LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO - Wednesday 3 May 2006

CARP LANDFILL

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. There is a proposal for the Carp landfill site in the city of Ottawa to more than double its size. While we're sure proud as heck that we're going to get the World Junior's and probably the Stanley Cup, the residents in the national capital are opposed to this landfill expansion. Through myself and the member for Lanark-Carleton, they have petitioned this Legislature, and by next Thursday some 10,000 signatures will be introduced into the Legislature opposing this landfill expansion.

My question is this: My constituents want to know, will the Minister of the Environment accept these signatures from the residents of Ottawa as 10,000 separate comments opposing the expansion of this landfill in the draft terms of reference for the environmental assessment?

And Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the silence on the other side.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): As always, I want to assure the member opposite that we consider the comments brought forward by all Ontarians. On January 12, 2006, Waste Management corporation announced it intends to go through an individual environmental assessment. Currently it's undertaking its own public consultation, and as I indicated when I was in Ottawa last week, the opportunity is now presenting itself for the community to come together and indicate their prospectus with respect to this landfill. That's what's taking place. That material comes before the ministry as we examine how to move forward with respect to the Carp landfill. These are important comments that will be coming forward, and I look forward to hearing more and receiving them.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Supplementary? The member for Lanark-Carleton.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): Madam Minister, the next step of the process is for you to set the terms of reference for the environmental assessment. You have a wide discretion in setting those terms. I believe the terms of reference should be as wide as possible. Will you assure the citizens who are living close to this site that all other alternatives to a landfill site at this particular area will be considered, including an alternate landfill alternative, in their proposal for an environmental assessment?

Hon. Ms. Broten: I know the member opposite understands that individual environmental assessments are proponent driven. The individual environmental assessment and the terms of reference of the EA are put forward by Waste Management corporation. But it is important that the community understand that if an EA were to proceed, the draft terms of reference the company is consulting on now, Waste Management corporation would evaluate alternatives to its proposed undertaking, alternatives to this site, identify and evaluate the potential impacts on human health and the environment and the surrounding community, and very importantly, demonstrate to me that it undertook public consultation and identified concerns and proposed satisfactory solutions to address those concerns.

I invite the community to participate in an individual EA process, if it goes forward. I invite them to continue to express their views to Waste Management corporation. This is what the EA process is all about. This process is about protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians, and I take that responsibility. --