For immediate release:
June 17, 2004

Adams Mine legislation could leave province “knee-deep" in Toronto trash

MPP Barrett says, “Now is not the time” to remove options

Queens Park – PC Environment Critic Toby Barrett continued to point out the precarious situation facing Ontario due to the Government’s Adam’s Mine Lake Act – an Act that closes the door to option of an Adam’s Mine landfill.

The Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP began his comments in the Legislature by highlighting the battle-lines being drawn across the border to the current practice of trucking Toronto trash – at a rate of 125 tractor trailer loads a day - into Michigan.

“The moment Michigan elected officials take their initiative aimed at protecting the state from imported garbage headaches to their logical conclusion and close the border to Toronto's trash convoy, we in Ontario will be knee-deep in a waste problem that will only grow larger each day this government sits on its hands without a backup plan,” Barrett said. “Now is not the time to be taking options [such as Adams Mine] off the table…over in Michigan, elected representatives are taking action, even as we speak, to protect their state from foreign trash.

“As early as tomorrow, Wednesday, June 16, the Michigan House of Representatives will be debating a resolution that was introduced by a friend of the committee, Republican representative Daniel Acciavatti - It's aimed at having this province deal with its own garbage disposal issues.”

Barrett went on to say that it isn’t just Michigan that would like to see options – such as Adams Mine – explored for possible solutions to the current Toronto trash convoy.

“Similarly Roger Anderson, chair of Durham region -- we contacted his office yesterday -- indicated to us, "It's a shame to take any viable and feasible site off the table right now." Chair Anderson certainly shares our fear of what will happen if Michigan decides to close the border,” said Barrett. “A decision at this point in time, in Mr Anderson's words, is premature for this legislation to go forward.”

Barrett concluded by suggesting that despite the government’s waste diversion commitment, a Michigan border closure would still leave a large and growing amount of Metro mess in the hands of Ontario.

“With respect to diversion, I sincerely hope this is explored in detail in the announced consultations - sixty per cent diversion is a laudable goal,” Barrett stated. “The question remains, where does the other 40% go? Where is the plan?”

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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 416-325-8404 or 1-800-903-8629