Leeds Grenville MPP Steve Clark wants a stand to be taken on ED-19.
During a question period this week Clark called on the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Chris Ballard to confirm that no landfill would open at the site designated ED-19. During his question Clark pointed out that the previous minister committed to ‘a change in circumstances or new information that wasn’t present at the time of approval’ as just cause for reconsideration. Clark says both of these factors are now present and expressed disappointment that Ballard has still not made the commitment.
Some of the reasons Clark points to include: changes to site conditions documented in three reports filed by the Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Township declaring itself an unwilling host, failure to consult the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne during the original environmental review and that approvals were granted on the basis of a municipally operated landfill, not a private facility that could accept garbage from across the province.
Clark says the Minister has the authority to scrap those historic approvals and order a new environmental assessment. He insists it is time Ballard told him, and his constitutes, that the dump would not be moving forward.
