest.
Mr. Carson said his company’s clients include ships, railways and pipelines, and this is the first time in its 18 years of existence that one has failed to pay after an emergency. “You get a call at three in the morning, there’s no way you can do a credit check,” he said. “We do go on faith a bit, but this is the first time this has ever happened.”
A CTEH official confirmed the town had paid the company. “We will continue to work as necessary to provide support to the community during the recovery and cleanup stages of the response,” the official said.
Fortunately the government in Canada is not a wholly owned subsidiary of oil companies like some governments we know.
The Quebec government has ordered the rail and fuel companies involved in a devastating train crash that killed 47 people in the town of Lac-Mégantic to pay for cleaning up the crude oil that spilled in the town and surrounding lakes and rivers.
Quebec Environment Minister Yves-François Blanchet invoked powers under a provincial law on Monday to force the companies to take financial responsibility for fixing environmental damage.
This railroad has some serious explaining to do both before and after this tragedy.
The railroad has a nice statement of contrition:
Statement on the Lac Mégantic Tragedy
Our hearts go out to the Lac Mégantic Community for the tragedy that unfolded in their town on July 6, 2013. The anguish of what has transpired in the deaths of so many is great, and words cannot express how deeply we feel for the pain and uncertainty being experienced by so many.
The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic (MMA) Railway is sincerely committed to safety and that commitment involves not only working with authorities to prevent incidents, but also fully understanding incidents when they occur. We are committed to providing all resources and information at our disposal to assist public safety officials in their endeavors. MMA staff is onsite in Lac Megantic and more continue to arrive on the scene to offer what assistance they can.
Finally, we would like to express sincere gratitude to the first responders, who’ve been working valiantly to contain the situation, to civic organizations that have provided care to a community in great need, and to the citizens of Lac Mégantic who’ve shown the heart of their town in the selfless care extended to neighbors. Your efforts are making a difference at a very difficult time.
But this statement is hollow when we are aware that they are even failing to take responsibility for the cleanup.