| TORY MPP LISA MACLEOD WRITES MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT - Aug. 24, '06 |
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| Wednesday, 23 August 2006 19:00 |
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(Nepean-Carleton) - Lisa MacLeod, MPP for Nepean-Carleton, today called on the Minister of Environment to immediately respond to Ottawa City Councillors who oppose the expansion of the Carp Road Landfill and who are proposing the province allow municipalities, like Ottawa, to have greater control over industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) waste diversion. In a letter sent to the Minister today, MacLeod writes, “We are all advocating . . .a firm provincial policy on industrial, commercial and institutional waste (ICI) in order to avoid the expansion of the Carp Landfill.” MacLeod continues, “On October 17, 2005, your parliamentary assistant, John Wilkinson, stood in the Legislature and stated, ‘We have an amazing plan.’ To date the details of your plan appear to be only to pass the buck to municipalities. That’s not leadership, that’s an abdication of responsibility.” According to a recent report in the Ottawa Citizen, ICI accounts for 70 percent of all garbage in Ottawa and of that 83 percent is in our landfills. MacLeod, who opposes the expansion of the Carp Road Landfill believes the time is now for the provincial government to meet its 2003 election commitment to divert 60% waste from landfills and listen to municipalities who find themselves with ever expanding landfills and few tools to force industry to participate in recycling and other diversion programs. “This is another in a long line of Dalton McGuinty’s broken promises,” MacLeod said. “Instead of being decisive, which the people of Ottawa and Ontario demand, Dalton McGuinty is delaying, deflecting, dithering and denying on the issue of municipal waste. The time for action is now.” MacLeod plans on meeting with Bell-South Nepean Councillor, Jan Harder next week to discuss ways the City and Province can work together to achieve greater waste diversion and reduce the stress on City landfills. -30- ------------------------------------------- August 24, 2006 Minister of Environment Honourable Laurel Broten Ministry of the Environment 135 St. Clair Ave W, 12th Flr Toronto ON M4V 1P5 Dear Minister, I am writing today to advise you of a decision by Ottawa City Council with respect to industrial, commercial and institutional waste. I am requesting that you act on the advice of this municipal government in the absence of achieving the target established by your government during the 2003 election. As you are aware, I was vocal in opposing the expansion of the Carp Landfill in Nepean-Carleton during the last legislative session. Many of my constituents have been in contact with your office regarding the same. We are all advocating, along with many Ottawa City Councillors, a firm provincial policy on industrial, commercial and institutional waste (ICI) in order to avoid the expansion of the Carp Landfill. On Wednesday, August 23, Ottawa City Council supported a motion calling on the province to give municipalities the legislative powers to force businesses and institutions to participate in municipal recycling programs. According to a recent Ottawa Citizen article, ICI accounts for 70 percent of all garbage in Ottawa and of that 83 percent is in our landfills. In 2003 Dalton McGuinty promised to divert 60% of waste from landfills. On October 17, 2005, your parliamentary assistant, John Wilkinson, stood in the Legislature and stated “We have an amazing plan” to reach that target. To date the details of your plan appear to be only to pass the buck to municipalities. That’s not leadership, that’s an abdication of responsibility. Minister, the people of Ottawa are anxious to get to work to reduce the amount of ICI going to landfills. I encourage you and your government to share their sense of urgency and outline the details of your plan to meet your election promise. I look forward to your response. Kindest regards, Lisa MacLeod, MPP Nepean-Carleton c.c. John Tory, MPP Leader of the Official Oppostion Laurie Scott, MPP Environment Critic All Ottawa MPPs All Ottawa City Councillors |