Letters to the Editor: Reader favors OGS relocation

This is in reply to the guest editorial by Dr E. G. Pye, former director of the Ontario Geological Survey, entitled It’s a bad move to relocate the OGS, Sept 8.

Before speculating as to whether the OGS could deliver the same level of service in some locality other than Toronto, it is necessary to consider the proposed move in terms of the current economic and social situation in the province.

After World War II, two related trends accelerated: the shift in population from rural areas to cities and the expansion of governments. Toronto grew to megalopolis. A tremendous increase in the taxation level removed monies from local and private hands and provided the provincial government with large sums to finance greatly expanded government ministries, agencies and cultural institutions.

Most of these were located in Toronto. Thus, we do not find the Royal Ontario Museum in Dryden, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Kirkland Lake and Ontario’s largest and best-appointed university in Thunder Bay; the proposed dome stadium is not being built in Hamilton.

Toronto has become a kind of modern Nineveh or Ur — a vast and wealthy city-state supplied by its hinterland. In contrast, most northern Ontario communities are one-industry towns; a recession in mining or forestry can be disastrous. The people of northern Ontario are literally hewers of wood, drawers of water and moilers for gold. Profits from these basic industries have not stayed in these communities.

Sudbury was once a prime example of a one-industry town; 20 years ago it was a rather grim place. Considerable improvements have occurred in the last few years including a reforestation project, the building of Science North and the Taxation Centre (part of the federal government’s decentralization program). From time to time one still reads articles by southern Ontario “journalists” derisively referring to Sudbury as sulphur- city, a moonscape and so on; rather like sneering at a rape victim.

In an attempt to alleviate economic and cultural disparities the Peterson government has wisely embarked on a policy of modest decentralization.

According to Dr Pye, the removal of assessment-work files, the mines library and survey geologists to a “distant community” could be costly and inconvenient to mining companies. The writer suggests that local needs could be satisfied by the establishment, in Toronto, of a resident geologist’s office that contains appropriate files.

Mining company personnel could use the excellent library at the University of Toronto. Survey geologists could be contacted by telephone in Sudbury as easily as Toronto. The location of the OGS outside Toronto does not preclude access to geological expertise by other government agencies.

The argument that the OGS must remain in Toronto because of the proximity to cartographic and printing facilities is not convincing. The suggestion that local mining companies might exert undue influence on the OGS appears exaggerated as the executive offices of these companies are in Toronto.

The editorial implies that the Geological Survey of Canada is centred entirely in Ottawa. Such is not the case as there are branches in Dartmouth, N.S. (Atlantic Geoscience Centre), Calgary, Alta. (Institute of Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology), and Vancouver and Sidney, B.C. (Cordilleran Geology Division).

Dr Pye suggests that relocation will result in resignations of some key scientists thus breaking up long- established research teams. This may be so but the move might also rejuvenate the survey; young and dedicated geologists might be hired who are prepared to live and work in a community other than Toronto. It is doubtful if the hardship of the proposed move will generate much sympathy in the mining community. There is considerable unemployment in the industry and many individuals travel considerable distances searching for employment or on temporary contracts.

In conclusion, advantages of a Sudbury location for the OGS include: closer proximity to most areas of field study, closer to the operating mines, on major east- west and north-south travel routes and in an area of lower real estate costs. Dr Pye asks if the small number of survey positions will have any long-lasting benefits to the economy of Sudbury. The answer is definitely yes] The numbers may be small in Toronto terms but they are large here. Possibly mining companies will follow the lead of the OGS and relocate head offices in Sudbury. Moreover, Sudbury may emerge as the centre for mining research in Canada. Perhaps even The “Northern” Miner might move north. Don H. Rousell Professor of Geology Laurentian University Sudbury, Ont.