For immediate release:
February 18, 2005

Barrett invites Environment Minister to Haldimand

Queen’s Park –Given community concerns regarding a 5000 per cent increase in the allowable daily fill rate at Edwards Landfill near Cayuga, PC Environment Critic Toby Barrett suggests the Minister of Environment pay a visit to discuss her ministry’s decision.

“Many area residents feel their concerns have fallen on deaf ears,” said Barrett. “If the Minister truly believes the Edwards expansion should go ahead, I invite her down to answer directly to those affected and explain her government’s landfill direction.”

The Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP said he would be happy to join in a public forum on the issue if the Minister was willing – and to that end is writing the Minister and Halidmand County.

Barrett went on to question the about-face the Minister has done since taking her cabinet position.

“In Opposition, then MPP Dombrowsky lobbied the government to strengthen the environmental assessment process for a Richmond Landfill expansion proposed in her backyard,” Barrett continued. “But now she won’t allow the people of my community the benefit of any environmental assessment at all.” Barrett met last week with a Napanee municipal councillor on the Richmond Landfill front.

“People have questions that are going unanswered,” asserted Barrett. “Given the looming possibilities of a Michigan closure to Toronto garbage and the question of where that waste will head in the future, it’s important the people of Ontario understand where their elected officials stand.”

“Farmers and their rural brethren have had enough – they’re blocking highways,” Barrett concluded. “If this government doesn’t start listening and presenting a plan, the urban/rural divide will only grow.”

-30-
For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: 519-428-0446, 416-325-8404 or 1-800-903-8629