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HomeMy WebLinkAboutX2023-036-001I Metro choking on garbage, official warns:' By David Israelson Toronto Star _,077,%y 7/?Ibert, in a study he planned to release today. Metro faces a "looming crisis" over where to "I'm calling for one inter -regional agency, throw its garbage, says works commissioner from Halton (west of Metro and Mississauga) to Frank organ. Durham (east of Metro)." ic wands t to not produce a solution," mething we. can wsa d Horgan The agency, to include Metro, would: who ha just prepared a report for Metro Coun- ❑ Be responsible for collecting and disposing cil on the problem. all garbage in the area. At present, different The report, to be taken up by council's works governments do the pickups and the dumping. committee next Tuesday, "is intended to make ❑ Make it easier to promote recycling pro - the committee and council aware of a looming grams like the one in Mississauga, where resi- crisis situation," he said. dents put recyclable garbage in blue plastic Metro dumps the 10,000 tons of garbage pro- bins for collection. duced daily by its six member municipalities into two sites. But one will be filled in three ❑promote recycling, to cut down on the years, the other by 1999. amount of garbage that now has to be dumped. The situation is so serious that the Ontario ❑ Eliminate squabbles between local govern - government should set up a regional garbage ments over who should be allowed to dump gar - authority, says Metro Councillor Richard Gil- bage in whose area. Under current arrangements, "people ar putting garbage in other peoples' jurisdictions," Gilbert says. In Metro, for example, the six municipalities collect their own garbage, but Metro disposes it — to the north and west. Half of Metro's 10,000 tons a day — roughly 3 million tons a year — goes to a dump called Brock West in Durham Region, the other half to one called Keele Valley, in York Region. The Metro government spends some $20 million a year just to dispose of the trash, Horgan says. But both dumps are Pilling up fast. The Brock West site will be full by 1990, leav- ing no place for Metro to put 50 per cent of its garbage, Horgan says. The other site will not �. reach capacity until 1999, but already "there See METRO'S/page A19 M,etro's choking Continued from page Al are days when there is a lineup of dump trucks two kilometres long," Gilbert says. The two men agree that more recycling would help. Other alternatives are incinerat- ing trash — and even producing energy from burning trash. But tough air pollution laws make this impractical, Horgan says. Finding alternatives to the quickly -filling existing dumps will take years — if it can ever be done. A new $11 million study on Metro's garbage is being prepared, but it will take five years to complete. "And that's just for the study," Horgan says. Yet at the same time, the patch- work of jurisdictions makes it hard to set up recycling programs, both men say. For example, if Metro encour- ages people to separate recyclable garbage (like glass and newspaper) from ordinary trash, smaller municipalities may not be able to afford to collect the items sepa- rately, Horgan says. Cost to the taxpayer is also an obstacle, he says. The popular Mis- sissauga program is aiming to recycle some 27 per cent of that re- gion's trash. But the local govern- ment subsidy to the program works out to about $2.98 a person. "In Metro," he says, "that would work out to $6.5 million, to be added to the tax bill." No market Hor Ilan and Gilbert both say a third major impediment to recy- cling i) Metro is the lack of a healthy market for all the reuse - able trash — particularly news- papers. There is not even a market for all the newspaper now collected in Metro. It sits in storage, some- times until it catches fire, Horgan says. And Gilbert adds that if all this paper were to be resold, it would "glut the market," unless there is some. way to stabilize prices. One suggestion he has is to create strong paper garbage bags out of the newsprint, which could carry local ads and could be sold to residents at low cost. Right now major recycling pro- grams like Mississauga's are virtu- ally nonexistent in Metro. But next spring, the City of Toronto is going to try one. Earlier this week, City Council'$ services committee =animously approved requesting W19taff report on how to set up such _.grogram. 1tS Trash mountains: A bulldozer moua Rd. grabage transfer station. The ga Rd., one of the last open air transfer `Tune has come' r "The will is there, and we think time has come," Gilbert says. e is also looking at ways to en- !Utarage people to create less gar- -age in the first place. `Both men agree that the situa- Alon in Metro is not yet as bad as one in Long Island, N.Y., where el authorities sent a trash -laden rge to sea to find a dump some - re else, after nearby `acilities up. e barge, holding 3,186 tons of en garbage, has been wander - the sea -lanes for more than a Inth, collecting flies. It was turn - .away by four American states .Ud two countries, Mexico and Be - %Xi `While Metro's garbage problem Wt that bad yet, the two men say v Fifl be — if nothing is done. Pickering & Ajax Citizens Together (P.A.C.T.) P.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place, 1355 Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ont., L1V 1B8. November 6, 1987 Dear Neighbour and Resident of Pickering/Ajax: On October 27th, the Metropolitan Toronto Council voted to seek "fast track" approval to dump 7 1/2 million tonnes of raw, unrecycled waste and garbage in Brock South, an old gravel pit that is only feet from the beautiful Greenwood Conservation Area. Pickering and Ajax has suffered enough. The infamous Brock West dump is nearing its capacity. The smell, the pollutants, the scavenging gulls affect thousands. We know what it's like living beside a big city dump. We don't want another one inside our communities. Please help! Just 72 cents (2 write a respectful letter in Minister of the Environment, and send a copy to P.A.C.T., fight Metro's plans. P.A.C.T. Peterson, to local members of and town councillors. stamps) will make a major difference. Please your own words to the Hon. James Bradley, 135 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ont., M4V 1P5 a group of your neighbours recently formed to will send copies of YOUR letter to Premier the provincial parliament, and to regional The province has passed TWO environmental acts. The first is the Environmental Protection Act. Toronto wants its application heard under this Act because it provides only for site assessment, not a full study of the problem. That's the "fast track" route. P.A.C.T. wants the environmental hearing to be held under the broader ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT. This act requires the site examination and alternatives. Other landfill sites would be looked at and other options such as recycling and incineration would be studied. All of Metro's waste management systems and policies would be scrutinized. Please write today! Here are some thoughts for your letter: - Tell Mr. Bradley how important it is to hold the environmental hearing under the ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT. - Tell Mr. Bradley how foul Brock West is, and ask him to instruct Metro Toronto to close the site on schedule, and to provide protection from odours and pollution in perpetuity. - Tell Mr. Bradley the Greenwood Conservation area and Duffin's Creek are precious to Southern Ontario; how fragile the ecology is; tell him about the salmon and trout spawning in this still unpolluted river. Tell him that our communities are growing unbelievably fast, and it is important to save these areas for everyone's enjoyment. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT WILL DECIDE SHORTLY UNDER WHICH ACT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HEAR METRO TORONTO'S APPLICATION. WRITE TODAY. SEND US A COPY! It is a political decision and politicians listen. Please join P.A.C.T. today and help us continue the fight! Write to us at P.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place, 1355 Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ont.,L1V 1B8. Thank you, Bill Parish, Pro-tem Chairman Pickering & Ajax Citizens Together (P.A.C.T.) P.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place, 1355 Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ont., L1V 1B8. November 6, 1987 Dear Neighbour and Resident of Pickering/Ajax: On October 27th, the Metropolitan Toronto Council voted to seek "fast track" approval to dump 7 1/2 million tonnes of raw, unrecycled waste and garbage in Brock South, an old gravel pit that is only feet from the beautiful Greenwood Conservation Area. Pickering and Ajax has suffered enough. The infamous Brock West dump is nearing its capacity. The smell, the pollutants, the scavenging gulls affect thousands. We know what it's like living beside a big city dump. We don't want another one inside our communities. Please help! Just 72 cents (2 write a respectful letter in Minister of the Environment, and send a copy to P.A.C.T., fight Metro's plans. P.A.C.T. Peterson, to local members of and town councillors. stamps) will make a major difference. Please your own words to the Hon. James Bradley, 135 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ont., M4V 1P5 a group of your neighbours recently formed to will send copies of YOUR letter to Premier the provincial parliament, and to regional The province has passed TWO environmental acts. The first is the Environmental Protection Act. Toronto wants its application heard under this Act because it provides only for site assessment, not a full study of the problem. That's the "fast track" route. P.A.C.T. wants the environmental hearing to be held under the broader ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT. This act requires the site examination and alternatives. Other landfill sites would be looked at and other options such as recycling and incineration would be studied. All of Metro's waste management systems and policies would be scrutinized. Please write today! Here are some thoughts for your letter: - Tell Mr. Bradley how important it is to hold the environmental hearing under the ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT. - Tell Mr. Bradley how foul Brock West is, and ask him to instruct Metro Toronto to close the site on schedule, and to provide protection from odours and pollution in perpetuity. - Tell Mr. Bradley the Greenwood Conservation area and Duffin's Creek are precious to Southern Ontario; how fragile the ecology is; tell him about the salmon and trout spawning in this still unpolluted river. Tell him that our communities are growing unbelievably fast, and it is important to save these areas for everyone's enjoyment. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT WILL DECIDE SHORTLY UNDER WHICH ACT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HEAR METRO TORONTO'S APPLICATION. WRITE TODAY. SEND US A COPY! It is a political decision and politicians listen. Please join P.A.C.T. today and help us continue the fight! Write to us at P.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place, 1355 Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ont.,L1V 1B8. Thank you, (" Bill Parish, Pro-tem Chairman PAGE 6-A ,Ttl , NEWS ADVERTISER, DEC. 16, 1987 Ift Editorial Every little effort helps :I- The fight against the propos- ed Metro Toronto landfill site Jn north Ajax has just begun. PACT ( Pickering -Ajax itizens Together) is quickly 111purning into an effective and 'knowledgeable lobby group :representing the wishes of residents. Its membership has .grown substantially since the first day the group was form- ed and support for the group :shows no signs of waning. The towns of Ajax and 'Pickering have thrown their ;official weight behind the group, with the hiring of legal counsel. All that remains is to raise the necessary funds to allow PACT proper represen- tation at the upcoming en- vironmental hearings, whatever form they might take. To that end, several local benefits have been organized. The Boys family, on Taunton Road west of Church Street, will donate $5 from every Christmas tree sold on weekends to PACT. Trillium Florists, with locations in Ajax and Pickering, will donate 15 per cent of money from poinsettia sales before Christmas to PACT. The Skate with Santa ses- sions held yesterday and this morning in Pickering Village Arena and Pickering Recrea- tion Complex saw all the $2 ad- mission charges go to PACT. This event was likely the most appropriate because, whether we have a green Christmas or a white Christmas this year, Skate with Santa will help ensure we don't have a pollution brown Christmas in the future. Besides helping to raise funds for the fight, residents can continue to write letters to environment minister Jim Bradley, asking that he re- quire Metro to submit its land- fill proposal to a hearing under the Environmental Assess- ment Act, the only way the overall impact of the dump will be considered. As well, taking just a minute to fill out and mail the Stop The Dump coupon on this page will add more voices to the chorus already pushing for a hearing under the assessment act. It doesn't take much effort to send either the letter or the petition coupon but each will make a difference. ca >, 0 +� C v o -p o Co CO �- a> o .+ y cp A CO 3 M I= c. O C) �' .� I .� a) •x > +� O Cud O N .5C O > X"- .r..� i. 4- G.1 = O M a) ,7y C .d O ♦+ C +„, W O a-� •fl Co ^ tZ O� sue. `°, � �°, " in. cn o a� .0 °" u b 2 uo, � `a `" I ?ea~C6i o y M a) a y ac. o aD U CO uQ� rn vi 0-0 on Caa to "= a icca TE .00O o3= `°— y to � v�0' �a �o...•�a o� oa,WT 3���a-� �,-oo� W W o a�i -o o h m W a u 3 `° 'o I -0 o v o ? o� aa, a V�n , p =� a3� .�+ -. v a>i +'O' w' �. z f [fir = .0 �" �q L7 � ��+ � a O � UA > � rn � E.. �0 o C « CO v 3 d .0, .0 y O y "W ca � •n a) W :Z 0,2 M. p.. 4] C > O O i-. > a) '� b.0 >, cp 3 C O .� vi U @ O C7 I •c. 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U •b d .Q o ai 3 a' C°b� o W W #; 0 0 3 `'° co. ai-p Q,c c°'• n a o oU y ¢ 3... unc oa,' ao`a 3 u4o o� v c� a> o a 3 - a cazsy CO E a iv cxa o o `�° o. �' a�i y two tom. + `" rn 3 p 3 y 4- CZ N CO y C U i. a) Oco O O cp �n ago 3�•,a a�3oa�•� �•33 oa,x�o �u....n En �. a' '- Z o a� o y a� c. >> Q o :� 3 i� En E� U is E� a� +S» • , � = c) a CrZ = = FO. h " d r �1�j Independent Consultant R 1HH /Should Look At Brock Says Councillor by Donna Cox The Town of Picker- ing will be discussing the possibility of hiring an independent con- sultant to study the problems at the Brock West landfill site, with the residents' group PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together). Councillor Bev Morgan brought this Notice of Motion for- ward in order that the Town look into some of the disturbing facts recently brought up by PACT. "I feel it is time the ` Town of Pickering back some of the work done by these volun- teers," said Morgan. Findings by the PACT group indicate that the flame tempera- ture for the gas burners on the site are running between 1000 and 1 121 degrees fahrenheit below the recom- mended temperatures. Another problem that has been disco- vered is the amount of soil cover given each cell daily, and over each finished area. The agreement between the Town and Metro require eight foot cells with two feet of soil cover, and four feet of soil cover over finished areas. PACT's random core samples have shown that these levels are not being met. One of the main con- cerns expressed by PACT is the fact that the site is not licensed for radioactive mate- rial; yet an average reading of 55 millirems has been taken with various calibrated radiation meters. The maximum yearly expo- sure is 500 millirems. PACT's report con- tinues to state that "it would take a full year of residence on the site to get to the maiximum exposure limit." December Metro decided not to use the Brock South landfill site as an interim site until a more perman- ent location can be found. Since then Met- ro's consultants have been searching for another more suitable interim site. Unfortu- nately this search is being conducted in Durham Region. This week Metro Council will be presented a short list of possible locations. Morgan suggested that the Town request the Ministry of the Environment to fund the hiring of an inde- pendent consultant. "It's time we do something about this and put the money out front to let them (Metro) know we're serious," said Council- lor Wayne Arthurs, pointing out that if the Town paid for the con- sultant now, they could get the funding from the Ministry later. However, Mayor Jack Anderson stated that "We shouldn't dish out a dime. The Ministry should pay for it. The motion was tabled until the Town is able to consult PACT as suggested by the Council liason to PACT, Councillor Bob Mitchell. Morgan stated that she expected it to be tabled, but will be pushing to have it before council again within two weeks. At that time she ! will be calling for a i recorded vote, there- fore, anyone not in support will be accountable. `The community won the day' Metro abandons plan for dump By SANDRA LUCCI and AL RIVETT PICKERING - Local officials brought out the bubbly Friday to celebrate Metro Toronto's decision to look elsewhere for a dump. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner called the announcement by Toronto chairman Dennis Flynn to abort plans for the Brock South landfill site in Ajax ,,an enormous victory" for area residents and pressure groups. "This organization (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together, PACT), these peo- ple are the ones who stopped it, in ad- dition to the technical report," said Stoner at a special press conference and celebration she called shortly after the "surprise" announcement. "The community won the day." Earlier that day, Flynn said Toron- to had been reviewing the potential of Brock South and North for future land- fill site for the past 18 months. Brock West in Pickering is expected to reach capacity by the end of 1989. In May of 1986, consultants were hired to review the design of the two sites. An interim report was recently released and concluded that it would be too costly to make the site en- vironmentally sound. "Based on these conclusions and on Metropolitan Toronto's concern for the environment, I feel it is prudent at this point to investigate other alternatives for the landfill site," said Flynn in a press release. "I will therefore, recommend tc (Metro Toronto) council at the first meeting in January that Metropolitan Toronto not proceed further, at this time, with the application for an ex- emption from the Environment Assessment Act and Environmental Protection Act application." However, Flynn added if another more suitable site could not be found, the Brock South site "may be reconsidered". Stoner believes "Brock North and South are dead" and said the comment was "something Mr. Flynn would have to say". "The hydrology of the site is so com- plex," she explained. "It was a lousy site, it just wasnlL_gging to be suitable." Now Stoner says efforts will have to be concentrated on closing the Brock West site. She added that Toronto has to deal with its own waste through composting, recycling and removing all its cardboard from its waste. She added that she would not be oposed to slowing down the amount of garbage that goes into Brock West to prolong its lifespan. "If they slow down the volume of garbage at Brock -West, that's something I support," she said. "Any extension of the volume allowed would require another hearing, but that's not acceptable." Stoner also said she would support a regional site for composting and some sort of energy from waste facili- ty that would not include Metro. "Metro has to deal in its own boun- daries. They have proven to be bad managers... they have to be accoun- table for their own waste. The region should be responsible for its boun- daries and Metro should be responsi- ble for its own too." When asked if PACT would stay in existence, its chairman Bill Parish ex- plained, "The three sites' are a package and we have a responsibility to see that Brock West is never extend- ed, that the region never allows Metro Toronto to dump its garbage in the See AJAX... Page A5 i Ajax mayor is very pleased' plan dropped for dump here FROM PAGE Al region and that recycling is used. "We're in it, we're not abandoning the project now. If, God forbid, these places were ever to be considered again, we've got to be there. We're not going home, it's not over yet." Ajax mayor Bill McLean says Metro finally found out what officials in Ajax had been saying along -- the Brock South site was unsuitable as a lanfill site. "It's good. I'm very pleased," says McLean of Metro's decision to look for a landfill site elsewhere. "They've finally come to their senses and found out what we've been saying all along -- that they had a poor site." McLean says Metro abandoned the Brock South site after establishing that the cost to make the site usable would be prohibitive. The previous figure of $40 million rose to a figure in the $90 million range in the recently released engineering report from the site studies completed at Brock South. Also, McLean says another deter- mining factor in Metro's decision was that the soil at the Brock South site was not suitable for landfill. The gravel- based soil at the site would allow the leakage of waste. "A clay -based soil would bette kp- ventre the fast -flowing of ground wer. This type of soil would be easier tro- tect the site (from waste seeping out- side the site) which was not the case in the Ajax -Pickering area," he said. McLean says he's also pleased with Durham region's decision to search for a suitable landfill site on its own behalf in the new year. In the new year, they're (Durham region) going in their own direction. I'm certainly pleased that we're following our own path and not follow- ing on the coat tails of Metro," he says. Pickering Mayor Jack Anderson could not be reached by deadlind for comment. ;1� U,! 4'15- / " `_:A rw Fr� Jon" Neighbors don't deserve our garbage We're going into 1988 with something new and rather unglamorous at our house. Outside the back door for the last few weeks we've had a large cardboard box -Bottles - and cans at our place now get washed and put in the box. When its full we'll take it to a municipal recycling depot half a mile away. This is a week to hang our heads in Metro. Every street is lined withvast piles of garbage, the obscene leftovers from the holiday season. There's food enough for thousands, millions of bottles, and enough discarded packaging materials to wrap the whole city and tie a red ribbon arounc it. In other parts of the world this mountain of garbage would be carefully sorted and most of it would be recycled. Here, we'll just bury the lot in someone else's backyard — and forget it. Our family hasn't been much better than most. We put out the newspaper for the city's Wednesday pickup and organic waste goes into our compost Iheap. But, reluctantly, we've always chucked the cans, the bottles and all that indestructible plastic into the garbage because it just seemed like too much trouble to do anything else. Fighting dump But now our irresponsibility has taken on a personal note. A friend of ours, Mary Wood, is a leading figure in the battle to stop a second Metro garbage dump being opened in Ajax. When we went to a party at Mary an( Ted Wood's Pickering farm before Christmas, a sign at the gate said, 1115.5 million tonnes is enough! No More Metro Dumps!" It wasn't meant personally, but the message still struck home. We are literally putting our garbage in our friend's backyard with all the stench, the flies, the gulls, and the thousands of trucks that that implies. That day Mary and her neighbors Mi ll had just announced that Metro had — temporarily abandoned vits p it looker lan to start the second dump le at alternatives. But Flyhn's decision re y solves nothing. It still has to be voted on at Metro Council, and the garbage still . has to go somewhere. It may yet end up on that Pickering site where the poisons are likely to leach into the water table. The thing is, in a painfully short time people in Metro are going to have to change their ideas completely; on garbage. Metro produces one -fifth of Canada's garbage. So far we are recycling a pitiful 1 or 2 per cent. Our neighbors aren't going to accept our garbage much longer. Nothing will really happen until t ordinary citizens — you and me — start realizing the crime we are committing against the environment.. Just look around you to see how we squander the earth's bounty. Out walking Sunday I passed Our , neighborhood McDonald's — and passed it, and passed it. McDonald' ;- cups, plastic straws and wrappers , littered yards and sidewalks for three' or four blocks. And that's only the' unsightly aspect. The whole fast food , industry is based on throwaway containers, often made from indestructible materials, that contribute to our garbage mountain..: Change attitudes • a (In fairness, McDonald's last August made a commitment to find alternative foam packaging that does": not damage the ozone layer.) ; We are all to blame, Why, even as I - write this, am I drinking coffee from a plastic foam cup (the manufacture of which may be damaging the ozone layer) when I could just as easily be using a china mug? I remember once having to wait a couple of hours in New Delhi for some documents, and passing the time sitting on a balcony overlooking a busy street. It was only after a while 1 noticed that some people were carrying huge bundles of paper on their heads, others carried car parts, . bottles, all sorts of discarded items. I was witnessing the ultimate recycling. society: In India, very little is thrown away. To get even half way towards that ideal here we need a revolution in attitudes. We must rebel against excessive packaging. Perhaps we should have less frequent garbage pickup, and ration the amount.each family can put out. Why can't we have local sites for dumping used lumber, topsoil, and other clean garbage where people needing those items could go? There are immense political problems to overcome, so the push has to come from you and me. It may seem odd to talk about the Golden Rule in connection with garbage disposal, but in 1988 there couldn't be a more appropriate application: Do o: unto others .. . M � 1 4 4W By Shelley cagF onto Star On garbage day, the McKane family counts its pennies. Each bag of trash thrown out costs 70 cents — and with a family of five, some months the NIcKanes pay a hefty $20 for garbage disposal. The %IcKanes live in Lansing, Mich., a city of 130,000 that claims to have the only pay -by -the -bag system of garbage disposal in North America that actually pays for itself. !Metro Toronto officials and garbage experts are wrestling with the concept of "user -pay" disposal as part of a solution to an impending crisis. If people had to pay directly for removal of their garbage, experts say, they would become accountable and this would mean less trash and more recy- cling. This would also help cut the sky- rocketing cost of garbage disposal and incineration. But such a system might prompt some people to hide their garbage or turn to untidiness. Officials say it may also cause an administrative nightmare. Toronto Councillor Richard Gilbert says if we do not take steps to avert the crisis, within three years garbage will be piled up in Metro's streets. RANTS A STL DY At the end of this month, Gilbert will submit recommendatlons to Nletrb goun- cif. He's calling for a speedup of recy�- cling efforts, Vd' wants a study on - charging reside is for the waste they produce. y j V Lansing Mayor Terry McKane says cities like his have proven this�4stem works. F, 1. MCKane's family, which lives in a large, two -storey Colonial -style house, fills up to 30 bags of garbage in a month. Other households only use one or two. "We really have to watch it sometimes. It adds up," he says. .Lansing residents put an average 7.39 bags of garbage at their curbsides a month, according to city statistics. At 70 cents a bag (it used to be 33 cents), that's an average $5.17 a month for garbage disposal. Since pay -by -the -bag was introduced as a pilot project in Lansing in the early 1970s, residents have tried to reduce the amount of garbage they produce. Bob Clegg, city operations and maintenance superintendent, says it's difficult to give figures for a decline, but says residents themselves say they've cut down - For 70 cents a bag, residents pay for an entire service, including a fleet of gar- bage trucks, manpower and tipping fees at a local landfill site. Each year about 2.5 million orange garbage bags are sold to residents at local grocery stores. The revenue from the bags covers the $1.5 million disposal budget, with a little money left over. For trash too big for the bag, Lansing offers free bulk pick-up. It also collects leaves and lawn clippings, at no charge, daring the spring and fall. Several cities in the United States from California to Florida charge residents di- rectly for what they produce. In Metro, the cost of garbage collec- tion is buried in taxes. Residents pay the TOF OWO STAR FILE � Paying according to -what you throw away Gourd reduce Metro's mountains of garbage municipalities for collection and Nletro "We pay for water, there's a separate for disposal in 1987, it cost $4� per perla in the Jtax for your sewer — why not garbage;' says Don Tefft, regional landfill manager City of Toronto to collect and dispose of for Laidlaw Waste Systems, one of Cana - garbage, says Ed Pentz, the city's co- da's largest private disposal companies. ordinator of sanitation. Tefft spends much of his time thinking That figure includes two pickups a up newfangled ideas for disposal. week, plus the Wednesday service for Pentz If weighing scales were attached to the backs of trucks, officials could newspapers and large items, told The Star's John Temple. garbage I calculate the exact amount of trash each The average Toronto resident paid household produces. One worker would $3.54 a month for garbage service, ac- weigh the bags, while the driver record - cording to city records. Based on that ed the weight, house and street number figure, a couple might pay $7.08 a month oG8 fatgily of five $17.70. in a computer, Tefft say& He is currently looking for a small It cdtt $26 million for Toronto to col- town in southern Ontario to conduct a —iir�t and get rid of about 290,000 tonn project. of garbage from individuals, stores and Metro's director of refuse disposal, Ian restaurants last year. McKerracher, agrees with the concept of Gilbert and other cri!ics say taxpayers are subsidizing waste production be- a. user -pay system. McKerracher talks about selling bags cause individuals pay the same no mat- or renting trash cans to residents ter how much they throw out. Each homeowner would purchase a �r,A C�'o O� a d� c3 ��aco gyp+ a fp_-O_ {oyn> '� G, ? .'�.' C• (/! � Cl E3 rN+ K'< ^' N A T N G � dis•� -�, r _(i 5_`D 8 •O O 'S7 �• N N O rD '� O Q •y a. r� [, w rD O :3 ir b �D ra �^ ry�� Oa Oo Cr O ^ N O 7' S •- CSr.i -a 7 2 do m�aC"3_� O � y � p ry. -� 't7• < o n 9 n n 3 i _3 F n p m �Jp' N O ro O ro S a d 5 d U P "J -� 5 .., U (IQ o , a 4 you ffn C7 s3 �+r �aM43 Tpo p T 1 c ti°N Yn n� o D Fn rod 3� anE 73 �o 7�nO '<u N-,nJ-y� E.d•.�. �jC3 7" O'M"7' °-' dW�? nod -out A lai .N .. A 9 9� 3 ('�- I o'O yn joa Cr 3 1 7 •."y :7 r7 `< .t- .' . O = E to ? o '� Oa 'V O~ ' G N eb Q,O W C) F O p N " A O ^ xq-0"S0 O•N O M d oc 3 9 u 7rom�v�a i~ °S^x �F? FticAo'a^<'M SA0n n n3 Er &0V, ' -�, _ v m -. o c 7 c o o e y- c� �- xao n o e 9 0 ��w J ° o�o'�C,-V,— %err,_ry::, cwwn�oo.� A�°'ate `rp rD 5 f, OUy r E^ N J a n .J. n _ = O O O E 3 o0 o p=Nc° C 9� o a_ N o y 3 3aa ao c 5 CL cM �. E_ $'p rp v N ti n r,• O C ry '� n� f. �' ''`QQ� a O n' y -C, Oq ao O p 9 VCvRI a '1 .-.. b U C `G �9 fL O Q j •� 19 O '' Z3 Cl aR YD' rp' G,, N C '� C 3 Gai 0 o Mc g E o F a ] o oo�o ,'!/ Q� ya w=�o": a`� N_eCn^i <\,�0u?� o Cr O "'i•'•ir+. O ti 'Ai d o ro 5r� ry A O� o -30' < c_^ o d •gym E 3 v �� c o a N VI N ^,� CT_ •C-, r. L' NCj -. 7 'O �wu c{�� n 5 Da .ry,o w 30 ?fi g 'ro'< Dy 5 D, r Bi k' youth On Hold by Chris Bovie Metro has endorsed Chairman Dennis Flynn's recommendation that they not make an application for ' exception to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). Ajax Councillor Rene Soetens and Liberal MPP Norah Stoner were in attendance last week at Metro Council and spoke on behalf of opposition to the Brock South landfill site. The recommendation made by Flynn will have Metro look for alternative sites but if a suitable site is not found when the study is presented to Council in April, Metro could then push forward for the Brock South site once again. Chairman Flynn was presented last month with a study by Golder Associates that prompted his decision to look elsewhere. The study stated that while the Brock South site could be made environmentally safe, it would require a great deal of money. More than Metro had planned. Two recommendations came up during the council meeting. The first suggested that they look to the province to handle the waste and that the province become more pro -active in its control of packaging. ,tthough Ajax and Pickering r sidents will have to wait for a recision those in strong opposition will continue to let Metro know their position: "We will continue attempting to persuade Metro." Stoner said. Stoner, as well as Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) member, Dave Strain, are serving on the SWEAP team started by Metro to find alternatives to landfill. "I think we are starting to see a high level of concern at Queens Park." Stoner stated. Great quantities of money and time have already gone into the study of Brock South since its proposition in 1972. Brenna Brown, spokesperson for PACT, said the organization will be holding a meeting Feb. 11, 7:30 p. at Pickering High Schoo and will then analyse the situat16 regarding Brock South. N c a'vv_ 4=rm 00- �;v - ---j -'8 A CI du A 0� O N Cr F rL 7' O = T p- C> 9 �7 E-N o N m A m c E n Ai r9 an � � C n. �aR � 't •O,.�• E � 0 0• cOi o av In �d�oF'3�F o 0. V o ,vGGI`oay x N a E ; �< 0 N - fo fn aq 0 '•' j � 'l O,n c o rrT z� G d °� pxY Ior g�� p a tp�nn y "', Q p, rGr�n� rD a cn ti a4 ro ,y rb ap C C C SC, 3 g Q owl E o cr oo RS T THE EDITQR -� Garbage Fight Not Over Letter to the Editor On December 18, 1987Den- nis Flynn, Chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Coun- cil issued a personal state- ment concerning Brock South in which he said in part: "...we have at this time decided to undertake addi- tional investigations to deter- mine whether a more environmentally acceptable site can be found. If later site investigations at possible alternate location(s) deter- mine that the alternative is not acceptable, then the Brock South site may be reconsidered." P.A.C.T. For The Environ- ment's most fervent wish is that the Metropolitan Toronto Council will support Mr. Flynn's commendable action and not consider Brock South further as a site for Metro's garbage and other solid wastes. However, P.A.C.T. For The Environment and the people of Ajax and Pickering must remain active, alert and strong. What area in the Region of Durham will Metropolitan (Continued on page 5) � P.A.C.T. Urges Every Citizen (Continued from page 4) Metropolitan Toronto attempt to use for their garbage if they don't use Brock South? Will Metro decide to use Brock North? Will Metro, God forbid, attempt to extend Brock West? or, will Metro seek yet a differ- ent, bigger 20 year site in Pickering or Ajax or elsewhere in Durham Region? Where? P.A.C.T. For The Environment is opposed to the dump- ing of Metropolitan Toronto's garbage anywhere in the Region of Durham. P.A.C.T. For The Environment is urging the Council of the Region of Durham to take all necessary steps immediately to forbid Metropolitan Toronto or any other munici- pality outside of Dur- ham to dump garbage and other solid wastes in the Region of Durham. P.A.C.T. For The Environment is urging every citizen to write to their local Councillors and to Gary Herrema, Chairman, Region of Durham, 605 Rossland Road East, Box 623, Whitby, Ontario LIN 6A3 and tell them in their own wor s that Metropolitan T ronto must not be allowed to dump its garbage any- where in the Region of Durham and that the Region of Durham has to take immediate and full responsibility for January 13, 1988 Pickering's Bay Ne"s, 5 To Oppose Dump the environmentally safe and efficient dis- posal -,'!— trfham Region's own garbage. In conclusion, P.A.C.T. For The Environment wishes to thank the citizens of Ajax and Pickering and the media for all their past support and encouragement. A very special thanks to all those people who wrote letters to the Honourable James Bradley, Minister of the Environment, requesting a full Envir- onmental Assessment Act hearing. Those let- ters had a profound effect. The battle to keep our environment safe and clean is not, over. Far from it. P.A.C. T . For the Environme -It needs your contim"ed strong, active suport and co-operation. Bill Parish Pro-tem Chairman P.A.C.T. For The Environment V,\81 *__ 1�1__ Metro scraps plan 1 for Ajax dump By Michael South Toronto Star Metro has abandoned plates to build a controversial duir.p in Ajax, Metro Chairman D4nnis Flynn said yesterday The decision may leave Metro with no place to put nearly 1.3 million tonnes of garbage annu- ally when another dump, the nearbv Brock West site, is filled and closed in three years for lack of space. "The crisis is still there," Flynn told reporters. But he said the $90 million cost of making the proposed Brock South dump environmen- t'lly safe combined with vocal c m Iunity opposition was e ough to force a search for o her sites. "It may still be reconsidered if others don't work out," he said. "We stilt own the site and we don't propose to abandon it at the present time." Metro Chairman Flynn "We think there's a possibility we might determine a site that's more acceptable to everyone," he said. "We don't want to go to war with anyone." Mary Wood, a leader of the See METRO/page A 7 .Metro scraps contentious dump1ppan Continued from page Al Without the Brock South dump, Ajax -area opposition to the dump, officials will have to scramble to said she was "thrilled to bits" by find other ways to get rid of up to the decision and warned the oppo- 1.3 million tonnes of waste a year. sition will be "eternally vigilant" to Works commissioner Frank make sure Metro doesn't change Horgan said the, e may be other, its mind. smaller, sites available and Metro Flynn said yesterday's an- may also have to ship some of its nouncement will mean a � .lay of waste out of the region. up to a year and a half opening a "Within two years, we're going new dump. to be in trouble," he said. The Brock South dump — which A consultant's report sent to would only have a capacity of Horgan this week prompted the about 7 million tonnes — was in- sudden change of heart. tended as a stop -gap while Metro That report said the Brock South officials hunted for a replacement site could be made environmental - for Brock West, and another dump, ly safe — at a huge cost — but said Keele Valley, which will be full in "a reasonable man" would have to about 10 years. conclude that other sites would be better. Brock South should only be used as a last resort — if no other site was available, the report said. Part of the problem is that aste in Brock South could leak in o the water table. To prevent le king. Metro would have to build a tate of -the -art plastic and clay liner — at a cost of about $250,000 an acre. "Environmentally, it's a dread= ful place to put garbage," Wooc said. "They're going to have a hard time not finding something bet. ter." But wherever Metro tries to pu' a dump, it's unlikely to be smooth sailing, Horgan said. W Metro Abandons BrocK South Landfill Sae by Chris Bovie Chaii man Dennis Flynn will recommend to Council that Met- ropolitan Toronto proceed no further, at this time, with the application of exemption from the Environment Assessment Act and Protection (EPA) appli- cation, for Brock South landfill site. Due to an interim report by Golder Associates, the costs to make the sight environmentally acceptable were "significant". Flynn will recommend that other sites be looked at for Met- ro's garbage and a study will begin right away, finishing some- time in February. If suitable site can't be found, Metro may once again turn its attention to Brock South. The result then leaves the Brock West site and the Keele Valley site in Vaughan operating Costs To Update Brock South un T (Continued f page 1) what we have been say- ing all along." McLean has talked with Regional Chairman Gary Herrema whc told him that there will be an immediate push to open a landfill site for Durham's use. oo High stated he knew about the decision before anybody, said the money figure to prop- erly perate Brock South would have run into the millions. e In the wake of the decision all involved agree there is work to Prior to this both do. Ward One Coun- Ajax and Pickering cillor for Ajax, Rene Councils jointly hired Soetens, remains wary legal services for the about Metro. "They hearing process. The still have the region decision made before agreement for a landfill the costly hearing will_Site.- save a bill running info_It will remain until the hundreds of thou- February to find out if sands of dollars. Metro will push the Pickering Mayor Brock South site any Jack Anderson who further. landfill sites. While some worry about possible expansion, Frank Horgan, Commissioner of Works for Metro states this is not being planned. "We couldn't extend (Brock West) without going through the same process and hearings." The only change that may come to the West site is if the quantity of garbage is les- sened, to buy Metro more time. For residents of Ajax Picker- ing, this announcement can only be looked upon as a victory. To some people it was quite a shock. Upon hearing the news Regional Councillor, Jim Witty, was ecstatic. "This is fabulous. I'm excited as hell." Liberal MPP Norah Stoner, who has worked non-stop to halt Metro's attempt to use Brock South was overjoyed at the news. "This is an early Christmas pres- ent for Ajax and Pickering." Stoner hopes now the lan s will go to the Consery tion Authority. Ajax Mayor Bill McLean was also relieved about the news. McLean stated that if Metro ever decides to extend Brock West, Ajax would support Pickering. "I'm very pleased. Metro has found out what we have been (Continued on page 12) Endless Landfill Struggle I '; Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn's announcement of abandoning plans to create the Brock South landfill site (tempo- raily?) has been greeted with tremendous relief especiallyby those who have fought this war for over a decade. Unfortunately and quite sadly; however, this endless struggle against waste disposal is far, far from over. Metro, which produces one fifth of Canada's solid urban waste will now be forced to divert all 20,000 metric ton- nes/day into Maple's Keele Valley site, shor- tening its designated time perio4--Atitady Mayor Torna Jackson has bitterly com- plained about Metro's surreptitious acts of illegally dumping air- line waste matter in her backyard. Not only will that mountain grow faster but she and her council may face the disheartening pros- pect of an extension or enlargement to an already overburdened dilemma. Incidentally that site is not far from Canada's Wonder- land. Metro has begun to realize the horrend- ous impact it's making on its neighbours but time has run out and that conglomeration of: cities desperately seeks a new backyard for dumping purposes. Durham Region is rowing the same boat; make no mistake about it. As I've already pre- dicted, we in Durham West have angered officials like Regional Councillor Diane Hamre of Newcastle by announcing possible plans for a 20-30 year landfill site called Hale near Newtonville Mrs. Hamre apprehensively states "we've been dumped on for 20 years and we ain't taking it no more. Just as that famous Long Island garbage barge sailed down the Eastern U.S. seaboard looking for a friendly port we see the same parallel here. Cities and well -populated regional municipal across Canada attempt to push their "trash crises" upon the sur- rounding countrysid . But who is willing t sacrifice their backyard? The "trash flow" which all of us are responsible for can be slowed down a little but never can it be shut off. The alternatives are not always readily embraced particularly when money is menti- oned. Recycling, spe- cial incineration technology, reduction or revolutionary pack- aging and containeri- zation schemes may soon become top - priority issues in this terrible war against waste. FRANK THRELKELD JR. PICKERING Letterer r PACT urges letters to fighf To the editor: wood Conservation Area. stamps) will make a major difference. The following is an open letter to y, Pickering and Ajax has suffered Please write a respectful letter in your residents of Pickering and Ajax. _ enough. The infamous Brock West own words to the Hon. James Bradley, Dear Neighbor: dump is nearing its capacity. The Minister of the Environment, 135 St. On Oct. 27, the Metropolitan Toron- smell, the pollutants, the scavenging Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ont., M4V 1P5 to Council voted to seek "fast track" gulls affect thousands. We know what and send a copy to P.A.C.T., a group approval to dump 71/2 million tonnes it's like living beside a big city dump. of your neighbors recently formed to ght Metro's plans. P.A.C.T. will send )pies of your letter to premier Peter- ►n, to local members of the provincial parliament, and to regional and town councillors. The province has passed two en- vironmental acts. The first is the En- vironmental Protection Act. Toronto wants its application heard under the Act because it provides only for site assessment, not a full study of the pro- blem. That's the "fast track" route. P.A.C.T. wants the environmental j News Advertiser tro dumps STOP THE DUMP' hearing to be held under the broader Environmental Assessment Act. This act requires the site examination and alternatives. Other landfill sites would be looked at and other options such as recycling and incineration would be studied. All of Metro's waste manage- ment systems and policies would be scrutinized. Please write today! Here are some thoughts for your letter: - Tell Mr. Bradley how important it is to hold the environmental hearing under the Environmental Assessment Act. - Tell Mr. Bradley how foul Brock West is, and ask him to instruct Metro Toronto to close the site on schedule, and to provide protection from odors and pollution in perpetuity. - Tell Mr. Bradley the Greenwood Hazardous waste station - okayed for Brock West By KEITH GILLIGAN PICKERING - A household hazar- dous waste transfer station may be co led ng to Pickering. e town's executive committee ap- pr a motion at its meeting Mon- day night to permit a transfer station at the Brock West Landfill Site. The committee also waived an En- vironmental Protection Act (EPA) hearing into the transfer station. The station would only serve residents of Durham region and would accept such items as paint cans, disposable propane tanks and oil cans. Once the transfer station is full, the waste would be taken to an en- vironmentally safe site in Thorold and destroyed. However, ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan, in whose ward the transfer station would be, is concern- ed the station would remain open after. Brock West is closed. The station would have a one-year Certificate o Approval from the Ministry of the En- vironment (MOE) and Brock West is set to close in 1989. "Would we have a say in this after Brock West is closed? I have a concern with Brock West and what will happen to the transfer station after Brock West is closed. I have a fear thaL;we'll be stuck with this forever," says Morgan. The transfer station would be own- ed and operated by Metro Toronto and would be located inside the Brock West site, on the Third Concession, west of Brock Road. The station is just one of six being set up by Metro, with four in the city and one at the Keele Valley Landfill Site in Vaughan, which would See WASTE ... Page A5 W Conservation area and Duffin's Creek -----------------------I I 1 are precious to Southern Ontario; how Petition fragile the ecology is; tell him about I the salmon and trout spawning in this 1 still unpolluted river. Tell him that our We, the undersigned, request a full hearing into the j communities are rowing I proposed Brock South Landfall Site under the Environmental 1 unbelievably fast, and it is i portant I Assessment Act. to save these areas for a eryone'sI 1 enjoyment. 1 1 The minister of environment will decide shortly under which act thel I government will hear Metro Toronto's I application, Write today. Send us a I COPY. It is a political decision and SEND TO: 1 politicians listen. P.A.C.T., 1 Please join P.A.C.T. today and help P.O Box 125, us continue the fight. Write to us at Sheridan Place, 1 P.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place, 1355 1355 Kingston Rd., I Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ont. L1V Pickering, Ont., 1 1138. Bill Parish, L1 V 1 B8 I Pro-tem Chairman I -------- � 5 � o a i�5�e�Sac�°�eo�e �SS�QQ����� & 4, ca�°p` c°��fig' Sep °tea oS �s�o N.e4 aoa QQ' t'61 va �{ Sae O� Sey A.Z _q^ �� eel°So C�Sa b• eeJ �pJS 1� re THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1988 / EAST 7 Ajax dump may still be needed, Metro warn By Shelley Page Toronto Star Plans to open a controversial dump in Ajax have been aban- doned — but Metro officials have warned angry Pickering and Ajax residents that Brock South is still available if another, less contro- versial site can't be found. MPP Norah Stoner, backed by members of Pickering Ajax Citi- zens Together (PACT), were at a Metro works committee meeting to remind politicians they don't want a dump. But they were told that very few sites were available for Metro's garbage. Metro works commissioner Frank Horgan said the provincial government has made legislation so tough, it is impossible to get another landfill site approved and operating before nearby Brock West closes in a couple of years. Eventually, the decision must be made on which is the greater health hazard: Dumping on the people of Ajax or letting garbage sit in the streets because there's no where to put it, Horgan said. Mary Woods, a founder of PACT, said it sounds as though Metro will eventually have to return to Brock South. But she said PACT is ready to battle Metro if that happens. The committee endorsed Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn's recent recommendation that the Brock South plan be abandoned if a more suitable location could be found. The recommendation was based partly on an engineering report that said the dumpsite is too close to the area's drinking water supply and would require expensive struc- tural reinforcements costing about $90 million. But the decision may leave Metro with no place to put 1.4 mil- lion tonnes of garbage a year. Metro politicians said they did- n't want to dump on Durham Re- gion but stressed that there was a serious garbage problem in south- ern Ontario. Politicians lashed out at the province and Environment Minis- ter Jim Bradley for his lack of financial and legislative commit- ment to garbage disposal and recy- cling programs. "What are we going to do?" Con- troller Ken Morrish said. "I have- n't heard any alternatives." York Mayor Alan Tonks said provincial legislation is "so strin- gent, so convoluted and time-con- suming" that the province is partly at fault for Metro's failure to find solutions to its garbage crisis. "We're going to need a whole lot of provincial support and I haven't seen the evidence of that yet," East York Mayor Dave Johnson said. They also had some tough words for area MPP Stoner, asking her for a provincial commitment for help and money for waste disposal. But Stoner urged committee members to find their own solua- tions to their refuse crisis. Appeal- ing directly to the provincial gov- ernment was no more legitimate than targeting dumpsites outside municipal boundaries, she said. The committee agreed to ask the regional chairmen's committee, made up of chairmen of surround- ing regions, to press the Minister of Environment to assume the costs of disposing and incinerating the regions' garbage. Stoner, backed by members of Pickering Ajax Citizens Together, reminded politicians at the meet- ing that Brock South was an envi- ronmentally sensitive area. Metro Solid Waste Environmen- tal Assessment Plan (SWEAP) is searching for an alternative site and was expected to report to Metro in a year. But since Flynn made his surprise announcement before Christmas, the gro p Pas been asked to finish its quest by the end of February. v C C �• Q D c�D to cD `CC' v' co O cC f� v . y CD fe OrQ sv OQ 2 cD O aQ 21 to orq Z o coy �n n �, ." C O (D •' ...y CD ,",�' i 0 CD cue a a fe .i c`i m y ¢ Z U o `C c' C vT v' fD ' c-* �"• ��.. N L, tv O �•. '" C O `Y :� O (D CD C CD In OM M O C O BCD < 'L3 -05 r H — o t) O w C~D 2 �� Z C OQ CD OrQaQ o, o as E o N: � M CD sv o n o o co UJ v M o [D c, v g= ems, s o� efl e CCD x.. W y �- e O n o cOD to o : .0 s✓ Cl C "' O Cr CX fl; C" = , N in' OQ n• «y-' .vy' �' ep `� (D C .'3 y c4 (D fC '"�' • "'1 'C3 'T .,J �/ a O 0 fCD L' r i Z Q.. r C OQ C L tD Cr v(D CD ► �'I :3 O O OQ O OQ I O -s n Q O OQ -Qs "s 7 Z= vi . �- M �•-� M Cr ~a OQ C. s P r'-T Warms Future Problems by Chris Bovie Like the forecast of bad winter weather last Monday, Pickering Ajax Citizens Together warned the public Metro is not finished with Durham in its gar- bage plight. PACT gathered together at Pickering High School Monday to deliver reports and plans for the future. Chairman Bill Parish cautioned those in attendance not to let down their guard. Des- pite Metro Chairman Flynn's statements we feel Metro will proba- bly be back." Parish said. Regional Council- lors representing Pick- ering and Ajax, Bob Mitchell and Jim Witty, will be present- ing a very important joint report to the Region hopefully in early March. The study will explore all feasa- bilities in going into Durham's own devel- opment for landfill and alternatives. At this time Durham is look- ing for a new site to serve their own needs. Reports were pres- ented by various direc- tors of PACT with one of the most informa- tive coming from tech- nical research chairman Dave Strain. Strain listed several points of observation that didn't coincide with what Metro had been stating about Brock West. Regard- ing cover materials at Brock West, Metro claims to create 20-foot cells and cover the advancing face with one foot of soil and that two feet of soil cover the top of the cells. Finally Metro claims final coverage with a minimum of four feet of cover soil. In a report issued by Strain observations showed Pickering/Ajax Bay News, February 17, 1988 7 v Bill Parish, Chairman of PACT. PACT Warning that the original agree- ment between Metro and the Town of Pick- ering was that there would be the creation of eight -foot cells and not the twenty -feet cells of Brock West. Photographs taken on Saturday January 9, 1988 showed there was no cover applied after the site was abandoned for the weekend. PACT also observed the same situation on the site January 1. Other problems were found with radia- tion, the flame temper- ature of burners and possible increase in odors through a gas reclaim system. PACT distributed in a handout a copy its budget to date, and have on hand at the bank in excess of $9,000. If the issue between Durham and Metro results in hear- ing, costs are likely to exceed $200,000 on the side of Durham alone. Before expenditures PACT had $17,020.73 in receipts. The one person missing from the meet- ing was Mary Wood who has resigned from the PACT executive due to personal con- flict. During the public speaking format of the evening a representa- tive for Mary, who refused to name him- self, chastised PACT and stated he wanted the events surrounding the issue brought out in the public. But later questioned by press refuesed comment and left the building. Liberal West MPP Norah Stoner due to prior commitments could not attend the meeting but Pat Clarke, Norah's aid spoke before the crowd. "Norah believes that Metro wig come back (to Broc >( South). We have to look after the garbage for our own 200,000 and not Metro's." Work between the Ajax and Pickering Council and PACT is continuing with Pick- ering's Bob Mitchel and Ajax Councillor Rene Soetens serving on the liason commit- tee. Parish com- mended councils but wanted more pressure put on the Region for its lack of movement. PACT who are con- tinuing in their fund raising efforts will be holding a garage and bake sale April 9-10 at the Mill Street Fire Hall. kjax ci'tizens lie I II ICI ��d I k1l 1)'d l l l W� thhle l 1 n icated estimated cost is too high, Parish a va nt to dum n out to s'V , said $90 million cvcrittt Ibe a bargain if an alternative site cannot be found. ow i U • r a Sltes ;Stan Josey Toronto Star �An Ajax and Pickering citizens group wants Metro and the ovincial environment ministry to promise that two proposed adfill sites will never see a bag of garbage. .Leaders of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) have tiled a public meeting for tonight at Pickering High School to ek- public support for the demand that the Brock South and ock North landfill sites never open. - PACT officials said a report will be released outlining new concerns about environmental hazards at the existing Brock West landfill site. "We are concerned local resi- dents believe Metro has dropped its plans for Brock South," said PACT chairman Bill Parish. "Nothing could be farther from the truth." Under intense public pressure and dire warnings about the envi- ronmental impact, Metro an- nounced in January it would not open the Brock South dump in Ajax if an alternative site could be found. Mounting crisis But with Metro facing a mount- ing garbage crisis and with no alternate sites in view, Parish said Brock South still could become a dump. In the mid-1960s, Metro identi- fied three areas in the Pickering area that could be used as landfills. Brock West opened in 1975 and Metro acquired land for future dumps, designated as Brock South and Brock North. A consultant's report reveals soil conditions at Brock South would require $90 million worth of engi- neering improvements before a dump could open. 'vletro and Durham. Reglon t re are looking for a new 400-hec a (1,000-acre) landfill site to serve their needs for the next 20 years, Parish said. "We have to deliver the message loud and clear that dump don't want anv new, 20-year ham," Parish said. year, also PACT, formed last y wants to make sure the Brock West site closes once it reaches aches its 1.5.5 million tonne capacity.- by Rob Starr Management of The Brock West Dump has drawn heavy fire from a local citizen's group and MPP after Monday's early morn- ing explosion that seriously injured a weigh master. In a strongly worded statement to The Bay News, Pickering Ajax Citizen's Together (PACT) called the blast that has left 27 year old Gary McGowan in criti- cal condition in Toronto's Wel- lesley hospital, "unbelieveable." CE�E6RAi�y� ®YEARS- FyY,N6 THE COY��N,t, DumpExplosion Public Outcry Hospital with 15°7o burns and pened." The statement urges a lung injuries. Although he was full Ministry investigation in o listed in critical condition at press the explosion and operation of time, he is expected to recover. the dump, and says the blast PACT wasn't alone in taking "typifies the poor level of man - Metro's management of the agement at the Brock West dump to task. Norah Stoner, Dump Site." MPP for Durham West, urged Bacopoulos admitted manage - the Ministry of the Environment ment knew about high methane to become involved in the opera- gas readings in the buffer zone, tion of the dump. which includes the scale house, In another statement, Stoner but said preventative measures said the blast was "an incident are taken to prevent such a blast. which_ shouldn't have hap- (Continued on page_5) = Explosion (Continued from page 1) may have allowe the He said ventilation gas to build up cau ng wells are being con- the blast. Additional -= stru eked in the buffer vents at the side of the zone and the scale scale house may not fhouse has a two inch have been clea ' d of t i concre layer with a snow, which a may { protective sheet under have caused the b st. L i the structure. Bacopoulos aid }--'► -- - He said while read- there are no rules tol ESTABLISHED 1961 ings are taken, an prevent employee undetectable flaw in from smoking in the SERVING PICKERING. AJAX, WHITBY, WEST. HILL the protective sheet scale house. The statement went on to say that PACT "charges Metro Toronto (the operators of the dump site) with outdated and inadequate landfill practices." PACT wants the provincial government to monitor waste coverage at the dump; PACT maintains Metro Toronto cannot be depended upon to police itself. The blast, which occured' at 6:17 a.m. Monday, blew the win- dows at the scale house out. Dur- ham Regional Police and PICKERING/AJAX_ VOL.27 NO:_ 7 FEBRUARY 17. 1.989 Angelos Bacopoulos, Senior Engineer in charge of landfill sites for Metro, both say the blast may have been ignited by a flame from a cigarette, sparking methane_ gas. Rotting garbage produces the gas, which usually vents up through the ground, but may have shifted toward the scale house because of saturated ground. McGowan had opened the scale house to begin his shift. He was transferred from Ajax Pickering Hospital to Wellesley WILL METRO TORONTO —Come back to BROCK SOUTH? Want to extend BROCK WEST? MEETING Pickering High School Cafeteria, Thursday, February 11 - 7.30 p.m. Dear Friends and Residents of Pickering -Ajax: The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, faced with our opposition and the belated realization of the environmental significance of Brock South, has decided to look elsewhere for a waste -landfill site. Your letters to the Minister of the Environment played an important part in Metro's decision. Thank you for writing and voicing your concerns. Unfortunately, the struggle is far from over. We are still threatened. Metro has not abandoned Brock South. As well, Metro may want to extend the life of Brock West past the year 1990. The Region of Durham has not yet assumed the responsibility of managing Durham's waste and has not yet closed the garbage pipeline from Metro into Durham. We have a lot to do if we are to protect our environment from further garbage poisoning. We must continue to stand together. At the meeting on February 11, PACT for the Environment will present a full analysis of the situation along with a full account of fundraising and expenditures. Please attend. Ask questions and present your opinions. Endorse PACT's objectives. Speak to our politicians. Demonstrate clearlX that residents of our communities will never again allow Ajax-Picr the Region of Durham to be environmentally abused. [THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER - WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ROUND PICKERING AND AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PACT Presents Canada's 1st Bio-degradable Garbage Bag PICKERING-AJAX - PACT through agreement with Guardian Poly Industries, will present Canada's 1st bio-degradable garbage bag during PACT WEEK, February 29 to March 5, 1988, in Ajax and Pickering. The Bio-Guard Trash Bag is the first of a growing stream of bio- degradable plastic products finally being developed to meet the demands of an environmentally conscious public. It fits with nature's way of renewing through recycling, recovering and re- using everything. The Bio-Guard Bag is consistent with the laws of nature. Members of .PACT will present the bags to public officials at Metro Toronto and Durham Region works committee meetings on Tuesday, March 1, in a symbolic gesture to understore PACT's efforts to have all levels of government develop waste management policies and systems in harmony with nature rather than ones which are destructive to our environment. On Saturday, March 5, PACT will sell the bags to the public at the Pickering Town Centre in Pickering, and at the Harwood Mall in Ajax. The sale will remind the public that each individual is responsible for the health of the environment and provide PACT with funds to continue to oppose the use of huge, environmentally damaging and archaic Metro garbage dumps in the region of Durham. After March 5, Bio-Guard bags may be purchased at: Goodview Farms Market on Brock Road, Ajax Plumbing Supply, 71 Station Street, and The Greenwood General Store. The Bio-Guard Trash Bag will be marketed commercially in Ontario by Guardian Poly Industries beginning in late April or early May. '�QUR BACK1(A' � t: 4 L�Y`@Q13�oa�d �--� � serres Conea �� 4, Im �Vi�1c�ge of l�reenwoc ��or,eec- ��'`%�u5Ct.1'cY1 VaUM BAr;x)?AAI,D v yi L VL✓'� 111 t ; • Darn_ B*o,�k. Nor4\, L+ BTEGR S,,A *46 I s � , kx Green noww VI►1la iry ZZ A4 s IjaX citizens ► !,��i,ld ���' irid►catieil . the Phil %1 estimated cost is too high, Parish said $90 million ump / ��. urn out to l� be a bafgain if an alternative site cannot be found. 1 • r a sites #� tJWy Toronto Star ;'An Ajax and Pickering citizens group wants Metro and the iwvincial environment ministry to promise that two proposed df311 sites will never see a bag of garbage. ,Uaders of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) have a public meeting for tonight at Pickering High School to �-public support for the demand that the Brock South and pock North landfill sites never open. PACT officials said a report will be released outlining new concerns about environmental hazards at the existing Brock West landfill site. "We are concerned local resi- dents believe Metro has dropped its plans for Brock South," said PACT chairman Bill Parish. "Nothing could be farther from the truth." Under intense public pressure and dire warnings about the envi- ronmental impact, Metro an- nounced in January it would not open the Brock South dump in Ajax if an alternative site could be found. Mounting crisis But with Metro facing a mount- ing garbage crisis and with no alternate sites in view, Parish said Brock South still could become a dump. 1n the mid-1960s, Metro identi- fied three areas in the Pickering area that could be used as landfills. Brock West opened in 1975 and Metro acquired land for future dumps, designated as Brock South and Brock North. A consultant's report reveals soil conditions at Brock South would require $90 million worth of engi- neering improvements before a dump could open. I I Metro and Durham. Region now are ctare (I 000 ache for a new O landfill site toserve their needs for the next 20 years, Parish said. "We have to deliver the message loud and clear that we don't want anv new, 20-year dump Dur- ham," Parish said. PACT, formed last year, also wants to make sure the Brock Nest site closes once it reaches its 15.5 million tonne capacity. Lum, p by Rob Starr xplosion Sparks Public Outcry Management of The Brock West Dump has drawn heavy fire from a local citizen's group and MPP after Monday's early morn- ing explosion that seriously injured a weigh master. In a strongly worded statement to The Bay News, Pickering Ajax Citizen's Together (PACT) called the blast that has left 27 year old Gary McGowan in criti- cal condition in Toronto's Wel- lesley hospital, "unbelieveable." The statement went on to say that PACT "charges Metro Toronto (the operators of the dump site) with outdated and inadequate landfill practices." PACT wants the provincial government to monitor waste coverage at the dump; PACT maintains Metro Toronto cannot be depended upon to police itself. The blast, which occured' at 6:17 a.m. Monday, blew the win- dows at the scale house out. Dur- ham Regional Police and peneYitry " The statement urges a fullnisinvestigation into thelosion and operation of themp, and says the blast "typifies the poor level of man- agement at the Brock Wew Dump Site." Bacopoulos admitted manage - me knew about high methane gas eadings in the buffer zone, wh' h includes the scale house, it said preventative measures .e-taken to prevent such a blast. (Continued on page 5) (Continued from He said ventilation wells are being con- structed in the buffer zone and the scale house has a two inch concrete layer with a protective sheet under the structure. He said while read- ings are taken, an undetectable flaw in the protective sheet Angelos Bacopoulos, Senior Engineer in charge of landfill sites for Metro, both say the blast may have been ignited by a flame from a cigarette, sparking methane. gas. Rotting garbage produces the gas, which usually vents up through the ground, but may have shifted toward the scale house because of saturated ground. McGowan had opened the scale house to begin his shift. He was transferred from Ajax Pickering Hospital to Wellesley may have a4ivwr4-4he gas to build up causing the blast. Additional vents at the side of the scale house may not have been cleared of snow, which also may have caused the blast. Bacopoulos said there are no rules to employees ing in the prevent from smok scale house. Hospital with 15% burns and lung injuries. Although he was listed in critical condition at press time, he is expected to recover. PACT wasn't alone in taking Metro's management of the dump to task. Norah Stoner, MPP for Durham West, urged the Ministry of the Environment to become involved in the opera- tion of the dump. In another statement, Stoner said the blast was "an incident which shouldn't have hap - Pickering/Ajax Bay News, March 9, 1988 3 Metro Cries "Crisis" As� Durham Landfills Sought by Donna Cox Metro's garbage crisis scare has reared it's ugly head again and Durham is being looked at as a solution. Last week Metro officials claimed that by 1990 it will have nowhere to dump 30 per cent of it's garbage, therefore Environ- ment Minister Jim Bradley may be forced to order a landfill opened. Although Metro will have to set up waste disposal methods such as incineration and recy- cling projects, officials claim that a landfill will be needed as a tem- porary measure. Currently Metro Council is looking at seven possible landfill sites, four of which are located within Durham's borders. Three sites are in Scarborough, includ- ing two close to the Rouge River Valley. It has not been officially announced as to the exact loca- tions. The list will be brought down to two sites by March 21. "We have a crisis," said Stoner. "It is their public cam- paign to force their garbage on Durham." Environment Minister, Jim Bradley, stated last week that Metro had brought it's problem on itself by not starting any serious waste disposal projects such as recycling or energy from waste. Metro had depended on open- ing the Brock South Site in Ajax. . But due to heavy opposition, and the tremendous cost of bringing the site up to acceptable stand- ards, the idea was dropped. Faced with an ` emergency situation, both Stoner and Her- rema agreed that Metro would not attempt to open Brock South. 4iA PICKERING AND AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT �R ONE PACT Presents Canada's 1st Bio-degradable Garbage Bag PICKERING-AJAX - PACT through agreement with Guardian Poly Industries, will present Canada's 1st bio-degradable garbage bag during PACT WEEK, February 29 to March 5, 1988, in Ajax and Pickering. The Bio-Guard Trash Bag is the first of a growing stream of bio- degradable plastic products finally being developed to meet the demands of an environmentally conscious public. It fits with nature's way of renewing through recycling, recovering and re- using everything. The Bio-Guard Bag is consistent with the laws of nature. Members of .PACT will present the bags to public officials at Metro Toronto and Durham Region works committee meetings on Tuesday, March 1, in a symbolic gesture to understore PACT's efforts to have all levels of government develop waste management policies and systems in harmony with nature rather than ones which are destructive to our environment. On Saturday, March 5, PACT will sell the bags to the public at the Pickering Town Centre in Pickering, and at the Harwood Mall in Ajax. The sale will remind the public that each individual is responsible for the health of the environment and provide PACT with funds to continue to oppose the use of huge, environmentally damaging and archaic Metro garbage dumps in the region of Durham. After March 5, Bio-Guard bags may be purchased at: Goodview Farms Market on Brock Road, Ajax Plumbing Supply, 71 Station Street, and The Greenwood General Store. The Bio-Guard Trash Bag will be marketed commercially in Ontario by Guardian Poly Industries beginning in late April or early May. R ANOTHE Do 'You VAMT una IN 47o0UG3 BACKYARD? Wit' OF ®® 11�i�1age o� Laceenwcod i-'> groe�c P►onecr onceSSior► lbvae.k� Green � Con*tser�a� 10� Conce6 4 m 74y �--� C1�e+rr�wooa At —p Q q '} PQuiynn ul P� � c, Dump caU 3rd. Conces5►on d 7-d �Jesiney � PA Q U He►g4 V .s V � �W �. CK►R S�or� nd� V i11 ca � PIC:KERING/AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - OBJECTIVES ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 . To war E.-: to secure a full and comprehensive hearing with respect to the proposed Brock South landfill site under The Environmental Assessment Act so that every element of the environment will be prc-tected and all alternatives` studied. ' 2. To prevent the possible extension of the Brock: West landfill site and to make certain that Metropolitan Toronto provides sr -cure protection from any pollution from that site in perpetuity. 3. To present forcefully before the Environmental Assessment Beard with the best technical evidence possible P.A.C.T.'s case that the proposed use of Brack South or Brock North as landfill sites is detrimental to the environment of the communities of Ajax and Pickering, the Greenwood Conservation area, Duffins Creek and its valley and therefore- should never be allowed. 4. To attempt to make Metropolitan Toronto and the Region of Durharii more responsible in their methods of waste management and to urge therm to take i rmriiedi ate action with respect to all other safe alternatives to landfill. To promote within The Region of Durham a responsible prograrr, of solid waste management stressing the four R1 s REDUC:E, REUSE, RECOVER & RECYCLE. 5. To urge The Region of Durham to forbid the dumping within Durham of any garbage or solid waste from any Municipality outside of Durham and to require Durham Regional Council to i ta4::e responsibility for their own safe garbage disposal. 6. To raise the funds necessary to support and achieve these objectives. PICKERING/AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT P.A.C.T. For The Environment F.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place 1355 Kingston Road, Pickering, Ontario L1V 1BB P.A.C.T. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairperson - Bill Parish - 683-2003 Treasurer & Finance - Paul Middleton - 839-5655 Secretary - Sunni Rideout - 427-8170 George Martin - Greenwood - 683-1667 COUNCILS' MONITOR Chairperson - Pat brawn - 583-4526 EDUCATION Chairperson - Jim Wiseman - 427-1821 EVENTS CO-ORDINATION Chairperson - FUNDRAISING Chairperson - Angelo Di Clemente - 835-9436 LEGAL Chairperson - Steve Parish - 683-9450 MEDICAL _ Chairpersons - Doug Graff - 683-0894 - Paul Fisher MEMBERSHIP & NEIGHBOURHOODS - AJAX Chairperson - Linda Winton - 683-O547(R) 292-6767(B:) MEMBERSHIP & NEIGHBOURHOODS - PICKERING Chairperson - Audrey Graff - 683-0894 POLITICAL LOBBY Chairperson - Bill Parish - 683-2003 PUBLIC RELATIONS Chairperson - Brenna Brown - 427-6157 PUBLICITY Chairperson - Tire Detterling - 683-6266 TECHNICAL RESEARCH Chairperson - David Strain - 835-8616 POLITICAL LIAISONS Pat Clark for Nor ah Stoner Rene Soet ens for Ajax, Council Bob Mitchell for Pickering Council *****P.A.C.T. For The Environment needs volunteers. Please select any Committee shown above where you think: you can help and call the Chairperson TODAY. OUR FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER!:#:****' PICKERING AND AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PACT Presents Canada's lst Bio-degradable Garbage Bag PICKERING-AJAX - PACT through agreement with Guardian Poly Industries, will present Canada's 1st bio-degradable garbage bag during PACT WEEK, February 29 to March 5, 1988, in Ajax and Pickering. The Bio-Guard Trash Bag is the first of a growing stream of bio- degradable plastic products finally being developed to meet the demands of an environmentally conscious public. It fits with nature's war% of renewing through recycling, recovering and re- using everything. The Bio-Guard Bag is consistent with the laws of nature. Members of .PACT will present the bags to public officials at Metro Toronto and Durham Region works committee meetings on Tuesday, March 1, in a symbolic gesture to understore PACT's efforts to have all levels of government develop waste management policies and systems in harmony with nature rather thin ones which are destructive to our environment. On Saturday, March 5, PACT will sell the bags to the public at the Pickering Town Centre in Pickering, and at the Harwood Mall in Ajax. The sale will remind the public that each individual is responsible for the health of the environment and provide PACT with funds to continue to oppose the use of huge, environmentally uamaging and archaic Pietro garbage dumps in the region of Durham. After March 5, Bio-Guard bags may be purchased at: Goodview Farms Market on Brock Road, Ajax Plumbing Supply, 71 Station Street, and The Greenwood General Store. The Bio-Guard Trash Baa will be marketed commercially in Ontario by Guardian Poly Industries beginning in 'late April or early May. PICKERING/AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT P.A.C.T. For The Environment P.O. Box 125, Sheridan Place 1355 Kingston Read, Pickering, Ontario L1V 1BB P.A.C.T. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairperson - Bill Parish - 68 3- 003 Treasurer & Finance - Paul Middleton - 839-5655 Secretary - Sunni Rideout - 427-8170 George Martin - Greenwood - 683-1667 COUNCILS' MONITOR Chairperson �n - Pat Brown - 583-4536 EDUCATION Chairperson �n - Jim Wiseman - 427-1821 EVENTS CO-ORDINATION Chairperson - FUNDRAISING Chairperson - Angelo Di Clemente - 835-9436 LEGAL Chairperson - Steve Parish - 683-9450 MEDICAL Chairpersons - Doug Graff - 683-08S4 - Paul Fisher MEMBERSHIP & NEIGHBOURHOODS - AJAX Chairperson - Linda Winton - 683-0547(R) 292-6767(B? MEMBERSHIP & NEIGHBOURHOODS - PICKERING Chairperson - Audrey Groff - 683-0094 POLITICAL LOBBY Chairperson - Bill Parish - 683-2003 PUBLIC RELATIONS Chairperson - Brenna Brawn - 427-6157 PUBLICITY Chairperson - Tim Detter1ing - 683-6266 TECHNICAL RESEARCH Chairperson - David Strain - 839-8616 POLITICAL LIAISONS Pat Clark for Nor ah Stoner Rene Soetens for Ajax Council Bob Mitchell for Pickering Council *****P.A.C.T. For The Environment needs volunteers. Please select any Committee shown above where you think: you can help and call the Chairperson TODAY. OUR FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER!:#::#:*** PACT Presents Canada's 1st Bio-degradable Garbage Bag PICKERING-AJAR - PACT through agreement with Guardian Poly Industries, will present Canada's 1st bio-degradable garbage bag during PACT WEEK? February 29 to March 5, 1988, in Ajax and Pickering. The Bio-Guard Trash Bag is the first of a growing stream of bio- degradable plastic products finally being developed to meet the demands of an environmentally conscious public. It fits with nature's way of renewing through recycling, recovering and _re- using everything. The Bio-Guard Bag is consistent with the laws of nature. Members of .PACT will present the bags to public officials at Metro Tcronto and Durham Region works committee meetings on Tuesday, March 1, in a symbolic gesture to understore PACT's efforts to have all levels of government develop waste management policies and systems in harmony with nature rather than ones which are destructive to our environment. On Saturday, March 5, PACT will sell the bags to the public at the Pickering Town Centre in Pickering, and at the Harwood Mall in Ajax.. The sale will remind the public that each individual is responsible for the health of the environment and provide PACT with funds to continue to oppose the use of huge, environmentally damaging and archaic Metro garbage dumps in the region of Durham. After March 5, Bio-Guard bags may be purchased at: Goodview Farms Market on Brock Road, Ajax Plumbing Supply, 71 Station Street, and The Greenwood General Store. The Bio-Guard Trash Bac1 will be marketed commercially in Ontario by Guardian Poly Industries beginning in late April or early May, 0 EICKERING/AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - OBJECTIVES ------------------------------------------------------------------- i. To work: to secure a full and comprehensive hearing with respect to the proposed Brock South landfill site under The Environmental Assessment Act so that every element of the environment will be protected and all alternatives studied. 2. To prevent the passible extension of the Brack: West landfill site and to make certain that Metropolitan Toronto provides secure protection from any pollution from that site in perpetuity. 3. To present forcefully before the Environmental Assessment Beard with the best technical evidence possible P. A. C. T.'s case that the proposed use of Brock South or Brock North as landfill sites is detrimental to the environment of the communities of Ajax and Pickering, the Greenwood Conservation area, Duffins Creek and its valley and therefore should never be allowed. 4. To attempt to make Metropolitan Toronto and the Region of Durham more responsible in their methods of waste management and to urge them to take immediate action with respect to all other safe alternatives to landfill. To promote within The Region of Durham a responsible program of solid waste management stressing the four R's REDUCE, REUSE, RECOVER e RECYCLE. 5. To urge The Region of Durhan to forbid the dumping within Durham of any garbage or solid waste from any Municipality outside of Durham and to require Durham Regional Council to take responsibility for their own safe garbage disposal. 6. To raise the funds necessary to support and achieve these objectives. Study update ------A6/ THE TORONTO STAR, THURSDAY, MARCH W, -- - may sig" end 1\/Ie ro annin of shared dump • By Philip Mascoll Toronto Star arbagehysteria okayed Region Council has a study on waste disposal that may spell the death of a dump - sharing arrangement with Metro. oes ofdump sa The report, from ate of a Engineers, will ban update r a 1985 study, in which the kev y recommendation was that the re - By Jane Armstrong Toronto Star`' gion co-operate with Metro to find a landfill site in Durham, a council A citizens' group fighting the proposed Brock Soutf"ump meeting yesterday was told. has accused Metro of fanning the flames of hysteria to avoid an The Metro site at Brock West — Environmental Assessment Act hearing on the controversial which Durham also uses — is dueto close in 1990 and alternatives landfill site. are desperately being sought. "Comments like `garbage will be piling up on the streets in Because the report is an update, three years' are designed to create an atmosphere of alarm, so it will cost the comparatively low they can get an (Environmental Protection Act hearing)," sum of $30,000. The report is to be presented Brenna Brown of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together said yester- within three months and then day. council will decide whether to stick "I think it's unconscionable to — — to the current arrangement with mislead the people of Metro like Tim Michael, recycling co-ordi- Metro, or — as a growing number that." nator with Metro works, said of councillors and citizens want — PACT wants the Brock South about half the three million tonnes dump Metro. dump issue reviewed under the of industrial waste sent to Metro Finance committee chairman dum s last year was recycled. Jim Witt w more comprehensive Environmen- y, who favors dumping Mi hael said Metro is committed Metro, said going it alone,: meant tal Assessment Act. The process to im roving that percentage. g g would take five years and would g p g "the difference (in a single. year) review all options for Metro's St tl sites May 1, haulers at $50 a between 11/2 million tons 4f, gar - waste management plans. But disposal sites will be charged $50 a bage from Metro and 250,000 tons tonne, nearly three times the cur Metro says it doesn't have time to y from Durham." ` wait for the more extensive review rent $18 a tonne charge, he said. After council okaye the stpdy, because Brock West is scheduled to Serious situation Witty persuaded his co'leagites to reach its 15-million tonne capacity Gilbert called PACT's allegations —agree is not p epared to in two years. ridiculous. He said the public must take Metros garbage. He en pro - Brown was responding to public be kept aware of Metro's serious posed the dual -dumping. agree - comments by Metro Councillor garbage situation to keep politi- ment be rescinded. That matter is Richard Gilbert predicting a gar- cians on their toes and to ensure to be discussed at a future meet- bage "calamity" is on the horizon other alternatives to Brock South ing. unless immediate steps are taken. are adequately examined. Metro criticized . Gilbert has expressed fears that "Frankly, I'm surprised they works chairman Councillor health would suffer when garbage (PACT) would say something like Gerry Emm, whose committee hart is left on the street or dumped ille- that. We're both supposedly work- gally because landfills can't absorb ing Towards the same thing." recommended the updated report, all the waste. B,11 Crowther of the Metro Solid said later there was a "hell;of an The councillor's comments were Wa, 'e Environmental Assessment argument for Durham going it made in conjunction with his re- Pla said no one in Metro is trying alone" on dumping. lease of a 20-page report predict- to mislead the public, but added "People in Durham- don't wait to ing the annual cost of getting rid of even the most strenuous recycling be responsible for all the waste. it . garbage in the Metro area will efforts won't extend the life of He knocked Metro for not look - more than double by the early Brock West beyond 1990. ing at all methods of waste reduc- 1990s. tion, particularly recycling, which Brown said Gilbert is just one of it has only just started to examine, several Metro officials who have he said. called Metro's garbage situation a Although he did not wail "a potential crisis or emergency. fight" with Metro, he felt they "Instead of instilling ar, why should seriously look at all methods aren't we hearing about ways of to ensure the minimum came to -educing industrial w ste for the dump site. example," Brown said. "They have got to start Putting But Gilbert and Metro works some dollars in the (recycling and officials say industrial waste alternatives). They can't just keep reduction programs are flourish- unloading their garbage in Ddr- ing. ham." _%._P� P4 WEEKENDER, MARCH.19, 19$8 Garbage dumped on public Locust Hill typifies the grass roots feeling in Metro area muni- cipalities with prominently - positioned road signs "NO MORE METRO GARBAGE". It's alarming that no one had the foresight to plan for our waste — an inevitable by-product of large scale development experi- enced within the past five years in York Region. Alarming yet somehow, pre- dictable. Garbage has long been an afterthought. Only with a crisis looming does the region cry in anguish for the province to create a ministry for waste management and Markham and Stouffville municipalities form study groups on curbside recycling. Back in the '60s Pollution Probe and others tried to motivate gov- ernments to initiate recycling programs and waste manage- ment plans which would help to change the throw -away attitude of society and prevent such a crisis. Now that Metro has nearly tri- pled its charges for dumping at the nep -capacity Keele Valley landfi , the tail once again wags tLinfog. — Jo Ann Stevenson Durham ri%�� �o halt - MeFro use of dumpsites By Philip Mascoll Toronto Star Durham Region has taken the irst big step toward ending its garbage dump marriage with Metro. Councillors yesterday voted 22 ;to,8 in support of a motion urging xhe region to tell Metro that its arbage won't be wanted in the re- gion after the Brock West dump ite in Pickering closes in 1990. A second part of the motion from Ajax Councillor Jim Witty and Pickering Councillor Bob Mitchell asked that the agreement -to-help Metro identify another long-term dump site in Durham be rescinded. Some Oshawa representatives — including Alderman Linda Dionne apd Mayor Allan Pilkey — urged that the motion be deferred until ..Metro provides further indication -on where in Durham it is looking -for a landfill site. But their plea was rejected. And for only the third time in ..the region's 15-year history, a mo- tion asking that the decision on the motion be reconsidered was put to the vote. That motion, from Oshawa Alderman Pauline Beal, took an even harder beating, losing 24-6. The Witty/Mitchell motion backed resolutions from the municipalities of Pickering and Ajax that any attempt by Metro to use the Brock South dump or any other site in Durham, be subjected to a full Environmental Assess- ment Act (EAA) hearing, a process that could take up to five years. Metro owns Brock West, but Durham also dumps its garbage there. The councils fear Metro is look- ing at Brock South, also in Picker- ing, as an alternative to Brock West, which is due to reach capaci- ty in 1990. Seeking exemption In asking for regional support, Pickering wrote that Metro was asking the Environment Ministry for exemption from an EAA hear- ing on Brock South and authoriza- tion to proceed with a hearing under the Environmental Protec- tion Act, a much shorter process. A representative of Pickering Ajax Citizens Together (PACT), a group that has led the fight against the dump, was allowed to address council yesterday. About 50 group members packed the spectators' gallery. The group feels Metro is going to attempt to shorteircuit a hearing by letting Brock West fill up and then pleading garbage crisis as an excuse to use Brock South. In a letter to council, the group said any crisis in Metro was creat- ed by years of bad management and a late start on a recycling pro- gram. Metro, "Canada's wealthiest municipality should not be permit- ted to go the cheap fast track route at the expense of the people of Dur- ham," said the letter from PACT chairman Bill Parish. Pilkey told the meeting he understood Brock South was not one of the sites being considered. Some weeks ago, after a closed - door meeting of Metro's works committee, The Star's Michael Smith learned there were seven sites under study, four in Durham and the remainder in Scarborough. At the time, Durham councillors said talk of Scarborough sites was "a red herring," and the "secret sites" Metro is studying are prob- ably Brock South, Brock North and Seaton, all near Pickering. (�...... .,I1. v IVC W III alll/ b. �"��zt,Battle Ii*nes drawn 1 V .S eturegio ro §zContfnued from page 1 ro resolution �'�anarOshawa'sof a dump 11 councillors against it. The motion calls for Durham to tell Metro its garbage won't be welcome in the region after the Brock West dump site in Pickering that handles both municipalities garbage closes in 1990. It would also break up a three- year -old agreement to help Metro identify another long-term dump site in Durham. Jim Witty and Bob Mitchell, the councillors behind the move, have ueDates unp p twice tabled the motion to give a local citizen's group time to lobby wavering politicians. Mitchell says Durham has to cut the umbilical cord with Metro now to avoid becoming a ,p�eermanent dumping ground for dt�Ietro's gar- bage. "If Metro doesn't learn to look after its own garbage, it will always be looking outside its boundaries for a landfill site. And that's sure to be Durham unless we put a stop to it." Opponents of the Dump Metro scheme say it would be foolish for Durham to sever its ties with Metro without first finding a land- fill site of its own after Metro -run Brock West dump closes. Oshawa councillor Linda Dionne says Durham could find itself in the lurch with no landfill site if it strikes out on its own right now. Working diligently and vocally for Mitchell and Witty is Pickering -Ajax Citizen's Together, a citizen's group opposed to a fu- ture Metro garbage site in Dur- ham. PACT chairman Bill Parish downplayed Dionne's concerns not- ing that a search for a new dump for Durham's garbsalme would be relatively easy. 1Metro, by contrast, dumps about 11/2 million tonnes each year at Brock West. 2, 7a 0 o a.� o 0 0 �';o �� o va°'° p�--f-ro• o �� o o' �« CL Cr co � �•-s m fD �m � � v �- �� i m •y a pj CJ �• C fD O" O) G1 p1 f�J1 N ".3. a rpI+U�IQ R `co 'S c N o dIDP o rl -, o cn 4q v y "^ x`� y rr O M _V C CS O O cn �' ' M, 'C �" iv �„ O pp -9ii r o D C = , cn , p, K <D d O VU poi .W N v > `D p 'C y v x R 45 -cc, " Z CD ' a �. cc -, o o rD ti o a �o 2 M� �ti,T Cc, Q=i c ro�v ,Q =�,cecDvon �Cn ID (D '^7 S17 o w Metro Works Commissioner while Metro Frank Horgan say can't dictate what future course Durham decides to take, breaking the agreement would cut the re- gion off from the cheap dumping prices it enjoys under the agree- ment, meaning higher taxes for residaents.. O O R' O � d J C 10 4 w ,Region Backs Towns On Dump Durham Region Council has agreed to support the Towns' of Ajax and Pickering in their request that Brock South not be opened without an In environmental assessment act hearing. Last year, Metro planned to request permission I'rom the Minister of the Lnvironment, Jim Bradley, that Brock South only undergo an environmental protection act hearing, which takes less time to go through and is far less stringent. However, in December Metro Chairman, Dennis Flynn, announced that he would recommend to Metro Council that Brock South not be used. A report from Metro Consultants Golder and Associates stated that the site would require millions of dollars to make it environmentally safe. Metro still has Golder monitoring the Brock South site should it be needed in the future. Yet PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together) representative and Ajax Councillor, Rene Soetens, urged Durham to continue the request for an G.A.A. hearing for Brock South. It was his feeling that Metro believes, "a bad dump in Durham is better than a good landfill site in Metro." Soetens further argued that if Metro cannot find a site more suitable than Brock South, then the opening of Brock South (COMMUed on page 3) Environmental Hearing ommuedfrompage 1) m become a reality. Metro recently announced that it will be chosing two sites out of a possible seven on March 29. These sites are within Durham and Scarborough. Oshawa Mayor Allan Pilkey ated that supporting s ch a motion may be prema- ture since Brock South is not on Metro's list of seven sites. "I'm con - Fir Rro(k South? celned that should we future considerations hearings. ' P p,ss this, it (Brock for a site that may not be at all." hACT e Re F onto hall - in South) may not be a used dle its' own waste and proble in a few Several other coun- break ties with Metro. weeks, said Pilkey. cillors raised concerns Soetens claimed that a "The set a about what the Region site large enough to we will precedent (for an will do with its' gar- bage when Brock West handle Metro's waste for five years, would be E.A.A. hearing) for future that maybe is full in two years and able to handle Dur- sites used by Durham. It it takes close to five ham's waste for close would prejudice our years for E.A.A. to 140 years. Works Commis- sioner Bill 'Twelvetrees stated thlh the Region has alrey contacted Metro w regards to using Keele Valley when Brock West is full. This would give the Region more time to find an interim site. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner Sul gested that there ar; enough smaller landfill sites in the area to han- dle Durham's landfill needs until an approp- riate Regional site is found. If blue box recy- cling continues and compost recycling and other forms of recy- cling are put into place, up to 65 per cent of the Region's waste can be recycled. But the issue came down to giving resi- dents the right to have their environment protected. "The issue is not the location of future sites, or interim sites, but that sites be environ- mentally as safe as pos- sible for our residents," said Coun- cillor Bob Mitchell. The resolution t," support an E.A.A, hearing passed with a 22 to 8 majority, des- pite moves to table the item until after Metro decides on it's two sites. �� 6 Pickering/Ajax Bay News, April 13, 1988 Politics TJ I� Bill Garl The Continuing Garbage Site Saga If you read the daily press or looked at the Toronto TV sta- tions to determine what took place two weeks ago at the Metro- politan Toronto Works Commit- tee meeting regarding the search for waste disposal sites to be con- sidered in place of the proposed Brock South site, you would have only received part of the informa- tion. Collectively, all of the media had parts of the story, but none were totally correct. Because of my concern and interest about the proposed Brock South land- fill site, I attended the Metro Toronto Works Committee meeting on March 29 to observe. e A• along Steeles Avenue, north of jax the former Beare Road Landfill Site. The sites in Scarborough and 1 in Pickering are presently owned eportby. the Province of Ontario. Just 1✓ tr ot to' o the meeting, Metro an ennis ynn rec a clean Mayor Of Ajax letter from the De ut�Minister, Ministry o Government-Se�vi- ces, wising that the Province's age Saga ousing first po�icy�r�e- vente t e sites on t e east and As you may recall, Metro had 7 wes ' es o t e Scarborou / sites they were reviewing as alter- Picrering,---York / Durham natives to Brock South. One was Roa s tom et g considered. on the Ajax/Whitby border. lhis sign it ica y upset the members of the Metro Works At the meeting, Metro's con- Committee, as they believed the sultants narrowed the number of Province of Ontario is not inter - sites beingconsideredto4-onein ested in assisting Metro in their the Town of Newcastle, south of search for a new dump site. Highway 401, between Darling- The Works Committee agreed ton Provincial Park and the to recommend to Metro Council Ontario Hydro Darlington that testing of the Newcastle Nuclear Plant; one in the Town of (Darlington) site and the testing Pickering, on the east side of the on the northerly expansion of the York Durham boun ary road . ?Beare Road site commence north of Steeles Avenue; and two ' immediately. They also agreed to in car orough, one on the west request the Province to permit side of the Scarborough / Picker- testing to be done on the two sites ing Town Line, south of Steeles on the east and west sides of the Avenue, and one further west , Scarborough / Pickering, York / Durham Roads to determine their suitability for use as a gar- bage dump, and to impress upon the Province of Ontario that houses cannot be built if there is nowhere to dump garbage. The Metro Chairman was instructed to meet with the Pre- mier of Ontario and the Minister of the Environment to determine the Province's role in the waste disposal site searches, and to urge the Premier to permit Scarbo- rough's land to be used as a dump, if environmentally sound. Metro Works staff was also` instructed to search for third and fourth opportunity sites beyond( the current study area. This would be in the area east of Oshawa, north of the urbanized area, and south of the Oak Ridges Morraine. In the waste disposal site search process, many parties are now angry at each other - Dur- ham at Metro for wanting to dump their garbage in Durham, Scarborough at Metro for Metro considering dumping Metro gar- bage in Scarborough, Metro at the Province for the Province not taking moreactiveroleinassist- ing Metro with their site search and for refusing to permit two selected sites to be considered as dump sites. The Ajax/Whitby site was dropped from consideration because of observed soil condi- tions and ground formation. One of Metro's consultants commented that if the Brock South site had been included with the 7 sites originally considered, Brock South would have been remove tom the list as unsuita- ble b� ecau a oT the resence of san and gravel in the Brock bout site. One of the members of Metro's Works Committee commented at the meeting that Metro was not in a garbage crisis situation yet, as garbage was not piling up in the streets! The recommendations from the Metro Works Committee were presented to Metro Council yesterday, but too late for ne to have included the results it 11these notes. However, I expo yt that Metro Council, after coildera- ble anger being vented at the Pro- vince, will ,approve the Works Committee recommendations. PAG 1° "- E NEWS ADVERTISER, APRIL 20, 1988 Rouge Valley dump okay PICKERING - A motion objecting to a proposed landfill near Scarborough's Rouge Valley on the western border of Pickering was rejected by town coun- cil Monday night. The council voted 4-3 to reject the motion, with the majority preferring to see a future Metro Toronto landfill in the city than in Pickering or Durham region. "I've heard talk we don't want Metro garbage in Pickering and we don't want Metro garbage in Durham region and I support that. But I think where is Metro going to put its gar- bage? In another region or in its borders?" said Ward 2 regional coun- cillor Alex Robertson. "Let them put it in their own backyard. Put it in Toronto and let's see how their politi- cians react." Metro has proposed studying two sites for a landfill -- one in northeast Scarborough, north of Finch Avenue, and one in Newcastle, between a pro- vincial park and the Darlington Nuclear station. "I'd rather have it there than here," said mayor Jack Anderson. Ward 3local councillor Wayne Ar- thurs says the proposed Scarborough site is no different than the Brock South site in north Ajax, because it also borders Pickering. Metro had proposed developing a landfill for north Ajax, but the plan was shelved because of the high cost to prepare the site. Pickering council opposed the Brock South site. "It (the motion) is a political state- ment to Metro and the province. It's part of an ongoing position of the town of Pickering. We have to have a degree of consistency. Landfill on that site, in- terim or no, is going to affect the en- vironment. When that occurs, we have a responsibility to speak for the residents of the town," says Arthurs. Maurice Brenner, Ward 1 local councillor and instigator of the motion, PAGE 6-A—THE NEWS ADVERTISER, APRIL 20, 1988 Editorial Playing politics with the Is Pickering council trying to get on the good side of Metro Toronto at the expense of the Rouge Valley environment? That's the only possible con- clusion one could reach from the decision by council to not oppose a landfill site just across the Pickering - Scarborough border near th Rouge Valley. The one argument suppor- ting this move is weak at best "Let them put it in their ow backyard," said councillor Alex Robertson before votin Unfortunately, "their own backyard" might as well be said Pickering could be stuck between two landfill sites. Metro currently owns and operates the Brock West Landfill Site in Pickering. "I don't want Pickering to be a cleavage betv.een two landfill sites. I don't want the W ,n to be in a cross- wind. If the wind blows one way, we'll get the smell from Brock West and if it blows the other way, we'll get it from here (Scarborough)," says Brenner. Brenner adds the council should be "more pro -active" in opposing the Scarborough site. "Did we not pass resolutions oppos- ing landfills in Ajax and landfills ad- jacent to the Brock site in Pickering. This site abuts the residents Gf the western boundary (of the town)," he says. on a recorded vote, councillors Brenner, Arthurs and Morgan sup- ported the motion while mayor Ander- , son and councillors Robertson, Coburn and Mitchell opposed it. e g environmen Pickering's backyard. he potential environmental damage caused by a dump in this location knows no n boundaries. Let's get with it guys. A . dump on the border, especial- ly near the Rouge Valley, is as bad as a dump in Pickering. 4 Pickering/Ajax Bay News, April 20, 1988 B PICK �ALE'SCL:�Ssll lt:lri Jean Shaer News 839-811-t RCULA7lON 683-1562 1730 McPherson Court, Unit 18, ssell .1. 1 oung Pickering,. Ontario LI W 3E6 087 683-1561 1 At; 839-81 i5 LET RS TO THE EDIT Mistakes Made On Landfill On April 9, Newcastle Mayor John Winters went to the Metro Works Committee to protest plans to build two landfill sites near this town. Newcastle which has been dumped on for years must now contend with the Dar- lington Nuclear Generating Sta- tion, Ontario Hydro's planned transportation of tritium, and the infamous Port Granby radioac- tive waste dump at the eastern boundary of Durham Region. In 1976 the Atomic Energy Com- mission ordered it closed, but the site remained open and now it's alleged that poisons are leaking into L. Ontario. After the smoke from a verbal barrage -- with guns blazing from both sides -- had cleared Mayor Winters realized what kind of people he was dealing with. Des- pite his understandable outrage and indignation he unwittingly made two errors. First he attacked Metro alone, and secondly he was unprepared for their tactics. When asked how much garbage Newcastle sends to Brock West he replied "I don't know." Some members described the Mayoras "naive", and "simplis- tic". York's Mayor Alan Tonks called Mr. Winters "presump- tious" and chastised him saying "We are all in this together." In another erroneous statement Mr. Tonks implies that even distant Newcastle is part of the garbage crisis! But Mayor Winters must be applauded; because of his courage at City Hall he has caused Metro officials to display their awful cheek and arrogance. Furthermore, this Commis- sion's audaciousness can clearly be seen when Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn half -jokingly stated, "When the time comes, we may have to drop a little of that stuff(garbage) at Queen's Park just to impress them. I'm sure that the Hon. David Peter- son will be amused when he dis- covers a few bags on tie Legislature's doorstep. Desperate Metro has looked as far away as Kingston in a frantic bid to sell off its unwanted pro- duct. Closer to home Metro has M0 threatened the fragile Rouge Val- ley with an interim dump site prompting a coalition group in Scarborough to contact the Hon. Tom McMillan Federal Minister of the Environment. On April 13, he will be touring that area. Sev- eral months ago I wrote to him bringing to his attention the urban waste issue which is crop- ping up in other Canadian cities. I also stated that in a province of this size there should be no need for any municipality to threaten another with millions of tonnes of waste. I remain steadfast in my belief that if Metro Toronto, Canada's richest municipality and biggest garbage producer had been pers- picacious with respect to recy- cling, reduction, and responsible waste management, all of us would not be facing this predicamWnt. Frank Threlkeld Jr. Pickering Ed's Note: Couldn't agree more with you on this one Frank. TNF TORONTf5`T�f 15 -L' '' T 9 ��!! 1, i �Yitll tf 'timering isf council votes in favor of proposed Rouge Valle dump By Jane Armstrong Toronto Star Pickering council is not object- ing to a proposed landfill site near the Rouge River Valley in Scarbor- ough. Council narrowly defeated a mo- tion opposing the site — near the environmentally sensitive Rouge River — at last week's council meeting. The eastern border of the 2,064- hectare (5,100-acre) Metro wilder- ness area abuts the western bound- ary of Pickering. The defeat angered those who favored the motion. Councillor Maurice Brenner, who introduced it, said Pickering runs the risk of becoming "the cleavage between the Brock West dump (in Ajax) and a proposed Scarborough dump. "I'm shocked council voted it down. We're elected to take care of the residents of Pickering." Hypocritical But Councillor Bob Mitchell, who voted against Brenner's motion, said it would be hypocritical to de- mand Metro look after its own gar- bage and then criticize the larger municipality when it chooses a site within its own borders. "We can't say to Metro, 'Don't come here, but don't go to Metro either.' "If Metro can provide a place to dump its arbage why should we object to it." Councillor Beverley Morgan said the proposed Scarborough dump Moy Extend Beare Rd. Landfi�` by G y Abbate M tro Council has A temporary site would agr d to study the possi- take Metro's garbage from ble extension of the Beare 1990 to 1995 when it hopes to Rd. landfill site to ease have in place a long-term Metro's growing garbage disposal site. The tem- problem. porary site is expected to take about 7 million tonnes The study, will not only of ga look at ,xteX, ding the Beare Ga Rd. site, ` hich closed in is c 1982, norti to the CP rail Brce line but al at a site on the Pick north side of the tracks full through which flows. the porar s Petticoat Creek. Only two Scarborough's sev;ite jn�- representatives on Medid not support the study time Controllers Ken Morri could and Joyce Trimmer. Bot any p say Scarborough already bage. has more than its fair share Ori of garbage dumps and it is now someone eve�-Exan. They also say the en- vironmentally sensitive northeast is not the place to put another garbage site. The decision to study the Beare Rd. site is an act of desperation by Metro as it keeps bumping into brick walls in its attempt to find a tem[�orary garbage site. rbage. from east metro urrently taken to the k u.a `x'-st site in Bring but this will be soon and unless a tem- y site is found by the could be just as objectionable as the Brock South dump, a proposed successor to the Brock West dump in Ajax. "It just depends on what direc- tion the wind is blowing," Morgan said. "If it's coming from the east, we'll get Brock West's odors. If it's from the west, we could be getting Scarborough's." Metro council last month identi- fied a portion of the Rouge River Valley as one of three sites it is studying as possible landfill sites. Also under study are sites near Bowmanville and one near the Darlington nuclear power station just outside Oshawa. The search for a new dump began last year after Metro coun- cil, gave up on a long -planned dumpsite in Ajax. The proposed Rouge River site has met with opposition from Scar- borough environmental groups at- tempting to spare the area from development. Had last week's motion passed, Pickering' objection would have been passed onto Scarborough and Metro councils and Environment Minister Jim Bradley. Wed. Apr. 27, 1988 THE NEWS/POST-Page 7 To Ease Garbage Problem i this one is full, Metro other sites in northeast which says it intends to put find itself without Scarborough and nor- housing there. Sites further lace to dump its gar- thwest Pickering have east in Durham Region been stymied by the pro- have come up against local ginal plans to look at vincial Ministry of Housing opposition. Heading off Metro's perf By Richard Gilbert Metro Toronto may soon have nowhere to dispose of nearly half of the 2.2 million tonnes of gar- bage generated here each year. The Brock West landfill site, Which takes more than 45 per cent of Metro's garbage, will be approaching capacity in 1989. The Commissioners Street incin- erator, which burns 5 per cent of the total, will likely be closed soon because it is a major polluter. Metro will have to establish a new landfill site or build a new incinerator. Opponents of these ventures make the strong case that they are required only be- cause little is being done, in Metro to reduce the amount of garbage put out for collection or to recycle what is put out. Here is what could be done. ❑ Set targets for waste reducr tion. A realistic target might be a 1 per cent a year reduction in the amount of garbage generated for each of the next 10 years. A tar- get helps ensure that perform- ance is measured and reviewed. ❑ Urge greater use of refillable containers and unpackaged goods. Senior governments should act to ensure garbage reduction with laws requiring, for example, use of refillable milk containers and bulk sale of detergents. ❑ Make area municipalities pay for aste disposal. Metro Toronto dispoes of the waste collected by the llppcal municipalities — East Yor,r, Etobicoke, North York, Scar orough, Toronto and York. Each contributes to the costs of ❑ Richard Gilbert is a member of the City of Toronto and Metro Toronto Councils. disposal according to its assess- ment base, not the amount of gar- bage generated. If the local municipalities paid for waste dis- posal by the tonne they would en- courage reduction in the amount of garbage put out for collection., ❑ Help industry find purchasers of its waste products. Peel Region has an effective program f o r helping industries find users of wastes that would otherwise go to landfill sites. A tire recapper, for example, was put in touch with a mat manufacturer who could use rubber scrap. ❑ Set realistic targets for amounts to be recycled. Current- ly, less than 1 per cent of garbage generated in Metro is recycled. Other Ontario municipalities d better: Burlington, Grimsby, Kitchener, Oakville and Pelham all divert some 10 per cent of their solid waste toward produc- tive use. ❑ Establish a comprehensive curbside collection program for recyclable materials. The mos effective way is to give each householder a kitchen bin f o r newspapers and glass, plastic and metal containers. The bin is put out at the curbside where gar- bage collectors with compart- mentalized trucks do the sorting. ❑ Raise the diversion credit for recycling. In Metro, a tonne of regular garbage costs about $55 to collect and $20 for disposal. Garbage for recycling costs an extra $75 a tonne to collect, sort and prepare for sale. Income from the sale of recycled materi- als averages $40 a tonne. Metro gives a "diversion credit" of $15 a tonne for avoiding the use of its disposal facilities. Thus there can be a shortfall of some $20 a tonne when a municipality implements a curbside recycling program. Provincial grants reduce this cost during the start-up period. A longer -term solution would be to ❑ Recycle privately collected waste. General curbside collec- tion of recyclable materials would not touch the 60 per cent of Metro's waste collected by pri- vate contractors from apartment buildings and large commercial and industrial properties. Exten- sion of the diversion credit might encourage the private operators to collect and sell recyclable materials. ❑ Increase the demand for recy- clable materials. There are mar- kets for all the glass, plastic and metal containers that might be diverted from Metro's garbage stream. Steps should be taken to sustain the demand. An effective curbside program would glut the market for newsprint. The sur- plus could be absorbed by a Metro -sponsored plant that manufactured garbage bags from old newspapers. The bags could be sold to householders and others at low cost, with revenue from on -bag advertising making up the ❑ Stimulate research into effi- cient bio-gas production from biodegradable waste. U to 40 per cent of waste is bio egrada- ble. Industrial composti g pro- cesses can convert as mu h as 70 per cent of this waste to water and usable natural gas. Research``, and development could ake the processes practicable for the con version of regular garbs e. Metropolitan Works Department Phoenix House. 10th Floor 439 Univefsay Avenue Toronto, Ontario. Canada M5G 1Y8 Telephone:(416)392- 8200 Address all correspondence to the Commissioner F. J. Horgan, P. E ng. A. A. E. E. Commissioner of Works Peter to F.J. Horgan, P.Eng. File no: 1600.32-6 Beare Road Landfill Site Date April 29, 1988 We have your letter dated April 23, 1988, expressing your concern about the investigation of the possibility of extending the Beare Landfill site as an interim location for waste disposal. We can appreciate your concern that such a consideration is being contemplated, and all that we can advise you is that it results from the Solid Waste Environmental Assessment Plan (SWEAP) study being undertaken by Metropolitan Toronto. When the concerted opposition to the long -planned Brock South Landfill site led Ministry of Environment officials to indicate to us that it was inost unlikely that our application for its approval would proceed under any process other than the Environmental Assessment Act requirements, which might take fire years, and when our soil consultants expressed concern whether or not the strict requirements for Brock South's development could be accommodated entirely on site, it was su.gested that we should look for other potential alternative locations. Under the Environmental Assessment approach, which is involved in SWEAP, all potential locations must be examined in order that the choice of the finally selected site can be justified through ruling out all others. Even though we were aware of the fact that it is not the wish of the City of Scarborough or of Ekletro Toronto Council to consider a site in north-east Scarborough, our legal advisors indicated that the legislation would require that we had properly checked the possibility. When the interim site search conducted by our consultants narrowed itself to four potential locations, two in Scarborough and two in Durham, we received a letter from the Ministry of Government Services advising that two of the four would not be acceptable to the Province, which had plans for housing development thereon. That left us only with the site north of Beare Road landfill and the site near Darlington Nuclear Plant in the Town of Newcastle as possibilities. The latter site is presently restricted by a provision of the Federal Ministry of Transport to protect air traffic to the Oshawa airport from the potential hazard of birds attracted by land activities. Negotiations are being conducted with the Ministry of Transport as to whether or not ,his restriction can be removed temporarily, but it is also a fact that the Town of Newcastle Council has indicated it will object to use of that site. We note that you wish to be placed on the Department's mailing list and to be part of SWEAP, or any other process related to decisions in this reard. g You inquire about how the mailing list notifying of our wish to conduct soil drilling on the property north of Beare Road was compiled. Primarily, those owners and tenants on the Provincial land were identified, and those who would be directly affected by the drilling were to be contacted. There is at times a difficulty in determining whether we should agitate a number of people by shipping out notices for their general information, such as is normal under the SWEAP public participation program, rather than notifying only those directly affected by the drilling program, since the decision to proceed any further would obviously be dependent on whether or not favourable soil conditions were found to exist. If they were considered unfavourable, there would be a strong Possibility that no further action would be taken, and we might needlessly have alarmed some citizens. If they were favourable, general notification would be a requirement of the process, with public meetings. F.J. Horgan, P. g. Commissioner of Works FJH:ns C.C. W.G. Crowther D. Blackwell �aoao setters n a clear da In council, I moved what I thought )uld be a very simple resolution op - sing a proposed landfill site in In case you may not already know, ie of the locations being considered an alternative to sites in Durham gion is a site previously known as the -are Road Landfill. For those who re in the west part of the town ecifically Ward 1, and the northwest in of Ward 3, it is the old dump site which is now a grassed hill, which I am sure many of you can see from your bedroom windows. As part of the search for an alternative site, Metro council proposed that this site be con- sidered as an option. Looking baack historically over the last few months you may recall that Pickering along with other areas of Durham have unanimously opposed Metro putting their garbage in our backyard. We know what it is like, because we have THE NEWS ADVERTISER, MAY 11, 1988—PAGE 7-A dump agine the destruction of the environ- nt that the Beare Road Landfill site -_..,,uld have on the already en- vironmentally safe area which we know as the Rouge River system along with Petticoat Creek. When this matter was referred to Pickering council, it was moved by myself and seconded by Ward 3 Coun- cillor Beverley Morgan. Unfortunate- ly, it was lost on a four to three vote. The councillors from Ward 3 already know what it is like to represent a ward pla �'w��ed by dump. Obvioust�y, this sensitivity is why they suppork�,d this resolution. As for the rest of council, I certainly can not speak for them. I would suggest that if you are interested in knowing why m they didn't support this resolution, ask them directly! The resolution read as follows: "WHEREAS a municipal refuse site is being considered in the , north l eastern portion of the City of Scar- borough; WHEREAS the City of Scar- . borough abuts the western boundary of the Town of Pickering; and WHEREAS the proximity of this pro- posed site may have an environmen- tal impact on the Rouge River System; and WHEREAS the propos- ed site may have a negative impact on the residents of the Town of Pickering; NOW THEREFORE Be It Resolved that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Pickering hereby objects to this site; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the City of Scarborough, Metropolitan Toronto, Ministry of the Environment and Norah Stoner, MPP." On a recorded vote, councillors Ar- thurs, Brenner and Morgan voted yes and councillors Coburn, Mitchell, Robertson and mayor Anderson voted no. If you have strong views on this, please let them be known. Maurice r Local Councillor, Ward I Pickering ou can see suffered with the Brock West site. We know what it is like to live near a dump, we know what it is like to smell a dump. Unfortunately, the alternative site which may be considered, though not in Pickering or Durham, could have just as significant an effect on Picker- ing as the Brock West site had. Can you imagine living in the town sur- rounded by two landfill dumps, the ex- isting Brock West site in the east and the proposed Beare Landfill site in the west? No matter which way the wind blew, we'd be able to smell it. No mat- ter which window you looked out of in Pickering you would see a dump. Pertaining to the environment, for years to come we will always be fac- ing the uncertainty of the negative im- pact that the Brock West landfill site has had on our environment. Can you Landfill no r7! V� P opposed with wronger motion PICKERING - The town has revers- ed its position and now opposes a land- fill site on its Scarborough border. The reversal was made Monday night at council's executive committee meeting when a motion opposing the establishment of a landfill near the Rouge River system was approved unanimously. Ward 1 regional coun- cillor Bob Mitchell moved the motion. The motion also opposes an exten- sion of the closed Beare Road Landfill Site. The town's council also wants a full Environmental Assessment Act hear- ing to be held before a licence to operate a landfill site is granted. In addition, Mitchell's motion calls for Scarborough's support in objecting to any landfills being placed in Durham region by Metro Toronto and particularly the Brock South site, which borders on the Greenwood Con- servation Area and the Duffins Creek system. The town's council had rejected a motion put forward by Ward 1 local councillor Maurice Brenner on Apr.18 which stated the town was opposed to any landfills in Scarborough bordering on Pickering. "I've been able to bring to council an all -encompassing notice of mo- tion," says Mitchell, "The previous motion, no matter how well its inten- tions, wasn't all encompassing." Metro Toronto is looking at two sites , in northeast Scarborough for a possi- ble landfill. One is an extension of the Beare Road Landfill Site and the other is on the Pickering -Scarborough border, north of Finch Avenue. Metro is also studying a site in i Newcastle, between a provincial park x and the Darlington Nuclear Station, for a landfill. Brenner's motion called for the town to oppose any Scarborough site on Pickering's border because of the en- vironmental impact on the Rouge' River, the Rouge Valley and the westerly end of Pickering. It didn't address the need for an EAA hearing wherever the landfill was located, nor did it seek Scar- borough's support ins, posing a Metro landfill abutting the Greenwood Con- servation Area. Pickering coun can approve or re- ject the motion at its meeting on Mon- day, May 16. 's Beverly View oi nnt z Dump Metro S' Here we are, still faced with the prospect of another dump site on the border of Pickering. We have had to face the prob- lems of odour and fear of health /Ajax Bay News, May 11,1988 5 where in Durham Region, for Durham residents only that is operated correctly with the least amo nt of detrimental effects to hu ns environment and future gen ations. must be responsible for our own waste. This starts at each of our homes through re -cycling, biodegradable products and gar- bage bags and by supporting P.A.C.T. and Council members who have the welfare of Pickering and Durham Region at heart. hazards from the Brock West site for years and so several of us formed the "Dump Metro" com- mittee. We fought (and are still fighting) the problems with this site. Next, came the threat of open- ing the Brock South Landfill site. An unquestionably bad environ- mental area. P.A.C.T. was formed. Several members from "Dump Metro" joined forces with residents of Ajax to once again "fight" for our rights and health safety. I was a founding member of each of these committees and now continue my fight as the new Regional Councillor of Ward 3, Pickering Pickering. I cannot support re -opening the Beare Landfill site on the wes- terly boundary of Pickering even if it is Scarborough and not in Durham. The people of Picker- ing have had enough! We don't need the odour and health prob- lems "blowing" on us from yet another direction. I don't like landfill sites any- more than anyone else, but for the time being, they are here stay. I would rather see a site some- �aY OTTERS TO THE EDITOR Landfill Too Much To Beare At his point in time re: our o p along at barely 1 �o m r„spect to battle against Metro's landfill recycling. Once again I issue a proposals for Durham I wish to warning to those Durham politi- commend both Alex Robertson cians who feel that it isn't politi- and Bob Mitchell fortheir serious cally expedient to get out of bed concerns as stated in their news with Metro Works on the landfill reports. Unfortunately I disagree issues. Make no mistake about it; with their decision to vote in Metro ultimately wishes for a favour of a potential site near gigantic site (1200 acres min - Beare Road, . Scarborough. imum) over 20 years! Simply put, Metro has no right to place a this must not happen. landfill site adjacent to our borders. Similarly, I have no right to place harmful substances 1 on my own property if it means threatening my next door neigh- bour's health. The beliefs and philosophy of the P.A.C.T. for the Environment organization are such that it promotes recy- cling, reduction, and recontain- erization everywhere. We seek an end to wasteful landfill and incin- eration practises. In addition we urge the banning of items such as styrofoam cups or certain con- tainers which refuse to break down. We live in a wasteful society that loves to throw things away regardless of the consequences. Mountains of trash are becoming obsolete; in fact in many parts of the U.S.,they have been out- lawed. In Marin County, Califor- nia near San Francisco a special recycling plant has managed to divert 501%o of the waste stream already. Last week the City of Buffalo implemented a separa- tion and curb -side recycling pro- gram. While all this is going on Metro receives money to hunt around for more sites, the latest one on Altona Road near the York boundary. It still plods Congratulations to Glenda Gies of Durham Recyclingon the success of that program. Finally a note of advice to a local and provocative politician who recently told agroup ofbusi- ness people that I could go to "a very warm place". I really think it would be better if you directed that comment to Metro Works. Frank Threlkeld Jr. May .12, 1988 Councillors' Office 1710 Kingston Road Pickering, Ontario L1V 1C7 683-2760 TO LOCAL RATEPAYER AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS: SUBJECT: Notice of Meeting, Sunday, May 29th, 1988, 3:00 p.m. Pickering Municipai Building Formation of a Coalition to Deal With the Proposed Beare Landfill Site For many years nr,,i., the Town .;f Pickering has been very vocal in its efforts to get - of bed with the Metropolitan Toronto government in its garbage disposal program. The matter finally came to a head when discussions centered. around an extension of the Brock West Site as well as additional sires in Brock South and Brock North. it was at this point t - r. the residents of Pickering and Ajax and the Council's of Pickering alnd k ax, united in its fight to stop future Metro landfill sites from being buitL in our municipalities. There is no question that Metro should be responsible for their own garbage the same as Durham Region should be responsible for their own garbage. However, even with this philosophy, we in Pickering must still remain aware of any negative impact that a Metro landfill site in the Metro borders could have on our community. When the Province of Ontario along with Metro Toronto avoided for now its expansions on the Brock Road site, Metropolitan Toronto looked at four potential sites to be used as interim landfill. Two sites were located in Scarborough and two sites were located in Durham. The Province. of Ontario had .idvised Metro Toronto that two of the sites were not acceptable because of potential future use for housing. The remaining two sites, near the Darlington Nuclear Plant and the old Beare Road Landfill site were to be under consideration. We have since learned that the site near *':: Darlington Nuclear Plant is restricted by a provision by the Fe =, Ministry of Transport to protect air traffic to the Oshawa airy from a potential hazard of birds attracted to land activities. Since the Ministry of Transport at the Federal level were not interested in removing this restriction, it would appear that the Beare Landfill site would be the likely location for an interim garbage site for Metro. There is no question in the minds of many of the residents that reside in the western part of our Town that the Beare Landfill site would have just as negative impact on them as the Brock West site had on the Maple Ridge/Brockridge Communities. Concerns pertaining to environmental impact on the Rouge, concerns pertaining to odour, concerns pertaining to esthetics, are all the kinds of questions that many of our residents on the western border of our Town are now beginning to ask. -2- In view of this, a meeting has been called with the key leaders in our community whose areas will be affected by this site. Mr. Ron Moeser from the Scarborough Coalition of Ratepayers has agreed to attend this meeting, in order to review the strategies that can be taken. We would ask that if you are unable to attend, could you please send an alternate representative. Thank you for your co-operation on this matter. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Yours sincerely Maurice S. Brenner Local Councillor Ward I Town of Pickering 839-0692 - Home 683-2760 - Office Wayne Arthurs Local Councillor Ward 3 Town of Pickering 420-1837 - Home 683-2760 - Office Beverley Morgan Regional Councillor Ward 3 Town of Pickering 683-8366 - Home 683-2760 - Office /sar WASTE NOT WANTED R. R. #1 Markham,Ontario UP 3JZ 12 May 1988 Dear Neighbour: Last week, the Metro Works Dept., announced that four proposed landfill sites are being studied and the most likely to -date is an expansion of the Beare Landfill, north from Finch to just South of Steeles Avenue. Test drilling is already being done to determine the suitability of this site. The Hillside Community Club called a meeting of the residents in the area and it was decided that we would do everything possible to stop this proposal. Everyone feels that 18 years of garbage from the Beare Landfill is already our share of social responsiblity. If this site is chosen, it will mean the destruction of many homes at Finch and Beare Road. A Steering Committee has been formed and Carole DeGeer and myself, will Co -Chair it. We have already started work on activities to impact on the Government's decision, as you will see by the signs appearing in the area. We are writing to you to ask for three things. First, I am including a list of people in decision making positions that we would urge you to write to. A personal letter has a great impact on politicians. We do not expect you to write to them all, but as many as possible, would be appreciated. If every affected resident wrote two letters, it would have an effect. Remember, this is an election year! Please keep copies of every letter you write for future reference, it is very important For those neighbours who are uncomfortable with a personal letter, please contact Carole DeGeer at 283-1841 or Marilynne Pitcher at 283-7072 and we will provide a form letter. Our Second request is for your participation in a Demonstration on May 20, 1988, starting at 4:00 p.m. We are planning a Tractor Procession from Reesor Rd, and Steeles to proceed down Beare Rd, where we will erect signs at Finch Avenue. We are trying to simulate the traffic congestion that will be experienced by the flow of dump trucks, if this site is chosen. This is a media event and we are asking as many residents as possible to meet us at Beare and Finch, when the procession arrives by 5:00 p.m. Numbers are very important, please come out and show your support. PLEASE CAR POOL AS PARKING IS LIMITED. Finally, the Coalition of Scarborough Community Associations (COSCA) have generously agreed to support us and they are sponsoring an information meeting at Oliver Mowat School, 5400 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough on June 1st, at 8:00 p.m. All the involved politicians as well as the Planning Board will be invited to speak at that meeting. It is imperative that we fill that hall, which holds 400 people, to show that we are strong in our fight against this landfill. As you can see we have already been working hard. Please support us in our fight against this proposed landfill site. If we allow this to happen, it will have a profound effect on our neighbourhood and our lives, please support us in our campaign against this garbage dump. Yours truly, . ,Qt C- /a fP,C -PL- A ►„1� C� `l �, �1 E Marilynne Pitcher President t Waste Not Wanted Letters e:cpress:.ng concern over the possibility of reopeninq and expat'ding the Beare Road Landfill should be sent to: Ontario Minister of James Bradley, 135 St. Clair West, A--'oronto, Ontario A4V 1P5 the Environment Norah Stoner, MPP Queent Park, Room 1301, The Whitney Block Toronto, Ontario M7A 1W3 Ontario Minister of Natural Resources, Marilyn Moshinski, Vince Kerrio Chairman, Planning Committee, 99 Wellesley West, Rm. 6527 940 McGowan Road, Queent Park, Scarborough, Ontario Toronto, Ont. M7R 1W3 M1P 3H6 Mayor Gus Harris, Mayor Carole Bell and Scarborough Civic Centre all members of council (1 letter) 150 Borough Drive, 8911 Woodbine Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario Markham, Ontario M1P 4N7 L3R lAl Controller Ken Morrish, Scarborough Civic Centre Alderman Edith Montgomery Scarborough Civic Centre Controller Joyce Trimmer Scarborough Civic Centre Alderman Mario Gentile, -� hairman, Metro Works Committee, 100 Yonge St., North York, Ontario M2N 5V7 Frank Horgan, Commissioner of Works Phoenix House, loth Floor 439 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5Q 1Y8 Alvin Curling MPP Minister of Skills Development 13th Floor, 101 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ont. M5S 1P7 Brian Ashton, Metro Planning Comm. 24 Limevale Cres., Scarborough, Ontario MlE 2K6 Wetro Interim Landfill Site Search 11111 GROUNDWATER STUDY AREA 1:50,000 ............ POTENTIAL LANDFILL WORKING AREA BEARE ROAD LANDFILL '.' � Avoi& Wg hearing over new dump site Metro official urges By Michael Smith Toronto Star Metro officials are facing a gar- bage crisis in the near future and want to avoid a costly, time-con- suming environmental assessment on new dumps. Metro's works committee will be asked next week to approve a re- quest for a provincial exemption from the tough Environmental As- sessment Act. The act's complicat- ed hearings can take years and cost millions. "We're just trying to cut away the fat," deputy works commis- sioner Bob Ferguson said yester- day. "We want to do the essential things and not do the window- dressing." Metro needs a new dump by the summer of 1990 when its Brock West site in Durham Region will be full. The landfill takes half of Metro's 3.3 million yearly tonnes of waste. Ferguson said that deadline doesn't leave Metro enough time to go through a full environmental as- sessment. Instead, Metro will likely be ask- ing the provincial government for hearings under the less wide-rang- ing Environmental Protection Act l r-nl The Three Rs and the Ontario Water Resources Act. I 'a. Failing that, Ferguson said, Metro wants a "scoped" envirgn- mental assessment that wou focus just on the proposed ri dump site, instead of on all th possible alternatives. • • Ti Metro is already studying tv possible dump sites in Scarborough and two in: Newcastle. Other site are possible, the works committee, was told last week. .. A recommendation for a ri*1 site could be made by July 5. +' If the province agrees, hearings' to consider such things as need. noise, odor and pollution control, and transportation, could begin; early next year and be concluded in time to start construction by tife summer of 1989. Some of the construction - "very delicate" work, Ferguson said, which can't be done in winter. making a summer start vital if thl dump is to be ready for the follov►- ing year. The search for a new dump sitE began late last year, after Mets"d Chairman Dennis Flynn turned down a long -planned dumpsite i* Ajax because it couldn't be showfi to be the best available place. Re your editorial, Not in my backyard (June 3): I am disappointed with your short- sighted conclusion about the garbage crisis in Metro: "So the only decision left to Metro Council is where a temporary dump will be located." There are other vital decisions that Metro Council should be making which have not yet been addressed. These have to do with environmentally sound strategies as opposed to landfill and ineine ation, which have catast )phic effects on the enviro ment, particularly when they are utilized to manage unsorted mixed garbage. The Three Rs of environmentally sound waste management are: Reduction, Re -use, and Recycling, in that order of priority. Here's a sample of what Metro should be doing in these areas: 1. Reduction — Metro should be L manag em�-#,nt aggressively pressing the senior levels of government as well as considering its own direct role in legislating against the distribution of hazardous materials, against over -packaging, and against the production and distribution of packaging materials and products that are not biodegradable and whose disposal constitutes an unacceptable cost to the environment. 2. Re -use — Metro, along with the provincial and federal governments, should be taking action to outlaw non -reusable containers. 3. Recycling — Metro should be acting immediately to recycle materials far beyond what can be achieved by the soon -to -be initiated curbside recycling program. This would include the composting of food and garden waste, and the recycling of commercial waste (restaurants, retail strips, highrise office buildings, etc.) and corrugated cardboard (which represents a significant percentage of the overall waste stream). When it comes to the garbage crisis it is neither fair nor accurate to label opposition to landfill or incineration as an expression of the not -in -my -backyard syndrome. Such opposition reflects a legitimate concern for environmental consequences and an indictment of government for allowing the situation to get out of hand. I expect Metro Council to continue to pay lip service to recycling but to continue as its major focus the search for way to obtain new landfill sites wit out having to undergo a full environmental assessment. ROGER HOLLANDER Councillor Ward 7 Toronto police'Garbsgaensure noiretrashgtown By Allan Thompson Toronto Star You could call them garbage spies, but they don't like it. "We're not so much spies as po- licemen or enforcers," says Mich- ael Walters, the manager of Peel Region's landfill site and the man who makes sure "foreign garbage" from Metro and Halton Region doesn't cross the border. Peel Region has been keeping a close eye on the garbage coming into its Britannia landfill site for years, asking truck drivers where their loads are from and making random checks for tell -tale signs of origin. But recent changes in dumping fees in Metro and Halton have made Peel a comparatively cheap place to dump junk, so Peel's "gar- bage enforcers" are in high gear, tracking down trespassing trash at the dump at Britannia Rd. and Sec- ond Line. Scarce space Metro used to charge $18 a tonne to dump commercial or industrial garbage, but on May 1 that "tipping" fee went up to $50. Halton charges $53.50 a tonne. Peel charges only $34.50 a tonne although that will rise to $49.50 on July 1. "The day Metro changed its rates we started seeing an influx of trucks coming in from outside Peel, coming in here looking for a bargain," Walters said. Haulers caught dumping foreign trash for the first time get a warn- ing letter. A second offence leads to a six -day suspension from the landfill site for all of the trucks in the company. The third time, the suspension is extended to six weeks. "The main four or five haulers just can't risk it so a lot of time it's the small haulers," Walters said. "But our methods have been pretty effective." Peel is trying to get approval to open a new clump to take over for the Britannia site, which is sched- uled to be full by 1990. The general manager of the Ontario Waste Management As- sociation said the strict confining of garbage within regions is anoth- er product of the Metro -area gar- bage crisis. Drop the evidence "It's a protectionist thing, they have to protect their landfill ca- pacity because everybody is run- ning out of space," Nancy Clough said. In Peel, spotters monitor the main routes in and out of the re- gion, watching for trucks coming from Metro or Halton, then send radio messages back to the landfill site warning inspectors which vehicles to watch for. "But the best place to monitor is when the load hits the ground," Walters said. "Once they drop the evidence on the open face at the site, they can't pick it up and they just might get caught." In their random checks, workers at the site look for any evidence of garbage that's come from outside Peel — addresses on letters, maga- zine subscriptions and, their secret weapon, company letterhead. "Letterhead is the greatest thing, or a letter or business form, anything to do with the company," Walters said. MICHAEL STUPARVK/TORONTO STAR Trash alert: Michael Walters, manager of Peel Region's Britannia landfill site, checks out a load of garbage to see if it originated in Peel. Dumpers sneaking trash across the border are penalized. Can't Beare Another Dump ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1ST, 1988 @ 8:00 P.M. THERE WILL BE A MEETING TO PROTEST ANOTHER GARBAGE DUMP IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE ROUGE VALLEY SYSTEM TO BE HELD AT SIR OLIVER MOWATT COLLEGIATE AUDITORIUM 5400 LAWRENCE AVENUE EAST DUMPS AND NATURE DON'T MIX RON MOES �114a O F p/C TO LOCAL RATEPAYER AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS: SUBJECT: Notice of Meeting, Wednesday, June 1st, 1988, 8:00 p.m Sir Oliver Mowatt Collegiate, 5400 Lawrence Avenue Scarborough, Ontario Re: Beare Landfill Site For many years now the Town of Pickering has been very vocal in its efforts to get out of bed with the Metropolitan Toronto government in its garbage disposal program. The matter finally came to a head when discussions centered around an extension of the Brock West Site as well as additional sites in Brock South and Brock North. It was at this point that the residents of Pickering and Ajax and the Councils of Pickering and Ajax, united in its fight to stop future Metro landfill sites from being built in our municipalities. There is no question that Metro should be responsible for their own garbage the same as Durham Region should be responsible for their own garbage. However, even with this philosophy, we in Pickering must still remain aware of any negative impact that a Metro landfill site in the Metro borders could have on our community. When the Province of Ontario along with Metro Toronto avoided for now its expansions on the Brock Road site, Metropolitan Toronto looked at four potential sites to be used as interim landfill. Two sites were located in Scarborough and two sites were located in Durham. The Province of Ontario had advised Metro Toronto that two of the sites were not acceptable because of potential future use for housing. The remaining two sites, near the Darlington Nuclear Plant and the old Beare Road landfill site were to be under consideration. We have since learned that the site near the Darlington Nuclear Plant is restricted by a provision by the Federal Ministry of Transport to protect air traffic to the Oshawa airport from a potential hazard of birds attracted to land activities. Since the Ministry of Transport at the Federal level were not interested in removing this restriction, it would appear that the Beare Landfill site would be the likely location for an interim garbage site for Metro. There is no question in the minds of many of the residents that part of our Town that the Beare Landfill site would have just them as the Brock West site had on the Maple Ridge/Brock Concerns pertaining to environmental impact on the Rouge, concerr concerns pertaining to esthetics, are all the kinds of questions that on the western border of our Town are now beginning to ask. In view of this, a meeting areas will be affected b of Ratepayers has agreed can be taken. y has been called with this site. Mr. Ron to attend this meeting reside in the western s negative impact on Ridge Communities. s pertaining to odour, many of our residents the key leaders in our community whose Moeser from the Scarborough Coalition in order to review the strategies that Thank you for your co-operation on this matter. Should you have any further please do not hesitate to contact our office. Yours sincerely Maurice S. Brenner Local Councillor Ward 1 Town of Pickering 839-0692 - Home 683-2760 - Office /sar Wayne Arthurs Local Councillor Ward 3 Town of Pickering 420-1837 - Home 683-2760 - Office questions, Beverley Morgan Regional Councillor Ward 3 Town of Pickering 683-8366 - Home 683-2760 - Office Can't Beare Another Dump ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1ST, 1988 @ 8:00 P.M. THERE WILL BE A MEETING TO PROTEST ANOTHER GARBAGE DUMP IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE ROUGE VALLEY SYSTEM TO BE HELD AT SIR OLIVER MOWATT COLLEGIATE AUDITORIUM 5400 LAWRENCE AVENUE EAST DUMPS AND NATURE DON'T MIX Metro, your garb a, doesn't end Just over a year ago my husban d Yrrl- xlR_ -7 t "?I1: ; A A (A N I,-- M !00 A - 2 D < C C O �• O a to co CT1 O O a. C cp S rr 't• D G co �; �+ w (A a �• n C7 C (�9 A� w to w 5 to ° o a. C7 0 `e `.�� 3 e 7C w �o°�Sa �M�nU0 �y.000 cA p a O 5- °�' �~ O C 0 M O G w 0 o b E n o a a N°° o co sv cn N cD C W y Q C N N cn "� to : C "� N F, O _ � °° U sv co m° B C O a'aa a aN.oxo= o�¢° C co C C C v C O o a. Z. co -1 a � cry c co co C co' 9 o w ti g o ow�o`-° �o�a `00 ca �7 co ° � a) r) � A Z c N O 3y Barry Wellar Fair and equitable financial con- >ideration is not accorded to all )arties to planning actions in Ontario. It is an injustice that should be corrected. Planning actions include intro- ducing, amending, applying for, approving, extending or appealing such Planning Act elements as official plans, by-laws, minor vari- ances, plans of subdivision, sever- ances and legal non -conforming rises. Typical actions involve citizens and councils, developers and coun- cils, or citizens, councils and devel- opers. In Ontario, they may also involve any of a number of legal, regulatory, political and other )odies: planning committee, com- nittee of adjustment, conserva- ion and water authorities, the ainistry of municipal affairs, the )ntario Municipal Board (OMB), he provincial Cabinet and the )urts. Actions of a contentious, high- akes nature, such as shopping nitre 'rezonings, large-scale :velopments and official plan re- ews often entail numerous meet- gs, documents and submissions, .tend over many months, involve wyers, expert and other w i t- !sses, and result in expenditures many thousands of dollars by all irties. At present, ordinary citizens iri itario who become involved in tch actions — to protect the alth, safety, welfare or conven- tee of persons; to protect the lue or amenity of properties; or, respect of environmental, social d economt ons ra tons ated to broader neighborhood, imunity, municipal or regional fIAL • •,,/GflY /// • citizensiose out i n planning concerns or interests — nar - citizens seekin to rotect must bear the full financial bur- den of any costs incurred. However, municipal councils or' council members involved in such actions bear no personal or direct financial burden: any costs incur- red by or for municipal corpora- tions are passed on to area resi- dents and businesses in the form of taxes. y Further, developers or others initiating such actions, whether for the purpose of increasing the capital worth of property or im- proving the income -producing capability of property write off the expenditures_ on any ac ions as expenditures ma— y�ireated as tax deductions, or as reductions to capital gains or to income gains YI g p people, property or their environs from what they consider to be inappropriate development, are not accorded fair and equitable financial consideration when they become, or wish to become involv- ed, in actions issuing from the Planning Act of the Province of Ontario. That is, while ordinary citizens are required to use their own money and time to engage in a planning action, councils get a free ride at taxpayers' expense, and as a rule developers cannot lose financially: they either treat costs as tax deductions at general taxpayer expense, or the costs of an action are simply taken out of gains to capital or income. created by the actions. I And as for the worst of the bad The injustice, then, is that ordi- news for ordinary citizens, it goes pianninQ,g process directly to the heart of why there is such a relatively limited amount of public participation in the plan- ning process in Ontario. Specifically, ordinary citizens frequently lack sufficient financial resources to even begin to effec- tively advocate or oppose a plan- ning action. By way of illustration, at the relatively simple and inex- pensive level of a minor variance appeal to the OMB, the out-of- pocket costs for a lawyer and plan- ner can easily exceed $3,000 for a hearing that lasts just one day. As result, ordinary citizens fre- fuently are precluded, prima acie and de facto, from fully, fairly and equitably participating in the planning process. The matter of fair and equitable financial consideration of all parties t 3 anning action has been brought to the attention f John Eakins, the minister of municipal affairs, and Treasurer Robert Nixon. This was done by means of a communication for- warded by Bob Chiarelli, Liberal MPP for Ottawa West, a riding that has had at least its share of planning actions in recent years. All person who believe that plan- ning actions should take place on a financially level playing field should so advise their provincial representatives. This (supposed) I oversight by the province of not ensuring fair, equitable and just access and treatment of all parties to planning actions has already en- dured far too long. ❑ Barry Wellar is professor igiJ geography at the University of Ottawa and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. Metro trucks deadly dioxins to Pickering dump By Jane Armstrong Toronto Star Durham Region politicians and environmentalists are outraged by a report that Commissioners St. ash, trucked to the Brock West dump, is toxic. They say the study, which found alleged illegally high levels of lead and cadmium, also highlights the need for an independent consultant to monitor what is dumped at the Metro -owned landfill site in Pick- ering. "If it's dangerous, they should stop dumping it there," says Bill rarish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT). "Who knows what kind of effects this ash can t: have in genera tions to come." r The study, released last week Parish by the environ- mental group Pollution Probe, also shows the Commissioners St. ash has the highest levels of dioxin ever measured in ash from an incinerator. Lead and cadmium have beer linked to brain damage in younf children and to emphysema anc kidney disease in adults. Dioxin; are linked to cancer. Metro ordered the plant closed effective July 1, but a week late the executive committee granted it a temporary reprieve, allowing garbage from Pearson Interna- tional Airport to be burned there. Last Tuesday Metro council ex- tended that reprieve to a month. PACT has been highly critical of Metro's management of Brock West and has demanded Environ- ment Minister Jim Bradley ap- point a consultant to investigate other claims, such as reports the dump also contains radioactive waste. The group says Metro is flouting terms of the agreement it signed with Pickering in 1970. That agreement outlines operating standards that Metro agreed to up- hold as proprietor of the dump. It states that no hazardous material is to be dumped at the site. MPP Norah Stoner (Liberal - blur -ham West) says if the Pollution Probe study is correct and the ash is considered toxic, then it should- n't be taken there, even if the incinerator only has a one -month lifespan. "There are very clear regula- tions in this province on where hazardous waste should go," she says. "It doesn't belong in a. municipal landfill site." Stoner -agrees the province should do an environmental assess- r'Wu: ment on the dump to determine if hazardous materi- als are dumped there. Pollution Probe researcher Kai a Millyard says such an initiative is Stoner needed but warned that it could take 1 rillililliiiiiiirilill I I I more than 10 years for the lead and cadmium to leach into ground- water. Ajax councillor Jim Witty says he hoped the study would prod Metro to take "some drastic meas- ures" to solve its garbage problem. Witty says Metro has to come up with some waste disposal alterna- tives to the Commmissioners St. incinerator and Brock West dump, neither of which will be operating in two vears. Our `untouched' countryside doesn't deserve Metro's dump My family and I live on the north contain the site for Toronto's not initiated a garbage separation shore of Lake Ontario, east of DUMP? plan for recycling purposes, wishes Toronto, and between the two vil- If I lived in an area of scrub to foist its unseparated waste on lages of Newcastle and Newton- land, I might be reasonable, realiz- surrounding territories that have ville. ing the crisis that Toronto has got- had recycling in place for some You have probably driven by our ten itself into. time. place as a lot of Sunday drivers However, I have previously men- The green and pleasant land of find the Lake Shore Rd. route from tioned three good reasons why it Durham Region, the Newcastle Newcastle Harbor (Bond Head) to should not go here. area in particular, does not need or Port Hope quite picturesque. It is First, the agricultural land is want a substantial garbage dump the closest stretch of lake shore unique in the fact that it enjoys a site with all the attendant pollution east of Toronto that has been left moderating effect from Lake perils and smells. Not to mention untouched by industrial and resi- Ontario. Second the area has his- the clogging of the main road ar- dential development. torical value. Third, it is a migra- tery to the east with hundreds of This area around which I live tory route for Canada geese, ducks dump trucks plying daily to and has been used as, or designated as, and other birds and a natural habi- fro. farmland since 1796. tat for wildlife. As a substantial industrial tax - That was the year the crown Toronto, on the other hand, sees payer (AVP Extrusions Limited), granted 2,000 acres to Lieutenant it as a quick one -hour drive from we object strongly. Robert Powell. A lot of homes Toronto along Highway 401; the JOHN E. BENSON along this route are quite old, ours CN and CP railroad run through it; Newcastle for instance being built around the and the area has relatively few 1840s. The area has historical and people to have to kick out of their Thank you, Frank. Jones, for agittcultgnd valate. y h6me& There no angry neigh- your columns June 20 Our gar - In the past, there have been pros- bors to the south, only Lake Ontar- bage threatens clean, quiet coun- perous farms and the present is no io and, with Highway 401 to the tryside and June 28, Recycling exception, as there is a large 200- north, the site is rather secluded. catches on in Durham. acre market garden to the east and Toronto is looking for a cheap We live southwest of Newtonville a beef and dairy farm to the west. way out of its stinking problem. and our area is being investigated This area is ideal for growing cer- A city that does very little recy- as a dump site for Toronto. tain vegetables, such as cauliflow- cling of its garbage wanting to Our dairy farm would be seri- er, all because of the cooling effect dump in Durham Region, which ously affected by the smell and of the lake. recycles 14 per cent of its garbage, noise and our kind neighbors In the spring and fall, thousands must contain some very ignorant would be expropriated. If we are of Canada geese and ducks fly over and self-centred people. not expropriated, we would never and land in our cornfields for food As far as I am concerned, Toron- be able to sell a farm beside a and rest after crossing Lake to can smell its garbage until it dump. Ontario. This spring, we also saw comes up with a responsible, tech- Not only is this land in agricul- some swans. There are deer, foxes, nically modern way of handling it. tural production but it's beside wolves and coyotes that also inhab- JUDITH A. METCALF Lake Ontario. Let's not pollute it it the area. Newcastle further. You probably picture is area � � * Thank you for understanding the _4 in your mind's eye as a nke, quiet, Whittamores' plight (and ours) and untouched bit of cquntryside. This is to register a protest showing reasonable alternate ways You're right, it is. ./ against the application of Metro of dealing with garbage. People's How then can some people in Toronto for a garbage dump site in habits must change - Toronto picture this area of rough- our area. DOROTHY IMLACH ly 1,000 acres as their next area to Metro Toronto, which still has Newtonville �Vlet� mayp cardboard By Victoria Stevens Toronto Star Metro may, follow Peel and Hal- ton Regiq is' lead in banning recy- clable cardboard from landfill sites. "I thi k you'll see Metro taking some similar action in the near fu- ture, but we're not ready to do it now," Ian McKerracher, Metro works director of refuse disposal, said yesterday. Metro's Solid Waste Environ- mental Committee has recom- mended that cardboard which goes to the dump be sent for recycling. But waste haulers on the com- mittee have resisted the idea until a system is in place to deal with it, McKerracher said. Halton will ban dumping of recy- clable cardboard after Sept. 1 and Peel will follow on Jan. 1. House- hold waste and waxed cardboard used for produce boxes will not be included. Trucks will be checked at dump- at dumps sites and businesses caught violat- ing the ban face $2,000-a-day fines. The move is an attempt to lengthen the life -span of rapidly filling landfill sites by keeping out materials that can be recycled. The problem with cardboard has been that until recently it was cheaper for companies to throw it in the garbage than to recycle it. However, since Metro increased its dumping fee to $50 instead of $18 a tonne on May 1, companies have been changing their attitudes, McKerracher said. And most of the big recycling companies in the greater Metro area will pick cardboard up for free, he said. Businesses save Domtar Recycling now has four trucks picking up recyclable card- board from about 800 businesses in Brampton, Mississauga and parts of Etobicoke. Regional manager Herb La m- Meetin Set bacher says he started with one g truck earlier this year, but busi- ness picked up so much he's now on new dump Slte got four and will continue to ex - The search for a new garbage panda st long as demand will up grows. loose dump may nearly be over. Metro Council's works commit- cardboard, mainly boxes that have tee will hold a public meeting been flattened and stacked, for Aug. lI in the Toronto City Hall nothing. It's sold to the Domtar mill for council chambers a'� 9.30 a.m. to recycling at the going rate, which consider a consultai t s report on a is about $40 a tonne, he says. location for the r�2ly facility. A report on possible sites will be The businesses save the $50 tip - ready this Friday, Ian McKer- ping fee for every tonne of card- racher, Metro's director of refuse board they put out for recycling so disposal, said in a press release. everyone is happy, Lambacher says. s>Fr peg& Keep waste planning�open, councfi"tolc` By Philip Mascoll Toronto Star Durham politirs� n,- rrave been urged to listen to the voters before thev make decisions on garbage disposal options recommended in a long-awaited report. "A prompt and comprehensive public revien a�participation program would confer several benefits to subsequent regional ac- tion on waste management," David Strain Pickering Ajax Citizens Toget.e (PACT), told regional council. PACT was one of three environ- mental groups addressing council at its final meeting before the sum- mer break. Council considered the report on regional garbage disposal sub►nit- ted by McLaren Engineers Inc. at the meeting. The options it will study, based on the report, are: ❑ A $200 million energy -from - waste unit burning 2,000 tonnes of garbage a day, used in conjunction with a Metro landfill site. (The re- gional finance chief has said this would be possible only with finan- cial help and garbage to burn from Metro.) ❑ A unit of the same size, used with a landfill site taking only ash from incinerated Metro garbage; ❑ A smaller $45 million unit con- waste reductio suming 364 tonnes a day, with a fuse programs. Durham -only landfill site; Lai ❑ A landfill site only (an option added to the study by council). Strain cited the MacLaren re- port on the need for public partici- pation in choosing among these op- tions. The report states there are several benefits in such public re- view. They include: ❑ Minimizing the potential for being later accused of not listening to or not consulting the public; ❑ Establishing public support for the study's conclusions and reco- mendations. If public support does not exist for any recommendation, the engineering firm says it should be re-evaluated; ❑ Strengthening the regional posi- tion, once public support is achiev- ed, when meeting Metro Council on the matter. "PACT urges this council to hold public meetings through the months of September and October, in every area of the re ion, so as to present and explain all F the waste management options pr �Sented in the report," Strain said. "We urge you to invite submis- sions from new and old environ- mental groups, interest groups and individuals. "If all of the options, alternatives and their ramifications are truly understood by the people, they will provide clear direction for the new council ... as it takes office in November." Terry McKenzie, speaking f o r the Committee of Clarke Constitu- ents, said it was encouraged by the McLaren report's emphasis on n, recycling and re- dlaw site "We view these as progressive and much -needed measures to re- duce our current dependency on landfill operations (dumpsites)." But McKenzie said his group is seriously concerned about the inclusion of the Laidlaw landfill site in Newcastle in the report's list of options. Suzanne Eleston, speaking f o r GOOD (Garbage of Ontario Diminishing) urged council to set a firm objective of reducing Dur- ham's residential and industrial garbage by 5 ' per cent. She noted t @t East Hampton, N.Y., has reduced its waste stream to 80 per cent. "Durham could be the leader in Ontario and Canada" in the reduc- tion of waste, she said. Candidate wants Metro cutups our ot uumarr To the editor: The report released Friday, Aug. 6 by Metropolitan Toronto h,is received a great deal of attention in the media with much emphasis on Metro's deci- sion to use the North Scarborough lands adjacent to the Pickering Noun. dary as a five year "interim" site for 18 million tonnes of garbage. Some "interim" site! The Brock West in Pickering has operated since 1975 and still has not reached its 15.5 million WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17, 1988 AJAX-PICKERING - Metro coun- cil's works committee has delayed a decision on a landfill in northeast Scar- borough until Sept. 8. The committee, after six hours of hearing delegates and debatf, defer- red the decision in order to give the Metro works department staff and committee members time to study the report from consultants M.M. Dillion Limited. Metro announced on Friday, Aug. 5 it wants to put an interim landfill on 185-hectares of land in Scarborough, known as M3. The site borders on the Pickering town line. At the works committee meeting, more than 30 people addressed the committee and all the delegations voiced opposition to Metro's plan. The majority recommended Metro move quickly on a recycling and waste reduction program. "Like the garbage you want to ship us, this decision stinks." said Ron Moeser, the chairman of the Coalition of Scarborough Communitv Associations. "NI3 affects more population than the others. The cost was the biggest factor. Metro brought this on themselves,'' he said. Metro's consultants studied three sites, including two in northeast Scar- borough and one in Newcastle. im- mediately east of the Darlington Pro- vincial Park. See LANDFILL...Page A3 tonne capacity. It should he noted that Metro with its usual disregard for the safety of the environment will be attempting to in- stall the "mega site" by seeking an ex- emption from the Environmental Assessment Act for the hearing pro- cess, thus disallowing full environmen- tal protection for the people of Scar- borough and their neight:,)rs in west Pickering. However, included in Metro's report is another item of great interest to Ajax/Pickering residents -- an item that as yet has received little attention. The report state: w "BROCK SOUTH SITE: As in- dicated in the consultants' report, although the Brock South Site does not satisfy the screening criteria used for the selection of the interim landfill, it warrants further consideration as a site for the disposal of non-putrescible, inert materials such as asphalt, con- crete and other construction - demolition debris. A preliminary analysis carried out by staff of this department (Metro Works) indicates that approximately 200,OM tonnes per year of such materials is currently disposed at Metropolitan Toronto facilities. A further report will be for- thcoming." The inclusion of this item in the report tells me two things: 1) By diverting 200,000 tonnes per year of waste from the Brock West, the life of that disgusting landfill will be prolonged: 2) Metro fully intends to exploit the environmentally fragile lands of the Brock South in Ajax in any way they can. Clearly a licence to operate ANY kind of waste disposal facility on that land gives Metro a much -wanted "foot -in -the -door. " Metro's ontention that it would use ffi;k ut h only for the disposa o in- ert terra naffs stm cannot be believ- e etro has n� ._�_ _ operated the Brock FROM PAGE Al should hand responsibility over to The Newcastle site is on privately- others to help find alternatives to owned land and Frame Horgan, the landfilling. cornmissioner of works for Metro, said "You should take it out of the hands Metro would have to expropriate the of those who hold it aA put into the land to conduct further studies. hands of those who know what to do We've got kids more advanced on. with it. If no serious move is taken in recycling than people in your works (waste) reduction and recycling, there department," Ajax resident Jim will be a need for an interim landfill. Wiseman told the committee. _/ f you take an aggressive approach, "I implore you on behalf of the kids there is no need for an interim landfill. and the future to get off your butts and "Why fast track an interim landfill, do something right," Wiseman added. when you can fast track a recycling Jack McGinnis, a Brougham resi- program"' McGinnis asked. dent and a member of the Ontario Durham regional chairman Gary Recycling Ceptre, said, "Metro has a Herrema was booed by some area short-sighted, ilpambitious approach" residents when he told the committee, to handling was , He added Metro "We look forward to working with Metro to find a solution to our solid waste management problem." West in good is: nth. Metro has be6n unable or unwiliij:q to monitor dump- ing at the Brock Went. They base no more idea than we do as to what js really lying in that dump. Metro has played the role )of absentee landlord at the Brock West site since 1975. They can only be judg- ed by us on what they HAVE done and not on what they will make wild pro - raises to do in the future. The people of Ajax/Pickering do not want any kind of Metro waste disposal operation at the Brock South. We want the Brock West closed as soon as possi- ble. We do not wish*o suffer further environmental degredation of Ajax/Pickering. A WANT METRO OUT OF DURHAM! It is clear and simple message. Are you thtening members of Regional Council! Pat Clark Regional Candidate Ajax Wards I and 2 Ken Momsh, a controller from Scar- borough and the committee's most vocal opponent,ef the' site selected, said a consultant 8r6arb0r0ugh has hired didn't have enough time to study the Dillon report. He also requested that the Metro works departr.:ent look for aPza nadve sites For an Rterim landfill, and ex- amine a train system to haul garbage to sensa" sues. Is t I UI of the larger ised. i, the section d Broadview If closures ipling and (:vnrtlo and mar ...w. .vva V W%VI for study as BY SEAN RNE ROUGE The Globe and Mail A Scarborough area of ravines and farms is one of two potential sites for an emergency garbage dump recommended yesterday for Pnvir^nmental stu.4y by a C.=wnit- tee of Metro Toronto Council. The other site, known as Keele Valley, is an extension of Metro's landfill site in Maple. The recommendation, which must still be approved by Metro Council, represents a small victory for environmentalists, about two dozen of whom pressed the commit- tee to spare the northeastern Scar- bomugh site. The committee had been urged by Frank Horgan. Metro's works commissioner, to go forward with detailed environmental studies of just the one site in Scarborough. Instead, it called for study of extending the Keele Valley dump, plus study of the Scarborough site. "I don't think we can put all our eggs in one basket," said East York Mayor David Johnson, a committee potential du-m-'p site:-*"-* 4 ere is a scenario whereby 10 years from now we will be 22 or 23 million tonnes short of capacity. There will be no where to put it. "I think there are better uses for that site (in Scarborriuph). It's a sorry state of affairs that we have to consider it." The Scarborough site, bounded by Steeles Avenue and the railway tracks north of Finch Avenue and by Reesor Road and the Pickering townline, includes prime agricultur- al land, woods and a creek. Opponents of the site say its prox- imity to the Rouge River Valley would harm the wildlife and natural setting. They want it turned into a park. The Town of Vaughan is equally adamant that the Keele Valley site not be expanded. The works committee also asked Metro officials to look into extend- ing the life of the Brock West dump in Pickering by building it higher than planned. It is to reach capacity by 1990. But Mr. Horgan said In an inter- view that such a plan could get bogged down for months or years in environmental hearings and ap. peals to the Ontario Municipal Board. Most members of the public who addressed the committee proposed an immediate, large-scale recycling program as an alternative to creat- ing another landfill site. But committee members were sWeptical that Metro'sarbage cri,. sis can be solved through recycling alone, at least in the short term. "I just don't see it. We must stick with a landfill site," Etobicoif Controller Richard O'Brien said. ' RnwPver, ►hP rommittee d;d support ideas from Toronto Camdk for Derwyn Shea to push area mu- nicipalities to have recycling prp grams in place for apartments A. June 1, 1989. All six Metro municipalities plan to begin recycling later this year or early next year, Mr. Horgan saifit~ but the plans are mostly for houses, not apartments. At Mr. Shea's urging, the corrb. mittee also asked the economf¢ development committee to force all commercial and industrial buildings in Metro Toronto built after Dec. 31 to have recycling services in place. m V _ t, . y T75 a n W � r 0 0 o.�n > X3 m cb O O O N T3 O O b0 VI >' > �-+ bC-b L P "o b0 y � O �Eoo� `ulo3y�6;oC�cno O'}' Lam. �'U '-' /3N tr E T,� � n •_ �. boa0 w cb �.E ` oo 11 3.E bwoba E bt E o ��. Ein-,a to n avq 0 v tic,p. � =a 0 ❑ B� 13.5 ❑ $c Riv'v wH o �W�' SC �C bD X . O ea CL O O •+ —" y N o �CUW "E c5 �v� �0E v C >' U 6Yi �- Off-. .:71 .0 Q) Qd .0 co Lrsw,� CD o �E h��vO«� Q,.; Rid c�'`�ia �°"�dE bo �a E -0 3 m b4 y y b'LD c0. tom.. ,o0 mO b.tM. y� [O ►, 6� p,' 3 0 e° m rr aim �-� to ro a 3 c .� 7 L CIO O bo w O T p m a QJ �•CpC� m A b0 A ✓ t.' E+ o•@ o rt� .t e vvs ,t , \ (W. 28 NO. 30 AU(:UtiT to, 1988 SERVING PICKERING, AJAX, WHITBY• WEST HILL FOR 27 YEARS. f ! r;i" ,XAW)OHO UGH S1 TE LONG AND I I NRD campaign to convince Met ro*s planners not to locate their proposed irhal4c dump in the Pickering Ajax area seems to have paid Jr But while the tit\ Council is likely to endorse a recommendation from Metro Works nntntissioner Frank I (organ to locate the proposed dump near the Rouge Valley,within e cite limits, the new site is hound to incense environmentalists who only last monthsaved e Rouge Valley from a major construction development. \ccording 14) it report released Works Committee, saying that it %%eek, and to he debased by By Michael O'Reilly warrentsfurtherconsiderationas turrow'st I hursday►sittingol I site fur the disposal of inert tro's \\'ors., ( *onllnithc, con- :utt, recommend a 1 i5 hec- f457-acre► site in north cast rborough. ntcnsc lobbying by public rescnt:ttives in Pickering Ajax ns to have paid dividends, t Metro turning to a site iin its houndaricc. he report .t lso firings relief for town of Newcastle. believed avt' hecn also eat marked as a ohIc loi.altim lot the pro - 'if dnntp. he I ,tic in `tarho- -11 X%,111111 h h,,undr,I by Ilct• Road (it the ac,t. lite rrnte I,.tt I I inr 1„ lilt' ea%l, 1,. tilt' IVIIIIt, and ' lint. to the st+ulh. 11-11c1%higenoughtotake Is ion tonnes of garbage during n,posed five -veal hlespan. Ill the site. north-east of ro Zoo, would only he an tint sic, Metro stall have ,sett . lost of the Imidearmarked for ,tic Is at present owned by the Plovincl.rl lu,vernmetlt. materials such as asphalt, con- fhe Brock South site in Ajax is crete, and other construction only briefly mentioned in (f41 debris. Continued on Page 4 consultants report to the Metro \ (urtfier study on the poten- 11.: ;.se-1 the Brock South site ! =•c is,tled by the %k orks at a later date. 1h-_ ec­:nmendation will he <Itscu,-eu at tumurro•.v's nteet►ng of* the Work% Committee, and will then go before a full hearing of Metro Council. But already, Scarborough pol- iticians and environmentalists have reacted against the pro- posed recommendation, pledg- ing to tight it all the way. Area Alderman Edith Mont- // 683 1968 tCM son 195 PRINTING A -ND gomery called it "a travesty. Put- ting a dump up there will he absolutel% disasteroustorthe res- tdents. ,ome of %.horn have been h ing up there ft)r generations." ['here are twelve houses and three farms on the proposed site, with nearly a hundred homes with a kilometre of the site. And "Save the Rouge Valley System" have also come out strongly against the proposed site. Last month, the group won a significant victory in their efforts to protect the scenic area when Scarborough Council unanim- ously rejected a proposed con- struction development in the area. Now this latest proposal threatens the Rouge Valley and its natural scenic beauty, claim the group. If Ajax Mayor tsttl NICI-Can. however, said he was delighted that the wishes of the Council of the Town of Ajax, and the Coun- cil of the Town of Pickering and PACT may be coming true, "in that Metro is now looking at a isposal site for its own waste ithin its own boundaries". "Opponents of this site will say is in the Rouge !' That's not quite correct" says Mayor McLean. "It is not in the Rouge Valley, which is the most envir- onmentally sensitive location in the area. The site is located on the R ge tableland, most of which is weed by the Province ofOnta- ri ,.,ndwhichwas acquired some years ago to be used for housing in a community which was at one time known as the North Picker- ing Project, then as Cedarwood, and more recently in a scaled down version as Seaton." Ajax & Pickering JJ H- A Metroland Community N- VOL. 107, NO, 31 70 CENTS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10, 1988 eTr,o p sought She adds some of the residents liv- thcoming, the report says. ing near the proposed site have had to Metro will also ask minister of the deal with a landfill in the past, having environment Jim Bradley for an ex- lived near the recently closed Beare fflemption to an Environmental Assess- Road landfill. hoce. ment Act ; EAA) hearing for the site. Brown, however, feels Metro isn't Instead, Metro wants hearings under serious about the Scarborough site. the Environmental Protection Act I "I think they're prepared to sit EPA) and the Ontario Water around for three months and hear the 9 eResources Act, which would be shorter noise then go to the , environment t {:: and less stringent- minister and cry crisis, crisis," she �';'` "We insist that whatever site they says. PAC i. choose the site is full EAA h "Th AN tro Zoo AJAX-PICKER1Nt, Area en- vironmentalists and politicia ns aren't happy with Metro Toronto's choice for an interim landfill, ever, th-ugh the site is in Scarborough. On Friday, Metro announced it wants to put a landfill on a 1&° -hectare site in northeast Scarborough The site borders Pickering on the cast , Steeles Avenue on the north, Reetior Road on the west and the CP Rail lines on the south. A report released by th,! Metro works department says the s to could accept between 11.5 million to incs and 23 million tonnes of garbage. Although The site is needed for five years, begin- ning in 1990, it could remain open un- til March 1997 if Metro has problems finding and opening a larger perma- nent site. , ge a ear- ing," says Bill Parish, the chairman e e s there (Just south of the site), the Save the Rouge Valley The Brock West landfill on the Thirc of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together System people have been working for Concession in Pickering is set to close (PACT) for the Environment. years and they are mad with the con - in 1990, after reaching its capacity of They're asking for a fast track and servation people ( the Metro Toronto 15.5 million tonnes of waste. there is no way in that environmental- and Region Conservation Authority) The chosen site was one of three con- ly sensitive area for a dump without for selling some land near the Rouge sidered by Metro. One other was alsc a full FAA hearing. It's to valuable an Valley. in Scarborough, while a third was in area to be treated that way." "It's a difficult situation and I Newcastle, between Highway 401 and Any possible landfill on the Brock wouldn't be surprised of Metro asked Lake Ontario and immediately east of South site on the Fifth Concession in for an exemption to the Newcastle site the Darlington Provincial Park. Ajax would be "terrible," according to and to put rubble into Brock South." The report also noted the Brock Parish. Bob :Mitchell, the Ward 1 regional South site in north Ajax, which Melrr Tyre is no way we in PACT are councillor in Pickering, says he can't shelved as a landfill site in December going to allow Brock South to become support the chosen site- 1987, could be used as a dump for "non a dump of any kind. I found that chill- ".Although it is in Metro, it is close putrescible, inert malenals such as m8 when I got to that point of the to Pickering. Any intention of putting asphalt, concrete and other construe report- we don't want Metro anywhere garbage in the Rouge Valley. I can't tion, demolition debris '' in Durham. support. I couldn't support it unless About 200,( u tonnes of this tylx,. of Tbey say inert. Who knows what ;Metro goes through an FAA hearing," material is dumped at Metro landfills will be going into it. It could be in- I he says, "If they anticipate going each year. A further report will Ix, for cinerator ash. If we let the door open , there, they can anticipate going to an ',EAA a crack, they'll be through it with a See ME fRO... Page Al semi -trailer truck," says Parish. hearing." A recent report issued by Pollution Mitchell, whose ward borders the Probe says ash from the Commis- landfill site, says alternatives are open sioners Street incinerator in Toronto to Metro, including recycling and has levels of toxins far exceeding safe waste reduction. levels. Most of the ash from the in- "There are other sites clear of cinerator is dumped at the Brock West population and not as environmental - landfill in Pickering. ly sensitive," he says. PACT member Brenna Brown is op- Metro's works committee will Posed to the site "for the same reasons discuss the item at a meeting tomor- we were opposed to the Brock South row, Aug.11, in the council chambers landfill. It's in an environmentally sen- at Toronto City Hall, beginning at 9: 30 sitive area, close to waterways." a.m. The meeting is open to the public. Letters to the Editor: Loo-Vat waste It came to my attention in the past few months that Metro is very much behind the times when it comes to waste disposal in terms of its contemporaries in the U.S. I notice, for instance, that Metro Council has no plans to put up a waste -to -energy facility that would burn waste and turn it into electricity, which could be sold to Ontario Hydro. Waste -to -energy facilities are now in operation in many U.S. cities and there is one in operation near Montreal. The technology that these facilities employ comes from Europe, where they ran out of landfill space long before we in North America ever heard of the problem. A waste -to -energy facility here would take a disposal alternatides tremendous strain off our landfill sites, but landfill sites are still needed even with waste -to -energy facilities because the ash they produce has to be disposed of. In the U.S., the stack emissions of waste -to -energy facilities have been tested and the test results indicated that they produce low levels of pollutants. The ash they produce is fairly safe as well. I would also like to see some sort of ban on plastic packaging in the future. This is what contributes most to our landfill capacity problems. Plastic packaging is non -biodegradable and takes several hundred years to decay. Already, Austria has imposed a ban on all plastic packaging by 1993. Suffolk County in New York State has also imposed a ban on plastic packaging, with some exceptions. Now, there is a new type of plastic packaging available which is both photodegradable and biodegradable. It is manufactured by Manchester Packaging Co. of St. James, Missouri. As well, Metro lags behind many other communities in North America, such as Kitchener, Windsor and Ottawa, in that it does not have a mandatory recycling program, which could help reduce the amount of waste going to the landfills by about 25 per cent. DAVID J. STUHL -_ �Thc�•nhill C l �y While it may not be obvious Why 17 m�G11Sg1 the staff of the works department P Rouge V �j of Canada's largest, and (in s e `then recycle garbage v ✓. things, at least) best city, i � of ZS YZO place �' " able to provide imaging e and I'd like to ask the citizens of visionary leadership with respect:. Toronto hether they are content to responding to the garbage to dump heir garbage on other for Q'arbag problem, their present response to people o whether they are j p what they have termed a crisis aml prepare to accept some Those who served in the arm a threat is not only conventional, tt responsi ility for their own waste. y is completely unacceptable. may remember an old expression We can probably reduce our concerning military procedures: One thing is certain, however. , garbage volume by 25 to 50 per and that is that the works cent if we all enthusiastically "the right way, the wrong way, and the army way." department's intention of dumping become involved in a recycling on the Rouge and its residcnts'is The Metro works committee: > program. First, however, we completely at odds with Metf.o s meeting of Aug. 12, called to would have to dump a few attempt to portray itself politicians who seem to be discuss a works department world -class city. accepting the negative attitude of proposal to dump 15,000,000 tons ROBERT L. JAM}S the Metro works department of garbage in the Rouge Valley_ Markham about the possibilities of this within sight of the Metro Zoo,, progra . Perhaps some new faces provided a sound basis for and ne attitudes in the works replacing that traditional saying depart nt might help us. with a more contemporary one: I know that I am not happy as a "The right way and the Metro, resident of Toronto with the works way." decision to open a new dump in While the preponderence of " environmentally sensitive areas, evidence indicates that there do^- especially when you consider the exist alternatives to traditionak•-. absolute lack of effort on the part garbage dumps, alternatives which of city politicians to develop serve to reduce amounts of programs to reduce our garbage. garbage, make possible some Let's stop making our economic return, and which are irresponsibility someone else environmentally and socially safer s and sounder, Metro orks clings,:to responsibility. No more dumps. outmoded, destructi a and costly, ROBERT WISEMAN q Toronto techni ues for deali with its garbage. In spite of vidence tome contrary, Metro works remains dedicated to archaic and obsolescent methods, like Linue, thumb in mouth, clinging to his blanket, while the rest of the world amasses by. Queen's Park just there for advice, Bradley says Trash is your worry, municipalities told r ... ....... ......... ...... ............ ........... .. .............. ............. . . ........ .fi � � n X. #. CANADA :..-:.. . x...: . ncomcoo� co rn �m �oM'o _. -,dGy d ����a� .,ar, co � m<-- `°°'coo o v ?�C�„�"r. '_• �=v `C M ='U w n co �. p co `o• C °�' 2 2- o a) v o rtaC yCD `<o'� <�ID �y� o�m�o co -� co C AO 0 at% v L n (D O� '-' R 1 c7D O' an., 'S�_• rck O C r _ 'a I:D cfl R• p` co (D Cn co co a1c << < _ o o co M'T m o By Michael Smith Toronto Star Queen's Park wants to stay clear of the sticky problem of garbage disposal, Environ- ment Minister Jim Bradley told a roomful of municipal politicians yesterday. Waste disposal is a local respon- sibility, Bradley said, and local politicians will just have to keep on taking the heat for landfill sites and garbage incinerators. "If you ask me, would you be happy to take over the responsi- bility for waste management and solve all your problems, then I guess my answer to that is no," he told questioner North York Con- troller Howard Moscoe at the annual meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. "But," he added, "I'd like to work with you as a partner," offering technical advice and hard cash to municipal— ities. Bradley has 3 been under criti- cism from Metro t. politicians for what they see as a do-nothing ap- Bradley proach to the city's garbage crisis. In particular, he has refused so far to bow to requests that he speed up the complicated approv- al process for a new dump, characterized yesterday by Peel Region Chairman Frank Bean as "convoluted, ambiguous and 1 ever -changing rules." bUARBOROUGH Report by Mayor Bill VICLtae GARBAGE BO ND l "Metro's czxl garbage dump should not be n Scar- borough. The Newcastle site is better," claimed delega- tions from Scarborough who appeared before Metro Works CommitteE last week when that committ(e was considering a conseltant's report and a staff recommen- dation to locate a garbage dump to Scarborough north- east of the Metro Zoo.' We're pleased that Metro is realiz- ing that it must manage it's own waste within W!, own boundaries," said delega- tions from Newcastle. I was amazed how little attention each of the deleg� ttons received from members of the committee, and this mat- ter was the whispered topic among the audience 40 delegations appeared before the committee. The number of people attending the meeting was not neat ly as many as I had expected, based on forecasts to the daily press. Perhaps it was because the meeting was held during the day Most of the delegates blasted Metro staff for recommending the Scarbo- rough site, saying it was environmentally unsuitable. (The site is in what is called the Rouge River tableland, not in the valley, as most delegations seemed to think. Where the proposed new dump might be placed in Scarborough is actually in the Petticoat Creek watershed and has nothing to do with the Rouge River, except for the name.) Metro was tongue -lashed for no lawn commenced active recclinR programs much earlier. Metro was also told t ey started much too late in searching for a new landfill site, and Metro staff was termed incompetent because of this. The SWEAP Solid Waste Environmental Assessment) Process initiated by Metro was ineffective and g __ adequate Jeremy Brown, represent- ing P.A.C.T., encouraged Metro to turn over the Brock South site to the Conserva- tion Authority, and to follow the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act for a hearing, regardless of what site is selected for the next Metro dump. Scarborough council members and citizens claimed the Metro report recommending the Scarbo- rough site had only been released 6 days ago. Neither they nor their consultants had had time to adequately review reports. They requested a postponement of 4 to 6 weeks before Metro Works Committee makes a recommendation to Metro Council It was the only proper thing to do. The Metro Works Committee deferred their decision on the new Metro dump location until their next meeting, September 8. Annual A.M 0. Conference Next week, most members of Council and department heads will be attending the annual conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, in Toronto The conference is usually attended by over 1500 municipal delegates. I have found most sessions at pre- vious conferences to have been informative and educa- tional, and look forward to a similar experience this year. The Keynote Address will be delivered by the Honoura ble John Eakins, Minister of Municipal Affairs Session topics will include leisure facilities, energy, tax collec- tion, social services, waste management, grants and subsidies, and tax reform. Over 100 resolutions will be presented to delegates for debate. They covet a wide range of matters such as funding of municipal roads, curtailment of the use of non - biodegradable materials, improving the timing of hear- ings under the Environmen- tal Assessment Act, the use of vacant school sites by munic- ipalities, the closing of retail businesses on Sundays and holidays, recycling initia- tives, pay equity, taxation, housing, social services and welfare, and municipal planning I have served on the AMO Board of Directors for the past 8 years, and have been Co-chairman of the Associa- tion's Social Development Committee for 6 years. Atthis year's conference, beside participating to a workshop panel. I shall be serving as Chairman of the Nominating Committee. If the conference is assuc- cessful as other years, we'll have a busy 3 days. 4%14 THE GLOBE AND MAIL, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1988 METRO/ONTARIO launchesaarbalce recudi'no &iVtro BY SEAN FINE 'The G t- a' to i Metro 1hronto. whicf- is •onsidering dumping ;huge mnuni ,tins of gar'.-!ag , in neighboring mu- nicipaiitle,,. kicked off ,_ $ 3.4-million recycling rogr,un Nf. i­;day b,%• ,treising the importance rJ being a F, •,1 ncighbor. i • Aftur :t - of refusu,g to start recycling gar- age beclu- it was cheater to dump it, Metro hopes to kr. p 6 per cent o• residential garbage i out of its rapidiv dimit,ishing landfill sites in the first year of a five-year Drc gram. Backed by a S60U,00 advertising campaign i suggesting that 'good rreighbors recycle," Met- ro will supply each house a ith a blue box, which t residents are to fill with g ass bottles and jars, f metal cans, elastic soft-dr nk bottles and news- papers. The trash will their be put out for curb- side pie kun and recvcled. f "it's extremely important because it will grow, but ri will take maybe 10 years to get to i where we want it to b, . Metro Chairman Denni. F!ynn said in an interview. "Very frankly, if we dor't do it now with the crisis that we face wilh ga -bage, we're going to be in a worse situation 5 1,1 10 to 20 years from now. We're going to tx buried in garbage," he said. The program's goal over the next five years is to recycle 25 per cent of residential garbage, which accounts for just one-third of all garbage, the remainder being generated by business and industry. Metro is paying $13.2 m0ion $13,235,000 of the cost, while the provincial ;overnment will pay $8.1-mdiion .and a non prn!fit group backed by the soft - drtiik industry wit 1 contribute $2.1-mil- lion. The price tag includes new trucks and blue boxes, plus promotion and advertising and op- erating costs. The program is to begin next month in the City of York and in Etobicoke. It will start in November in East York and the City of Toronto, and in the spring in North York and Scarbo- rough. Not included in the program are tenants of apartments and owners and tenants of condo- miniums, who account for about half of Metro households. The city hopes to have these involved by the spring. Metro is also developing programs for the composting of organic materials (making waste into fertilizer), for recovery of office paper and corrugated cardboard, for recycling of tires and appliances, and for inspections of industrial waste to keep recyclable materials from being dumped. Ontario Environment Minister James Brad- ley, who has publicly criticized Metro for its late start on recycling — Ottawa, Kitchener, Guelph and Mississauga already have successful programs — praised Metro for its move, but said much more needs to be done. `All apartment dwellers must be served,' he said, "and commercial establishments, indus- tries, high- rise office towers, schools and other public institutions must all join the recycling effort. " Since apartment buildings generally have a garbage room fed by a chute on each floor, the buildings may have to be renovated to allow for several chutes, so that recyclable materials can be separated. Renovation costs would almost certainly be passed on to tenants; an alternative wou!d be to have superintendents sort garbage manually. The union representing Metro employees has recommended that new staff be hired to pick up blue boxes from apartment hallways. Metros works commissioner Frank Horgan said, but that would create odor and insect problems and cost a lot of money. Metro residents generated about one million tonnes of garbage in 1987, or about 1.3 ki- lograms of garbage for each person each day. One of the city's two landfill sites is to close in 1990, and Metro is considering three new sites: in Newcastle, 50 kilometres to the east; in Vaughan, just north of Metro; and in Scarbo- rough, within Metro, where a site of farms and ravines has been proposed. The cost of recycling is about $65 a tonne, while dumping it costs just $15 to $17 at current rates, Mr. Horgan said in an interview. "it's only been recently that people are will- ing to have a program put in place that's going to cost this much money. However, even with recycling, if municipali- ties outside Metro Toronto don't take its gar- bage, the city will eventually have to build a network of incinerators, he said. Metro Councillor Richard Gilbert said in an interview that because of the high cost of find- ing new landfill sites, and the anguish and dis- cord involved, "it would have been a very good investment" to start recycling earlier. "We should have been systematically recy- cling at least during the 1970s. He said that the federal Government should do its part by providing incentives and regu- lations to cut down excess packaging. Studies in the United States have shown that 25 per cent to 50 per cent of garbage is from packaging. MKIIAEL STUPARYK, TORONTO STAR WASTE REMOVAL: A Disposal Services truck collects and hauls garbage from overseas flights arriving \t Pearson International Airport's Terminal One. Ottawa can't agree on airport garbage ; By Bob Mitchell Toronto Star An MP says he is uncertain whether trash stored at Pearson International Airport poses a health hazard after he received conflicting information yester- day. Etobicoke North MP Bob Pen- nock said he understood that a special media showing of the stor- age area was to take place tomor- row afternoon. But he said Michael O'Brien, aide to Transport Minister Benoit Bouchard, told him yesterday there would be no viewing be- cause of a health concern. "What's going on," Pennock said in an interview. "All the media is going to get is a briefing in a room; they're not going to be allowed to see anything. "On one hand we have Agricul- ture Canada doctor Brian Peart saying the waste is efficiently contained and there's no health problems, then Transport Canada denies access to the site to the I media because of health concerns "Wh' h is it? The longer peopl, are denied access to the site, thk\ more horror stories are going taf be conjuiled up." O'Brien couldn't be reache yesterday but a Transport Can da official in Toronto said in L. interview only a media briefij would take place. "There is no tour planned," saki Rhea Cohen, regional director I i public affairs for Transport Cat da. "It's just not feasible." 0 Cohen said she couldn't say w I it wasn't possible, adding that 1 media would have all questi answered at tomorrow briefir' Garbage th t was formeE burned at the C mmissioners. incinerator has be piling up'� the airport since the inciner was closed last month. Waste from commercial lines has been building at the of 250 tonnes a week in a sto facility in a remote corner o airport. ,j_ It's a nightmare We moved7nE beautiful com- munity (Newtonville) one year ago. We bought property, built our house and my wife is expecting our first child in December. We consider ourselves to be ex- tremely fortunate in being able to realize our dream. Now it appears that Metro Toronto is attempting to turn our dream into a nightmare. Metro Toronto expects our com- munity to store its garbage and de- file our environment. My family and friends have committed to fight the arrogance of Metro Toronto and we must win. K. GRIFFIN Newtonville Between two dumps While 'Rouge Valley' garbage would be in Scarborough, we Dur- ham resident will bear the effects. Living off will Rd., this would place us b ween two dump sites — Brock and Beare Rd. Surely this begs a question of natural jus- tice. To commit this act upon a genu- ine gift of nature would be a natu- ral injustice. I Pniii-rchin that nilnuic this to A20/ THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAY, .AUGUST 30,1988 161. Vr in farmlaAl s in Scarborough no place for dump controller says By Stan Josey Toronto Star Scarborough Controller Ken Morrish says he will recom- mend that Metro scrap any plan for an interim dump site on '`virgin farmland" near the Metro zoo. A tour of existing and proposed dump sites last week con- vinced Metro works committee members the Scarborough site is no place to put trash, the senior controller believes. "You just don't dump garbage on one of the prettiest country set- -___ ._ ..ii .,P ­,,+1- rintnrin" ❑ Buy available land adjach the Keele Valley dump. That provide another 10 years of dump- ing for 30 million tonnes of waste. ❑ Explore the possibility of haul- ing garbage by rail to unspecified spots in Northern Ontario. PAM tRISHITORONTO STAR 4 EAST/ THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAY, 30,1988 -letters f Waste challenge calls for ingenuity, rational approach Pickering ratepayers support Scarbgrough's anti -du fight The Coalition of Pickering con- sists of representatives of ratepay- er groups in the Town of Pickering brought together by our mutual concern for the growing number of issues arising in Pickering. The first issue on our agenda has been the expansion of the Beare Rd. landfill site. We are strongly opposed to the use of this land for a landfill site and we fully support the efforts of the Scarborough Coalition and of P.A.C.T. (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment) to ensure a full environmental assessment hearing on any property being con- sidered as a potential landfill site. We applaud Scarborough coun- cil's unanimous support for dedi- cating the Rouge Valley area as parkland. We must now stand to- gether to impress upon the Ontario government our desire for an envi- ronmentally sound decision for the use of lands surrounding the Rouge River system. The Coalitiop of Pickering is also calling for an investigation of the waste management practices of Metro at the Brock West landfill site. The concerns of the residents i' r/ regarding the health and safety of their families are valid when you consider the high levels of toxins and methane gas already present. It was recently reported that the ashes being dumped at Brock West from the Commissioner St. inciner- ator in Toronto contained high levels of dioxin. An article in the Pickering/Ajax Bay News, head- lined Toxic Ashes Dumped at Brock West, stated that "the ashes contained the highest level of diox- in of any other incinerator in the world." It stated "between eight and 10 ash trucks each day dump ash from Toronto, adding up to ap- proximately 180 metric tonnes of ash." The Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta sets one part per billion as an acceptable dioxin limit in soil and the Commissioner St. ash has 3,500 parts per billion. A request to hire an independent consultant to address these con- cerns was overturned by Picker- ing Council. When interviewed by the Bay News concerning the Com- missioner St. ash, -Mayor John Anderson said it was "the region's and Metro's responsibility." With the health hazards involv- ed, it is time Pickering Council took its own initiatives to ensure the safety of its citizens and not relegate the responsibility to others. We cannot afford to look for a short-sighted solution to a long- term problem. They don't work — they only defer the crisis. The Metro/Durham marriage resulted in the birth of the Brock West landfill site 20 years ago. At that time, we didn't understand the environmental dangers inher- ent in landfill sites. Now we are left with a problem that will continue to accelerate long after Brock West is officially closed. Let's take the time now and ex- pend the necessary funds to ensure we fully understand what is hap- pening in our own backyard. The Coalition of Pickering is determined to continue to work in the best interests of the residents of Pickering to ensure that the quality of life is maintained. It hopes Pickering Council will reconsider its position on hiring an independent consultant. ANNIE BURTNEY Pickering Sorfinj5�6_ufteareage kEach day the mountainous pile of garbage at Pearson ternational Airport grows — along with fears about its ossible health risks. Yet, no quick end is in sight. It will be at least six weeks before airport officials have new thermal heating equipment in place to sterilize the huge backlog. Even then, it will take Agriculture Canada officials about six months to determine whether the process is safe enough to meet federal regulations. But more still can be done in the meantime to ease the crisis. Much of the airport garbage comes from domestic flights, not international flights. While federal legislation requires the burning of all international flight trash — for fear it could spread disease and contaminate livestock — there is no such requirement for domestic garbage. So why haven't the airlines and airport officials even begun to make efforts to separate the two so less garbage will have to be stored on the airport grounds? And where's Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley? Why has he stood by, silently, allowing Hamilton politicians to refuse to burn Pearson's trash in their incinerator, unless Pearson's lucrative international flights are rerouted to Hamilton's underused Mount Hope airport? Bradley hasn't hesitated, in the past, to force Metro to take garbage from outlying municipalities. It's time he urged • = . Hamilton to help clean up this mess. r st Visit to Japan an eye-opener „A,r MEGADUMP HOLDS KEY_. 3145 WoliedaW Rd:, Mississauga, oMariof LSG3M Frid2ty, September 2, 1988, Yo1..24I Na 90, AELPAres, TOr-aRBAGE WOES: MPP. By JOHN STEWART Staff Reporter One giant "megasite" for garbage separation, z recycling, and landiilling could eventually become . 4 a reality to serve the entire Golden Horseshoe, says f z,. Mississauga West MPP Steven Mahoney. The MPP spent 10 days earlier this summer in Japan as part of a technical teamthat is evaluating the venture. It will maha. a pLvposaf to Ontario Premier David Peterson early nest Although the project is still in the early design STEVE stages, Mahoney says it has the potential to provide M aHONEY a solution to the Golden Horseshoe's chronic waste management problems, The private -sector proposal is still being honed, but Mahoney says it has some major features that would make it extremely attractive. The huge site would be situated in an undeveloped area, and a community ouid be constructed to go around it. Gar ab�ge wow eOfPie"f0 ifie site vta rail lines. It would then be separ- ated with special equipment, similar to what is already operating in Japan, to remove metals, plastics, rubber, and other materials that can be recycled. Using a wet and dry garbage separation process, all garbage that could b--mposted and recycled, such as leaves and grass, would also be re- r. i, with the remainder being buried. Mahoney stresses that there is no proposal for incineration of garbage, which has been a controversial issue in many communities including Mississauga. "It's a whole different angle," says the former Ward 8 city councillor. "The idea in a nutshell is to pick one megasite to serve the whole area See MEGADUMP page 8 WHITEYALE Megadump key in trash wars, sans city MPP Cont. from page 1 from Hamilton to Pickering with processing pests on site and proba- bly a research and development cen- tre operated in conjunction with the University of Toronto. It would really create an entire business," says the first -term Liberal - "There's an opportunity, if you can get enough garbage to one location- because it then makes sense econo. mically to recycle. There are enor... mous benefits in taxes and jobs„ for the area where it is located. That could make the project attractive to communities that have traditionally shunned waste management facili- ties. buildinga co i�*t arounAnd b a site after it is established Pu co Icl cou avro thri a"U In -My -Back -Yard syndrome" that has p-Ta_95ed_ so many other garbage disposal plans. Background studies to date indi- cate the plan would remove 700-1,000 trucks a day from Hwy. 401. The pro- ponents hope to propose three or four potential sites to the Premier for the facility. Although the idea looks very favorable, Mahoney also cautions that it will be some time before even the concept can be finalized. Then an environmental assessment of the en- tire procedure, which can be a leng- thy process, would certainly be man- datory. "We don't want to build up too many false expectations," the bIPP says, but he hopes the megasite concept could eventually prove to be a major factor in resolving the waste management crisis along the popu- lated area orr the north shore of Lake Ontario. , , , 9'- -Tlf 6" J A/9,AgW e54�5 90 1'T" ! � of P.A.C.T., the Coalition ley site. A further investiga- 1. Contact the Clerk for of Pickering Residents, tion has been requested Metropolitan Toronto at Save the Rouge and many, into a proposal that will 392-8027 and advise them many others attended and permit trains to haul gar- of your intent to attend the spoke in opposition to this bage out of Metro to less Thursday, September 8th, site. Should this site be environmentally sensitive 1988 meeting of Metro approved, Pickering would areas in other parts of Works Committee at 10:30 be saddled with one dump Ontario. a.m. in the Council on our East border on Even with this tempor- Chamber of City Hall, Brock Road and now this ary delay, we, in Pickering Toronto. We must con - new site on Bear on the have already experienced tinue to send that clear uni- West. Pickering at this rate the arrogance of Metropol- ted message to the Metro will be known as the cleav- itan Toronto in abusingour government that Pickering age between two garbage communities with their has had enough. dumps. garbage. I think we would 2. At the August 1 I th meet - Along with our own all be remiss if we were to sit ing of the Metro Works vested concerns pertaining back and take Metro with Committee, Durham's to a Town's image there good faith when they make Regional Chairman, Mr. were also some very signifi- this final decision. Gary Herrema spoke in cant technical information Remember Pickering resi- support of Metro's recom- that was presented. In fact dents have been burnt pre- mended location at the the consultant's report viously by Metropolitan Pear site. Mr. Herrema entitled 'Evaluation of Toronto when it comes to stated that the proposed Candidate's Site - Metro- landfill sites. The fight to site was endorsed by Dur- politan Toronto Interim stop this landfill site is eve- ham Regional's Works fletro Dump Dear Sir: Re: A Time For Action - A New Dump In Our Back- yard, The Fight Continues For those who may not have received that previous letter of mid -August per- taining to the Metropolitan Toronto Works Commit- tee recommendation to put yet another dumpsite up at the old Bear site in Scarbo- rou h on the Pickering boo er north of Finch A nue and south of Steeles. At the Metro Works Committee meeting of August Ilth, 1988 a number of delegations including myself, members Landfill Search', was pre- pared by Dillon Consulting Engineers and Planners. At no point did it identify the Bear Landfill site as being the most feasible location for an interim site. In response to the forty some odd presentations that were made the Works Committee agreed to defer it's decision until a special committee of works could meet on September 8th, 1988 at which time the Sweep Interim Report on Recycling will be reviewed, and other options. Prior to this meeting Metro Works staff were also requested to pursue alternative sites again including the New- castle site as well as the extension of the Keele Val- ryone's fight. As pointed out before, the location chosen is unique and envir- onmentally sensitive. The area will be devastated by this landfill site. Not only would the immediateenvir- onment known as the Rouge River System be directly affected, I can assure you that many of you including myself would likely be subjected to odours from crosswinds blowing from this site. So, whether you live in Altona West, Amberlea, Fox Hol- low or any other commun- ity we will be directly affected. For this reason I am again appealing to all members of our commun- ity to take the following steps: Committee. It became very clear that Durham feels that a site outside of Dur- ham is a victory for our community. What they forget is that the Bear Road location abuts the Picker- ing border which is still going to directly affect us. I would urge all members of our community to send strong letters of protest to Durham Region, Atten- tion: Gary Herrema, 605 Rossland Road East, Box 623, Whitby, Ontario L IN 6A3. Maurice S. Brenner Local Councillor - Ward Town of Pickering 839-0692- Home 683-2760 -Office �. Pumpwill make ourgroundwater unfit to drink w1am one of the many farmers o lives less than three kilo- metres from two sites proposed for a Metro dump, Newtonville and Newcastle. Also nearby a r e t h e Darlington nuclear plant and the Eldorado n Nclear waste dump in Port Granby. You would not wish this curse on your worst opponent. 'After living all our lives in Metro Toronto, we chose this area eight years ago. We thought we would have clean air and a healthy living. Now we are in an endangered community. This site is not feasible for a dump. The soil layers are por- ous and small streams and rivers are all over the place. Farmers de- pend on wells for drinking water. We accepted 10 per cent yearly tax increases to the townships to im- prove roads. Little did we know that our Dur- ham politicians, none of whom re- side in this area, are greedy for the money that Metro Toronto will pay for this dump. Water for natural drinking sys- tems filters through sand and gravel and it is in the nature of landfill dumpsites to cause the spread of disease. Canada geese and other migratory birds stop over. In no time this kind of dis- ease can spread all over North and South America. There is an efficient process (of waste disposal) called `plasmagasi- fication' but its cost means the government would rather use the obsolete method of landfilling. An environmental report on the Borden dump site found that con- taminants spread through under- ground water as far as 600 metres in 10 years. As we are only 100 metres from the boundary of the proposed sites, we estimate that within three months our water will not be fit for human consumption. If Metro is successful in getting the exemption for environmental assessment, in no time we will have no drinking water and, due to the porous property of the site, the dump will finally contaminate Lake Ontario, used by all the com- munities near the lake as their source of water. Chemical con- taminants are not eliminated by the sand, gravel and carbon filtra- tion used in water purification. This is Metro's garbage. Why can't Metro Toronto solve its own problem rather than polluting the rest of the communities around the lake? Most of us who live in this area don't l pow how to cope. We are all laynilm, represented by the wrong politicians, who don't know the priorities of the community. The solution is for each com- munity to deal with its own gar- bage. DEAN HARDY Newcastle OQ CL ;p'. •� '-f '.'r -,..f' v'-.'- C9 ,+i - - 2, W fD r , n O On -c�y c' � CAD 5 ,:-. - z • �. o O-a Q� 5 - M ',d o> 0 GL v c .y a 0 °'i v yp-MM is�°'caEn �CL a o -.� aop� c�Q ....r y r+ r. LU Q CY C p fD(pp A. rj Q• h`C `1• n� M r� Z = = ii . '"" d n 'Ci Cl. (D (D e-* UQ fD v M 0- CD O �cC Sv SU ~ "-• O C� fD �' (,v "", �' !D '•-' (C Q hoc.-�y'(o c" o��QCo�a��a��o��50' ''m..•�C�fl,lCD/J�ob �'r���o'�c�fDQ000� �� O = YC'�v o b c o �CLS Y-o: d En o FL- d f9 �Q �' v �" Oa Q 0 o c ati - v v6 �Ooa ooj \ IM Sign language says 'no' to a Scarborough dump vironmentalists might, izens are fighting 1. Beare Rd. in northeast ified earlier this year imp for Metro Toronto's test signs has been suitability will be held forks committee. filler Ken Morrish says, age on one of the ;s in southern 'OLIN WCONNELL .y > \X/ \ 2� METRO WORKS TO STUDY DUMP SITES A decision by Metro Toronto's works com- mittee to study expansion of Pickering and Maple dumps was made last Thursday. The works committee, Gentile said the province however, didn't discount owns much of the land Newcastle or Scarborough within the proposed Scar - proposed sites. At the borough site, and that it has meeting there were 30 peo- indicated to Metro if it ple from Scarborough and abandons that site now it Newcastle who voiced would likely be lost for their concern with interim good. dumps in their areas. Committee chairman, Mario Gentile, said the Maple dump site(Keele Valley) was more suitable at this time, but the com- mittee turned down a motion by Scarborough controller Ken Morrish to abandon plans for an inte- rim du tre final decision as to where the interim dump will be located, said Gen- tile, would be made after the municipal elections in November. Part of Newcastle's con- tingent included its Mayor, John Winters, who told the committee the proposed inIm dump between Dngton Park and the pngton nuclear station was an unacceptable site. The interim dump which Metro and Durham are seeking would handle about 15 million tonnes of waste for about seven years. Raymond Cho, who is an NDP candidate in Scarbo- rough, said that municipal- ity has already taken its share of waste within its boundries(10 million ton- nes" "that's more than than its fair share." Speakers from Pickering Ajax Citizens Together - (PACT), Courtice Area Community Association, Pollution Probe and Save the Rouge Valley Systems, which impressed upon Metro to expand its recy- cling program. With more efficient recycling an inte- rim dump would not be needed, they said. REFUSE AND RESUSE DISPOSAL 4LTNI_''S�NIDAVSTAR. SEPM.fBF.R1&1913E/Al THE METRO PAGt 01 Region mayors oppose dumping by'bully'Metro By Kevin Donovan Toronto Star The mayors of Vaughan and Newcastle fear the heavy hiyrtdd of Metro will dump garbage in their backyards now that a Scar- borough site has been ruled out. "It's the bully -on -the -beach tactic," ;Newcastle Mayor Jobn Winter slid vesterdaN. Metro Council rejected on F riday the idea of a Scarborough garbage dump. Council doted to study the expanding of its present Keele Valley dump in the Town of. Vaughan, or considor huilding one in Newcastle. This cictesn't sit well in those towns. "I suggest to Metro they look somewhere else." Vaughan Mayor Lorns .Jackson said in an inter- view. Metro Council's decision came one day after the federal govern- ment promised $10 million to help create a park on the Rouge Valley lands. While the no -dump decision elat- ed Scarborough residents, it left Metro with a pri,hlem; where to IIcut the 3.3 milikoi tonnes of gai- hage generated every year nmv that its exist ing sites art- filling up. North of dump Mayors Winter and Jackson fear - Metro will take their lands by pw litical force. In Vaughan, Metro already dumps waste In the Keele Valle, - in land Metro bought in the 1970s. Jackson said the projected date for the closing of that site is 1995. rao AMntr•n nrnnnaal wmrld likeiv Metro imposes huge new fines for illegally l dumping waste' - BY Jim Byers Toronto star Metro Council has dramatiesHy beefed up fines for illegal dumping of sewage and other waste. Metro's old bylaw called for minimum fines of $500 for first convictions. $750 on second con*- tions and $1.000 on subseyufti, convirl ions. 1'111, nea hylaw allows for' a maximum of $25,000 for corpot;a- t ions on first convictions and $50; 000 on subsequent convictions. A first conviction by any person will now carry a maximum fine of $5.000, and $10,000 for cuhsequent convict ions. Up to courts It will be up to the courts to determine fines in individual cat a Council also voted Friday to^g* the province for legislation AhO AJAX-PICKERING - Metro Toron- to last week abandoned plans to put a landfill site in Scarborough, on the Pickering border. Metro council voted 23-11 against a landfill in the Rouge Valley, north of the Metro Zoo. The proposed site borders Pickering to the east, Steeles Avenue to the north, Ressor Road to the west and the CP rail tracks to the south. Metro has been looking for an in- terim landfill site for more than a year. The new site needs to be in operation by 1990, when the Brock West landfill in Pickering is full. Metro council decided to spend REFUSE AND REFUS about $2 million studying two other The Newcastle site is on pri sites -- the expansion of the Keele perty and the landowner hay Valley landfill in Vaughan to a 29-hour to permit Metro staff or its col operation and a site in Newcastle. on the property to carry out urha Region bans cardboard from all dumpl*��QOUG: By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Durham Region is banning recyclable cardboard from its landfill sites and is encouraging Metro to do the same. Corrugated cardboard will be banned from all region dumps and transfer stations on Jan. 1, 1989, Durham Region council decided yesterday. The new rule affects thousands of $2, iraases which Ir y fl ::-.:.:.a Metro given to i2,000 a dayif the fail to com- p!y early deadline Because it shares the Brock.West lalndfill site in Pickering with Metro, Durhamis asking its neigh- bor to followowits lead and stop disposing of the material at the near -capacity site. By Lisa Wright Toronto Star "V+' a. ( fast running out of op- tions," said Oshawa Councillor Linda Dionne. "It's premature to say we're done with Metro at this point." Proitnodotnw campaign Durham will embark on a Flpromotional campaign immediate- y to inform industrial and com- mercial waste generators In and around the region that their card- board should be delivered to the Durham recycling centre. Metro will be sent a copy of Dur- ham's Iilan so it can consider simi. lar action, and will be asked to help pay for promotion. The cost of the campalgn and the implementation of the han is estimated at $177150o, accurding to a works.committee report. Of the 280,000 tonnes of waste produced each year in the Durham Region, 10 to 15 per cent is old corrugated cardboard. Metro delivers 45 per cent of its 3.3 mil- lion tonnes of waste a year to the Brock West dump. Durham's long-term waste man- agement plan has a reduction tar- get of 25 per cent by 1993 because of its impending trash crisis. "We've got as big a problem as Metro. We have no other choice," said Durham Region Chairman Gary flerrema. Durham is following in the foot. steps of Peel and Halton Regions, which dei•idtd in August to make the move. Peel's ban went into ef- fect Sept. 1 while Balton, like Dur- ham, has set. Jan. 1 implementation date. Metro will be asked to stop dumping garbage In a Pickering landfill site 10 months before it has to, to that Durham region can solve its own trash crisis, Durham council decided yesterday. Ten months without Metro gar- bage is worth five years' use of the dump site to Durham, which will have no place for its trash by 1990, when the site will be full. And if Metro doesn't agree to the plan at its next works committee meeting, Durham vows it will get nasty. "It's the only alternative we have. If we can't come to a sails. factory agreement, we'll oppose them at every turn when they look for a new site,,, Durham Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said in an interview. Reroute garbage Last week, Metro council reject- ed the idea of a Scarborough dump site on Rouge Valley lands and voted to study expanding its Vresent Keele Valley dump in aughan or consider building one in Newcastle. Durham's works committee chairman Gerry Emm will suggest to the works committee that Metro reroute the garbage it dumps in Pickering — which is 45 per cent of the 3.3 million tonnes it gener- ates In..a year — to the Keele Val- ley site as planned, only earlier than 1990. "We're in a position now where we can say, 'Look, we hung in with you when you needed us. Now we need help,' 'said Emm.1. Other council members were / less optimistic about Metro'` reac- tion. "When are we going to wake up and smell the coffee? We can't rely on these people (the Metro councillors). They're desperate as It is," shouted Whitby Councillor Tom FAwards. Newcastle Mayor John Winters, worried about a dump being put in his own area, suggested the presen- tation to Metro council be more In the form of an ultimatum than a friendly request. But Durham councillors voted against an amendment that would start threats flying around Metro before councillors have a chance to mull over the request. Waste recy4er fined for ignoring rules OTTAWA (CP) A chemical waste recycling firm has been fined $22,750 in Provincial Court for -not filing shipping documents with the Ontario environment ministry. Safety-Kleen Canada Ltd, plead- ed guilty to 26 charges under the Environmental Protection Act for not filing documents before trans- porting chem'.cals between November, 1986, end November, 1987. Donald Plomer, 'Je flrm's re- gional manager, also pleaded guilty to three similar charges and was fined $2,250. ¢ 00ld ^k 1 v e a a, .. id °x le i,q,..' .r IN a.✓7`` F�, 5� a ,r.�' f 3#:C.� st,';, <,>!.. n y yE x k g s d 7 P tr u_ REFUSE AND REFUSE DISPi rfiM a ;T �oNir� �TfJ2 [MAN- Ni T11FRCO" Ths Cw.D eM MSM e Children turned out to support their parents at a weekend protest against the expansion of the Keele Valley landfill site. s e n 5 e i- p If e h Vaughan renews BY ROSEMARY TODD and Su Special to Th, Globe end Mail pp It has been 15 years since a group of residents first went tc war against the prospect of having the largest landfill site in Canada located in their rural village of Maple, in the heart of the Town of Vaughan. The b cttle raged for seven years until the Ontario Mi iistry of the Environment finally granted approval for the proposal. Now, the dump may be expanded to make it the largest in North America, and the battlefield has been redrawn. With pla4 ards in hand, more than 300 resi- dents and tc wn officials marched on Saturday to the gates of the Metro -operated Keele Valley landfill site, declaring that they have done their share to accommodate Metro Toronto's gar- bage. It was thc first in a series of planned assaults that the residents, part of a coalition of ratepay- er groups Dialled the Vaughan Committee of Association to Restore Environmental Safety, hope will deter Metro Toronto politicians and the Envirorment Ministry from approving an expansion of the landfill site. "They're the same rallies, the same fight," said Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson, a commu- nity activist in 1973 when Superior Sand, Gravel I fight against dump site. lies Ltd. and Crawford, Allied Indus- tries Ltd. fii'st sought approval from the Envi- ronmental Assessment Board for the mega. dump. "The community was split at that time be- cause of the money involved, and council was split because of the money, too. The difference now is that the whole community is opposed and has the unanimous support of council," Mrs. Jackson said. Metro Toronto acquired the site for $38-mil- lion in 198.3, dumping 64 per cent of its garbage since then in the 101-hectare landfill that is ex- pected to be full in 1993. Metro's works department received an offer in August from Superior Sand and Gravel to sell it 280 hectares of land adjacent to the site. The expansion could extend the dump's life to the year 2010. On Sept. 16, Metro Council pledged 5300,000 to study the feasibility of expanding the Keele Val- ley site or constructing a new one in Newcastle. Vaughan Council has since passed a holding bylaw with respect to the 280-hectare parcel and has pledged to seek legal remedies if Cecessary to fight any expansion. The York Region Separate School Board is also prepared to take legal action against possi- ble expansion. The board has approved a pro- posal to build a $62-million multi -use high scttttol and community centre for 1,224 students neitr the site. Legal action could be based on a decision p7► the Environmental Appeal Board in 1990 to � prove Superior-Crawford's proposal for lb-'Keele Valley site on the condition that Its size be restricted to 101 hectares, said Paul Costello, a committee spokesman and president of the Maple Ratepayers Association. The Environmental Assessment Hoard in 1978 had rejected the proposal on the basis that exist- ing technology at the time could not contain the contaminents in a project of such scale scale 4nd that two major aquifers below the pit — the water tables that serve Richmond Hill a'nd Maple — would be endangered. It also said the proposal would "inflict exces- sive negative impacts on the quality of life 4nd social environment of residents in .. . Maple." About 1,000 trucks carrying garbage rumble through the town daily and people in the com- munity who were concerned about the possible loss of value to their homes are now more con- cerned with the quality of life, Mr. Costello said. "We want to be known for the beautfhrl community we are and this area, once the high school is built, will be a model for others," Mr. Costello said. Residents fear plans for Innisfil dump site By Matt Murphy SJxrial to The Star INNISFII. TOWNSHIP — Local resident:, are concerned that a mil- lionaire develo1w )tans to turn a landfill site into Xtro Toronto's dump. But Stephen Mernick, best- known for his recent purchase of .Jim and Tammy Bakker's Herit- age U.S.A.. is huying land sur- rounding the site only to create a buffer zone for a small expansion, said his lawyer David Estrin. Although Estrin said Mernick has no long-term plans for the site south of Barrie, "nothing has been ruled out, and anything is possi- ble." Residents first became concern- ed about the dump's future this fall, when Mernick began quietly buying land and homes close to the dump. They are worried about in- creased dumping, sub -standard operation and leaching of toxic materials. Under an environment ministry emergency, order, six south Simcoe municipaliies are allowed to dump at the Innisfil site. The order was to expire at the end of this year, but ;Mernick wants it extended until the end of next year. lie has applied to use the re- maining 15 acres of the 50-acre site to accommodate the extra gar- bage. But more than 100 families in a one -mile radius of the dump feel expansion will continue until envi- ronmental damage occurs, said Mike Salnek of the Innisfil Heights Ratepayers Association. "if he's buying up land, we have a concern about malor expansion to serve Toronto and southern Ontario," Salnek said. "We want to know if the site can handle even what's dumped there now. There haven't been any proper tests con- ducted to establish that much." Sainek pointed to the 15-)var-old dump from his neighborhood, a half -mile away, noting that a 30- metre (100-foot) mountain of gar- bage has appeared in the past year, since Mernick purchased the site. Sainek and his neighbors com- plain the garbage is rarely covered over with earth. They are also con- cerned about toxic wastes leaching into their drinking water. Last year, environment officials discovered toxins bubbling from the ground near the site, and fore- ed the previous owner to put In a new drainage system. Comprehensive testing of the site won't be conducted until next year, when Mernick's application is scrutinized under the Environ- ment Protection Act, said district officer Ian Gray. Gray said local residents have no reason to worry about the dumb�. And, an environment ministry offi- cial said Mernick has not made a formal application for approval of such facilities. Estrin said residents are being given a chance to move nwav from the dump area, an opportunity which would not be afforded if the dump were ub cl oyg � 5 5. 0.��'j� fD.� bwf�_Fw�o �. E_n. wo�� _�� v�;�-rid 4iw IF o W rs Z MID s 0 5 d~ w o i 5 n w m o coo Er7 5 5 n°� 5 x o fA A con �1 r9 V+ to .+ o OOG faD G C y r `e 9- o 't7 _ �• "' w ry B E rppD re � w y p y 00 A fin E 0 w p�q phi v� tJ [�D M Fn, O p Fr � to eti w o n pai f° �. g R -, j A 8 ?" A ro 0 5 wEll n c5R n AL?�' 5. 8 oFFr w n Cs E nay "�� w e c� 5i,` R. =r CD °Q _� -� o O M EL o p 5 rB B 5 �o �aa $ �co tn c~o w ��� yy" a �q w E3 -+ w E�oAwcr�eD �g5x R� c, ga G cTpst�pF7gaF�F��w� CA'3 o In 5 rs p' 3 O. CD O ct m O rn y 0 CD C+ rA F.2 pd d � � M M ro C3 O cn en m r a 6 PC m 14 en r13 A6/THE TORO\TOSTAR. 11H RSDAN. (X7 OHYR 20. 1Q89 THE METRO PAGE Region won't allow `poison of lake r: 'Durham scuttles plan for Metro dump Aletro's plans for dumping garbage on its eastern neighbor have been scuttled, much i to the surprise and .hock of politicians. Durham Region Council voted yesterday that no more `Ietr) garbage will enter its territory after May, 1990. That's when Brock West, a landfill site :Metro owns but shares with Pickering, will be full. Politicians from both municipalities made ' warlike statements. "We're in a positi(n where we can be mas- ters in our own Fouse. The needs of our com- i munity and its citizens have to come first," said Pickering Councillor Bob :Mitchell, who ' initiated the motion. Metro has mismanaged Brock West and can't be trusted, Mitchell said. The big neighbor has dumped human body parts, sludge and "all kinds of different materials that we know in Pickering should not have gone into that site." The surprise move comes a day after Metro Council decided to give Durham Re- gion until Dec. 1 to find at least one site they could both use before it starts drilling on a proposed site in Newcastle, east of Oshawa. "I'm not going to let them drill," Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema said of the Newcastle site, which council opposes be- cause it is too close to the lake and Darling- ton Provincial Park. "We're not going to let them poison Lake Ontario." But Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn said the drilling will go ahead. He said Metro had gone to "great pains" to pound out a proposal that would benefit both parties, but now it's all gone up in smoke. "We shouldn't be going to war ... but we don't have much choice. We're going to go ahead and do what we have to do,' Flynn said, referring to the original plan to start drilling immediately. Herrema said yesterday's decision t start "building fences around the region" w'as Inevitable after Metro ruled posed sight on Rouge Valley land is ough and handed down its ultimate Flynn maintains Herrema gave on Inal ultimatum weeks ago whf talks between the two chairm about possible solutions to the lour bage crisis. According to rynn, Herrema ham Council would never agree to castle site but would likely agr e ' promise. o :Metro Council will discuss its nt at a meeting Tuesday. .W>.EyrT•�sxA�_ �_o:_.�:'OtiQti�ai'c�g, R�C, 'aE3,cB�onf�!iicsO.RA0w.a.����—. ;;°11' �0�a►� am��. $dW'F' E �`C4��7 m„� < mn�. -o vAy ry o"1vGi $`.'o�C.'.-7.7 �di'�.-"• G.'�o - Cnv� .d� ,Y.dt�o., m-�,ol°�paD' CCoac�F_CL ..(V:3 CEj �U � rr 0 , co 00d d0 0caW Zi C : G. a) 2) O 7w m + 0 .1 Gr ° c.ao•(o M= (0 Go G E-�.<woo c rn o i�? 5•$R A rA 10, ~:rWo p~0ooo �`o2w CL M���D �°o. 04 :.0 Cr rp QrQ a) + p W + o�p ~y"o Cdcp O�� •MCW BOccoo O Pq AO O.O¢• n 0y'�'��, -- or$D, - Cr 1AK�� r.;� �f�. fn'ruco�o'T 7p� $0.0R co aco� �P�P o0 o;9g ,< :- j.y... O"Q^ti'`i�`1rtiK0eYy.71' �Co0~R�r7•1 ,•��_D,t. . t°no^bao+'. 't, •VL�pO�"'7r,' Atio�T't �c9i do�yac-0r`�•�'.dR yfm? • Qui or;fD. .y0 . o7i' `�_{3� . �6A.0.1� t��D •tv�,!' orc�D. QQ"C�YL '• �av,r �$].r-.�.y � ' �=° �oc 'd� 'on�~oOtt '' �f:9P. �'Q�000AO rA'OY6~i' �.`c~•YD. y, _OydQ►..'. �~CnnQ"�O�' .o�OO�Cry"c-"i •,��NO •O"�;�`to[a•'�Di :0txr45W OF;4 B M" MR5m0:30 tz:3 4 Ed� oo �'Md Cn OQrMM d P. � RO O O �o F O.m< : A5-Y ':_�r. . 0c�m R��`�oM Ek w,: 98"zZ , ao °U0c0 „rnOBo�p�WB; ��oBr O_o P' T 0yD MC o— ti6..O OR n QQ OoO O� NOry"4 rOm :rO Cd~ F+�77O "CO OR W H>QQ T tiMac 0voa$°;5in 3(D r o °7 < o <`o c oi o Pr °acv:3 Q.-1nom F•°En Oc E; o c osreA °i•ti o c a .0O5 C p Oq O F, OdnLwv0 EF0.0 D0OO yM aOO m .B � v va�•07ir M ,e �•n B i3 ..r ''4 G c� Fn � 0 0 0 • � �o NUMN U ` d a 3 O Z_ pal rI- Beck rindumpetdg' e g At last, Queen's Park, Metro Toront and e� surrounding regions have stopped pointing fingers at each other and decided to do something together about the • impending garbage crisis. It's good news that a co-operative approach will be taken to the mammoth task of disposing of the area's 3.3 million tonnes of garbage each year. It's regrettable, however, that this new-found approach couldn't have come earlier, and it's to be hoped that Queen's Park will not shy away from taking a leadership role in co- ordinating what has to be done. Metro and the regions — Peel, Durham, York, and Halton — are rapidly filling their own garbage dumps while no replacement landfill sites have been decided on. They have to be found. At the same time, other measures need to be taken. While recycling and the blue box program are useful, they account for just a little over 2 per cent of Metro's garbage. A first priority should be a reduction in the amount of garbage produced. An important step would be to cut down on the excessive packaging of products. At present, Canada produces twice the amount of garbage per capita as Europe, but reductions will take tough federal legislation. However, Queen's Park can play an important role in bringing it about. On its own, the provincial government can play a tougher role in requiring the re -use of products, including all pop cans and bottles. These measures would at least reduce the need for incineration and landfill sites. But so far the most important step is that the municipalities have agreed to end their bickering, and that Queen's Park has agreed to be part of the solution. Bradley urged to halt growth of landfill site (Following is an open letter to James Bradley, Ontario Ministry of the Environment.) We wish to express our concern regard- ing the proposal of Laidlaw Waste Manage- ment Systems Ltd. to expand its landfill fa- cility north of Newtonville in the Region of Durham. Two pprevious applications, in 1983 and May 1988, were denied by both the Town of Newcastle (for rezoning) and the Region of Durham (to amend the official plan). These denials were based on environmental problems with this site. These problems were identified in .consult- ant studies commissioneikby the Town of Newcastle, by the applicant itself, and anal- ysis by the planning department of the Re- gion of Durham. Your own ministry has identified serous environmental concerns with the suitability of this site. In addition, the proposed area of expan- sion is located on prime agricultural land and is zoned accordingly. Both previous applications also were met with significant opposition by area rebi- dents. In pursuing this, their third application, Laidlaw Waste Management Systems Ltd. is preparing applications under the Environ- mental Assessment Act and has already held an open house to advise the public of its plans. However, it has not submitted an application either for an amendment to the official plan or for rezoning. There is no justification for circumvent- ing this process. Therefore, Mr. Bradley, we urge that you not grant a a consolidated hearing until such time as Laidlaw has complied with the Planning AM and provided a rezoning appli- cation, an application to amend the official plan, and a certificate of approval from the Ministry of the Environment MARIE HLBBARD Mayor, Town pf Newcastle GARY HERREMA Chairman, Region of Durham SAM CUREATZ, M.P.P. Durham East ROSS STEVENSON, M.P. Durham East :ram FWf AWThe ctobe mid Wr Good news from the garbage pile 9Y P03RIM LUSH . The G+obe and MaN A rusty dump truck clatters and bangs down a dusty suburban road toward a garbage dump. The one-man, one -vehi- cle operation identifies itself proudly on the truck door as "experts in waste man- agement-" Garbage has become a hot topic In the late 19t10a and "waste management" is the sexy euphemism for efforts to stem the rising tide and to make money at it. That new interest brings good news: . Scrap nylon from a plant in Kingston is being iransformed into hockey helmets because of a philosophy at Du Pont Can- ~'ada Inc. that it should try to turn waste materials into saleable products. . Davidson Instrument Panel (owned by -Textron Inc. of Providence, R.I.) expects to save $656,000 by installing microwave and infra -red equipment to render be- nign a built-up store of hazardous waste at its automotive parts plant in. Port Hope, OuL . Winnipeg Photo Ltd. recycles all of its developWig and bleaching chemicals. The recycling equipment paid for itself in about a year. Developer now costs the company about 90 cents a gallon rather than i3.40 off the shelf. UPRed jcM ,Vu*V ar mc4M Were sabmrney ad preaarm the erwmrrnec,kVnX er.d,ae are appatubmIn b4produas a+o wart te�ndocjri Across the continent, companies brought together through an expanding network of waste exchanges and brokers are putting each other's garbage to prof- itable use. Recyclers old and new are turning plastic soft-drink bottles into roofing, insulation and fibre -fill for pillows and parkas. Old tires and broken glass, mixed with asphalt, are making roads last longer. Slag from steel companies and fly ash from coal -burning electricity generators are extending cement. And today's newspaper could be next week's cereal box or cat litter. New ventures are born daily as entre- preneurial minds look for ways to take advantage of the burgeoning stream of materials collected from the expanding roster of municipal recycling programs. Everywhere, businesses are finding ways to reduce the amount of waste they produce, to reuse or recycle some of what used to be garbage, to cut the amount for disposal and to diminish the hazardous properties of some wastes. In the process, they are saving money, using resources more efficiently and cut- ting pollution. It's not just a bottom -line concern. As one said: "Business people breathe, drink water, have families, like to fish." That may well be true, but, they also are being pushed by their increasingly environmentally aware customers, shareholders, employees and commu- nities. They are threatened by new, tougher laws, more aggressive prosecu- tors and stiffer fines. And they face the bottom -line reality that the cost of handling waste is sky- rocketing. Commercial tipping fE4,4 at dump sites in the Tbronto area, f* ex- ample, are jumping from $18 a tova few months ago to a forecast $100 tj next falL (The increases reflect both shrinking landfill capacity and more realisdC accounting that includes, in addition to operating costs, the price of restoring the GARBAGE — Page B4 1%.AGII IJGIVVoi Ftivry v41 v Wa .. -- -- -%VI front B1 ue whe it's full and establishing ;new du rip to replace it.) At thel same time, materials xists are rising inexorably. Cutting Waste and capturing scrap for Buse thus become increasingly attractive. Further, businesses are finding tew ways to make money from trap materials, using advanced echnology to make fence posts rom used foam coffee cups and re- nving classic ideas, including ;omposting food waste into fertiliz- �r. And some cem. panies, having de- veloped new methods of dealing E h their own waste, find they can p a second g-in by selling the hnolo2- to others with similar In Hamilton, for -example, West- inghouse Canada Inc. is aggres- sively building its waste -manage- ment services, bom from the expertise the company developed in handling polychlorinated bi- phenyls in its own transformers, and augmented with new techno- logies being developed by its Pitts- burgh- based parent. And new companies are sprout- ing from the garbage pile. Applied Polymer Products Inc., an Edmonton -based manufacturer, is turning used plastics into new plant pots, textiles and book covers. Increasingly, industry is accept- ing, adopting and even promoting the philosophy inspired by the 196' report of the United Nations Brunt - land Commission: the world has to find sustainable forms of devel- UBC The University of British Columbia MBA INFORMATION SESSIONS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY T university of Manitoba I Westin Hotel Winnipeg Winnipeg 105 Council Chambers York Room 12:30-2:00 p.m. &3t)-7 00 p.m. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Univ !rsity of Aibe to Ramada Renaissance Edm rtor. Edmonton 349 C>ntral Academic Building San Frar.ciscoANasnmgton Roo^ 12:3G-2.00 p.m 5.30.7.DO P.m. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 University of Calgary # 274 Scurfield Hall 1230-200Pm opment or face environmental col- lapse. But it's mainly the public doing the pushing: Environics Research Group Ltd. has found in its quar- terly environmental surveys that 89 per cent of Canadians believe their health has already been affected by pollution. They believe things are getting worse and they are angry at indus- try and government, said Michael Adams, president of the Toronto - based polling firm. And "these are not transient atti- tudes that will disappear next month or next year (but rather) have become core beliefs. - The public wants immediate ac- tion: they want no landfill and no incineration right now, says John Hanson, executive director of the Recycling Council of Ontano. That may he possible some day, but an economy — particularly one as resources -dependent as Cana- da's — cannot turn on a dime, from using once and tossing away to using and reusing repeatedly. But in the meantime, the public's fears are translating into enthusi- astic participation — typically 80 to 90 per cent — in household recy- cling programs. And politicians are catching the mood. The federal government has passed its long -promised Environ- mental Protection Act (albe:t to mixed reviews), promised 5306- miaion to clean up the St_ Law- rence River and Halifax Harbor, set up a Centre for Sustainable Economic Development in Winni- peg and started a program to iden- tify environmentally preferred products. (Those moves mark an about- face in Ottawa. In their !irst year in power, the federal Tories slashed environment -related jobs and spending.) This year, Ontario is considering doubling its S2.5-million fund to he:p companies instaP waste -re- duction processes. And it plans to impiem Industrial Strategy for Abatement — a piece of legislation lauded by environmentalists as the most pro- gressive in North America. MISA will require industry 16uV. the best available technoktgy to contain pollutants before they reach Ontario's waterways. Com- piving is going to cost millions of dollars and push even the most progressive companies to the limits of their technology and expertise. Nevertheless, the business com- munity tends to agree with M1SA's philosophy while — predictably — complaining about its cost, exten- sive reach and fast -track timeta- bi w1ty, Metro is investigating 22 additional Initiatives, including collecting from apartment build- ings, establishing central depots for household hazardous wastes and compost (about one-third of the total waste stream is compos- table) and recycling drywall and rubber tires. Meanwhile, Halton, just west of Toronto, has banned corrugated cardboard from its landfill site. (Cardboard's portion of the total waste stream, 15 per cent, matches that from households.) And Peterborough, Ont., recent- ly voted to promote a ban on dispo- sable diapers. e. Quebec is putting the arm on its We've come a long way from the industries in a different way, day back in 1970 when an infant knaginative waste -management POP= can and both environment and bottom lines asking for money directly, aiming to raise Sioo-million from the cor- porate purse to finance recycling programs. _ And across the country, munici- palities are busy instituting recy- cling programs, with or without help from government and indus- try. victoria and three of its neighbors, tired of waiting for the B.C. government to move, plan to launch theirs on March 6. To date, more than too Ontario municipalities have Blue Box curb- side recycling programs. Midland and southwest Oxford both have made theirs mandatory. And the City of Ottawa is taking in used motor oil for re -refining, in addi. tion to the newspapers, cans and bottles usually collected. Metropolitan Toronto's disposal crisis stands as a warning to other com- :unities. Metro has to get rid of 3.:; million metric tons a year of solid waste — one-third of all the waste in Ontario and to per cent of the national total — and it is rap- idly running out of dump space. ent -'-ZA — the 11utu:ipa] With household recycling under Pollution Probe held a public fu^. ral for Toronto's heavily polluted Don River. At the time, mainstream Canada dismissed the group as a bunch of radicals fight- ing for a fringe cause. Today. with an annual budget of about S3.5-million. Probe is res- pected and consulted by business and government. It is actively involved in Canadian efforts to im- prove waste management. And its reduction -reuse -recycling philoso- phy has become mainstream thinking. But there's still a long way to go. Even though it is in most com- panies' bottom -line interest to cut waste, reuse and recycle, many don't. in Ontario, prosecutions of polluters have tripled in the past few years. About So per cent result in convictions and the average fine has more than quadrupled, to $8,- 7 00 in 1987. New solutions to waste some- times create new problems. The suppi.y of some recyclable materi- als is; far outstripping demand as a result of the proliferation of Blue -. -:.. , of progriWAL BMiiiewsprint in parrtt',iculal% s muafting down prim, a worry %r estsb- Ushed recycI M9 companies - So new markets have to be OIL" Velope d wo new capacity bent ' To that end, Ontario would 'like pulp mills to use old newspaper ffi part of their feedstock. < Publishers should pu* lllteir suppliers to pfibre,Asa d rint containing recycled Hardy Wong, director of Ontario's waste management branch - But the mills are reluctant. They would have to make expensive changes to their processes. Supply and price are unpredictable and most mills are located far from the large cities, where most old news- paper is collected. As well, rioted Mr. Hanson of the recycling council, most pulp mil", are owned by vertically integrated forestry companies that also profit from logging. So, Mr. Hanson noted, "it's tint going to happen voluntarily as long as there are forests to cut and gov- ernments that charge stumpage fees low enough to encourage con- tinued cutting. " Lately, concerns have developed about the new biodegradable and photodegradable plastics. At first bloom, they seemed a brilliant so- lution to plastic litter and the sheer bulk of plastic in the general waste stream (estimated at 5 to 7 per cent of the total.) But some environmentalists and government officials now turn thumbs down, arguing that these plastics merely disintegrate into smaller pieces of plastic. that they still require disposal and landfill space, and that the additives that make the plastics degradable also render them unsuitable for recy- cling, just when plastics recycling is about to take off. And they worry that, with wide- spread use of these plastics, the public might conclude that it's okay to litter and that the plastics waste problem has been soli ed. NEXT: Touting ptastic'c bad image m Qum St. W., Box 43,416 5%= PailREFUSE AND REFTJ Mfh YEAR, NO.,6,763 a MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1989 0 welinknownONorts be recycled KIMBERLEY NOBLE Otobe and Mall r Polystyreue, first introduced to North 06,i ician coctsttmers in the late 1950s, has Abeen one of the miracle raw materials of pad two or three decades. lrtacie from petroleum byproducts, it is t, cbeap and car, be adapted to make a variety of products that package, ect, hold wrater, insulate, float and fly. But this wonder plastic has become a slim of its own suc. ess It is so easy and expensive to manufacture that, until becently, there has never been am, reason to save or conserve it. Almost half of what `$s made ends up in products that are used Once and thrown away. North American industry churned out 2.4 ,Million metnc tons of polystyrene in 1988, -1.1 million of which went to make tum- blers, cutlery, bottles, assorted hard and soft packaging, foam trays for supermar- ket produce, coffee cups and lids, hinged ;foam containers for fast food and other disposable products. This mear_s that roughly 3,000 tons of 'polystyrene end up in North American garbage cams every day — enough to make 900 million take-ou: co?tee cups, which, 1:r,sely packed, would f,!i i0( 75-story of- fice towers. The volume and visibility- of polystyrene waste has turned the plastic into a major target of legislators and environmental niq)s trying to reduce the solid waste ng shovelled into North American lan- 41 ,. f :, ed with lifer bave =sio to ban, tax or limit the an of #bwbc begs and foam food mem ifiore wrtborities are expected to follaw. .. Moreovitr. son VWYaging customers are abandon tg polystyrene in favor of less controversial materials because of public concert about d" pirodirct's environmental 111fi. 1talor users argue that this is tmtais.AWplastics account for only a tray percenttge of the solid waste stream. But, at the same time, the conti- nent's twee biggest foam packaging com- panies — as well as its largest fast-food chain --imve decided the there's no time to waste in finding some of their own solu- tions. "We deckled we had to do something before ewe • are - ittad out of business," said Martim Fabi, president of lnnopac Inc. of Mississauga, Ont-, a mid -sized Canadian packager that has teamed up with a giant U.S- c m3ical and plastics producer to stem the tide of public criticism before it rkses airy hightsr. lnnopac's foam products subsidiary, Genpack Corp. of Glen Falls. N.Y., has set up a joint venture with Mobil Chemical Co. of Stamford, Corn., to build and operate one of the first two polystyrene recycling centres in North America. The Genpak-Mobil plant, called Plastics Agaim is located in Leominster, Mass.. a suburb of Boston. Amoco Corp. of Chicago and McDonalds Corp. of Oak Brook, Ill.. are setting up a similar plant, a pilot prot- ect on a much smaller scale, on Long Is- land. Both are gearing up to start recvcl- ing solid and foam pot} -sty -gene containers this month. Mobil, Amoco and Genpak are respec- tively the first- , second- and third -largest foam packaging manufacturers m North America. ` Although quite different, the two recycl- ing operations are a sign of the intense � ptsure pol)-. 3 ^� r f+s>,�eers have found themselves under in recent years. They air also leadine examples of t<he Genuine ,wfs �twciwiwere.,.,o w kviopac's Martin Fabi says industry decided to mw before there wee irry barts- Egg suppliers go back to paper cartons The GIODe an-1 1Jaii Ontario egg producers are switching back to paper cartons as a result of consumer concern about the environ- mental impact of foam containers. Because of consumer reluctance to buy eggs packaged in polysyrene, sev- eral.^-iajor producers have decided offi- cially to abandon the plastic in favor of traditional "pulp" containers, the Onta- rio Egg Producers Marketing Board said in its February newsletter. The board estimated that as a result, down from 40 per cent ir. 1967. Consumers and producers are wor- ried about the impact polystyrene pro. duction has or, the E?-th's ozone layer, as well as the fact that it is not biodeg- radable, the board's newsletter says. Egg producer- expec' al' major gro- cery sto-t- chains to swi-ch back to paper cartons vo,!,in the next few monies, the board added, with the ex- ception of Loblaw C;x. Ltd of Toronto. Loblaw is revieW,ng its egg packaging Policy. f "DT's Tuesday ,et ng }• � � 9g�9 ices uu H) KHTIf GILLIGAN AJA\-PIC'KERING - An update on the garbage situation is one of the items on the agenda of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the En- vironment's annual general meeting. Set for Tuesday. Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m.. in the cafeteria of Pickering ffigh School, the meeting will also include election of officers and financial reports. The high school is on Church Street, north of Kingston Road, in Pickering Village. .ss In the fall of 1987. Metro Toronto an- nounced plans to open an interim land- fill on an abandoned gravel site in north Ajax called Brock South. The landfill would be open for five years and accept about seven million tonnes of garbage. The site, Metro claimed, was need- ed to replace the Brock West landfill in Pickering, which is scheduled to close next year. Brock South. located on the Fifth Concession, is next to the Greenwood Conservation Area and sits on an aquafir, which supplies water to a large number of residents in the nor- thern areas. At a number of public meetings held by btetro, area residents turned out in large numbers to protest another dump here. Oppositioog� up to that point had come from a number of small groups, most notahly Dump Metro, and individual residents. In tktotxr of tvte7, members from some of the groups and individuals gut together and formed PACT. i In the late 19 0s. the provincial government was looking for a place to put a liquid industrial waste disposal plant. Ajax was one municipality look- ed at and concerned citizens opposing the plant formed Ajax Citizens Together or ACT PACT quickly grew in size -- it cur- rently has about 2.Uuu members -- and influence. Politicians of all stripes jumped on its bandwagon, all profess- ing to be anti -landfill. PACT's influence was so great that almost all candidates in last year's municipal election claimed to be PACT members and/or supporters. In December of 1997. Metro shelved plans for the Brock South site, claim- ing the cost to engineer it -- estimated at $90 million -was tax► expensive However, then -Metro chairman Den- nis Flynn said. if another suitable site couldn't be found. Metro would return to Brock South. Since then, Metro has investigated three sites in Scarborough, other sites in Pickering. two sites in Newcastle, looked into transporting garbage by rail to abandoned mines in northern Ontario and considered expanding the lifespan of Brock Nest and Keele Valley, in Vaughan. When the federal government an - nounced plan.,:, to yell abyluJ ie land it expropriated for an airport in north Pickering. Metro twice asked if it could buy ab,iut t,000 acres for a landfill. The federal government refused. stating an airport is still planned for north Pickering and, because of the birds attfacted to a landfill, a dump would be a safety hazard. Metro owns the 102-hectare Brock South site and Bill Parish, the chair- man of PACT, says Metro still wants to use it for an interim site. Last month, the Metro works Com- mittee approved a plan to use Brock South for a dump for construction debris, non -rotting waste and garbage unsuitable for IakefiU. Approval from the provincW government is still needed. "Brock South is back on the front burner. They want to use it for itx,,ow tonnes of debris that is unsuitable to be dumped into lake Ontario. That is a precious aquafir. If the waste isun- swtable for lake Ontario, then it's un- suitable to sit on an aquafir," says Parish. During 1988, PACT continued to meet and turned its attention to getting Durham regional council to break its ties with Metro. For years, the region and Metro dumped garbage at the same location. Last October, the group helped per- suade regional council to break the ties and go it alone on waste management. Parish says the group is going to have to keep the pressure on regional council, so it doesn't change its deri- sion and again work with Metro on fits ding a landfill. ''As soon as Metro comes along, they go back to bed with Metro," he says. Another Metro -owned and operated landfill is possible in the area, Parish feels. "It's an issue people thought had gone away. Well, it hasn't gone away. It's as large as life and it's threaten- ing the communities of Ajax and Pickering," says Parish. PACT will be selling coffee mugs at There was enough cake for everyone at a surprise party for Bill Parish, so none of the sweet stuff ended up in a landfill site. Parish, the chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment, was surprised by members of the group earlier this week as they threw a party to mark his 65th birthday. With him is wife Marny. the meeting. The idea for the mugs, which have the PACT logo mod the slogan Recyelers Do It -- Over and Over, is to raise money and help roduce the use of Styrofoam ups, Parish says. (Most Styrofoam takes hundreds of years to decompose.) indisposable, re -usable diapers will al'o be fold They e diapers don't go to a dump, with the sewage in them and the plastic t riat doesn't break down," says Parish. Ever; one is welcome to attend the rneetint.. For nme information, call 683-2003. IN SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4, UN AIMT mm Metro Toronto, ad o'i �ntn re ions seek common trash solution IIIYROMW rho Globe and Mail s Metropolitan Toronto and its bedroom cotamtildks, which now produce about one -fifth of Canada's gar- bage, are od one of their regular quests. iqr # itew Jumping ground- This time the search may prove instructive`t"thet Canadian cities that are very nearly rotting in their nun trash, or forced to pay exorbitant prices to have it hauled great distances. Garbage has traditionally been a municipal prob= item and the Ontario government would like to keep it Chat way, a spokesman for provincial Environment Minister James Bradley says. But the sheer magnitude of Metro's trash — 3.3 mil- lion tons a year, 600 trucks a day rolling into one of two dump sites still operating in the region — is forcing some rethinking of this maxim. At least, it is forcing communities to band together on a larger scale. So far in Ontario, about half a dozen firms are start- ing to see some commercial potential in municipal garbage on a grand scale. One consortium, led by sister companies CP Rail of ontreal and Laidlaw Waste Systems Inc. of Bur- gton, Ont., has already made a proposal to a group f senior regional politicians for an ambitious recy- cling, composting, methane- gas -producing and rafl- haul facility on the Metro fringe. Another consortium, lead by Canadian National Railway Co. of Montreal, is preparing to make a simi- lar pitch to the regional chiefs this month. Both are large-scale projects that would create new Jobs and could cost as much as $100-million, according to preliminary documents being put forward by one of the proponents. Both would attempt to reduce the amount of refuse that would end up in landfill sites by about 50 or 60 per cent. But it is not clear how successful they might be. Recycled material has not yet gained wide accep- tance in Canada and such a project could turn into just another glorified dump. N ith tipping fees in tht- Metro trea slated to rise to about $85 a ton of refuse this `ring (and possibly to $100 by fall), an eight-mil6on- ►arndfili site, such as the one CP-Laidlaw has asso- `d with irc rprvelinp nmiect_ could ¢rocs at least -lPawd Oil on a wu* 1.2% inorawa in rrotm untA 1991 --- and 0.8% theraabr; Aft" of ►A*W tons 01 aoris anst1 Arrttray;? a«,ipa-aMso Yocum Aesc 10b1b DrpsIMN >b 10 ism 1996 (blot tha aid of..eh rear) (AMlWm of r►w9bic aria) 0 IY99 SD65 1 20 some equity or research money, or in helping to smooth the way through the morass of regional and municipal interests. David Oved, a spokesman for Mr. Bradley, does not lk�'A not, mi—to hnne that Ontario is readv to throw a So far, the kind of provincial help being considered by Queen's Park is mainly legislative, to augment the powers of regional authorities, and technical support. to help find new uses for recycled trash The Liberal government has taken some initiatives in this area since it first took power in 1985. Early in its mandate, the govemment negotiated a recycling agreement with soft-drink makers that required them to use 50 per cent refillable containers, in return for being allowed to use aluminum tans opposed by envi- ronmentalists. It boosted Blue Box curbside recycling from a 40,000-household experimental program in three com- munities to a system now used in 1.2 million bomes in 100 communities, or virtually every urban centre in Ontario. And it has just raised its grant budget from $1.2- million to i2.5-million to help various industries prac- tice waste recycling on their own premises; one offi- cial says the province is considering doubling that available amount again. More recently, Mr. Bradley has begun a series of private meetings with influential business people in newspaper publishing, wholesale groceries and the plastics industry, hoping to encourage them to use more recycled matenal in their operations. And the province is holding out a long-term plan in which it hopes to expand the Blue Box idea so that as much as half of the current amount of household garbage can be separated at the curb for further use. 7b date, however, the provincial efforts on waste management have paled beside, say, the exercise to control acid rain, which is starting to produce multi- billion -dollar expenditures by government and indus- try. The province's main contribution, some say, has been to force Metro and the regional chairmen from neighboring Peel, Halton, York and Durham into one group, headed by a provincial deputy minister, in an attempt to seek the great garbage solution. This committee has met twice and is already at the point where the individual members have agreed to each put forward one dump site from within their region for common use — a somewhat novel way to share the political heat. Metro's particular garbage problem is that environ- Its two existing dumps are nearly full. At current rates, one will be exhausted by the spring of 1990, the other by 1993 or 1994. When lengthy environmental hearings are taken into account for each proposed new solution, there is a real danger that for a period in the mid-1990s, the region will be without a dump. The problem is not a new one, nor is it unique to Metro Toronto. The Southern Ontario cities of Oakville and Burlington together spend more than S5-million each year sending burnable ti-ash, about 60 per cent of their accumulated waste, to the United States because there are no licenced incinerators nearb} . Similarly, airlines with foreign flights landing a-. lbronto's Lester B. Pearson international Airport are forced to have thousands of tons of wasted meals trucked to the United States for incineration. The waste is not allowed in Canadian landfill sites for fear of introducing foreign strains of foot-and-mouth dis- ease to animals. Ontario is not likely to relax its environmental res- trictions on new dump sites or waste projects because it is still spending about $1-million a year over a 10- year or 15-year period trying to find out what is in the old ones. Provincial environmental officials say they have a pretty good idea what is in the approximately 1,40E solid -waste municipal dumps that are still active, but they are mostly ignorant of what is in the approxi- mately 2,500 closed sites. All closed dumps are assumed to contain at least some toxic industrial waste, but the precise nature of such waste, the potential dangers and even the lo- cation of some of the sites are still a mystery. Collectively, Canadians produce more trash than many other industrialized countries but the records can be misleading. The estimated 1.7 kilograms of garbage each person generates every day in Canada is still Jess than the Japanese equivalent of about two kilograms. But the Japanese are leading recyclem and reusers of their waste, and only about one kilogram ends up in the trash bin. Of this, most is incinerated and osl,. about 30 per cent, or 19 million tons a vear (still considerable sum in a heavily industrialized island state), ends up as landfill. By contrast, Canada, with About one -fifth the pop- ulation of Japan, produces roughly 16 million tons a .___ -t --_6- -- „--- „t r ;n ,ntn-0 VP Ct Mi- -77 _ etro tak Se garbage crises ser1ouslJvcirri Moon's vHITEV In response to H No •more band - letter to the editor, e crisis (Feb. aids for our gasbag 7),1 ure would like to on the root of the ss Metro is focusing problem•oblem is that we are The P garbage _ 3, producing too much million tonnes In tonnes in 1984, with 2 roved a number of _ Metro has nds ions which we cent recomm anticipate will lead to a of per reduction in the waste g landfill sites. cling These includeh should be le and programs, et,o sing Operational in all mes by mld-1989, tial semi-detached s inmulti-re osting, pilot leaf and brush comp corrugated cardboard recycling, a pilot wet/dry pTOJect for 30,OOWOod people, and plans for lire and reuse. Also, Metro plans a g million educational campaign and opts a 50 per Cent reduction illsupp packaging'MetrO Council is The new : h issue in a dealing with this tong , comprehensive manner. e recognize that reduction, are:e, recycling, re -use and recovery all essential ingredients in a long' range Plan• Even if we are able to e waste, - eliminate 30 per cent of ore landfill we still have need for hm space. To this end the ontchao Region from the Greater, Toronto Reg are mostimportant part of the solution will be the active participation of all program to businesses in these nt of garbage we reduce the am aTe producing- JO'k KIN G Metro Count - Seneca i hts 13 g ."r a Taarto STAR TtmmAr mA" Firms causing AL. trash 'Panic,' union charges By 1nchael Smith Toronto Star Private companies are promoting a "sense of panic" about the garbage crisis in order to grab a monopoly on an ;ndustry potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, a major public union charged yesterday. -The garbage crisis is urgent. but we do not think panic is warranted." said Jeff Rose. president of the Canadian [anion of Public Employees CUM many of whose 45.000 Nfetro-area members handle garbage pickup and disposal. ,.Society can take a bit of time" to think the problem through. Rose said. R Then a •'publicly owned. publicly staffed and publicly accountable' utility could be created to empha size reducing waste and return any profits to the taxpayers "We don't think :he public will be as well -served if :he bottom line is profit." Rose said, pointing out that a company making money from waste might not be eager to jl reduce garbage. The union's call for a public gar- bage utility came as the chairmen of the five Metro -area regions, to- 1 gether with Premier David Peter- son. were preparing for a long- awaited progress report today on the garbagqe crisis The garbage crists for Metro be- JEt� gOSE: CUPS prweidar,t came critics last year. poll• W asses ro Z" a public ,3ar- •:cians ruled out 3 !ong•plarned �� created ardfia site in A;ax in,� he ;rounds b :hat it was env:rormentaily :rn ,,d v e•er3t It ::ad been intended :o repine _e in ,`w'o r3pidly :...^4 •.'Jmp3 ]uw I �-? �•:: 6. - .�...1 ;Se by kfBLrO. D'l,^h3m 3nQ-1�• .:.7:'r.3'i the fee charged 7y J pr:'13t2 � -any ,3 "eii x:.h garbage :;e as nign 3s 61150 J nne- o:os Ire ;.r�3dy tro c:fc:ai; say ..,-:cn ., .:.a ^.Q_ r.,rn rig. 3 :,n mean revenues of nearly nail a cu• : lien .ncnl:.rg n•.3ce Resources . CP 33:: rid ;ondollars ayear. Laidlaw Waste Systems :ne Detailed Ibt presented .ts plan to Metro's works The five chairmen — from mmminerC?flast month,and agRail was roup Metro, and the regions of Peel err this month d to Halton. Durham and York — have appear Eismonnv,acc plan was only been meeting regularly since early this year to come up w1ti1 50IULlOnasketched ed GuiUordLbecaluse key details to the garbage crisis. Peterson has were still being worked out but rovinciai bureau- craatto Med akesurethe meetings councillors were told: produce results. 0 The plan involves recyciing. re - The chairmen have put together use and recovery of usable waste a detailed list of guideimes for solo - ,ions to the crisis, which '+rill be FbmmcW beneft sera to the regional councils fora 0 Garbage would be shipped hr proval late this month or es rty rail if necesury, m separatiott ApriL v form the plants where organc material' once approved. they tl� far the plastic paper and metals would bass at a proposer, be removed. The unusable matert- vats companies to suggescon' aft 40 per cent, wpyd be put w crew aosrs to iba.eriaia ag. ,wa Q&hma Ails Tents rr M a � . ye camnomt = tod iO a°' p The separation Punta would be but ha did sad that he built in three "modules" with each h CUPSs fean a( private module able to handle about 4.000 agR oPerrtioa were exa8ta` tosses of waste a day. Each mod - garb garbule would cost between 1150 mil- •' We don't intend to completely !ion and t200 million to build. turn over a waste management au- 0 All of he technology for he thority to the private sector with a prop is proven and working blank cheque.' he said. elsewhere in the world. ucmg waste has to a top Guilford said his consortium has - priority in the Metro area garbage n't ..et found a home •far :he �pa- ,risis according to a committee of ' ration piano. but "'we Ire %'King the Solid Waste Environmental As- essment Plan. 3 public body work- 3t a tot of ,:...^.g P^`s'" •ties. nit on the crisis The Star's Jim He 3!50 ;aid a ..... j9cersrepor,s. _ a.^tied p.Jy •wp,:.A .pip :..'.3^.t.Ji : In an open :et er to the five re• ..-Nn, ...- ;:onai chairmen and provincial c iding jobs. clJis..ae gr ,.p aid :ne ;asters "m rey r.t :'.net.r.r-:r THE GLOBE AND MAIL, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989 A13 NATIONAL Agency to seek garbage solution for Toronto area BY JOCK FERGUSON The Globe and Mail Ontario Premier David Peterson and the chairmen of five regional governments in the greater Toronto area announced the creation of a waste management authority yesterday. Its job is to find a system for looking after the long-term disposal of the area's garbage. The Premier and the chairmen want a contract signed for the new system within a year. Finding a safe and effective way to dis- pose of household and industrial garbage for the region's four million people after 1992 is "the most important challenge we face," Durham Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said in announcing the agency. Within a month, the new agency will re- ceive legislative authority from the prov- ince and select a steering committee com- posed of the regional chairmen from Hal- ton, Peel, York, Durham and Metro'I'oronto, another elected representative from each region, Gardner Church, the provincial deptgy minister for the greater Metro area, and a chairman selected by the members. By June 15, the steering committee expects to seek proposals for a system that would handle eventually up to 12 million tonnes of garbage a year from the rapidly growing area. The deadline for submission of bids for the contract will be Oct. 2. The chairmen want to have evaluation of the proposals completed by the end of the year and the final choice approved by the province and five regions. They hope that a contract can be awarded by Feb. 23, 1990. Mr. Peterson promised that the new dis- posal system will face a full environmental hearing. Experience in garbage disposal will be an important factor in the final decision, as will cost, the chairmen said in a written statement. This could make it essential for bidders to have one of Canada's three large private garbage companies, Waste Management Inc., Browning -Ferris Industries or Laid - law Waste Systems Inc. as a partner. However, the chairmen said the new au- thority will examine buying some or all of the system once it is built and operating, or entering into a long-term lease with pur- chase options. Mr. Peterson and all the chairmen stressed the need for substantial reduction in waste generation — 25 per cent by 1992 and 50 per cent by 2000. They want to see more separation of types of waste by house- holds and industry and legislation to sharp- ly reduce unnecessary and wasteful pack- aging. The waste authority will also aid bidders to find receptive communities outside Th- ronto or conversely help communities attract bidders. If no communities want the Toronto area's garbage, then "the regions and the successful bidder will have to con- duct a traditional site search to nominatc sites for approval," the chairmen said. Mr. Peterson made it clear that the choice of how to handle the garbage "was iF the hands of the five chairmen and not m. the province .... The selection process will be open; there will be public hearings and they will accept advice from every- body." He told several hundred politicians an( - citizens gathered at the Ontario Science Centre for the announcement that "the shape and form (of the new garbage sys- tem) has not been decided ... but it will have to serve the region for the next several decades." The five chairmen are worried about how they might handle a short-term garbage crisis after Metro's Keele Valley dump is full in 1992 and the new system is not opera- ting.They agreed that each region will se- lect one emergency site for use after 1992. Regional chairmen met David Peterson. From left Gary Herrema (Durham); Frank Bean (Peel); Peter Pomeroy (Halton); Tonks (Toronto). .EFF WA&%RMAN/Rp Globs and Mad King (York); and Alan New tier emerging g g � re (� ior`politics e � 9P, e4 , S �Yt BY MICHAEL VALPY i i?51 J C /' TESTERDAY IN THE Onta- ' rio Science Centre, the po- litical bosses of the Toronto area read — some with a surprising amount of difficulty — speeches written for them by a public relations firm about gar- bage's final solutions. They also congratulated each other Moments later, Colin Isaacs, their leadership over executive director of Pollution garbage.e. Ontario Premier David probe — the environmental Peterson went so far as to call it "heroic leadership" and -lead- experts, was telling reporters ership of this calibre. " that a letter he had sent on Jan. There was a video on garbage, 25 to the Premier, asking for a prepared by the same firm that meeting to talk about Toronto's wrote the speeches. garbage, had not even generated The video showed that theN a reply. "You would have done Greater Toronto Area now has a better if your name was uzzo,' capitalized name and an emblem a p r and a mission to handle garbage gen s born. — or, put another way, that the What happened at the Ontario four million people of the area Science Centre yesterday was are slipping closer to a new tier that the council chairmen of of government comprising Met- Metro Toronto and the four re- ropolitan Toronto and its fo gional municipalities — Halton, surrounding municipalities. Peel, York and Durham — an. At any rate, after the poli- nounced they were going to find ticians had finished speaking, a joint solution for the area's four one of the wolf -like lawyers who million annual tonnes of gar. seem always in attendance at bage. municipal gatherings, looking hey paid '.n.ev will ask for fat iheep for their developer federal government — and, r clients, said to another: •• If I they ;et nowhere with ottzrxa. read this piece of theatre right, go to the provincial government the only important comment was — for legislation compelling rc- by Peterson, who said the munic- ductions in the amount of per- ipalities are going to decide w at missible product packaging. I o o a u gar age, not t7ie They said they will also ask province. the provincial government for which about sums it up. authority to impose new stan- Which further makes one won- dards for garbage within their der why Mr. Peterson should be area, such as making household - having meetings with a private ers and businesses separate company seeking his advice en their garbage for recycling. how to win the contract esti- They promised to meet targets mated to be maybe worth $1-bil- for reducing buriable or burna lion a year for hauling away th ble waste by 25 per cent by 1991 region's garbage. and 50 per cent by 2000. A 25 per cent owner of the com- They promised open hearings) pany is developer Marco Muzzo, on the future of the region's gar-r who together with his partners bage disposal; they promised to contributed a total of $112,650 to develop state-of-the-art tech-1 the Ontario Liberal Party in the nology for reusing waste. last election. The company also And they announced that they considered bringing Mr. Peter- had constituted themselves a son's father-in-law in as a "low- steering committee to hear sub - profile" investor to -assist in missions on garbage disposal selling the concept (of private and make recommendations on disposal) to the Premier." who should haul it away. At the Ontario Science Centre, There's a lot to think about Toronto's CITY -TV reporter Col- . the costs. the environmental in Vaughan asked the Premier if protection 2roce�c a �r e r he was embarrassed by reve- rivate ar uhlir shn lations of his meetings with Mr. ave t..e disposal contraesp Muzzo. Mr. Peterson - replied: whether the mammoth recychf "Truthfully I'm not em arrass- projects that the chairmen aft ed. " Whereupon Mr. Vaughan talking about are workable. i0o asked him: "What does embar. And I suppose there's the rass you, Mr. Premier?" terson factor. 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I dq -s -! l74 (D UQ fD cD M a eD °C e. -„'J !n T ' w ,T -kxarba e re uireb nuw ilili u- ocl, . o m v O 00 m 0 2 a v O Z T� <,llGlll lllV1_ C (From Page 1) ple of weeks, is the creation of a A tentative schedule indicates must puy-vforward one en- during us to buy, but little atten- steering committee to manage an opening of tenders in June, vironmentally sound landfill site. tion has been paid :o the produc- ed is a plan for the establishment the implementation of the new closing in October and the awar- Shou16 the capacity be required tion of packaging which is en - of a research institute for ongo- system. Ultimately, the ding of a contract by February between 1992 and 1996 while the vironmentally soun ing study of technological ad- chairmen hope to create a solid 1990. new system is being established, He added that if for some vances in the field. waste management authority, "There are six to eight waste the sites would be managed on an reason Ottawa did not choose to The new industry would take in similar in structure to the Metro management firms in this coun- inter -regional basis, not on the act quickly on this, the province society's garbage and turn it into Toronto and Region Conservation try and beyond its borders" basis of regional boundaries. should step in. a marketable resource. Only Authority, to oversee the inter- prepared to bid for the contract, The Keele Valley site shared by Premier David Peterson com- residual waste would go to the regional initiative. But that said King in an interview follow- York Region and Metro is ex- mended the five chairmen for landfill sites. would take time for it to become ing the conference. pected to have a net capacity their "heroic leadership", calling Tonks told the audience that legislation, and time is simply The chairmen believe that surplus by 1992 of 7 million their collective vision "sensible the end -product of the new not available in this growing through this process the provin- tonnes. and progressive for the future". system "could represent a major area. cial target of a 25 per cent reduc- Central to the chairmen's pro- "This is the first step in a form export opportunity for Ontario". First on the interim steering tion in waste by 1992 and a 50 per posal is the development of a new of co-operation that could even But what that resource will be committee's agenda — as early cent reduction by the year 2000 mind -set — society must stop extend to transportation and is not yet clear since the system as this spring — is to call for will be realized. thinking of waste as something to social services in this part of On - itself has not yet been decided. tenders from both the private and In the event that the solid waste be thrown away and consider it tario," the Premier said. Part of the chairmen's pro- public sectors for the develop- management system is not as a reusable resource. To ensure He promised his government's posal, which is to be discussed ment and operation of a cost- operational by 1992, the this, the chairmen are asking the co-operation in responding to the and possibly endorsed by their in- effective, comprehensive, long- chairmen's proposal provides for provincial govenment to em- suggestions for solid waste dividual councils in the next cou- term waste management system. a contingency plan: each region power municipalities with the management forthcoming from - -------- - legislative right to impose much the regions, but stopped short of stricter requirements for pledging provincial dollars. separating waste for recycling. "The decision is in the hands of Many municipalities, including these gentlemen," he said gestur- Markham, now recycle volun- ing towards the chairmen. "It is tarily via the Blue Box program, not in the hands of the province." it may soon become mandatory, In closing, the Pr 9mier `- and be expanded to include multi- queried: "Finally, what 'is the ple dwellings and industry. alternative? To fight, co Fplain, The proposed plan for reduced blame the other guy becau he is waste also includes a plea for on the other side of the regional federal legislation to reduce the boundary? I don't believe there is volume of packaging in the waste an alternative to what these stream. gentlemen have embarked "Our society today enjoys a upon." general level of affluence that is "We're under no illusions as to unprecedented, but there are the potential costs," said King. costs," cautioned Bean. But, as Peterson questioned, "Packaging catches our eye in- what are the options? Only one Markham politi- cian managed to make it to Tuesday's announcement of the chairmen's proposal for a long-term program for solid waste management — and he was not impressed, Regional Councillor Gord Landon said in a subsequent telephone interview, that he was "taken back that the plan was presented by the chairmen and the province didn't seem to be involved." "(Premier) Peterson didn't seem to have a vision. He wasn't giving any kind of leadership," Landon remarked. "I went down there expecting to hear something really different, but I didn't learn much I didn't already know." Landon said that he is glad to see the regions working together on this very serious problem, but he doesn't think "the province is really giving any kind of committrient." "This proposal has rna * jor ramifications for us," he commented. "Achieving 25 per cent reduction in waste by 1992 and 50 per cent by 2000 it's going to be a lot of fun. Landon is concerned that the Keele Valley site will be finished by Jan, 1 1993. And he claims that several of the long-term proposals he has seen would not kick in until 1996. So we're back to square one —where do we dump the garbage" The only concession Lan- don can see is that the chairmen are asking the pro- vince to permit individual environmental assessments on each site as requested, rather than requiring all sites be done simultaneously as is the present procedure. "Even if we start en- vironmental assessments now, we wouldn't have anything completed by 1992," Landon alleged. His concerti, of course, "presup- poses that none of the long- term proposals are able to kick in by 1992.­ 1w"ec-;04 / Landon suggested that the key problem in dealing with the garbage crisis is a lack of public awareness. "One of the things I looked" at," he said, "is to take thel garbage collection portion., off the tax bill and have peo- pie pay by the bag." The current household generates one ton of garbage per year. Landon said that if people had to buy tags for ap- proximately $1 apiece to put on each bag of garbage, public awareness could become heightened very quickly and recycling might gain Popularity. "A whole public awareness in industry and a major educational process has to take place," he alleged. Landon says that dumping fees increased from $18 to $50 per tort last year. This year the figure will leap to $88 per ton, "People think this problem is going to magically disap- pear, and it won't," he said, P4 WEEKENDER, MARCH 17,1989 Weekender /4 Garbage looming Garbage disposal is not a new problem. It's just that the pro- blem is looming before us in a greater way than ever and a crisis is imminent because local and provincial politicians have had their heads buried in the sand for the past dozen years or so. The fact is that burying gar- bage is not a very satisfactory way of getting rid of it for large urban areas. And people just don't want to live near a garbage dump — and who can blame them. The volume of garbage from a megapolis is �,;staggering — iour munui, annually. Although recycling is one way of reducing the flow of garbage it can elminate only about 15 per cent at most. And incineration has its problems too — namely the fear Of Pollution from the smoke emitted from an incinerator. Thus new and innovative ways must be sought to slow the flow of garbage. Let's hope that a recent in- itiative announced by the chairmo�n of the. five Metro area regions pans out — we don't have much time left. — Don Bernard PUSHING PANIC BUTTONS d�FQ��',�� Politicians and buttons". an intergovernmental non -biodegradable Bill Parrish, chairman burner". Ratepayers of the Already, a worldwide approach to the crisis is a materials. of Pickering Ajax Citizens Newcastle is also being Greater Metro regions search for new, good move to help end Peel's recycling Together (PACT -an considered for a potential fear environmental 'environmentally safe, the problems. program is one of "the environmental lobby) says dumping area. But, there issues may be over disposal technology (that The regions want 25 leaders of the race" for "It chairman's ideas) will is much local opposition. looked in the rush to will concentrate primarily per cent of all garbage recycling over many gtve peope no say in the Metro Chairman Alan find a long term on recycling) is taking recycled by 1991 and 50 Metro -area municipalities. pry '�' "Durham , Tonks states that Brock_ solution to the Metro place. The chairmen percent of the garbage (with the exception of Parrish adds Region So�=sitg,__near the Rouge River Valley, may garbage crisis. called on the federal recycled by 2000. Halton). Already Peel has is s uncTer stye The chairmen of the government to reduce At the present Halton identified possible dumpar ae —^ -- not meet environmental five area regional packaging (through residents are recycling 16 locations and carried out The Brock West requirements. municipalities gave legislation) and for the per cent of their garbage, the required tests. Landfill site (in Pickering) He adds the Pickering themselves 11 months to province to allow stricter whereas many other Response to the is about to close in two dump in Durham and the obtain a master plan, last penalties for recycling municipalities are just chairmen's master plan is years, however; it's life as Maple dump in York week. infractions. beginning the recycling less optimistic in areas a dump could be Region may have to be In two of the five The chairmen's stand program. Few have that are directly being extended because it is extended if needed. regions, there is little was news well taken in reached 10 per cent. affected by the growing being suggested that each That is "crushing" news alarm over the 11 month Halton and Peel Region. Halton was the first numbers of Metro trash. region offer an interim for the Town of Vaug n` deadline. However, York, Halton and Peel recycle municipality to ban A super -bureau (11 emergency location. residents because they e Durham and Metro are their garbage and it's corrugated card board member steering Another potential now in a legal battle o = areas with the most to helped to "soften the from their dumps. It is committee) will be the dump site is at Brock stop Metro fro T_ lose. Consequently, they blow" of the crisis. now looking at private first step in establishing South. Although at the "back expansion operations 4 Keele Valley landfill are pushing the "panic Officials there feel that proposals to recycle more the chairmen's solution. present it is on the WP:NUl• GALLAGHER tr garbage disposal problems. way to dispose of garhage, he says. other regions. W - Durham region has the Herrema says Durham and the Herrema says the meeting was He says Durham has capacity for 18 arbage problem of five other regions arc "pursuing terms of "very successful" and he's pleased the more months of garbage at the Brock itan Toronto area regions. reference for a long term" and, if other regions "are prepared to assist West Landfill Site, whereas other he word from Durham chair- rrxessary, an interm waste solution. us". Herrema explains that Durham regions won't fill their landfill silos tin- y Herrema who met with All representatives were co- "is at the bottom of the totem poll", re- til 1993 or 1994. "1 was pleased with the Itatives from four other rn)erative and are going to ask for pro- quiring more immediate action with attitude of some of those who are in ist Friday to discuss solutions posals from the private sector for a regards to garhage disposal than the much better condition. " - 6®R/,6 I9g� a� �?-� Herrema calls rumors about \ Durham region ending up with a land- fill large enough to accommodate all the surrounding regions' garbage "scare tactics. They're not founded on any information." Representatives from the ,five regions are to meet again Friday..1 . Aiarm. "be g over Metr arba ge EL 3Y MaiAVAL" fh 3 4 ICHARD GILBERT, the psychologist who has made garbage his mission on Metro Toronto's munic- ipal council, has an analogy for the way Toronto and its four sa- tellite -city neighbors are going about resolving their waste prob- ■ lems. It is as if, Mr. Gilbert said yes- t terday, Toronto's city planners i abandoned all planning on their a own and simply called devel- p opers to ask them what they e wanted the city to be. Just so ... the indications are e that garbage disposal for the f Greater Toronto Area — the country's megametropolis — is going to be what the winning bid- der for the contract says it will be. Which is why Mr. Gilbert has taken to ringing alarm bells for the press. Here is the story so far: The council chairmen of Metro Toronto and its four neighbors — the regional municipalities of Halton, Peel, York and Durham — have agreed to create a single structure for waste manage- ment. They were pushed into this by David Peterson's Ontario gov- ernment, no mean feat consid- ering the filthy squabbling that was going on among them (inter alia, over garbage) as little as six months ago. Credit for this goes to Mr. Peterson's deputy minister for Toronto, Gardner Church. But, gosh, a monster unleashed — the five chairmen have now announced their intent to establish a Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee (SWISC), made up of regional politicians and the skilful Mr. Church. SWISC's job will be to "develop a call for proposals, evaluate the proposals, negotiate with propo- nents, and recommend the appropriate solid waste manage- ment system for the period be- ginning January, 1992, and con- tinuing for at least 20 years.' SWISC is to be set up late this month. The call for proposals would be issued in June. Bids would be returned during Octo- ber. The contracts would be issued in February, 1990. It would be hard to imagine a concept more alien to the intent of Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act. (We're talking four million tonnes of garbage to s Indeed, in all probability, whi he five chairmen have propose illegal under the assessmen ct unless — and this would bb. ossibly the biggest -unless. ver to set foot in these parts Mr. Peterson's governmen xempts the garbage proposal rom the act's requirements Which should dispel any questim marks in anyone's mind as t why the private entrepreneurs a - garbage (the ubiquitous Marct Muzzo et al) have been cozily coiling around the Premier. The assessment act require: that any major environmentall1 sensitive public undertaking bt selected only after all possibl( alternatives have been analyzed What the five chairmen art doing is the antithesis. They are saying that the selected systerr will be chosen from among those submitted in response to a cal for proposals — not from ar analysis of all reasonable meth- ods. Hence Mr. Gilbert's analog) of the developers telling the planners how they want the city to be. The timetable the chairmer have proposed leaves virtuall no room for the public to make - known its feelings. SWISC is given no more than two months — from the end of April to the end of June — to "develop a call for proposals" and ask for sub- missions. A disturbing question is what happens to SWEAP, Toronto's Solid Waste Environmental Assessment Plan — the city's planning process, consistent with EAA requirements, which has involved hundreds of citizens and community and environ- mental groups over the past two years (at a cost of $10-million) in a search for the most appropn- ate over-all waste management system. "SWEAP," Mr. Gilbert said, "is unlikely to recommend that everything be resolved by issu- ing a proposal call. " As he started thinking about the whole concept the chairmen have created, he said the words, leaped unbidden to his lips: . fl-A +Ui. i. hart ^ - 01A0 `k%� — Oshawa This week 579-4400 circulation 576-9335 classftied Whitby 579.4400 real estate A Metroland community Newspaper P.O. Box 481 683-9430 Pickering Toronto area TIMOTHY JOHN WHIT T AKER Oshawa, Ont. UH 7L5 Publishes Osha ahNnilnr III,, 4yeer Illul"hmd , ,r', .'p (II sduy Fnoav Sunday at 665 Famwell St Oshawa is one (11 the Melroland Pnnhni Publishing 3 DisWbulmg gulag of stint{ban newspepels whlch Includes The Acton Free Pnss Ala0ickering News Advertiser. Adve Adverle'e'Guardlan, The Georgetown II John Sturrup, Editor Betty Carr, Advertising Manager hSet Weekend. Aurora Banner The BlanNton Guardian The Burbngton Post rile Elotecoke ono CThesloulhiOcMlUunr 1OPRvliille henScarbII PoOlishln Kirk Bailey, Distribution and Circulation RchmondHMThornhipUberaLToroughM and Disinbulmg Is a division of HarII Elllerposes Ltd 'Ontario Communry Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Cou Manager Mernber of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association cd Second class mall ICglsfrahnn rummu -r751 Mel suhunofmn rafrs St50 a veal IINaliforaICanadSa5� les�� Dal Br �v 93131 q Who will profit; a; from trash crisis? f r By David Lewis Stein The five -sided building looks like just another of the small, gritty one -storey factories one finds in the east end. But inside the concrete walls there is noth- ing but garbage. Rubber -wheeled bulldozers crawl right tip on top of the mounds of broken and spill- ing green plastic bags, struggling to push the mess into a tighter pile. When you get close, the odors meld together into an oily, fog, smelling of rotten fruit. This is the Bermondsey Trans- fer Station operated by Metro- politan Toronto's works depart- ment. It looks like a nightmare. In fact, it is a potential gold mine. Incredibly, Ontario Premier David Peterson and the chairmen of the five sprawling regional cities along the lakeshore, York, Durham, Peel, Halton and Metro Toronto, are thinking about giv- ing the gold mine away. That is what the big garbage figr._ is all about. There is big money to be made froi f garbage. Will the process be pub cly owned and the money used for public benefit? Or will the politicians let private compa- nies step in and rake off huge profits. Consider this fascinating little paragraph from the 1988 Finan- cial Post report on Laidlaw Tran- sporation Ltd. Laidlaw is part of Envacc Resources Inc., a politi- cally well-connected consortium eagerly proposing to solve our garbage problems. "Solid Waste Services ... Fis- cal 1987 operations ... Operat- ing profits were up 139 per cent, to $90,124,000. These results were attributed mainly to acquisition of GSX Corporation • in October, 1986 which made the company the third largest waste services company in North America." In a report to the American Se- curities and Exchange Commis- sion, Laidlaw said, "The percent- age of revenue from the waste services segment has been 37, 54 and 52 in fiscal' 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively, and 59 per cent, 42 and 42 in the correspond- ing years from the passenger service segment." In other words, Laidlaw, a Canadian trucking company that expanded into the United States where it got into running school buses and other passenger serv- ices, is turning more and more to handling garbage. The reasons are clear enough; that's where the big money is. The company's annual report for 1988 notes that Laidlaw oper- ates 17 transfer stations like Metro's Bermondsey as well as 34 landfill sites in the U.S. and Cana- da. Metro's transfer stations take garbage from collection trucks and ram it into huge, 45-foot, tractor -trailers for transporta- tion to landfill sites. Metro used to be quite gener- ous about opening its facilities to outside municipalities and pri- vate haulers who collect from apartment buildings, and shop- ping plazas. But last May, in an effort to discourage outsiders and save space for local folks, Metro raised the price to $50 a tonne to use the landfill site and $65 a tonne to use the transfer station (A tonne is 2.1 tons.) It only costs Metro $25 a tonne to handle other people's garbage. In one year, Metro has made $45 million from outsiders. Beginning on May 1, Metro is going to raise prices again. I figure Metro ought to make $90 million on gar- bage next year. So far, this money is being held in a reserve fund to help finance recycling operations. But in the long run, recycling should be- come profitable and then money from recycling and from operat- ing transfer stations and landfill sites could go for public benefits. Look at it this way: garbage is the one natural resource cities produce. Why would municipal politicians who are constantly clamoring for money to pay for roads, day care and other serv- ices, let profit from handling gar- bage go to private operators? Because Metro, for a number 0 ,jam of complicated reasons, will run out of landfill sites by 1993. As part of the environmental assess- ment process, private companies must be asked if they have ideas about solving the garbage crisis. We're in trouble and that pro- vides an opening for private gar- bage companies like Laidlaw. They are swarming around here like flies around a honey pot. The company that seems to have made the biggest impression on politicians is Envacc. The chairmen of the five re- gional municipalities have, after considerable prodding from the Peterson government, formed a kind of steering committee. They want their regional councils to endorse calling for proposals from the private sector. The slick, buff -colored press re- leases the chairmen handed out at a press conference list require- ments for prospective bidders. But the chairmen do not say, J 1 M clearly and unequivocally, that the public will own, control and profit from any new develop- ments in garbage collection. Tomorrow, Toronto Councillor Richard Gilbert, who has been concerned about garbage longer than any other Metro politician, will hold a press conference to raise questions about thi; chair- men's committee. "They've gone at i11 back- wards," Gilbert says. "T�El>dy seem to have started with a solution, collection points in the five re- gions and transportation to one, long distance site, and now they are asking for bidders. They've thrown planning out the win- dow." Gilbert `11 be demanding greater public ntrol. Wish him well. He is fighting the good fight for all of us. D David Lewis Stein is The Star's municipal affairs colum- nist. Interim plan called a deceptive move Rouge still possible dump site, MP sa By Tony Wong Toronto Star The Rouge River Valley is once again being considered as a Metro dump site, a Scarboro gh MP says. "This could be a tragedy beyond any proporti ns, and the community has to be aware t at the Rouge River Valley is again an option," Pauline Browes, MP for Scar- borough Centre, said yesterday. A recent meeting of Metro's five regional chairmen focused on long-term solutions to Metro's garbage problem, but also called on each region to present options for interim dump sites. "It's very disappointing," Browes said. The criteria set out for the sites clearly in- cludes the Rouge Valley, since it is the only area in the Metro region large enough to accommodate a dump." Ironically, Metro Council excluded the Rouge Valley as a dump site last fall. Create park The decision came shortly after Browes and the federal environment minister at the time, Tom McMillan, jointly announced a $10. million federal commitment to help the province establish a park in the area. The commitment was reaffirmed in a re- cent letter to Browes from the current envi- ronment minister, Lucien Bouchard. But the province, which owns 80 per cent of the land in the valley, has yet to accept the offer and agree to create a park. Browes said the province should be held accountable for having Scarborough resi- dents "fight off yet another garbage dump proposal." "This is very disappointing, and deceptive to the people of Metro. It's like taking two steps forward and one backward." The chairmen from Metro and the regions of York, Peel, Durham and Halton have col- laborated to try to come up with solutions to the garbage crisis, and have set themselves an 11-month deadline. By next February, they hope to sign a 20- year, multimillion -dollar contract for a "state-of-the-art" garbage disposal system capable of handling Metro's 4 million annual tonnes of garbage by January, 1992. y Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer., has already said Metro can look elsewh6tO,Jf it plans to target her city for a dump sitg., Trimmer said she had been hear'ng r`per- sistent" rumors that Scarboroug s porth- east corner will be the choice fora interim site. 20-year deal Metro Chairman Alan Tonks ha°s said there may be no need for emergency ;site4 or the Rouge site may not even meet envi n- ment standards. But Browes said it was disturbing that under criteria set out for an emergency site, environmental assessment was not needed. J. i ,1-"qk 4 o Councillor warns aboBy Michael Smith Toronto Star ut private waste plans Metro -area residents may have to keep producing garbage — instead of cutting down — to pay for private -sector, waste - management plans, a Metro councillor has char ed. Ri hard Gilbert (Davenport) said that regio al leaders are rushing pell-mell into a 20-y ar contract with private companies to dispose of the nearly 4 million tonnes of trash produced every year in the area. Private plans to get rid of the trash for profit, such as those that would ship it to giant plants where anything useful would be removed, aren't likely to include incen- tives to reduce garbage production to zero, he said. In fact, Gilbert sa+d, "you could find yourself locked into a situation where you have to feed" the garbage plants and cut back on recycling, re -use and recovery of trash. The chairmen of Metro and the four sur- rounding regions in March unveiled a plan to find a long-range solution to the area's garbage crisis. A key element of the plan 5'oo�bivt�7�Cr7�-� o ��� `i73g ❑°a❑ a; ro� _,"� Cnm(D Cm/16"� fD ',G m 'L3 0.4`+ "-t .n''L7 m y p m O'. �. �+ C]. 'b y O •may 0 CD wn�.ti G.O''ovC' aq �'kC� cC cC CD Cr Cr v-n oa0 m..y C]- O- O Vi Vi C� d CDQ' ' =V (D y »� -•� Cs V .O �- C G� 'L7 "7 • C7' --�.� vc^fn Cn ^' m 67 O --IO O Cn c -+ CD m(D d O m'� Q.O O O A•�' Oq v '% Of . O _ d -' y CAD b -C7 CIOq O o f+ o 'C 60 : m (D c L7 Cn O m Q y m CO Arw h A•� �'(CD Via: ��+'~C c y y;A cD "via 0 "��' = 0. � W = , �Sa. ,b '" a `�• � '"' .`3 (mD Chi . 0 c, . 03 = O4 - m .. u, = was a "cai. for proposal,,; companies fo disposal plan Gilbert said "A call fo good faith, has to lead to a end." That means, he said, that regions are letting private for the area's future. "We have a goo(. planni said, "and we're saying:'C<a just ask the waste-inanag(: what they want to do'." Gilbert said TUB from private nies shouidn't`get "one all -embracing con- tract." Instead, they should be asked to proposals, in provide fixed services, for fixed fees, under )ntract at the guidelines worked out by public planners. letro and the, "I do think that public bodies are more P p likely bod es, which to act in the aren't responsible c interest atothe m anies Ian , public, but to their shareholders." proce" ss,he If the time came all that. We'll garbage started to nent industry waste -management likel t waste -management : ompa. losses, he said the =F — 29:� _:18 O in m A ram•. C � � � � � � � � vi „OJ d •. m .-� •Oy ,... (D pJ :3- O d .0 il v ^o ma u. �•a yo . 0� 3 n��3 'L7 Ca CD (MD a. F,- (D (DCn o a�n �pEC d 1 a i � 8 i V3(D ,-}' .0.., ~. when cutting down on hurt profits, a public body would be more bullet and accept the M C3 VJ CD �m4�O' ��°'�•� O� o .y Ly O m Cr °On CA : k 7 e� m C C7 A O Cn- EM ;° 'om= Rm= ;� O� A n r. C CD rA o 7 1 9r CCD CD �� Panel backs Pickering dump By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Metro plans for a "mega -dump" in Pick- erin& passed their first hurdle yesterday desp,Ae pleas from area residents and poli- ticiatis who packed council chambers to oppoge the project. Durham Region's waste management committee was to urge council today to join the Greater Toronto Area Garbage Authority and offer a short-term landfill site near the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering. In return, Metro has promised not to use its Brock South site in Ajax and to pull out of Pickering's Brock West site a few months before it fills up in May, 1990, to give Durham a few years of dumping ca- pacity. Angry dump opponents, mostly from Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment, criticized Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema for holding se- cret negotiations with Metro politicians and proposing yet another dump in the town of Pickering. "Mr. Herrema would give us airports. Mr. Herrema would give us garbage dumps. Mr. Herrema would sell us up the river," shouted Pickering resident Mary Wood. Whitevale resident Maureen Jones broke down in tears telling councillors she would be afraid to take her children for a walk because of the rats crawling around the dump. NDP environment critic Ruth Grier said Herrema is "running roughshod over the Environmental Assessment Act" by attempting to rush through a decision on a Pickering dump. Although the Whitevale site is slated for a maximum four years of dumping, Dur- * Taw- TORONTO STAR, WEDNESDAY, .APRIL 19, 1989 /A9 despite opposi"tioni., ham West M Norah Stoner warned it would be "a to g-term mega -site" and the largest one in anada. Herrema sad the region can't wait any longer for a decision because Durham will have no place to dump its annual 280,000 tonnes of garbage when Brock West reaches capacity next year. Herrema said the only alternative to the Whitevale site would be one on federally owned land in north Pickering once con- sidered for an airport. "If the federal government is willing to save the Rouge (Valley in Scarborough) and have people swimming in garbage; in Whitevale, they'd better be prepared to give us a few acres of federal land," Herrema said in an interview. But Whitevale resident Isobel Thomp- son, who has fought the airport with Peo- ple or Planes for the last 17 years, said Ottawa would never approve a dump'on its land after rejecting the same proposal twice in the past. "It's a red herring and they know it," she said. The Whitevale dump would be in opera- tion until 1996, when all five regions de- cide on long-range plans. — L L W .Y = U C t�0 ✓1 U W CU ''••• CU " O G L C) W CZ i•>'. .O, U .--� co Q. y CCS -� CJ 'b VU .O v1 O U p CLO C�J .� O O P L b O U O coa b4 L o �, n o c o c9to Z C3 a)n _ O R .O U U O O Cu -O CC >~ o c o o bn Q y c`a •X tp O y U CU L'. �_ U '.' ' >a 2 @ I �-' +U-' 'O .0 bD O ®� .� w, @ ?� >� O L �U„ R.CU O C a> u 0 W= o 3 Q o to = s o G) E U tvel,� j� j(�J.Cjp O bbc44o -Co O aGG' .-•� _coo w o bk > CC6 U O O c- W o bn a.L c a o °' c6>M - o 3 '2 �n x E o bn o u 3 0 �- co Q, by U >> y � Co U U U .--, W CC cn.�o `--33m oa�a c4 o 0 oa :6 o ca c iv W o bA CZ > C� L 0 - 3 .s cL=i --I '> o u ^�' ?'? o ° o .� o o 's>_ c�a 3 �J m l~ noc �4. a� c c,� a� c- c c �, c� �... as u o o W oCL O o y coa 3 coa c °' aLi y cLv c o w o i;CU Co o v o �„ 3 2 lo' o C o E-� <v c° y CZ _. v o i' n y coy o a� y o > o. a v ca 'L o cu % 3 L u o¢ u y tj 6!W-S .4 � 9 THE F STONER REPORT The provincial government is taking a leading role in practic- ing the 41Rs of waste: reuse, recycling, reduction, and rec- overy. It hopes by the year 2000 that 50 per cent of Onta- rio's household and commercial -industrial waste will be diverted to constructive uses. Environment Minister Jim Bradley has called on all Ontar- ians to challenge and "use our ingenuity to turn our throw- away society into an environ- mentally sustainable society." "We must divert mountains of garbage from landfill and incineration by recycling used resources back into the pro- duction stream," the minister added. By 1992, the government aims to divert 25 per cent of municipal solid waste from landfill and incineration, both household and commercial - industrial, to recycling. And by the year 2000, the government aims to divert from landfill and incineration half of Ontario's garbage. "Every community and institution in Ontario, includ- ing the provincial government, will have to change itswasteful ways to achieve these reduc- tion and recycling goals," Bradley stated. Since 1985, the govern- ment has increased funding ten -fold for household recy- cling. Municipalities and industry have joined in. The Blue Box curbside recy- cling program has expanded from 40,000 households in 1985 to 1.4 million today. Bradley said the Blue Box program is one initiative that is intended to "end the careless Throw -away Era in Ontario." The gove nment's goal in its own activi' es isto reach the 50 per cent { rget well before the year 20 0 and to share its experience with municipali- ties, the private sector and the federal government. Measures taken include purchasing poli- cies supporting markets for recycled products, restrictions on non-recyclable/non- reusable goods within govern- ment and maximum recycling or recovery of materials such as office paper and cafeteria wastes. To reach the diversion goals for the entire province, the government intends to imple- ment a number of reforms and programs, including an expan- sion of the successful Blue Box Recycling initiative. - Wexlew"'11)K Queen's Park Report from Norah Stoner MPP Durham West The Provincial Government is taking a leading role in practicing the 4Rs of waste: reuse, recycling, reduction, and recovery. It hopes by the year 2000, 50 percent of On- tario's household and commercial -industrial waste will be diverted to constructive uses. Environment Minister Jim Bradley called on all On- tarians to challenge and "use our ingenuity to turn our throw -away society into an environmentally sustainable society." "We must," the Minister added, "divert mountains of garbage from landfill and incineration by recycling used resources back into the production stream." By 1992, the government aims to divert 25 percent of municipal solid waste from landfill and incineration - both household and commercial -industrial - to recycling. By the year 2000, the government aims to divert from landfill and incineration half of Ontario's garbage. "Every community and institution in Ontario, including the Provincial government, will have to change its wasteful ways to achieve these reduction and recycling goals," Mr. Bradley stated. The government's goal in its own activities is to reach the 50 percent target well before the year 2000 and to share its experience with municipalities, the private sector and the federal government. Measures taken include purchasing policies supporting markets for recycled products, restric- tions on non-recyclable/non-reusable goods within govern- ment and maximum recycling or recovery of materials such as office paper and cafeteria waste. To reach the diversion goals for the entire province, the government intends to implement a number of reforms and programs, including an expansion of the successful Blue Box Recycling initiative. Since 1985, the government has increased funding tenfold for household recycling. Municipalities and industry have joined in, and the Blue Box curbside recycling program has expanded from 40,000 households in 1985 to 1.4 million to- day. Mr. Bradley said that the Blue Box program is one in- itiative that is intended to "end the careless Throw -away Era in Ontario." Page 2 THE NEWS/POST Wed. Apr. 5, 1989. opinion a page for expression for you and us Re The Rouge Valley To The Hon. David Peterson Premier of Ontario Please add this club to the rapidly expanding list of groups and individuals who are very, very disturbed by the continuing threat to the Rouge area. Having our roots in Scarborough, we might be expected to resist degradation of Scarborough by external forces. However, we believe we speak for a majority of thinking business people and professionals everywhere when we urge that the long view be taken. Planning should not be short term and expedient, especially when it results from earlier failure to deal with the utterly predictable problem of garbage disposal. We regard it as disgraceful that any political or public group should contemplate destruction of this area simply in order to alleviate the effects of failing to plan adequately for the inevitable consequences of urbanization. It seems to us that the failure lies in not recognizing that this land, this priceless natural enclave, is not ours to destroy. It should be viewed as belonging to future genera- tions. Those generations will for ever appreciate it if saved. Once gone it can never be restored. As individuals accustomed to planning our own lives with some care, we are often forced to go around obstacles set in our paths. For most of us, there is no easy way, some hurdles cannot be removed. We are not, therefore, inclined to sit back quietly when we see bodies which are supposed to act in the public interest, taking the easy way - in this in- stance proposing to dump garbage in the one open clean space we have left, or to criss-cross it with roads. This is ex- pediency of the worst sort. We suggest that planning should be based on the simple assumption that The Rouge Area is not there - there is an empty space on the map which is inviolable. Such an ap- proach would at least clear the minds of those involved, clear them of the temptation to fall back on the easy route at every turn and lead us to hand on this heritage to the generations which follow. Environmental, planning and transportation matters are dealt with by many levels of government and in many departments, but all may be influenced by the Province. We ask, therefore, that you acknowledge the growing cry to protect the Rouge. Please use your personal and titular in- fluence to protect the future of this area. We will, of course, be bringing our position to the atten- tion of many others. Yours faithfully, on behalf of all members, Art Philips President Rotary Club of Scarborough Bluffs Durnamfesi ents� fear proposed dump By Adrian Cloete Toronto Star About loo Pickering -area resi- dents showed up at a hastily called meeting to protest a proposed dump near Whitevale. In a report released Friday, the Durham Region works committee recommended a site adjacent to the hamlet as the region's contri- bution to the growing garbage crisis in the greater Metro area. Metro Toronto and the regions of York, Peel, Halton and Durham are to each come up vith w sites for garbage dumps. "We were told there would be time for public discussion and now they're trying to ram it through in 24 hours," said Beverley Morgan, regional councillor for the area. Both she and Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs attended the Satur- day meeting. borough town line on the west, Altona Rd. on the east, the 5th Pickering Concession Rd. on the north and the 4th Concession itd. on the south. Thomas said the site is west of the village of Whitevale and the West Duffin Creek. Trout creeks "We're afraid of what it (the dump) will do to the Duffin Creek," he said. "The Duffin Creek is one of the last trout creeks in southern Ontario where you can fish and actually eat the fish in it." Resident Isobel Thompson said the site is also close to the hamlet of Cherrywood as well as newly built subdivisions. "Our wells could be polluted by this wretched thing," she added. Thomas said the area is already home to an active dump, a closed dump and a designated dump site. iT- rqi� the Pickering/Ajax Citi- at a Lens 'i ogetner i o r the Environ- The t t merit group and the Coalition of meeting of the regions task force Pickering residents associations on waste management tomorrow. both oppose the site. The regional council is scheduled Morgan said she will try to have to vote on the matter Wednesdaythe matter deferred to allow for "There's really no time for pub- more public discussion. But she lic participation, which is sort of a added she expects the site to be ap- sneaky way to doing it,'rsaid Lloyd proved by regional council this Thomas, president of the White- week. vale and District Residents' Associ- "A lot of regional councillors ation. don't want it (the dump) in their The site is located on provincial backyard and they look at all the land between the Pickering -Scar- land in Pickering," she said. Vote scheduled P/, e /, e AO% - THE NEWS ADVERTISER, APRIL 5, 1989—PAGE 23-A MPP Report :d Province wants an end to 'careless throwaway era' here The provincial government is taking a leading role in practising the 4Rs of waste: reuse, recycling, reduction and recovery. It hopes, by the year 2,000, that 50 per cent of Ontario's household and commercial -industrial waste will be diverted to constructive uses. Norah Stoner M.P.P. Environment minister Jim Bradley has called on allns to challenge and "use our ingenuity to turn our throw -away society into an environmentally -sustainable society." We must divert mountains of gar- bage from landfill and incineration by recycling used resources back into the production stream," the minister added. By 1992, the government aims to divert 25 per cent of municipal solid waste from landfill and incineration, both household and commercial- in- dustrial, to recycling. And, by the year 2,000, the government aims to divert trom landfill and incineration half of Ontario's garbage. "Every community and institution in Ontario, including the provincial government, will have to change its wasteful ways to achieve these reduc- tion and recycling goals," Bradley stated. The government's goal in its own ac- tivities is to reach the 50-per cent target well before the year 2,000 and to share its experience with municipalities, the private sector and the federal government. Measures taken include purchasing policies sup- porting markets for recycled products, restrictions on non-recyclable/non- reusable goods within government and maximum recycling or recovery of materials such as office paper and cafeteria wastes. To reach the diversion goals for the entire province, the government in- tends to implement a number of reforms and programs, including an expansion of the successful blue box recycling. Since 1985, the government has in' creased funding ten -fold for household recycling. Municipalities and in- dustries have joined in, and the blue box curbside recycling progra tram has expanded from 40,000 househos in 1985 to 1.4 million today. Bradley said that blue box pr is one initiative that is intended to "end the careless throw -away era in Passionate. pleas against � another Metro dump AJAX-PICKERING - Don't let Metro dump in Durham. That's the message approx- imately a dozen delegations gave to members of Durham's waste management committee Tuesday. The committee met to decide whether or not to open another dump in Pickering for use by Durham and Metro. The proposed dump site is on the Scarborough - Pickering border between Taunton Road and the Fifth Concession. "I implore you" to let the public have input into the matter before a decision is made, said Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environ- ment. "Defer this thing until it can be taken out to the people." With tears in her eyes, Maureen Jones of Whitevale told the com- mittee she doesn't want to be frightened to take her son for a walk "because I'm afraid of rats running down Duffin's Creek." At press time, the committee hadn't yet decided whether to re- main part of the Greater Toronto Area waste management plan or whether to allow another dump in Pickering. 'We're being used A By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - The town of Picker- ing has taken a strong stand against the region's proposal of another Toronto -Durham shared dump in north Pickering near Whitevale. The region's waste management committee released a report Friday, Apr. 14, recommending the Pi site in Pickering be used as a landfill operated by Durham for the benefit of Durham and Metro. While Durham says the proposal is its answer to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) plan, which calls for each region to identify a short-term landfill site, the deal would nullify the necessity of Metro identifying its own site. The PI site, bordered by Altona Road, the Pickering -Scarborough townline, and the fourth and fifth con- cessions, is provincially owned. The region's proposed plan would see Durham using Brock West until 1992, with the Pi site being used from 1992 until 1996. The only other site the region identifies for a possible landfill 7,71 HIMIM is on the federally -owned airport land. The region's waste management committee was to consider the pro- posal on Tuesday, Apr. 18, with the matter coming before regional coun- cil today, Wednesday. At its Apr. 17 meeting, Pickering town council passed a resolution stating its opposition to the expansion of the Brock West landfill site and the introduction of any new landfill site within the boundaries of Pickering. As well, it passed a resolution asking the See LANDFILL... Page A3 TIIE hE S AD%EIVIV ER, APRIL 19, 1680--i"iV* 3-A Morgan says Landfill proposal provincial elluout FROM PAGE Al region to defer any decision on Pi for one month, allowing time for public meetings on the issue. In addressing the proposal, mayor Wayne Arthurs said the town is "outraged" at the idea of another dump in Pickering and the suggestion that Brock West should operate beyond 1990. "We've got a battle on our hands," he told a full public gallery. "We will collectively fight to the best of our ability. The Pi site was chosen out of convenience and political expediency. We're being used." Arthurs said regional chairman Gary Herrema was out of line in put- ting forth the proposal without talking to the town. His speech was greeted with applause. At an informal public discussion following the council meeting, Ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan said the Pi site would be "the biggest waste site in Canada." Calling the pro- posal a "provincial sell -out", she said the land in P1 is zoned agricultural land, intended for residential develop- ment as part of the Seaton communi- ty. She also pointed out that all other regions should be identifying a land- fill site, as per the GTA agreement. Residents expressed anger that the region is trying to push the proposal through quickly, allowing no time for public input or understanding of the plan. Both P.A.C.T. and the Whitevale and District Residents Association oppose the region's plan. MPP Norah Stoner has also opposed it, asking the region to defer the matter to allow for further study. Councillors cautioned residents that "the fight is not here, but at Queen's Park." Residents were urged to attend both meetings at the region and to make phone calls and write letters to both the region and the province. Let's have net�lthy food poll Cy �as au. AY BY DAY we are getting more fussy about our garbage. We are learning about composting and the difference between what can be recy- cled and what cannot. Those responsible for getting rid of garbage are beginning to look with a jaundiced eye at those creating it — and some corporate inter- ests now think of garbage the way drug companies regard disease. In the food chain, urban dwellers are very close to the end of the line. Food is ,.gathered into the city from all over the -world; but despite the presence in the city of the Ontario Food Terminal and Wes- ton's bakeries (for example) very little of the food that is brought into Toronto goes back out as food, either directly or after processing. Nor do our recycling efforts return much to the sources of our nutri- tion, despite burying our garbage near prime farm land. The movement of our food is one-way, and we are left with the problem of garbage. Garbage has long been a public issue be- cause of the health risks involved. It has also been recognized as a public responsi- bility because the only way to make sure -that all garbage is disposed of properly (however we define "properly") is to make garbage disposal a universally "accessible system, which means a public utility. The most important difference between a sewer outlet and a food outlet is where they are situated in the food chain. If we are prepared to make demands about our garbage, for health reasons, why not make demands about the sources of some of our garbage, for the same reasons and heap zarba.,ere_� on the might coin the slogan: healthy garbage for healthy people, or more politely, healthy food for healthy people. On the basis of already existing princi- ple and practice (OHIP, Boards of Health, sanitary inspectors, licensing of food establishments, etc.), the City of Toronto, or Metro, could begin immediately to establish health standards for the food its people eat. We do not need to attempt an instant transformation of our food system to begin a healthy garbage/healthy food policy. For example, there are many institu- tions and agencies handling food and operating with public money: hospitals, schools, day cares, jails, government of- fices, and so on. We could establish health and justice criteria for the food utilized in these institutions tomorrow, if we wished, and insist on healthy food that is organi- cally produced in a sustainable system. It would be a simple matter to establish an agency to act as broker, and contract logically and economically sound manner that fosters a healthy would support both sustainable produc- tion and the farm community. We could also require adequate label- ling for all food sold in the city, labelling as to source as well as to method of production, that is, whether the food was produced under sustainable practices or not. Minneapolis has just banned all non - recyclable packaging from that city; we could easily do the same, as part of our garbage policy. We could require that adequate wages be paid to the workers at every stage of the food system. (So much for Mexican tomatoes!) We could require that workers not be exposed to toxic chemicals. (So much for California — and probably Chilean — grapes'.) However, we cannot establish criteria without accepting the costs of those crite- ria. If city people want healthy food pro- duced in an ecologically sound manner, we have to make sure farmers are paid fairly to produce this food. Will this cost more? Yes, but not because such food necessarily costs more to.produce. It is just that all of the costs — short-term and long-term — have to be factored in, in- cluding the costs of maintaining viable rural communities so that farmers and not corporations are the producers of our food. Of course, we can continue with our present food system. We will have more factory food, food assembled from compo- nents "sourced" worldwide, like the parts of a "world -class" automobile, on the basis of exploitation of labor and land, the de- struction of forests, and the pollution of water sources. We can bring garbage into the city and send it back out again. We will all be the victims of such short-sight- edness, with our health and the health of our global environment. On the other hand, we can take up the more interesting challenge of organizing a food system for the city — and hence the society — that is based on universal access to adequate nutrition. Brewster Kneen-s4--er sheep fanner, is a consultant and food systems analyst. His book From Land To Mouth: Understanding The Food System has lust been published by NC Press. community. farm .r Informed- i p The reside" nts of the various communities that make up the five Regions in the Great- er Toronto Area waited with bated breath as the Premier and the regional chairmen held their recent conference at the Ontario Science Centre. It was hoped that there would be a great panacea announced which would seriously address our garbage woes. As the media stories filtered out, it be- came apparent that there was, indeed, little news to report. This same view has been re- iterated consistently in numerous editorials. It appears to me that we all agree that in- creased commitment to the Four Rs was the over-all message. Part of the hidden message is that the politicians (and staff) are looking to citizens for their aid in the decision -making process. This is a truly commendable approach; however, we are kept in the dark every step of the way. Are we to be kept more informed? In the meantime, unless I missed the boat somewhere along the line, the situation ap- pears as follows to me: the municipal staff are hired for their expertise in long-range planning by the politicians. The politicians are elected by the citizens. Part of the job includes making many tough decisions, on our behalf. t th t lthou h the oliti- Ali `is ey"fa4R plan reassurance to react with resolve and re- sponsibility to the 4 Rs — REDUCE, RE- USE, RECYCLE and RECOVER. For citizens to react with respect and re- gard to the rekindled relationship of the re- gional representatives is to realize the re- quirement to refrain from rehearsed repeti- tion and retelling of the 4 Rs. Renewed resolve to reinforce recycling and reduction requirements through re- working legislation, retraining society, re- warding industry and rejecting revolters is reassuring. Regardless of the reborn respect ... a re- examination of the process is required in order to refrain from relapse, repetition, or worse yet, regression. Re -vamping and refining the siting proc- ess would result in restored regard for our representatives. Another realistic requirement would in- clude renouncing the relentless repression of relevant information. Such restriction only results in reserved response and resigned resistance (from citizens) to the "refreshing reformation and rejuvenation" referred to as reshaping and rebuilding the process. To revert to earlier remarks regarding restoring respect from the residents is to re- mind the representatives to resist any at- tempts to relax their resolve to reverse the But going be�eoren at is the necessity; an entirely di `approach to our tudes toward garbage — beginning right at the point of manufacture and purchase. What we are looking for is leadership, commitment and steadfast resolve. There is no room at the dump and no dump is in sight! What I fear now is that quick -fix solutions will become the order of the day and we shall all have regrets for which there will be no solutions. I can't help but feel annoyed and frustrat- ed with this dilemma and feel cheated by those who have been in position to do long- term planning and who appear to have been delinquent in their responsibilities. I wonder how many other areas of plan- ning have been subject to such neglect — due to their political nature as hot potatoes? HELEN MacDONALD Newtonville It zs apparen a p cians of Greater Metro and their respective crisis. staff (of the day) were aware up to 10 years Revelations of substance would remove ago that new landfills would be required at any noof opportunity oor uredress. nitytorefute Remorse and regretwithe- r the eve of a garbage crisis. some point in time, here we are in 1989 on be restrained. Respect will be regained and I would now like to contribute an exten- could be retained. sion to the 4 Rs: What I am trying to say is that promoting To review the recent announcement of the 4 Rs does indeed rate high in resolving our representatives is to rejoice in their re- - the crisis. tei 4tion aA(J:':egurg1tat10b: 0f tN �.ej)eato ;:: We:43 attic on TIE I = MMO M� N 1 DEMOCRATS Ruth Grier, MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshc-e Environment Critic 7 LB do�r��aoQ�� BEM0CUM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 1989 GRIER DUMPS ON DURHAM CHAIRMAN'S GARBAGE PLANS "Once again, the environment is taking a back seat to political expediency," according to New Democrat environment critic Ruth Grier. "In my view, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema is running roughshod over the Environmental Assessment Act in his latest garbage proposal, a 'contingency' dump near the hamlet of Whitevale, in Pickering." In a report to be discussed at Durham's waste task force today and at regional council tomorrow, Herrema supports a garbage scheme for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) developed by Premier Peterson which circumvents the Environmental Assessment Act. "The Durham chairman endorses the now -infamous GTA garbage authority, a Peterson scheme that is poorly accountable to the public and that invites excessive private -sector control over waste management," Grier says. "But even more critical," Grier adds, "are these statements in Herrema's report: 'It is the understanding of the GTA that the Province will submit the nominated contingency landfill sites to comprehensive public environmental review. However, approval of the contingency sites(s) shall be granted without reference to other possible sites ..."' Herrema is recommending to Durham regional council that it accept a 'telescoped' or shortened environmental review process for the proposed joint Metro Toronto - Durham short-term landfill site near Whitevale. This is not acceptable. A real Environmental Assessment requires evaluation of all reasonable waste management alternatives, including alternative sites. "Ontario has an Environmental Assessment reason -- to protect the environment," "Once again, the provincial government i law to an 'Environmental Exemption Act'. regional councils should reject the GTA as it now stands, for this reason alone. garbage crisis requires that governments waste management." - 30 - Information: (416) 965-8192 OPSEU: 593 Act for one Grier said. s reducing the The five garbage proposal Solving the come clean on WHITEVALE Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M7A IA2 (416) 965-3311 II ,..�i .fi � 1. •ate'-:"� �r' :,.,,. r' �,., 'Y. •' ,, .( -r ��( e'er - ` .......... ' TFI�TORONVTO 01 IONS T��hfightt e ume mess over w EAR Metro Councillors, Play Hamlet this week when you consider solutions to the garbage crisis? "To own or not to own the garbage dump. That is the question ... " Me garbage crisis, simply put, consists in finding somewhere to put garbage after 1992 when most dumps around here will be fined to overflowing. Whoever owns a suitable hole in the ground after that is going to make millions, probably hundreds of millions, of dollars. Are you going to make sure the dump is government owned so that the profits help pay for roads, day-care centres and other things we badly need? Or will you let private companies control the dump, as they do in many American cities, and rake in the big money? Metro Chairman Allan Tonks and the chairmen of the four surrounding regions have agreed to ask for proposals from pri- vate companies who think they can take the garbage off our hands. proposal call usually means you are obligating yourself to accept at least one of the offers that comes in. At the urging of Toronto Councillor Rich- ard Gilbert, this has been softened to asking The City l David Lewis SteiII for "expressions of interest" from private companies. But you can, and should, go further. Consider this: Tonks and the chairmen of York, Durham, Peel and Halton, think we should do more recycling: By 1992 they want to reduce garbage going to the dump by 25 per cent. By the year 2000 they want to cut it by 50 per cent. What's the best way to get people to stop using landfill sites? Raise the price truckers pay to unload garbage. Your own works department is already doing this. In order to discourage private garbage haulers, the Metro works depart- ment last year raised tipping fees from $18.07 a tonne (1,000 kilograms) to $50. On May 1, Metro's tipping fee will go up again to $83.84 a tonne. Since it only costs about $25 a tonne to re- ceive the garbage, Metro is already making a tidy profit from tipping fees. That could keep increasing in future years. In a capitalist society, which this still is, the most effective way to ration a scarce commodity is to keep raising the price. Whoever controls the garbage dump will be able to raise tipping fees and make enor- mous profits while virtuously claiming that high prices are necessary in order to get people to do more recycling. So you can see why many environmental groups are urging you to make sure the dump is publicly owned. Metro Chairman Allan Tonks seems to be in favor of public ownership, but I'm not actually sure. When it comes to the garbage crisis, Tonks makes long speeches that sound reasonable but don't seem to come to any conclusion. When he's finished I find myself turning to the person beside me and asking, "What'd he say? What'd he say?" What I would like Tonks to say, what I think you all ought to say in plain, clear, blunt language, is that the next big garbage dump will be publicly owned. Period. But you seem reluctant to do this and I suspect the reasons have more to do with ideology and prejudice than concern about the public. You seem to believe government enter- prises are always wasteful while private companies are always, by nature, efficient. This has come up in private conversa- tions over lunches and up in the press gal- lery so I am not going to point to any indi- viduals now and say, "Ha! I gotcha!" But I have heard many members of Metro Coun- cil express anti -government sentiments. In this mythology, private enterprise is pod because hungry entrepreneurs look for ways to cut costs. Government is bad because civil servants don't have to submit to the discipline of the market place. But in the real world, the Toronto Transit Commission, a government enterprise, is the most efficient urban transportation sys- tem in North America. On the other side, remember when General Motors bought Electronic Data Systems in order to modernize operations and put EDS president, Ross P rot, on the GM board. When Perot criticized GM man gement, the directors voted to pay $700 m Ilion to buy Perot's stock and shut him up. What was so wonderfully efficient about that? Pickering/Ajax Bay News, April 19, 1989 7 Dump. site clash � At press time (3 p.m. yesterday), Durham regional council had yet to vote on a controversial plan to locate a Editor: I wish at this time to thank you for your support and contributions in our Ajax -Pickering Police 2nd Annual Valen- tine's Dance. Without your support I know this great evening of food and dance would not have been the success it was. In excess of $2,000 was raised for the Ajax Pickering Hospital Build- ing Fund. Plans are already under- way for our 3rd Annual Valentine's Dance. I hope that your continued support will help us to enjoy the same great success. Derek Denson Advertising & Promotion garbage dump in Pickering in the Whitevale area between Altona Road and the Scarboro boundary. The dump is to serve Metro Toronto and four nearby regions, by 1992. Durham's waste man- agement committee was expected to support the plan, with recommenda- tions to go before region- al council this morning. Yet, regional councillors from Pickering vowed they would push for a deferral motion. They were using short notice as a premise for their case against the approval. This would give the town and residents more time to study and develop a suitable solution to the garbage crisis, it was said. The Pickering site would be in the Whitevale area, making it the largest waste disposal site in Canada. Regional Councillor Doug Dickerson, who also sits on the regional waste management com- mittee, said he disagrees with the proposed P1 and F1 sites on the table. These codes refer to Pickering's north end. In a press conference Wayne Arthurs Pickering Mayor will not be easy. "We publicly state our opposition and the promise the (price of the) mere process of further consideration will be high, both in economic benefits and financial considera- tions to the people of Pickering," they said. These comments were in response to the possi- bility of the recommenda- tions for the Pickering site being approved by region- al council today. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner in a public statement urged Durham council to allow full and open discussion before deciding on a waste man- agement course of action. "Durham should not rush into anything before all ramifications are clear. The council must act in a way that is both fair and just," said MPP Stoner. Arthurs reacts Pi'eckeringnl* by Tony Grano Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs chose a packed council gallery, Monday night, to declare strong objection to the possi- bility of Pickering becoming the solution to Metro Toronto's garbage crisis. He said Pickering coun- cil is not satisfied with the way Durham Region is handling the recommen- dation of choosing a northerly area in Pickering for a new garbage site to be used by Metro Toronto and four nearby regions. "The landfill is a region- al matter. But we (the Town of Pickering) are council) must justify this outraged by the idea of action. The P 1 site (in placing another landfill north Pickering) is politi- site within our bound- cal expediency ... we are aries." being used," Arthurs con - "The Brock Road West closure in 1990 is unac- ceptable. The (Durham) regional chairman is act- ing unacceptably by not consulting with the Town of Pickering," said Mayor Arthurs. Residents in the gallery listened in awe as he declared the issue to be a tremendous uphill political battle. "We don't want to be Metro's (Toronto) solution. We will do everything we can to prevent this. "They (Durham regional tinued. Arthurs said the plan is on short notice to the town. And that social and environmental issues must be reviewed ind considered properly. "There is clear chfInce of harmful effects. We have heard io word from the provin •e (Queen's Park). "We've had enough over a long period of time, we're ready to make our case. It's not going to be easy," said Arthurs. 6 The Bay News, April 26, 1989 EDITOR EDITOR DIR Consider dump interes Pickering should consider its best inter- ests in dealing the the Toronto and Picker- ing dump proposed last week by the Greater Toronto Authority for a site in the northwest part of town. First of all, nobody likes garbage. We all want to keep it away from us. But on the other hand, if we are going to have jobs, industry, commerce and homes, then the creation of garbage is a reality. That must be recognized. It is neither sufficient nor wise to just say, "No, it's garbage, we won't have it." There is more to this situation than that. No doubt the majority of our people work in Metro. Their futures depends on the prosperity of Metro. Metro's industry and commerce needs access to the most economical garbage disposal facilities possible_ Cur tax base in Pickering depends largely on the hundreds of stores and offices in the Picker- ing Town Centre area. The prosperity of these businesses no doubt depends more upon cus- tomers from Metro than upon the limited number we have. Urban centres grow and fill up space. The best dump sites may no Ionger lie within the bound- aries of Metro. We don't want the Toronto area economy to suffer and regress because dump sites are too expensive, or lacking. We don't want our jobs in Metro to disappear or our wages cut. Pickeringand Durham Region have hundreds of square miles of undeveloped rural land. We don't want to be refused or lose our place to work because we refused our neighbors access to the most praet'ca�..l dump sites. We want our best business customers from Metro to prosper, have money to spend here and Iike to visit us. Pickering's best interest is also the best interest of its neighbors. Let's not "cut off our nose to c *+n n,Tr faro" * **THE TORONTO ST.M NVEDNESD? �'�' �L 19, mg /i9 Committee backs, Pickering dump despite opposition,, By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Metro's plan for a "mega -dump" in Pickering passed its first hurdle yesterday despite pleas from area residents and politicians who packed Durham Region council chambers to op-`b pose the project. Council's waste management committee was to urge council today to join the Greater Toronto Area Garbage Authority and offer a short-term landfill site near the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering. - Ih return, Metro has promised not to use its Brock South site in Ajax and to pull out of Pickering's Brock West site a few months be- fore it fills up in May, 1990, to give Durham a few years of dumping capacity. Angry dump opponents, mostly from Pickering -Ajax Citizens To- Herrema said the only alterna- gether for the Environment, criti- tive to the Whitevale site would be cized Durham Region Chairman one on federally owned land in Gary Herrema for holding secret north Pickering once considered negotiations with Metro politicians for an airport. and proposing yet another dump in "If the federal government is the town of Pickering. willing to save the Rouge (Valley in Mr. Herrema would give us air- Scarborough) and have people ports. Mr. Herrema would give us swimming in garbage in White - garbage dumps. Mr. Herrema vale, they'd better be prepared to would sell us up the river, shouted give us a few acres of federal Pickering resident Mary Wood. land," Herrema said in an inter- Whitevale resident Maureen view. Jones broke down in tears telling councillors she would be afraid to But Whitevale resident Isobel take her children for a walk be- Thompson, who has fought the air - port with People or Planes for the cause of the rats crawling around the dump. last 17 years, said Ottawa -would never approve a dump on its land Few acres after rejecting the same proposal NDP environment critic Ruth twice in the past. Grier said Herrema is "running "It's a red herrivigzrrrff they roughshod over the Environmental know it," she said. Assessment Act" by attempting to rush through a decision on a Pick- ering dump. Herrema said the region can't wait any longer for a decision be- cause Durham will have no place to dump its annual 280,000 tonnes ` of garbage when Brock West reaches capacity next year. PickeringCoalition states ase :� Re: Letter fry- - o in L. Milli- m your Letter you inentitmsa you anyone to come up with a solution kin (Neighbors, March 21, 1989) re- were concerned about the time it to the problems facing Pearson sponding to my letter of Feb. 14,, takes you to drive from Oshawa to International Airport or on any on the Pickering airport. Pearson. Let m _ re you that other problems that have an im- I am pleased to see that not only the traffic in North Pickering is act othe eo le of Pickerin do people read the letters to the becoming just as bad as it is in the p p p g' editor but also take the time to re- south. . , In that respect, we made presen- spond to them, such as Robin Milli- In` 1975. the Pickerin^ .,c. nrf_ tations to the Federal Liberal Task kin has done in his letter of March proposal died because of the lack of Force on Pearson and we sent sub- 21. He puts forward some valid road- _­4 services. Ny_ s lads missions to the Hon. Benoit Bouch- ard about the need for a second and on his fact-finding visit. p have been added to North Picker - airport. ing since that time. It is conceivable that Toronto I would like to talk a bit about Meanwhile, our northern rural may require a second airport in why we stated our position against areas have become a shortcut for the future. an airport in Pickering. people living in Ajax and Whitby. All we are saying is that Picker - The Coalition Of Pickering At rush hour, the hamlets are ing is not the most viable solution. ICOP) was formed to give the peo- clogged, the residents are up in That may sound like the NIMBY pie of Pickering a voice against the arms, the roads were not built to Not In My Back Yard) syndrome. problems that were facing them. handle the traffic and they contin- 3ut, to be perfectly honest with Pickering has become the dump- ue to deteriorate. ?ou, our backyard is full. ing ground for any social burden To add airport traffic to this that no one else wants. We have: witches' brew would be like closing LI OYD THOMAS. landfill sites, Brock West, Brock the coffin lid on rural Pickering. Director South, Brock North, we border the To start from scratch and build Coalition Of Pickering Beare Landfill site and the pro- an airport in North Pickering, posed Rouge Valley site, we have a along with the infrastructure and nuclear plant. We are the proposed services needed to support it which site for an instant community of currently do not even reach 90,000 people (much of it to be Cherrywood, would be a financial housed medium- to high -density nightmare. dwellings) and we are being looked COP is not a negative group. We at for a "mega, state-of-the-art" are more than willing to work with waste management system. The last thing that the people of Picker- ing need is to be looked at again for an airport. L V1 C� r bA G� ao y W = O a) to a) ta0' O C ' = a) cn a) .0 ?45. cc = - C6 `)al~coo•`- .� cri o ❑ a) .� b - w -� a) ny�� o co co czz IS CZMm 3ucoCn Ca a)o M >c� :.Mr. .x�3mcv ,.o� aC) cvk c�mCA uo_ co A Ccu I to. Up c. ti dr;o bk •'Q y -" `o CU �¢ (U � U�Q d�vOi°�'� �OyaA,� n=n..aUO E� tx E F. u y ao k a) c3 a+• [G � p.o E -, 'n cC wo3 u3nvvQ)[.~ oi O O •M >>'o O o vi Cto C H O C •�C o E_ s. � (n"' '� U w' ca En; Q) cv w GL o iaU c �a ync.� GZot a) .-... � •a 3 3 .-. C a �Q aiC'S = b �°� o ° v uoo E 3 K) `,° q 0 34 q M o a) co o 4'. C,3 .- a) o .W 4) Q) Cn CZ cd U d" t-. d M z tom.. S O w b4^ t, Q; T) � cv P'. a °) � v c� Q a` )) C in v 'n a) as a3a uc � co en, 30 :� ("D o��0 0 n ' � a°:NW az CO U bO�U y d G CL) C �o o� z� iv A.'C M d co � Q) ;t � o $_. ¢ a a) a� PAGE 8-A— NEWS ADVERTISER, APRIL 19, 1989 Letters Chairman's move contradicts council motion To the editor: It is widely believed that we live in a democratic society and that the most open and accountable government takes place at the local level. However, recent developments at Durham regional council lead me to seriously question such assumptions. In October, 1988, the Durham regional council voted by clear majori- ty to discontinue its partnership with Metro Toronto and seek its own in- dependent solution to solid waste disposal. This unholy aliance with Metro, and Durham's long delay in severing it, were widely seen as the major cause of Durham's garbage problems. The October resolution was therefore seen as both intelligent and responsive to public opinion. Now, within a few short months of this event, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema, has announced that Durham will join Metro Toronto as well as Peel, Halton and York in for- ming a Greater Toronto Authority (G.T.A.) to work together to find joint solutions to the garbage problem. This step was taken by a person (Herrema ) who was not elected by the people of Durham or any constituency thereof; he hasn't been elected by anyone other than his peers on regional council since 1980. The step taken by him was directly in contradiction to the resolu- tion of October 1988 and this step was taken without any further resolution or other authority from the elected members of regional council. The support of the G.T.A. by Durham will inevitably mean that Durham will in the next few years start receiving all or a major portion of the solid waste for all five regions -- over four million tons per year. If this happens this waste will probably end up in an expanded Brock West in Pickering and Brock South in Ajax. This would have disastrous effects on the human and natural environment of this area. Further, it will only delay a responsible solution to the solid waste problem and delay efforts to increase recycling. However, if such a step was taken by a democratically elected council with a mandate from the public then it could be seen as fair and democratic. But if this act is perpetrated by an unelected regional chairman, without any public mandate, in direct opposi- tion to the clear and unequivocal resolution of the elected represen- tatives then it must run contrary to every individual's conception of what democracy is all about. I sincerely hope and trust that our elected representatives, the press and region. the public will strongly protest these Steven P. Parish, actions by the chairman of Durham Ajax __ o �wTR'���ac�o F -� 0'S v C_ o W ID f D o o Q o c TJ coe CL o CD m .w c� oc 5 � v 2: o a o x CD M oA CD ono a.� d ID CD O m re y l- . oer • Mx, Y,Iff f 'We're being used': ArtMrs By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter kKERING - The town of Picker- inp has taken a strong stand against e region's proposal of another Toronto -Durham shared dump in north Pickering near Whitevale. The region's waste management committee released a report Friday, Apr. 14, recommending the Pi site in Pickering be used as a landfill operated by Durham for the benefit of Durham and Metro. While Durham says the proposal is its answer to the / "ir} h'11+? 9 ND Morgan says Landf'111 Greater Toronto Area (GTA) plan, which calls for each region to identify a short-term landfill site, the deal would nullify the necessity of Metro identifying its own site. The P1 site, bordered by Altona Road, the Pickering -Scarborough townline, and the fourth and fifth con- cessions, is provincially owned. The region's proposed plan would see Durham using Brock West until 1992, with the PI site being used from 1992 until 1996. The only other site the region identifies for a possible landfill vEkvvtW,R;•APAI '19, i484—PAGV s-A 000sal provincial sell -out FROM PAGE Al region to defer any decision on Pl for one month, allowing time for public meetings on the issue. In addressing the proposal, mayor j. Wayne Arthurs said the town is "outraged" at the idea of another dump in Pickering and the suggestion that Brock West should operate beyond 1990. "We've got a battle on our hands," he told a full public gallery. "We will collectively fight to the best of our ability. The PI site was chosen out of convenience and political expediency. We're being used." Arthurs said regional chairman Gary Herrema was out of line in put- ting forth the proposal without talking to the town. His speech was greeted with applause. At an informal public discussion following the council meeting, Ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan said the PI site would be "the biggest waste site in Canada." Calling the pro- posal a "provincial sell -out", she said the land in Pi is zoned agricultural land, intended for residential develop- ment as part of the Seaton communi- ty. She also pointed out that all other regions should be identifying a land- fill site, as per the GTA agreement. Residents expressed anger that the region is trying to push the proposal through quickly, allowing no time for public input or understanding of the plan. Both P.A.C.T. and the Whitevale and District Residents Association oppose the region's plan. MPP Norah Stoner has also opposed it, asking the region to defer the matter to allow for further study. Councillors cautioned residents that "the fight is not here, but at Queen's Park." Residents were urged to attend both meetings at the region and to make phone calls and write letters to both the region and the province. is on the tederaIly-owrairporL ianu. The region's wasmanagement committee was to c �jsider the pro- posal on Tuesday, A. 18, with the matter coming before regional coun- cil today, Wednesday. At its Apr. 17 meeting, Pickering town council passed a resolution stating its opposition to the expansion of the Brock West landfill site and the introduction of any new landfill site within the boundaries of Pickering. As well, it passed a resolution asking the See LANDFILL... Page A3 lr Z, WHITEVALE Region head wants dump on airport lands-IX By WENDY GALLAGHER� Durham Reporter DURHAM - The Durham -Metro Aoronto dump belongs on federal air- port land in north Pickering, says regional chairman Gary Herrema. Because Durham won't have a place to put its garbage next year, after the Metro Toronto -owned Brock West Landfill site is full, it has negotiated a deal with Metro to share a dump on a site known as Pi near Whitevale. However, Herrema said Tueday the dump belongs on the airport land. He said the region is looking for 350 acres of land to accommodate a four- year dump. "They're ( federal govern- ment) selling thousands" of acres in north Pickering, he said. "If Mr. (Lucien) Bouchard is prepared to save the Rouge ( Valley, for which he promised $10 million) he had better be prepared to save Whitevale," said Herrema. He said he wants to put the dump on the western end of the land near Regional Road 30. However, Rene Soetens, PC MP for ')ntario Riding said from his Ottawa office late Wednesday there's no land available for a dump. Soetens said he spoke to federal 3nsport minister Benoit Bouchard Jonday and was told "there's clear - no land available." And, Soetens added it's "disturbing" Durham region chose Pickering as the only site "in the substantial lan- dholdings in Durham" to put a dump. "They continue to pick on Pickering." Soetens said that the region is throw- ing the blame on the federal and pro- vincial shoulders. The region is "afraid to accept responsibility that's clearly on their own shoulders." A joint duump with Metro is a "for- mula for a real disaster for Durham," he said. "Anything to do with Metro is a mistake." THE NEWS ADVERTISER WEEKEND, APRIL 21, 1989—PAGE NDP5 PCs ,durn on dump AJAX-PICKERING - The provincial New Democratic Party and Pro- gressive Conservative party have both panned a proposed landfill site in Pickering. "Once again, the environment is taking a back seat to political expe- diency," says Ruth Grier, the NDP's environment critic. "In my view, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema is running roughshod over the Environmental Assessment Act in his latest garbage proposal, a contingency dump near the hamlet of Whitevale," Grier, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, adds. Durham region's waste manage- ment committee released a report last week recommending a landfill site near Whitevale, to be operated by the region for the benefit of Durham and Metro Toronto. Under the terms of the Greater Toronto. Area (GTA) plan, each par- ticipating region has to identify a short-term landfill site. While York is the only region that has joined the GTA to date, other regions discussing the idea are Durham, Metro, Halton and Peel Durham regional council deferred a decision to join the GTA during it$ meeting on Wednesday, Apr. 19, The Whitevale site, called P1, will serve as the short-term site for both Durham and Metro if approved. The site, on provincially -owned land, is bordered by Altona Road, the Pickering -Scarborough townline and the Fourth and Fifth Concessions. Grier says, "The Durham chairman endorses the now -infamous GTA gar- bage authority, a (premier David) Peterson scheme that is poorly ac- countable to the public and that invites excessive private -sector control over waste management." Andy Brandt, the leader of the PCs, says it's "ironic since the province eliminated the same land, in the Seaton area and on the table of the Rouge River Valley, from Metro Toronto and Durham region's joint search for a landfill site." The report, he adds, indicates ap- proval of the site would be granted without reference to other possible sites. "Under the guise of the GTA, there will be two sets of rules -- one for the GTA and one for the rest of the pro- vince," Brandt says. While Brandt admits time is runn- ing out in the GTA's search for a land- fill site, he says its unsafe to continue without proper environmental studies or public input. "It seems the province, in trying to solve a problem, is intent upon creating an even bigger one," he charges. "Ontario has an Environmental Assessment Act for one reason -- to protect the environment. Once again, the provincial government is reducing the law to an Environmental Exemp- tion Act," she says. "The five regional councils should reject the GTA garbage proposal as it now stands for this reason alone. Solv- ing the garbage crisis requires that governments come clean on waste management," Grier adds. VOL. 4 NO. 16 50 CENTS A Metroland Co! FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1989 12a Mcevale dumpacisii FROM PAGE 1 agreement between Durham region ■ ■ and Metro Toronto whereby Durham m e c i s o n would own and operate temporary dump for four years, beginning in 1992 until a permanent solution to the region's garbage problems is found. By WENDY GALLAGHER By this time next year, the Brock Durham Reporter West Landfill site is expected to be fill- DURHAM - Pickering residents have four weeks to load their ed and d Dtsurhwon'tAhsave a place to ammunition and convince the region not to put a contingency p garbage. part of the g P g y agreement, Metro would have use of dump 66 feet from the hamlet of Whitevale. the proposed dump and stop using the After an emotional two days of residents crying, shouting and pleading with Durham region not to build the dump on provincially -owned land, known as P1, council deferred the motion for four weeks to allow more public input into the proposal. However, one councillor warned that the public meeting won't necessarily change council's mind about building the dump. "I don't see a change," said works committee chairman John Aker. In an interview Pickering mayor Brock West Landfill site so Durham Wayne Arthurs was asked if Pickering has a place to dump its garbage for the residents should get their hopes up next two years. And, the agreement now that they have a chance to express states Metro wouldn't use the Brock their views and possibly influence the South site in Ajax for a dump. region not to build the dump. Arthurs If Metro stopped dumping at Brock replied that's "not the intent" of the West Landfill site five months earlier deferral. Asked if a public meeting than scheduled, Durham would have might change councillors' minds about five years of dumping. However, if the dump he said, "At this point I don't Durham doesn't let Metro use P1, know." Metro won't leave early. The dump's proposed in a bi-lateral Ironically, if council passes the mo- See WHITEVALE... Page 3 tion, it must first rescind a decision made in October not to take anymore of Metro's garbage. And, a notice of motion by two councillors asks the region to seek an alternative site to Pi on the north Pickering airport land. The notice of motion will be discuss- ed in four weeks with the other motions. Because of the complaints from area residents who said they hadn't had a chance to voice their views, council deferred the motion until a public meeting, called by regional staff, could be held in Pickering. "Let's see what the magic solutions ire that people are telling us about," yid regional chairman Gary Her- ia, who over the two-day debate stressing that Durham is in a " situation with respect to "ors and the public were told ,m has one year's time to I Brock West until it reaches capacity. After that, it has no where to put its garbage. Council is being "bribed" by Metro said Bill Parish, chairman of Picker- ing Ajax Citizens Together ( PACT) for the Environment. Metro will give Durham $25.9 million in rebates and royalties from Brock West Landfill site if Durham enters the agreement with Metro. However, if no bi-lateral agreement is reached Metro might not give anymore rebates beyond Apr. 30, costing the region $4.3 million. In an emotional 50-minute speech, Parish told the council, PACT is oppos- ed to any external ownership or con- trol of Durham's waste management system. "Our past experiences at Brock West in Pickering have painful- ly taught us that it is bad, both politically and environmentally, to allow any external municipality to operate a major dump within our municipality." Suzanne Elston, representing Gar- bage Of Ontario Diminished ( GOOD ) annoyed audience members when she asked, "What is this holier than now attitude that our garbage is better than Toronto's? Let me remind you that Toronto has a right to dump here." Elston went on to say that more incen- tives for recycling are needed and every day spent "bickering" is another day not spent on the environment. Residents also expressed opposition to Durham's involvement in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) waste management plan. Initiated by the province, it involves five regions, (Durham, Halton, Peel, York, Metro) working together to find a long-term solution to garbage problems. Durham has been in negotiations with the other regions and the province, but will wait for four weeks to decide whether to formally join the organization. Offer- ing an interim landfill site to the other regions to use is a' "r—u�iirr►ement of join- I1I_FTT11T11T1T11TTl1fit III lilt -ITT IIIIf11-iri �y AlZiLA fl1PJe,, , l q'V Dear Editor: I write in regard to Durham's proposed PI dump site near Whitevale. This proposal is of con- cern to all the residents of Pickering and Durham. The announcement by the regional waste man- agement committee proposing the P1, White - vale site as Durham's commitment to GTA came as sudden shock to not only the residents of Whitevale but to most of the people in Durham. We try to believe in the process of responsible government. We hoped our GTA representatives would come up with a viable site that would pass a full Environmental Assessment Act hearing with full public participa- tion. But, we were wrong. Now the onus has been put back on the residents to show this site is totally wrong, and to force our PAGE 8-A�THE NEWS ADS E.tISER. APRIL 19. 1989 elected representative to go back and do their job properly. We continue to waste time. Everyone still screams crisis. We are going to need the full support of all the people of Pickering and Durham to get this deci- sion overturned. The site is wrong for just about ebery reason you can think of. The residents of White - vale are moving ahead in full gear. They are deter- mined this site will never be developed as another Metro dump. What we need now is for the residents in Picker 11ITIII III ing and Durham to start telephoning and writing H]WHI letters to Durham Region Chairman, Gary Herrema and regional councillors to tell them this site is wrong and they have to look for a viable site that is envi- ronmentally safe and can pass a full Environmental Assessment Act with full public participation. On May 9 at 7:30 we need everyone's presence at the Pickering Recre- ation Centre for a public meeting. We have to show the regional council- lors the people of Picker- ing and Durham care. We have a long way to go before this nightmarp. becomes just another; memory. We are goin to need the full, aggre - sive support of all council members and all the resi- dents of Pickering and Durham. Lloyd Thomas, President Whitevale and District Residents Association Box 28, Whiteua e, Ontario 4 - Chairman's move contradicts To the editor: It is widely believed that we live in a democratic society and that the most open and accountable government takes place at the local level. However, recent developments at Durham regional council lead me to seriously question such assumptions. In October, 1988, the Durham regional council voted by clear majori- ty to discontinue its partnership with Metro Toronto and seek its own in- dependent solution to solid waste disposal. This unholy aliance with Metro, and Durham's long delay in severing it, were widely seen as the major cause of Durham's garbage problems. The October resolution was therefore seen as both intelligent and responsive to public opinion. Now, within a few short months of this event, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema, has announced that Durham will join Metro Toronto as well as Peel, Halton and York in for- ming a Greater Toronto Authority ( G.T.A.) to work together to find joint solutions to the garbage problem. This step was taken by a person (Herrema) who was not elected by the people of Durham or any constituency thereof; he hasn't been elected by anyone other than his peers on regional council since 1980. The step taken by him was directly in contradiction to the resolu- tion of October 1988 and this step was taken without any further resolution or other authority from the elected members of regional council. The support of the G.T.A. by Durham will inevitably mean that Durham will in the next few years start receiving all or a major portion of the solid waste for all five regions -- over four million tons per year. If this happens this waste will probably end up in an expanded Brock West w Pickering and Brock South in Ajax • This would have disastrous effects or C o u n c 3. the human and natural environment —, - - this area. Further, it will only delay a • responsible solution to the solid waste o t o nl problem and delay efforts to increase recycling. However, if such a step was taken by a democratically elected council with a mandate from the public then it could be seen as fair and democratic. But if this act is perpetrated by an unelected regional chairman, without any public mandate, in direct opposi- tion to the clear and unequivocal resolution of the elected represen- tatives then it must run contrary to every individual's conception of w t democracy is all about. I sincerely hope and trust that o r elected representatives, the press a region. � the public will strongly protest these .�tFTet P. Parish, actions by the chairman of Durham Ajax l YOUR TOWN By Alex Robertson While a shocked crowd gathered in Durham Region coun- cil chambers listening intently to protester after protester demand, "No further garbage be put into their town," they failed to gain one word of comfort from the councillors. Some of the Pickering residents asked in shocked voices, "How could they allow the situation to con- tinue," until this one des- perate attempt to solve the danger of complete cut-off of garbage collec- tion in the next two years. No one attempted to explain how action had been delayed until this late day. The danger of a garbage crisis just did not loom its ugly head this year, or last year. The regional councils of over a decade had attempted to get the situation in hand by seeking the unanimous agreement among the elected persons — "A garbage dump without Metro Toronto." Failure Each attempt was designed to fail becau the Oshawa members o` council, along with others, stymied any attempts. They insisted, because of cost, to go with Metro Toronto has made a complete about face in answer to Metro and Durham pleas. It is about to allow the approval of the largest land filling operation in Ontario. Whitevale It will be on the doorstep of the Village of Whitevale (a historic vil- lage of heritage impor- tance), the hamlet of Cherrywood, and the unique Martin subdivision. It will be less than 2-1/2 miles from urbanized Pickering in an area with some of the best farm lands still producing in our town". The about-face flies directly in the face of the province's own agricultur- al policy. It well behooves the res- idents of Pickering to stop taking everything for granted and to take part in the righteous anger of the residents of affected village, hamlet and subdi- vision. Do not buy the cries of the regional coun- cillors that there is no alternative. It is indeed unfortunate so many of these council- lors are new. They are unaware of the Caesar - like attitude of the past representatives. Here we have watched In case anyone is wish- a council fiddle, talk and ing to deny this fact, the delay on this crucial mat - matter of where to �oT—'bier while they forged for a new dump and who ahead, attempting to would use it, was written make Pickering the dump - about extensively here in ing ground of all the the Bay News in the garbage of Greater Metro. "Your Town" column. There is only one way It was in this column the attempt to coerce the province into giving lands owned by them in Picker- ing was first brought to light. That attempt was denied by the Peterson government. Facts While I was still in office I warned the people of Pickering not to relax their vigilance because the people involved were bound and determined Pickering, and only Pick- ering, was suitable for a Metro land fill site. Instead of seeking to go alone as a region and make a sincere attempt to find another site within the Durham borders, the council made a pact with Metro and joined in their garbage committees. It is four years ago now, give or take a few months, that P.A.C.T. was made. Today we face what is almost a fait accompli. The Peterson government to prevent this diabolical plan. That is action by citizens and all of their neighbours, organizing and letting the provincial government know they do not want the dump. Let them know a full environmental hearing and a complete divorce from the Greater Metro council will be demanded. A last thought.... just think what the values of your properties will be as the word gets about that Pickering is the home of the Metro Dump, the Mega Nuclear Plant and Metro Sewer Plant. You have a decision to make. Fight for an unsul- lied town, or walk away and take the conse- quences. Join the fight. Call P.A.C.T., call the town, call MPP Nora Stoner, call your councillor. Join together to stop this action. Call 839-9436 or 686- 0327. MMA :::;7_Pub1ic meeting May 9 P1 ppoposal 'a nnightmape" PICKERING - Local residents are being called to the front lines to help fight a proposed dump on a provincially -owned site near the hamlet of Whitevale. Pickering town council is urging residents to attend an information meeting on May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the recreation complex to discuss the region's proposal of a Metro Toronto - Durham shared dump on land known as Pl. The site is bordered by Altona Road, the Pickering -Scarborough town line and the fourth and fifth con- cessions. The meeting will be hosted by regional chairman Gary Herrema, Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs and Pickering councillors. At council's meeting Monday, Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale Ratepayers Association, said the dump issue should be of concern to the entire town. "We need the full support of all the people of Pickering," he said. "Everyone is going to feel the impact of garbage." Calling the P1 proposal a "nightmare", Thomas predicted, "It will be overturned... it will never be a dump." He urged residents to attend the in- formation meeting and to write letters of protest to politicians. Later in the meeting, council pass- ed a resolution to request premier David Peterson to refuse to allow the land in Pi to be used as a dump. Earlier, the provincial government Pickering had told the town the land would be us- ed for residential development as part of the Seaton community. As well, council decided to request a meeting with Peterson, provincial environment minister James Bradley and MPP Norah Stoner to discuss the issue. Who to write, what to say PICKERING - Ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan urges residents of Pickering to write let- ters opposing a garbage dump near Whitevale to the following persons: Premier David Peterson Legislative Building Queens Park, Room 281 Toronto, Ont. M7A 1A1 Mr. C.W. Lundy, Clerk Durham Region 605 Rossland Rd. E. Box 623 Whitby, Ont. LIN 6A3 Mr. A. Brandt Office of the Leader of the Opposition Legislative Building, Queens Park Toronto, Ont. M7A IA2 Mr. James Bradley Ministry of the Environment 135 St. Clair Ave. W., 15th floor Toronto, Ont. M4V 1P5 Mrs. Norah Stoner MPP Durham West 2 Randall Dr., Unit 1 Ajax, Ont. LIS 6E6 Mr. R. Ray, N.D.P. Leaders Office 3rd Floor Legislative Building, Queens Park Toronto, Ont. M7A IA2 Some points Morgan suggests residents include in their letters are: - we demand a full E.A.A. on any landfill site in Durham region in- cluding the Pi site. -should be looking throughout en- tire region for sites, not just in Pickering. - totally inappropriate for Metro not to provide its own site for its garbage as outlined in the G.T.A. - goes against the G.T.A. process for Durham/Metro to propose a joint site. - plead to withdraw precious pro- vincial lands for consideration since these lands were to be used for farmland and eventually for the Seaton development. - destroying part of our heritage (Whitevale is in the process of a Heritage Designation). - goes against the Farm Protec- tion Act of 1987. - best to have another look at this whole process bearing in mind that if Metro wants the G.T.A. to func- tion, (representation by popula- tion) Metro can force its will on anyone outside its boundaries. z: t e t gar�a`�e� dump meet A public meeting is set for Pickering resi- dents ready to raise a stink over a controver- sial plan to develop an emergency garbage dump here in town near Whitevale. Tuesday, May 9, begin- ning at 7:30 p.m., town councillors and residents will converge at the Pick- ering Recreation Complex to formulate their case. Wednesday, Durham Region council granted Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs' request to delay proceedings for one month and to allow a local public assembly for further debate. The dump issue will resurface — at Durham council's May 17 meeting — for a final decision. The choice of an appropriate location for the dump has been wres- tled with by the regional waste management com- mittee, members of the Greater Toronto Area task force (GTA), and Durham Region commit- tee of the whole. Suggested sites include: agricultural land on the west side of Altona Road between the fourth and fifth concession roads and near the Whitevale and Cherrywood hamlets; the Seaton Area; and federal airport land farther north in Pickering. None of these sites spark support from Pick- ering councillors. They had only one weekend to absorb a lengthy report from the GTA. The report was issued April 14, and recom- mended to council for approval last week. "Last week we heard responses of emotion, as opposed to responses of rationale," said Regional Councillor Doug Dicker- son. He is also a member of the region's waste man- agement committee. Dickerson said council- lors had little time to digest the extensive GTA report. "There wasn't enough time for people to respond ... people have a right to voice their objec- tion to it (a dump propos- al). Where in the world do we come across, think- ing we can ram some- thing down our throats," he said. There is a great hurry /� to approve a dump site because the existing Brock Road dump is almost full. Durham Region is being forced to commit itself to a new site, to begin envi- ronmental hearings, and to initiate the planning and engineering tactics for the site. That could take months to complete, said Councillor Dickerson. declared itself a willing host community. Yet rec- om;_-,err6-a_tions in the GTA report steer the garbage dump back to this area, Dickerson said. "Last year, Premier Peterson through his Environment Minister, Jim Bradley, said the fed- eral airport land (north Pickering) could never be used for a dump." 11 f Se t 't ' d - Yet, Dickerson said he As or a on, i �s es ignated as residential, believed the recommend- ed site would not fall into industrial, and commer- Pickering's lap so sudden- cial. The P1 land is fore- ly most a planning issue In a recent interview, he which requires an Official said a dump site wasn't to Plan amendment," Dick - be forced upon any com- erson said. He also challenged the munity by the province. But, a willing host would provincial government, be handsomely rewarded saying he'll support a for alleviating Metro's Pickering referendum on garbage crisis. the issue to prove the A GTA meeting held objection he believes is four weeks ago in Toron- sweeping the town's resi- to included five regional dents. chairmen, all interested "Let's let the people " elected officials, and speak loud and clear, he Ontario Premier David said. Peterson. The premier said then a dump would By; not be forced on any TONY GRAND community that didn't want one, said Dickerson.taff RepDrter Pickering never Dn,.ftlayeriby regional ing GTA. Councillors were told that Metro had previously applied to the province to use the PI land as a dump but their re- quest was turned down. However, the province agreed to let the land be us- ed as a dump jointly by Metro and Durham under terms of the GTA. Previously the province denied Metro the use of P1 for a dump. However, Parish said the province is "holding a gun to our head". If Durham doesn't join GTA it can't use PI for a site. Norah Stoner, Liberal MPP for Durham West wrote in a press release, "The PI site, suggested by Durham, is one -and -a -quarter miles by one-and- a- quarter miles - a full concession. This is a long-term mega site. I don't know of a larger site in Canada." And, she urged council "not to rush into anything before all the ramifications are clear." Lloyd Thomas, of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association said each region "should look after its own garbage". Thomas said the region should get out of GTA and support the McLaren Report (a $1-million study that provides a master plan for Durham's garbage). Maureen Jones of Whitevale told councillors that Whitevale is current- ly trying to get heritage designation from the province. She asked if the hamlet should have signs reading, "Hamlet designation this way, gar- bage dump this way?" Pickering councillor Bev Morgan asked, "Why Pickering again? You're getting right back into bed with Metro again." Explaining that she lives near Brock West Landfill site and puts up with the smell of Metro's sewage, Morgan said it's "easy for members of council" who don't live near the dump to push another one into Pickering. Councillor John Aker, chairman of the region's works and waste manage- ment committee said "Nobody's going to magically solve it (garbage pro- blem) for us." He added that there "is no plan 'B' to fall back on and there's not someone there to bail us out." He explained that, in 1990, Durham region will have to make a decision _ WHITEVALE couniftl whether to go with the GTA long term plan or with the Durham region master plan. Herrema added that it's good Durham has this choice next year but right now "you're very, very limited" in what can be done with Durham's garbage next year. F TI tL T nNTO.$rAg, SATUR • • • • • • ' v1_ I oAo PARADISE LOST? Brigitte Sopher, shown with her children, Brice, 8 and Lili, 18 months, at the Whitevale dam, settled in the village of Whitevale in 1986, and loves the beauty of the surrounding countryside, now tagged by Durham Regional Council as a dumpsite for Metro's garbage. A beautiful village will be ruined by a dump My husband and I bought a house in Whitevale in 1986. It was love at first sight with the house, the setting, the community. For me, it was a first real home since leaving France in 1976. The house is old and full of character. The historic village, although very different, had the atmosphere of the village where I grew up in Brittany: century houses, friendly neighbors, farmers' fields all around; a country feeling a few minutes away from the city. I took my two children for walks on the Seaton trail, they splashed in Duffin Creek and watched the salmon jump by the dam. Being a teacher, I was able to take my class for hikes along the trail, for picnics and nature walks along the river. Here, in the relatively unpolluted branch of Duffin Creek, fishermen can catch trout and salmon; cyclists come to ride our challenging hills; families and children's clubs enjoy hiking and swimming. We had our own little paradise, but a paradise that we shared with many who did not have the time or the money to go to a cottage farther north. Then came the sudden and absurd threat of a dump, right here, between the beautiful valleys of the Rouge River and Duffin Creek. Our historical village would be ruined, our streets made dangerous by the trucks going back and forth, our wells would be poisoned and our air fouled. But in addition, the whole community would pay the price if these rich farmlands, these clean and productive streams, these natural areas, all those amenities, so rare near a big city, disappear forever. I have seen the sterility of certain overcrowded European cities, where nature has lost its place and been replaced by few formal parks — Toronto was different and unique, with its numerous and relatively undisturbed river valleys, so rich in wildlife. I beg the politicians, keep it this way, preserve the few remaining natural areas around Toronto. Find another solution for your planning mistakes. In Whitevale, we recycle our waste. I know that there are other solutions in addition to recycling and reducing packaging. Why not try to implement more creative solutions to the problem of waste management? In the meantime, there must also be other sites better suited for a dump. For our part, we will go on fighting this hasty and absurd proposal. We know that we have growing support among the community — Whitevale is still alive and full of spirit. BRIGITTE SOPHER Whitevale Pickerhi iAlax $ay"News, April 19, 1989- 7 Dump'. site clash-. At press time 13 p.m. yesterday). Durham regional council had yet to vote on a controversial plan to locate a garbage dump in Pickering in the Whitevale area between Altona Road and the Scarboro boundary. The dump is to serve Metro Toronto and four nearby regions, by 1992. Durham's waste man- agement committee was expected to support the plan, with recommenda- tions to go before region- al council this morning. Yet, regional councillors from Pickering vowed they would push for a deferral motion. They were using short notice as a premise for their case against the approval. This would give the town and residents more time to study and develop a suitable solution to the garbage crisis, it was said. The Pickering site would be in the Whitevale area, making it the largest waste disposal site in Canada. Regional Councillor Doug Dickerson, who also sits on the regional waste management com- mittee, said he disagrees with the proposed P1 and F1 sites on the table. These codes refer to Pickering's north end. In a press conference y. TONY GRANO Staff Reporter Thursday, Councillor Dickerson said the Brock West site has been exhausted by Metro Toronto's garbage during the past 15 years, enough to last a lifetime. "We have done our share. No one can accuse our community of being a poor neighbor, or of not having already shouldered a fair burden," Dickerson said. Ward 3 Councillor Rick Johnson, who was also present at the press con- ference, said he agreed with his colleague. He said the road to Pickering Wayne Arthurs Pickering Mayor will not be easy. "We publicly state our opposition and the promise the (price of the) mere process of further consideration will be high, both in economic benefits and financial considera- tions to the people of Pickering," they said. These comments were in response to the possi- bility of the recommenda- tions for the Pickering site being approved by region- al council today. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner in a public statement urged Durham council to allow full and open discussion before deciding on a waste man- agement course of action. "Durham should not rush into anything before all ramifications are clear. The council must act in a way that is both fair and just," said MPP Stoner. Arthurs reacts • i,ockeringno by Tony Grano Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs chose a packed council gallery, Monday night, to declare strong objection to the possi- bility of Pickering becoming the solution to Metro Toronto's garbage crisis. He said Pickering coun- cil is not satisfied with the way Durham Region is handling the recommen- dation of choosing a northerly area in Pickering for a new garbage site to be used by Metro Toronto and four nearby regions. "The landfill is a region- al matter. But we (the Town of Pickering) are outraged by the idea of placing another landfill site within our bound- aries." "The Brock Road West closure in 1990 is unac- ceptable. The (Durham) regional chairman is act- ing unacceptably by not consulting with the Town of Pickering," said Mayor Arthurs. Residents in the gallery listened in awe as he declared the issue to be a tremendous uphill political battle. "We don't want to be Metro's (Toronto) solution. We will do everything we can to prevent this. "They (Durham regional council) must justify this action. The P1 site (in north Pickering) is politi- cal expediency ... we are being used," Arthurs con- tinued. Arthurs said the plan is on short notice to the = town. And that social and environmental issues D must be reviewed and rK considered properly. 'There is a clear chance of harmful effects. We have heard no word from the province (Queen's Park). "We've had eno4h over a long period 'of time, we're ready to make our case. It's not going to be easy," said Arthurs. GarbageAS71" Dump For �`'�Fy Altona Rd. The Town of Pickering has been selected for 1511;qll- 4?1 Bickering over trash Pretty soon it may be hard for provincial politicians to ig ore the stench of Metro's garbage. According to Metro Works Commissioner Bob Ferguson, the situation has reached such crisis proportions that the Metro municipalities may be forced to simply halt garbage collection by next summer. Metro's Brock West site in Pickering is already close to capacity. Technically, there's room for about four years' worth of garbage in its other site, the Keele Valley dump in Vaughan. But it may have to be closed early because Metro is being stalled in its attempts to excavate clay from an adjoining site. The clay is needed to line the dump and prevent contaminants from leaching into surrounding groundwater. Once again, the problem is local opposition. People who live near the dump are demanding a long environmental assessment hearing — five years or more — just to excavate the clay. That same type of public opposition has made it impossible for Metro, and the surrounding regions, to find new dumps. Hasn't provincial Environment Minister Jim Bradley stood ack long enough? How can he continue to allow petty politic s and regional bickering to dominate attempts to find a nP dump and other long-term solutions to the Metro area's garbage crisis? Maybe when provincial MPPs see the garbage piling up in the front yards of their Toronto homes, they'll finally spur Queen's Park into action. another garbage dump. The site - on the west side of Altona Rd. between the fourth and fifth concession roads - was agreed upon by officials in Metro Toronto and Durham without con- sultation with Pickering or affected residents. Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs asked Durham council to defer considera- tion of the site for four weeks so a public meeting could be held to inform Pickering residents about the plan. In the meantime, the region is trying to persuade the federal government to give 250 acres in its holdings in the Pickering airport lands for the dump. However, this site is also in Pickering although fewer residents would be af- fected. The Altona Rd. site is near the hamlets of Whitevale and Cherrywood and residents told council last week that the two would be destroyed if the dump went in. The region needs to come up with a site if it wants to become a member of a Greater Toronto area waste management authority. The authority is supposed to come up with long-term dump sites to serve the five regions around metro involved in the authority. However, Metro and Durham need a dump site now because the Brock West will be full next year leaving Durham without anywhere for its garbage. Metro still has the Keele Valley site but it too will be full within two years. The Pickering site is supposed to be for only four years to provide dumping space un- til 1996 when a long-term dump is supposed to be ready. It would be for the ex- clusive use of Metro and Durham. Metro would give Durham about $26 million in rebates and tipping fees. r P.Norah-Stoner On Garbage It �'"� Durham West MPP and Metro's waste and to beginning its public par- Norah Stoner is urging remove from Metro all the ticipation on its overall Durham Council to allow responsibility of providing waste plan. full and open discussion its own interim site." This report deserves a before deciding on a waste The waste management similar review and Stoner management course of ac- community report released said "Durham should not tion. last Friday will go before rush into anything before In an open letter to Durham Regional Council all the ramifications are members of council Stoner Wed Apr. 19th. This is clear." But council must said "The one site sug- premature in view of the act in a way that is both gested by Durham is one fact that Durham is just fair and just. and a quarter miles by one and a quarter miles which is a full concession. This is a long term mega site, I don't know of a larger site in Canada." Stoner also stated "This site is to handle Durham WHITEVALE IIAjax councillor doesn't trust '��i Durham -Metro dump agreement xp*, By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Ajax regional coun- cillor Pat Clark is suspicious of two clauses in the agreement between Metro Toronto and Durham for a dump in north Pickering. Durham regional council will decide in three weeks whether or not to join the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) waste management plan (a provincial initiative whereby five regions in southern Ontario would jointly find a solution to the garbage crisis) and allow Metro to dump at the P1 site in Pickering. Clark is leery of the region's discussions with Metro and its involvement with the GTA. In the abbreviated agreement with Durham for use of a dump in Pickering, Metro has promised to "provide for a period of exclusive capacity at the Brock West landfill site for Durham beyond the an- ticipated closing date." Many people took this to mean that Metro will leave the dump earlier than scheduled, leaving Durham room to dump its garbage. "There's a very subtle and impor- tant difference," says Clark. She explains Metro could use the dump until it reaches the capacity specified by the ministry of en- vironment. "Metro could expire their certificate of approval and then Durham can have it." If this were to occur, Durham would be responsible for obtaining a new certificate from the ministry and applying for an Enrivonmental Protection Act hearing. "Metro is giving us nothing," she says. Also in the agreement, Metro promises "not to pursue approval of the Brock South landfill site (in Ajax) for construction waste or any other waste." However, Clark says Metro officials didn't promise they will not "ever" pursue it. "It's not off the table." Clark says there's more than just a fight going on to keep Metro from dumping in Pickering. She says, if the region agrees to join GTA, "We'll be tied into Metro for 25 years." Also, Clark doubts that the Pi site will be approved by the ministry of environment because it sits at the fork of both branches of Petticoat Creek, is one-half mile away on the east side from Duffin's Creek and one-half mile away from Little Rouge river. She believes that, when Pi doesn't get approval, the region will pressure the federal govern- ment to let the region buy some of the airport land in north Pickering to be used for a dump. However, in an interview with the News Advertiser, Ontario riding PC MP Rene Soetens con- firmed that no airport land was for sale for a dump. And, Clark also spoke with Soetens who confirmed that Benoit Bouchard, minister of transport, said there isn't any land for sale for a dump. Regional chairman Gary Her- rema has said that he's been talk- ing with the federal government about purchasing some of the air- port land. However, Soetens told Clark and the News Advertiser that officials in the transport ministry and other ministries were con- tacted and asked if they had given any indication that airport land was for sale and the answer was `no'. Durham region has delayed its decision on the dump for four weeks to allow Pickering residents a chance to voice their concerns. Region officials will be calling a meeting with Pickering residents within the next four weeks. Clark says she's "pleased" that Ajax is going to "s .and shoulder to shoulder" with Pi kering in the fight against the dun,,- Public meeting May 9 PICKERING - Local residents are being called to the front lines to help fight a proposed dump on a provincially -owned site near the hamlet of Whitevale. Pickering town council is urging residents to attend an information meeting on May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the recreation complex to discuss the region's proposal of a Metro Toronto - Durham shared dump on land known as P1. The site is bordered by Altona Road; the Pickering -Scarborough town line and the fourth and fifth con- cessions. The meeting will be hosted by regional chairman Gary Herrema, Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs and Pickering councillors. At council's meeting Monday, Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale Ratepayers Association, said the dump issue should be of concern to the entire town. "We need the full support of all the people of Pickering," he said. "Everyone is going to feel the impact of garbage." Calling the Pi proposal a "nightmare", Thomas predicted, "It will be overturned... it will never be a dump." He urged residents to attend the in- formation meeting and to write letters of protest to politicians. Later in the meeting, council pass- ed a resolution to request premier David Peterson to refuse to allow the land in PI to be used as a dump. Earlier, the provincial government 9 had told the town the land tivould be us- ed for residential development as part of the Seaton community. As well, council decided to request a meeting with Peterson, provincial environment minister James Bradley and MPP Norah Stoner to discuss the issue. Who to write, what to say PICKERING - Ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan urges residents of Pickering to write let- ters opposing a garbage dump near Whitevale to the following persons: 3rd Floor Legislative Building, Queens Park Toronto, Ont. M7A IA2 Some points Morgan suggests residents include in their letters Premier David Peterson are: - we demand a full E.A.A. on any Legislative Building landfill site in Durham region in - Queens Park, Room 281 eluding the PI site. Toronto, Ont. M7A IA1 - should be looking throughout en- tire region for sites, not just in Mr. C.W. Lundy, Clerk Pickering. Durham Region - totally inappropriate for Metro 605 Rossland Rd. E. Box 623 not to provide its own site for its Whitby, Ont. LIN 6A3 garbage as outlined in the G.T.A. - goes against the G.T.A. process Mr. A. Brandt for Durham/Metro to propose a Office of the Leader of the joint site. Opposition - plead to withdraw precious pro - Legislative Building, Queens Park vincial lands for consideration Toronto, Ont. M7A IA2 since these lands were to be used for farmland and eventually for the Mr. James Bradley Seaton development. Ministry of the Environment - destroying part of our heritage 135 St. Clair Ave. W., 15th floor (Whitevale is in the process of a Toronto, Ont. M4V 1P5 Heritage Designation). Mrs. Norah Stoner - goes against the Farm Protec- Act of 1987. MPP Durham West best to have another look at this 2 Randall Dr., Unit 1ejA.,11tion whole process bearing in mind that Ajax, Ont. LIS 6E6.` , IT if Metro wants the G.T.A. to func- tion, (representation by popula- Mr. R. Ray, tion) Metro can force its will on N.D.P. Leaders Office anyone outside its boundaries. t WHITEVALE &ez,�r �Z_ee� �0&4 05�7�; etar a e to approve a dump site g g because the existing Brock Road dump is dump meet almost full. Durham Region is being forced to commit itself to A public meeting is set for Pickering resi- dents ready to raise a stink over a controver- sial plan to develop an emergency garbage dump here in town near Whitevale. Tuesday, May 9, begin- ning at 7:30 p.m., town councillors and residents will converge at the Pick- ering Recreation Complex to formulate their case. Wednesday, Durham Region council granted Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs' request to delay proceedings for one month and to allow a local public assembly for further debate. The dump issue will resurface - at Durham council's May 17 meeting - for a final decision. The choice of an appropriate location for the dump has been wres- tled with by the regional waste management com- mittee, members of the Greater Toronto Area task force (GTA), and Durham Region commit- tee of the whole. Suggested sites include: agricultural land on the west side of Altona Road between the fourth and fifth concession roads and near the Whitevale and Chen-ywood hamlets; the Seaton Area; and federal airport land farther north in Pickering. None of these sites spark support from Pick- ering councillors. They had only one weekend to absorb a lengthy report from the GTA. The report was issued April 14, and recom- mended to council for approval last week. "Last week we heard responses of emotion, as opposed to responses of rationale," said Regional Councillor Doug Dicker- son. He is also a member of the region's waste man- agement committee. Dickerson said council- lors had little time to digest the extensive GTA report. "There wasn't enough time for people to respond ... people have a right to voice their objec- tion to it (a dump propos- al). Where in the world do we come across, think- ing we can ram some- thing down our throats," he said. There is a great hurry a new site, to begin envi- ronmental hearings, and to initiate the planning and engineering tactics for the site. That could take months to complete, said Councillor Dickerson. declared itself a willing host community. Yet rec- ommendations in the GTA report steer the garbage dump back to this area, Dickerson said. "Last year, Premier Peterson through his Environment Minister, Jim Bradley, said the fed- eral airport land (north Pickering) could never be used for a dump." 11 Yet, Dickerson said he As for Seaton, it is de believed the recommend- ignated as residential ed site would not fall into industrial, and commei Pickering's lap so sudden- cial. The P1 land is for ly. most a planning issu In a recent interview, he which requires an Offici said a dump site wasn't to Plan amendment," Dick be forced upon any com- erson said. munity by the province. He also challenged th But, a willing host would provincial government be handsomely rewarded saying he'll support for alleviating Metro's Pickering referendum o garbage crisis. the issue to prove th A GTA meeting held objection he believes i four weeks ago in Toron- sweeping the town's resi to included five regional dents. chairmen, all interested "Let's let the peopl elected officials, and speak loud and clear, " h Ontario Premier David said. Peterson. The premier said then a dump would E3y not be forced on any TOY GRANO community that didn't want one, said Dickerson. Staff Reporter Pickering never A YOUR TOWN By Alex Robertson While a shocked crowd gathered in Durham Region coun- cil chambers listening intently to protester after protester demand, "No further garbage be put into their town," they failed to gain one word of comfort from the councillors. Some of the Pickering residents asked in shocked voices, "How could they allow the situation to con- tinue," until this one des- perate attempt to solve the danger of complete cut-off of garbage collec- tion in the next two years. No one attempted to explain how action had been delayed until this late day. The danger of a garbage crisis just did not loom its ugly head this year, or last year. The regional councils of over a decade had attempted to get the situation in hand by seeking the unanimous agreement among the elected persons - "A garbage dump without Metro Toronto." Failure has made a complete about face in answer to Metro and Durham pleas. It is about to allow the approval of the largest land filling operation in Ontario. Whitevale It will be on the doorstep of the Village of Whitevale (a historic vil- lage of heritage impor- tance), the hamlet of Cherrywood, and the unique Martin subdivision. It will be less than 2-1/2 miles from urbanized Pickering in an area with some of the best farm lands still producing in our town". The about-face flies directly in the face of the province's own agricultur- al policy. It well behooves the res- idents of Pickering to stop taking everything for granted and to take part in the righteous anger of the residents of affected village, hamlet and subdi- vision. Do not buy the cries of the regional coun- cillors that there is no Each attempt was alternative. designed to fail because It is indeed unfortunate the Oshawa members of so many of these council - council, along with others, lors are new. They are stymied any attempts. unaware of the Caesar - They insisted, because like attitude of the past of cost, to go with Metro representatives. Toronto. i l In case anyone is wish- ing to deny this fact, the matter of where to look for a new dump and who would use it, was written about extensively here in the Bay News in the "Your Town" column. It was in this column the attempt to coerce the province into giving lands owned by them in Picker- ing was first brought to light. That attempt was denied by the Peterson government. Facts While I was still in office I warned the people of Pickering not to relax their vigilance because the people involved were bound and determined Pickering, and only Pick- ering, was suitable for a Metro land fill site. Instead of seeking to go alone as a region and make a sincere attempt to find another site within the Durham borders, the council made a pact with Metro and joined in their garbage committees. It is four years ago now, give or take a few months, that P.A.C.T. was made. Today we face what is almost a fait accompli. The Peterson government Here we have watched a council fiddle, talk and delay on this crucial mat- ter while they forged ahead, attemptin- to make Pickering the dump- ing ground of all the garbage of Greater Metro. There is only one way to prevent this diabolical plan. That is action by citizens and all of their neighbours, organizing and letting the provincial government know they do not want the dump. Let them know a full environmental hearing and a complete divorce from the Greater Metro council will be demanded. A last thought.... just think what the values of your properties will be as the word gets about that Pickering is the home of the Metro Dump, the Mega Nuclear Plant and Metro Sewer Plant. You have a decision to make. Fight for an unsul- lied town, or walk away and take the conse- quences. Join the fight. Call P.A.C.T., call the town, call MPP Nora Stoner, call your councillor. Join together to stop this action. Call 839-9436 or 686- 0327. o i fie nay News, April 26, I989 Consider best ump interest .- Pickering should consider its best inter- ests in dealing the the Toronto and Picker- ing dump proposed last week by the Greater Toronto Authority for a site in the northwest part of town. First of all, nobody likes garbage. We all want AWN to keep it away from us. But on the other hand, if we are going to have jobs, industry, commerce and homes, then the creation of garbage is a reality. That must be recognized, It is neither sufficient nor wise to just say, "No, it's garbage, we won't have it." There is more to this situation than that. No doubt the majority of our people work in Metro. Their futures depends on the prosperity of Metro. Metro's industry and commerce needs access to the most economical garbage disposal facilities possible. Our tax base in Pickering depends largely on the hundreds of stores and offices in the Picker- ing Town Centre area. The prosperity of these businesses no doubt depends more upon cus- tomers from Metro than upon the limited number we have. Urban centres grow and fill up space. The best damp sites may no Ionger lie within the bound- aries of Metro. We don't want the Toronto area economy to suffer and regress because dump sites are too expensive, or lacking. We don't want our jobs in Metro to disappear or our wages cut. Pickering and Durham Region have hundreds of square miles of undeveloped rural land. We don't want to be refused or lose our place to work because we refused our neighbors access to the most practical dump sites. We want our best business customers from Metro to prosper, have money to spend here and like to visit us. Pickering's best interest is also the best interest f its neighbors. Let's not "cut off our nose to spite our face". WHITEVALE H. 3 L 0 Z o a) cn�,•�.N ti " a d c cra ro E o o a�� rQ c v 3 0drno� . v cc °Zn ��d�..�x y 3 adder ��,°'co �oE�aCL 0 hcaccvo yN Od •his W i 3�Udc�c�oc�c�k° 0» E ° h Ebo�a`3�m0 rie u i me M 0 03 0 0 3a obi ° u 5 o � : Ew mo oWi� Q-> 0 of = C: � o'3 c� ar„`�� 6 0 U 0� � •- g v iv " c o W c -�cC` >�, P�c(W J:.0Rc [c E-0ocirts C1 RUC: do cl,1W [ 50 (NnS0��0nio d N Ura.rt�ra"9<CL crorvEN�.[ o- d ti .- d > 3 " c� r°-0 �-0 U =0 W 0�M:3 0 0� c �o ��'�( N� oc° c� W 0 o� a Y N n c d c a �. ,. O N o�' rn� E = o E 3 n r' 03 M3�. a o ox ° a�� °>' O c o "°' d rna aL1 ° E 23 0 w y Q O O O N -0(d N 3 cU� N��'� a c c of r� 0 co cn0ro. �,�� 0-nv0 r10 �0�-0>>° �'n0C: o IW c g Cl 0— c�Ewcc oc`�o N� ow 0 ww a 0:c c �d � a� Cl v, EQ U.— E 3 W-.4 to Eoo�R,���C�IIo��N"- �0tm o�oEa 00:3 N 0 0- 0 a> U c3� avm0 3:3 :.:Z A 0 3 00.oic0 'cy .fl 034EcE^ 0°cE�E ,0 o- cQ.^mc� E o rts me 0} oC: ro3�QN� j�ganlze o saveDuffin s by Arnie Hakala Two isolated inci- dents on Duffin's Creek on a recent Sunday emphasized the growing concerns for environmental pro- tection in Durham Region. In Clark's Hollow, a scenic gorge on the creek's west branch in Pickering (two miles north of Highway 2 on Whites Road), a father and his eight -year old son watched in awe at some- thing they had only seen on television before. On the west side of the bridge, a pair of eight - pound trout were thrash- ing at the gravel to carve out a trough where the spawning act would fol- low. "This is really some- thing," said the father. "We only moved to Ajax last year. I had no idea we could watch trout spawning." "My son is thrilled. He'll remember this for a long time. Perhaps even more sig- nificant was the flurry of activity on the creek near Church Street in Ajax. Where 30 eager volun- teers spent six hours pick- ing up garbage, In the end, the newly - formed Metro East chap- ter on the Ontario Steel - head and Salmon Fisher- men had collected more than a ton of garbage (90 bags). There were grim reminders of modern man's manners — every- thing from broken beer bottles to tires and fast food containers. The new group, formed only a week earlier, wants to make sure what the father and son saw from the bridge continues into the 21st Century. "We want the public to know we are very con- cerned about the creek and all the pressure that is being placed upon it," said president Ron James of Oshawa. "We can't take anything for granted any more. Ajax and Pickering — all of Durham — are feeling the crunch of residential and industrial growth." "We want to keep the creek clean so it can keep supporting migrating and native fish populations," he said. The club, seeking new members, plans a wide range of activity, ranging from warnings to poach- ers to the monitoring of polluters. "One of the first items will be an assessment of the creek," said Tim Tre- bilcock of Ajax, the vice- president. "Tim Rance, a biologist with the ministry of natu- ral resources, plans to walk the creek with us so we get a good idea of what kind of shape its in." "There are problems with erosion and siltation. We don't know how suc- cessful spawning is and we want to learn more about lampreys," said Tre- bilcock. The lamprey, an eel - like, blood -sucking preda- tor, attaches itself to the sides of Great Lakes fish. �lil- - - -lllllll- ii- t - �iltllllllll����l{Il�l����ff�������{i��f Like salmon and trout, the adult lamprey migrates up creeks to spawn. The club also would like to see more participation from the younger genera- tion. "We hope clubs like the boy scouts and girl guides become involved with us," said secretary Cindy Scott of Ajax. "We also encour- age schools to plan out- door trips with us so the kids can see something like the spawning and migrations." James said there is little time to waste because there are reports insect life in the headwaters of the creek are declining. In addition, there is new talk of a garbage dump site near Whitevale. It contains the headwaters of the west branch, home to native speckled trout. The two branches con- tain more than 30 miles of headwater, much of it part of the Seaton Hiking Trail and Metro conserva- tion areas. Garnet Armitage and Brian Vickers, directors of the Sunday clean-up, are hoping the public makes a solid effort to keep the creek in the state they found it. The club's next meeting is at 7 p.m., May 14 at St. Martin's Church in Pickering. For further information, call James at 434-5643 or Trebilcock and Scott at 427-8316. J r AfAOn# ax councillor do A es ,st� urham-Metro dump agreement By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Ajax regional coun- cillor Pat Clark is suspicious of two clauses in the agreement between Metro Toronto and Durham for a dump in north Pickering. Durham regional council will decide in three weeks whether or not to join the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) waste management plan (a provincial initiative whereby five regions in southern Ontario would jointly find a solution to the garbage crisis) and allow Metro to dump at the Pi site in Pickering. Clark is leery of the region's discussions with Metro and its involvement with the GTA. In the abbreviated agreement with Durham for use of a dump in Pickering, Metro has promised to "provide for a period of exclusive capacity at the Brock West landfill site for Durham beyond the an- ticipated closing date." Many people took this to mean that Metro will leave the dump earlier than scheduled, leaving Durham room to dump its garbage. "There's a very subtle and impor- tant difference," says Clark. She explains Metro could use the dump until it reaches the capacity specified by the ministry of en- vironment. "Metro could expire their certificate of approval and then Durham can have it." If this were to occur, Durham would be responsible for obtaining a new certificate from the ministry and applying for an Enrivonmental Protection Act hearing. "Metro is giving us nothing," she says. Also in the agreement, Metro promises "not to pursue approval of the Brock South landfill site (in Ajax) for construction waste or any other waste." However, Clark says Metro officials didn't promise they will not "ever" pursue it. "It's not off the table." Clark says there's more than just a fight going on to keep Metro from dumping in Pickering. She says, if the region agrees to join GTA, "We'll be tied into Metro for 25 years." Also, Clark doubts that the Pi site will be approved by the ministry of environment because it sits at the fork of both branches of Petticoat Creek, is one-half mile away on the east side from Duffin's Creek and one-half mile away from Little Rouge river. She believes that, when Pi doesn't get approval, the region will pressure the federal govern- ment to let the region buy some of the airport land in north Pickering to be used for a dump. However, in an interview with the News Advertiser, Ontario riding PC MP Rene Soetens con- firmed that no airport land was for sale for a dump. And, Clark also spoke with Soetens who confirmed that Benoit Bouchard, minister of transport, said there isn't any land for sale for a dump. Regional chairman Gary Her- rema has said that he's been talk- ing with the federal government about purchasing some of the air- port land. However, Soetens told Clark and the News Advertiser that officials in the transport ministry and other ministries were con- tacted and asked if they had given any indication that airport land was for sale and the answer was `no'. Durham region has delayed its decision on the dump for four weeks to allow Pickering residents a chance to voice their concerns. Region officials will be calling a meeting with Pickering residents within -the next four weeks. Clark says she's "pleased" that Ajax is going to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with Pickering in the fight against the dump. -- MIMumuuulpu FIH��!��`� �Fy .s ,�I���111111111111111111i1�1!111111� � � ��IIn�nl�nillli' Dump saves Cherrywood 8y: TJNY GRAN . Sfatf Reporfer: The approval of a new garbage dump in Pickering may prove to be a blessing in disguise for residents with polluted wells in Cherrywood and Martin subdivisions. By May 1, an $18.5 million rebate may find its way back to the region's waste management committee's cash flow. That in turn could finance a needed water connection for these areas with polluted wells. The rebate would come from Metro Toronto's previous agreement over industrial and commercial waste disposal with Durham Region from May 1, 1988 to April 30, 1989, says Regional Councillor Doug Dickerson. "The rebate funds will go to the regional reserves, with emphasis on waste disposal." Qualify "These funds can also used for a communit impact study, of which the Cherrywood situation may qualify," said Councillor Dickerson. Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema says he agrees with the possibility of Dickerson's idea. But he made it clear the region, dump or no dump, must do something to help the residents with polluted wells. "There is a way that could be found (to get municipal water to residents). The region has to do something for the people of Pickering," said Chairman Herrema. Promise Through the requisition of impact study funds, the region could fund the connection of municipal water to the Cherrywood homes, said Dickerson. He also said he intends to make the appropriate motion, in regional meetings, to see a commitment is made to restore clean water to Cherrywood this year. However, the garbage dump proposal must be dealt with first. If the dump plan is not supported, the rebate funds will be lost. Pickering would then be forced to alleviate the water problem by means of other avenues. /aAa, -2-6, t�g,� 1 You should know what's been said ... w{ITEVALE On two separate occasions, Andy Brandt -,---- Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, has spoken in the Ontario Legislature about the proposed solid -waste landfill site in the Region of Durham. Attached are copies of transcripts from Hansard, the official record of debates in the Ontario Legislature, for your information. The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party will continue to seek a guarantee from the Provincial Government that the appropriate environmental safeguards, including a full environmental assessment, are carried out on all potential landfill sites proposed for the Greater Toronto Area. Hansard t s OntarioOfficial Report of Debates Legislative Assembly EXCERPT of Ontario Second Session, 34th Parliament Wednesday, 26 April 1989 ROUGE VALLEY Mr Brandt: My next question is to the like to Mr Brandt: I can recall, with some degree of interest, the response of the now Minister of the Mr Brandt: I want to try one more time to see if the minister will in fact respond to a very direct Minister of the Environment. I would pursue, if I might, the same question with respect ' -Envuonmen(­-w 4inever the environmental) ro- question in connection with the ultimate use of to the Environmental Assessment Act and the cess was bypassed for whatever reason when he that property and the process that will be used in to reach a decision acceptable to all of the minister's proposals in regard to the Rouge sat in opposition. Here we have one of the most sensitive parcels oi`-i"ancTe tf in-t i greater order councils that surround the Rouge Valley, in Valley. The minister will be aware that the greater Metropolitan Toronto area and we cannot get a response to the interest they have expressed Toronto area, which is studying this entire matter strarg t answer out o 15m as to whether or not he directly to him by indicating they do not want a at the moment, may well make a recommenda- Valley sure at a application--of-the me is fulfilled to dump in that particular area. I want to ask the minister a very clear and very tion today in connection with the Rouge and its use as a possible dump site. Within the last environmen process -Me-lebtfefrof the law. simple question: Is he prepared to require that the week,_ the_ Minister of skills Development (Mr mce he will not answer that question, will he .. full environmental assessment be fu1- to W nder. ings in_ tTie- Curling) indicated, in remarks that were attribut- ed to hifn;-Chat the province of Ontario intends to answer the question in regard to the offer that was made directly to him by the federal government filled with respect Rouge, or is he going_ to continue to dance protect the Rouge Va�ey. Sy [ afi-wouta" A-C1t in connection with a $10-million park`' Is he now verb y and hope that he can�,e- toff e_oo _on so he does not have to respond in io mean [Fat he wi pro- Va e a Sump site an also against the prepared. since he is constantly indicating that the federal government is not prepared to enter this somehow rins o s cific ? Whatis thi intention of -his against possibility of a highway being constructed in that into a partnership with him on various programs, ministry? It is a very simple question. -particular area. WVill the minister today confirm to commit that he will enter into a partnership Hon Mr Bradley: There has been some '-to this Housi that it is his intention to undergo a with the federal government to develop a proper speculation that the member has referred to as to " nplete environmental assessment -the answer park land in the Rouge Valley? what might take place in that area. It is probably ,rat question which he did not respond to when Hon Mr Bradley: l am going to talk about it inappropriate to comment on that kind of it was raised by the opposition party -and will he positively. I do not want to sound negative on this speculation. in fact indicate that his government is prepared to day_ There is a new federal Minister of the I have seen no such pKpposals_coming forward do everything possible to preserve the Rouge' Environment to deal with, so I will try to be very _ for the Rouge Valley at the present time. other Hon Mr Bradley: As the member would be positive about this. We that S 10 million as an excellent deposit than the par an proposal, which sh a-ve m ier and the Minister of Natura esources have made aware. the Premier (Mr Peterson) has said on a number of occasions that the government of see on the ultimate cost of the development of this reference to. Ontario will in fact be Rrotectinq and preserving - area. I remember when the previous minister, Mr T think the proposal that I have seen that the the park land in that area. He would be aware as McMillan, came to that part of the province and member makes reference to, which is specula - is in fact not one which is in the Rouge well that the Minister of Natural Resources (Mr indicated his support. I expressed at that time again, as did the Minister of Natural Resources, tion, Valley._ I think he is talkg abo inut some Tands --Kemp er [Tie auspices o is ministry and- , un roug -tfiFi [Tie conservation authority, has provided -for happiness that the federal government was ' financially in whicTi-are in Scarborough at that point. I would that there will be a very careful assessment of.,- a—d-eat o money aTready rite` purcT-lase oT - prepared to begin to involve itself such an undertaking. We welcome it. But I think say anything that is brought forward for the purpose an and for ee operationn o a p - _. We, -and I am sure I am the minister who is responsible for parks would of development of any facility in that area. It try as a government indicate to you that the final cost of the , must meet all of the requirements of the Minis speaking on behalf of my colleague the Minister acquisition of land and the appropriate looking- o e nvironment as it relates to the environ- of Natural Resources, who has jurisdiction over after of the area would be several times the S 10 men assessment process and as it relates to parks -as the Premier has said intend to have the uThat million which has been suggested. aspects of any j poosal that would be broughi valler tested for4 is the Y Pro P� purposes.--- Please let me say that I think it is an excellent • o- warere will be a public hearing unaer the __poll of this government. A number of discus- startWe welcome them in joining in the #auspices of the Environmental Assessment-_ sions are taking place; the municipalities have program that the Premier and the Minister of` Board, as there is in these instances. I imagine been involved; the conservation authority has Natural Resources have announced to retain this at would -CASC �rop6sil that is been involved, there has been some public area for park purposes. We welcome their - rought forward. involvement in terms of residents of that contribution to our plan, and if they wish to bring particular area who have given input. At an appropriate time, the government will make an more money - The Speaker: Thank you. Final supplemen- announcement as to its policy in the entire area. tary. I know the member shares with our govern- --ent the feeling that the Rouge Valley is rather a ique place, and that we intend to preserve it as an urban wi)Jerness area. Hansard (Instant) 1 Official Report of Debates � Ontario Legislative Assembly -EXCERPT of Ontario Second Session, 34th Parliament Tuesday, 9 May 1989 Mr Brandt: My question is to the Premier. I had intended to ask this question of the Minister of the Environment (Mr Bradley). Since he is belatedly sharing with the federal government his awareness of the shipment of illegal toxic fuels from the United States, and because this question has sume emergency related to it, I will ask the question of the Premier. Tonight there is a meeting in Pickering with respect to the matter of the greater Toronto area proposing Pickering as a potentia•1 site for municipal waste from the GTA municipalities. There is some concern on their behalf, that this government may attempt to bypass its own environmental protection legislation, by moving to the Environmental Protection Act, as opposed to a fully-fledged and complete environmental assessment, with respect to any proposesd new site. Since this meeting is being held this evening and since these particular constituents are extremely concerned about what this government may do relative to a proposed landfill site, can the Premier give the assurance to this House, and therefore to the people of the Pickering area, that any new site will, in fact, require that the full Environmetal Assessment Act be appplied to that proposed site? n; Hon Mr Peterson: The Minister of the Environment answered that question, I think, two or three weeks ago. My answer is the very same as his. That is the answer. Mr Brandt: This is going to look particularly revealing to the people of Pickering who, when looking very carefully at the answer of the Minister of the Environment, will have extreme difficulty in interpreting the convoluted way in which he said, "Perhaps, maybe, but I'm not sure." That is about the answer that we got. We are talking about millions of tons of municipal waste that is going to be disposed of on an annual basis for some long number of years in some proposed site. In the GTA document that was, in fact, accepted by those municipalities, there was a small and sometimes overlooked caveat in that particular document which stated, very clearly, that in the case of an "emergency," there may be some necessity to bypass the normal, environmental approval process, which is the Environmental Assessment Act. With due respect, I ask very specifically, that is all I want to know. Is this government prepared to require that the Environmental Assessment Act be applied to a new site, or conversely, is the Premier prepared to say the government is going to go to some other, watered-down version, such as the Environmental Protection Act? What is this government going to do? Will the Premier give us a straight answer, please? Hon Mr Peterson: You have the straight answer. You got it from the minister two or three weeks ago. Surely —we all understand it on this side of 10 the House. My honourable friend cannot understand it. I can tell him it washes completely. My honourable friend should know that is the view of the government, that the fullest, most stringent environmental principles will attach to any hearing. Water it P risk from proposed dump Waste management has reached a crisis point in Metropolitan Toronto and the surrounding area. ; However, moving quickly does not mean we have the luxury of moving to a solution that risks the destruction of our environment and our heritage. The proposed P1 dump site in Pickering is frightening. It is on a highly visible hill which drains into i West Duffin Creek, the Rouge River system and ultimately Lake Ontario. ; It would almost certainly impact on the water supply in a developing area, as well as existing wells in historic Whitevale, ; Brougham, and Greenwood. In spite of these facts, I do not see any mention of the cost of bringing water into this large area in the proposed agreement. To suggest developing such a site without a full environmental impact study is beyond belief in this age of supposed environmental awareness. 4* D. J. FEYRER �R Scarborough Dump soj here else and just leave us alone Well, Toronto, what else do you propose to "dump" on Pickering? We are already coping with dumps, a proposed airport, a nuclear station, fighting to get to you to work on a congested Highway 401 or Highway 2 because th y are the only arteries available tq us, unless you count the Rouge Yalley which you are talking of . king away by building expensive homes that no one can afford. I propose you leave us alone and find somewhere else to dump on. VALERIE M. SMYTH" Pickering WHITEYAIE -67 `Left aghast by Star's view on dump quest I read your editorial of April 24 iekering over trash wtfn a mixture of rage an incredulity. You suggest that the opposition to proposed Metro dump sites is purely a case of parochialism and a petty attitude on the part of the surrounding regions. Further, you imply that requests for full environmental hearings are inappropriate. I must point out to you that environmental hearings are an important and necessary precaution to ensure that a disaster is not created in the reckless and wanton rush that you,: -- are recommending to find any old -' hole in the ground for our garbage. The environmental assessment act is in place to protect all of us in Ontario. Not only for us, but for our children and their children's ,.n) protection as well. They especially.. i must be protected from precisely the kind of behavior you are promoting. The issues at stake are not petty regionalism; the issues are our environment and the future of our lands' ability to support us. It is unacceptable to say that the rules should be suspended just because + we have been foolish and shortsighted. That would be to say that there are no rules. The long-term consequences make the stakes higher than the short-term ! problems we all have. Sir, the pettiness and parochialism is not evident in the regions, it is evident at your desk. Environment Minister Jim i Bradley is absolutely right in supporting the full utilization of his legislation. He is right politically, legally, intellectually, and morally. Let us all pray that he can ; maintain this dignity and integrity in the face of hysterical pressure tactics such as yours. Our very lives depend on it. fir HARD JONES __ Whitevale YO UR ,�e,w TO W By Alex Robertson One can attempt to understand those who try to justify the supporting of another landfill site in the Town of Pickering. Quite obviously those who attempt to make a case for this montrous proposal are Metro Toronto orientated. They have never taken the time to study the situation that exists in Pickering, and has existed for over 20 years. How much can one be expected to allow the rape of municipality where they reside before stating "enough"? Possibly a short history lessen is in order, since the town has so many new residents. Most of them moved to Pickering because they were able to invest in their own homes. True they probably are more Metro oriented, both by previous residence and by their employment. However, they now reside in Pickering. A close look at what has occurred in this town may help them to understand the concerns of the residents regarding further intrusion of our lands. Beginning It started back around 1958-59 when the federal government gave approval for the development of the world's largest nuclear plant. Yes, you are right, the Pickering nuclear plant. One can argue the pros and cons, but the plant is there — huge and ugly. Next came the need to meet the increasing demand for sewer and sanitary waste clearnace. Where should this be placed? You're right - the provincial government decided the largest sanitary sewer plant in Ontario, and probably in the world, was to be in Pickering. And yes, it serves Metro Toronto and Richmond Hill, as well as the Durham Regions southerly muni- cipality's needs. It's very nice for Toronto and other Durham Region municipal- ities. But all Pickering gets is a grant based upon footage. helpful. Even then the council of the town had the for s1g t to place limitation on the usage — that was 1989. Decree When the province decreed there would be regional government and that government would be responsible for garbage disposal, a major change took place. Firstly, the Durham Regional council negio- tiated with Metro Toronto to allow all of Durham Region's garbage to be disposed at the Pickering site and that the Durham Region and Metro Toronto would start looking for another location to take care of the needs of both municipalities by 1989. Trips One should remember regional government was formed in 1974. Since then meetings between Metro Toronto and Durham Region have constantly taken place at staff level. There have been trips to More Europe to study garbage disposal plants in One would think that countries such as would be enough. But no Germany, Britain, France. — in the late 1960s the Great numbers of Durham town made an agreement staff and council members with Metro Toronto, upon went on this trips, paid for the orders of the provincial by the taxpayers. government, to allow the Trips to the U.S.A. also largest landfill site in took place and similar Ontario to open in the members of the municipal - Township of Pickering. ity went. But nothing True enough, the town happened. gained benefits at that time While, like Caeser who because of the extra, or fiddled while Rome burnt, ordinary low industrial/ our councillors galivanted commercial assessment on `site seeing trips' while exsisting. The privlegde of time ran out — trips from free dumping plus --- no useful infor- monetry allowance was mation was forthcoming. Another There is going to be another trip — this one to Switzerland. Presumably a similar agenda will be followed. A number of councillors and staff will make sightseeing tour of a facility and enjoy a brief holiday at our expense. Then they'll return and that will be that. We will still be without a solution to the garbage site problem because the decision has been made. It is the same one made every year for the past 12, "locate in Pickering". Hopefully those of you who have moved into Pickering will understand 'why those of u lived here for soi i m feel so strongly that h `age, our investmei h. :operty and in homes, should be respected. Do you want your i property values affected by another dump? do you want your children's chance of fresh air threatened by a dump? The prevailing winds of this, your town, are northeast. In other words, a dump in the area of Whitevale will directly affect every home in South Pickering. Please attempt to understand and fight this imfamous proposal. Phone, write to your MPP (who has been Rouge area g voted poss'o garbage site m f1 By Michael Smith Toronto Star Defenders of the Rouge River valley have "their backs against the wall" after Metro Council last night accepted an emergency gar- bage strategy, Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer said. But Trimmer promised "one helluva battle" before she'll let an interim garbage dump be placed on land east .of the wilderness val- ley. She wouldn't say what action is open to her, to Scarborough City Council or to environmental ;roups. 46You don't forewarn the enemy," she said. But Metro Chairman Alan Tonks warned Trimmer to "stop postur-' ing" and start working contruc- tively to find other possible places for an emergency dump. The Scar- borough sites are a last-ditch solu- tion, he said. Interim sites The two Scarborough sites, both east of the Metro zoo near the Pickering border, are being offer- ed as part of the garbage strategy set up by Tonks and the chairmen of the regions of Peel, Balton, Dur- ham and York in head -to -head bar- aining sessions that started early his year. The other regions are also to find interim sites for garbage, while a Fong -term waste disposal plan is worked out. "The real solution is one of those Rites in the federal lands," Tonks said, referring to thousands of hec- t'ares of land assembled for the ill- fAed Pickering airport plan in the ..If they don't come through, we could be left holding a very, very lafge and stinky bag." Despite repeated requests, Otta- wa hasn't offered any of the Pick- ering land, he said later. The chairmen's plan calls for set- ting up a greater Toronto garbage authority, with a system for solv- ing the garbage problem. What form that authority would take, what system would be chosen and how the whole thing would be made answerable to the public is ,till to he decided. Meanwhile, :Metro has agreed to: ❑- He►p3TTaw up a set of g e ines F tal garbage solutions. The guide- lines will cost $2 million, of which Ml tro will pay half, and take three months to prepare. 0. Using the guidelines, ask for "expressions of interest" from pri- %�ate companies. The private proposals would outline a garbage disposal system and describe how the public would retain control. U Help decide which suggestions should be adopted. Tonks called it a "very detailed process, and not one that the public is excluded from." He said Metro Council will have several chances to discuss the, various stages, and there will be full public hearings as vdeH. dependent species' as Presence will To the editor: The announcement by the Regional Waste Managerment Committee to propose the P1, Whitevale site, as Durham's com- mitment to GTA came as sudden shook to, not only the residents of Whitevale, but to most of the peo- ple in Durham. We try to believe in the process of responsible government and we had hoped that our GTA represen- tatives would come up with a viable site that would pass a full En- vironmental Assessment Act hear- ing with full public participation but, we were wrong Now the onus has been put back on the residents to show that this site is totally wrong and to force our elected representative to go back and do their job properly. We continue to waste time and everyone still screams crisis. We are going to need the full sup- port of all the people of Pickering WHITEVALi, show conccr"Joi and Durham to get 'pis decision overturned. The site is rong for just about every reason. moving ahead in full gear, they are determined that this site will never be developed as another Metro dump. What we need now is for the residents in Pickering and Durham to start phoning and writing leters to Mr. Gary Herrema and your regional councillors and tell them that this site is wrong and that they have to look for a viable site that is environmentally safe and can pass a full Environmental Assessment Act with full public participation. On Mqy 9 at7:30 we need your presence at the Pickering Recrea- tion Centre for the public meeting. We have to show the regional coun- cillors that the people o ,ickering and Durham care. Lloyd Tho nas, President, Whitevale and District Residents ���ii'� J/ .��Aii 1, AGE 10—•cur: NEWS im'Fiat bit WEEKEND, APKIL 28 ms8 'Letters P0 ickering council needs your help To the editor: I'm writing in regards to the propos- ed landfill site P1 located near Whitevale. At its meeting Apr. 18, 1989 the Durham Region Waste Management committee recommended that Durham region participate in the greater Toronto Area Waste Manage- ment Plan. Also recommended was that an agreement between Durham region and Metropolitan Toronto be reached which would develop a short- term strategic plan between the years of 1990 and 1996 which would result in a landfill site being built on provincial lands south of the Whitevale communi- ty on the townline north of Taunton Road. At the request of Pickering council headed up by mayor Arthurs, this recommendation was deferred at the Apr. 19 regional council meeting. Pickering council, which had passed a resolution on the Monday night, had requested that Durham region defer this item in order to permit greater public participation by the residents of the town of Pickering. As a local council, Pickering was concerned that: (1) The Pi site had never been ex- amined or studied in any of the reports being considered prior, such as the Dillon Report. (2) The provincial government last year had promised that no provincial lands would ever be used for anything but housing. (3) This P1 site, if approved, would be the largest landfill site in all of Canada. (4) If developed as a landfill site, the Pl location will create environmental havoc for all surrounding communities as well as polluting the Duffin's Creek. (5) Under the G.T.A., the province of Ontario had given permission for a fast track approach to all communities that participate which would mean that there would be no environmental assessment hearing which Pickering feels would be necessary in order to demonstrate that the P1 site is not viable. In order that the public in the town of Pickering can be better familiariz- ed with the recommendation of the Durham Regional Waste Management Committee, an information meeting will be hosted by Durham region at the Pickering Recreation Complex Tues- day, May 9, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. Prior to this meeting, copies of the Durham Regional Waste Management Com- mittee Report pertaining to this mat- ter will be made available at town of Pickering offices or Durham regional offices. It is essential that the people of Pickering acquaint themselves with this proposal if we are to present a logical and factual approach to convin- cing those people making the decisions that this location is not a viable one. We urge everyone to please come to listen and ask the appropriate ques- tions in order that we can begin our fight. Lastly we must keep in mind that this meeting is one of information and that the real fight will be with the pro- vince of Ontario since if the province does not make this land available it can never be considered by Durham region. In closing I commit to each of you that I will do everything in my utmost as your representative to oppose this site and any other site that's deemed to be inappropriate in our town. May I remind everyone neither I nor Pickering council can do this one without you. I beg you to write letters to the following: Premier David Peterson, Legislative Building, Queens Park, Room 281, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1 Mr. C.W. Lundy, Clerk (Mr. G. Herrema and Council) Durham Region. 605 Rossland Rd. E-. Box 623, Whitby, Ont. L1N 6A3 Mr. A. Brandt, Office of the Leader of the Opposition Legislative Bldg., Queens Park Toronto, Ont. M7A 1A2 Mr. James Bradley, Ministry of the Environment 135 St. Clair Ave. W. 15th Floor, Toronto, Ont. M4V 1P5 Mrs. Norah Stoner, MPP Durham West, 2 Randall Dr., Unit 1 Ajax, Ont. LIS 6E6 Mr. R. Ray, N.D.P. Leaders Office, 3rd Floor, Legislative Bldg., Queens Park Toronto, Ont. M7A 1A2 Maurice S. Brenner, Local Councillor Ward 1, Pickering — Grit MPP `very upseto/,�/,e at premier over dump By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Durham West MPP Norah Stoner is "very upset" her own government didn't consult her when they offered pro- vincial land in her riding for a Metro -Durham dump and has called Durham region "bloody greedy" for considering the deal. Recently, Ontario premier David the land being used as a dump. When Peterson offered provincial land in asked how the premier responded, she north Pickering, known as Pl, for an replied, "I can't speak for him." interim landfill site for Durham and However, Stoner said she can Metro to use until a long-term solution understand the "rationale" of the pro - for garbage disposal is found. Next vince offering the land, but "I don't year the Brock West Landfill Site will agree with it. I intend to fight Pl and be full, leaving Durham and Metro the airport site." nowhere to dump their garbage. Stoner explains that Metro doesn't Stoner dmitted the premier didn't have any land available for a landfill consult h before he offered the land. site. The province does own land in "Yes I w very upset," said Stoner. Metro's Rouge Valley but, says Stoner, "I told hi I was clearly opposed" to See MPP ... Page 3 FROM PAGE 1 it "wouldn't be fair" if the province of- fered that land to Metro and didn't of- fer other provincially -owned land to other regions. Stoner wants Durham to apply to the province under emergency measures to force Metro out of the Brock West Landfill Site early and leave Durham with another five years of landfill capacity. Durham maintains that by going on its own and not participating in the provincially -initiated Greater Toron- to Area (GTA) waste management plan, the province isn't likely to help Durham. However, Stoner says Durham should at least ask the pro- vince to force out Metro, but adds "I never can predict" how the province will respond. She says she would sup- port Durham in its quest. Under GTA, the province and the five regions surrounding Metro would work together to find a long-term solu- tion to waste disposal. Durham hasn't yet decided whether or not to join. WHITEVALf~ "I don't think the region should go into GTA," says Stoner. "No one is for- cing them." She calls Durham "bloody greedy" for considering a dump deal with Metro which would give Durham $26 million profit from tipping fees. Stoner says Durham is "selling out Pickering" for the money. Stoner maintains she's fought land- fill sites since 1973 and will c ntinue to do so. She says Durham must ush for more recycling and she fin it "ap- palling" that Durham is considering cutting ties with the Durham Recycl- ing Centre. Stoner suggests the region add to the recycling building, begin large scale composting and begin recycling cor- rugated cardboard and plastics. "They should put their money where their mouths are," she says. Durham could reduce its waste by 60 per cent if it increased recycling and, in turn, reduce the need for landfills, she says. And, Stoner adds, if Metro is not made accountable for its waste, it won't push recycling. Currently, Metro is "sabotaging" its recycling. "I have a confirmed belief there's no way on earth Durham should get into another scenario like the past (with Metro)," says Stoner. "I've always believed each municipality is respon- sible for its own waste within its own boundaries." Stoner also suggests Durham look into using Scugog or Brock landfill sites. She says she won't support a new landfill site in the region if an En- vironmental Assessment Act hearing ( which can take several years) is not held. Last October Durham passed a resolution to cut its garbage ties with Metro. "Durham should decide to live with the original resolution and not go to bed with Metro," says Stoner. She calls it "farcical" that Durham is promoting public input into resolv- ing the garbage crisis while, at the same time, negotiating a deal with Metro. ickering mare to people fight oth dump By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Pickering residents and politicians are geared up to fight the province and Durham Region council to keep a Metro mega -dump out of their community. Thousands of dump opponents across the region and in Scarborough are preparing for a public meeting May 9 at the Pickering Recreation Centre to discuss the surprise proposal to create .Canada's largest dump on provincial lands beside the hamlet of Whitevale, says town councillor Maurice Brenner. "People are up in arms. There's been more response on this dump proposal than on any other single issue," says Brenner, noting the town's previous fights against airports, nuclear plants and other landfill sites. Two weeks ago, Durham council deferred until May 17 a decision to join the Greater Toronto Area garbage authority (GTA) in selecting the site for short-term use. Council wants to have public input first. And it's getting it. Residents groups are working day and night phoning and writing to politicians, sending flyers through the schools, making lawn signs and shooting a video of the village to show on the local television station, says Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents Association. Rouge, the next choice "Whitevale people are determined to stop this thing. And I think everyone in Pickering has just had it with dumps," says Thomas, referring to the "mismanaged Brock West site run by Metro. After helping fight proposed dumps near the Rouge River Valley, Pickering expects the full support of Save the Rouge lobbyists and Scarborough politicians in this battle, Brenner says. But Durham Chairman Gary Herrema says Metro will have no other choice but to dump in the Rouge if a site;is not chosen on provincial or federal lands in north Pickering. However, residents groups are still wary of making any more deals with Metro. "Once you get back in bed with Metro, no municipality in the Region of Durham is safe," says Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT). PACT wants the region to stay out of the GTA and take care of its own waste disposal. Parish is worried Durham councillors will vote for the site despite the anticipated outcry at next week's public meeting. "I hope there will be such a strong protest that Premier Peterson and Herrema will back off," Parish says. "People are just wild about this." Brenner says Durham politicians already have their minds set on a huge dump in Pickering, so it's more important to lobby the province not to allow the use of its Seaton lands. The province is going back on a promise made last year to make affordable housing a priority on provincial land, he adds. The public meeting starts May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Whitevale residents are also holding their own information meetings every Wednesday night until council votes on the proposals. m.h1z iffy lll---luuF-lulll'Jill!II IIII'�II�I�IIJ����I�I, 4 EAST/ THE TOROI\TO STAR, TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1"9 efters Ratepayers must pressure politicians to stop dump The announcement by Regional Waste Management Committee to propose the Whitevale site as Durham's commitment to GTA (Greater Toronto Authority) came as a sudden shock to most people in Durham. We try to believe in the process of respon- sible government and we had hoped that our GTA representatives would come up with a viable site that would pass a full Environmental Assessment Act hearing with full public participation but, we were j wrong. Now the onus has been put back on the residents to show this site is wrong and to force our elected representatives to go back and do their job properly. We are going to need the full support of all the people of Pickering and Durham to get this decision overturned. The site is .wrong for just about every reason you can think of. The residents of Whitevale are moving ahead in full gear. They are determined that this site will never be developed as another Metro dump. What we need now is for the residents in Pickering and Durham to start phoning and writing letters to (regional chairman) Gary Herrema and regional councillors to tell them this site is wrong and that they have to look for a viable site that is environmen- tally safe and can pass a full Environmental Assessment Act with full public participa- tion. On May 9th at 7:30 p.m. there's a public meeting at the Pickering Recreation Centre. We have to show the regional coun- cillors that the people of Pickering and Dur- ham care. We have a long way to go before this nightmare becomes just another memory, and we are going to need the full, aggressive .support of all council members and all the residents of,Pickering and Durham. LLOYD THOMAS President, Whitevale and District Residents Association DO YOU WANT ANOTHER STINKING METRO GARBAGE DUMP? ONN'�� PICKERING AJAX CITIZENS TOGETHER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (PACT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT) WHITEVALE PICKERING, AJAX, DURHAM CITIZEN ALERT APRIL 26, 1989 Dear Friends & Neighbours: The Premier of Ontario, David Peterson, is about to give a huge chunk of PICKERING - P1 at Whitevale and Chen-ywood - for yet another hugemega Metro Toronto Garbage Dump with fast track approvals and with absolutely no environmental protections to which all citizens are entitled through the Environmental Assessment Act process. Gary Herrema, Durham Regional Chairman, and a majority of Regional Council are proposing to go along with this new Metro Toronto Dump and to get back in bed with Metro. As a result of MUCH pressure, Durham Regional Council is holding a PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1989 - 7:30 P.M. PICKERING RECREATION CENTRE * PACT URGES every citizen of Pickering, Ajax & Durham TO ATTEND on MAY 9 to vigorously oppose this proposed huge new Metro Dump at P1 at Whitevale & Chenrywood. * PACT URGES every citizen to demand that Premier Peterson & Durham Regional Council give the people of Pickering, Ajax & Durham our full environmental rights under the Environmental Assessment Act process. * PACT URGES every citizen to demand that Regional Council oppose any more Metro Toronto Dumps in Pickering, Ajax or ANYWHERE in Durham. * PACT URGES every citizen to demand that Durham Region solve its garbage problems through the Durham Waste Management Master Plan now under way. WHAT MUST YOU DO NOW? 1. WRITE PREMIER PETERSON to oppose the P1 Site and his denial of your full environment rights and protections: David Peterson Premier of Ontario Room 281, Legislative Building Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M7A IA1 2. ATTEND THE MAY 9 PUBLIC MEETING to oppose and protest Premier Peterson's and Regional Council's proposed unjust and unfair actions. JOIN WITH PACT - SAVE PICKERING, AJAX & DURHAM Bill Parish Chairman - PACT r OWN OF P.IQ Z THE TOWN OF PICKERING 1710 Kingston Road Pickering, Ontario L1V 1C7 JNHITEVALE Dear Residents: As most of you are aware we have been dealing with the issue of landfill for garbage (a dump) at the Regional Government. As your representative to that government since 1985 I have taken a stand on your behalf that there should be no more landfill sites in Pickering or abutting our borders. The approach we have always taken in regards to the landfill issue has been one of high environmental standards and the unwillingness of Pickering residents to accept any more Metro garbage after the closing of the Brock West site. I write this letter to you to advise you that Pickering has once again been selected as a possible municipality being suggested for one or more further landfill sites. I feel this is most unacceptable and an issue you as Pickering residents must have a say in. It is all of our futures at stake here. So that you can be informed and made aware of all the facts and information regarding this proposal for one or more dumps in Pickering a public information meeting has been arranged for: Tuesday, May 9th 7:30 p.m. Pickering Recreation Complex Please make this meeting a priority as it will not only provide a good source of information but will be a solid basis for you deciding whether or not Pickering should be used as a municipality for further dumping. If I can be of any further assistance regarding this or any other matter please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours truly, til Bob Mitchell, Regional Councillor Ward 1 839-8284 Home 683-2760 Office /da --1 REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION # t Regional Headquarters Building + Be%erlev 10organ. DURMAM 605 Roseland Road East, Box 623 Xegionul Councillor Whitby; Ontario L1 N 6A3 Ward J Telephone: 416-668-7711 - 416-686-2401 416-364-5832 Municipal Building, Fax Number. 416-668-9963 Ontario 1710 Kingston Road, 2760 Res. Tel. 683-2760 Res. 683.3366 REGIONAL G. Herrema Ext 235 L 1 V I C7 .. CHAIRMAN CHIEF D.R. Evans Ext 234 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER _- CLERK C.W. Lundy Ext 243 ) F C �• - C"t PZcGLc SOLICITOR S.K. Jain Ext 244 _ �. Z- .� to [-e; COMMISSIONER P.W. Olive Ext 252 �p OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ``� L� ; j Ctr- ►'l COMMISSIONER T.E. Stevens Ext 232 A G, "NL.n1Q N OF PERSONNEL DURHAM REGIONAL COUNCIL Office Residence 1988-1991 M33on, Allan 416-644.7969 416-728-3616 GARY HERREMA, Chairman 134 Keewatin Street South Office Residence Oshawa L 1 H 6Z3 AJAX Nicholson, Brian 416.725-7351 416-434.2304 • Witty, James 416-683-4550 416-683-2884 204 Thomas Street 8 Crawford Drive Oshawa L1J 1 M1 Ajax L1 S 3A8 Potticary, Jim 416-725.7351 416-728.7601 Clara Pat 418-683-4550 416-683.9860 110-512 Canonberry Court 89 Lincoln Street Oshawa L 1 G 2Z5 Pickering Village Shaw, Margaret 416-725-7351 416-571-0106 Ajax L1S 6C6 505 King Street East Dickson, Joseph 416-683.4550 416-683.4225 Oshawa L1 H 1 E9 32 McClaman Road Ajax L1 S 3A5 Bus. 416-683-1968 PICKERING • Arthurs, Wayne 416-683.2760 418.420-1837 13ROCK 1953 Lodge Road • Madden, Donald 705-432.2681 705-357.3704 Pickering LIV 2 S 1 at6-683 173t 418.831.1519 R.R. s4 Dickerson. Douglas Sunderland LOC 1 HO 1298 Ilona Park Road Doble, John 705-432-2681 705-357.3601 Pickering L1 W 1 E4 R.R. o3 Mitchell, Robert 416-683.2760 41 &839-8284 Sunderland LOC 1 HO 572 Stonebndge Lane Pickering L1 W 3B3 NEWCASTLE Morgan.3everley 416.683-2760 418-683-8366 • Hubbard. Mane 416-623.3379 416-623.2457 1605 Gandalf Court 132 Wellington Street Pickenng L1 X 2A3 Bowmanv,lle L1C 1 W1 Hamre, Diane 418-823-3379 A16-983-5505 SCUGOG Box 361 • Hall Howard 416-985.2272 416-985-2387 Orono LOB 1 MO 330 Queen Street Hannah, Larry 416.623-3379 416-432-1019 Pat Perry Lob 1 NO 25 Phair Avenue Christine, Yvonne 418.9857348 418.985.2254 R.R. s2 R.R- •4 Bowmanville L1C 3K3 Port Perry LOB 1 NO 418-023-3379 41 "23-3970 Hooper, Ken � 140 Ontario Street UXHRIOGE Bowmanv,lle L1C 2T6 i • OConnor, Gern Lynn 416-852-9181 418-852.7147 OSHAyyA 200 East Street • Pllkey, Allan 416725-7351 418-S76-3031 Uxbridge LOC 1 KO 239 Blue Heron Drive R Jackson. Donald 416-852.9181 416-640-3570 Oshawa L 1 G 8X7 R.R. +3 Aker. John 416-723.2285 416-436-3486 StouMv,lle L4A 7X4 857 Royal Orchard Drive WMITBY Oshawa L 1 H 7K3 Baal. Pauline 416-725-7351 416-725-2027 • Attersley. Robert 41fi-688-5803 a18-688 504a $31 Sylvia Street 22 Hanover Court Whitby 7J2 Oshawa L1 H 5MS -IN ^ - -- - Oshawa?J 5R8 Whitby L' P ' A7 416.688.5803 4t8-888.8756 Diamond. Nancy 418.725-7351 416-433-8194 Drumm..oseom 338 Rosecale Drive a48 Simcce Street North Whitby - N 1 Z3 Oshawa -' G 4T6 Dionne. �.nda i16-725-7351 416-723-4582 _ Edwara"om t16.292.3999 s. �16-068 3573 443 Lanarx Drive 501 Vary Street west Oshawa Li 5W8 Whitby LI N 2P9 Harrell Iry a/6.725-7351 st8-725.08" •0enotes mayor of •Vumc,oality .r D70POSED P1 LANDFILL SITE If you are as concerned about the proposed "P1" landfill site for Pickering as I am, I hope that you will take a few moments to read this to find out how you can help in our fight. This garbage dump is to be located 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile south-west of Whitevale at it's closest point. The east boundary is Altona Road and the south boundary is Concession 4 Road. It is 2 miles north of Cherrywood. The area is farm land and there are 2 small watercourses on site - one flows easterly towards the West Duffins Creek and the other flows southerly and is a tributary of the Petticoat Creek. (ward 3-Pickering) It goes without saying that a garbage disposal site in this area poses horrendous problems and will, in my opinion, destroy this beautiful part of Pickering. My next point, WHY PICKERING AGAIN? This land is owned by the Province and was to be kept as farm land until such time as the development of Seaton took place. The Provincial Government has decided to give this section of land to Metro and Durham for a joint landfill site, and unfortunately because there is a waste disposal crises situation, this site can be approved WITHOUT a full Environmental Assessment. As you can see, our fight is not only with Durham Representatives who are not sympathetic to our plight, but also with the Province. I BEG YOU TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE FOLLOWING: Premier David Peterson, Legislative Building, Queens Park, Room 281, Toronto, Ont. M7A lAl Mr. C.W. Lundy, Clerk, (Mr. G: Herrema 5 Council) Durham Region, 605 Rossland Rd. E. Box 623, Whitby, Ont. L1N 6A3 Mr. James Bradley, Ministry of the Environment, 135 St. Clair Ave W., 15th Floor Toronto, Ont. M4V 1P5 Mrs. Norah Stoner, MPP Durham West, 2 Randall Dr., Unit 1, Ajax, Ont. L1S 6E6 Mr. A. Brandt, Mr. R. Rays N.D.P. Office of the Leader Leaders Office of the Opposition 3rd Floor Legislative Bldg., Queens Park Legislative Bldg., Queens Park Toronto, Ont. M7A 1A2 Toronto, Ont. M7A 1A2 On the reverse side I have listed a few points that may assist you in your letter writing. I would greatly appreciate receiving a copy of your letters for our records. - P1 is huge - 3 times the size of Brock West - we demand a full E.A.A. on any landfill site in Durham Region including the P1 site. - should be looking throughout entire Region for sites, not just Pickering. - Pickering has done its share and then some - Brock West - Brock North - Nuclear Plant - Criss -Cross of Hydro Wires for all of Southern Ontario - York -Durham Sewer Outfall - Pickering also has the Beare Road Landfill Site to the west and Brock South to the east. - totally inappropriate for Metro not to provide its own site for its own garbage as outlined in the G.T.A. - goes against the G.T.A. process for Durham/Metro to propose a joint site - - plead to withdraw precious Provincial lands for consideration since these lands were to be used for farmland and eventually for the Seaton develop- ment. - destroying part of our heritage (Whitevale is in the process of a Heritage Designation) - goes against the Farm Protection Act of 1987. (Bill 83 is for the protection of our farmers) - Bill 68 was legislated to encourage the preservation of our heritage lands by private landowners. - best to have another look at this whole process bearing in mind that if Metro wants the G.T.A. to function, (Representation by Population) Metro can force its will on anyone outside its boundaries. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE MANY EXCELLENT IDEAS AND FEELINGS THAT YOU WILL WANT TO EXPRESS AS WELL. Thank you, Information meeting May 9th, Recreation Complex, 7:30 p.m. — 0716 0 ME Ea i Beverley Morgan, Regional Councillor Ward 3 683-8366 - Home 683-2760 - Office. /da Did you know, the P1 Dump site is... YIHITEVALE • On a hill, to the west it drains to the head waters of the Rouge River, to the east it drains to the West Duffin Creek and to the south it drains to Petticoat Creek • Not easily accessible. Roads would have to be built from the south, connecting with, possibly Finch or Steeles. Dump trucks would destroy the environment (Brock West gets 600 trucks a day, this would be more) • The 4th dump site selected in Pickering: Brock West, Brock North, Brock South, we are also near the Beare Landfill site, F1 (proposed Federal land site), M3 and M2 sites (Rouge Valley), a nuclear plant and the proposed airport site. How much more should Pickering be asked to take ? • On A-1 agricultural land, currently being farmed • 66 feet from Whitevale. Whitevale is over 150 years old and currently going for Heritage Designation • 4 times the size of Brock West, 1 1/4 mi X 1 1/4 mi, we have the potential here to build a MEGA site • Upwind from Whitevale, Cherrywood and Martin's subdivision and would have a noxious affect on the residents • Over the Greenwood Aquifer and would pollute the wells in Whitevale, Brougham and Greenwood What you can do... Please take a couple of minutes to write a few lines to our elected representatives. Tell them what you think about the idea of putting a dump, north of the Rouge Valley beside Whitevale. We will gladly pay the postage and mail it for you. Thank you... LETTER CAMPAIGN SUGGESTIONS Keep the letters short and try and hit only 1 or 2 points per letter. r Hand written has the biggest impact, typed is next and a form letter is least effective. WHITEVALE If you know the person you are writing to, hit them with something close to them ie. farmer - write about the farmland, fisherman - write about the rivers Try not to make the letter come across as NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), give valid reasons. Maureen, something a little more than the rats attacking the babies. If you know someone that lives in the person's riding, have that person write the letter or you write it and get them to sign it. One letter from someone in their riding has more of an impact than 50 from Whitevale. If you have access to copiers, give me a copy and I'll make copies for our association files, PACT and COP. POINTS TO STRESS • Shipping garbage out of your Region is Immoral and does nothing to encourage Recycling • We support and encourage the 4 Rs - Recycle, Reuse, Recover and Reduce • Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is a bad deal, financially and socially (do you feel right sending your garbage to Halton). Durham should pull out of GTA now. • Durham's garbage stays in Durham, Halton's should stay in Halton • Under GTA the selected site would go through a SCOPED Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). We want a full EAA with full public participation, no shortcuts • We support the MacLaren report, that is looking for a Durham only dump Reasons for not in Pickering • 4th site selected in Pickering: Brock West, Brock North, Brock South, we are also near the Beare _ Landfill site, F 1 (proposed Federal land site), M3 and M2 sites (Rouge Valley), a nuclear plant and the proposed airport site. It's time for some one else to share the burden • On A-1 agricultural land, currently being farmed • Surrounded by the Rouge River system, West Duffm Creek and Petticoat Creek. All feed into Lake Ontario. • 66 feet from Whitevale • Whitevale is over 150 years old and currently going for Heritage Designation • Site is 4 times the size of Brock West, 1 1/4 mi X 1 1/4 mi, we are talking MEGA SITE here • On a hill that drains towards Whitevale • Smell would affect Whitevale, Cherrywood and Martin's subdivision • Over the Greenwood Aquifer and would pollute the wells in Whitevale, Brougham and Greenwood • No road accessibility, no sanitary sewer accessibility • Dump trucks would destroy Whitevale (Brock West gets 600 trucks a day, this would be more) 1 or vows [._ At its meeting of April 18, the Durham �egion Waste :Management Committee ecommended that Durham Region partici- pate in the greater Toronto Area Waste Management Plan. Also recommended was an agreement be- tween Durham Region and Metropolitan Toronto be formed which would develop a short term strategic plan between the years of 1990 and 1996 which would result in a landfill site being built on provincial land south of the Whitevale Community on the townline north of Taunton Rd. At the request of Pickering Council, head- ed up by Mayor Wayne Arthurs, this recom- mendation was deferred at the April 19 Durham council meeting. Pickering Council requested Durham defer this item to permit greater participation by residents of Pick- ering. Pickering Council was concerned that: ❑ The (Whitevale) site had never been examined in any of the reports being con- sidered, such as the Dillon Report. ❑ The provincial government last year had promised that no provincial land would ever be used for anything but housing. ❑ This site, if approved, would be the larg- est landfill site in all of Canada. ❑ If developed as a landfill site, the location will create environmental havoc for all sur- rounding communities as well as polluting the Duff ins Creek. ❑ Under the Greater Toronto Authority. Ontario had given permission for a fast track approach to all communities that par- ticipate. This means there would be no envi- ronmental assessment hearing. Pickering feels a hearing would demonstrate that the site is not viable. In order that the public in Pickering can be better familiarized with the recommen- dation of the Durham Regional Waste Man- agement Committee, an information meet- ing will be held by Durham Region at the Pickering Recreation Complex Tuesday at � Dump saves C �errywood 8y .... Statf Rexfer ><<<>'<<>` The approval of a new garbage dump in Pickering may prove to be a blessing in disguise for residents with polluted wells in Cherrywood and Martin subdivisions. By May 1, an $18.5 million rebate may find its way back to the region's waste management committee's cash flow. That in turn could finance a needed water connection for these areas with polluted wells. Tl*e rebate would come frorih Metro Toronto's prepious agreement over industrial and commercial waste disposal with Durham Region from May Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema says he agrees with the possibility of Dickerson's idea. But he made it clear the region, dump or no dump, must do something to help the residents with polluted wells. "There is a way that could be found (to get municipal water to residents). The region has to do something for the people of Pickering," said Chairman Herrema. Promise Through the requisition of impact study funds, the region could fund the connection of municipal water to the Cherrywood homes, said Dickerson. He also said he intends to make the appropriate It 7.30 p.m. Prior to this meeting copies of the committee report pertaining to this matter will be made available at town or regional offices. It is essential that the people of Pickering acquaint themselves with this proposal if we are to present a logical and factual ap- proach to convincing those people making the decisions that this location is not viable. We urge everyone to please come to listen and ask questions in order that we can begin our fight. Lastly, we must keep in mind that this meeting is one of information and that the real fight will be with the province since if the province does not make this land avail- able it can never be considered by Durham Region. I will do my utmost to oppose this site and any other site deemed to be inappropriate in our town. MAURICE S. BRENNER Local Councillor Ward I Town of Pickering 1, 1988 to April 30, 1989, says Regional Councillor Doug Dickerson. 'The rebate funds will go to the regional reserves, with emphasis on waste disposal." Qualify "These funds can; !so be used for a comxunity impact study, of which the Cherrywood situation may qualify," said Councillor Dickerson. motion, in regional meetings, to see a commitment is made to restore clean water to Cherrywood this year. However, the garbage dump proposal must be dealt with first. If the dump plan is not supported, the -rebate funds will be lost. Pickering would then be forced to alleviate the water problem by means of other avenues. r /; Landfill site must get full assessment Dear Editor: The following is an open letter to Premier Peterson. As a resident of Ontario, I ask and expect that a full environmental assessment will be completed on any proposed landfill site in Pickering. To avoid this, by any means, will weaken our environment and the credibility of any government to speak on environmental issues. Why is a potentially environmentally sensitive site (PI-Whitevale) being Proposed? This very area is now being considered for heritage designation. This is not how a country should honor its past. The magnitude of Durham's landholdings demand that the entire region be honestly considered. Pickering has done more than its share concerning garbage — for Metro and Durham. Whitevale is not a dump. Aside from the natural and historical value of the Whitevale area there exists, in the surroundings, prime lands for agriculture and future residential development. Is that not a complementary mixture? The present inter- regional approach to deal with garbage is flawed. The inherent imbalance of Metro's power and secretive deals and manoeuvrings to avoid political and environmental accountability fool no one. Please consider these matters and act accordingly. We will all pay if you fail to do so. Tom Brewer 210 Halley Gate Pickering, Ontario Now at crisis point Dear Editor: Creek, the Rouge River environmental impact Waste management has system and ultimately study is beyond belief in reached a crisis point in Lake Ontario. this age of supposed Metropolitan Toronto and It would almost certainly environmental awareness. the surrounding area. impact the water supply This rash action must However, moving quickly in a developing area, as be reconsidered before it does not mean we have well as existing wells in goes any further! There the luxury of moving to a historic Whitevale, are other alternatives solution that risks the Brougham, and which appear far less destruction of our Greenwood. In spite of destructive and need to be environment and our these facts, I do not see seriously studied. heritage. any mention of the cost The Pickering Pl site The proposed P1 dump of bringing water into this would trade an site in Pickering is large area in the environmental crisis for a frightening. It is on a Proposed agreement. far worse environmental highly visible hill which To suggest developing disaster. gg P g Don Feyrer, drains into West Duffin such a site without a full Whitevale, Ontario - - ---��� Historic Whitevale no place for a dump As a resident of Ontario, I ask and expect that a full environmental assessment be completed on any proposed landfill site in Pickering. To avoid this, byJ any means, will weaken our environment and the credibility oi, any government to speak on environmental issues. Why is a potentially environmentally sensitive site (Whitevale) being proposed? This very area is now being considered , for Heritage Designation. This is not how a country should honor its: past. The magnitude of Durham's t landholdings demands that the entire region be honestly considered. Pickering has done more than its share concerning K garbage =- for Metro and Durham, Whitevale is not a dump. Aside from the natural and historical value of the Whitevale area there exists, in the surroundings, prime lands for agriculture and future residential development. Is that not a complementary mixture? The present inter -regional approach to deal with garbage is flawed. The inherent imbalance of Metro's power and secretive deals and manoeuvrings to avoid political and environmental accountability fool no one. TOM, SIOBHAN and LEAH BREWER Pickering spectre o I The spectre of yet another huge landfill in Pickering has the community up in arms — understandably so. We've done our share of solving other peoples problems. We live with the infamous Metro Brock West landfill, the eternally leaching Metro Brock North, the York Durham Sewer, the Pickering Nuclear Plant and its attendant hydro corridor, not to mention the once proposed Pickering Airport. We have already done more than our fair share. Temporary Durham council is now seriously considering presenting us with Canada's largest landfill. The proposed site is 1-1/4 miles by 1-1/4 miles and could be capable of handling Metro's waste for 20 years. They have the nerve to call it "temporary". Once the garbage is there, you can be sure it's there forever. I stand opposed to this landfill for many reasons and I would like to outline a few: Clearly, the site next to the historic village of Whitevale is inappropriate from a social perspective. A dump in the vicinity of the Duffin's Creek, the Petticoat Creek and the Little Rouge River is sheer folly. The location is not well served from a transportation view point. History These are just some of my "site specific" objections. But I would like to move to the more widely based philosophical and environmental reasons for opposition. My credentials in waste management span 17 years of involvement in landfill battles and pioneering recycling in Ontario. I chaired "GAG", the Group Against, Garbage. I was a founder of the Garbage Coalition of Ontario. I served as a director of the Recycling Council of Ontario. I am co-founder with Glenda Gies, of Recycle Oshawa, which has now evolved into Durham Recycling. I was also involved in the organizing of both "Dump Metro" and "PACT" — Pickering Ajax Citizens Together. I am the recipient of both provincial and municipal awards for recycling. Immoral Having outlined some history, I would like to share my perspective on waste management. I believe it is absolutely fundamental that we must handle all our waste within our own boundaries and that other municipalities must do so as well. It is immoral to try to shove our waste into anyone else's backyard — where we could not be held accountable. From an environmentally responsible perspective another there is no such place as "away' for our waste. Only when people know they have no alternative to living with the waste they create are they sufficiently motivated to do the right things. A consumer society can become a "conserver" society. Look at the phenomenal success of the blue box recycling program. Ready I believe Ontarians have proven their readiness to reduce, reuse and recycle. They are demanding less packaging. They are urging the expansion of blue box programs into apartments, rural areas, and large scale recycling in the commercial and industrial sectors. As consumers we are pressing for environmentally safe products. I believe every new landfill site must have a full environmental assessment. What about this garbage crisis everyone is talking about? No crisis Let's set the record straight. Durham does not have a crisis. landfill Durham can do a lot more in the reduction and recycling area. Durham could initiate quickly a large scale composting collection i 1 addition to the blue box grogram. Durham could create a state of the art composting facility which in conjunction with recycling could reduce our total waste volume by about 60 per c n - Durham co possibly utilize the Laidla site in Newcastle which if it receives expansion approval, is capable of handling all of Durham's waste for 20 years. That site could be available in two years. Durham could ask the province to order that Metro vacate the Brock west landfill site six months early, thereby making room for six years of Durham s waste. I realize this column is much longer t an usual, but the issue is co. Alex. I urge all citizens of Ajax and Pickering to attend both regional meetings where this issue is on the floor. Come prepared to express your views. -'-- 'PiGE (;-A--TIIE NEWS ADVERTISER, MAY :t, vw) Editorial Waste of money Yes, Durham has a waste crisis. We're not just referring to the region's dilemma over what to do with its garbage in the next few years. We're also talking about our politicians' willingness to waste our money. Durham council's waste management committee decided last week to spend at least $50,000 to send as many as 10 regional councillors and two region staff members to Europe on an "in- spection trip" to six cities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland to see how they handle their trash. Full regional council is expected to decide on the matter today. Durham politicians and bureaucrats were invited to join Metro councillors and staff on the trip to "inspect the most ad- vanced and best examples of wet/dry collection and processing". What strikes us as even more ridiculous is that Metro is only sending four councillors on the trip while Durham might send 10. (We believe some Durham councillors should go overseas but certainly not 10.) What could members of Durham's waste management com- mittee have been thinking of when they made the decision? Were they trying to answer that age-old question "How many Durham civil servants does it take to tour a few dump sites and recycling facilities in Durham?" The answer to that seems to be "The more, the merrier." Have they discovered a new method of recycling that we haven't yet heard of -- a method that will recycle materials to produce money trees? We think waste management committee might be a poor description for this group of politicians. Managing to waste the budget might be more appropriate. Grits -did it a ain4&/ 9 �✓�j to Pick,,;V Dear Editor: Well a Liberal leade has done it again to the people of Pickering who worked so hard to have a Liberal member represent them! This time Premier Peterson has rewarded us by freeing up provincially owned class one farm land for yet another garbage dump in Pickering. This one will be located across the road from the beautiful, historic hamlet of Whitevale. Seventeen years ago the federal Liberal leader rewarded Pickering residents for their efforts by announcing the Pickering airport site on class one farmland. When will they learn you don't build garbage dumps or airports on class one farmland? Furthermore, the proposed Whitevale garbage dump site will destroy the Greenwood Aquafer which supplies well water to at least four communities in Pickering. Sylvia Cowls Box 34, Whitevale Ontario WHITWAL.E THE NEWS ADVEUTISER, NIAV 1, 1w0.)-PAVE 33':\ MPP Report Man' The spectre of yet another huge landfill in Pickering has the communi- ty up in arms -- understandably so. We've done our share of solving other Norah Stoner M.P.P. people's problems. We live with the in- famous Metro Brock West landfill, the eternally -leaching Metro Brock North, the York -Durham sewer, the Picker- ing nuclear plant and its attendant hydro corridor, not to mention the once proposed Pickering airport. We have already done more than our fair share. Durham regional council is now seriously considering presenting us with Canada's largest landfill. The proposed site is 1 1/4 miles by 1 1/4 miles and could be capable of handl- ing Metro's waste for 20 years. Coun- cil members have the nerve to call it "temporary". Once the garbage is there, you can be sure it's there forever. I stand opposed to this landfill for many reasons and I would like to outline a few: Clearly, the site next to the historic village of Whitevale is inappropriate from a social perspective. A dump in the vicinity of Duffin's Creek, Petticoat Creek and the Little Rouge River is sheer folly. The location is not well served from a transportation viewpoint. These are just some of my "site specific" objections, but I would like to move to the more widely -based philosophical and environmental reasons for opposition. My credentials in waste manage- ment span 17 years of involvement in landfill battles and pioneering recycl- ing in Ontario. I chaired GAG, the Group Against Garbage; I was a founder of the Garbage Coalition of Ontario; I served as a director of the Recycling Council of Ontario; and I am co- founder, with Glenda Gies, of Recycle Oshawa, which has now evolved into Durham Recycling. I was also involved in the organizing of both Dump Metro and PACT -- Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together. I am the rece- pient of both provincial and municipal awards for recycling. ns for opDosin Having outlined some history, I would like to share my perspective on waste management.�� I believe it is absolutely fundamen- tal that we must handle all our waste within our own boundaries and that other municipalities must do so as well. It is immoral to try to shove our waste into anyone else's backyard . For an environmentally -responsible perspective, there is no such place as "away" for our waste. Only when people know they have no alternative to living with waste they create are they sufficiently motivated to do the right things. A consumer society can become a "conserver" society. Look at the phenomenal success of the Blue Box recycling program. I believe Ontarians have proven their readiness to reduce, reuse and recycle. As consumers we are pressing for environmentally -safe products. I believe every new landfill site must have a full environmental assessment. What about this garbage crisis every one is taking about? Let's set the record straight. Durham does not have a crisis. Durham can do a lot more in the reduction and recycling area. Durham could initiate quickly a large scale composting collection in addition to the Blue Box program. Durham could create a state-of-the- art composting facility which, in con- junction with recycling, could reduce our total waste volume by about 60 per cent. Durham could possibly utilize the Laidlaw site in Newcastle which, if it Durham's waste. I urge all citizens of Ajax and Pickering to attend both regional meetings where this issue is on the floor. Come prepared to express your views. The first meeting is on Tuesday, May 9, at the Pickering Recreation receives expansion approval, is capable of handling all of Durham's waste for 20 years. That rite could be available in two years. Durham could ask thee��p�rovince to order Metro to vacate the -Brock West landfill site six months early, thereby making room for six years of Complex on Valley Farm Road at 7:30 p.m. The second meeting is on Wednes- day, May 17 at the regional head- quarters on Rossland Road in Whitby at 10 a.m. Make no mistake; the fight must go on! ite _ indf ill f By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - What began as a discus- sion about the real estate market turn- ed into a platform for local councillors to voice their opinions on the region's garbage crisis. Last week, the Oshawa and District Real Estate Board (ODREB) hosted a dinner at the Holiday Inn, Oshawa, with guest speakers including representatives from various real '�111�I�IIIIIII�'� N�1 it estate organizations as well as politi- cians representing different towns in the region. Ted Mouradian, president of the On- tario Real Estate Association, said the real estate industry has done a lot for communities. However, he said the in- dustry is trying to improve its image after receiving much bad publicity in the press. "In the past few years, we've had a real problem with the press and media's actual perception of real estate people in Ontario. We're just trying to make a living." Later, Mouradian explained that the media portrayed realtors as "speculators" who were driving house prices up. He said the industry has "very, very few" speculators. "Yes, people buy and sell. Every industry has bad apples." Mouradian said he's been in the business 15 years and has owned three duplexes. "We want to protect consumers against the bad apples in our business," he told the audience. David Tonkin, president of ODREB, asked representatives from each town to comment on such topics as land use, transportation, lot levies and garbage. Both Pickering councillor Maurice Brenner and Ajax councillor Pat Clark commented on their towns' growth with Clark stating that Ajax might have to debenture $30 million to keep up with demand for services. Clark then began discussing the P1 site in north Pickering which is propos- ed for Metro -Durham dump. "The site isn't going to get approval (by the Ontario ministry of environ- ment). You can take that to the bank." She warned, "The entire region is at risk" of getting a dump when Pi isn't approved. During a question -and -answer ses- sion, regional chairman Gary Her- rema was asked why Durham was let- ting Metro dump in Pickering. Her- rema said Metro has a legislative right to do so. Then, Oshawa mayor Allan Pilkey commented that there are no other facilities in Durham region for Durham's garbage to go except for Pickering and he praised the province for beginning the Greater Toronto Area waste management program. However, Brenner asked how many Pickering realtors have tried to sell a home near the Brock West Landfill Site. One realtor replied, "They all sold." Brenner, who seemed surpris- ed at the response, retorted, "I guess they all sell for a lower price." Pickering is going to dig in its heels and fight the P1 site, said Brenner. "Yes, not in our back yard any longer. We can't be the answer any longer." Regional chairman Gary Herrema, who referred to Clark as the "princess of garbage". said Pickering has a "political problem" and it's going to leave "some bad feelings. The dump is an inhibitor -to them." Changing the subject, Herrema said the next thing Dr: ham must imple- ment is some form of regional transit system. "Coping with growth has been difficult," he said. Herrema referred to the proposed 1989 regional budget, which would see ratepayers fork over 19 per cent more than last year, a a "little fat". He laughed when he added, "But, what th hell, we can always blame it on the p vince." n a lighter note, Herrema said that e ry day regional staff receive phone calls from people wanting to know where they can buy land. "You're go- ing to be in for many more good years," he told realtors. 'u!IU'�Ililq �lllqu�urvr"n�,�ii���i 1 lllllllllllllll�lllllll�l�lll��lll7llllll���l;�� WMIEVALE �_: PACT claims '*m Metro, Durham dump agreement could cost region $167M a year By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Durham region could stand to lose $$ million a year if it signs an agree ent with Metro to share a landfil' site in north Pickering. That figure was calculated by members of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment and presented to Durham regional council two weeks ago. However, Bill Parish, chairman of PACT, told the News Advertiser no one on council challenged the figures. So, Parish contacted Durham region chief administrative officer Don Evans and requested a meeting bet - See PACT... Page A5 FROM PAGE Al ween region officials and PACT to discuss the figures. But, Parish says, Evans replied tha6-rits the region didn't dispute the figuresand therefore a meeting wasn't didZ'Vf required. "We were rather astounded at that," E says Parish. "If our figures are cor- `/ rect (and council still approves the deal with Metro), council is not look- ing after the financial well-being of the G P citizens of Durham." Parish says the figures -PACT has calculated are based on the agreement Dear Editor:_ struck between Metro and Durham Well a Liberal leader The agreement states that the joint has done it again to the use landfill site, slated for land in north people of Pickering who Pickering known as P1, woulc generate revenue for Metro in the worked so hard to have a form of a rebate for all garbage Liberal member represent dumped, with Durham keeping onl) them! This time Premier the money for the cost of operating the Peterson has rewarded us dump. by freeing up provincially Based on figures released b) owned class one farm McLaren and Art Leitch, operations land for yet another manager for the region, Parish sayE. garbage dump in the loss to the region would be $1,67( per household based on 100,000 homes;Pickering. This one will be located in the region. Parish adds that, if Durham ran its across the road from the own landfill site, it could make a pro- beautiful, historic hamlet fit of $5 million a year based on a $1(X) Of Whitevale. tonne tipping fee charged to the Seventeen years ago private sector for commercial and in- the federal Liberal leader dustrial waste. Therefore, says ( rewarded Pickering Parish, the region could provide free residents for their efforts waste disposal to its residents and use the profit to boost recycling. by announcing the Durham region will receive $25 Pickering airport site on million from Metro in rebates, says class one farmland. Parish. However, Durham will only When will they learn see the money if it lets Metro dump in you don't build garbage Pickering next year. The money dumps or airports on Durham will get back was on the con- class one farmland? dition the dump agreement between Furthermore, the Metro a d Durham goes through. proposed Whitevale Parish c lls this a "bribe". He ex- garbage dLVnp site will plains tha Durham has never receiv destroy the! Greenwood ed a reba from Metro for commer- Aquafer which supplies cial and industrial waste. However, in the agreement, Durham has agreed to well water t� at least four rebate Metro for its commercial and communities in Pickering. industrial waste dumped into the new Sylvia Cowls landfill in Pickering. Box 34, Whitevale ' Region officials were unavailable Ontario for comment. 10 The Bay News, May 3, 1989 --Spectre of another The spectre of yet another huge landfill in Pickering has the community up in arms - understandably so. We've done our share of solving other peoples problems. We live with the infamous Metro Brock West landfill, the eternally leaching Metro Brock North, the York Durham Sewer, the Pickering Nuclear Plant and its attendant hydro corridor, not to mention the once proposed Pickering Airport. We have already done more than our fair share. Temporary Durham can do a lot more in the reduction and recycling area. Durham could initiate quickly a large scale composting collection in addition to the blue box program. Durham could create a state of the art composting facility which in conjunction with recycling and environmental reasons there is no such place as could reduce our total for opposition. "away" for our waste. waste volume by about 60 My credentials in waste Only when people know management span 17 they have no alternative to years of involvement in living with the waste they landfill battles and create are they sufficiently cj pioneering recycling in motivated to do the right �Jnd Ontario. 1 chaired "GAG", things. the Group Against, A consumer society can per cent. possibly Garbage. become a "conserver" Durham could . ' e t e i aw sit�_iL. Durham council is now I was a founder of the society. Look at the uti�iz___��--if it Newcastle w rc seriously considering Garbage Coalition of phenomenal success of the ex ansien presenting us with Ontario. I served as a blue box recycling receives_-_._ approval,_ is capable of Canada's largest landfill. director of the Recycling program, handling all of Durh�an s The proposed site is 1-1/4 Council of Ontario. Ready for 20 years• miles by 1-1/4 miles and could be capable of I am co-founder with Glenda Gies, of Recycle I believe Ontarians have waste That site could �be handling Metro's waste for Oshawa, which has now proven their readiness to available in two years. ask the 20 years. evolved into Durham reduce, reuse and recycle. Durham could to order that They have the nerve to Recycling. 1 was also They are demanding less province the Brock call it "temporary". Once involved in the organizing "Dump packaging. They are urging the Metro vacate war landfill site six months the garbage is there, you of both Metro" and "PACT" blue box early, thereby making can be sure it's there forever. - Pickering Ajax Citizens Together. expansion of programs into apartments, room for six yeas of I stand opposed to this I am the recipient of rural areas, and large scale Durham's waste. landfill for many reasons both provincial and recycling in the and industrial I realize this column is much longer than usual, and I would like to outline municipal awards for commercial sectors. but the issue is complex. a few: Clearly, the site next to recycling. Immoral As consumers we are I urge all citizens of Ajax Pickerirflg the historic village of Having outlined some pressing for environmentally safe and to attend both regional meetings Whitevale is inappropriate from a social perspective. history, I would like to products. I believe every where this issue is on the A dump in the vicinity of share my perspective on new landfill site must have floor. Come prepared to the Duffin's Creek, the waste management. a full environmental express your views. Petticoat Creek and the I believe it is absolutely assessment. Little Rouge River is sheer fundamental that we must What about this garbage folly. handle all our waste within crisis everyone is talking The location is not well; our own boundaries and about? served from a that other municipalities No crisis transportation view point. must do so as well. Let's set the record % History It is immoral to try to straight. Durham does not have IhHH Hl� 11HA HH111 I shove our waste into a crisis. ... These are just some of anyone else's backyard - my site specific" where we could not be objections. But I would held accountable. From like to move to the more an environmentally widely based philosophical responsible perspective 13A Y A) S P'V �,1✓li Landfill site must get full assessment Dear Editor: The following is an open letter to Premier Peterson. As a resident of Ontario, I ask and expect that a full environmental assessment will be completed on any proposed landfill site in Pickering. To avoid this, by any means, will weaken our environment and the credibility of any government to speak on environmental issues. Why is a potentially environmentally sensitive site (P1-Whitevale) being proposed? This very area is now being considered for heritage designation. This is not how a country should honor its past. The magnitude of Durham's landholdings demand that the entire region be honestly considered. Pickering has done more than its share concerning garbage — for Metro and Durham. Whitevale is not a dump. Aside from the natural and historical value of the Whitevale area there exists, in the surroundings, prime lands for agriculture and future residential development. Is that not a complementary mixture? The present inter- regional approach to deal with garbage is flawed. The inherent imbalance of Metro's power and secretive deals and manoeuvrings to avoid political and environmental accountability fool no one. Please consider these matters and act accordingly. We will all pay if you fail to do so. Tom Brewer 210 Valley Gate Pickering, Ontario Now at crisis point Dear Editor: Creek, the Rouge River environmental impact Waste management has system and ultimately study is beyond belief in reached a crisis point in Lake Ontario. this age of supposed Metropolitan Toronto and It would almost certainly environmental awareness. the surrounding area. impact the water supply This rash action must However, moving quickly in a developing area, as be reconsidered before it does not mean we have well as existing wells in goes any further! There the luxury of moving to a historic Whitevale, are other alternatives solution that risks the Brougham, and which appear far less destruction of our Greenwood. In spite of destructive and need to be environment and our these facts, I do not see seriously studied. heritage. any mention of the cost The Pickering P 1 site of bringing water into this would trade an The proposed P1 dump large area in the environmental crisis for a site in Pickering is far worse eruct,,' ental frightening. It is on a proposed agreement. disaster. � highly visible hill which To suggest developing Don Feyrer, drains into West Duffin such a site without a full Whitevale, Ontario 1111TI Ti III f �I1111 1�T11 I I III I III I I I[11 YOUR TOWN By Alex Robertson One can attempt to understand those who try to justify the supporting of another landfill site in the Town of Pickering. Quite obviously those who attempt to make a case for this montrous proposal are Metro Toronto orientated. They have never taken the time to study the situation that exists in Pickering, and has existed for over 20 years. How much can one be expected to allow the rape of municipality where they reside before stating "enough"? Possibly a short history lessen is in order, since the town has so many new residents. Most of them moved to Pickering because they were able to invest in their own homes. True they probably are more Metro oriented, both by previous residence and by their employment. However, they now reside in Pickering. A close look at what has occurred in this town may help them to understand the concerns of the residents regarding further intrusion of our lands. Beginning It started back around 1958-59 when the federal government gave approval for the development of the world's largest nuclear plant. Yes, you are right, The Bay News, May 3, 1989 33 the Pickering nuclear plant. One can argue the pros and cons, but the plant is there — huge and ugly. Next came the need to meet the increasing demand for sewer and sanitary waste clearnace. Where should this be placed? You're right - the provincial government decided the largest sanitary sewer plant in Ontario, and probably in the world, was to be in Pickering. And yes, it serves Metro Toronto and Richmond Hill, as well as the Durham Regions southerly muni- cipality's needs. It's very nice for Toronto and other Durham Region municipal- ities. But all Pickering gets is a grant based upon footage. More One would think that would be enough. But no — in the late 1960s the town made an agreement with Metro Toronto, upon the orders of the provincial government, to allow the largest landfill site in Ontario to open in the Township of Pickering. True enough, the town gained benefits at that time because of the extra, or ordinary o'f w ndustrial/ commercial assessment exsisting. TIM—rria j�legde of free dumping plus a monetry allowance was helpful. Even then the council of the town had the foresight to place limitation on the usage — that was 1989. Decree When the province decreed there would be regional government and that government would be responsible for garbage disposal, a major change took place. Firstly, the Durham Regional council negio- tiated with Metro Toronto to allow all of Durham Region's garbage to be disposed at the Pickering site and that the Durham Region and Metro Toronto would start looking for another location to take care of the needs of both municipalities by 1989. Trips One should remember regional government was formed in 1974. Since then meetings between Metro Toronto and Durham Region have constantly taken place at staff level. There have been trips to Europe to study garbage disposal plants in countries such as Germany, Britain, France. Great numbers of Durham staff and council members went on this trips, paid for by the taxpayers. Trips to the U.S.A. also took place and similar members of the municipal- ity went. But nothing happened. While, like Caeser who fiddled while Rome burnt, our councillors galivanted on `site seeing trips' while time ran out — trips from which no useful infor- mation was forthcoming. Another There is going to be another trip — this one to Switzerland. Presumably a similar agenda will be followed. A number of councillors and staff will make a sightseeing tour of a facility and enjoy a brief holiday at our expense. Then they'll return and that will be that. We will still be without a solution to the garbage site problem because the decision has been made. It is the same one made every year for the past 12, "locate in Pickering". Hopefully those of you who have moved into Pickerina will understand why those o` us who have lived here for some time feel so strongly that our heritage, our investments in property and in homes, should be respected. Do you want your property values affected by another dump? do you want your children's chance of fresh air threatened by a dump? The prevailing winds of this, your town, are northeast. In other words, a dump in the area of Whitevale will directly affect every home in South Pickering. Please attempt to understand and fight this imfamous proposal. Phone, write to your MPP (who \t-,,as been strangely silendate), attend protest meetings. Stop the latest attempt to despoil pickerinq. 'A?4 r,A'hje K! 1�s�i�tii�i li�r#St✓t# �1 J: ?�u; �t�►t �'�+ �� _ ►Edit®�I � . , _ —� Look elsewnepe for dump Last week. Durham West Liberal MPP Norah Stoner reveal- ed she was "upset" at not being consulted on the Whitevale P1 landfill site. It might be political suicide to state that and Stoner deserves credit for finally stating her `provincial' stand on this landfill battle. There was no question of her local and regional councillor position but now she's quelled any questions, saying she "in- tends to fight P1 and the airport site". Stoner's not alone in fighting the Whitevale P1 site, as letters in this and recent editions of the News Advertiser will attest. Now, with a lot more support from all Pickering residents, maybe we can make these garbage planners in power realize that Pickering has been a dumping ground for much too long. Durham needs to look elsewhere and that doesn't include the perimeter of the airport land. Support for this can come from writing a Letter To The Editor to the News Advertiser. Don't think for a minute that the guys at the top don't tap the pulse of the community by reading the local newspaper in areas where issues exist. Your message will get through. Another form of support can be letters to the head honchos themselves. The list has run here at least twice. You can con- tact Stoner's office for the correct addresses. While we're on the garbage issue, note that Durham regional council decided Wednesday to not spend at least $50,000 to send up to 10 regional councillors and two staffers to Europe to `in- spect' how trash is handled in, for example, Bangladesh. Too /bad they'll miss the Lake Geneva dinner cruise. Meanwhile, that same day, the province sponsored a waste management conference in Toronto. The region's fee would've been $495. Nobody went. But then they've all likely been to Toronto before. JfPPReport Man reasons for op osin landfiII site YP The spectre of yet another huge landfill in Pickering has the communi- ty up in arms -- understandably so. We've done our share of solving other Norah Stoner M.P.P. people's problems. We live with the in- famous Metro Brock West landfill, the eternally -leaching Metro Brock North, the York -Durham sewer, the Picker- ing nuclear plant and its attendant hydro corridor, not to mention the once proposed Pickering airport. We have already done more than our fair share. Durham regional council is now seriously considering presenting us with Canada's largest landfill. The proposed site is 1 1/4 miles by 1 1/4 miles and could be capable of handl- ing Metro's waste for 20 years. Coun- cil members have the nerve to call it ,temporary". Once the garbage is there, you can be sure it's there forever. I stand opposed to this landfill for many reasons and I would like to outline a few: Clearly, the site next to the historic village of Whitevale is inappropriate from_a social perspective. A dump in the vicinity of DuffiWs Creek, Petticoat Creek and the Little I Rouge River is sheer folly. The location is not well served from a transportation viewpoint. These are just some of my "site specific" objections, but I would like to move to the more widely -based Philosophical and environmental reasons for-bpon. My credentials in waste manage- ment span 17 years of involvement in landfill battles and pioneering recycl- ing in Ontario. I chaired GAG, the Group Against Garbage; I was a founder of the Garbage Coalition of Ontario; I served as a director of the Recycling Council of Ontario; and I am co- founder, with Glenda Gies, of Recycle Oshawa, which has now evolved into Durham Recycling. I was also involved in the organizing of both Dump Metro and PACT -- Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together. I am the rece- pient of both provincial and municipal awards for recycling. Having outlined some history, I would like to share my Perspective waste managem t. on I be ieve it is aClolutely fundamen- t al th t we must hpndle all our waste withi our own b �undaries and that other municipalities must do so as well. It is immoral to try to shove our waste into anyone else's backyard. For an environmentally -responsible Perspective, there is no such place as "away" for our waste. Only when people know they ha alternative to livive no ng with waste the create are they sufficiy ently motivated to do the right things. " A consumer society can become a conserver" society. Look at the phenomenal success of the Blue Box •ecycling program. I believe Ontarians have proven heir readiness to reduce, reuse and ecycle. As consumers nwe are pressing for vironmentally-safe products. I believe every new landfill site must have a full environmental assessment. What abawt-�g bage crisis every one is taking about? Let's set the record straight. Durham does not have a crisis. Durham can do a lot more in the reduction and recycling area. Durham could initiate quickly a large scale composting collection in addition to the Blue Box program. Durham -could create a state-of-the- art composting facility which, in con- junction with recycling, could reduce our total waste volume by about 60 per cent. Durham could possibly utilize the Laidlaw site in Newcastle which, if it receives expansion approval, is capable of handling all of Durham's waste for 20 years. That site could be available in two years. Durham could ask the province to order Metro to vatatu thrBrock West landfill site six months early, thereby making room for six years of Durham's waste. I urge all citizens of Ajax and Pickering to attend both regional meetings where this issue is on the floor. Come prepared to express your views. The first meeting is on Tuesday, May 9, at the Pickering Recreation Complex on Valley Farm Road at 7:30 p.m. The second meeting is on Wednes- day, May 17 at the regional head- quarters on Rossland Road in Whitby at 10 a.m. Make no mistnte - on! ttlL*fight must go h eeds .0 Al a w y e r: Mor an AJAX-PICKERI G - Pickering and Ajax Citize s Together (PACT) for the Environment needs to hire an environmental lawyer, says Ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan. Morgan says the group needs an attorney to represent it on landfill issues. Estimating the cost of the, attorney to be between $50,000 and $100,000, Morgan says she will ap- proach local businesses and in- dustries for donations. "The monetary source is impor- tant," she says �;estPed the sup- port of Pickering." `bt I, 40-- s- y 7RTeale�sstate forum tur s into talk on dump ills III I By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - What began as a discus- sion about the real estate market turn- ed into a platform for local councillors to voice their opinions on the region's garbage crisis. Last week, the Oshawa and District Real Estate Board (ODREB) hosted a dinner at the Holiday Inn, Oshawa, with guest speakers including representatives from various real estate organizatz...—s—as—:.Q as politi- cians representing different towns in the region. Ted Mouradian, president of the On- tario Real Estate Association, said the real estate industry has done a lot for communities. However, he said the in- dustry is trying to improve its image after receiving much bad publicity in , the press. "In the past few years, we've had a real problem with the press and media's actual perception of real estate people in Ontario. We're just trying to make a living." Later, Mouradian explained that the media portrayed realtors as "speculators" who were driving house prices up. He said the industry has "very, very few" speculators. "Yes, people buy and sell. Every industry has bad apples." Mouradian said he's been in the business 15 years and has owned three duplexes. "We want to protect consumers against the bad apples in our business," he told the audience. David Tonkin, president of ODREB, asked representatives from each town to comment on such topics as land use, transportation, lot levies and garbage. Both Pickering councillor Maurice Brenner and Ajax councillor Pat Clark commented on their towns' growth with Clark stating that Ajax might have to debentu a $30 million to keep up with deman for services. Clark then b an discussing the PI site in north Pi ering which is propos- ed for Metro -Durham dump. "The site isn't going to get approval (by the Ontario ministry of environ- ment). You can take that to the bank." She warned, "The entire region is at risk" of getting a dump when P1 isn't approved. During a question -and -answer ses- sion, regional chairman Gary Her- rema was asked why Durham was let- ting Metro dump in Pickering. Her- rema said Metro has a legislative right Then, Oshawa mayor Allan Pilkey commented -that theee are no other facilities in Durham region for Durham's garbage to go except for Pickering and he praised the province for beginning the Greater Toronto Area waste management program. However, Brenner asked how many Pickering realtors have tried to sell a home near the Brock West Landfill Site. One realtor replied, "They all sold." Brenner, who seemed surpris- ed at the response, retorted, "I guess they all sell for a lower price." Pickering is going to dig in its heels and fight the Pi site, said Brenner. "Yes, not in our back yard any longer. We can't be the answer any longer." Regional chairman Gary Herrema, who referred to Clark as the "princess of garbage", said Pickering has a "political problem" and it's going to leave "some bad feelings. The dump is an inhibitor to them." Changing the subject, Herrema said the next thing Dui: ham must imple- ment is some four, of regional transit system. "Coping with growth has been difficult," he said. Herrema referred to the proposed 1989 regional budget, which would see ratepayers fork over 19 per cent more than last year, a a "little fat". He laughed when he added, "But, what the hell, we can always blame it on the province." On a lighter note, Herrema said that every day regional staff receive phone calls from people wanting to know where they can buy land. "You're go- ing to be in for many more good years," he t&I-ra.;:ars. RZT1a I PACT claims Metro, Durham dump agreement could cost region $167M a year By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Durham region could stand to lose $167 million a year if it signs an agreement with Metro to share a landfill site in north Pickering. ween region officials and PACT to discuss the figures. But, Parish says, Evans replied that .he region didn't dispute the figures and therefore a meeting wasn't required. "We were rather astounded at that," says Parish. "If our figures are cor- rect (and council still approves the deal with Metro), council is not look• ing after the financial well-being of th( citizens of Durham." Parish says the figures PACT has calculated are based on the agreemenl struck between Metro and Durham The agreement states that the joint use landfill site, slated for land in north Pickering known as P1, woulc generate revenue for Metro in the form of a rebate for all garbagE dumped, with Durham keeping onl} the money for the cost of operating th( dump. Based on figures released by McLaren and Art Leitch, operations anager for the region, Parish say:•. the loss to the region would be $1,67t, per household based on 100,000 homes in the region. Parish adds that, if Durham ran its own landfill site, it could make a pro- fit of $5 million a year based on a $10o tonne tipping fee charged to the private sector for commercial and in- dustrial waste. Therefore, says Parish, the region could provide free waste disposal to its residents and use the profit to boost recycling. That figure was calculated by members of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment and presented to Durham regional council two weeks ago. However, Bill Parish, chairman of PACT, told the News Advertiser no one on council challenged the figures. So, Parish contacted Durham region chief administrative officer Don Evans and requested a meeting bet - See PACT ... Page A5 Durham region will receive $25 million from Metro in rebates, says Parish. However, Durham will only see the money if it lets Metro dump in Pickering next year. The money Durham will get back was on the con- Ejition the dump agreement between etro and Durham goes through. arish calls this a "bribe". He ex - la ins that Durham has never receiv- a rebate from Metro for comme cial and industrial waste. However, i the agreement, Durham has agreed t rebate Metro for its commercial an industrial waste dumped into the new landfill in Pickering. Region officials were unavailable for comment. I ............ s........a rasa -au *•••••••••, •f �'„,a rm or the 'nVirnent. 7 'Awmaim Pickering Village • •r 'S 1 'L r Arena 1�. Church Street., North .give urrwan#ed, useful items to PACT. [Notion Rd-& Hwy2) Evenings 7-19-- April 25.,27, May 7 -5. Call Angelo 839-9436 for pick up Donate Bakhg--call KeIIv 686 -0327 �S.}JfJJJ WHITEVALE WHITEVALE Are you aware that there may be another major landfill site (dump) in Durham? Are you aware that this dump is not just for Durham's garbage but also for our neighbours in Metro Toronto? Are you aware that this will be the third Metro dump in Durham and the fourth in a three mile radius? Are you aware that the members of Durham Regional Council Waste Management Committee have chosen a site at Altona and Whitevale Roads in Pickering as the new landfill site? This site is on Al Agricultural farmland. 131 is YOUR Issue Environmental issues are raised everyday chipping away our planet in every possible way Ozone holes, oil spills, acid rain - cause strife Just a few of the dilemas threatening our childrens' life Now there's one so close to us Just watch that mountain grow A landscape of garbage collected from Durham and Greater Metro The political machine is massive and we all seem so small Is there anything that we can do... anything at all? Read ,listen, attend meetings - make yourself aware There will be ways to beat this thing If we act as much as we care by Donna Culbert Whitevale Resident Please Recycle This Paper - We Care About Your Environment! Dear Concerned Resident of Durham, Now that you are aware of the issue, we would like to encourage you to become involved in the decision. You can make a difference! A public meeting regarding this issue will be held on Tuesday, May 9th at 7:30 p.m. at the Pickering Recreation Complex on Valley Farm Road south of Highway #2 (east of Pickering Town Centre). Prior to this meeting we would encourage you to contact your Regional Councillor to express your feelings on this matter. These are our elected officials and it is their responsibility to reflect your concerns and opinions - not just their own. The telephone number for the Regional Office In Durham Is 668-7711. Please contact this office for the name and number of your Regional Councillor and to voice your concern. We would appreciate any input you have in this matter as this is a regional issue and not just for those who happen to have it in their NEIGHBOURHOOD! Remember, 15.5 million tons of Metro Toronto's garbage is enough. Sincerely, Concerned Citizens of Durham For further information contact. PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together) Mr. Bill Parish - 683-2003 Whitevale Residents Association Mr. Lloyd Thomas - 294-1978 Cherrywood Residents Association Mrs. Brenda Davies - 839-2141 Coalition Of Pickering Mr. Ken Ferance - 286-1367 Please Recycle This Paper - We Care About Your Environment! lJ � \l G �w1 wMi� co�►�� w�� MA Al UtO /tt �X-Okev, .�t- M C� u Lo-h h-, .0 fin/ ��« �t c, ,�C, c fiti� ZU c d.c.,V—L AZJ' J/V 4A�O Ma.A {�/ �mv ward ak a,►u.1 iJ:✓.1-c.i.e., CLs -B OA��u Y""-, vN ll-� 4"-l- ajKj 'LA Gt o. VA A44 n 0 -i W c,�t� courl�t eZW Gb c.�,�c, -�� OLAJ- JJJ'WJ vvo !�/L4,xvj C,(AA- ,Q� Un �n �dPtu., , ��,.� w c✓�� com w��1� v at< r .5I ( 1 1% - A `6a -.5 t-/,VVAA -.b(A l:hM Kt"" 8fi cl VIAJLA`� U-JA" Yoe � � LA � e d 9 w�Lske. w�j _Ale- """p- 4-o 40 F `s 4-al "�- ti `V __.'IA -�-Q, � /.�.eA�31l�.s �-�- (i-t.l9t� U'` .�tmM CIHw� dU � Wes- w S O W w i V L l/I.JJ Lf7Y1 11rV 'I will put a stop to his life and family': letter writer Death threata hainst re ion g g chairman rman is being taken 'seriously' by olice va DURHAM - Durham regional chairman Gary Her- The writer is most likely referring to a Durham -Metro rema's life has been threatened in a letter to an area dump proposed for north Pickering. newspaper. A Whitby This Week reporter notified Durham And, Herrema says, letters sent to him blaming him Regional Police when he received the letter on Friday. for a proposed dump in Pickering are being "encourag- Herrema says he's "not worried" about the threats. ed" by local politicians on his council and by various Although he's received threats before, he admits this is organized groups. the most "vindictive" one he's had. He says it's "unfor- In a letter to Whitby This Week, the writer called Her- tunate" that residents are "getting into personalities". rema an "over- paid, lazy S of a B" and said if he "gives Letters blaming him for the proposed dump "are be - us the Toronto dump he won't live to get his over paid ing encouraged by people", he says, and made specific money he is making." mention of "politicians and organized people". Herrema The letter continued, "I will put a stop to his life and confirms he's speaking of politicians on regional council. family." Police say they're taking the threat "seriously" and It was signed "A Mad Tax Payer". are investigating the incident. Emotions are high over the proposed P1 landfill site across the road from historic Whitevale. Residents are understandably upset that this pristine location has been chosen as a potential Metro -Durham landfill site for who knows how many years or how many tonnes. Whitevale and its residents have played a significant part in the history of Canada. In fact, a couple of William Lyon Mackenzie's cohorts in the Upper Canada Rebellion hailed from the Whitevale- Brougham area. While there is more than a bit of history associated with the hamlet, that in itself isn't enough to stop the dump from being located there. But it does give an idea of how long the hamlet's been there. And, to the homeowners' credit, the residences in the hamlet hay. been maintained and are mostly in good shape. Whitevale has also applied for heritage designation; something that is usually reserved for single homes, not entire hamlets. So, residents in this quiet little historical hamlet and the surroun- ding countryside have become upset that the area, having survived more than 150 years of whatever man's been able to throw at it, is likely to die under a massive avalanche of garbage. And, to make their point, they're writing letters to almost everybody who could conceivably have some impact on the final decision. Obviously, the folks of north Pickering have learned how to fight. They have, after all, been subjected in just the last two decades to the spectre of airplanes booming overhead and huge housing developments in their backyards. But, regardless of how high emotions run, there's no reasonable ex- cuse for some of the threatening letters being sent to r ' nal chair- man Gary Herrema. He's on the hot seat right now, but only because he's the region's head honcho. The entire plan must be approved by full regional coun- cil, not just one man. Letters of protest do serve a purpose. Threatening letters only under- mine the purpose. yl �a/; Ap,; /rVY14 What's up that sleeve? u� Wendy lagher Anion I smell a rat. Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema has something up his sleeve, but his cuff is so tight I can't see what it is. Recently, talks about a dump on the federal airport land in north Pickering have been played down by the feds. In fact, Ontario Riding Tory MP Rene Soetens denies any land will be sold for a dump. Soetens main- tains that he spoke to federal transport minister Benoit Bouchard who confirmed no air- port land is for sale for a dump. But, Herrema insists the best place for a dump is the airport land. Last week, I asked Herrema more about the airport land being used as a dump. He replied, "I'm having some dis ssions." Her- rema then told me a doesn't have any "authorization" speak on the matter. And, he sai he can't say who he is speaking with, but the person or persons are "federally linked". I'm hoping his cuff soon comes undone. I just might have to don my Sherlock Holmes hat. No ::. �kerin dungy 4 Tory MP pro ises By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Durham Region Chairman Gary Herre- ma is "barking up the wrong tree" if he thinks he can persuade the federal govern- ment to _put a garbage dump on Pickering i airport lands, says area Tory MP Rene Soet- ens. In recent conversations, Transport Minis- ter Benoit Bouchard has assured Soetens that the federal government will never give the go-ahead for a landfill site on the north { Pickering lands. "His perspective is that airport lands are not reserved for dump sites," says Soetens. "I've been in constant dialogue with the Minister of Transport." Herrema is throwing "smoke in mirrors" by saying he wants to pursue the federal government for a dumpsite on its land in north Pickering instead of one proposed be- side the hamlet of Whitevale, he says. .,Can you imagine building a mountain in the middle of an airport site and then trying to move it a few years down the road? The logic just doesn't equate," Soetens says, add- ing he does not know who Herrema has been talking to about the federal lands. Herrema says he's had some discussions with federal officials about the proposal though he's not at liberty to divulge whom he's approached. Durham council will decide at its council meeting next week whether to put an in- terim dump site on provincial lands near Whitevale as its contribution to the Greater Toronto :area garbage authority. Hundreds of dump opponents are expect- ed to attend a public meeting tonight at 7.30 p.m. at the Pickering Recreation Centre to discuss the proposal to create Canada's larg- est tandfiil :3r Metro's use. ..-N '"1TEVALE a `I will put a stop to his life and family': letter writer Death threat against region chiUmrman is being taken `seriously' by police DURHAM - Durham regional chairman Gary Her- The writer is most likely referring to a Durham -Metro rema's life has been threatened in a letter to an area, dump proposed for north Pickering. newspaper. A Whitby This Week reporter notified Durham And, Herrema says, letters sent to him blaming him Regional Police when he received the letter on Friday. for a proposed dump in Pickering are being "encourag- Herrema says he's "not worried" about the threats. ed" by local politicians on his council and by various Although he's received threats before, he admits this is organized groups. the most "vindictive" one he's had. He says it's "unfor- In a letter to Whitby This Week, the writer called Her- tunate" that residents are "getting into personalities". rema an "over- paid, lazy S of a B" and said if he "gives Letters blaming him for the proposed dump "are be - us the Toronto dump he won't live to get his over paid ing encouraged by people", he says, and made specific money he is making." mention of "politicians and organized people". Herrema: The letter continued, "I will put a stop to his life and confirms he's speaking of politicians on regional council, family." Police say they're taking the threat "seriously" and It was signed "A Mad Tax Payer". are investigating the incident. PAGE 6-A—THE NEWS ADVERTISER, MAY 10, 1989 Editopial What's up that sleeve? Wendy ND to threats °°' Gallagherpuppose Emotions are high over the proposed Pi landfill site across the road from historic Whitevale. Opinion Residents are understandably upset that this pristine location has been chosen as a potential Metro -Durham landfill site for who knows how many years or how many tonnes. Whitevale and its residents have played a significant part in the I smell a rat. history of Canada. In fact, a couple of William Lyon Mackenzie's Durham regional chairman Gary cohorts in the Upper Canada Rebellion hailed from the Whitevale- Herrema has something up his Brougham area. sleeve, but his cuff is so tight I can't see what it is. While there is more than a bit of history associated with the hamlet, Recently, talks about a dump on that in itself isn't enough to stop the dump from being located there. the federal airport land in north But it does give an idea of how long the hamlet's been there. Pickering have been played down And, to the homeowners' credit, the residences in the hamlet have by the feds. been maintained and are mostly in good shape. In fact, Ontario Riding Tory'MP Whitevale has also applied for heritage designation; something that Rene Soetens denies any land will is usually reserved for single homes, not entire hamlets. be sold for a dump.. Soetens main - So, residents in this quiet little historical hamlet and the surroun- tains that he spoke to federal ding countryside have become upset that the area, having survived transport minister Benoit more than 150 years of whatever man's been able to throw at it, is likely Bouchard who confirmed no air - port land is for sale for a dump. to die under a massive avalanche of garbage. But, Herrema insists the best And, to make their point, they're writing letters to almost everybody place fora dump is the airport land. who could conceivably have some impact on the final decision. Last week, I asked Herrema Obviously, the folks of north Pickering have learned how to fight. more about the airport land being They have, after all, been subjected in just the last two decades to the used as a dump. He replied, "I'm spectre of airplanes booming overhead and huge housing developments having some discussions." Her - in their backyards. rema then told me he doesn't have But, regardless of how high emotions run, there's no reasonable ex- any `authorization" to speak on the ruse for some of the threatening letters being sent to regional chair- matter. And, he said he can't say man Gary Herrema. who he is speaking with, but the He's on the hot seat right now, but only because he's the region person or persons are "federally head honcho. The entire plan must be approved by full regional coup- ' linked". T' hoping his cuff soon comes cil, not just one man. undone. I just might have to don my Letters of protest do serve a purpose. Threatening letters only under- Sherlock Holmes hat. mine the purpose. 1,5 QO in Durham roar their ange.,w'sak,,, at proposed dump' By Lisa Wright Toronto Star More than 1,500 angry Pickering residents last night let politicians know they will never accept a huge new garbage dump in their community to serve the Metro area. A dozen police officers patrolled the rowdy crowd in the Pickering Recreation Complex after Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema allegedly received death threats from dump opponents. Police later escorted the politi- cians as they left the building. Despite boos and jeers — "Dump Herrema" and "Put the Garbage in Rosedale" — Herrema and Dur- ham #legion works committee chairman John Aker made jokes as th4defended a proposed landfill site near the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering. "There's something about you people I like. It must be a love -hate relationship," Aker said. But the crowd didn't go for it. "1 find it disgraceful that these men who are going to ruin the lives of many people are making very flippant speeches, laughing and having a good time," Whitevale resident Richard Jones said. His wife Maureen Jones, known as the `Rat Lady' of Whitevale for her fears of rats crawling around the dump site, said her opinion of the rodents has completely chang- ed. `Two -legged rats' "They're not four -legged with tails — they're two -legged with shirts and ties," she screamed at Herrema. The regional chairman said Dur- ham has to pick an interim site be- cause the Metro area will have no place to dump its 280,000 annual tonnes of garbage after Picker- ing's Brock West site jLfull in May, 1990. Metro has agreed to leave the existing dump a few months early, giving Durham at least two more years capacity, if the region chooses another site to use from 1992 to 1996. "We have informed regional council that there is no `Plan B' or alternative plan and no o e has come forward with a viabl alter- native to dealing with our short- term garbage crisis," Aker id. Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT), said residents want the region to take care of its own waste disposal by picking a Durham -only site and initiating more recycling pro- grams. But Herrema said time has run out and the region "has to do some- thing now." Durham council will decide next week whether to join the greater Toronto area garbage authority and offer the Pickering site. The proposal for the garbaieet- ings au- thority came after weeks of between the chairmE► of Metro and the regions of York, Durham, Peel and Halton aimed at finding solutions to the area's mounting garbage crisis. 1;�__ Letters to the Ed' We are MM a -1 `Ey co 't7 y `�' �° �. �,= MM o m M C A r° m o co o Y Q iy co < cvao " ' to ro 0 0 =• 0 -s c co a co �0 a Q H D C Co to O AIN •e <:: ' sE; o a � ,d co _ M M, f0 < o a� "� �. Q� to to '� M to to A O co �.a.O► to o•O Op _Oa•on "o00 " 0. ;>':; :': :: ouo cCL o w o w O 0o-Q-o �� �cacooZ co-,c ?'ao r itor. drowning in our own An open letter to city and county councils throughout Ontario: We, all the members of this society, both here in Peterborough County where I live and provincially, have a right to expect the best minds to deal with one of the most pressing environmental problems facing us, waste management. We are literally drowning in our own garbage and in the majority of cases ha P elected people to public office who '^not have the political will to tackle i expensive and complex problem that becomes more expensive and complex every day. We are treated with platitudes, inexperience and expedience rather than leadership or foresight. I may be naive but I don't suffer from myopia, which seems to be the common malady of those in office. This myopic condition tends to set municipalities apart rather than bringing them together to share and tackle a common problem. We should be bringing groups together with a growing resolve to come to grips with the consumer throw -away society we have borrowed from our almost free trade partners across the border. Two cases in point — the conflict between Pickering, Durham Region and Toronto and in our case here, between Ennismore and Peterborough. In both cases, better communication could lead to better waste management policies. In both cases cities more often try to bury their problems in the county_ v thereby polluting the very source of the spiritual and physiological nourishment for all. Instead of looking at better policies garbage (albeit more expensive) that might lead to political economy our leaders continue to sell us short, patronize us, and expeditiously poison us. Our leaders try to mollify us, holding aloft the banner of low taxes, more jobs through an expansion of consumerism. The people of our province are prepared to recycle more, and pay more for a cleaner, healthier cancer -free environment. It only requires the political will and the political courage to act. The voters of our province should look at the environmental record of its candidates in the coming municipal elections. We owe it to our children to do a better job than our parents did. Your children will judge you, and they should. IRWIN KARNICK Ennismore tCL iv - <I v) ig M O. W Q 0) n � m E� M Xo 9- e _ Volume 120, No. 22 Wednesday, May 31, 1989 Exploring options Region ma end v recycling deal v g By JULIA ASHTON The centre has been in Durham Region has given operation since March 1980. a 12 month death sentence to Ms Gies said it grew out of the the Durh in Recycling Centre. effor of three volunteer grou . One of the groups, In hil probability, the STE . (Save The Environment region Mil not renew its five- Please) started a recycling year deal with the centre when depot at the Oshawa Centre in the contract expires May 12, June 1976. 1990. Mr. Aker said the region "If we are going to meet our recycling goal of 25 per _ cent by 1992, the region has to become more aggressive and pro -active," said John Aker, Durham Region waste management chairman. He estimated that only 6 per cent of the total waste stream is being diverted to the recycling centre. Glenda Gies, general manager of the centre, said the total figures are around 7 per cent. She doesn't believe that's a bad record because the centre is not responsible for the entire�25 per cent. "Organicdnaterials make up about 15 pek- cent of the total waste generated," Ms Gies said. "Composting is not in our contract." She said the morale of staff has lowered since the notice of termination was given. Some employees have even quit their jobs to look for more stable employment. "(The notice of termina- tion) has really slowed things down and is causing a lot of confusion," Ms Gies said. "I'm not really convinced this is the way to go." See FATE, page 2 1 V i V auv 4�14ses law on race ing I�Tne6avernment of Ontario — Canada's most populous province — should introduce, enact and bring into effect legislation requir- ing newspaper publishers to use recycled newspaper. Without such action, newspapers collected as part of the Blue Box recycling program will pile up in warehouses, at public expense. Worse still, the recycling program will be jeopardized. We, and our children, will be the losers. Allan Rosenzveig Ottawa Fate of recycling centre from page one will look at several avenues over the next year in regards to the centre. He said the region may: --stay with the centre; --take over the centre; --may hand the onus of recycl- ing over to the municipalities; --or look into a recycling ser- vice within the private sector. "Durham Recycling Cen- tre still might be our recycling arm but in my honest opinion I think Durhum Region will be taking over Durham Recycl- ing Centre," Mr. Aker said. More than 90,000 blue recycling boxes have been distributed to the eight local municipalities urban areas. Mr. Aker would like to see blu box use mandatory. 1 To police this, he said "garbage would not be picked up unless a blue box is sitting beside it." The idea came to Mr. Aker when driving through his unkno n e subdivision in Oshawa doing a garbage collection day. "There are a great number of homes that do not participate." He said hamlets would be incorporated into the pro- gram, but rural areas will pro- bably not see blue boxes. "Farmers are not big pro- ducers of garbage," Mr. Aker said.. "They do not create the same amount of garbage." He also said that rural families have done their own recycling for years. By Lisa Wright Toronto Star More than 1,500 angry Pickering resi- dents last night let Durham Region politi- cians know they will never accept a huge new garbage dump in their community. A dozen police officers patrolled the rowdy crowd in the Pickering Recreation Complex after Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema allegedly received death threats from dump opponents. Despite boos and jeers to `Dump Herre- ma' and `Put the Garbage in Rosedale,' Herrema and works committee chairman John Aker giggled and made jokes as they defended a landfill site beside the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering. "There's something about you people I like. It must be a love -hate relationship," ribbed Aker. But the crowd didn't go for it. "I find it disgraceful that these men who are going to ruin the lives of many people are making very flippant speeches, laugh- ing and having a good time," said Richard Jones, a Whitevale resident. His wife Maureen Jones, known as the `Rat Lady' of Whitevale for her fears of rats crawling around the dump site, said her opinion of the rodents has completely changed. WHiTEVAL! "They're not four -legged with tails — they're two -legged with shirts and ties,` she screamed at Herrema. The regional chairman said Durham has to pick an interim site because the region will have no place to dump its 280,000 annual tonnes of garbage after Pickering's Brock West site is full in May, 1990. Durham council will decide next week whether to join the greater Toronto area garbage authority and offer the Pickering site. Council deferred the decision last month to get more public input. The garbage authority proposal came after weeks of meetings between the 111E. TORONTO ST.AR, R-1DNESDAY, NI MY 10,1989 attack dump proposal,' chairmen of Metro and the regions York, Durham, Peel and Halton aimed finding solutions to the garbage crisis. They came up with a two-part plan: of bution. at "We have informed re 1 ❑ Find a long-term solution that will ease the area's problems for decades to come. ❑ While that solution is put into effect, find ways to get rid of the area's annual 4 million tonnes of waste over the next three or four years. As part of the second point, each of the five regions is to offer a dump site that can be used for the next few years if necessary. Whitevale is Durham's contri- giona cou11l4 that there is no `Plan B' or alternat*e plan and no one has come forward wifh a viable alternative to dealing with our short-term garbage crisis," Aker said+ Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering-AjAx Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT), said residents want the region.4.o take care of its own waste disposal yby picking a Durham -only site and initiating more recycling programs. But Herrema stressed that time has, run out and the region "has to do something now." With the recent proposal by Gary Herre- ma, Chairman of Durham Region, to build a huge garbage dump beside the village of Whitevale on productive farmland, we have taken a giant step backward. Citizens and some politicians have fought for years to put controls in place so that governments as Well as businesses cannot destroy the envi- ronment. But if Durham Region signs the . Greater Toronto Agreement for garbagr disposal, a full Environmental Assessmen Act will be bypassed. What farm, what vil ]age can feel safe it this monstrous arrange ment goes ahead? A garbage dump on the proposed site wil: be an environmental disaster. Situated as i1 is on the top of a hill, the addition of tons of garbage to the site will create a mountain, thus altering the landscape forever. The runoff or leachate will pollute the aquifer that provides well water to all the surround- ing farms as well as five communities, in- cluding Whitevale. It will pollute West Duf- fins Creek, which shares a beautiful valley with the North Pickering Hiking Trail. Having had experience over the years with Beare Road and Brock West dumps, 1 know that dirt, debris, foul smells and the noise from trucks and backhoes will make life unbearable for everyone living nearby, especially those who live downwind. lhitevale is the last remaining unspoiled 19th century village within five miles of Metro. It still retains much of the character of 100 years ago and is about to be designat- ed a Heritage Site. It must not be destroyed. There is no direct connection between this site and Highway 401. More than 600 trucks a day will have a devastating effect on residents living on Altona Rd., White's Rd., Kingston Rd., Finch Ave. and Brock Rd. All may be affected since we have been kept in the dark about planning. Finally, if this dump is established, your village, your farm may be the next place chosen, as this is only an interim site! Once the rules are waived for Whitevale, they are waived for other sites. 'Ale must send a clear 1 EAST/ THE TORONTO STAR, TLESD.1_V TM 16, 1%9 .Letters Garbage dump in Whitevale �- umgp' ou s n `monstrous' idea . . TURU=PaISIR9 saie 'very successful' message to all politicians. Environmental it volunteers of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Protection Acts must be left in place for all ivironment (PACT), such as George Mitchell, sitting down our sakes. Dumps do not belong on working farmland or beside villages and towns. the job was a luxury. The group held its second annual KATHR'V`NSAYER irage sale on the weekend and $9,184 was raised. Making Pickering are Mitchell didn't get too comfortable were fellow %lunteers from left Audre Groff Doug Willson and AJAX-PICKERING - Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment's weekend garage and bake sale was "very successful". Audrey Groff says $9,184 were raised at the sale held Saturday and Sunday at the Pickering Village Arena. Last year, the sale was held at the Mill Street Fire Station and raised about $6,400, she says. "We had a larger venue this year and maybe more donations. P1 (a landfill proposed for a site near Whitevale in north Pickering) is a big issue right now and perhaps that helped," Groff says. Nets S9,100 "Everybody works very hard and we phoned people to remind them we needed saleable items. It was well advertised and mention- ed in quite a few places," adds Groff. Among those who Groff mention- ed for their effort were Angelo DiClemente and Kelly Payerl. "Angelo organized the sale. There were some very large items for sale and they were all picked up by Angelo and a group of men. Kel- ly was calling people up about bak- ing goods for sale," Groff says. Proceeds from the sale will be us- ed by the group to fight any Metro ' ' y 5 Toronto landfills being located in Marlene Fisher. photo by Peter Schoenfeld Durham region. V0�4 NO. 19 50 CENTS F g P y M oic wants ' no more dump ' By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter PICKERING - More than 1,500 people packed the Pickering Recreation Complex arena Tuesday night to plead with politi- cians not to allow another dump in Pickering. Accusations flew, the crowd alternately booed and cheered, but, in the end, nothing had changed. It seems inevitable that a Metro -Durham dump will be approved by regional council for north Pickering, on a site in Whitevale called Pi. I — So many people turned out to voice their objections to the dump that some residents were fore to park at a local mall. Others got c ught ip a traffic jam caused by car trying to go south on Valley Far Road into the H e rre'Z to crowd complex. The proposed dump is scheduled to be operational from 1992 to 1996. The � I have find to to Brock West Landfill site will be full a place next year, leaving Durham and Metro nowhere to put their garbage. Metro FROM PAGE 1 has agreed to leave Brock West early Richard Jones of Whitevale echoed "rat lady" because of comments at an sentences while audience members so Durham has a place to dump its his remarks. He accused the politi- "making earlier meeting at which she express - heckled him. Each time the crowd garbage until an alternative site is cians of very flippant ed her fear of an increase of rats in the settled down, Herrema began to ready in 1992. The five regions around speeches, laughing and having a good community if a dump is opened. "My speak, only to find people didn't want Metro will have to come up with a time." opinion of rats has changed," she said. to listen. long-term solution to the dumping Aker, who also appeared unshaken Arthurs said he believes there can be a plan B for a solution to Durham Politicians dilemma by 992. by the negative response, handled the Inside the packed arena, residents p region's garbage. "I don't believe the likened crowd in a different manner. "There's wore garbage bags, waved signs and solution is another Metro landfill site." something about you people... but I like one even roped off nore than seats A Pickering resident asked Her- to rats you, I really do. It must be a love -hate at the front of the at least one relationship," he said with a grin. hour before began rema why he doesn't hold up his head with pride when talking about the new Her voice shaking, she yelled, the Meeetieti ng to A few minutes later, he appeared to reserve spots for oplto sit. dump. "Why when you live on the good "They're not four legged with tails, taunt the crowd again. "I sort of like ry Herrema, Regional chairman Gary ship Durham would you want to jump they're two legged with shirts and ties Her met this crowd...You're rather boisterous, Durham works committee chairman on the good ship Titantic Toronto and on." remark was with loud but you're a pretty good crowd." John Aker and director of operations Twice, Aker asked audience members go down with it?" Herrema said he was looking down applause. An emotional plea was made by Art Leitch attempted to explain the to wave the paper seagulls that they origin the site and what Picker- when talking about the dump because Pickering resident Brian Spencer who for had made. ing residents should expect. The crowd he was referring to his notes. Herrema once campaigned Herrema and "cracked booed both Herrema and Aker and, at When Pickering mayor Wayne Ar- then yelled, "I have to find a place to said he'd more than one one point, began a deafening chant of thurs rose to speak, the crowd gave put your garbage." He added that "fight glass" with the chairman over the "Gary, "No more Metro dumps". him a standing ovation. At that point, everyone wants to us". years. please re -think this," he "Gary, Herrema appeared undaunted at the Herrema rose to his feet and appeared Maureen Jones of Whitevale com aid. on this, I wholehearted- to undermine the support for Arthurs booing and the catcalls for him to sit pp mented that man people too eir y Pep 1 believe you're wrong." y y g' down. He waited patiently between by laughing and waving to the crowd. children to the meeting only to have Ontario Riding Progressive Conser- '� ; I ... Page 13 One man got up and said, "I resent the youngsters watching our elected vative MP Rene Soetens also attend - these gentleman acting as stand-up officials laugh at their parents." ed the meeting. He cautioned Durham _comedians." Jones said she's referred to as the about entering into an agreement with 1t-r!.f .`i1'; THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, MAY 12, 19 PAGE 13 put your garbage' Metro. "`It's easier for the city of Toronto to send its garbage east than to deal with it in its own back yard. I don't agree with the whole relation- ship." Durham West Liberal MPP Norah Stoner commended the community for its fight against the dump. Stoner said the Metro -owned Brock West Landfill Site is so poorly run that the Ontario Science Centre is running bus tours to the site to show people how not to han- dle waste. She speculated the Pl site would become a "mega dump" larger that any other landfill site in the country. Stoner said Durham should manage its own garbage. "The region of Durham does have alternatives. It doesn't have to go to bed with Metro." Stoner received a standing ovation when she recited what she called an environmentalist's golden rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment, also rose to a standing ovation. Parish said he opposes any more Metro garbage in Durham. Parish said Durham must take care of its own waste. A Metro resident said she was "ap- palled" at the PI proposal. She claim- ed the area she lives in doesn't even have blue recycling boxes. Anyone who supports the Pi site is an "enemy of Durham". Pickering councillors Bev Morgan, Maurice Brenner and Kip Van: Kempen and Ajax councillor Pat Clark all spoke in opposition to the dump site. Clark warned that the only action left for local politicians and residents to take is the "legal avenue" and add- ed a "good lawyer" has been obtained. After the meeting, Aker said he hadn't changed his mind on Pl. "There's an absolute garbage crisis that has to be solved." Aker added that any councillors who don't support the Pi site are "derelict in their duty". Regional council will decide on Wednesday, May 17 whether or not to accept the bi-lateral agreement with Metro to open the Pi site for a dump. Not in my aback arch. Y There's no doubt Metro will need a temporary landfill site in the next two years in which to dump its garbage. Already we're perilously close to a garbage crisis. The Brock West landfill site will be full in less than two years and Metro's Keele Valley site in seven years. Finding a permanent replacement could take about five ,years, given the complex and lengthy environmental approvals needed. So the only decision left to Metro Council is where a temporary dump will be located. So far, four have been proposed. And they have all, predictably, met with community resistence. But the fiercest protests seem to come from Scarborough, where politicians and homeowners are concerned Metro will reopen the Beare Rd. landfill site and extend it northward. "People and garbage simply do not mix," says Scarborough Controller Joyce Trimmer. But it would be hypocritical, to say the least, for Metro to look only at dump sites outside its borders when there may be viable options within them. 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U s. i~ CZ ^— O U' O 00 cn O M V1 C CZ 'O CZ CZ O " O ca oCn � c 3•� � tea; ��° w' a) CZ > CnCn.0 N '� U •� A, cc�^o°'oCUa) ¢ T L1A O C O Q) E_ � Cz i t Q 'E, Z = Q = W 0C�.�.. ��,0 a 3 CC >. � C._ r _ stories Dy wenay unagner •IIM9:40 PICKERING - If you didn't know better, you might have thought the 4bump meeting at the Pickering Recreation Complex arena Tuesday xight was hosting the prime minister. At least one dozen Durham Regional olice officers, uniformed and non- niformed, patrolled outside and in- side the arena. Police say the extra security was added because of a death threat *gainst Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema, mailed to the Whitby This Week newspaper last Friday Included in the horde of officers were deputy chief of police Doug Bulloch and superintendent Bob Brown of 25 division in Pickering. A police identification officer also film- ed the crowd. Police kept close watch on Herrema throughout the meeting, and stood guard around him after the meeting when residents swarmed around him to discuss the dump. Runru airma When Herrema was asked how he felt about all the security around him he replied, "These guys are my friends." Police are taking the death threat "seriously" and are continuing their investigation. The threat said if Metro is allowed to dump in Pickering, Herrema "won't live to get his over paid money he is making." The letter con�,ied, "I will put a stop to his 1'f and family." You can find out who backs proposed P1 dump DURHAM - Talk among politi- cians would lead one to believe the proposed P1 dump site scheduled for Metro and Durham's garbage is going to be approved by regional council Wednesday. You can do your part to try and persuade some councillors to vote against the dump. Because it's Friday and letters might not reach councillors' homes by Wednesday, we'll provide you with their phone number. Give them a call, tell them how you feel, and ask if you can count on them to vote against the dump. Oshawa councillors Allan Pilkey, 576-3031; John Aker, 436-3486; Pauline Beal, 7252027; David Conway, 725-9105; Nancy Diamond, 433-8194; Linda Dionne, 723-4582; Iry Harrell, 725-0844; Allan Mason, 728-3616; Brian Nicholson, 434-2304; Jim Pot- ticary, 728-7601; Margaret Shaw, 571-0106. Whitby councillors Robert Attersley, 668-5044; Marcel Brunelle, 668-4663; Joseph Drumm, 668- 6756; Tom Edwards 668-3578. Scugog councillors Howard Hall, 985-2367; Yvonne Christie, 985-2254. Uxbridge councillors Gerri Lynn O'Connor, 852-7147; Donald Jackson, 640-3570. Newcastle councillors Marie Hubbard, 623-2457; Diane Hamre, 983-5505; Larry Hannah, 432-1019; Ken Hooper, 623-3970. Brock councillors Donald Hadden, 705-357-3704; John Doble, 705-357-3601 Ajax councillors Jim Witty, 683-2884; Pat Clark, 683-9860; Joseph Dickson, 683-4225. Pickering councillors Wayne Arthurs, 420-1837; Doug Dickerson, 831-1519; Robert Mit- chell, 839- 8284; Bev Morgan, 683-8366. M[hitev-ale's fate on the block tomorrow By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Durham Region Council will decide tomorrow whether Metro will be permitted to open a dump near the hamlet of Whitevale in northwest Pickering. Already, 10 delegations have requested permis- sion to appear at the 10 a.m. meeting at regional headquarters on Rossland Rd. in Whitby. Under pressure lost month from Pickering politi- cians and residents, regional councillors postponed making a decision to allow the dump next to White - vale. Residents wanted time to hold a public meeting. It was held last week. Many of the 1,500 people who turned up at Pickering Recreation Complex took part in the emotional shouting match. Despite their demand to ditch the dump, it appears coun- cil will approve the site. Pickering has only four of the 32 re- gional council seats. The seven other Durham municipalities don't want a dump in their backyards. Regional Chairman Gary Herrema says no one has another viable solution to the garbage crisis. The rowdy May 9th meeting showed the frustration that occurs when "therE are no magic solutions", he says. Herrama's hope for using federal 'airport' lands was dashed by federal Transport Minister Benoit Bouchard's an- nouncement that the land would not be considered for a dump. The 200-acre Whitevale site would receive 4.6 million tonnes of Metro garbage and 1.4 million tonnes from Dur- ham from 1992 to 1996. If regional council gives the nod to the site, it will undergo a fast -tracked environmental assess- ment hearing. "No surrender" The Star has received dozens of letters from Whitevale area residents complaining that some local and provincial politicians are selling them out. Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs has vowed the fight of his life against the dump. The town already has an environmental lawyer prepar- ing Pickering's case against the provincially -owned White - vale site if the region chooses to offer it to Metro tomorrow. Arthurs says the province has to answer for approving the land as a landfill site without first consulting the town and for promising to fast -track an environmental assessment hearing if the region joins the Greater Toronto Area Gar- bage Authority. Pickering politicians and community groups may also march on Queen's Park if other options fail, he says. "We have been Metro's solution to garbage dumps for too long," Arthurs said. "We don't want Durham Region to be involved with Metro. We want the region to be responsible for its own gar- bage." - Durham Region will have no place to dump its annual 280,000 tonnes of garbage once Pickering's Brock West site is full in May, 1990. Metro Council has agreed to leave the jointly -used site a few months early to give the region at least two more years dum ink¢ �ancity, if Durham offers another site from 1992 to 1996. Arthurs suggested the province should step in to get Metro out of Brock West early, or to use an existing ]�ndfili in Newcastle for Durham's garbage instead of creating a new Pickering site. PACT raises $2.5Gs Frv�'L�t at . rye/�' May � AM/dump meeting PICKERING - The dump meeting at the Pickering Recrea- tion Complex arena Tuesday night was profitable for a local group. Throughout the meeting, attend- ed by more than 1,500 people, Plastic containers were handed up and down the aisles, similar to a church collection. The containers had PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment) written on the side. The organization collected more than $2,500. "We need your money so please give generously," said Ajax coun- cillor Pat Clark. "It's in all of our interests." PACT chairman Bill Parish also Put in a plea for funds. This scene could become familiar to Whitevale residents if the proposed - Metro -Durham dump is ap- proved by regional council IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Wednesday, ' 4 EAST/ THEroxow >��«sn a >l� -ro s, r�Y. ��v � VkWtevale s fate - ,Letters on the DIOCK tomorrow I By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Durham Region Council will decide tomorrow whether Metro will be permitted to open a dump near the hamlet of Whitevale in northwest Pickering. Already, 10 delegations have requested permis- sion to appear at the 10 a.m. meeting at regional headquarters on Rossland Rd. in Whitby. Under pressure last month from Pickering politi- cians and residents, regional councillors postponed making a decision to allow the dump next to White - vale. Residents wanted time to hold a public meeting. It was held last week. Many of the 1,500 people who turned up at Pickering Recreation Complex took part in the emotional shouting match. Despite their demand to ditch the dump, it appears coun- cil will approve the site. Pickering has only four of the 32 re- gional council seats. The seven other Durham municipalities don't want a dump in their backyards. Regional Chairman Gary Herrema says no one has another viable solution to the garbage crisis. The rowdy May 9th meeting showed the frustration that occurs when "there are no magic solutions", he says. Herrama's hope for using federal `airport' lands was dashed by federal Transport Minister Benoit Bouchard's an- nouncement that the land would not be considered for a dump. The 200-acre Whitevale site would receive 4.6 million tonnes of Metro garbage and 1.4 million tonnes from Dur- ham from 1992 to 1996. If regional council gives the nod to the site, it will undergo a fast -tracked environmental assess- ment hearing. "No surrender" The Star has received dozens of letters from Whitevale area residents complaining that some local and provincial politicians are selling them out. Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs has vowed the fight of his life against the dump. The town already has an environmental lawyer prepar- ing Pickering's case against the provincially -owned White - vale site if the region chooses to offer it to Metro tomorrow. Arthurs says the province has to answer for approving the land as a landfill site without first consulting the town and for promising to fast -track an environmental assessment hearing if the region joins the Greater Toronto Area Gar- bage Authority. Pickering politicians and community groups may also march on Queen's Park if other options fail, he says. "We have been Metro's solution to garbage dumps for too long," Arthurs said. "We don't want Durham Region to be involved with Metro. We want the region to be responsible for its own gar- L__- fl full in May, 1990. Metro Council has agreed to leave the jointly -used site a few months early to give the region at le . I two more years dumping capacity, if Durham offer o er site from 1992 to 1996. V Arthurs suggested the province should step in to get Metro mock West early or to use an existing landfill in Newcastle for Durham's garbage instead of creating a new Pickering site. Garbage dump in Whitevale `monstrous' idea With the recent proposal by Gary Herre- ma, Chairman of Durham Region, to build a huge garbage dump beside the village of Whitevale on productive farmland, we have taken a giant step backward. Citizens and some politicians have fought for years to put controls in place so that governments as well as businesses cannot destroy the envi- ronment. But if Durham Region signs the Greater Toronto Agreement for garbage disposal, a full Environmental Assessment Act will be bypassed. What farm, what vil- lage can feel safe if this monstrous arrange- ment goes ahead? A garbage dump on the proposed site will be an environmental disaster. Situated as it is on the top of a hill, the addition of tons of garbage to the site will create a mountain, thus altering the landscape forever. The runoff or leachate will pollute the aquifer that provides well water to all the surround- ing farms as well as five communities, in- cluding Whitevale. It will pollute West Duf- fins Creek, which shares a beautiful valley with the ;North Pickering Hiking Trail. Having had experience over the years with Beare Road and Brock West dumps, I know that dirt, debris, foul smells and the noise from trucks and backhoes will make life unbearable for everyone living nearby, especially those who live downwind. Whitevale is the last remaining unspoiled 19th century village within five miles of Metro. It still retains much of the character of 100 years ago and is about to be designat- ed a Heritage Site. It must not be destroyed. There is no direct connection between this site and Highway 401. More than 600 trucks a day will have a devastating effect on residents living on Altona Rd., White's Rd., Kingston Rd., Finch Ave. and Brock Rd. All may be affected since we have been kept in the dark about planning. Finally, if this dump is established, your village, your farm may be the next place chosen, as this is only an interim site! Once the rules are waived for Whitevale, they are waived for other sites. We mu,t send a clear message to all politicians. E vironmental Protection Acts must be left 'n place for all our sakes. Dumps do not bel g on working farmland or beside villages and towns. KATHRYN SAYER Pickering c commitment needed here To the editor: Let's have some commitment in Durham region to our future. Let's everyone start in our own back yard. Durham has established in a very short time a good reputation for recycling. Landfill is passe. They can swear up and down that it won't smell or leak but will they guarantee it for 10 or 20 years? Metropolitan Toronto certainly can afford to utilize state-of-the-art gar- bage disposal techniques... Durham region can too. I ask you, what are we doing with millions of dollars in waste management reserve? Is this the money the region will need to provide rural landfill areas such as Whitevale, -Cherrywood, Newcastle, etc. with water and sewage hook-ups after landfill sites destroy the aquafirs and pollute our streams? The region is hiking our taxes 19 per cent and holding money in reserve. Spend the money. Put Durham on the map as an example of a region that is concerned about the ecology of the future as well as now. Go in debt. At least we could hold our heads up as we bring in junkets of waste management teams to see Durham's sound ap- proach to garbage. No one will come to see Durham as the landfill capital of central Ontario. I urge our elected representatives in Durham not to sign any landfill deals. It will be an irreversible and costly mistake., Ronald E. Daive, Whitevale "soft Letters We'll all pay for this folly To the editor: The following is an open letter to premier Petersen. Dear Sir: As a resident of Ontario, I ask and expect that a full environmen- tal assessment be completed on any proposed landfill site in Picker- ing. To avoid this, by any means, will weaken our environment and the credibility of any government to speak on environmental issues. Why is a potentially environmen- tally sensitive site (Pi-Whiebale) being proposed? This very area is now being considered for Heritage Designation. This is not how a coun- try should honor its past. The magnitude of Durham's lan- dholdings demand that the entire region be honestly considered. Pickering has done more than its share concerning garbage -- for Metro and Durham. Whitevale is not a dump. Aside from the natural and historical value of the Whitevale area there exists, in the surroundings, prime land for agriculture and future residential development. Is that not a com- plementary mixture? The present inter -regional ap- proach to deal with garbage is flaw- ed. The inherent imbalance of Metro's power and secretive deals _and manoeuvrings_ to --avoid _ political and environmental ac- countability fool no one. Please consider these matters and act accordingly. We will all pay if you fail to do so. Tom, Siobhan and Leah Brewer, Pickering --r.,.._ YVHITEVALE P4 REGION OFFICIALS Gary Herrema, John Aker and Art Leitch have taken a backlashing from Pickering residents lately due to their stand on the garbage situation. Gary Herrema unpopular in Pickering Gary Herrema is not a very popular man in Pickering these days. The regional chair- man and ex -mayor of Uxbridge, has recently received death threats due to a proposed "mega dump" scheduled for the hamlet of Whitevale. Mr. Herrema and two other region officials -- waste management chairman John Aker and operations director Art Leitch -- opted for police protection at last Tues- day night's public meeting with Pickering residents who oppose the landfill site. Many uniformed and plainclothed officers guarded Mr. Herrema and his cronies, but that didn't stop the crowd from taking verbal jabs at the trio, especially Mr. Herrema. "How the hell could the citizens of Uxbridge vote for you year after year," Pickering resi- dent Kay Sayer charged. "They must have been crazy." Whitevale resident Maureen Jones said her opinion of rats had changed during the three hour debate. "They're not four legged (creatures) with long tails. They're two legged with shirts and ties on," she said while near tears. "How much are you ( making on the deal)," a unnamed lady from the crowd yelled. "This is your last year, man." Another Pickering resident, Brenda Davies asked Mr. Herrema how he, as a farmer, could be proud of putting a landfill site on prime agricultural land. "As a farmer, am I proud of it?" Mr. Her- rema asked. "No way. But I have no alternative." Regional councillors will vote today (Wednes- day) on whether to ad- vance with the site ,t THE TORONTO STAR, FRIDAY, MAY 1991"9 /'ALl • din opponents Pickering P to use C1larter ingot A lawyer hired by angry Pickering residents will use the Charter of site planned Rights and Freedoms m a bid to block a new Metro dump t for Whitevale. who has been retained bT Toronto lawyer Morris Manning, said the Pickering -Ajax Citizens Togelications for the for those being discriminated case has far-reaching imp against on the basis of where they live. im ortant social "We all have to have an int��erdayhThe tcase may go as far as the problem now," Manning said y . in �Vhitevale to hanI Supreme Court of Canada. he said. Durham Region council Wednesday approved dle as much as 6 million tonnes of Mehomesrand theirand Duham water supply Putting a landfill site near people'ses on their right to poses serious health and social concerns, and infringes life, liberty and security under the Charter, Manning said. �nts m�yr„iy ,.ckering residents blast Durham Region over dump plans By JULIA ASHTON Pickering residents are sick and tired of being dumped on. Especially with Metro Toronto's garbage. That's the message 1,500 angry Pickering residents brought to top Durham Region officials last Tuesday night at an emotional gathering at the Pickering Recreation Centre. Wearing black armbands, residents met to tell regional Chairman Gary Herrema, waste management chairman s= John Aker and the region's operations director Art Leitch, that they are opposed to a "mega dump" for Durham and Metro's garbage in the hamlet of Whitevale. Norah Stoner, Liberal MPP for Durham West, said Pickering has been fighting Metro dumps for 17 years and enough is enough. She said Durham and Metro should find their own sites within their own boundaries. "Within our own boun- daries we are motivated" to reduce, recycle and reuse, CONCERNED PICKERING resident Brenda Davies adds a little humor to a stinky situation. Mrs. Stoner said. She said Metro will never begin a real recycling pro- gram because they shove all their garbage on Durham and if it's "out of sight, its out of See PACT, page 6 a � � � •Q � � •U y RS S� .� L.iV, ta�.•i 3y .�..• tI �� .coo �'v co�•�� O a 3` ✓J I Ay _4Z9 C ar ed�'��y�'Z O CC d;; t Z O U� a 3 O �� �V �� 3)� O•ticC^ 'a > 3d�Ago. bt PACT wants Durham only landfill solution Durham -only solution. will be chaired by a panel of fACT page one Uxbridge residents are ' - local people including Ma o_ rnd." vited to attend a meeting in t Gerri Lynn O'ConnBill Parish, chairman of town library to discuss the Jackson and proprietor of th (Pickering and Ajax regio ' Pedersen landfill Ike Citizens Together) said the The meeting gets under- Pedersen. organization supports a way at 7.30 p.m. on June 13 ands A me ^r a for all our local ,raliticians ��L�et�iers, Garbage, unwanted at any price To the editor: The packaging industry has come under fire from outraged ecologists. Their complaint? While the purveyors of bags, boxes, bins and other wrappings have created pro- ducts which serve the retail market adequately, these materials are an en- vironmental disaster when it comes to disposing of them. Styrofoam, for example, is cheap and convenient, but it is not easily biodegradable. And the same goes in spades for plastics of all varieties, sizes, dimensions, and manners of construction. How to deal with problems of solid waste disposal? There are two schools of thought on the. matter. According to the first, the pr blem is caused by greedy italists, who maximize their profits i sublime indifference to the well be- ing of society. They produce the styrofoam, bottles, cans and wrap- pers, which subsequently litter our landsca Since the manufacturers are concern d only with producing the more retail sales, and not with ultimate destination of this material, they are unconcerned with the ecological problems they leave in their wake. The answer, from this perspective, is more government regulation and control. Compulsory deposit legisla tion and outright prohibitions of plastics, styrofoam and other non "ecologically friendly" materials are included in the panoply of responses from this quarter. As well, there is as always the old standby, "throwing money at the problem." To this end, plans are being bandied about to re- quire a "voluntary" payment of some $100 million, to be made by the packag- ing industry. These funds would be us- ed by the government for researching ways to combat the rising tide of solid waste. The basic objection to this throwing of massive amounts of money at the problem is that it is totally misdirected. In the view of the second school of thought on the issue, the reason for the ornhtarn hoc rr ;.. t FROM PAGE A21 now choose materials with no con - all to do with greedy capitalists. On the sideration for th difficulties of their contrary, it is a result of the fact that ultimate disposal. garbage disposal has been organized How would a fully private garbage through the public sector. pick up industry function so as to solve Government waste disposal is the the present impasse? While it is very factor which accounts for the always a difficult task to anticipate the seeeming irresponsibility of the fi market, we now have enough ex - packagers. It is the phenomenon I perience with privatization so as to be responsible for the fact that packagers, able to predict, at least in broad brushstroke outlines, how such an in �of the provision of restaurant food, dustry might conduct its business. To begin with, there would be a com ' toys or newspapers. It is likely that sanitation firr plete separation of solid waste sanita tion and state. People would make s would set up a sliding scale, charging ar rangements for garbage removal with more for unsorted waste material than for sorted. As well, there would likely profit -seeking business firms on thei own behalf. 'r; i;s4 would be be a sliding scale for refuse in terms "ecological as private as any other paradigm case of of its friendliness." So much for easily recyclable material; market operation, for example as that more, proportionately, for plastics or styrofoam, or for orange juice "tins" which contain several different types of material which are more expensive to separate. This will have a profound effect on the packaging industry. F'r con- sumers, knowing that they 11 later have to pay higher sanitatio fees for harder -to -dispose -of materi ls, will tend to shun them. Or they will only purchase them if their prices are low enough to defray the additional removal costs. For the first time, the system will be rationalized. Packagers will no longer be able to impose costs on the (public) sanitation service. Whenever a packager contemplated adding a new line of very attractive but non bio- degradable material to his offerings, he would now be faced with customers who wouid look askance at it. They would ask something like the follow- ing of themselves: "This 1 Iks good, but how much will it cost me o get rid of it?" With a consumer in at mind set, the ecological problee of solid waste management would soon tend to evaporate. Walter Block, Fraser Institute �_O,"M�T) t m e n t� needed here To the editor: Let's have some commitment in Durham region to our future. Let's everyone start in our own back ,yard. Durham has established in a very short time a good reputation for recycling. Landfill is passe. They can swear up and down that it won't smell or leak but will they guarantee it for 10 or 20 years? Metropolitan Toronto certainly can afford to utilize state-of-the-art gar- bage disposal techniques... Durham region can too. I ask you, what are we doing with millions of dollars in waste management reserve? Is this the money the region will need to provide rural landfill areas such as Whitevale, Cherrywood, Newcastle, etc. with water and sewage hook-ups after landfill sites destroy the aquafirs and pollute our streams? The region is hiking our taxes 19 per cent and holding money in reserve. Spend the money. Put Durham on the map as an example of a region that is concerned about the ecology of the future as well as now. Go in debt. At least we could hold our heads up as we bring in junkets of waste management teams to see Durham's sound ap- proach to garbage. No one will come to see Durham as the landfill capital of central Ontario. I urge our elected representatives in Durham not to sign any landfill deals. It will be an irreversible and costly mistake. Ronald E. Daive, Whitevale s LLetters > 1� We'll all pay for this folly To the editor: The following is an open letter to premier Petersen. Dear Sir: As a resident of Ontario, I ask and expect that a full environmen- tal assessment be completed on any proposed landfill site in Picker- ing. To avoid this, by any means, will weaken our environment and the credibility of any government to speak on environmental issues. Why is a potentially environmen- tally sensitive site (PI-Whitbale) being proposed? This very area is now being considered for Heritage Designation. This is not how a coun- try should honor its past. The magnitude of Durham's lan- dholdings demand that the entire region be honestly considered. Pickering has done more than its share concerning garbage -- for Metro and Durham. Whitevale is not a dump. Aside from the natural and historical value of the Whitevale area there exists, in the surroundings, prime land for agriculture and future residential development. Is that not a com- plementary mixture? The present inter -regional ap- proach to deal with garbage is flaw- ed. The inherent imbalance of Metro's power and secretive deals —and ...manoeuvrings_ to -avoid political and environmental ac- countability fool no one. Please consider these matters and act accordingly. We will all pay if you fail to do so. Tom, Siobhan and Leah Brewer, Pickering' Picke-rifig-duifip�- ht could go all the way to the Supreme Court By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Pickering residents may have lost the battle but they vow they have just begun to fight the war to keep Metro's garbage out of their area. Since Durham Council last week approved development of a huge dump beside the hamlet of White - vale for Metro's interim use, the Town of Pickering and Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT) have tren preparing their cases for the courts. "We're not down at all. V42're just raring to go," says Lloyd Thomas, president of the White - vale and District Residents Associ- ation. Putting a landfill site near peo- ple's homes and water supplies poses serious health and social con- cerns and infringes on their right to life, liberty and security of the person, Manning says. Also, the province's promise to fast -track an environmental as- sessment of the site to get it ready in time for 1992 puts the residents of Durham at a greater disadvan- tage than in any other region across Ontario, he says. The dump fight marks the first - ever case of NIMBY (`Not In My Backyard') to be argued under the Charter, so it holds important implications for subsequent cases, Manning adds. The Town of Pickering will re- PACT has hired Toronto lawyer `p"' a p/'aiiiiiuS % V11OUILCUIL 111 Al - tend the provincial environmental Morris Manning to fight the dump all the way to the Supreme Court assessment hearings. It has also re- tained environmental lawyer Tom of Canada, if necessary. He will Lederer. Both will represent the argue that under the Charter of people of Pickering, opposing the Rights and Freedoms, Durham dump. residents are being discriminated Pickering Mayor Wayne Ar- against on the basis of where they thurs hopes the court cases will last live. so long that the proposed dump Council's decision to offer the will never be opened. site and join the greater Toronto Whitevale resident Tom area garbage authority means Thompson yelled at council. "We' Metro and Durham will be free to very upset at what is the last rur dump a combined 6 million tonnes area next to Metro becomix CID of waste on the provincially-ownede-ene mr North York or Mississa Q farmland from 1992 to 1996 while ga. Don't you want some gre is a long-term solution is worked out. left?" 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CD O C cD 4 EAST THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAY, MAY 23,1989 Letters Whitevale dump takes giant step closer to reality Whitevale area residents lost an important round in their fight against a proposed dump next to their north Pickering village last week when Durham Regional Council approved offering the site to the greater Toronto area garbage authority. These letters, received before the council meet- ing, show there's likely to be a long, bitter battle before the dump is given final approval: Pickering has fought for 17 years to end the landfill problems in this area. The Whitevale plan is immoral, and a travesty of what we deem decent and proper. Re- gional Chairman Gary Herrema, a former Uxbridge mayor and dairy farmer, has endorsed this site on productive farmland. There must be no more of these useless gather- ings where well -paid politicians snigger and laugh at citizens who demand fairness and honesty. Pickering must not be forced as the unwilling sacrifice to the altar of urban waste mismanagement. FRANK THRELKELD JR. Pickering Our community is flanked on ei- ther side by dumps and I feel we have done our part in putting up with the discards of others. I am willing to begin looking after my own garbage on my own property. I will buy only things I can recy- cle, reuse, or compost. If everyone in Ontario did the same, then we. would be well on our way to solving the garbage prob- lem instead of dumping it on our neighbors. DOUGLAS MOSS Cherrywood Allowing this to happen would be an ecological disaster for all the people living near this area. , The damage it would do to Duf fin's Creek, Petticoat Creek and inconceivable. The water and land pollution is irreversible. No one with concerns for our environment or with a conscience could possibly support a dump in that area. RENATE KRAFT Pickering I listened with amazement at Environment Minister Jim Brad- ley's announcement of using a lot- tery to clean up the environment. It baffled me to think that he was actually serious. What is our gov- ernment coming to? First, Mr. Bradley is willing to destroy two villages, the hamlet of Whitevale, and the town of Cherry - wood, by allowing the P1 dump to go through on a fast track, ignor- ing the people and shortcutting the environment. Now he is willing to clean up the mess by having a lottery. Does this mean that our bottled water and bottled fresh air will come with a free lottery ticket and will we have five chances to win? Win what? Is this what our government is coming to — government by lot- tery? If that is the case, I have the solu- tion to our garbage problem: Let's get all the regional, chairmen to- gether and have a poker game; loser gets the garbage site. Actually that's what we are doing now, only it's called GTA, isn't it? LLOYD THOMAS Whitevale As residents of Ontario, we ask and expect that full environmen- tJ17 assessment be completed on any proposed landfill.site in Pick- ering. To avoid this, by any means, will weaken our environmental and the credibility of any govern ment to speak on 'environmental issues.. TOM, SIOBHAN and LEAH the Little Rouge River, not to men- BREWER tion their ultimate destination, is Pickering �Ih�1�--- 1dfNl''�If- �f�l''�''�I�;' WHITEVALE .11 4 The Bay News, May 17,1989 — ngnt,����� Need money for dump''��r�i�i�f�� Only money can fuel the fight against the approval of a new garbage dump in Pick- ering, said the chair- man of a citizen's group to about 1,500 mostfy'disgruntled res- idents at a town meet- ing in Pickering Arena on Tuesday night of last week. Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environ- ment (PACT) is in need of donations to off -set the costs of legal representa- tion. The group believes the best way to fight a plan to develop a mega - dump beside the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering is through legal channels. "We need your support ... but most of all we need your money," PACT chairman William Parish asked the angry crowd. And the residents answered "You've got it, Bill." Exclusive Chairman Parish said PACT thinks Durham Region should be able to manage its own waste dis- posal by developing a Durham -only site and pur- suing stronger re -cycling programs. PACT vehemently opposes the P1 area as a future dump. We don't want a (Metro Toronto) dump anywhere in Durham Region," he said. "If we agree to join the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) garbage authority an environmental assess- ment will die." "Don't let anyone sell you on the GTA ... it's garbage," said Parish. According to him the region can find alterna- tives to waste disposal, but there has never been the political will to pursue it. "It's always been ... let's get into bed with Metro." Ovations Parish was one of a number of residents who took advantage of nine microphones set up throughout the arena at the Pickering Recreation Complex. They had the opportu- nity to grill Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema, Region Works Committee Chairman John Aker and Pickering's Mayor Wayne Arthurs. And grill they did, as residents frequently offered standing ovations to their mayor, who opposes the P1 site. There were foot -stomping cries of rejection for Region Chairman Herre- ma. The mood was so tense, about a dozen uni- formed police officers were assigned to patrol the arena on foot. Earlier a death threat against the region chairman was reported received at a Whitby newspaper. Threats During question and answer period, residents were more inclined toward making it a Herre- ma-bashing event. Residents accused him dumped on all the time," of going against the good he added. of the people. They even petition uttered death threats. "I had to work with five Spencer suggested a regions to try and solve balanced approach to the the garbage crisis ... that's garbage crisis be imple- my job," said Herrema. mented. "I have to find a place "I can go up to to put your garbage. Uxbridge and get all the Everyone wants to fight us skiing I need. I don't want rather than cooperate," anymore hills (of garbage) he added. around here," said Brian Spencer, of the Spencer. West Shore area, said the A petition form was cir- dump approval will culated to residents to be destroy everything Picker- sent to the Ontario legisla- ing has been trying to ture. accompiisiT- The petition asks Pre - "It (the dump) will ruin mier David Peterson and everything we've been try- Environment Minister Jim ing to build in this com- Bradley to guarantee a full munity during the last 15 environmental assessment to 20 years." and a full hearing into the-.: "We don't want to be GTA proposal. y Tip /; VA79, Editor: Gerry Rose — 723-3474 Golf course proposed F 0 R E . for former dump site By Christy Chase Oshawa Times Staff A golf course on a garbage dump? Sounds bizarre, doesn't it? Not to Durham Region's works department. The department has recently been approached with a proposal for an 18- hole golf course on the site of the for- mer Oshawa dump, closed 10 years ago and now the site of the Ritson Road transfer station. "It's at its very preliminary stages but it's a serious proposal and we are quite serious about encouraging it," said Art Leitch, the region's opera- tions director and man in charge of waste disposal. "Obviously there's still a lot of work to be done on this to get it to frui- tion," he said. "We think it's a good use for the site," he said."Rather than just.leav- ing the site bare, it'll be a very good use." The proposal calls for a 5,840-yard golf course with a par 70, a clubhouse, driving range, miniature golf and a equipment shed, Leitch said. "We are having discussions with the proponent," he said, declining to identify the person. "We've indicated we're quite re- ceptive to this proposal and would like to develop it further." Leitch said that since the uses for former dumps are quite restrictive, he checked with the provincial envi- ronment ministry and was told a golf course is suitable. He added that the region would likely not sell the land but rather, lease it to the proponent. Durham, - which took over the dump from the city in the early 1970s and ran the site until closure in 1979, is responsible for perpetual care of the site. Leitch said the region can't abdicate that respon- sibility by selling the land to someone else. Planning update i kieVAI 6f mfy y `\ Recycling drive flnr oodwood A study has indicated that no more than 50 people in Goodwood are recycling, and the Planning and Development Committee of the Township of Uxbridge wants to do something about it. Regional Councillor Don Jackson suggested at Monday's meeting that large ads be placed in all local papers to encourage the worthwhile activity. Name change The southern portion of Centre St. will not be called that for much longer. Planning Commit- tee voted to rename the street Penny Lane — a move un sideration for some time. "This is not really an taut issue," said Chairman Barry der con- tee t from impor- the Bushell. "If we can't deal with this one, we're in trouble." Regional Councillor Don Jackson sugested the municipali- ty review its policy of naming streets after people who are "long gone." He proposed that street names should be either totally unrelated or should honour someone who is still living. Postal problems Mayor Gerri-Lyn O'Connor is go- ing to hold Canada Post to its part of the supermailbox bargain. She told the Planning Commit - hat she had a commitment Canada Post to maintain supermailboxes and they aren't doing it. She said waste recptacles have not been placed next to them, and many are not mounted on cement base as promised. In fact, she added, several supermailboxes pose traffic hazards, such as the ones located at Cemetery Rd. and Hwy. 7, and at the west end of Siloam. Some of the old green mail boxes are also in disrepair. When Ward 3 Councillor Ron Johnson pointed out that the old ones are the responsibility of the users, Mayor O'Connor retorted: "I'm afraid Canada Post will maintain both (new and old) in this municipality!'.' Heritage' hopefuls Will the freshly -painted historic Uxbridge Railway Station be designated under the Heritage Act of Ontario? The Planning Committee is re- questing that LACAC investigate the possibility of designating the historic landmark, which would then qualify for provincial grants for restoration work. Although the municipality now owns the station, recently pur- chased from CN, the railway will not sell the land the station sits on. The municipality is requesting as long a lease as possible from CN, with first consideration for purchase of the land should CN change its mind. � / nri � ..mow„C. c, the iaea has to Lj/t�zc`� : �► . EDITORIAL t�° I DANGEROUS ATTITUDE start taking hold that, whether But these things have a way-v>i�ll not we can see the garbage arb a e . we h_a_v---e--com'ng lack at us, getting into wheret rid and of, we'rel responsible some- the water system, or the food for what ha ponsible chain somehow. G peens to it. to either clean it up or drown in It s this attitude towards arbage, in one form or an - waste that permeates our en- other, will be the issue of the tire society, the same kind of 1990s. How we deal with it will � thinking that has resulted in decide whether we will learn valuable lessons from past mis- fuel oil laced with deadly them- icals or acid rain emissions that takes, or whether we'll continue h to drown in a sea of our own float hundreds of miles through wactP John Oyler's problem is bad, the air to pollute someone else s - but it's only a microcosm of the countryside, far from sight of huge problem we all face with those who send the pollutants garbage. high into the atmosphere. Oyler and his family live in Its the same kind of thinking the rural area east of Oshawa that sent a notorious garbage that many of us like to visit, skow from New York City on a hike in, fish and hunt in, or just journey of thousands of miles, drive through to enjoy the pic- its seekinvile out a aste, ace to from to scenery. load of wfar the he o The only problem is, many eyes (and noses) of the city - dwellers who created the small people not only visit the town- tryslde, but they also leave a mountain of garbage. little something behind. It could And its the same kind of think - in that has led to the mess in be any kind of little remem- brance: a shredded car tire, which ich the Metro Toronto area perhaps, or a rusty old washing d fins itself now. The now y are machine. Maybe a broken TV searching desperately for an set, or a dead battery. isolated spot to dump urban from Sometimes, they leave whole garbage bags full of mixed garbage, away the com- munities that produce it. waste, or even — in a really Its also the kind of thinking that leaves our cities an un- generous mood — an entire car. IT'S A CRIME sightly mess of candy wrappers Oyler and his family are left and french fry containers, ham - to clear away the debris, if they burger wrappings and dis- want to enjoy their scenic sur- carded papers. roundings. A recent story in the PITCH -IN DAYS Times chronicled their frustra- Once a year or so, about this tions at the situation. time of year, our schools go out The problem is something we on "pitch -in" days, when stu- call litter, and it's a crime —fig- dents go out to clean up their uratively and literally. Only, area from litter. That's sup - the word "litter" somehow posed to show children the va- makes it sound less dangerous, lue of keeping our world clean. less threatening, than the prob- Unfortunately, a look around lem has become. our city the rest of the year No one seems to know what to shows how poorly the lesson has do with garbage anymore, so an been learned. ominous attitude has taken hold Maybe the schools should Or- in our society: just throw it ganize weekly garbage patrols, where you can't see it anymore. in which the children, on a ro- The problems with that ap- tating basis, are responsible for proach are many and obvious. going out and cleaning up the For one thing, as Oyler and litter found around all school his neighbors have discovered, yards. just because we can't see it any- Perhaps if kids realize that more doesn't mean someone they'll have to eventually go out else doesn't have to look at it. and pick up that candy bar The old city -slicker solution of wrapper they've casually taking a drive in the country to tossed aside, the lesson will be get rid of anything from un- brought home a little more ef- wanted pets to old buckets of fectively. {paint is not only creating an At the very least, our school eyesore just about everywhere yards will be a lot easier to look we look, but it's potentially dan- at. gerous. Many individuals and compa- Maybe the idea could be taken further, with neighborhoods or- nies have taken to driving toxic ganizing regular litter patrols chemicals and other dangerous to keep the community looking wastes into the country to dis- good. pose of them, supposedly "out - Durham, premier' rene a g l� To the editor: I/ Approximately 2,500 people attend- ed the P. 1 Whitevale landfill meeting hosted by Durham region at the Pickering Recreational Complex on Tuesday, May 10. Regional chairman Gary Herrema had scarcely begun to warm his chair when the audience turned nasty. This lesson in futility was highly reminis- cent of past high school meetings bet- ween Metro works and Pickering -Ajax citizens over the Brock South announcement. Mid -way through the "meeting", the crowd grew increasingly angered and outraged as Mr. Herrema tried to sell the GTA garbage -sharing scheme, a proposal which is in direct conflict with regional council's decision to "go it alone" -- Oct. 19 and 25, 1988. Some residents brought youngsters who were witness to the disgraceful and farcical proceedings of top officals who have been handed the respon- sibilities that go with sensible, ra- tional, decision making. Mr. Herrema is not an elected official; he is ap- pointed by members of regional coun- cil and to say that "we" represent the interests of Durham West is er- roneous. The politicians of Durham East have the power and can easily veto a proposal to place, say, a land- fill site in Whitby or Oshawa. e MPP Norah Stoner poignantly stated that Pickering has fought forP7 years to end the landfill problems�n this area. The Whitevale plan is im- moral and a travesty of what we deem decent and proper. Mr. Herrema, a former Uxbridge mayor and dairy farmer, has endors- ed this site on productive farmland. And the premier of this province has reneged on his promise to retain this land for Seaton. This entire decision is a denial of what we hold near and dear to all of us. Durham must not jump back into the waste management bed with Metro. There must be no more of these useless gatherings where well -paid politicians snigger and laugh at citizens who demand fairness and honesty. Frank ThrelkelJr Markham cares, but not enough, about the polluted environment y- S It's in every newspaper, on I'll bet I'm not the only one who hasn't. every politician's agenda and on the lips of every concerned � �� PERSPECTIVE /` So here's some food for thought citizen including me. for my fellow environmental The, is the pet delinquints: ,.environment issue of the end of this decade. Next time a retail store tries Like a pet, people are content to but it Paula Crowell to package your items to death, let them know that don't admire its beauty push you need away as soon as it becomes that extra plastic bag or wrap. unpleasant. • When you have errands to run There are two levels of concern they've done their fair share. recently. As someone who ex- that are within a half -mile radius for the environment. Markham I felt that way myself until I presses a great deal of concern of each other, park the car at one residents as well as people who realized what a small drop in the for the environment, my and walk to the others. And think live elsewhere have scratched bucket all these efforts amount behavior proves I only pay lip twice before driving downtown the surface with their concern. to. service to the whole environment when your destination is on a But we are sadly lacking when it comes to a deeper level of The same people who are using issue. public transit route. their blue boxes so conscientious- Ever since I bought my first • Consider using cloth diapers concern. Like their counterparts in ly also use disposable diapers car four years ago, I drive instead of disposables on your many other communities we without a second thought about where that bulky refuse will meet everywhere. Rarely' do I take public transit — even into babies. • Quit buying junk or novelties have helped out during Pitch -in its end. downtown Toronto where traffic that are bound to be trashed on a Week, picking up litter in parks. We have latched onto the blue The same people who pick up congestion almost necessitates it. future cleaning rampage. recycling boxes as though by us- litter during Pitch In Week are the ones who use the extra One of my favorite things to do • Get out your mom's old clean - ing hints handbook with the ing them we will save the world strength cleaners which they around the house is go on a recipes for cleaners that don't from a polluted death. rinse down the drain and into throwing out rampage. I root contain toxic chemicals. We cheer self-righteously when corporations which dump Lake Ontario. through all my possessions deciding what I'll keep and what I can hear the pshaws now as pollutants into rivers and lakes po are caught and penalized. Those of us who rant about the high sulphur emissions from in- goes to the garbage. people read these suggestions. I'm not anxious to change m g Y We applaud a grocery store `environmentally dustry, which cause acid rain, think nothing of driving And I'm not alone. At this time of year the signs . way of doing things either. But the message from environmen- chain for its sensitive' products which we pile everywhere. Yet it's been proven spring cleaning are at everyone — high, waiting talists is `change we must.' It's different into our shopping carts with a that emissions from cars are as fault for the acid rain curbside piled for the garbage collector to take time to get used to a way of doing things. feeling of satisfaction. These efforts to help out the en- much at and global warming trend as any it all away. The way I see it, we can either vironment are worthy. But I get industrial exhaust. It's just that until now, I never change voluntarily now, or watch the feeling that people think once The reason I'm dwelling on this had a second thought about as laws are passed in the future they've done these things, is that it only occurred to me where my junk would end up and which foist change upon us. cc �v• Q c' °' v o �xj ai 7 3 _Cso in: 3�:•n WEB S` •,e1S .O c0 0 O r"' C G.r .a R p .O 4] >s fi '•' `� x ti p y �:9 abuAC �- n. m - y roc- c?�t1v7 Z v���Eua�>0MM—,2a�o .n3a c> c E u a� u o`" o a o r n.. o >'y a) o +v O" cpQU a�i y cvn Z � ,J�yrozsEuca>� bOaF"im.�T7 a)� r, Ey b4 p f1 u CL)_ E 3 0 �% p� °a� v�oy� to aa) 7X0Y4'� hao...3obPL.Q) - �cE�> 0aso' r0oc3 M The GTA proposal will see Metro Toronto and the four bordering regions banding together to "solve" the garbage prob- lems. I believe by joining the GTA, Durham, will become part of the larger problems, not a better solution. As a result of our prox- imity to Metro and our historic willingness to accept Metro waste, Pick- ering remains a prime tar- get to locate landfill sites. Large tract of provincial and federal lands are seen as potential areas to locate waste management projects. Agreement A new agreement between Metro and Durham will result in the creation of a new landfill site (P1) in Pickering. Presumably it would be used for approximately five years (1992-1996). There are no guaran- tees, as the agreement now stands, as to how large or for how long this site could operate. Even the eventual users are unclear. As a part of the GTA proposal, this site could be made available to any of the five partners in the GTA. Should this deal be approved, there has been no compensation provid- ed, no negotiations and absolutely no consultation we are NIeNaieu to commit the resources necessary to defend the town's interest under the direction of professional advice. Support Critically important to successfully resolving this issue is the support of the community. Your support last week, 2000 strong, is exactly what we need. The PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together) organization has spear- headed efforts during the past 18 months to ensure that a comprehensive process, under the Envi- ronmental Assessment Act, is followed in the establishment of any Durham Region landfill. They have also support- ed the politicians in our call for a "Durham for Durham Waste only" solu- tion. Your support of PACT will only add to our credibility on this issue. The current waste man- agement (garbage) issue is complex and will not be easily resolved. I am pre- pared, with the support of council, to take the politi- cal and legal actions nec- essary to protect this community and its inter- ests. Your continued support, as residents, will also be necessary to impress upon the senior levels of government our commit- ment. resource and of the need to incorporate this resource into a comprehensive plan for the Seaton Community. It was a recognition waste disposal needs province would not be dumping ground. that Pickering had already contributed for many years to the of the Region of Durham and Metropolitan Toronto, and that the party to Metropolitan Toronto continuing to use Pickering as its We have been the solution! We are not prepared to sit idly by and become everyone's solution. Mr. Premier, there are many valid reasons not to allow the "P1" (Seaton) site to be con- sidered for landfill. The reasons can be articulated in an environmental, social and her- itage context. The arguments are sound, and by themselves should preclude any further considera- tion of this site. Your concern though, 1 am sure, must also be with the issue of waste management in the broadest provincial perspective. Resolving waste management problems will be an easy task for any municipality in the province of Ontario. What part is the province prepared to play in finding solutions? 1. Are you prepared to offer provincially owned lands, for landfill purposes, as a matter of provincial policy in any jurisdiction that requests such consideration? 2. Are you prepared to forego the Environmental Assessment Act as the legitimate legislation for waste management planning in the Province of Ontario? These are two fundamental questions of critical concern, to Pickering and to the peo- ple of Ontario at large. The province is embarking on a precedent — setting course of action with which I vehemently disagree. Premier Peterson, provincial lands should not be considered for landfill in a short cir- cuited environmental process. I urge you to immediately withdraw the "P1" site and to seriously consider the provincial wide implication of the course of action envisioned by the GTA. Wayne Arthurs, BA, B.Ed. Mayor, Town of Pickering f l r c P rroposai The GTA proposal will see Metro Toronto and the four bordering regions banding together to "solve" the garbage prob- lems. I believe by joining the GTA, Durham, will become part of the larger problems, not a better solution. As a result of our prox- imity to Metro and our historic willingness to accept Metro waste, Pick- ering remains a prime tar- get to locate landfill sites. Large tract of provincial and federal lands are seen as potential areas to locate waste management projects. Agreement A new agreement between Metro and Durham will result in the creation of a new landfill site (P1) in Pickering. Presumably it would be used for approximately five years (1992-1996). There are no guaran- tees, as the agreement now stands, as to how large or for how long this site could operate. Even the eventual users are unclear. As a part of the GTA proposal, this site could be made available to any of the five partners in the GTA. Should this deal be approved, there has been no compensation provid- ed, no negotiations and absolutely no consultation We are prepared to commit the resources necessary to defend the town's interest under the direction of professional advice. Support Critically important to successfully resolving this issue is the support of the community. Your support last week, 2000 strong, is exactly what we need. The PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together) organization has spear- headed efforts during the past 18 months to ensure that a comprehensive process, under the Envi- ronmental Assessment Act, is followed in the establishment of any Durham Region landfill. They have also support- ed the politicians in our call for a "Durham for Durham Waste only" solu- tion. Your support of PACT will only add to our credibility on this issue. The current waste man- agement (garbage) issue is complex and will not be easily resolved. I am pre- pared, with the support of council, to take the politi- cal and legal actions nec- essary to protect this community and its inter- ests. Your continued support, as residents, will also be necessary to impress upon the senior levels of government our commit- ment. That decision we applauded. To us it was a recognition of the value of this land as a resource and of the need to incorporate this resource into a comprehensive plan for the Seaton Community. it was a recognition that Pickering had already contributed for many years to the;f waste disposal needs of the Region of Durham and Metropolitan Toronto, and that the province would not be party to Metropolitan Toronto continuing to use Pickering as its dumping ground. We have been the solution! We are not prepared to sit idly by and become everyone's, solution. .411 Mr. Premier, there are many valid reasons not to allow the "P1" (Seaton) site to be con- sidered for landfill. The reasons can be articulated in an environmental, social and he itage context. The arguments are sound, and by themselves should preclude any further consider a tion of this site. Your concern though, I am sure, must also be with the issue of waste management in - the broadest provincial perspective. Resolving waste management problems will be an easy task for any municipality in the province of Ontario. What part is the province prepared to play in finding solutions? 1. Are you prepared to offer provincially owned lands, for landfill purposes, as a matter of provincial policy in any jurisdiction that requests such consideration., 2. Are you prepared to forego the Environmental Assessment Act as the legitimate ­19 legislation for waste management planning in the Province of Ontario? These are two fundamental questions of critical concern, to Pickering and to the peo- ple of Ontario at large. The province is embarking on a precedent — setting course of action with which I vehemently disagree. Premier Peterson, provincial lands should not be considered for landfill in a short cir- cuited environmental process. I urge you to immediately withdraw the "P1" site and to, seriously consider the provincial wide implication of the course of action envisioned by the GTA. Wayne Arthurs, BA, B.Ed. Mayor, Town of Pickering 4 The Bay News, May 1 989 7,1 � Need money for dump fight Only money can fuel the fight against the approval of a new garbage dump in Pick- ering, said the chair- man of a citizen's group to about 1,500 mostly disgruntled res- idents at a town meet- ing in Pickering Arena on Tuesday night of last week. Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environ- ment (PACT) is in need of donations to off -set the costs of legal representa- tion. The group believes the best way to fight a plan to develop a mega - dump beside the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering is through legal channels. "We need your support ... but most of all we need your money," PACT chairman William Parish asked the angry crowd. And the residen+c answered "You've got it, Bill." Exclusive Chairman Parish said PACT thinks Durham Region should be able to manage its own waste dis- posal by developing a Durham -only site and pur- suing stronger re -cycling programs. "PACT vehemently opposes the P1 area as a future dump. We don't want a (Metro Toronto) dump anywhere in Durham Region," he said. "If we agree to join the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) garbage authority an environmental assess- ment will die." "Don't let anyone sell you on the GTA ... it's garbage," said Parish. According to him the region can find alterna- tives to waste disposal, but there has never been the political will to pursue it. "It's always been ... let's get into bed with Metro." Ovations Parish was one of a number of residents who took advantage of nine microphones set up throughout the arena at the Pickering Recreation Complex. They had the opportu- nity to grill Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema, Region Works Committee Chairman John Aker and Pickering's Mayor Wayne Arthurs. And grill they did, as residents frequently offered standing ovations to their mayor, who opposes the P1 site. There were foot -stomping cries of rejection for Region Chairman Herre- ma. The mood was so tense, about a dozen uni- formed police officers were assigned to patrol the arena on foot. Earlier a death threat against the region chairman was reported received at a Whitby newspaper. Threats During question and answer period, residents were more inclined toward making it a Herre- ma-bashing event. Residents accused him of going against the good of the people. They even uttered death threats. "I had to work with five regions to try and solve the garbage crisis ... that's my job," said Herrema. "I have to find a place to put your garbage. Everyone wants to fight us rather than cooperate," he added. Brian Spencer, of the West Shore area, said the dump approval will destroy everything Picker- ing has been trying to accomplish. "it (the dump) will ruin everything we've been try- ing to build in this com- munity during the last 15 to 20 years." "We don't want to be dumped on all the time," he added. Petition Spencer suggested a balanced approach to the garbage crisis be imple- mented. "I can go up to Uxbridge and get all the skiing I need. I don't want anymore hills (of garbage) around here," said Spencer. A petition form was cir- culated to residents to be sent to th , Ontario legisla- ture. The peti ion )sks Pre- mier David Jerson and Environment Minister Jim Bradley to guarantee a full environmental assessment and a full hearing into the GTA proposal. '� T N,E-'`0 S 9-0Y4 /% These workers are employed by Metro. He also stated Democracy that the heritage designation for Whitevale did not encompass the dump site. This is not true. The site as (� oes not �'+- in the agreement is definitely includ- ed in the designation. Courtesy to Mrs. Willson to clarify exist here the boundaries was not extended. MY son had the audacity to think that these guys would listen, because he felt we had something important to say. Imagine how disillusioned he is. It is extremely difficult to explain tc To the editor: The results of the Tuesday, May 8 meeting on waste management in Durham region had a predictable out- come. I am now faced with the realiza- tion that my son now knows that democracy as he had envisioned does not exist. He actually believed that the people who run this country were look- ing after his welfare. He discovered first-hand that elec- tion promises were only a political tool to get elected, he found that the regional chairman (who initiated this mess) either could not count to four o forgot one of the 4 Rs. He also notice( that the chairman of the wast, management committee had onl, viewed the area for the first time of the weekend prior to the May meeting. I don't know how to explain to hit that to this committee the decision t put the dump in Whitevale was base only on the criteria that it is publicl him that the man making these deci sions was not elected by the people, and we don't know how we can rid Durham of this scourge. I will try to explain to him that, if our regional government decides to continue on May 17, we will continue to fight. Politicians must realize that the mo- ment they try to avoid the rules put in place to protect us, we become suspicious, we become concerned that they will do something that ultimate- ly will have a detrimental effect on both people and the environment. Any energy that could be used in coming up with solutions will be used for resistance. There is now one more person who is not quite so trusting. I know that as he grows older he will be watching to make sure that the right decisions are made and he will be prepared to blow the whistle when they are not. Marion Thomas, owned land and maybe there is clz Whitevale till beneath. I have attempted to er plain the significance of clay till him, in that its presence could protec -- us a little longer from the con- taminants that would eventually pollute our well. Ten kg. of 1, 2-dichlorobenzene could contaminate one billion litres of water to a concen- tration four times the limit in Ontario's water quality objectives. In landfill, these same 10 kg. could contaminate the groundwater extending out one km. He was astounded to discover that the laws put in place to protect us could be circumvented in "crisis" situations, based on the number of potential votes that could be lost in an area. His biggest surprise was the ar- rogance that emanated from the Three Amigos on the podium. Mr. Herrema stated that the dump would be owned and operated by Durham, he neglected to say that the present workers at Brock West would be offerred these obs III 11rlll��l������������1� Serving the Community for24 Years! Jeer At 7/'4 fi Chairman _At qoTplex by Gay Abbate Pickering residents have told regional politicians just how they feel about their plan to put another garbage dump in north Pickering. More than 1,500 residents turned out last week to a meeting organized by the region at the Pickering Recreation Complex. The residents, waving signs against the proposed dump and paper seagulls hooted, jeered and heckled Regional Chairman Gary Herrema and Councillor John Aker, chairman of the region's waste manage- ment committee, who with Herrema endorsed the dump plan. Residents took Aker to task calling his behaviour towards them condescen- ding. "It's disgraceful that these people who are about to ruin our lives are laughing and making flip- pant speeches," said Whitevale resident Richard Jones. Aker repeatedly told the boisterous crowd that it was "a pretty good crowd" and "I sort of like this crowd". said the rats would not only be in Whitevale as a result of the dump but were also at the meeting only these were "two -legged with shirts and ties on". Herrema told the crowd that there is nowhere else to put their garbage other than the proposed P1 site on Altona Rd. between fourth and fifth concession roads. However, this is on the doorstep of the hamlet of Whitevale. Residents say that hamlet along with the hamlets of Cherrywood, Greenwood and Brougham will be destroyed by the dump. Durham Council will be voting on the proposed dump site this week. The site will be a joint Metro Toronto/Durham dump with Metro paying the region some $26.5 million. Chairman Herrema said there is a garbage crisis because the region will have no place to put its gar- bage once the Brock West dump, owned by Metro, is full next spring. The P1 site would be temporary until 1996 when a long-term site TIIF. NEWS ADVE111'ISE11, MAY 17, I!1tS!I—P:\l:h: 7-.% and to tell whore actors d dme -fro To the editor: at a standstill east -bound on Finch I have recently been informe&oL-�venue at Altona Road. Imagine the study being done to determine the added chaos that would result if dump suitability of an area near Whitevale traffic were to be added to these for possible use as a garbage dump for already congested arteries. the waste from Metropolitan Toronto I know many of the people that live and surrounding municipalities. on properties that will have to be ex - I have lived in Cherrywood, a com- propriated in order to make way for munity northeast of the Beare Road the dump expansion. I believe that' landfill for the past seven years. Dur- they have paid a high cost in the past ing this time, my family and I have by putting up with the thousands of had to put up with the odor emitting tons of garbage already, dumped in from the current landfill. The odor is particularly bad on humid days. their neighborhood, as well as the ever- present threat of an airport er- Lett Others have tried to convince us that the odor is coming from the Brock Road garbage dump, but since the which resurfaces from time to time. I consider it a gross insult to now thank these people for their patience by put- Dumps don't wind is usually blowing from the west ting them out of their homes. It's not I am convinced that it is the Beare fair at all! beside landfill that causes us the most pro- Over the past few years, my family blems. With so much garbage being has made an effort to cut back dumped on the Pickering community, it is hard to tell exactly which dump the odors are coming from. I am concerned that the proposed new dump will only make matters worse in this regard. In the past seven years, traffic in our area has increased dramatically. Even though we live on a minor con- cession road, it often takes three to four minutes until a sufficient break in traffic occurs in order to allow me to get my car out of my own driveway. When we first moved in, the only traf- fic in our area was local, involving ap- proximately 30 to 40 area homes. Congestion on Highways 401 and 2 particularly during morning and even- ing rush hours often forces drivers to took for more northerly alternatives. I have often seen home -bound traffic drastically on our own garbage output. We recycle all glass, cans and newspapers. We compost all biodegradable material. We burn any paper products that can not be recycl- ed. I believe that people in Metro and surrounding areas should do the same. It seems that the only thing that gets thrown out around our house is packaging material that can not be recycled, composted or burned. The government should ban this type of packaging. Our community is flanked on either s e by dumps and I feel we have done o ir part in putting up with the discards 0 others. I am willing to begin look- i g after my owq garbage on my own property. I will buy only things I can recycle, reuse, or compost. If everyone in Ontario did the same, then we would be well on our way to solv- ing the garbage problem inste5d Ofi dumping it on our neighbors. I am strongly opposed to the open- ing of another dump in this a e—ad I would be interested in receiving any help you can give in order t`rsivp- hrb dump before it starts. Douglas Moss, Cherrywood elong villages To the editor: With the recent proposal by Gary Herrema, chairman of Durham region, to build a huge garbage dump beside the village of Whitevale on pro- ductive farmland, we have taken a giant step backward. Citizens and some politicians have fought for years to put controls in place so that govern- ments as well as businesses cannot destroy the environment. But if Durham region signs the Greater Toronto Area agreement for garbage disposal, a full Environmental Assess- ment Act will be bypassed. What farm, what village can feel safe if this monstrous arrangement goes ahead? A garbage dump on the propoosed site will be an environmental disaster. Situated as it is on the top of a hill, the addition of tons of garbage to the site will create a mountain, thus altering the landscape forever. The runoff or leachate will pollute the aquifer that provides well water to all the surroun- ding farms as well as five com- munities, including Whitevale. It will pollute West Duffin's Creek which shares a beautiful valley with the North Pickering Hiking Trail, a favorite walk for hundreds of people. Having had experience over the years with Beare Road and Brock West dumps, I konw that dirt, debris, foul smells and the noise from trucks and -backhoes will make life unbearable for everyone living near- by, especially those who live down- wind. Residents along the route to the dump will be bombarded by the noise of over 600 trucks a day en route to the dump. Whitevale is the last remaining unspoiled nineteenth century village within five miles of Metro. It still re- tains much of the character of 100 years ago and is about to be designated a Heritage Site. It must be not be destroyed. Finally, if this dump is established, your village, your farm may be the next place chosen, as this is only an in- terim site! Once the rules are waived for Whitevale, they are waived for other sites. We must send a clear message to all politicians. En- vironmental protection legislation must be left in place for all our sakes. Dumps do not belong on working f nd' W beside villages and towns. Kathryn A. Sayer, Pickering . 1111iT 10!Japme fly WENDY GALLAGIIER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Pickering is a com- munity that knows "guerilla war- fare" and will fight to the bitter end to stop a Metro -Durham dump ap- proved by regional council Wednes- day, says mayor Wayne Arthurs. More than 200 people showed up at regional headquarters in Whitby Residents threaten legal action to protest the proposed dump known as Pt. However, Durham regional police, under direction from regional chairman Gary Herrema, stopped letting residents into the council chamber once the public gallery was filled. The public gallery holds less than 50 people. That left about 200 angry people out in the hallway. At one point their chant "No Way GTA" could be heard inside the chambers. Herrema was criticized by coun- cillors for not planning ahead and moving the meeting to a larger hall or providing a public address system for those standing in the hall. "I perhaps should have con- !Iow L iL Id A A Metroland Community Newspaper sidered some changes," conceded Herrema. After more than six hours of delegations and debate council ap- proved a motion to build a Metro - See CHARTER... Page 3 FRIDAY EDITION VOL. 4 NO. 20 50 CENTS FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1989 CIRCULATION 32,000 44 PAGES THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, MAY 111, 1981—PAGE 3 Whitevale landfill approved � Charter of Rights challenge- on dump Durham dump in the hamlet of Whitevale and to join the provincially -initiated Greater Toro),toArea (GTA) waste manage- menf plan by a vote of 21-10. The move has Pickering and White'Vale residents threatening to take court action, block garbage trucks and break, Whitevale from Durham region to join York region. One councillor called for Durham West MPP Norah Stoner to cross the floor. Under the GTA agreement, the five regions must each nominate a landfill site that could be used by all regions, -if necessary, until a long- term solution, expected in 1996, is\ found. Only Durham, Metro, and York regions have so far joined the GTA. Durham is the only region to put a site on the table. Every. Newcastle, Scugog and and all but one Oshawa councillor voted in favor of the motion. As expected Ajax and Pickering councillors op- posed the motion. Whitby coun- cillors split their vote. However, the. Canadian Charter of Rights might be the saving grace for Pickering residents. Morris Manning, a prominent Toronto lawyer known for using the Charter of Rights to argue court cases made an appearance on behalf of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment. Manning said the proposal to build a dump breaches sections seven and 15 of the Charter of Rights. Mann- ing said section seven guarantees Canadians the right to life, liberty and security. The proposal "im- pacts adversely on life, liberty..." of Pickering residents, he said. Also, section 15 of the charter guarantees equality to all Cana- dians. Manning said by-passing a full EAA environmental hearing on the P1 site in favor of a shorter EPA discriminates against residents. PACT lawyer David Estrin said it would be illegal for Durham to allow an EPA because its official plan calls for all landfill sites to go About 200 angry Pickering residents were forced to wait outside regional council chambers Wednesday after com- ing to protest a Metro -Durham dump approved for Picker- ing. Once residents filled the seats in the public gallery, Durham Regional Police were instructed to turn the rest away. uu ougn a Lull LAA nearing. Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association told Herrema, "If this were a baseball team instead of a regional council you'd be out walk- ing the streets like ( fired Blue Jays' manager) Jimy Williams." Thomas said people in Africa struggle to farm desert land yet Durham feels it can use prime farm land as a dump. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner said Durham was about to "sell in- to slavery one of its children -- the town of Pickering." Councillors questioned Stoner on her role in the province giving Durham the land for the dump. "I've asked the premier (David Peterson) to consider withdrawing" the land offer, she said. Pickering councillor Doug Dicker- son asked her if she was prepared to cross the floor if the premier didn't take the offer back. Stoner said it's been suggested to her but "it's my belief that I can do my com- munity more good by being a member of the Liberal caucus." Later in the meeting Dickerson said, "We can demand our local MPP cross the floor." Bev Morgan, the Pickering coun- cillor in whose ward the dump will be built appeared frustrated when she spoke. "I don't even know what to say anymore," she sighed. She said she's "sick" of hearing Picker- ing residents have the Not In My Back Yard Syndrome. Morgan said Pickering has a dump in their back Yard "and now you're going to fill our front yard." Morgan said she has been to the Brock West Landfill Site so many times "I often think they're going to have me work there." She said she didn't believe any councillor truly believed letting Metro dump in Pickering was the right move. "If it takes me to say I beg you, then I'm begging." Ironically, while Ajax councillor Pat Clark said she would fight "tooth and nail" to prevent a dump in Newcastle and in Pickering, not one Newcastle councillor supported keeping a dump out of Pickering. Clark said the GTA is operating with no statutory authority, "behind closed doors" and with "no public agenda." The GTA is ope tmg a "very public business inr very private manner." I find it Personally disgusting' She added that region is "sacrific- ing the democracy to which Picker- ing is entitled purely for political ex- pediency. I find it personally disgusting." Ajax mayor Jim Witty reminded councillors that he had suggested four alternatives to the P1 site. Wit- ty said no municipality wants the dump but "if everybody's going to sit back and say no, no, no, no, we're never going to get anywhere." After the meeting, Thomas said Whitevale residents will fight the dump every way possible. "This is just the beginning." Thomas said if the dump is built Whitevale will be "ruined." PACT chairman Bill Parish said PACT will use its top lawyer Mann- ing to protect the citizens' rights. Parish was expected to begin court proceedings yesterday morning. Parish said he wasn't surprised at the decision, but called it "unfor- tunate." Herrema was asked if he's wor- ried about Parish beginning legal action. "I don't think Bill (Parish) and PACT really care about the en- vironment," said Herrema. "I don't think they ever want to sit down and talk. Bill wants confrontation." Her- rema added that PACT members "shrill for money." He added that "what they do is up to them. We have legal lawyers to make sure we do things legally." When asked if other regions will come to P1 to dump garbage Her- rema replied, "Who knows?" The region's next step is to hire a consultant for site testing, expected to take about two months. 4 EAST[ THE TORONTO STAR, rUESDAY, MAY A 19M 14 f Whi*tevale'dump takes giant step closer to reality Whitevale area residents lost an important round in their fight against a proposed dump next to their north Pickering village last week when Durham Regional Council approved offering the site to the greater Toronto area garbage authority. These letters, received before the council meet- ing, show there's likely to be a long, bitter battle before the dump is given final approval: Pickering has fought for 17 years to end the landfill problems in this area. The Whitevale plan is immoral, and a travesty of what we deem decent and proper. Re- gional Chairman Gary Herrema, a former Uxbridge mayor and dairy farmer, has endorsed this site on productive farmland. There must be no more of these useless gather- ings where well -paid politicians snigger and laugh at citizens who demand fairness and honesty. Pickering must not be forced as the unwilling sacrifice to the altar of urban waste mismanagement. FRANK THRELKELD JR. Pickering Our community is flanked on ei- ther side by dumps and I feel we have done our part in putting up with the discards of others. I am willing to begin looking after my own garbage on my own property. I will buy only things I can recy- cle, reuse, or compost. If everyone in Ontatio.did the same, then we would be well on our way to solving the garbage prob- lem instead of dumping it on our neighbors. inconceivable. The water and land pollution is irreversible. No one with concerns for our environment or with a conscience could possibly support a dump in that area. RENATE KRAFT Pickering I listened with amazement at Environment Minister Jim Brad- ley's announcement of using a lot- tery to clean up the environment. It baffled me to think that he was actually serious. What is our gov- ernment coming to? First, Mr. Bradley is willing to destroy two villages, the hamlet of Whitevale, and the town of Cherry - wood, by allowing the PI dump to go through on a fast track, ignor- ing the people and shortcutting the environment. Now he is willing to clean up the mess by having a lottery. Does this mean that our bottled water and bottled fresh air will, come with a free lottery ticket and will we have five chances to win? Win what? Is this what our government is coming to — government by lot- tery? If that is the case, I have the solu- tion to our garbage problem: Let's get all the regional chairmen to- gether and have a poker game; loser gets the garbage site. Actually that's what we are doing now, only it's called GTA, isn't it? LLOYD THOMAS Whitevale As residents of Ontario, we. ask DOUGLAS MOSS and expect that a full environmen- Cherrywood tali assessment be completed on {t any; proposed landfill .site in Pick- ering. To avoid this, by any means, Allowing this to happen would be will weaken our environmental . an ecological disaster for all.the and the credibility of any govern people living near this area.. ment to :speak on `environmental The damage it would do to Duf- issues.. '. fin's Creek, Petticoat Creek and TOM, SIOBIIAN and LEAH the Little Rouge River, not to men- BREWER tion their ultimate destination, is Pickering Metro bou To the editor: W' The following is a copy of a letter to the Honorable James Bradley, Minister of the Environment; Gary Herrema, chairman of Durham region and all other Durham region councillors. Dear Sir: The purpose of this letter is to ex- press my concern with the recent pro- posals being considered by Durham region to join with Metro Toronto in solving the current garbage crisis and entertaining the prospect of opening a new "temporary" dump site known as Pi on Altona Road just south of Whitevale. The fact that this site is considered a temporary one has no relevance to the decision as to whether or not the approval process contemplated under the Environmental Assessment Act can be set aside. This Act is law, and approving, or even considering, an ex- emption to it is, in my opinion, tanta- mount to a criminal act. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Ajax and Pickering News Advertiser (with a copy to the Honorable James Bradley) dated November 2, 1987 in which I quoted the stated purpose of both the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Protection Act (the latter being commonly known as the "fast track" legislation). Stated purpose, Environmental Assessment Act: "The betterment of the people of the whole or any part of Ontario by pro- viding for the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of ad to perpe the environment." Stated purpose, Environmental Pro- tection Act: "To provide for the protection and conservation of the natural environ- ment." The EAA was enacted for my pro- tection, the protection of my children, their children, all citizens of the pro- vince of Ontario and all future genera- tions. As a citizen, I demand the right to a full review of the proposed dump site under the EAA. There is no justification whatsoever for an exemp- tion to the EAA. Under any cir- cumstances, wise management of the environment must be considered a first priority -- the laws which were enacted by the Ontario government must be upheld. Can anyone deny the validity of the purpose of the EAA, as stated above? Can anyone give any reason for not wanting to manage the environment wisely in the case of the proposed Pi site? Can anyone tell us why the "betterment of the people" should be waived in the case of the Pi site? The political establishment must be held accountable for answers to these questions. One of the major premises under the EPA is consideration as to whether or not any possible contaminants might cause "material discomfort to any person". As stated in my previous let- ter, the phrase "material discomfort" is obviously one which is wide open to interpretation. The important decision to be reached in this case must not hinge on an interpretation of an ill- defined provision of a piece of legisla- uate icrissi cj t i o n whc� hIxoQ1d be c0JMt.l fiy event, to have been superceded by the EAA. I will not dwell on the reasons against the dump site, which were so well defined during the meeting at the Pickering Recreation Complex on May 9, 1989. We can, and will, look after our own garbage problems in Durham. The fact that Mr. Herrema et al have given no valid reasons for continuing a liaison with Metro makes it obvious that this arrangement is totally unnecessary and undesirable. The mere fact that this liaison is be- ing considered gives rise to a great deal of speculation. Are someone's pockets being lined with cash? I sincerely have no intention of being impertinent or disrespectful; however, I simply cannot fathom why this liaison is being considered. The requirements under the EAA must be invoked. If they are, then Durham has a problem because, under the GTA, it must put forth a site which can be in operation by 1992. Solution? Simple! Don't agree to enter into the GTA. Let Durham solve its own pro- blems with full EAA protection. Metro has had a problem for at least the last 15 years, and I believe that they will not take responsibility for their perpetual "crisis" unless a real crisis exists. If Durham "gives in", then Metro will heave a great sigh of relief and pass the problem on to the next group of elected officials ... at the perpetual expense of present and future Durham residents. Marilyn Lurz Metro bound to perpetuate To the editor: The following is a copy of a letter to the Honorable James Bradley, Minister of the Environment; Gary Herrema, chairman of Durham region and all other Durham region councillors. Dear Sir: The purpose of this letter is to ex- press my concern with the recent pro- posals being considered by Durham region to join with Metro Toronto in solving the current garbage crisis and entertaining the prospect of opening a new "temporary" dump site known as PI on Altona Road just south of Whitevale. The fact that this site is considered a temporary one has no relevance to the decision as to whether or not the approval process contemplated under the Environmental Assessment Act can be set aside. This Act is law, and approving, or even considering, an ex- emption to it is, in my opinion, tanta- mount to a criminal act. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Ajax and Pickering News Advertiser (with a copy to the Honorable James Bradley) dated November 2, 1987 in which I quoted the stated purpose of both the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Protection Act ( the latter being commonly known as the "fast track" legislation). Stated purpose, Environmental Assessment Act: "The betterment of the people of the whole or any part of Ontario by pro- viding for the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of q CZ the environment." Stated purpose, Environmental Pro- tection Act: "To provide for the protection and conservation of the natural environ- ment." The EAA was enacted for my pro- tection, the protection of my children, their children, all citizens of the pro- vince of Ontario and all future genera- tions. As a citizen, I demand the right to a full review of the proposed dump site under the EAA. There is no justification whatsoever for an exemp- tion to the EAA. Under any cir- cumstances, wise management of the environment must be considered a first priority -- the laws which were enacted by the Ontario government must be upheld. Can anyone deny the validity of the purpose of the EAA, as stated above? Can anyone give any reason for not wanting to manage the environment wisely in the case of the proposed Pi site? Can anyone tell us why the "betterment of the people" should be waived in the case of the Pi site? The political establishment must be held accountable for answers to these questions. One of the major premises under the EPA is consideration as to whether or not any possible contaminants might cause "material discomfort to any person". As stated in my previous let- ter, the phrase "material discomfort" is obviously one which is wide open to interpretation. The important decision to be reached in this case must not hinge on an interpretation of an ill- defined provision of a piece of legisla- crisis tion which should be considered, in any event, to have been superceded by the EAA. I will not dwell on the reasons against the dump site, which were so well defined during the meeting at the Pickering Recreation Complex on May 9, 1989. We can, and will, look after our own garbage problems in Durham. The fact that Mr. Herrema et al have given no valid reasons for continuing a liaison with Metro makes it obvious that this arrangement is totally unnecessary and undesirable. The mere fact that this liaison is be- ing considered gives rise to a great deal of speculation. Are someone's pockets being lined with cash? I sincerely have no intention of being impertinent or disrespectful; however, I simply cannot fathom why this liaison is being considered. The requirements under the EAA must be invoked. If they are, then Durham has a problem because, under the GTA, it must put forth a site which can be in operation by 1992. Solution? Simple! Don't agree to enter into the GTA. Let Durham solve its own pro- blems with full EAA protection. Metro has had a problem for at least the last 15 years, and I believe that they will not take responsibility for their perpetual "crisis" unless a real crisis exists. If Durham "gives in", then Metro will heave a great sigh of relief and pass the problem on to the next group of elected officials ... at the perpetual expense of present and future Durham residents. Marilyn Lurz tf V 7 m s.... s. _Ca C ' . s. CZ O w w l to— CZ Ca O L. ,..Q u w C �•, w •� O C. C L aj — V CZ 3 a�iu c^oo.aCCZr_ CZas°'.a. o�'0 .��'. 23 >a tow to— (-1 t y CC b0 �" U > a)O w' V'4 0 V O a Ucn V i. >>w y_ V % CS6 w, CZ O m N. V .4. y .a CC O CC 'O .O cQ ..., CZ O +.., CC Q CC O c ° cc°�'o a 3zsp,00c�. antin'vonEnEn u cow -"W oVxcc paCCo CZ W CZ ow CZ so. m wU cz_�F coo. > o -0-0E-� n0p wCZ O cCCZ to nca •�i y^ 03V '" �_ a w o0 Q ., > V CZ xV o ��oV I �VV cC C^ C O V O O p"-� yiy CC y CZ CO V W CO 14^.. �''L. •.�. w CC a— 003 V �•�cV��U�,3�bnCU coCZ > p O f-' bb CO 'O W i O cC ,-, ca C Cn W = Cn cb ,wbVA y_w L O V C w 'O V O•� OyOi rn Q'LO._0En V...� . mCE'tjp"O Oyv��y0 , Fight for Whitevale isn't over yet says councillor Regional Council's decision to support the G.T.A. and the "P1" landfill site in Pickering was a grave disappointment but not a surprise. As one of those people who has spent so many hours the past several weeks fighting these recommendations, it was dif- ficult listening to each councillor vote and tallying up the 21 positives and the 10 negatives. I had hoped that more of my col- leagues at the region would have seen how dangerous the G.T.A. can be and how wrong the propos- ed landfill site in Pickering is. However, something that was equally upsetting was the fact that no provision had been made to accommodate all the citizens who showed up at regional head- quarters. I realize that it could be dangerous to overcrowd council chambers but in the past extra seating has been provided. Not only were there no seats, but chambers was roped off and police officers stood on guard so that hundreds of people had to stand in a hot hallway without the ben jit of T.V. monitors or even loudspeakers. Most of them stood from 9:30 a.m. until after noon hour while some even stayed until approx- imately 5 p.m. only to learn that the "dump" will go in their "backyard". Mr. Herrema, you owe the peo- ple of Pickering an apology. You and your staff knew that there would be a large crowd or you would not have made special parking arrangements for coun- cil and have police on hand. You knew it and did nothing about it. But, they didn't go away then and they will not go away now. I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank all the people who attended the regional council meeting as well as the public meeting held in the arena. Also, a big thank you to all the citizens who have showed their constant support through work and letter writing. I want to thank the coun- cillors who voted against the re ommendations including re onal members of Pickering an Ajax councils, Nancy Dia- m d from Oshawa Council and Tom Edwards and Joe Drumm from Whitby Council. Even though the Town of Pickering has budgeted for a lawyer, it is important that PACT continues to retain one and it will cost thousands of dollars. It is truly a pity that we all must work so hard to fight governments that we elected to protect us, however, we will fight for our rights and we will fight to win. You can count on me and I know that I can count on you. Beverley Morgan Regional Councillor Ward 3, Pickering Mn rlrh a m him to get involved in the fight against the proposal. He said he has been involved in a number of environmental bat- tles in the past and ha * no faith that the Whitevale du p would be a safe one. "God only knows what es in- to those dump sites," said DesRochers. "They might say it would only be clean garbage in Whitevale, but they've lied before." He pointed to the case of a number of Toronto hospitals which shipped pathological waste to the Brock Rd. landfill in Pickering. "Are we going to end up with body parts out there?" asked DesRochers. He said people are going to have to start showing mor con- cern for the environment L)efore it is destroyed. The first part of DesRo�her's battle against the proposed Whitevale landfill site will be symbolic as he will let PACT use a sign he made protesting pollution. Vt., of environment wars vows to fight Whitevale dumALAN SHACKLETON ��*47/r ! otentiaf foe other uses including The sign -is shaped like an In - Correspondent Y- S (/N movie making. dian war shield with a painting of A Markham man whose pro- "A lot of movie production Des Rocher and Chief Dan perty is near the proposed companies and television shows, George, now deceased, on it. Whitevale landfill site said the including the Littlest Hobo, have "I made the sign years ago and i dump must not be built — and he used the area in the past," he t was used at an Indian con - will fight it. said. "That's a potentially ference in Victoria, B.! ., back in "A garbage dump is definitely lucrative business and the dump the 1970s," he said. not the thing for that site," sai4__4r°�d destroy it." DesRochers described himself Robert DesRochers. DesRochers said he would have as "a bit of a rebel" a said he's fought similar environmental The 54-year-old is a 16-year preferred to remain in the battles on Canada's west coast. resident of Markham in the 14th shadows on the dump controver- Ave. and Markham -Pickering sy, but members of the Pickering "I've seen this type of thing townline area. before," he said. "We're om to Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) have to learn to respectgthe en - He said the a ,,,. �itP hac rn�r rti,,, c�....:______ __. , l vironment and we're going to have to do it quickly. But the commercial mind doesn't want to put all that together and the average individual doesn't have a clue to what's going on." * TItE TORONTO STAR, FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1989 /A9 lectri*cal p to run on aac at Broc By Licia Corbella Toronto Sta A gas produced by rotth West dump will help to ligh developers of a plant that will ty. Made up mostly of methar power a generating plant unc Ontario Hydro and Eastern F week. It will be Canada's first electric generating plant to harness gases produced from a garbage dump, according to spokesmen for the Ontario environment ministry and Metro. Construction on the site is ex- pected to begin by the end of June and Eastern Power hopes to be producing electricity for Hydro by June, 1990. "It's not too often that you get the opportunity to make energy and make money for all concerned, as well as being environmentally beneficial," Eastern Power vice- president Gregory Vogt said. Under the agreement, Eastern Power will build a 560-square metre (6,000-square-foot) plant at the Brock West dump that will: burn the methane gas produced by the gar ' ge. That process will create st am to drive a turbine and prod e electricity. The ga is now collected by the Metro works department in a sys- tem of pipes and is burned off in flares to ensure safety and reduce odors. "There's a big incentive for us to move quickly on this," Vogt said. "Every day that passes means we're wasting $25,000 worth of fuel." - Vogt estimates that displacment of power will save the province 2,000 tonnes of acid rain per year. Pickering gave re -zoning ap- proval for the plant in September, 1988. QUESTION PERIOD I asked the following question in the Legislature on May 24,1989. WASTE MANAGEMENT Mrs. Stoner: My question is to the Minister of the Environment and is about the provincial directions in waste reduction. The minister knows that landfill is a major issue in my riding and that my community is leading the way in recycling in Ontario. My con- stituents would like to see an expansion of the existing recycling programs. How is the minister responding? Hon. Mr. Bradley: I think the member has certainly identified what has to be the wave of the future in terms of waste management when she talks about the reduc- tion of the amount of material that would normally go into a landfill or an incinerator. It is our idea and plan, to be supplemented by a big investment of government's money in this area as well as from the private sector, to expand rather considerably the blue box program that we have in the province now to include a number of other materials which, up to the recent past, have not been able to be recycled and to extend that right across Ontario. We also - and we have some of this happening at the present time - are expanding our activities in Ontario, through the municipalities, into apartment dwellings, which in the past was not considered to be appropriate by some people. I always thought they would be an appropriate place to expand it. We expect the private sector to develop 4R programs which, for instance, would affect - and again that would be with provincial help - office towers and would reduce the tons of fine paper that have been recycled over the years. In addi- tion to that, construction companies will be recycling their materials, and food wholesalers and retailers. There are a number of issues. I could go on, but in the sense of time I should limit my remarks. Mrs. Stoner: Composting has the potential of reducing our waste stream significantly, and communities such as Seattle are doing so in their programs. What are we doing to encourage the composting of both kitchen and garden wastes? Hon. Mr. Bradley: There is a considerable program being initiated in Ontario. Once again, there are a number of other jurisdictions looking at what we are doing in this direction. The member for Durham West has long been an advocate of composting and of other measures of reducing the material that would normally go into landfill sites. In fact, the province will be contributing an estimated $50 million forthe expansion of this program. It would work in two different ways. In some com- munities there would be a distribution of individual composters which would allow people, on a personal basis, to compost those items appropriate for that within their own household or within their own busi- ness. Second, other communities have selected the opportunity to use composters on a municipal -wide basis to ensure that material could be collected and wet and dry materials separated and composted. We have already had examples of leaves that used to be put in landfills being composted. We see this as a major thrust forward. We think it will have a remarkable effect on the reduction of materials normally going to landfills, and I know that communities across this province will be supporting it very strongly. V Last November, I toured a Windsor Composting Project. AND OVEN 7N4ERE is �JHERE �11T THE �HEy WA AN➢ TN��Z� IS DUMP, o� wA1JT TU NOUSINOr. C o� ,� 4, - )) Await.. 'q WHAT -ME VWR 0 0 \\\ .. .. it q 4 PAUL IRISH/IORONiC STAR NO WAY: Whitevale resident Tommy Thompson say the ISO -year -old village is about to become the "garbage capital of Southern Ontario" if Premier David Peterson and Dur- ham Region Gary Herrema go ahead with plan for Metro Toronto garbage dump. Whitevale Ontario's ge ca italgar�a p I am writing from the soon -to- branches of Petticoat Creek and agree on one thing-- the envi-: be garbage: capital of southern the east branch of the Rouge_ ronment is regarded as the most Ontario. If Premier David Peter.-. River. The dump would pollute' . important single issue through - son and Durham Regional Chair wells of homes in Whitevale, out the country today. We should man- Gary Herrema have their Cherrywood and surrounding be asking all levels of govern - way, the 150-year-old village of Whitevale be located areas and probably.the aquifiers ment whether this is the way to will 66 feet which feed the wells in the vil- preserve it. We know that Metro, from .the proposed dump site for lages of Greenwood and Broug- which has neglected recycling Metro Toronto's garbage. It ham. while it had easily accessible would open in 1992. The already overloaded roads sites for its garbage, would jump The proposed dump site is which would serve the site lead at the chance to acquire another located ;on Class lA agricultural lass 1 through high density residential . site, especially 1,000 acres. locate 'on province and areas. Normally, we would i`eiy on' It is immoral for Metro to keep disrupting and endangering originally acquired for the 'pro-` posed city of .Seaton. When the our premier and environment minister to turn down the peoples health and quality of life by cold-bloodedly dumping citizens citizens of Pickering were able to proposal if a full environmental gar - bage close to existing villages, the p previous govern- ment that the size of this city assessment finds the site to be , .farms and clean rivers. It is sure- was too large, the land was left in -agriculture and has been farmed unsuitable. Sadly,' our premier. seems happy to approve the site ly up to the premier and prov- , mce to maintain high environ- ` continuously ever since. Now it if 'used for Metro's garbage and mental standards and not bow to, Could become the largest dump oyr environment minister will only hold what is called a pressure from Metro; they are still not coming to grips with the in Ontario,1,000 acres. '*oiled" environmental. assess- ' problem of waste disposal. Metro The proposed dump at White- ' ment, which would easily miss must stop dumping'on' its neigh - vale would drain into the west important details which could af- bors.. : branch of Duffin Creek — which feet theenvironment. I- -- v TOMMY`THOMPSON runs through the village — two All the public opinion polls Whitevale -1. Tz,&ilE /rrx9k��f Y�<,iGtS ugly dump fight rattles Durham Region Council DEB BODINE CHAMPION Correspondent Uxbridge Mayor Gerri Lynn O'Connor is still reeling from the com- ments hurled at Durham Regional Council last Wednesday when it joined forces with Metro Toronto and approved the P1 interim dump- site in Pickering. The 100-acre site near the hamlets of Whitevale and Cherrywood is slated to hold 6 million tonnes of waste — 4.6 tonnes from Metro and the remainder from Durham. Angry and hostile Pickering residents who claimed they have already had their fill of Metro's garbage fired insults and profanities at Council members, said Mayor O'Connor. "It's very unnerving to see how far people will take it," she said. Not only were the lives of Regional Chairman Gary Herrema's family threatened, but in the heat of the moment, presenters at the meeting called Council "scum" and "faggots." "We're elected to do a job, and all of us are doing it in what we see as the best interests of everybody, not just those in our own municipality," Mayor O'Connor declared. "We're a throw -away society. Somebody has to have the dump, and it has to be in somebody's backyard." "Every municipality has its own cross to bear. Uxbridge has 36 or 37 gravel pits — more than any other Ontario municipality." Mayor O'Connor said she keeps hearing about what has already gone on in Pickering — other dumpsites, the airport lands, the Seaton development. But when it comes to the already established dump- sites, she has a different historical perspective. Rather than having the dump forced on them, Mayor O'Connor said she recalls, prior to regionalization in 1974, "the former mayor (of Pickering) saying what a hell of a deal they were getting," with free garbage pick-up and reduced tipping fees. It was a deal they welcom- ed at the time, she claims. But this time around things will be different, she said. Instead of Metro being in control, as with Brock West, Durham will control the P1 site — if established. Pickering residents have hired an environmental lawyer to go as far as they can to stop the proposal — to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary. The Town of Pickering has also hired legal counsel in its fight against the dump. Ultimately, the Uxbridge mayor would like to see Durham Region "go it alone" and handle its own waste disposal problem. But she says there is no time for that, since Brock West landfill site is nearing capacity. Mayor O'Connor insists that the P1 site had to be approved by the Region in order to "go the next step and ,join the GTA ( Greater Toron- to Area) on garbage disposal." As a condition of joining, each participating region is required to allocate an interim landfill site for 1992 to 1996. �tiIN�IIPiIIIIIHNI''�IIII'��IIIINii!li�l!II!'u���'�'�so co age 4 - Uxbridge Times -Journal, Wed., May 31, 1989 Published �Wedshi � Laurentian Publishi 191 Main St., Uxbridge, 852-9141 F Serving Uxbridge Township Subscriptions: Canada - Since 869 Elsewhere $60 p, Second class reg. i OPINION Rural landfill needed The perils of our throwaway society are haunting residents of Durham Region as the process continues to find a new ma- jor landfill site for Metro Toronto and Durham. Residents of Pickering and Ajax know all too well how much garbage is produced each day in Metro. They've seen it dumped in the Brock West landfill and are, to put it mild- ly, unimpressed with the notion that a similiar major site may be opened at Whitevale. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Metro has failed to do its part in reducing its garbage. Despite having all the resources and advantages of being an urban area, Metro lagg- ed behind in recycling and in general its attitude towards waste was short-sighted and irresponsible. But that doesn't get rid of the crisis we face today. No mat- ter how much it is reduced, we'll still have a lot of garbage to deal with and dispose of somewhere. To open a major landfill somewhere within the boundaries of Metro makes no sense. Can anyone seriously suggest that the environmentally significant Rouge Valley be converted in- to a dumping ground? The reasonable alternative, then, is one which Durham Region council is suggesting. Metro's garbage must find a home somewhere in the outlying areas -- and that means Durham, York, Peel or Halton. No number of death threats to regional pool ticians, no amount of ranting and raving will change this ieality. This is not to say a protest against a new landfill is not without merit. A protest helps raise public and political awareness and serves to pressure those in decision -making positions to be wise and responsible. It pressures the landfill operators to do their job with consideration for the environ- ment and residents living en route and adjacent to the site. If we can all co-operate and be reasonable, a fair solution to the garbage crisis can be found. Unfortunately, Metro has been neither co-operative or reasonable in the past few years, nvincing residents to possess these traits is a difficult 1111 Uxbridge Times -Journal, Wed., May 31, 1989 - page 15 MCT fmights on Pickering and Ajax residents are "more determined than ever to fight the (Whitevale landfill) site. "The fight goes on," said Bill Parish, chair- man of Pickering and Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (Pact). "We will con- tinue to fight any Metro dump anywhere in Durham." Two weeks have past since Durham Region council joined the Greater Toronto Area garbage authority, allowing a 200-acre parcel of land in Whitevale to be used for Durham and Metro's garbage. "The majority of the (council) members (who voted in favor of the Whitevale site) are wrong in allowing Metro to dump in Durham again," Mr. Parish said. "We voted them in to protect: s. They had an obligat, on to see that it didn't appen again." P CT is also upset with the province for allowing the Whitevale site to be used. Mr. Parish said the lands are provinically owned and were slated for housing. "They have one of the best sites for housing and they're taking it away for a garbage dump," Mr. Parish said. PACT has hired two Toronto -based lawyers to help them battle the region. Morris Manning and Dave Estrin will try to prove to the courts that the region is discriminating against the residents on the basis of where they live. Mr. Parish said PACT needs to raise a lot of money to cover the costs of the lawyers. :� .r26/ TIIE TORONTO STAR, FRIDAY, JUNE:1, 1989 INSIGHT Stink ov IV Durha By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Pickering residents can dump all over Gary Herrema, but they can't dump him. The embattled Durham Region chairman says he has received death threats over his unpopular proposal to put a landfill site for Metro -area gar- bage beside the hamlet of Whitevale. Many Pickering residents have identi- fied Herrema as the main enemy in the war against Metro dumps and would love nothing better than to turf him out. But they're frustrated because his job remains secure. The top politicians in the greater Toronto area are still appointed by re- gional councils. The chairmen of Peel, York, Durham and Halton Regions did not have to be elected to represent one of their member municipalities — rather, they were chosen by a major- ity of council members. Most often, the chairman is a for- mer mayor or councillor with such popularity that he is able to capture the seat uncontested and remain there for several years. Metro put a stop to that system last year by directly elect- ing Metro councillors and having members vote in one, Alan Tonks, as chairman. So far, that change hasn't permeat- ed the outlying regions, leaving people like Herrema at the helm for as long III Unelected chairman "I think it's sad, because word on the streets is that Gary should resign, but he won't," said Pickering Councillor Maurice Brenner. "The structure gives him too much power and no ac- countability and that's dangerous." Herrema, not one to be intimidated, says he's not going anywhere for the time being. In fact, the 49-year-old Ux- bridge dairy farmer welcomes the challenge his position has created for him. "My job is to make decisions. There are people who are saying it's a ven- detta I have against people to put it (the dump) somewhere. But I have no authority. I have to wait for 17 votes to carry anything," he says. "I'm not the Premier or the Prime Minister. My vision of this community is very soft actually. It's not etched in stone." `Land dictator' Then, half jokingly, the country boy spouts his dream of some day becom- ing what he calls "the agricultural land dictator for the greater Toronto area," whereby he would simply drive around rural communities and force people to maintain their barns and farms to municipal standards. "There's a lot of slum land in Dur ham because of all this development," said Herrema, whose family bought his 500-acre farm — now worth mil- lions — in the'60s for $70,000. "Farms are no longer being farmed and build- ings are no longer being used because everyone is out to make a profit." Alas, the job doesn't exist. So he'll just stay where he is. Angry dump opponents say Herre- ma can afford to be obstinate, even cavalier, about his choice of a dump on prime agricultural land in Whitevale, because of the power of his position. At a public meeting earlier this month, with more than 1,500 rowdy Durham residents in attendance, Herrema and regional works chair- man John Aker giggled and made jokes as they vainly tried to defend the proposal. And at the deciding council meeting May 17, Herrema recommended re- stricted entry to council chambers — even for members of the press not only the long -serving chair- man of Durham Region, he's a dairy farmer with 500 acres. would be able to run. And although he doesn't hide his Liberal red stripes, Herrema says municipal government is no place for party politics. Herrema, also vice-chairman of GO Transit ran urisuccessfu yyllin 1 _fff' the f erail Ontario riding; a Tory strop hold —which includes the Picker- _mg_and Alaxrea. He denies rumors that he's vying for a plum paTliic7#p= pointment, such as the full-time post of -GO Transit chairman, now held by his '7oa- friend Lou Parsons. eopTe say__I,m.. in it for the soft touch. But the people who know me know I'm not in anybody's pocket," he says. Herrema's family moved to Canada from their native Holland when he was 8. His farming background has given him a dislike for the plazas and burger bars of urban strip develop- ment. By the year 2011, he envisions 30,000 people living in the provincially plan- ned town of Seaton in north Pickering; a commercial airport on the federal lands nearby; a link with Metro and neighboring regions by light rapid transit throughout; "trendy housing," instead of just single-family dwellings; s en s on, Herrema is one of the three longest- and more arts and sports events to at - yelled at the meeting. tract people to the region. "He's got his own agenda. He doesn't reigning regional chairmen in Ontar- / care what the people think, but we can io, taking over in 1980 a few months NM the cows neither choose him nor remove him," after Frank Bean and Andy Heydco in Though his sons have taken over said Bill Parish, chairman of Ottawa -Carleton. He is only the second most of the farm work Herrema still Pickering -Ajax Citizens 'ro ether for person to fill the position since Dur- likes to milk the cows at 6 a.m. and do g ham formed a regional government in the Environment (PACT). 1973. the chores when he gets home at night. Previously, county wardens were „ "I'm too close to the farm," he says. Expecting furor "That's where my independence is and appointed annually by the province. that's what I'll always go back to." Peel Chairman Frank Bean said he The citizens of Hamilton -Wentworth But that doesn't necessarily mean can understand the fuss surrounding have gone to the opposite extreme, he'll go quietly. He says he'll always be llerrema now, because he is expecting electing their chairman, Reg Whynott, a farmers' activist and admits he the same furor when he finally has to in the last municipal election. could never lie low because he has be - put a site on the table as his region's Many politicians argue direct el ec come a political animal who really contribution to the greater Toronto tion is not a perfect system, because it enjoys the game. area garbage authority. would take a large amount of time and "I hope to leave this community And, although Tory MP Rene Soet- money to conduct a campaign. Only ter than I received if;' he says. "On ens of Ontario riding has had differ- the wealthy or those who had the my ep� a-ph;T'dso�ner be caned a good ences with Bean, he still feels the sys- financial backing of a political party Tarmer thana gooapolitician:" JIM RUSSELL / TORONTO STAR while more than 200 people milled tem is guilty of creating Gary Herre- around the halls to await the decision, ma, not the other way around. because they were held back at the Durham Region council's problem is doors by police. a rift between the needs of the eight. If this were a baseball team instead individual municipalities and the of regional council, I'm sure you, Mr. interests of the region, between which Herrema, would be walking the Herrema just happens to be caught, streets..." Lloyd Thomas, president said Soetens. Of the Whitevale re id t ' t' Waste pran no boon to Durham Region The May 17th Regional Council decision to join with the Greater Toronto Area waste management plan is, in my opinion, a serious error with very negative ramifica- tions on both the short and long term interests of the Region of Durham. The decision, a rather muscular exercise in democracy, was made in unseemly haste and you, the councillors, have been insufficiently informed, misled and even duped into believing that G.T.A. represents the best, if not the only, alternative for waste management. It is the best alterna- tive for Metro and its validity begins and ends there. I realize any decision may have been difficult and that you cannot please everyone, but this was not a decision in the true sense of re- sponsible -government. This was a hit-and-run, an escape from the task of thoroughly exploring alter- natives. This was putting the prob- lem under the bed — like a cham- ber pot under Pickering's bed It is now out of sight and there, fore out of mind for the next dec- ade or so, and the need for our society to come to grips with our irresponsible habits will be post- poned accordingly. You have, as a consequence of this capitulation, done a disservice to the present and future population of Durham. The public meeting held on May 9 at the Pickering Recreation Centre could hardly be described as "reasoning: together," however well intended. The spokesman for council told .us :what they were going to' do.` and those assembled told them they didn't like it. Decision already made The rest was just noise. As an ef- fort to hear and consider argu7 ment the .meeting was a sham. It was clear to me that a decision had been made, even before the recom- mendation was put to Council and' that a majority of Council support- ed it. The Council representatives stated, in essence, that: (1) Durham would have no place to put its gar- bage; (2) P=1 is an interim site to be replaced by the Durham Master Plan; (3) Durham would be able to enforce its standards. Taken .in order, it, is Metro that will have no place to put its gar- bage. Public reaction to a landfill site designed to accommodate .our own garbage, which represents ap- proximately one twelfth the volume currently entering Brock West would be much less intense. Durham can establish sites within our boundaries and develop them in time to meet our needs just as capably as Metro, That Metro will pay for the cost of developing P-1 and pay Durham rebates and royalties may be true, but street- walkers have a similar mentality. Our autonomy should not be sold at any price. The population growth of Dur- ham according to the McLaren Re- port projections would indicate that our numbers will double over the next decade or two. One can expect Metro and the other regions to experience similar growth. Even if we are successful in reducing .the volume of solid waste by 25-50 ,per cent, the waste generated by twice as many people will still produce the current 4,000,000 tonnes. To suggest that P-1 will not be used beyond a six= year period is ludicrous at best and possibly a misrepresentation to allay concern. Absolute rubbish The notion that Durham can in- sist on the standards for P-1 is absolute rubbish, if you'll pardon the. pun. The volume ,of garbage dumped into Brock West makes standards.a nuisance or a joke. Anything and everything goes in there and the employees are too busy avoiding being run down by a truck to have time for supervision.: We can only hope that unscrupu- lous operators have not taken advantage of the situation. Just imagine the cost of removing toxic waste from a landfill site of such magnitude. We were told that after the six - year interim period, the grand panacea, the Durham Master Plan, will be in place. Here is where roat fsN*slops a08. naivete'afnd gultibil+- ity prevail. Here is where facts are absent and dreams timer .e. Here is where hope enters the con -art- ist's tent. What is the Master Plan ther than an expansion of recyclingand composting initiatives already underway or being studied? Even the most optimistic targets fall short of what will be necessary to cease the use of P-1. Given the population growth, Metro will still need a gigantic landfill site. This means they will either: (1) continue to use P-1 until all 150 hectares are full; (2), look for another site in Durham, possibly the Heber Down Conservation Area (see McLaren Report); (3) locate in some other region or some unsuspecting municipality up north. In this case Durham will lose the. only advan- tage- G.T.A. offers and subsequent- ly face:.major increases in dumping and; transportation costs ,or be forced 'to develop our own site. Why not do it now? Figures presented by PACT seem to indi- cate it will be financially viable. Short-term gain If you read again ,the pros and cons listed in the McLaren Report, you will see they break down about evenly. Depending on your prior- ities, one has the choice of short term financial gain or Durham's autonomy. coupled with the capaci- ty..to safeguard our environment. By aligning Durham with G.T.A., Council has hitched our wag to to a bull with a belly -ache and we .will surely find ourselves impaled o its hoTq . „ .... ..... .. AL WARD Markham 4 EAST THE TORONTO STAR, TVESDAY, Jt TIE 6, 1989 city's appeal The belief that Metro Toronto is a well -planned, beautiful city has been completely lost over the past few years. Driven by the market forces of development, this once -envied city has become a congested quagmire. The complete and utter foolish- ness of constructing a major high- way through the Rouge Valley, even though studies clearly show that highways compound the transportation problem by creat- ing further congestion, shows that our elected representatives do not speak for the needs of the people. Of course, developers require development to continue and, once the Rouge Valley is destroyed by a major arterial road, the objection to further development is over- come. For Toronto to have a natural wildlife park ;within its boundaries would add immensely to its health and vitality and would say to the world: "Yes, Toronto is a great city." For those who care, tell your politicians at all levels that you will hold them accountable if they are responsible for destroying the Rouge Valley. MURRAY JOHNSTON Scarborough Save farmland Well, a Liberal leader has done it again to the people of Pickering who worked so hard to have a Liberal member represent them! This time Premier Peterson has rewarded us by freeing up provincially -owned Class I farm- land for yet another garbage dump in Pickering to serve the needs of Metro Toronto and the surround- ing areas. This one will be located across the road from the beautiful, historic hamlet of Whitevale. Seventeen years ago the federal Liberal leader rewarded Pickering residents for their efforts by an- nouncing the Pickering airport site on Class I farmland. When, will they learn you don't build garbage dumps or airports on Class I farmland? SYLVIA P. COWLS Whitevale J 111 l hill Uullly n1 LC y Christy Chase Oshawa Times Staff Preliminary information shows that a chunk of north Pickering farm- land is a good choice for Durham Re- gion's temporary dump, says a con- sultant being recommended to handle environmental work on the site. Dave Clark, waste management specialist for M.M. Dillon Ltd., re- layed that information to the region's waste management committe on Tuesday. He said data is already available on geology and hydrogeology from wells in the area and work done for the Taunton Road and Steeles Avenue alignment. He said the land is sandy and silty, good soil when it comes to handling any leachate that forms from decay- ing garbage. Last month, regional council chose farmland near Whitevale as the loca- tion for a contingency dump to take in six million tonnes of garbage from Durham and Metro Toronto for five years. The waste management committee is recommending a consortium of firms, headed by M.M. Dillon, be re- tained to conduct work designed to take the controversial site through the Environmental Protection Act process at a cost of $1.4 million. The firm's work would be done in three phases, the first of which in- cludes drilling of the site, a look at the routes garbage trucks will take and final design and possible use of the land once the dump is closed. At the end of the first phase, to be completed in six weeks to two months, the consultants would have determine whether the site can sat- isfy the requirements of the EPA or not. The region has requested the con- sultants' hold an open house to inform the public of test results. Clark said the whole site, located between the fourth and fifth conces- sions to the east of Altona Road, will be tested during the first phase to de- termine its suitability. However, the dump would be located on 150,acres to the south of the site with a' one -ki- lometre strip buffering the working area from nearby development, in- cluding Whitevale. The second phase calls for more field studies, intensive drilling, and will take up to six months. The third phase includes monitoring of ground and surface water and the public hearings. The proposed timetable calls for the hearings in early 1990. Council will deal with the commit- tee's recommendation June 14. If the consultants are retained, drilling will start shortly after that. G*T--.A,o was -a' 'hit and----r--u14-V7- To the editor: The following is an open letter to Durham council members. Ladies and Gentlemen: The May 17 regional council decision to join with the Greater Toronto Area waste management plan is, in my opi- nion, a serious error with very negative ramifications on both the short and long term interests of the region of Durham. The decision, a rather muscular exercise in democracy, was made in unseemly haste and you the councillors have been insufficiently informed, misled and even duped into believing that G.T.A. represents the best, if not the only, alternative for waste manage- ment. It is the best alternative for Metro and its validity begins and ends there. I realize any decision may have been difficult and that you cannot please everyone, but this was not a decision in the true sense of responsible govern- ment. This was a hit-and-run. This was an escape from the task of thoroughly exploring alternatives. This was put- ting the problem under the bed -- like a chamber pot -- under Pickering's bed. It is now out of sight and therefore out of mind for the next decade or so, and the need for our society to come to grips with our irresponsible habits will be postponed accordingly. You have, as a consequence of this capitulation, done a disservice to the present and future population of Durham. I shall endeavour to outline, with considerable substance, the rationale behind my opinion. I trust you will bear with me, although I appreciate th in the frenzied state of our socie- ty, ost stop reading before the end of tile second paragraph. The fact that thl decision has already been made does not justify dismissal of my opi- nion. Decisions can be changed and this one certainly should. The public meeting held on May 9 at the Pickering Recreation Complex could hardly be described as "reason- ing together", however well intended. The spokesman for council told us what they were going to do and those assembled told them they didn't like it. The rest was just noise. As an effort to hear and consider argument the meeting was a sham. It was clear to me that a decision had been made, even before the recommendation was put to council and that a majority of council supported it. The council representatives stated, in essence, that: (1) Durham would have no place to put its garbage; (2) PI is an interim site to be replaced by the Durham Master Plan; (3) Durham would be able to enforce its standards. THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 7, 1989—PAGE 9-A Taken in order, it is Metro that will have no place to put its garbage. Public reaction to a landfill site designed to accommodate our own garbage, which represents approx- imately one=`•,Viifi& volume cur- rently entering Brock West would be much less intense. If you haven't already visited Brock West, by that I mean up where the stuff is really go- ing, you should enlighten yourself. You will come away appalled. Durham can establish sites within our boundaries and develop them in time to meet our needs just as capably as Metro. That Metro will pay for the cost of develop- ing P1 and pay Durham rebates and royalties may be true, but street- walkers have a similar mentality. Our autonomy should not be sold at any price. The population growth of Durham according to the McLaren Report pro- jections (table 2.5), a factor that I seems to have been overlooked, would indicate that our numbers will double over the next decade or two. One can expect Metro and the other regions to experience similar growth. Even if we are successful in reducing the volume of solid waste by 25 to 50 per cent, the waste c&nerated by twice as many people ill still produce the current 4,000, tonnes. To suggest that P1 will no be used beyond a six -year period is ludicrous at best and possibly a misrepresentation to allay concern. It is a pledge that will be waived with the same impunity that characterizes the entire Pi proposal. removing toxic waste from a landfill site of such magnitude. We were told that after the six -year interim peri ,the grand panacea, the Durham Ma s r Plan, will be in place. Here is wh re realism stops and naivete and llibility prevail. Here is where facts re absent and dreams emerge. Here is where hope enters the con artist's tent. What is the Master Plan other than an expansion of recycling and com- FROM PAGE A9 unsuspecting municipality up north. In this case Durham will lose the only ad - decision The notion that Durham can insist on the standards for PI is absolute rub- bish if you'll pardon the pun. The volume of garbage dumped into Brock West makes standards a nuillince or a joke. Anything and everyt ng goes in there and the employeel are too busy avoiding being run d wn by a truck to have time for supervision. We can only hope that unscrupulous operators have not taken advantage of the situation. Just imagine the cost of posting initiatives already underway or being studied? Even the most op- timistic targets fall short of what will be necessary to cease the use of Pi. Given the population growth, Metro will still need a gigantic landfill site. This means they will eit er: (1) con- tinue to use P1 until all 50 hectares are full; (2) look for a ther site in Durham (McLaren port); (3) locate in some other region or some See G.T.A....................Page A10 vantage G.T.A. offers and subsequent- ly face major increases in dumping and transportalmtvsn or be forced to develop our own site. Why not do it ment. By voting in favor of G, T A now? Figures presented by PACT have committed yet anohhe Qo O OO ti seem to indicate it will be financially municipality to a Metro landfill rile i cz 0 ❑ viable. the all too near future. Your decisio E~ If you read again the pros and cons has only temporarily forestalled th C u y listed in the McLaren Report, p6-3 to day when Metro garbage will be con p, *13, respecting landfill alternatives: ing to your backyard. Pickering, ar u� � o Metro iG.T.A.); (2) Metro ash lately Durham, are often referred W �� wit n from waste facility; as dormitories for Metro. You ha, z O x and (3) �prilori y, you will see they now invited them to also use it as x brevenly. Depending tra�.h can. on yourone has the choice Finally, I ask you to question the: o (� of short-term financial gain or tion of premier Peterson who has : c Q, a c Durham's autonomy coupled with the y oli cz 3 3 _cc °' c° c Ul 3 3 ° capacity to safeguard our environ parent! brushed aside p y o ° ro z. E CO o Q) o o ment. By aligning Durham with statements of two of his ministers ( � _ y ❑ G.T.A., council has hitched our, wagon pledge of a full FAA and the non � O x � a ° � ( � c � •V •E C 0. Cz Q. o b4 to a bull with a belly ache and we will of provincial land for waste dispos: � n > i 2 o °: surely find ourselves impaled on its It tells yoy what little protection 3 a c .V c - > N o horn. municipalities will have when yCz I have little doubt that there has turn comes. Consider as well t� _ ° �' c° _ been a measure of collusion involved callous disregard he displayed toware "a Q) Q) ° - in council's decision. A collusion the 17 years of uncertainty and disloca � ca o a o W > a, necessitated out of concern that a vote tion inflicted on this area by stupid, ar U 3 W A a a^ a°i rogant and insensitive governments. against the recommendations could He has compounded his contempt by ultimate! result in a Metro landfill _� c o o •o ° ca a c site in one's own municipality. This is compromising the credibility of our _ ' W ro ° a , c o C o c y w . N1.P.P. Norah Stoner to the degree tht ° ❑ } 3 a ao c, o ❑ understandable but that fear was ex if she is to maintain her integrity she .�, y �° m y c a) ° c c Q ° �, cz acerbated by the misconception that may have to cross the floor of the (� o R 0 c Q y $ v E (D c c y ° a dump had to be a Metro dump with independent. a ❑ `� . �- c c c, a, m >, ° i; ° r. - Q) to legislature and sit as an inde ndent. � ° ro � y � o � y � ° � w y its horrendous volume of garbage. A I say independent because the two op- y E ° > � c w c .� � ° W a) c �, o v Durham only alternative would have y o " = c° �' " " �' ` meant smaller, more manageable position leaders ducked the issue. Mr1 ' 1 G �, 3 �w •� Q n. � y cz a) Q o ... cz a, g Peterson has no moral right to do what W 0 a) u o ro u qw, c 0 0 � W C° A c-� °D landfill sites and a much reduced he has done and every card carryinf c °c oo c o y a, a� E Cz y �, b possibility of environmental impair member of the provincial Liberal Par �, $'o �,, '� ° c '� U • L y .[ � ty in Pickering should participate in : U = ° a '� a"i �' °' W °' `� = c° °' °' o �w � � �. a.,y� a� A��w c o E i~7R3 5� 0y card -burning ceremony at the P1 site Mr. Peterson's intervention mad +� council's decision much easier tha c O +' Q. c O another alternative may have been u O E > >, > itially, but the strings are many ar o u c ay y o \ long and the web is exceeding! ay ti tangled. x o . o You, the members of Durha O ° 3 0 �' regional council, have been caught i_ O y yto w o in a contrived urgency and bamboo' O 5 E y o x cz CU ed into making a decision th o vesty against t represents a trahe P' $ .� ple and the land of Pickering. T1 ` b �v o on j decision is wrong. You can change You can frame a motion to rescind U) ro o readily as the original was conspir �/ M a) 0 ° 3 You can ensure that your legacy e 1 � C U ° representative of the people . Durham is something other tha y� � c c monstrous garbage dump. 0 3 aa) a However, should you persist �y a. to =>x Q❑cc this atrocious plan, which cater Ike 1 o �V 3 �pa`�°n�� rather than confronts a soci o sickness, I can only muse as the m J to a ° tain of garbage, the Vesuviu E Z a y N Whitevale rises before us, that c 'Ir tually we will have a ski hill. WE co name it Peterson's Peak. On the n ` = U z c, hand we may have a subdiv W . CU o 0 1 Cz where every home boasts a met eo � ° ❑ a gas barbeque. It may be aPPop c x ao Q. c ly called Herrema Heights. Al cz U Cz y Cz .Cz � I I O aO U° O •.V. M� c Q ca co W T)rIE 1" WS ADVE4TISER, JUNK 7, 198!>—P_v"�Tl T Durham region councillors run To the editor: The following is a copy of a letter to Jim Bradley, minister of the environ- ment, regardint the proposed PI dump site beside Whitevale. Dear Mr. Bradley, I listened to you talk at the OLP con- vention, I found you to be a very en- vironmentally concerned and caring in- dividual. It is refreshing to listen to peo- ple who believe in preservation of our environment. I have a few questions I would like you to take a look at. Would you build a dump... - 1) above the large Greenwood aquifer system? - 2) if part of the land is wetland and serves as a recharge area for the Greenwood aquifer? - 3) if the groundwater drains into three different river systems, the Rouge, the Petticoat and the West Duf- '*,n's Creek? - 4) if it contained five acknowledg- ed Huron Indian archeological sites that date back to the 1500s, one of which was a burial ground? - 5) that would be directly across the road from a 150-year old heritage village of Whitevale and just upwind from the heritage village of Cherrywood? - 6) on prime, A 1 agricultural farmland that is actively being farmed? - 7) in an area where the roads can- not handle the current volume of residential traffic? - 8) in a process that would violate the residents' rights and sidestep the EAA process? Everything that I have read over the last two years, tells me that the answer to all those questions is NO. On May 17, at Durham region coun- cil, 21 regional councillors and a regional chariman said YES to all those questions. They voted to put an interim dump site in North Pickering :ide the village of Whitevale. A vote 21 to 10 tells me that this wwas not an environment4—i f& ?'here was no concern for the people, the land or the environment. This was a political vote, a decision made well in advance of May 17 and at very high levels. In reality the questions they voted YES to should have read: ould you build a dump. ll close o the Metro border so that truck traffic would not affect my municipality? - 2) far enough away that.the smell would not affect my electors? - 3) on land given cheaply by the the provincial government? - 4) so that the region of Durham could stand to make considerable financial gains? Mr. Bradley, the regional councillors did not do their homework; they did not learn from the battle to save Brock South; they are making the same mistakes over again. They continue to run full speed ahead, like lemmings to the edge of the cliff. How do we turn these people around, how do we tell them that there is no room for politics and greed in environmental issues? Peoples' lives and their right to a cer- tain quality of life are sacred. The land is sacred. The environment is sacred. We are pursuing this in the courts, it will become very long and expensive, but we will not give up. Mr. Peterson has the ultimate say here. We need your help. We have to convince him that this land is not ap- propriate for a dump and should be taken off the table. We are prepared to meet, work with you or help you in any way we can to get this nightmare sorted out. The peo- ple, the land and the environment must come first. Lloyd Thomas President, Whitevale and District Residents Association 294-1978 like lemming T�1 Durham region councillors run like lemmings ID ID " cD rD ° cD cD �' ° '•j as w °' c .. �] �o a �, iD -- �, o w p �• C o' �'• j N y �w7 a p O w ID .'-n. l^SD �. "' o w 'O v�i w G•' y �Cp a o. .w_. w CL o ti ca ID o w < a< �w _ ID fD Quo fDID F �ti�co a v mow 0m�-0 -sower. o �.cD �. c fDMcco ID ID a °M ID O. O O (D "w7 U� ?' <. a .y w O. G :-•' O vOi QQ (p O w N � R �. �.• a. o � � o co ¢' m � w v,' o � va,°, o w (D v w o y o w G a w< Cr')w ID D w fl caao d o £ va a a a o o -°, "rd C17 iD CD 0 (D Mva SD ., °' rL ° a , a ° o cD 0 �' c �� o 92, v CD ;' o w'° �b �° n � � '' °-max-• o ;� a Q,•? E� � t� �� rna �� _<� ti n o D a o? cae -oz v m o a W ti m' w < cD cD CL o C C O O a 0 fD a' i1. y ?' (D w. O. O• a w "" M ro C Q, w pj w a c<c rs (D w fD fD w fD w w O (�D y. cD j" O (D O O n. w O a' O C ti U.4 cC a fD a a < �_ G w ❑. in C y (D . a O �. 07 fD A 97 w vwi 'C J' p (D a a' O f�D O O O.. •^., G. a "' R_ .� O (D t9 a (D p y � �' � r C !D � `< in � °' cD C Q4 in a � O. a b w � ^+ � ^•y w a•c �H,�•° fD � boa �o o � `< � a.o o w o o O � m2s w r? a o �.� a cD ., '� o c ° o m a• o � o' cD °�? °• cD :° << ^� � �aa Ej o� ca���naa� a ° H �' o 0 0 C fD `D 5 o ID C �' �3 En �s C `p "D F n' p c v v' r j M w ti `t-•�A' C a E O �C (D �C ^• w C M a w O to Vi `7 y l) r, QQ C w 0,eD 0= .=7 �• � O 0 oCL We the people, can ;make changes To the editor: _/ 11 bI Ontario is reputed to be a democratic province. Why then is the provincial government thrusting another Toronto dump on the people of Durham region, when our negative outcry is unanimous? "We don't want another dump! " Whether or not the town council votes for the dump is not the issue. The people don't want it. What we want are environmentalists instead of politicians deciding the fate of our land. Environmentalists will tell us about the long-term effects of polluting our land and water, and of the permanent damage to our delicate ecosystem. They will teach us to recy- cle, to compost, to grow gardens and trees, to use less chemicals, and to stop the destruction of our precious Earth. Garbage is an issue which must be redefined. Our throw -away society is burying itself. I mean, who really needs a disposable camera? I knew we had a problem years ago when the hamburger patty -stacker was first in- vented with the advertising slogan, "Your hands need never touch the meat." Remember that? How our ancestors would have laughed at our squeamish posture, up to their elbows in pig guts. The government could be estalishing more recycling plants, and com- posting farms where restaurant kit- chen garbage, leaves and grass clip- pings are turned back into vital soil. How about giving tax breaks to citizens who turn their chemically manicured lawns into gardens for growing their own fresh produce, where they can make compost? Gardening not only provides fresh alive food, it is therapeutic for stress reduction and puts us in touch with the earth. How about banning plastic bags and styrofoam trays? How about ban- ning the manufacture of ALL non - recyclable items? We have reached a serious crisis. What we need is an attitude adjust- ment. Caught in the wave of decadent technology, we take for granted the simple pleasures of clean air, fresh water and live food. We, the people, can make changes, we can say "NO!". We can prove by example how democratic this province can be, "NO -- WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER GARBAGE DUMP!" Wendy Carric, Pickering N YiYn'"I urham to spend P1 dump site to be studied 1.5 million on dump site testing By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Almost $1.5 million will be spent to see if the P1 site in north Pickering is suitable for a dump. aesday at the region's waste innagement committee meeting co .ncillors gave the okay to hire con- sultants from M.M. Dillon Limited to conduct an EPA ( Environmental Pro- tection Act) study. Ajax mayor Jim Witty opposed the decision. However, if the first phase of the study reveals that the Pi site "doesn't confirm w'--' we suspect ( that the site is suitab: a dump) then the study can be at,,,, Led at that time," said Dave Clark of M.M. Dillon Limited. The first phase will cost the region $100,000. The 150-acre (60 hectare) site, can hold six million tonnes of garbage. There's a one -kilometre "buffer zone" around the site. If the site is approv- ed, Metro, Durham, and possibly other surrounding regions could use the site for four years until a long-term solu- tion to waste disposal is found. Clark explained that consultants will be doing more testing than required under an EPA. Clark said while an EPA requires testing of soil, land and water, his consultants will also be look- ing at transportation routes, social im- pacts, heritage resources, agricultural See P1... Page 3 FROM PAGE 1 impacts and land use in three phases. Phase one, which consists of drilling the soil, is a six -week to two- month project. Also, transportation of waste into the area will be studied in phase 1. Phase two, scheduled for completion in December, will cost $1.25 million Ajax endorses, durn, for - Durham trash AJAX - The town wants Durham region to look for a landfill site that would handle only garbage from this region. Ajax council passed a motion Monday night requesting the region look for a site for a Durham dump. In a letter to council, regional chairman Gam Herrema was seeking the town's endorsement of a regional council motion to look for alter- natives t, he proposed P1 landfill site in Whitevale, suggesting the land Obopos( )the 1970s for an airport. and involves more extensive drilling and documentat preparation on the PI site to give to the Ministry of the Environment. In phase three, scheduled to be com- pleted in January, 1990, a final monitoring of ground water and sur- face water will be done, before enter- ing into a public hearing under the EPA, expected in early 1990. This phase will cost $100,000. Ajax councillor Pat Clark asked why Du K6ir was paying for the tests, when -Metro Toronto would be the durnp's main user. Committee chair- man John Aker replied that the whole premise of the dump is that Durham region own, develop, operate, control and be accountable for the site. "As soon as you have a financial partner you compromise" that control, he said. Phase one of " project is expected to begin withi . w weeks. Ajax & Pickering �- " e VOL. 1 NO. 5 ' 50 CENTS % 9lIgg SUN It's ` a farce' By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - The region's ap- proval of a $1.5 million study into the Pi dumpsite is a "farce" says Sonja Ellis, vice-president of the Whitevale and District Residents Association. And, the move does not appear to have overly impressed Pickering politicians, either. "(Regional director of operations Art) Leitch said at the (public infor- mation) meeting ( May 9) the Ontario government planned a shortened ver- sion of an EAA (Environmental Assessment Act hearing)," she says. "And, he said the region would go for a full EAA. I've got that on tape." On Tuesday, June 6, the region's waste management committee ap- proved the hiring of M.M. Dillon Limited to conduct an EPA (En- vironmental Protection Act) study into the dumpsite. The study will be done in three phases at a total cost of $1.5 million and is scheduled to be com- pleted in January, 1990. Dave Clark of M.M. Dillon told the committee consultants plan to do more testing than required under an EPA. He said that, while an EPA requires testing of soil, land and water, his con- sultants will also be looking at transportation routes, social impacts, heritage resources, agricultural im- pacts and land use. "That's great, but they should still be doing an EAA," says Ward 3 regional councillor Beverley Morgan. "I hope they are sincere, but the site is still the wrong site." ° Mayor Wayne Arthurs says the ministry of the environment should "demand" an EAA. "The GTA ( Greater Toronto Area garbage authority) isn't legislated so no one has identified what en- vironmental assessments will be re- quired," he says. "Somebody better tell us what the province expects." Arthurs says M.M. Dillon Limited would be "irresponsible to do anything less" than the extra steps it says it will take in the EPA, but he admits he's sceptical about the study. al-spn maintains the region should be trying to identify other sites that See RESIDENTS... Page 4 FROM PAGE 1 could be used as a landfill. Ellis concurs. "Each region (in the GTA) should have more than one site," she says. "Our big objection is that a full EAA can't be done unless you have more than one site, because any site named by itself is judged on- ly on its own merits. The whole thing is a farce." Ellis adds the residents' association will want environmental consultants hired by Pickering council to be in- volved in M.M. Dillon's study. "We want our own people to have ac- cess to the study and be involved in every step," she says. "There's definitely a lack of trust there." Morgan says she doesn't know if that will happen or not. "The question has been raised, but all concerns and options are being discussed with our lawyers and it's essential we have confidentiality at this point," she explains. Arthun says the town will try to work as closely with the region as it can during the EPA. "I don't know at this point how close the region will let us get," he says, "but I presume we'll have access to the information." We're slow to move as garbage �nts�_I Brock Rd. and the Third/ Concession in Pickering on a hotL_ summer day: take a sniff. I guarantee that nothing can quite compare with the aroma. In case anyone out there hasn't realized it yet, we have a big garbage problem. What took Metro so long to establish recycling? Why is it that Scarborough, where I live, is still without blue boxes for its residents? Why is the government still allowing the production of consumer products that don't naturally decompose, like plastic garbage and shopping bags and — the household favorite — disposable diapers? Why hasn't something been done about Styrofoam products that do decompose, but release hazardous. CFCs in the process? CARMELINA DOTO Scarborough Pearson International a great garbage site It appears that two current problems, namely the crowding at Pearson International Airport and the garbage crisis, could he simultaneously resolved. In many ways, airports and garbage dumps share common features. 'Airports are large areas with much empty space, just what we need to bury garbage. People don't want to live near an airport; people don't want to live near a garbage site. So, we could create the world's first combined airport -garbage dump. Making the airport less attractive with the sight and smell of refuse would reduce unwanted visitors and send-off /welcomi g committees, and make a trRRISON terminal unnecessary. ROBERT H Oakville He adds the town will still try to pro- ve the site isn't appropriate and is still working with lawyers to prepare a legal case. The 150-acre site can hold six million tonnes of garbage, with a one - kilometre buffer zone around the dump. If the site is approved, Metro, Durham and possibily other surroun- ding regions could use the site for four years until a long-term solution to waste disposal is found. Phase one of the EPA is expected to begin within a few weeks. ........................ ...unuuunm�nnmu11111111111111111111111111111t PATUS---........ Testing 'cosmetic c IIIIIIIIIItII111f11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111tI1111111111111I1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111f111111111111111111111111111Illlllllllllllfllllllll By KEITH GILLIGAN and then picked the best one. They're ficials and region staff "have no Ajax Reporter trying to justify now what they have credibility with us whatsoever." AJAX-PICKERING - A plan by done," he says. By doing the testing now, it "makes Durham region to study the Pi land- At the waste management meeting, the whole process a farce. It reduces fill is a "joke" and "cosmetic a consultant for M.M. Dillon said the the trust in elected officials and ap- baloney", says Bill Parish. study will include soil, land and water pointed officials. Chairman of the Pickering -Ajax testing. As well, the consultant said the "It's a mockery of environmental Citizens Together for the Environment study will go beyond the requirements justice. We'll have our day in court," (PACT), Parish adds the testing of an EPA and look at transportation he charges. should have been done before the site routes, social impacts, heritage On Thursday, June 15, PACT is was approved for a landfill. resources, agricultural impacts and holding a meeting in the cafeteria at On Tuesday, Durham region's waste land uses. Dunbarton High School. management committee approved a The study will be done in three In an earlier interview, Ward 3 plan to hire M.M. Dillon Limited, at a stages and the consultant said the first regional councillor Beverley Morgan cost of $1.5 million, to conduct an En- phase will take six weeks to two said PACT will appeal for money at vironmental Protection Act (EPA) months and include soil drilling. He the meeting, as the group needs a 'ut study on the site, said if the first phase reveals the site $100,000 to fight Pi in court. The P1 site is a 60-hectare (150 isn't appropriate, the study can be "We want to tell the troops where we acres) area in Whitevale. The region stopped. are. We want to tell them where w 're approved a landfill, to take about six "How can they go beyond the EPA? going and what we need," Parish says. million tonnes of garbage, for the site They've already established the "We're going to lay it out as openly last month. Durham, Metro Toronto ground rules. That's B.S. and as completely as we can." and possibly other regions in the "They must think we're a bunch of The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Toronto area could use it for four simpletons out here. It's cosmetic Dunbarton High School is at the cor- years, until a long-term solution to baloney. If (waste committee chair- ner of Sheppard Avenue and Whites waste disposal is found. man and Oshawa councillor John) Road, in Pickering. "They're doing the testing after the Aker and company think they're going fact. If they proceed to do the thing to get away with that, well we're not properly, they would have done the that stupid," Parish declares. CT Foqh!!�rat e testing beforehand and not after," "If it (the landfill) is such a great says Parish. thing, why not put it in Oshawa? Why "They'll do the tests and justify what don't Aker and ( Oshawa mayor Allan) they've done. You say they're going to Pilkey put it in Oshawa?" Parish asks. g y go on the site and find it not ap- "It's a smoke and mirrors exercise. propriate? That's a joke," he adds. It's the old game. They made a bad planned Parish says if the region were decision and now they're trying to operating under the EPA properly, justify it," he says. "they would have tested all the sites Parish says elected regional of- � r. �111'te r' - �)RI Planning str�y w, - agenda of the Pickering -Ajax Citizens TbKther (PACT) for the Environ- ment meeting next week. PACT member Isobel Thompson says the fight against a landfill pro- posed for north Pickering is "enter- ing the legal stage and we want to explain to people how they can help". The meeting will be held Thurs- day, June 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m., in the cafeteria of Dunbarton High School. "We want to show people we're still alive and kicking. Durham region wants to put a dump there and we're equally determined not to let them," she says. For more information about the meeting, call Thompson at 294-5720 or Bill Parish at 683-2003. r Whitevale still battling Metro dump plans Protesters raise a stink at E:voek West dump By Christy Chase Oshawa Times Staff PICKERING — Whitevale resi- dents took their fight against more Metro Toronto dumps right to the source on Saturday. About 20 people, Whitevale resi- dents and members of Pickering and Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT), spent the better part of Saturday morn- ing standing near the gates of Metro's Brock West dump in Pickering, carrying signs to let people using the dump know they think it stinks, as do plans for an- other dump near Whitevale. The prime target for Saturday's event was a busload of people touring the dump as part of Onta- rio Science Centre's look at waste management. The centre took the people to Brock West to show them how not to run a dump. The Whitevale demonstration backed that up. PROTESTING DUMP — Whitevale resi- ering to greet an Ontario Science Centre bus dents mass at the Brock West dump in Pick- tour on Saturday. (Oshawa Times photo by Christy Chase) "T guess it's more an awareness that we want to create here," said Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents Association. "We want to make sure people know this is a bad site here. It's probably an example of one of the worst dump sites. You might as well just dig a hole in the ground and dump the garbage in. "We just want to be sure there are no more Metro dumps." Thomas pointed to several problems at the dump, which takes in close to half of Metro's garbage and almost all of Dur- ham's and is due to close next year. The flames that burn off the gases produced by decaying gar- bage are supposed to burn bright blue, signifying they are hot enough to burn the gas. But the flames are usually orange, mean- ing the gas -is escaping into the at- mosphere, Thomas said. Each day, 18 inches of landfill cover is supposed to be put on the dump's face, to control the smell a►.d birds. "You can just look at the thou- sands of birds to see how effective that is," Thomas said. "And you can smell it ( the de- caying garbage) three miles away." Saturday's demonstrators car- ried signs condemning regional council's decision to establ: short-term dump near Whig in North Pickering for Durh and Metro's garbage bet 1992 and 1996. Whitevale residents and F are bitterly opposed to the and have stated they're willi take the case to Canada's preme Court. They say the s ened environmental process veloped especially contingency dumps is a viol; of the Charter of Rights. Fund-raising campaigns tc enough money for the court tles are about to begin but m is already pouring in, Th( said. Richard Jones, Whitevale cation treasurer, said the con nity's annual festival r, $3,200, $1,000 of which will be sented to PACT this Thursda the legal battle. The rest of money is being invested to r, more money for the fight, he: In September, a house tour to 12 historic homes in and an Whitevale will be held to i more money. Only 1,000 ticke $15 each will be sold. On Thursday, PACT will plain its legal options at a spi meeting at Dunbarton School at 7:30 p.m. k-) Thart.k,s Dickersonfor Dear Editor: mous support from the has failed to show up for H I was astonished to read other councillors. But, scheduled meetings. As h your front page article in the May 31 edition of The Bay News under the above heading "For Pick- ering garbage: $3.5 mil- lion tender call". I was even more aston- ished ( and saddened) that only one Pickering council member, Regional Coun- cillor Doug Dickerson, saw fit to challenge the public works director's recommendation that the contract with the Laidlaw be renewed. Granted Dickerson was listened to, and his motion received unani- why was such a vote nec- essary? Thank you Councillor Dickerson for your action. Some two years a group of concerned Pick- ering taxpayers made a presentation to council about the appalling ser- vice by Laidlaw. The result of these presenta- tions was the striking of an ad hoc committee to monitor the quality of ser- vice and the reliability of Laidlaw. Councillor Robert Mitchell volunteered to chair the committee — but then, Councillor Wayne Arthurs acted as chair on subsequent meeting.s councillor Maurice Brenner showed his inter- est and concern by keep- ing abreast of committee happenings and attending meetings. It is interesting to note that on the afternoon of the last scheduled meet- ing, Feb. 21, by phoning in to confirm the starting time of 7:30 p.m., mem- bers of the committee were advised the commit- tee no longer existed. According to Mr. The Bay News, June 14, 1989 7 garbage question, utchison, the committee ad been disbanded (by person or persons unknown?)�fQ, 116�'iing the elections in�1988. Thank you, whoever you were, for your courtesy of advis- ing the members! It is interesting to note that the week of May 22 I was telephoned to be advised of a meeting regarding the contract review. This call was fol- lowed by a letter' dated May 23 regarding the convening of "a meeting to review the current con- tract in respect to changes for the next contract which will run until 1994. Was this a foregone conclusion of Laidlaw having the contract? It is also interesting to note that garbage sat uncollected in our town- house complex from the evening of May 23 until sometime on May 25. Garbage from 120 homes sat festering all that time! It is also interesting that when we started to voice our concerns about the quality of garbage collec- tion — or lack of quality — it was Mr. Hutchison who said it wasn't his problem. He virtually washed his hands of said problem, advising taxpayers to con - tact Laidlaws direct. It is the same Mr. Hutchison who is now recommending continua- tion of the Laidlaw con- tract. Is it his problem — or not his problem? Thank you, Regional Councillor Dickerson for your action in making our other elected members think twice on this issue. Are we all so wound up with the "dump" situation that we are missing a garbage problem generat- ed on our own doorsteps? Angela M. Kirby, 3-925 Bayly St., Pickering, Ont. .° 5 v» r S iv o o'�i w w.0 r, 'b R o d,� �• -_ o cQ . -1 o m x o, ; o cno C o CA r.o `�°eD a , 'max coo aE ' Ny.a.a m y a?.�o ID In o Ermogc�-�£w�o� �,o� o�c''ov.ka w� o �ax-`<�''o<'e��10D.' x C CD o cDa ao �.� as w`�'`o°W Haan n � a� -:,• �IDo 0 ccpo •_ CD ■ �t [n � ^7 O Cr f�D �+ O ".7 < .y O . lOD ='O << A O v .O.• '•. < O aQ �. O O .�, [D M m = (9 S lD 0a lD �, O Q a K py, A7 A� C O ID m ^ C ^s //■■� << �• ., p� �D UQ .,, o � � c � � ?r � v�, a. ti °a � v, E ^? m C � � o oa E � C7 \i■i CD �aacDo�o��°: b0�°<e�obZ5^,W ID `���a� ��< w� �RN�o� R�� c ��CD �?�°�• �o x o a ° iD �� ■� �■ �■ O ,i - < `O' n y f�D v, f�D C , �'O r° "03 5 fD 0lSD a7a Oi Os `�" ,�., r O f'D n' c•. (D 3. N fD .i (D ,..� acl As 'C cD O w m v, .^j SU Q, aCl G. C o cD cD `<• �• T R n X O _ O �� ■ O O R 'D fl, n� 0 �"O cD �' N q 'y rD c, co v .•j R „� n a aq cD '- �e .y a. /� OmcD w-sC. &., "cgS r, -,m m c as n M w� �� �V p ay G?�, '� 0 o �Gp?� ���. .o'CO ° � coo o < �0 m�• y C rJi A' n O y G. n O C. Orci fn A n, M o `� �' O rn eU1+ "'F cD • (Yq W (DD `i.•1D <' �■ O rn x O .^• O fOD (�D B. orc A fOD a - f�D C. 7 �. i9 n �C En f�D 0 a4", Local douiic'il Joi6r endangered] To the editor: Pickering Ward 3 councillor Rick Johnson's letter re: "Questions for the premier" raises a very serious and relevant concern. During the past few months the pro- vince has moved in on our municipal governments. Heading this grandiose scheme is an astute 41-year-old career civil servant by the name of Gardner Church. Premier Peterson is directing this qualified deputy minister in his administration to ensure that Metro Toronto will be able to accommodate an additional 1 1/2 million people. This new "authority" christened the G.T.A. ( Greater Toronto Authority), will have some profound effects on neigboring municipalities. Already we have had a glimpse of this regarding the gar- bage situation. Mr. Church's office has managed to assemble chairmen from five regional municipalities to work out their trash woes but this is only the beginning. As Metro council is granted sweep- ing powers, city mayors such as Art Eggleton, David Johnson, Mel Lastman, and Joyce Trimmer shiver at the prospect of what could happen if certain cold and calculated man- dates are issued from this new power- ful body. When Metro council or the GTA flexes its planning muscle local councils will simply become impuis- sant and impotent. Basic decision - making will be relegated to town func- tions such as recreational programs, library building, doling out parking and building permits, and maintaining our streets and back roads. Important decisions in the field of urban waste management, transpor- tation, or trunk sanitary sewage lines will be made behind massive oak doors far away from the districts af- fected. And accountability will be just a fancy term in some town's histsory book. Jane Jacobs writes in her classic reference work, -- "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" -- "the ci- O co 00 o w 0 b r'• Ci N ty problems already beyond the com- prehension and control of plan- ners ... can be solved better if only the territories and problems involved are made LARGER still and ... attacked more broadly". Therefore it is my opinion; coun- cillor Johnson, that those who wield the broom of progress and prosperity (unchallenged) may well sweep aside that which we hold import nt in our communities. Frank Threlkeld Jr., Pickering N.B. Information derived from Col- in Vaughan's article Local Zeros, in The City Globe and Mail monthly magazine "Toronto", page 18-19, June edition 1989. O o < Cn C A 7• `�7A'AC+ii < r 0 T3 ; to Fcr O ooMc�01_M Ort �1 rt� < >C 0 M .n. \ V N n CT 0 C••, r f0 VJ c co c w O—A to � 0 10 R D N M vN 0 � � Opoaa�co�� :I (f) O o O w w Mzi A f0 f�0 ti iv r--I. 7 A� C3 6' 0 � � � Ort 00 y O <.:D5 ::rn n' x L-' a -- co ) O � co Lao ..-.cri 'Z x 7 C P-A ^t O � � a 0 to N �,iberals got funds intended to build housing, Starr says erek Ferguson and Maychak Toronto Star charity headed by Patricia took government money ear- ed for a non-profit housing ct and used it to contribute to ral campaign funds, she e money was provided by the *al government to the Toronto on of the Council of Jewish ien of Canada for the hiring of sltants to help construct a million building for senior citi- and the disabled. e women who ran the charity lot believe there was anything g in using some of the money bby politicians for their sup - for future projects, Starr said interview. t wasn't sinister. It wasn't y. It wasn't political," she said. t the practice has landed and the charity in hot water. rr, who resigned last week as man of Ontario Place, has accused of misusing $60,000 the charity's fund over a year period. campaigns ftarr allegedly made political Utributions or helped in the elec- campaigns of St. Andrew -St. !tatrick MPP Ron Kanter; Elvio elZotto, president of the Ontario Ing of the federal party; and Wil- ale MP Jim Peterson, brother 1' remier David Peterson. Anoth- d5,000 was allegedly donated for ousing survey to Pleasant Itlie, mother of Citizenship 10ister Lily Munro. fiielZotto returned his $1,000 and Ater has said he will do the same $3,200 campaign donation he eived in 1987 came from the rity's special fund. Carr said the council lobbied all kticians, not just Liberals. Under federal and provincial on -profit housing programs, a ercentage of the money provided y governments can be set aside )r the hiring of development con- iltants and other experts, said im Casey, deputy minister with ie Ontario housing ministry. PATRICIA STARR: Accused of misusing $60,000 of char- ity's funds. The council secured federal sup- port from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in 1984 for the 60-room Prince Charles housing development, which was later built at Bathurst St. and Prince Charles Dr. The project was built by Tridel Corp., whose president is DelZotto. The charity put the money to be used for hiring development con- sultants into a special fund that was used to buy tickets to politi- cians' fundraising dinners, said Starr. Starr had sole signing authority over the fund. She said not a single cent con- tributed to the charity by the pub- lic ever went to a politician's cam- paign. "The money came from consult- ing fees. We thought we were al- lowed to do it." Some members of the charity used their personal contacts to hire experts who would teach them to do the planning work usually per- formed by expensive consultants, Starr said. For example, real estate devel- oper Dino Chiesa was paid only $10,000 after he spent a year teach- ing Starr and two other council members — Nita Goldband and Lesley Miller — how to get the project completed, she said. Chiesa, a former developer for Greenwin Property Management, later returned the fee after he learned the money might have come from a charity fund. Chiesa worked briefly on Hous- ing Minister Chaviva Hosek's 1987 election campaign and was recent- ly awarded a two-year $232,000 contract by her ministry. Starr said the $5,000 given Oddie to do a housing survey would have been $25,000 for a professional con- sultant. Women from the charity would use the money to buy tables at both Progressive Conservative and Liberal fund-raising dinners, Starr said. At the dinners, they would lobby politicians for support for their projects for the disabled and other groups, she said. She also said the women would promote Jewish causes among poli- ticians, such as support for Soviet Jewry. Hire lawyers Peterson appointed Starr, a` prominent Liberal, chairman of Ontario Place in September, 1987. She headed the Toronto section of the Jewish women's council until last month. In November, 1988, after a re- view of the federal Charity Act, the council's 95-member board of directors agreed to establish a search committee to hire lawyers to see if they were doing anything wrong. The Toronto law firm of Good- man and Goodman was selected in February and it conducted a confy dential investigation. That reef remains private. Public trustee Hugh Pais' investigating the allegat✓dy misuse of charity funds. The Income Tax Act e ,y/ A- political payments by agencies, and the allw//3 cost the council 9^ status. Illllllilllllllllllllllllliillllllllllllllllllllllli!llli�'i+-�����ll'��'� " nd uhlic du Trash a tyS- , Feel threatem— - F It's too early to tell what, if any, special trea" ent to wlthdraw��A�L win a ,i lucrative garbage disposal contract in Metro and rm coalitN surrounding re.;ions. o But allegations about the «ay in which Premier David on garbage 1 `V Peterson's government has handled the environmental Peel Region is threatening to i withdraw from a regional coalition of Metro, Durham, York and Ifalton aiming to solve the garbage crisis. Angry Peel politicians ,yesterday voted to demand an .emergency meeting with Ontario Premier David Peterson and Environment Minister Jim Bradley within two weeks, or they will withdraw from the coalition. The region faces being left with nowhere to dump its garbage when the Britannia Rd. landfill site closes in just more than a year. The *search for a new dump was stalled Est October, when the environment ministry said testing had,been inadequate. A ministry ,.rep rt on.how the search should pro eed is long overdue. T e province has dropped out of sig since introducing the regional initiative with great ! fanfare in March, said Regional Chairman Frank Bean. aspect of the deal seem to be mounting almost as fast as Uhe trash at :Metro's overloaded dump sites. - New Democratic Party leader Bob Rae has accused Peterson of having backbench Liberal MPP Steven :Mahoney steer the Envacc proposal through the political process. And Envacc officials appear to have been given an advantage o,•er' at least four other competitors by being allowed to participate in an Ontario government trip to Japan for study of waste disposal systems. All of this is bound to raise a few eyebrows, considering that one of Envace's principals is Marco Muzzo, a developer who. was involved in the 1987 sale of Peterson's family firm. It's sticky business, but one that the government, already tainted by the Patti Starr scandal, could dispose of with relative ease. After ail, responsibility for cleaning up 4 million tonnes of waste every year in the region belongs primarily to government. No doubt the private sector can help solve Metro's garbage crisis. But we can't afford to create a garbage monopoly with the power to hold government up to ransom, say, by closing dumpsites at will. This would be an opportune moment for the Premier to make clear that his government has no intention of letting control over garbage fall into private hands. %.. v arkham urged to fight Durham dump rf �i1 • (E HOSPITAL1� Aw", pjf7 r 'tea i � r/ ,, j.. �• `'� Map IANDREW MAIR This map shows where the proposed dump site will be located in relation to Markham. It lies on the Markham -Pickering border on prime farmland. Economist and Sun opposesproposed dumppp Whitevale is like the pro- threat to quality of life and the trout at Duffin's or Petticoat to us a 9 Heritage Rd. Premier and publish his verbial boy with his finger in the dike. But the flood that threatens his village is gar- bage — 280,000 tonnes a year from Metro Toronto. Durham Region voted recently to convert 1,000 acres of Class A farmland (on Markham's boundary line) to an emergency landfill site for its own and Metro Toronto's garbage. In a public meeting, 2,000 angry Pickering residents turned out to protest, to no avail. Durham's chairman says time has run out and a site is needed now. Where were the planners and how can Durham and Mel,o justify such a serious environment? Eldred King, York Region's Chairman prefers to focus on a long-term solution to the crisis and thinks Durham's headed in the wrong direction focussing on an interim site. Whitevale is an organized and feisty community, albeit only 300 strong, and there pro- bably isn't one among them not raising funds to hire lawyers to fight the decision in court. Who will help? • Anyone who's driven through the quaint, historic hamlet of Whitevale. ( It's just east of the York/Durham town line south of Hwy 7.) • Anyone who's fished for Creek or hiked along the well - trod Seaton trail as it meanders along its banks allowing some spectacular views. • And anyone living in Markham within a five -mile radius of the dump — it sprawls along our eastern border and will ooze into Markham loam. If the wind is easterly, hold your noses — and get used to sea gulls at backyard feeders and gar- bage trucks droning through the major roads. The Markham Economist and Sun opposes this dump- site. Will you join us and register your protest? Fill out the coupon below and send it Markham, Ont. UP 1M3. We'll deliver them to the reply. —Jo Ann Stevenson --------------------------------� I I DUMP THE DUMP �P I ►1` 1 disapprove of the P1 dumpsite on the ll Pickering/Markham border. I would like to ll know why a site on Class A farmland near, clean rivers and heritage villages was chosen over a remote site. Name..................................................... Address................................................. Other comments ...................................... -------------------------- ------- I 14, i (7? � 11 * THE TOR b NM STD Smell of blood in the air at Queen's Park HAT IS the Patti Starr case about? Starr's resignation as head of Ontario Place and almost daily revelations about her role in funnell- ing money to well-known Liberal politicians has Queen's Park in a frenzy. The smell of blood is in the air. Solicitor - General Joan Smith was forced to resign over another issue; now Culture and Com- munications Minister Lily Munro seems vulnerable. There is a feeling of almost un- wholesome anticipation. But is the Patti Starr case simply an iso- lated incident, a case of a woman who took liberties with the funds of a charitable foun- dation she controlled, channelling them to political allies? Or is it about something more systemic? Several facts appear uncontested. First, Starr — as head of a charitable trust fund of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (Toronto section) — shifted money from hat fund in the direction of various federa and provincial political luminaries. Second, the original sources of that money — according to Starr herself — were the federal and provincial govern- ments. The political beneficiaries of Starr's lar- gesse, according to Globe and Mail reporter Linda McQuaig who first broke the story in February, included: 0 Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's feder- al Conservatives; Starr said the council bought tickets to a $400-a-plate federal Tory fundraising dinner in November which featured Mulroney. ❑ Perennial provincial Tory leadership candidate Dennis Timbrell. Starr confirm- ed the council bought tickets for a Timbrell fundraising dinner; the amount is said to total$4,000. ❑ Lily Munro. The council is said to have contributed $1,750 to the Munro campaign in 1987 and $3501n 1988. There have also been allegations that the council contributed money to the cam- paigns of Elvio DelZotto, president of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal party, federal Liberal MP Jim Peterson (the premier's brother) and Toronto Liberal MPP Ron Kanter. Although it is illegal for charities to make political contributions, Starr has said she was simply taking advantage of loopholes in the income tax act. In addition, on Munro's recommendation, the fund paid $5,000 to her (Munro's) moth- er, Pleasant Oddie, for a housing survey. This may have been an exorbitant sum but it is not clear the payment was illegal. Perhaps most startling was Starr's admission to The Star's Derek Ferguson this weekend that the money for political contributions came from government funds earmarked for non-profit housing. The money appears to have come from: ❑ a provincial sales tax rebate worth $251,000; ❑ a portion of a $10-million loan insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. The federal agency approved the loan in 1984 for a project to be built by Tridel Corp., a company headed by DelZotto. From what Starr has said, it appears that Tridel routed about $50,000 to the charita- ble foundation, which it in turn used for po- litical lobbying. John Jarvis, Toronto regional manager for CMHC, said yesterday the federal agen- cy "would not likely have approved this apparent conflict of interest" if it had known about it. Indeed, the notion of this financial daisy chain — from the federal and provincial governments to charity and back to federal and provincial politicians — is dispiriting. Does all of this mean Premier David Peterson runs a particularly sleazy govern- ment? Perhaps. But, so far, the evidence of Peterson's uniqueness is slim. The Starr case has pointed instead to a more generalized problem involving lobby- ists, government funding and politicians. First, what was the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada up to? The organ- ization jettisoned Starr as president of the Toronto charitable foundation last month. However Starr has said she was only trying to promote the political aims of the organ- ization. Is the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada a lobby group or a char- ity? Is there a difference? Just what was the organization trying to buy? Second, is Patti Starr alone? Do other organizations launder political contribu- tions through suspect sub -leasing arrange- ments (as Starr is alleged to have done with Ron Kanter's campaign). Is it common for political campaigns to hand out fishy re- ceipts (the Munro campaign is alleged to have handed out 10 $35-receipts for one $350 political contribution from the foundation). Peterson certainly has no cause to rejoice in this matter. His government has once again been derailed;%unro.is already under pressure to resign.But no politician — feprovincial, Liberal or Tory — can afford to snicker too much at his discomfiture. The rock has been lifted and everyone is being given a peek at what lies beneath. PMTORONTO! oPirvroru01,/1'al ,alas Starr scandal sparks less -than -charitable views MAN who identified himself only as Uncle Willie called on who and said he thinks they all should resign. "David Peterson, the whole lot -of in. The federal government too'd like to see them all go," Uncle Willie said. 'By* David Peterson, he was referring to the Ontario Liberal premier. What irked the 78-year- old 'Caller were the revelations, published in The Star on Friday, that a charity controlled by for- mer patronage appointee Patti Starr (she was the head of Ontario Place until she resigned under pressure last week) had channelled more than $65,000 into the pockets of at least 25 politicians. Pq erson was not around Quee is Park on Friday. Merciful- ly fo him, he was in Northwestern Onta� io when the report by Toron- to law firm Goodman and Good- man on the operations of a charitable fund of the National Council of Jewish Women of Cana- da (Toronto Section) was finally leaked. But perhaps up there near Keno- ' ra, Peterson breathed a sigh of re- lief: After all, as the report QIIeews Park Thomas Walkom showed, not just his Liberals but a few Tories got money too. Peterson's strategy has been twofold. On the'one hand, he has referred almost everything possi- ble to official bodies — the Ontario Provincial Police, the Commission on Election Finances, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner. That was done in part so that he would not have to answer questions him- self. On the other hand, he has been saying that the Patti Starr net was widely cast — to municipal and federal politicians, Liberals and Conservatives. In effect, he has been saying that his party was not alone in accepting dicey contribu- tions. And on the latter point, he is correct. However, that does not satisfy Uncle Willie. "I was in the army — in fact, I'd enroll in the army again lust to get a chance ... " Here Uncle Willie began to describe what he could do with a bayonet to the Premier's posterior. One suspects that there are more Uncle Willies out there and that the Premier's problems are not over. That federal Immigra- tion Minister Barbara McDougall, a Tory, received $880, from the charitable foundation may allow the Premier to score debating points in the Legislature. But it does not disguise the fact that the vast majority of donations from the fund, which until last month was controlled by Starr, went to Liberals. These Liberals included eight of the Premier's cabinet ministers. (Oops, make that nine. The Star re- ported this weekend that Consum- er Minister Bill Wrye also got money). They also included at least five other members of Peterson's caucus, his brother Jim, a federal MP, and Elvio DelZotto, president of the Ontario wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. Charity money flowed into a dinner at which the Premier spoke and which is designed to raise money for the Ontario party. Charity money flowed directly to the Ontario Liberal Party for events such as a SkyDome gala. It is fine for the Liberals to argue, as did one Ontario cabinet minister this week, that the two parties, federal and provincial, are separate. Formally, they are. But there is overlap. For instance, DelZotto raises money for the federal party. But Tridel Corp., of which he is presi- dent, also &ave $4,000 in 1987 to the provincial Liberals. Indeed, the year after that donation, DelZot- to's wife Marlene was named by Peterson to the board of directors of TVOntario. It is also fine to argue, as the same minister did, that riding as- sociations are run by volunteers. However, party headquarters have paid staff. And it appears that many of the charity's contri- butions were not disguised. The Liberal Party of Canada, for instance, issued receipts clear- ly bearing the name NCJW Capital Fund and sent them to the coun- cil's headquarters on Bathurst St. By law, charities are not permit- ted to make political contribu- tions. Surely some of the high- priced lawyers who hang around political parties knew that. So is Uncle Willie right? Should the rascals all resign? Perhaps. The province could probably survive without Wrye, Culture Minister Lily Munro, Tourism Minister Hugh O'Neill, Transportation Minister Ed Ful- ton, Industry Minister Monte Kwinter, Senior Citizens' Minister .Mavis Wilson, Skills Development Minister Alvin Curling, Health Minister Elinor Caplan and Reve- nue Minister Bernard Grand- maitre. Unfortunately, many of those who would replace them are equal- ly tainted. Certainly someone has to deal with the continuing unsavory ac- tivities of political parties. Obvi- ously the current system, even with an election expenses commis- sioner, is not enough. T".ere are still too many false receipts, shady donations and suspect,,�eals. RE OPINIONS Pieces begin tofit in the Patti GRADUALLY, the links be- tween political donor Patti Starr and developer Elvio DelZotto are becoming clearer. .,DelZotto is the brash former Ontar- io Place head who channeled money from a charitable fund she controlled to politicians of various hues. DelZotto is the urbane presi- dent of Tridel Corp., a develop- ment gia t. He is also president of the Onta io wing of the Liberal Party of anada and a major fund- raiser for the party. The la st connection between the two was revealed this week by Cliff Lax, the Goodman and Good- man lawyer hired by the National Council of Jewish Women of Cana- da (Toronto Section) to investigate a capital fund of the charity, a fund which until last month was controlled by Starr. Sometime before mid-1987, the council received $14,400 from Danesbury Development Ltd., a construction company linked to Tridel. That money helped the council pay off $29,072 it had spent on tickets for both legitimate charita- ble events and political fundrais- ing dinners. The latter included one for former Tory cabinet minister Dennis Timbrell. It has been ruled illegal for charities to make political contributions. Queen Park 's Thomas Walkom Danesbury was set up in 1979 by DelZotto's law firm, according to provincial records. Currently its president and sole director is Tridel vice-president Martin Applebaum. Danesbury and Tridel share the same address. Applebaum will not talk about Danesbury except to confirm that he is president. Nor will he talk about any other aspect of the Starr affair. DelZotto himself has been una- vailable for comment. But Danes - bury is not his only link with Starr. ❑ Between 1985 and 1988, Tridel built a $10 million non-profit hous- ing project for the National Coun- cil of Jewish Women of Canada on Bathurst St. in North York. From that project, the council received a provincial sales tax re- bate which, with interest, now totals $251,361. By provincial regulation, the money was to be used to reduce rents. Instead, in mid-1987, that money was put into a new capital fund for the charity which, according to Lax was "not on the books of the foundation . This account should never have existed." It is this capital fund which sparked the Patti Starr controver- sy. More than $65,000 of it was paid out as political donations to Liberals and Conservatives. ❑ DelZotto himself was one of the beneficiaries of that fund. He re- ceived $1,000 as a campaign con- tribution when he was running for Liberal party office in 1988. He has since returned it. Last year, the charity also paid $3,000 to the Ontario Liberal Party for a birthday party for DelZotto. O The capital fund made three payments totalling $4,000 to Mario Giampetri, Tridel's vice-president of development. The payment is listed on the books as sundry pay- ments for travel. After the pay- ment was publicly revealed, Giam- petri repaid the $4,000 plus an additional $5,000. ❑ Last fall, Starr, then on the board of the Metro Toronto Hous- ing Authority sent a confidential MTHA report to a Tridel subsidi- ary. The report, outlined the au- thority's strategy for negotiating tarn with Del Property Management Inc., a Tridel company which did work for the MTHA. Starr ex- plained at the time that the Del- Zottos were her friends. All of this has once again put the DelZotto brothers — especially Tridel chairman Angelo and presi- dent Elvio — into the spotlight. It is a position which does not make the publicity -shy family comfort- able. The DelZottos first came to pub- lic attention in 1974 with the re- lease of a report by a royal com- mission investigating the building industry, headed by County Court Judge Harry Waisberg. That commission was set up in 1973,. following a spate of bomb- ings and other violent activities in- volving construction companies. DelZotto Enterprises, Tridel's pre- decessor, was a major developer even then and controlled, accord- ing to evidence given the commis- sion, 168 companies in Ontario. In a section of his report dealing with organized crime, Waisberg said that "a new element" was introduced to the lathing and dry- wall sector of the construction industry following a "fateful meet- ing" in Toronto's Mona Lisa res- taurant between Angelo DelZotto and two other men. During that meeting, the report says, Angelo DelZoto gave Cesidio Romanelli, another contractor whose company was partly owned by the DelZottos, the name of a man to contact. Waisberg con- cluded that from this contact "a sinister array of characters was introduced to this sector of the industry." These characters included men whom Waisberg identified as "es- corts." Some had criminal records; some were connected with individ- uals named by a U.S. Senate com- mittee as organized crime chief- tains. In testimony to the commission, Angelo DelZotto denied the Mona Lisa restaurant meeting. He and Elvio also denied they knew Romanelli had employed a man with a criminal record as an es- cort. However, Judge Waisberg said the evidence of both DelZottos "impressed me as contrived." Angelo's evidence, he said "leaves something to be desired;" at anoth- er point, the judge called it "just not credible." Waisberg did not recommend that charges be levied against the DelZottos and none were. Indeed, not only the DelZoktos, but others criticized in the rep rt have gone to prosper as solid c Wizens with good political connections. _ . The Bay News, June 21, 1989 Pickering dump s= i n study ml o Durham Region council has given an environmental consul- tant a $1.4 million green light to proceed with soil analysis of Pickering's P1 dump site. Environmental consul- tant group M.M. Dillon Ltd. has been officially hired to prepare Durham Region's case under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). The firm will conduct a three-phase study into the feasibility of using north Pickering farmland as a contingency dump for Metro Toronto's garbage. Suitable To date the region's waste management com- mittee has been told the land is suitable because of the soil's sandy composi- tion and that the site could accommodate any possible leachate that results from decaying waste. Phase one of the Dillon study is expected to con- clude in a few weeks. From there the second phase will involve further field studies and intensive drilling which could take up to six months. Phase three includes Dillon consultants origi- nally were hired by Metro Toronto for the 1988 interim site search pro- ject. That search identi- fied P1 in Pickering, N1 in Newcastle, and M2/M3 in Scarborough as suitable dump sites. monitoring ground and surface water and subse- quent public hearing disclose results. , Search 1�` _(Libera & a I would like to publicly congratulate Premier David Peterson and his government. It took the previous Conservative government mos of their 42 years in power to become J�h0 r ant, complacent and corrup pe Liberal government of emier Peterson has been able to accomplish all of this in less than four years. DAVID L. SHANOF Tocohto °"wary'of Uxbridgerecycling plant By DEB BODINE CHAMPION Correspondent In the not too distant future, Uxbridge may be the home of an innovative recycling plant for ex- cess and used demolition and construction materials — the first operation of its magnitude in all of Canada. But for Harkow Aggregates & Recycling Ltd., approval for the project can't come soon enough. The firm is proposing a com- pletely enclosed processing plant on a 70-acre site on the 2nd Con- cession north of _Goodwood cur- rently operating as a gravel pit. But a zoning change is required to allow a use other than ag- gregate extraction on the site, and that takes time. Although the Harris family owners of Harkow Aggregates & Recycling, were hoping for en- dorsement of the project in prin- ciple at Monday's meeting, Ox- bridge's Planning, and Develop- ment Committee would not be rushed. Instead, the Township's plan- ner and solicitor were authorized to meet with the firm's solicitor Don Hindson to discuss the op- tions available in meeting the zoning requirements. The company is hoping to avoid the lengthy process of an official plan amendment. The other op- tions available include treating process — both mechanical and the matter as a minor variance — manual. which planner Kennedy Self of The final products are then Totten Sims Hubicki Associates shipped from within the plant to vetoed — or as a rezoning the numerous companies already application. interested in purchasing the The plant would be capable o processing 50 tonnes of materia per hour — including stone, card board, soil, paper, wood, plastic aluminum, rags, tramp meta and copper — into marketabl e our landfill sites. Whatever we can do, should be done ; � ghether this is the place to do it, -1 don't know." Linda Lynch of Environment Watch, a Toronto environmental consulting firm, endorsed the project wholeheartedly: "I've run this through an en- vironmental audit from beginn- ing to end and I can tell you it has no environmental impact what- soever. The stuff never touches the ground." She suggested that committee members consider natural resources and the environment as the "capital" and that in order to survive we must learn to live off the "interest" generated by that capital. More than just a recycling plant is hanging in the balance as Council considers this proposal., The Township is expecting , reconstruction of Wagg lid. this summer by Harkow Aggriegates, but the firm wants a com tment regarding the recycling' plant before it the to the road pro- ject. So for now, they are at an impasse. Like the other councillors, Regional Councillor Don Jackson won't be rushed. He said before approving the project he will travel to the States and visit the existing plants. THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JUNE 21, 1989—PAGE 3-A Pi dump fight joined by Markham DURHAM - Residents of Markham have been urged to help fight the PI dump in a front-page editorial of the Markham Economist and Sun. Readers are invited to sign a coupon protesting the dump, which the paper promises to forward to premier David Peterson. The paper, which is owned by Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing, our parent company, also says it will publish Peterson's reply. The editorial points out the dump, in the hamlet of Whitevale, will be located on the Markham -Pickering boundary line. "If the wind is easterly, hold your noses..." warns editor Jo Ann Steven- son. "...Get used to sea gulls at backyard feeders and garbage trucks droning through the major roads." The paper notes York region chair- man Eldred King thinks Durham is "headed in the wrong direction" and prefers to focus on a long-term solu- tion to the garbage crisis, rather than an interim landfill site as Durham has done with the nomination and ap- proval of PI in Whitevale. "Where were the planners and how can Durham and Metro (Toronto) justify such a serious threat to quali- ty of life and the environment?" asks Stevenson. She adds, "Whitevale is an organiz- ed and feisty community, albeit only 300 strong, and there probably isn't one among them not raising funds to hire lawyers to fight the decision in court. Who will help?" 7-WI&A1A Cents Council, supp orts MTRCA Uxbridge Council unanimously endorsed the concept of a linked greenspace plan for the Greater Toronto area as presented by the Metro Toronto and Region Con- ,servation Authority at the plann- ing and development committee meeting Monday. Bill McLean, general manager of the MTRCA, explained that it isn't so much a plan "as a series of strategies we think are necessary for municipalities to deal with the preservation of greenspace in the face of very substantial urban growth ... From the authority's point of view, this is vital." The strategies include land ac- quisition policies, and develop- ment of planning policies that will facilitate the retention of future greenspace, at the same time recognizing that develop- ment is inevitable. ''We are not anti - development," said Mr. McLean. But in the face of burgeoning growth, the time to save the greenspace is now. The authority also hopes to of- fer stewardship programs and work with individual land owners on large estate lots to assist them in proper land management techniques. Allison Deans, MTRCA's plan- ning and policy co-ordinator, said that often the natural features are referred to by developers as "contraints to development — obstacles to be overcome." The MTRCA is presently in the process of identifying those lands within the 9 watersheds under its jurisdiction where public owner- ship is deemed the best form of management. Approximately 4,000 acres of the most critical recharge areas are to be acquired by the authori- ty through provincial funding, but details of the location of those lands are not yet available. Mr. McLean noted that the headwaters of the Oak Ridges Moraine in Uxbridge form an im- portant place in the MTRCA strategy. Carolina Herrera AY UNDA McOUA1G The Globe and Maii As early as November, 1985, Patricia Starr had a meeting with the Premier's principal sec- retary to seek advice and discuss plans for co- ordinating Liberal fund-raising efforts, a letter obtained by The Globe and Mail reveals. :In the letter, from Mrs. Starr to Hershel] Ezrin; then the Premier's principal secretary and regarded as the most powerful individual in the Premier's office, Mrs. Starr asked Mr. Ezrin to raiso any concerns that his office might have with the fund-raising plans that they had discussed at a lunch two months earlier. The letter, dated Jan. 6, 1986, was written on the stationery of the Na,icnal Council of Jewish Women (Toronto Section), and it was signed by Mrs. Starr as president of the council's charita- ble foundation. Mrs. Starr and her charitable foundation have been at the centre of a controversy in re- cent weeks over her role in channelling more than $80,000 of the charitable organization's funds into political campaigns, in contravention of the Income Tax Act. Mrs. Starr and her foundation are closely tied to the giant land development firm Tridel Corp., which acted as the developer on a housing pro- ject operated by Mrs. Starr's foundation. Gordon Ashworth, executive director of the Premier's office, resigned on Thursday after confirming that he had received a refrigerator and had painters work in his home. The refrige- rator and the painting job were provided by Mrs. Starr through a Tridel-related company, the Premier's office has stated. Mr. Ezrin is the second figure in the Pre- mier's office to be linked in some way with Mrs. Starr's activities. The letter to Mr. Ezrin, written only seven months after the Peterson government took Hobert Stack is back to prove crime pays in television ratings wars. to vererson "s o office, reveals that Mrs. Starr was closely involved in Liberal fund-raising efforts with very senior members of tlr� government of Pre- mier David Peterson, including Mr. Ezrin, Ber- nard Grandmaitre, then minister of municipal affairs, Alvin Curling, then minister of housing and prominent Liberal Alan Duffy, then mayor of Richmond Hill. The letter begins "Dear Hersh" and reads: "Happy New Year! "During the reception for Alvin Curling a few weeks ago, 1 was asked to co-chair a fund- raising dinner for Ben Grandmaitre with Al Duffy, the Mayor of Richmond Hill. Net target proceeds are M-$60,000. 1 have agreed to do it, the scheduled date to be the first week in March. efv final plans are underway, 1 thought we should discuss any suggestions or concerns LETTER — Page A2 ["I National Council of I SEVEN HUNDRED BATHURST STREET January 6, 1986 Mr. Hershell Ezrin, Principal Secretary to the remier, Legislative Building, Roan 288, Queens Park, Toronto. Ontario M1A IA1 Dear Hersh: happy New Year! During the reception for Alvin Cur! a fundraising dinner for Ben Grandrr het target proceeds are $50-60,000. e be the first week in March. '--' plans are underway. I Letter shows 1985 Starr • From Page Al cuss this further and I will your office might have. If you will recall our lunch discussion of two months ago, I indicated to you that any recommendations you might care to make in those areas of fundraising where I had input would be most welcome. In the enthusiasm of the committee, plans might be developed that will be successful in the short term, but might lack the global or long- range perspective. "I called your office before the holidays to talk about it in more detail but you were not available. There is a whole aspect of co-ordi- nated efforts that could involve those MPPs without the expertise at present to organize this kind of event that might be relevant. "Please call if you wish to dis- connection make eral other Liberals who saw her at myself available whenever It is the Tridel offices warned her that convenient for you. " she was very foolish to be running a "Patti" political fund-raiser for the hous- In a handwritten postscript at ing ministerhe out of the office of on the end, Mrs. Starr invited Mr. o ers. M el- D f and p Ezrin to joinu her, L. fy Mr. Grandmaitre in a private din- ner at the House of Chan. She mentions that she is one of the res- taurant's owners. Mr. Ezrin left Mr. Peterson's staff after the September, 1987, election. He is now senior vice- president of corporate and public affairs for the Molson Companies Ltd. He could not be reached yes- terday for comment. A Liberal source said yesterday that Mrs. Starr ran a fund-raising event for Mr. Curling out of the offices of Tridel. The source said that he and sev- She ignored the advice, he said. A report by a Toronto law firm which was called in to investigate the misuse of funds at Mrs. Starr's charitable foundation noted that a number of dinners, paid for by the charitable foundation, were held at the House of Chan. I ".,. --� _. .... W- W—.1P PtWO aM 14- at,S aLa '11 op 01 D8a+6¢ aney I ;c :wCeW a41 '4400 fY 411M air n ;also SPA 1 '06e sham Ma; o E Q3n3A113a YMt tl2i1 OIHVINO 31"'A0111M .JoI ea npv"D /o UJIUOM ys1a 986E Unt 31I1 VCIVNd� 13r' 8Z u i IL 00:6 �mnS 8£:S asuunS .i? 0ntario sh on For weeks, Ontario Premier David Peterson treated the Pat- ricia Starr affair as though it were an annoying but minor mat- ter — a gnat that sneaked through the screen and wouldn't fly away. Only after it had pitched his closest aide from the window did Mr. Peterson realized that the gnat was really a gorril- la. Now the premier is desperate- ly looking for a way, to get the gorilla out of his office. His decision to call a judicial inquiry into Mrs. Starr's activi- ties, and those of her corporate contacts and her elected and appointed political friends, is commendable. However, con- gratulations for this decision must be muted, as Mr. Peterson didn't have a lot of choices before him. Disclosures concerning im- proper political donations and worryingly intimate rela- tionships between policymakers and beneficiaries have been appearing almost daily in The Globe and Mail for weeks. Mr. Peterson said that he wanted to get to the bottom of this affair, but until now he has been content to read about it with his morning coffee. 1t took the Implication of his closest adviser, Gordon Ashworth, in the spreading scan- dal to :spur the premier into ac- tion. To recap the disclosures to date: A charitable foundation run by the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, made more than $65,000 in political donations to a large number of federal and provincial Liberals and Conser- vatives in apparent violation of the Income Tax Act. Mrs. Starr, a prominent Liberal appointed by her friends in the premier's office to the chairmanship of Ontario Place and the board of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority, was the president of the charitable foundation. Under Mrs. Starr's direction the foundation built a 160-unit non-profit housing project in North York. The developer on the project was Tridel Corp., a giant land development firm headed by Elvio DelZotto who is also presi- dent of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal Party. While at MTHA Mrs. Starr re- pbrtedly gave confidential infor- mation to a Tridel company involved in a contract dispute with the housing authority. Tridel companies also paid her founda- tion at least $50,000 in consulting fees for work associated with an- other real estate deal. Because of its charitable sta- tus, the foundation received a $251,000 provincial sales tax re- bate that was supposed to be applied against the costs of the housing project. At least $65,000 of the money that was spread around the political world in small donations by Mrs. Starr and her foundation came from this provincial tax rebate. Late this week, Mr. Ashworth acknowledged that Mrs. Starr had arranged for one of Mr. Del- Zotto's companies to provide him with a new refrigerator and to paint the exterior of his house in September, 1987. Mr. Ashworth, a brilliant organizer and widely respected detail man, said he only discovered this week that he had never been billed for either the refrigerator or the paint job. Ontario Treasurer Robert Nixon heard rumors about these unpaid services in the business commu- nity and he and the premier con- fronted Mr. Ashworth, Mrs. Starr has quit the founda- tion. Mr. Ashworth has left the premier's office. Mr. DelZotto has announced an internal inves- tigation at Tridel into the Ashworth affair. But the public deserves far more. These disclosures suggest that many public officials, elected and appointed, are caught in a web of money, favors and influence. No evidence has been produced that they have re- paid their benefactors with public largesse. But this is not the pic- ture of an impartial public au- thority. Everywhere there are suggestions of invisible influ- ences. The whole story must now come out. If the political system in Ontario is to retain its integri- ty, and public confidence is to be maintained, the patronage proc- ess must be examined and fund raising methods cleansed. A judi- cial investigiKiwuis the best first step. The terms of reference must be wide, nay, encompassing. Genuine co-operation by all par- ties must be assumed. The truth must be uncovered. Pabida Starr: wkle*ranging involvement wb politidana. Early judicial probe ordered -in Ontario BY GENE ALLEN The Globe and Mail A judicial inquiry will Ix lei More 9isrr ,coverage Page AB set up "as quickly as possible" to exam- ine the relations between Patricia Starr, Tridel Corp., and provin- cial politicians and officials, Ontario Premier David Peterson announced yesterday. Mr. Peterson's statement came less than 24 hours after he an- nounced the resignation of Gor- don Ashworth, who had held one of the most powerful positions in the government as executive di- rector of Mr. Peterson's office. Mr. Ashworth quit after admit- ting that he had not paid for a house painting job and a refrige- rator provided by Mrs. Starr through a Tridel-related compa- ny in 1987. Describing the current situa- tion as "deeply disturbing and profoundly worrisome," Mr. Pe- terson said a judicial inquiry is the only way to "get to the bottom of it." He said he was determined `that no stone be left unturned, that every lead be followed up on, that every allegation be thor- oughly and exhaustively investi- gated. " Mr. Ashworth's resignation was a stunning blow for the gov- ernment after several difficult weeks in which detail after detail has been made public of Mrs. Starr's wide-ranging involve- ment with provincial, federal and municipal politicians. Nine provincial cabinet min- isters, four Liberal MPPs, two former Conservative ministers and the provincial Liberal Party have received questionable politi- cal contributions from a charita- ble fund which Mrs. Starr con- trolled. She also made questionable do- nations to a federal Conservative cabinet minister, the federal Lib- eral and Conservative parties, and one Conservative and two Liberal MPs. Opposition Leader Bob Rae responded scornfully to Mr. Pe- terson's announcement of the judicial inquiry. He said the Premier should have asked for the resignation of Culture and Communications Minister Lily Oddie M nro, who recommended her moth c to car- ry out a mailing for Mrs. Starr's organization, the Nationa Coun- cil of Jewish Women (Toronto Section). Mrs. Munro's mother was subsequently paid $5,000 for PETERSON — Page A2 painted byscanl da�f4v�r Unthinkable only a few days ago, the spreadin Ah, the Patti Starr scandal is now on Premier David Peterson's carpet. [t finally happened Thursday when top Peterson aide, Gor lon Ashworth, was forced to resign for accepting a free refr gerator and paint job at his north Toronto home. The benefits, for which Ashworth and wife Dianne were never billed, were arranged by Starr; and the work performed by a company related to the Tridel Corp. real estate and construction empire. "I feel betrayed, and I'm deeply, deeply disturbed. The appearance of this is extremely bad," was the Premier's reaction to the conduct of his trusted adviser. "I feel like I've been kicked in the head." No wonder. But what are the people'of Ontario to think of this latest bad news, coming as it does on the heels of earlier revelations about Starr's shady political fundraising activities and her links to Tridel president Elvio DelZotto. Those activities, under investigation by police and other Agencies, involved the distribution of more than $85,000 from a charitable group controlled by Starr to 25 politicians — mostly Liberals — at all levels of government. Feelings of sympathy for Peterson at this time are 'understandable. But after Ashworth's exit in disgrace, they need to be tempered by criticism of the leadership he's giver, in the gradually unfolding scandal. Peterson's ►ntegrity , is unchallenged. But how many times can the Premier be let down, if net betrayed, by ca tnet ministers, backbenchers, appointees and even his clo est advisers before his own judgment is called into que ition? It's time for this Premier to pull up his socks, and lead his government out of this sorry mess. javia reiersu: uesr.noes ui: uuttum o auvn as U= ly UIMUFU IJ nnu NwIwnuiy WV1110vmv ` 4k 4d, Political fixer's exit leaves vac Ju in Premier's office at time of crisis BY RICHARD MACME The Globe and Mail As executive director of the Pre- mier's office, Gordon Ashworth was vital in determining who got government jobs and appoint- ments, what legislation the govern- ment promoted and what it avoided. His departure is considered more than an embarrassment for the government. Mr. Ashworth's absence is seen at Queen's Park as leaving a vacu- um in an office where he had accu- mulated considerable power and which now faces its greatest crisis. In normal times, the cool, quiet Mr. Ashworth would have been central to the crisis -management team trying to deal with the scan- dal erupting around the activities of Patricia Starr. Graham White, a political scien- tist at the University of Toronto who specializes in Ontario politics, says Mr. Ashworth's departure is significant for the government be- cause he is "one of the very best political organizers around" and "a very skilled political fixer." Mr. White said in an interview yesterday that Mr. Ashworth was the man Premier David Peterson would call on when he had a prob- lem that had to be solved. Mr. Peterson placed enormous trust in the 39-year-old Liberal veteran who started in British Co- lumbia politics when he was 14. He demonstrated this Thursday night when he agonized over his sense of betrayal in Mr. Ashworth's acceptance of gifts from Tridel Corp., a prominent developer doing considerable business with the government. As executive director, Mr. Ashworth acte.i with all the author- ity of the Premier himself in many ways. For all but the most senior cab- inet ministers, a message that Mr. Ashworth wanted to talk to them likely meant they were in trouble. Similarly for the Ontario govern- ment's bureaucrats, word that the Premier's executive director wanted to see them almost certain- ly meant they had a problem. Specifically, Mr. Ashworth was responsible for the government's relations with the Liberal Party and for appointments to jobs. He used both to expand his pow- er. Many at Queen's Park owe their daily incomes to the fact that Mr. Ashworth thought highly of them. They in turn had a stake in pre- serving his success and enhancing his power. An experienced organizer, Mr. Ashworth was also responsible for the functioning of the Premier's office. He could determine what got done, when it got done, and what was brought to Mr. Peterson's attention. Running a government with a budget of $41.3-billion, a Premier needs help in setting his priorities and advice on most decisions. Some of it comes from ministers. But there were complaints that too much advice was coming from Mr. Ashworth and from those whom Mr. Ashworth had chosen to sur- round the Premier. Mr. Ashworth's rise to this posi- tion came when he joined the office of the then -opposition leader in February, 1985. He had experience in govern- ment, with two years in prime min- ister Pierre Trudeau's office. He had experience running fed- eral Liberal election campaigns in 1979, 1980 and the latter part of the 1984 debacle. And he had served as national director of the federal Liberal Par- ty after working as a ministerial assistant in earlier Trudeau gov- ernments. His experience in government and successful campaigns brought an element to the group around Mr. Peterson it had lacked. After the Liberals took power fol- lowing the May, 1985, election, Mr. Ashworth moved naturally into the position of executive director. Mr. White recalls thal Mr. Ashworth played an important role in restructuring the provincial bu- reaucracy. Mr. Ashworth had "a prong sense there needed to be more stra- tegic planning" of the kind he had seen in Ottawa, Mr. White said. To accomplish this he recruited many federal bureaucrats into the pro- vincial civil service. This was in keeping with his gen- eral responsibility to make sure that the institutions of government reflected the priorities set by the province's political leadership. One of Mr. Ashworth's main day-to-day responsibilities was liaison between the government and the Liberal Party, Mr. White said. But he was also a "free agent" who had "a mandate to involve himself in projects" that in- terested him. Mr. White said Mr. Ashworth conferred with the Premier daily and was always welcome at any meeting of the provincial cabinet or its crucial committee on priori- ties and planning. "Nobody's indispensable," Mr. White concluded, "but Ashworth's about as close as you can get. " One of Mr. Ashworth's roles was as the "firefighter," political jour- nalist Rosemary Speirs wrote shortly before the 1987 election, noting that the Premier had called on him to handle the inci ,ient Ex- ploracom affair which ireatened to turn into a major scan ,al. She quoted Liberal pollster Mar- tin Goldfarb as saying, "He's steady and unflappable .... He never Pets the credit he deserves. " Asked about Mr. Ashworth yes- terday, Mr. Peterson said tersely, "Frankly, he's only chatting through his counsel now. So I have not talked to him." P Intrigue to burrow. into government exposeo BY MICHAEL VALPY / ment. And what her activities have exposed is Premier David Peterson, with his nar vr)w /' an intrigue to burrow into the second-largest request for a judicial inquiry limited to PJt- HE PATRICIA Starr affair — witX� its government in the country. ricia Starr's activities, is behaving like a man tentacles now shown to have reached It is an intrigue that precisely fits the pat- with gangrene of the foot who submits to sur- deep into the Ontario Premier's office — gery for a hangnail. en is far more than the story of a few pen- tern of influence -coddling and a cascade of - cash donations that has been spun around The objective of the developers has been ny-ante political cash donations and n osyncratic suburban housewife. Ontario's governing Liberal Party since it universally the same: government benefits, came to power four years ago Monday, and government favors, advantageous govern - In her own scandal, Patricia Starr �as not especially since its majority government been the main actor. She has been arllinstru- began in September, 1987. AFFAIR — Page A8 Affair suggests developers halve tried to gain governern • From Page Al ment regulations or unenforced govern- ment controls that open the door to huge profits for the land and real estate devel- opment industries in Southern Ontario. The stories told have a common thread: The developers who have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the provincial Liberals turn out to be the same developers reaping billions in profits in the convenient absence of provincial planning controls or adequate conflict -of -interest legislation. �The people gaining privileged access to Mr. Peterson to promote a billion -dollar c / waste removal contract turn out to be the same people who quietly arranged for the favorable $9.7-million sale of the Peterson family business. The real estate executive who was a major fund raiser for the provincial Min- ister of Housing turns out to be the same executive who gets a $232,000 contract to advise the government on what to do with its surplus land — the fox handed carte blanche in the henhouse. The cast of characters involved has not always possessed the sunniest of back- grounds. Take Mar sluzzo, the developer who quietly ar, -ed for the sale of the Pe- terson family electrical business and then held cozy meetings with the Premier to talk about the Greater Toronto Area's waste removal contract. Testifying in 1975 before Ontario's Royal Commission on Certain Sections of the Building Industry, Mr. Muzzo said he was not opposed to the general practice of brib- ery. He was, he said, concerned only with whether it worked or not. Take Patricia Starr's good friends the DelZotto brothers, Angelo and Elvio, who run the giant development company Tridel Corp. In the same royal commission, the commissioner, Judge Harry Waisberg, linked the DelZottos in the early 1970s to "a sinister array of characters" who were in- troduced to the industry. The brothers' evidence denying the link, said the judge, "impressed me as contrived." Mr,,,-,. Starr's story is about Tridel and, certainly -,-about Elvio DelZotto, president of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal Party and a man — until a few hours ago — with the warmest of connections to Ontario's Liberal government. It is important to remember that Mrs. Starr, a loquacious, self-confident, well- to-do housewife from the Toronto suburb of North York, emerged from nowhere in 1985 and became, within two brief years, one of the most influential figures in the provincial party. ' It is important to know that she by no means came on the scene as a political sophisticate who was knowledgeable in the ways of government and the machinations of power at Queen's Park. The only ostensible value she brought was as a woman of personal wealth with the party's interests at heart — or so she appeared to the party's powers -that -be, until they found out it wasn't her money she was sending their way — and a talent at fund raising. Yet Mrs. Starr also showed an uncanny skill at getting close to key ministers (Alvin Curling and Chaviva Hosek, suc- cessive ministers of Housing; Bernard Grandmaitre, minister of Municipal Affairs), close to key aides (Hershell Ezrin, the premier's former principal sec- retary; Gordon Ashworth, until this week, the powerful executive director in the Pre- mier's office who took a free refrigerator from her, supplied by Tridel) and obtain- ing key jobs (membership on the board of Toronto's giant public housing authority; membership on North York's all-impor- tant committee of adjustment, approving zoning variances for developers). She displayed a remarkable cleverness at weaving her way through the myriad provincial regulations governing the con- struction and operation of subsidized hous- ing — the sort of projects that so interested and profited Tridel. She brought the Toronto section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) which she headed into part- nership with Tridel for the construction of a profitable — for Tridel — apartment block heavily subsidized by public money and now under investigation. She donated money from the NCJW's charitable foundation to select politicians — ministers involved with building regu- lations, backbenchers who were or who could be in a position to help the devel- opment industry. It defies logic to think that Mrs. Starr was untutored. She told anyone who would listen f her close friendship with the DelZotto f I ly. Her constant escort to political gat erings was Mario Giampreti, Tridel's vic ,-presi- dent of corporate development. The bene- fits she organized for politicians were con- duits for the developers' money. It was known around Queen's Park — the Ontario seat of government — that Patricia Starr was immune from criticism and a woman to be obeyed because of her friendship with Gordon Ashworth. With her influence — and the leaking of confidential governmr ` documents — ment favors Tridel could win a contract withAie Toron- to public housing authority even though the contract's +Irms grossly violated the au,'- thori: usiness policy. And her influence, it now appears in re- trospect, may well have been behind Ms Hosek's appalling and inexplicable decis- ion to fire John Sewell as the authority's chairman. Why not? The DelZottos and Mrs. Starr had battled Mr. Sewell in an earlier move — over the Tridel-NCJW apartment building, as a matter of fact. And Mrs. Starr had the powerful support of Mr. Ashworth at Queen's Park. overnment more concerned integrity, a government less greedy, about less naive, less politically stupid than David Peterson's would have warned itself off Patricia Starr a long time ago. Her activi- ties were not that masked, the Tridel con- nection not that obscured. But the truth is that David Peterson's administration has sat silent since the re- velations began two years ago — in this newspaper and elsewhere — about the unnatural and largely hidden friendships between developers and politicians iti` boom -times Southern Ontario. Mr. Peterson has reacted only after his closest adviser has been caught with a refs rigerator. That's hardly coming clean, it's hardly catharsis. All aspects of scandal 6et �probed g Premier David Peterson yesterday ordered a judicial inquiry into the relationship between Patricia Starr and members of his government, including the executive director of his own office, Gordon Ashworth, who resigned Thursday when he admitted receiving gifts from Starr. Prior to his announcement. the government had initiated several other investigations into every aspect of the Starr scandal: 0eterson on Thursday ordered an lmrr!ediate police investigation into the A4shworth affair "to see if there were any favors offered or given" by Ashworth to Tridel or to Patricia Starr in return for the free refrigerator and paint job. Solicitor -General Ian Scott has ordered the Ontario Provincial Police to launch a sweeping probe of the ..contributions the National Council of 'iewish Women of Canada (Toronto >Section) Charitable Foundation iinade. It's up to the police and special prosecutor Peter Griffiths to decide whether criminal charges should be laid. Politicians who received money from the charity are in no danger of facing charges. There is no taw prohibiting them from accepting funds from charities. But Peterson has promised "heads will roll" among those who accepted money or favors from Starr. "if errors of judgment or ethics were committed that warrant dismissal, that will be dune." he said As for the foundation, the spending of money by a charity for non -charitable purposes constitute: a breach of trust, according to an official with the Ontario Public Trustee's Office. The person who authorized such expenditures would be personally liable. Scott has pledged any evidence the police gather will be passed or, to the public trustee, the commission on election finances and the conflict of interest commissioner. 0 Public Trustee Hugh Paisley began probing the charity when reports first surfaced four months ago. He has concluded the charity misused more than W,000 in charitable funds. The trustee's office does not have the power to punish charities that misuse funds but it can seek court orders to shut drawn or take over those that are operating improperly. 0 Donald MacDonald. the province's election finances commissioner, decided this week to ask the OPP to probe how the money from the charity ended up in the coffers of so rnany politc+AnG. MacDonald called the scandal "something of an epidemic" and "the worst case" of illegal political contributions since the commission was established 14 years ago d Conflict of Interest Commissioner Gregory Evans is investigating Culture Minister Lily Munro's role in the hiring of her mother to do a survey for the charity. Peterson has said he will wait for Evans' report before deciding whether to ask for her resignation. ❑ Auditor Douglas Archer has launched a probe into Starr's twc year tenure at Ontario Place. particularly the awarding of contracts. Brandt warned the Legislature this week that documents were being shredded at Ontario Place, a charge Tourism Minister Hugh O'Neil denied. Judicial inquiry could clear air or dredge up new revelations BY RICHARD MACKIE The Globe and Mail Ontario Premier David Peter- son's decision to seek a judicial in- quiry into the activities of Patricia Starr and his government is a gamble. It could cool the crisis and clear the air, setting him up for the next election. Or it could result in undreamed- of revelations, as was the case with the inquiry into the activities of former federal regional industrial development minister Sinclair Ste- vens. The leaders of the opposition parties fear it will only give Mr. Peterson an excuse to avoid answering questions about the ac- tivities of his ministers and MPPs — although Mr. Peterson denies this. But he made it clear that the days are numbered for some of the ministers. A cabinet shuffle is planned as soon as possible to try to give his government a fresh, new face and put the past six weeks of trouble behind it. Yesterday, the best political advice he received was that only a judicial inquiry could counter the attacks on his government that )would follow the resignation of ;Gordon Ashworth, the executive director in the Premier's office and the man generally considered to be the second most powerful person in the government. Mr. Ashworth's resignation fol- lowed an admission that he had re- ceived a free refrigerator and paint work on his home from a subsidi- ary of real estate developer Tridel Corp. The gifts were arranged by Mrs. Starr, a friend of Mr. Ashworth's. Rumors 9f these gifts had been taken to M Peterson by the man whom experjence and the political science textLlooks say should have been the second most powerful per- son in the government, Treasurer and Deputy Premier Robert Nixon. Calling for an inquiry carries risks which Mr. Peterson acknowl- edged at his press conference. By stressing he wants to get to the bottom of the affair, Mr. Peter- son admits that he does not know how far it goes or who is involved. Gordon Ashworth Mr. Ashworth, have shown the government is tied up in "a web of corruption." He says "this has destroyed Mr. Peterson's credibility." Similarly, Conservative Party interim leader Andrew Brandt says "there has been a complete loss of confidence in the govern- ment as far as the public is con- cerned. " Establishing a judicial inquiry could also avert a new opposition tie-up of the business of the Legis- lature. The Conservatives and New Democrats united to paralyze the Legislature for a week last month to focus attention on the lack of answers to questions about then so- licitor -general Joan Smith's visit to a police station on behalf of a fami- ly friend. The blockade ended when she re- signed. Admitting his government's be- havior "sure doesn't look good," Mr. Peterson decided he had to call a judicial inquiry to try to clear the controversy preoccupying his gov- ernment. The next step likely will be a cab- inet shuffle. Mr. Brandt says Culture and Communications Minister Lily Oddie Munro should be fired for seeking a benefit for her mother Elvio DeiZotto In addition to Mrs. Munro, eight other cabinet ministers have admitted receiving campaign con;, tributions from Mrs. Starr or from a charity under her control. The opposition wants to know more about these contributions and about the relationships among ministers, Mrs. Starr and devel- opers such as Eivio DelZotto. Both Mr. Brandt and Mr. Rae intend to keep questioning about these relationships but fear Mr. Peterson will use the existence of a judicial inquiry to avoid answering questions. "Don't you think that when I ask a question on Monday, Mr. Pe- terson's answer will be 'I'm sorry. That's the subject of a judicial in- quiry,' " Mr. Rae said. But Mr. Peterson told reporters that opposition MPPs could ask "any legitimate question" in the Legislature. Mr. Rae also warned that the inquiry's hands may be tied by the Ontario Provincial Police investi- gation which is now going on in co- operation with the Election Fi- nances Commission, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, the Provincial Auditor and the Public Trustee. Announcement of the judicial in- quiry after three months of trying to play down the seriousness of the Ok Given the government's appa- rent surprise at recent revelations of the ties between Mrs. Starr and Elvio Dp' otto, the president of orp., it is unlikely anyone in the government can assess what testimony at the inquiry may ulti- mately reveal. However Mr. DelZotto and his brother — Tridel chairman Angelo — have had experience with an in- quiry similar to that sought by Mr. Peterson. They were involved in the 1974 royal commission investigating the building industry headed by Coun- ty Court Judge Harry Waisberg. Mr. Peterson indicated yester- day he expected there would be testimony at the new inquiry from Elvio DelZotto, who is also presi- dent of the Ontario wing of the fed- eral Liberal Party. The Premier also said he himself would be willing to testify. One area which the opposition parties would like to see investi- gated is the involvement of devel- oper Marco Muzzo in the May, 1987, sale of the Peterson family firm, C.M. Peterson Electronics Ltd. It was sold to Avinda Video Inc. of Mississauga for $9.7-million and two million Avinda shares. Mr. Muzzo, Liberal pollster Martin Goldfarb and his brother, Stanley, among others, personally signed bank loan guarantees worth $4- million so that Avinda could come up with the cash for the purchase. If the inquiry gets into areas such as this, it could drag on for months, extending the focus on the government and its less impressive aspects far beyond what is now anticipated. In calling the inquiry, Mr. Pe- terson judged that he had to take the risks. Opposition Leader Bob Rae argues that the revelations about Ars. Starr's involvement with 13 iberal ministers and MPPs, plus and MPP Brad Nixon should lose his position as parliamentary assistant to Housing Minister Cha- viva Hosek. He sought work for his campaign manager. Mr. Rae went further. He questions whether Ms Hosek should remain in the cabinet, con- sidering the support her campaign received from the development industry. He also thinks MPP Ro- nald Kanter should lose his parlia- mentary assistant's position for al- lowing Mrs. Starr to help with the rent on his campaign headquar- ters. Asked if there would be firings from his cabinet, Mr. Peterson said "I intend to have a cabinet shuffle in the very near future." issue caps a difficult two months for the government. First, the deputy minister of Industry, Trade - hnology, Gordon Gow, was forced to resign I _1 because he had mis-stated his aca- demic credentials. Then, Raj Anand was forced to resign as the high profile chairman of the Human Rights Commission after complaints he had not hired members of visible minorities. Mrs. Starr resigned as chairman of Ontario Place, a position to which she was appointed two years ago by Mr. Peterson, apparently on Mr. Ashworth's recommendation. And on May 29, Mrs. Smith re- signed as solicitor -general. /-, TWEr-PROVINCE Z>' IIIII -cope of Starr sca. By Elaine Carey Toronto Star The flurry of allegations has snow- balled into a blizzard. Every day, new charges are being levelled at Patti Starr and the Peter- son government over money and favors she doled out, like so many jelly beans, to politicians. More and more, it appears, much of the money and favors came from one source — Tridel Corp., the huge devel- opmdnt firm, and its president Elvio DelZotto who is also president of the Ontario wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. And yesterday the fall -out from the scandal became so intense, Premier David Peterson was prompted to an- nounce a judicial inquiry to clear the air. The latest blow strikes right at the heart of Peterson's government. Gor- don Ashworth, his key adviser, the -ko said to have recommended Starr or the chairmanship of Ontario Place, has admitted Starr arranged for Tridel to give him a refrigerator and to paint his house in 1987. Until then, it appeared Starr's lar- gesse was all in the form of money. She handed out cheques that were drawn on a special capital fund set up by the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (Toronto Section) Charitable Foundation. Starr was president of that charity organization. By law, charitable organizations can- not make political contributions. FINANCIAL CONTRACTS Most of the 25 politicians who re- ceived the donations have rushed to return the money, although it is not illegal for an individual or organiza- tion to receive contributions from a charity. But the charges and allegations have now spread to questions about where the money came from and how it got to the special capital fund. There are allegations about two provincial cabinet ministers who al - owed their relatives to make financial -ontracts with Starr. Other charges swirl around Tridel and its relationship ` m meprovincial housing ministry. Still others centre on the awarding of contracts at Ontar- io Place. Elvio DelZotto It all began when Starr brought the charity into partnership with Tridel Corp. to build the Prince Charles hous- ing p' oject, a $10 million, 160-unit comp' x for seniors, families and the han ' apped. It opened on Bathurst St. in North York in November, 1986. From that project, the charity re- ceived a provincial sales tax rebate which, with interest, now totals $251,- 361. By provincial regulation, that money was to be used to reduce rents in the building. But instead, in mid-1987, the money was put into a new capital fund set up by the charity. Starr, who had been made heao of Ontario Place by Peter- son'two n onths earlier, was given sole signing a thority over the fund. She th n proceeded to pay out more than $65,000 of the fund to buy tickets to political fundraising events for at least 25 Liberal and Conservative poli- ticians at all three levels of govern- ment. rovi c i a l c cabinet a b� nisters; Peterson's brother Jim, a Liberal MP whose wife Heather, together with Ashworth, is in charge of provincial patronage ap- pointments; and federal Immigration Minister Barbara McDougall, who helped the charity get its charitable status from Revenue Canada. m onto Mayor Art Eggleton and Conservative MP Bill Attewell were also on the list. Lay Munro The fund also gave $6,500 to party fundraising dinners that feat,.pd Premier Peterson, federal Li4ral leader John Turner and Prime Mi ter Brian Mulroney. Other contributions were even more questionable. The fund listed $3,200 as being Zfe nt on "expenses for WheelTrans"ut Liberal MPP Ron Kanter's ridins- sociation actually received themy, using it to help pay for its campaign headquarters. The fund also paid $1,000 to Del Zotto himself, anothe ° $3,000 to the Liberal Party for a birthday party for him and made three payments totall- ing $4,000 to Mario Giampetri, Tridel's vice-president of develop- ment. The payment is listed as sundry payments for travel. Other funds were used to pay the politicians, all with links to the Tridel family of companies. Stir witted the charity was paid $50,000 by Tridel for consulting fees on the Prince Charles project. The money came from a $10 million loan from Canada Life Mortgage Services.. The charity members then use/blby e money earmarked for consulting - ices to buy tables at fundraising- ners, she said, where they would 1 politicians for their various causes. ";tw s�n't sinister. It wasn't sleazy," Starr insisted. As well, the charity received $14,400 THE TORONTO STAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1989 ll5 6 ndal spreads Ron Kanter from Danesbury Development Ltd., a con ruction company controlled by Tri 1, which it also used to make po- liti 1 donations. idel has refused to comment. hough all the cheques were signed by Starr, a report by the law firm Goodman and Goodman concluded other officers of the charity were aware of the practices if not the de- tails, of what was going on. Indeed, another $22,500 was paid out to politicians out of two other ac- counts held by the charity and those cheques were signed by two other charity directors, Nita Goldband and Lesley Miller. All three have resigned in the past month. As well as Ashworth, two provincial cabinet ministers have warranted spe- cial investigation in the Starr-Tridel affairs. Housing Minister Chaviva Hosek is under fire because her ministry awarded a $232,000 contra—ta-real estate developer Dino Chiesa. Hosek has said Chiesa was uniquely qualified for the contract. But Chiesa also work- ed on Hosek's election campaign and he and his wife together contributed $980 to her campaign. What's more, Chiesa was paid $10,- 000 by Starr's charity for consulting services. And he was the manager of program operations at Canada Mort- gage and Housing Corp. wi�errTFie Prince Charles project was approved. ,,It was his pet project," Conserv- ative MPP Michael Harris told the Legislature. He accused Hosek of ignoring Chiesa's links to Tridel, Starr and herself. As well, Starr paid $3,500 in cons - ing fees to the campaign manager f MPP Bradford Nixon, parliament ry assistant to the housing ministry. The payment was made five days after the 1987 provincial election. New Democrat leader Bob Rae has also alleged Starr promoted the inter- est of Tridel Corp. while she was a board member of the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority, which falls under the housing ministry. At one point, Starr leaked a housing authority report to Tridel. And a Tridel company recently was awarded a cleaning contract for a housing au- thority building. RECEIVED $9,000 The contract, awarded to a number- ed company controlled by Tridel "completely broke the rules of the ten- dering process in place at the housing authority at the time," Rae said. Then there's the business of Hosek's spouse, consultant Alan Pearson. He received almost $9,000 for doing work for Ontario Place while Starr was its chairman. Hosek says she does not be- lieve Pearson's work constitutes a con- flict of interst. Culture Minister Lily Munro also be- come enmeshed in the Starr affair. She has admitted her mother received $5,000 from the charity for mailing survey — after Munro recommend her to Starr for the job. Munro also faces an allegation sh failed to report to the Commission on Election Finances campaign contribu- tions from the charity totalling $1,750. Election law limits contributions to a candidate and the candidate's riding association to $1,500 in an election year. Munro's campaign also received another $350 contribution from the charity which was reportedly hidden by the issuing of thirty-five $10 re- ceipts to 10 individuals. The charity has received $983,000 f lture since from tine ministry o cu 1978. And in 1987 to 1988 it -received a total of $785,562 from the ministries of housing, citizenship and community and social services. Both opposition leaders have called on Munro to resign. Interim Progres- sive Conservative leader Andy Brandt called the contract to Munro's mother "influence peddling of the worst kind." And before the Ashworth affair s revealed, Rae was linking Starr d her charity to Tridel Corp. Starr, a 45 year -old career vo n- teer, has said the women who ran the charity did not know there was any- thing wrong with using the money. 2 The Bay News, June 21, 1989 Garbagecontract --basis may change Pickering public works director Ray Hutchinson suggests the next town garbage disposal contract be premised on a per - household payment system. The existing garbage collection service by Laid - law Waste Systems runs on a per tonne payment basis and will expire with- in weeks, says works director Hutchinson in a report to council. Three weeks ago Regional Councillor Doug Dickerson's motion in executive committee to obtain a new deal by open tender process garnered unanimous approval. Since then members of the executive committee sat in session with public works staff, May 30, to discuss provisions for the new waste collection con - Overnight loading may occur prior to the start of a regular pick-up day, and continuous monitoring of trucks poses difficulty. At night "Sometimes due to high volumes or (truck) break- down, garbage will be col- lected after the (Brock West) landfill site is closed." "To require pre -dump- ing of part loads on such occasions before starting the next day's run can be counter productive," Hutchinson says in the works report. In a telephone survey of 20 municipalities in tract. The new agreement will i see the winning bidder secure a five-year $3.5 million exclusive contract to collect Pickering's garbage. Currently a per tonne basis allowed Pickering residents the regular con- venience of disposing bulky unwanted refuse d h f d f" an t e ree om o a no - bag" limit for curbside garbage. However some negative aspects were also identi- fied in Hutchinson's report concerning the per tonne system. The possi- bility of the contractor dis- posing non -town waste in authorized vehicles is a reality. Southern Ontario, the report concludes that 10 of the 20 - or 50 per cent - use the per -household payment system for their garbage collection. Pickering is one of three which use the per tonne basis, along with Bradford and Brantford. Under the per -house- hold basis the number of homes will be determined through municipal records. The number of people living in single family dwellings may not be accurate. Recycle The report also states figures and proposed arrangements to accom- modate waste recycling. "Durham Recycling col- lected 206 tonnes in October 1988. By April the figure has climbed to 238 tonnes. As a per- centage of total refuse the amounts are October 1988 - 11.3 per cent, April 1989 - 13.2 per cent." the report states. Yet statistics for refuse disposed at Brock West dump show that in Febru- ary 1989 - 1,103 tonnes were disposed, March 1989 - 1,335 tonnes, and in April 1,563 tonnes were dumped. Some committee mem- bers said they were con- cerned with the relation- ship between the amount of waste disposed and the amount recycled. Increase "Why is there an increase in both recycled waste figures as well as municipal waste collected for the same time peri- od?," inquired Councillor Dickerson. "If recycled materials are on the rise, shouldn't the tonnage of regular garbage decre-se (on a per -household basis)," asked Dickerson. He said statistics must be fully provided in order to determine the best terms for the next con- tract. The town will be basing the next contract on the recommendations outlined in the public works report. "it (the report) doesn't go far en ugh without me being a m `hematician," said Dickerson. * THE TORONTO STAR, MONDAY, R NE 26. 1989 Province faces Blue Box glut as newspapers start to pileup By Mark Bourrie Special to The Star - _ A0/ THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAY, NNE 27,1989 1 THE METRO PAGE Newspapers are piling up in warehouses and bottles are being trucked to garbage dumps as Ontario's recycling industry tries to cope with the huge volume of material left at curbsides by Blue Box recyclers. At least one expert warns that the glut of material could de- rail the recycling programs of many municipalities if industry does not adapt and use more recycled material. Two years ago, 150,000 houses in Ontario used Blue Boxes. Now 1.4 million homes are recycling and 2.7 million are expected to be sepa- rating their garbage in the next five years. Metro homeowners make up more than half of the total. Scar- borough began Blue Box recycling June 7, the last of the six Metro municipalities to join the program. However, for many commodi- ties, the market just wasn't pre- pared for the huge growth in recy- cling, industry experts say. Newspapers are being stored in huge warehouses at taxpayers' ex- pense and shipped overseas. Glass is being thrown into garbage dumps because consuming compa- nies have become fussy about what they will accept. Some community programs no longer pick up card- board because they lose too much money on it. John Hanson, executive director of the non-profit Recycling Council of Ontario, said prices for many recycled commodities plunged after Metro municipalities joined the Blue Box program. However, he said recycling still makes more sense than throwing garbage into landfill sites, from both an environmental and eco- nomic standpoint. mill Programs threatened He warned that many municipal recycling programs could be threatened if industry doesn't use more recyled material. "We're seeing problems every sector except aluminum d steel cans. Unless manufacture indus- tries adapt more of their process- ing for a higher level of recycled material, we're going to see a seri- ous problem," Hanson said. "How do you get the market to keep pace with the collection sys- tem? That's the big challenge for industry and government in the next five years. "When Toronto came onstream, the city was given assurances by industry and the government that there would be no marketing prob- lem. That has proved to be inaccu- rate," he said. Industry experts confirmed Hanson's warnings. Colin Johnson, manager of recy- cling for the Quebec and Ontario Paper Company in Thorold, which is the province's largest newsprint recycler, said his company has been swamped with paper. "We're storing it and exporting it. The price has become very de- pressed. The glut isn't just in Ontario, it's continental, because of the increase in curbside collection. In the last year alone, newsprint has fallen in price from $65 a tonne to $50 and continues to drop. ,r News digest Pickering dump site proposal considered Metro and Durham Region may have an agreement for a new dump site in north Pickering by the end of the week, Metro officials say. Members of Metro Council's works committee yesterday met privately and set up a negotiating committee to deal with a proposed agreement put forward by Durham. The proposal would allow up to 6 million tonnes of garbage to be dumped by Metro and Durham near the hamlet of Whitevale while politicians seek a long-term solution to the Metro area's garbage woes. "But it's not a sure thing because of the figures involved," said Councillor Paul Christie (E4t Toronto), works committee chairman. Durham's price tag for the site "could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, he said. Residents say they'll try to block the agreement. Has Patti e . .:i� Y Y t r ^.`hill 1 Peterson's chances of he.l* n or 1,,i heral leader"`? David Peterson can kiss the federal Liberal leadership goodbye. The Patti Starr affair had already damaged his chances for succeeding John Turner. The revela- tion on Thursday that one of his key aides, execu- tive director Gordon Ashworth, was involved in this growing scandal has killed them. Ate it had all been going so well. P terson has long insisted he has no plans to e , er the federal arena. But the sweet blandish- ments of Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa were beginning to have their effect. Bourassa has been promoting Peterson because the two agree that the Meech Lake constitutional accord should be passed. In addition, if Peterson had won with Bourassa's help that would have meant two federal chiefs in the Quebec premier's spacious pockets. Prime Minister Brian Mulro- ney already owes Bourassa for his help in the 1988 federal election. And Peterson, coy as ever, has been happy to have Bourassa heap praise on him as a "great Canadian." But that was all when Patti Starr was just a nuisance. Now she has become a menace. On Thursday, a shaken Peterson revealed that Ashworth had accepted a free refrigerator and house -painting job from a company related to the links between the government anri tho Stars _ forces. When he found e- frigeraToi ; w�asNi�xw�h lew the whistle. "With this tarry business, Nixon won eo;says one associate. "He's not the kind to leave the gov- ernment in the lurch." Nixon's only comment has been: "If you write that now (about his going to Hydro), you'd be wrong." As for Peterson, the Ontario Premier has been doing his best to distance himself from Starr, the former president of a charitable foundation run by the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (Toronto Section). When taunted in the Legislature about the po- litical donations that Starr made from that foun- dation to nine of his cabinet ministers, Peterson taunts right back. Earlier this week, Conservative leader Andy Brands- *ed Peterson why he had appointed Starr head of Ontario Place (she resigned this month). Peterson replied that former Tory minis- ter Susan Fish had once given Starr a gold medal for good citizenship. That had Liberal backbenchers hooting in pleasure. But it was not a response like4;.Io -tee a chuckle among delegates to the national Liberal leadership convention scheduled for next June. The problem is that Susan Fish and most other Tories who got money from Starr's charitable Tridel Corp. Tridel's'pr�sident •is► EMV D&1Zot10k'. head of the Ontario wing of the fede�ail1,iktpp1,k The gifts, Peterson said, had be arranged through Starr. Yesterday, Petersongrrder ,a, Agic}}n .quir , into the relationships aftionf Starr, Idol and government officials: r f tail 0 But even before Ashworth was impljcA,tRf Ali the scandal, those close to the Premier said he could not con- template a jump to federal poli- ti fs,��vvP.iI the �Star..4[f irremam- _ufrxhsolved- He kti_w9 he caii`p succeed in that arena only by >y � m4nta.ining hits reputation �s the perfect premier. t . And asa tnore: trickles out about THOMAS Tridel, Star , the charitabl ,fund she controlled and the donations WALKOM she made frorn-Ibatfund to vgr4;% Queen'sous politicjans, Pederson loq�s positively imperfect.' s Park Peterson's is 401.the only caiil reer that has been stalled by the Starr affair. Treasurer Robert Nixon has been looking to ftit*poli*AWtdJAdy8(fl ing a safe berth as chairm n,p ,gpla$ii dr. 3 .1 But Nixon is one o abmet' common ''.senseHe was talre9dy unhapPY atbr fund are old news. True, federal. Immigration Minister Barbara McDougall is involved. She intervened to make sure�.the foundation set up by Starr was registered! by.- Revenue Canada as a charity; then she received an,$880 donation from it. It has been ruled illegal'for charities to make political contributions. And true, Tory Nff I ili Al tewell got money from the charity. Niceording to a confidential lawyers' report, he received $2,000 from the fund. Former provincial. Tory cabinet minister Den- nis Timbrell also got $4,000 from the fund. Fish received $750 and '$2,000 was donat to the federal Tories for a fundraising dinner fe wring Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Nonetheless, this has been publicly perceived as Peterson's scandal. Ashworth's involvement with Starr and Tridel is the clincher. Starr began as a Tory hanger-on but inherited Peterson after the 1985 provincial election brought the Liberals to power. Indeed, the elaborate structure that eventually ended up channelling charitable funds to politi- cians had been started well before the Liberal victory. It appears to have begun int:gem�d-'80s Please see LIBERAL/page D5 tC qb V) I Starr scandal: Asking the' nkh questions T HAS now been reported that Patti Starr, the Liberal fund- Lalier and refrigerator- br-ar Grote a letter in early 1986 to Hers ell Ezrin who, at the time, ,vas Pre vier David Peterson's top aide. Unfortunately, this fact by it- self says very little. The context of the letter, whose existence was revealed by t h e Globe and Mail this weekend, lies in what is now known as the Patti Starr affair. Starr is the impres- sario from the volunteer world who directed more than $85,000 from a charitable fund she con- trolled to a wide array of Liberal and Tory politicians. She is also named by Peterson as ,'the. person who arranged for Gor- 'don. Ashworth, the Premier's 'executive director until last Thursday, t receive a free refrig- erator an i house -painting job from a corr pany linked to Tridel Corp., the gi ant land developer. And Tridel is the company that built a $10-million non-profit hous- ing project for Starr's charity. Slightly more than $65,000 of the political donations made by the charity came from a provincial sales tax rebate for the housing project. All of this is the complex but iecessary background for under- 1anding why anyone is even talk- ng about Starr's letter to Ezrin. Ashworth's free refrigerator )rought the Starr affair right into he Premier's office. It jolted 'eterson into action and caused iim to order a judicial inquiry ,nt what he called the "triangle" nv IV Tridel, S'rr and gov- ,rn lent officials. If 'zrin, the Pr, is principal secretary had k that some - Queen's Park =3: Thomas Walkom thing fishy was going on with Starr as early as 1986, then the Premier has some explaining to do. if, if. Recall the context of 1986. Now Patti Starr's name is a synonym for scandal. Then, she was seen by most — the press included — sim- ply as an energetic, if aggressive, fundraiser. On the face of it, the 1986 letter to Ezrin reads like a typical and somewhat self-congratulatory note from an energetic Liberal to a powerful political aide. Starr writes about a lunch which the two attended two months earlier and goes on to say that she has been unable to reach Ezrin on the telephone since then. This detail does not suggest the pair were close. Until he quit the Premier's office last fall, Ezrin was remarkably accessible — he even returned a few of my calls. The letter discusses Starr's plan to raise between $50,000 and $60,- 000 for then municipal affairs minister Bernard Grandmaitre. Grandmaitre is now revenue minister. Presumably Starr sent the letter although Ezrin says he cannot remember receiving it. But even if he did get the letter, so what? Long before the current allega- tions surfaced, it was already pub- lic knowledge that Starr was a well-connected Liberal. The world of any political party is a small one; cadres may hate one another, but they mingle, lunch, scratch one another's back and write each other letters. It would have been most odd if Ezrin had not known in 1986 that Starr was a party fundraiser; odder still if she had not tried to impress him with her dedication to the worthy task of bankrolling Liberals. The Ashworth refrigerator scandal has caused many to take a . hard look at other Peterson aides, especially Ezrin. There is nothing wrong with this. It may transpire that the whole lot of them have basements full of matching appli- ances obtained at deep discount from Tridel-related companies. The Star received one tip, for in- stance, that an architect whose wife once worked under Ezrin later got a job with a firm whose clients include Tridel. /r The tip was checked out and it was true. But again, so at? It is hard to be an architect in Notario and not do business with a Tzidel company. Asked if Ezrin had help- ed her husband get his job (he no longer works for that company), the woman laughed. No, she said, but her mate would be flattered by the idea. It is great sport to try and impli- cate Peterson further in the Starr affair. But he is already in it up to his eyeballs. It is well -established that Starr had good Liberal con- nections. The key questions, now, deal with other matters. Was someone trying to set up a structure to channel unauthorized monies to politicians? What, if any, is the relationship of that structure to the development indu `,ry? Were political favors returned? Liberal leover orPeterson? continued from page DI I mittee of adjustment, Starr also seems the interests of her friends the De1Zot- The New De h ana ed to protect her I tos on the provincially appointed I should resign not when Starr made a deal with De and the multi -million dollar land Tridei. DelZotto was a committed Li fund-raiser who had once even provincially for the 'party. Star she told The Star back in 1986, looking for someone to build a ho project for her charity. "The boys" as she called Del and his two brothers then, got famously with Starr. She and put together plans for the Charles housing project. For the ottos, as Starr told The Star in the partnership was a chance t around rezoning problems. Starr lobbied the Ontario Tory ernment and then, after 1985 Liberals. She also lobbied the f Canada Mortgage and Housing to get backing for the project. As a member of North York's ZZ otto giant, beral run r, as was using Zotto along Tridel Prince DelZ- 1986, o get gov- the ederal Corp. com- to ave m g project as it wound through the zoning maze. Starr resigned from the com- mittee this week. "The boys" in turn built the $10.5 million development and, according to Starr, paid her charity consulting fees from the proceeds of the CMHC-in- sured mortgage. In 1988, Elvio DelZotto was elected president of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberals, thus cementing his own political ties. By that time, Starr had already been appointed to the board of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority (MTHA) by then -housing minister Alvin Curling, and chairman of Ontario Place by Peterson. All of the elements were now in place to give Peterson a massive po- litical headache. What happened next is well-known. Evidence suggests Starr promoted MTHA. She also used provincial and federal subsidies connected with the Prince Charles project to create a po- litical fund. And from that fund, she parcelled out money to political friends and allies, including nine provincial cabi- net ministers, five Liberal backbench- ers, two federal Tory MPs and Elvio DelZotto himself. Many, including DelZotto, have repaid the money since news of the affair first became public.. For Peterson as Premier, this is not necessarily a terminal scandal. He has moved quickly to distance himself from Ashworth calling his top aide's actions "a kick in the head." Many of his ministers can legiti- mately say they had no idea the money came from a charity. The opposition has chosen to centre its attack mainly on the Premier and on Culture Minis- ter Lily Munro. i oats say un because sh got money from the charity but be use she recommended her mother to Starr's charity for a $5,000 job to stuff 4,OOO envelopes. Just two weeks ago, Peterson was saying the Legislature would sit into August. Now the government has shrunk its agenda and is hopin to end the sitting by early July — andnd the daily questioning over the Star affair. But Peterson the federal114iberal leader? Peterson the potential prime minister? If he harbors federal ambitions, Peterson can only hope that delegates to next year's convention to replace John Turner have the memories of fleas. Otherwise, Gordon Ashworth's refrigerator will have put finish to whatever dreams this pleasant Premi- er from London, Ont., has been pri- vately entertaining. f Garbage gas power source Now there's proof that garbage is more than a necessary evil in society. Useful electricity will be generated from Picker- ing's tons of unwanted municipal garbage at the Brock West landfill site, electricity to serve thou- sands of homes by the end of 1990. Methane gas from the landfill site in Pickering will be used, says Ontario Hydro. Hydro has agreed to buy electricity from a 21 megawatt generating plant under construction by Eastern Power Devel- opers Inc. at the Brock West landfill site, said Paul =Reporter Vyrostko, Hydro's director of non -utility generation. Sources "This agreement will help Ontario Hydro meet its objective of purchasing 1,000 megawatts of elec- tricity from private devel- opers by 2000," said director Vyrostko. "Hydro is committed to generators to develop alternate energy sources in an environmentally responsible manner," said Vyrostko. Canadian owned East- ern Power plans to burn the gas from the landfill site to produce steam to drive a turbine and pro- duce electricity. The gas (methane and carbon dioxide) is collect- ed by the Metro Toronto works department in a system of pipes and burned off in flares to ensure safety and reduce odors. "This will be first landfill gas fuelled electrical gen- erating plant in Canada," said Herman Walter, pres- ident of Eastern Power. encouraging indenendent The Bay News, June 28, 1 89 15 "This power plant will and generate enough 6,000 homes," id. Wal- improve local air quality electricity to serve about ter. �q" c n o n c`'o fDo 3 o v m a o C7 • C. � C � °'s o vtn o o vZ�ID 0°cCD m ¢oID ID M 0 0 v�i c CD o m vo o ry m o w cD o c CA m ID En F v o W sv m E n. ' cD 'o' fD F o x F a y 0 0 o"10, ° vORi ID.ID 0 (�� o w -s w ID '0a o o n c 0 M�. m o c� n`. " N -00 IMO c va -'I To 5'0 _.o a� v b 0-c o o Y CD T O •s N o w vai M 0 O O G N C M n =sue M ° �M t c r' M O p' (D Ei O ID L' M 0" o o 0 >t °' >z' n �' � � � �• cD �r x �' o �D ti w V Cc CM MT E� 1� THE TOROWO ST Why the rush to dump the DelZottos? THE PATTI Starr affair has turned a crucial corner. It is no longer just about a zealous Liberal fundraiser who made political contributions from a charitable fund. It appears to have become something far broader. On Monday, Premier David Peterson ac- knowledged in the Legislature that his gov- ernment had contemplated the appoint- ment of�Elvio DelZotto, president of Tridel Corp., t the Ontario Police Commission. Peterson said the appointment fell through because he and Attorney -General Ian Scott vetoed it. He would not say why. All he would say was that "it was not the appropriate appointment in the circum- stances." Why not? Peterson is moving fast to distance him- self from DelZotto who is, as far as anyone knows, a loyal Liberal. DelZotto has been a tireless fundraiser for the Liberals. He was elected last year as president of the Ontar- io wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. Elvio DelZotto was appointed by the Peterson government to the Ontario Coun- cil of the Arts. His wife, Marlene, was ap- pointed last year to the board of TVOntar- io. DelZotto's brother, Angelo, was appoint- ed to the board of Sunnybrook Hospital. But yesterday, Peterson acknowledged QUIMIS Park Thomas Walkom that his office has asked all three to resign. Tridel, the company owned by the three DelZotto brothers, has given money to the Peterson Liberals. Peterson has been film- ed smiling and shaking hands with Elvio DelZotto. Yet on Friday, the Premier announced that a judicial inquiry would look into the relationships among Patti Starr, Gordon Ashworth (the Peterson aide who resigned after admitting he took a free refrigerator and paint job) and Tridel. Why Tridel? When asked that on Friday, Peterson an- swered that allegations had been made about Tridel. He also said that he thought DelZotto should step down as head of the Liberal's Ontario wing. Allegations? True, Tridel's name has featured promi- nently in the Starr affair. Starr controlled a charitable foundation belonging to the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada ('Toronto Section). That foundation had Tridel build a $10-million non-profit housing project with federal and provin- cial government backing. A $251,000 sales tax rebate which the foundation received from the province was put into a special fund. And from this fund, more than $65,000 in political dona- tions were made to provincial, federal and municipal politicians. Starr also is reported to have said she used consulting fees provided her by Tridel to make political donations. According to a report done for the council by Toronto lawyer Cliff Lax, $4,000 of these political donations were directed towards Elvio DelZotto, including a $3,000 birthday party in his honor. (DelZotto has since paid $1,000 back.) But. these on their own are not necessari- ly allegations of wrongdoing — unless Peterson knows something else. Peterson at his press conference on Friday said that he explicitly asked Ash- worth if Tridel were involved when his for- mer aide admitted to receiving free gifts arranged by Starr. And indeed, the refrig- erator did come from a major Tridel sup- plier. But what made the Premier immediate- ly think of Tridel when he received, as he put it, this "kick in the head" from Ash- worth? Now comes the revelation that Peterson and Scott three years earlier squashed an effort to appoint DelZotto to the police commission. The Star reported yesterday that then Ontario Provincial Police deputy commis- sioner Bill Lidstone met Peterson in 1986 and warned him against appointing DelZ- otto. Lidstone had been secretary to a 1974 royal commission into the building indus- try headed by County Court Judge Harry Waisberg. DelZotto and his brother Angelo had testified at that inquiry. In the section of his report on organized crime, Waisberg said the evidence of both DelZottos "im- pressed me as contrived." But neither brother was charged with any offence. Was it the Waisberg Commission which spooked the Premier and Scott about DelZ- otto? In an interview on Monday, Scott said no. "I don't think it did have to do with that if you want to be frank," he said. Scott said he had not read the Waisberg report and while he thought he might have acted for a witness before the commission, he remembered very little about it. (Scott did represent Zygmunt Jedrasik, a vice- president of the Plasterers' Union.) What then does the government have against Elvio DelZotto and his family? Is there something the rest of us should know about the relationship of either DelZotto or Tridel to this sorry affair? Treat cause, not just symptoi DAVID PETERSON'S gov- ernment has handled the Patti Starr affair in the time-honored fashion. Once hope had faded that the story would blow away, the Premier earnest- ly proclaimed a judicial inquiry that would leave no stone unturn- ed and no evil -doer unpunished. There is no need to believe that, by his response, Premier Peter- son is a hypocrite. When Provin- cial Treasurer Bob Nixon told him that Gordon Ashworth, thanks to Patricia Starr, had a free fridge and house painting Peterson had every right to feel, in his own memorable phrase, as though he had been kicked in the ;head. Unless images are utterly de- ceiving, David Peterson gives off an our i of naive decency, not ruthle s cunning. Promoting Starr ay have seemed like af- firmati -e action for a woman who has delighted some feminists that she can find as many loop- holes in the tax law as a man. As for putting a DelZotto on a police commission, how better to allay any suspicions that have persist- ed ever since the Waisberg Re- port in 1974? Gordon Ashworth vouched for both of them and Ashworth seemed so earnestly honest. The politicians' survival manu- al strongly favors judicial in- quiries in the event of scandal for good reasons. henceforth, fresh allegations can be referred at once to whatever hapless judge accepts the mandate. Any loose gossip will be curbed by the claim that all relevant matters are sub judice. Naming a judge instead of a political scientist or a commit- tee of MPPs suggests non-parti- sanship — what—er the judge's previous affiliat Best of all, es have a fair record of stiA irictly to their terms of refer.-..,:e. It is part of their professional code. No gov- ernment wants a lot of enthusias- tic hawkshaws racing over the landscape, hunting for dirt. NDP Opposition members of a legisla- tive committee would demand a free -wheeling fishing expedition, disturbing all sorts of ponds and marshes which the government and even opposition Tories would prefer to leave undisturbed. Whether David Peterson recog- nizes it or not, the bounds of the inquiry he has promised into the so-called Starr affair are a lot narrower than they look. Any investigation into the triangular relationship among Patricia Starr, Elvio DelZotto and Gordon Ashworth will not elucidate much more than the few juicy but essentially minor facts uncovered by Globe and Mail reporters Linda McQuaig and Michael Valpy. This will not keep an industrious judge very busy for very long. Like the Sinclair Stevens inquiry in the summer of 1987, the proposed investigation will focus on a few expendable politicians, leaving powerful peo- ple and big issues alone. The issues that will not be rais- ed under David Peterson's terms of references are vastly more important to the state of public life in Ontario on the verge of the '90s. What are the bigger issues? Should we still be appointing a person to manage a complex pub- lic enterprise like Ontario Place on apparently the sole basis that she has made herself useful as a fundraiser to the party in power? Remember that this was done by a government which publicly pledged to treat all citizens equal- ly, to discuss major appointments in the Legislature and to end po- litical patronage in Ontario? Can someone tell us why this has not been done? What are the benefits that Patricia Starr could -secure from powerful friends at Queen's Park and in Ottawa — and as a mem- ber of North York's committee of adjustment — for one of the city's biggest and most successful developers, 'Pride! Corporation? Any inquiry that leaves out the municipal dimension of Starr's energies will be a Hamlet without the ghost. How far have "fixers" become embedded in the rela- tions of business and government as we head for the'90s? IS THERE still something ir- redeemably corrupt in the whole business of political fundraising and the special deals that inevitably seem to follow? Are we hypocrites when we in- vite politicians to amass large campaign funds — collected by the likes of Patti Starr from the likes of Elvio DelZotto ' — and then complain when the donors and their agents want their re- ward? Favors, patronage and pork - barrelling seem to be as neces- sary an outcome of our system of party fundraising as eggs and chickens but by no means as be- nign. What do we make of Starr's boast that all she was doing was proving that a woman could find as many loopholes in the Election Expenses Act as any man? Who else benefits from those loop- holes? Does democracy? Peterson sees the Starr affair as a bad smell emanating from his own back i ­ , , and he wants a judge to cl( It up. Chances are that the rL It gust of fresh TORONTO STAR PHOTO UNDER FIRE: Premier David Peterson has called a judicial inquiry into allegations arising air has already dissipated this particular stink. Starr and Ash- worth are hunting for other work and Elvio DelZotto's senatorial ambitions have been at least temporarily cramped. The source of the smell remains. Since Ontar- io taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the inquiry, they have a right to have not just one smell from the Starr affair,. but the source eliminat�. If that were possible, Teterson could emerge from this scandal claiming a durable improvement in the quality of Ontario public life. ❑ Desmond MPOP n is an histo- rian and princi f the Erindale campus, Unive if Toronto. Pickering residents want $100,000 By Bob Papoe Toronto Star Residents have gathered 350 signatures and raised $15,- 000 for legal fees to fight the proposed Whitevale dump in north Pickering. Durham Council has given preliminary approval for the dump which will receive garbage from Metro Toronto. Bill Parish, the head of PACT (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment), says his group has also col- lected more than 350 signatures from residents who oppose the establishment of the Whitevale (P1) dump. "We figure we need at least $100,000 and 1,000 signatures to see this thing through," Parish says. "We may have to go to the Supreme Court (of Canada) to stop it." toi fight dump. fDump opponents say they were forced to turn to legal ac- tion after other tactics failed. "The courts are our last resort," says Durham Councillor Beverly Morgan. "The political battle is over. We lost that on May 17." That's the date Durham Council approved the dump and joined the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), an umbrella organ- ization set up in February, which includes Metro, Halton, York and Peel regions. To join the group, each region had to propose its own See PICKERING/page 3 The group hopes to raise the money needed for legal fees by the end of August. "We're confident that we'll make it," he says. "We've got a lot of people who are eager to get into this." The group may challenge the province on the legality of the dump under sections 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "We are entitled to an environmental assessment before the dump is put through," Parish says. "The government of Ontario has denied us that right." The Ministry of Environment is planning to conduct a quicker, less comprehensive Environmental Protection Act assessment instead. Real estate agents; help PACT fight dump_�_ que, Beach et Boudoir and Grafton and Company will be displayed. Real estate agents from Ajax and Pickering will model the clothes and serve as waiters, waitress ,5✓ and bartenders. Tickets for the event are $15 p person or $150 for a table of 10. The agents have a goal of $15,000. Raffles will be held and a pro- gram is being assembled. Dona- tions of prizes for the raffle are be- ing sought and ads for the program are for sale. Cash donations are also being accepted. Pickering to right the dump Continued from page 1 Arthurs says. "It's just an ad hoc will be held more accoun'able." landfill site to help handle the chairmen." of regional council Gardner Church, dep ty minis - Greater Toronto Area's garbage ter for the Greater Tor to Area disposal needs until 1993. Arthurs says each regional gov- disagrees. "This e (the municipal Pickering Mayor Wayne Ar- disposing S oent should be responsible for regions in the GTA) a highly inter- thurs says he may legally challenge p sing of its own solid waste. dependent area," he says. "The v the GTA's right to co-ordinate "This new organization is just borders involved are crossed daily waste management plans among creating a bigger problem and for a number of reasons and they, i municipal regions. trying to spread it around. If gar- shouldn't be considered barriers. "hdoesn't have any legislative bage is the responsibility of each Durham has taken a resF;,'i-fsf6hPi authority to make these decisions,".region"then -'the"-focal politicians stance:" ! AJAX-PICKERING - Real estate agents are joining the fight against a landfill site proposed for north Pickering. The agents are sponsoring a fashion show and proceeds will be donated to Pickering -Ajax Citizen-s Together for the Environment' (PACT), which is fighting the Pi dump in Whitevale. The show is sett` for Sunday, Sept.17, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Pickering Recrea- tion Complex. Fashions from The House Bouti- Letters T Beware the GTA"S Ides of March To the editor: The following is a copy of a letter to Jim Braadley, Ontario environment minister. Dear Mr. Bradley: I urge you to reconsider your and Mr. Peterson's decision to exempt Pl from the Environmental Assessment Act based on the GTA's word that it would be an interim site. The residents of Whitevale have grave doubts that, if developed, it would only be used for five years. The rationale for our doubts is bas- ed on several facts: The site is more than 800 acres - with aggressive recycling it could satisfy the need of Metro and the surrounding areas for 20 years or more. Cost seems to be the driving force for the selection of landfill sites. The region of Durham has voted to spend 1.4 million dollars to justify this site. It would cost considerably more to engineer the site in order to give some protection to the environment and the people who live near it. This seems to be a great deal of money to spend for an interim solution. When Envacc made its proposal to Mr. Peterson and the regional chair- Government Iflying apart at the seams' man during the spring of 1988, a plot of land, identified at that time as be- ing in the north part of Pickering, was part of their porposal. Rail -haul was another part of Envacc's proposal. CP has a line that is conveniently close to the Pi site. I believe that if this site is approv- makers of this method of dealing with garbage. SWEAP has been told they cannot address any concerns with the interim sites. The GTA was created during the Ides of March. I urge you to beware. Marion Thomas, Whiteva, PACT needs PP our support Y ed we are going to see a land flip from the province to Durham than Envacc, who would actually develop the site as a long term solution - with the less desirable trash being rail -hauled perhaps to Marmora? We have been denied any recourse in attempts to meet with the decision To The editor: time to get involved. If you are con - Pickering Ajax Citizen's Together cerned about the air that your children (PACT) has worked hard on our breath, the quality of water, the value behalf. We've seen members time of your property, then it's time to show after time organizing rallies, doing your commitment. Fill out PACT's I undraising, gathering facts, exposing legal agreement and commit yo $100 Metro's mismanagement of landfill to legal fees. j sites. They have put a lot of time and effort into stopping the PI site in The Coalition Of Pickering (C ) is Pickering and are reaching the end of urging all residents in Pickering and their road. It's time for the lawyers to Ajax to get out and get involved. take over. It's time for you to get Forms can be picked up at municipal involved. offices or other designated spots or If you do not want to see another call me at 294-1978 and I'll mail you a Metro dump in Pickering with the copy' potential of being four times the size Floyd Thomas of Brock West, with garbage also com- Director ing from Halton, Peel and York, it's Coalition of Pickering To the editor: The following is a copy of a letter to Ontario premier David Peterson. Dear Mr. Peterson: I'm really concerned with what's happening to our government. I used to think that the Ontario government was one of the most influential govern- ments in the world, but now I see it fly- ing apart at the seams. What is hap- pening? Are we running out of control? Your provincial government is being rocked with political scandal. Daily we see more elected representatives and assistants being implicated with Pat- ti Starr. You have taken away regional government and placed it in the hands of GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Under the chairmanship of Gary Her- rema, we see GTA playing blind man's bluff with dump sites in the five regions. The site selected -in Durham beside Whitevale is utterly ridiculous. Now we hear that GTA, which has no accountability, is looking at: air traf- fic, transportation and housing. Seeing the damage that they created with the �4 garbage crisis, I dread to what will happen to anything else t they touch. Who is running the Ontario govern- ment? Is it you Mr. Peterson, or is it Mr. Herrema or could it be Patti Starr? The only option you have, to clean up this mess, is to dissolve GTA im- mediately and return responsible government back to the elected representatives. Then call a provincial election and clean up your own house. Lloyd Thomas Charter, AJAX-PICKERING - T against the PI landfill will a challenge to the Cha Rights. David Estrin, a lawyer s ing in environmental cases legal representative Pickering -Ajax Citizens T for the Environment (PACT), said part of the argument against the landfill will focus on the charter section dealing with life, liberty and security of the person and the denial of these rights. He made the comments at a PACT meeting at Dunbarton High School last week. Estrin said Morris Manning, a lawyer specializing in constitu- tional cases, will handle the charter challenge while Estrin will fight the Pi site on environmental grounds. May 17, approved locating the P1 landfill in north Pickering, near WVhitevale. The site measures 1.25 miles by 1.25 miles and is suppos- ed to be a five-year interim site. At the May 17 meeting, the region also agreed to join the Greater Toronto Authority (GTA). One con - PACT donors sought: y ,L environment attach h___% e fight dition of joining the GTA was offer- countable if include ing a landfill site as a short-term pay court cos rter of solution to the garbage crisis. ment, a pers The GTA takes in Metro Toronto a maximum )ecializ- and surrounding regions, including In an inter and the Durham, York, Peel and Halton. To said if PA of the date, only Durham and Metro have challenge an ogether voted to join the group. to the group Estrin said the group may also look at a challenge under Section 15 of the charter, which guarantees equality under the charter. "This section came into effect about four years ago and cases are only now getting to the Supreme Court," Estrin said. "Your own region wanks to deprive you of your rights," he said. adding the group would have to remain as active as possible. Bill Parish, the chairman of PACT, said the group is seeking People were asked to sign agreements and contribute at least $10o to defray PACT's legal expenses. Steve Parish, the chairman of PACT's legal committee, said peo- ple signing the agreement could, if PACT lost in the courts, be held ac- ��rn��d. PACT was ordere(io ts. Under the agr on would be liable fo of $200. view, Steve Parish CT won the court costs were awarded and the individuals signing the agreement, PACT would collect the money and distribute it on a pro rata basis back to the people. Estrin said the province and Durham region have been arguing the Pi landfill would be an interim site, so protection under the En- vironmental Assessment Act (EAA) isn't needed. "They're saying they don't have enough time. That's a denial of your rights," he said. The region's official plan says at_y new landfill site has to be I- -k ed--at-underthe EAA, Estrir, "People who feel inconvenierwed tend to overlook these things. There has to be consultation with the com- munity. To me, that's not 'here it is folks. What do you think?"' said Estrin. He says the case could be in the courts by the end of the summer. d y * THE TORONTO STAR, FMAY, JUNE 30,19N /SI Old mine[ proposed",; as dump for Metro' By John Driscoll Special to The Star MARMORA — An abandoned open -pit mine just outside this' vil- lage is being considered as a dump- ing ground for Metro's garbage. The 213-metre (700-foot) deep hole is a former iron ore mine oner operated by Bethlehem Steel. The property, 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Metro, was sold to Armbro Enterprises of Brampton when the mine ceased operations 10 years ago. A proposal to build a recy link and reclamation plant at th'site and to use the 30-hectare (75-Acr6) pit for landfill is still in its prdfdmi- nary stages, an Armbro ofcial said yesterday. No proposal has been forwded to Metro officials, Armbro's *ice - president in charge of land vet- opment, Steve Glogowski, sai Marmora council member&em- phatically rejected the proposal this month after meeting with -`offi- cials of Armbro and La0law Waste Management Systems of Burlington. "We don't want to beepme Metro's garbage can, Reeve Andre Philpot said. "They talk about how eny'ron- mentally advanced the pr0' ect would be, but the only reason hej, want to come to. this area be! - cause we've got this god-alml hty hole." Philpot said Armbro and law officials said 80 to 100 ra4ars carrying waste to the mine site each day would take 20 years to fill it. "We feel they should just forgeit the whole idea," Philpot said. ".Hastings County has enough prob- lems finding adequate landfill sites for its own garbage." While the mine is in Marmora and Lake Township, just outside the village's jurisdiction, the vil- lage council letter to Arm- bro objecting to the proposal. The reaction doesn't surprise Glogowski, who said the companj intends to test the feasibility of th@ plan. "We are running out of options for Metro Toronto and we have always considered the Marmora mine site as a logical place- for waste disposal," he said. "it would have to be done in an environmen.- tally responsible way; and we iike the concept that Laidlaw is propos- ing, with a minimum of 50 per Cent recycling." "This is not a landfill proposal: It's an industry." There is no intention to use Marmora as "a garbage can,'.' Laidlaw -regional vice-president George Reddom said. "This is in an extremely prel.imi'. nary stage, but the site is one w are considering as a pro ssing and retrieval site," he said. ' "Any recycling plant butt there would include state=of-the- rt tech- nology. It would be a marvel for North America." :t2.ia.4:%17 '1171✓ \,, i r r r 1 r MORRIS MANNING, Q.C. THERESA R. SIMONE, LL.B. ,,-Z90 BAY STREET, SUITE 2900 )RONTO, ONTARIO CANADA M51-1 2Y2 FAX (416) 367-8028 TELEPHONE (416) 863-6262 Delivered by Courier June 29, 1990 Mr. Lloyd Thomas President Whitevale and District Residents Association 489 - 5th Concession Whitevale, Ontario LOH 1 MO Dear Mr. Thomas: Re: P1 Contingency Landfill Site Please be advised that all correspondence received from the Ministry of the Environment concerning matters respecting the exemption under section 29 of the Environmental Assessment Act for an interim site in the Regional Municipality of Durham should be forwarded to Steve Parish or Manning & Simone. All efforts must be coordinated in order to ensure that matters proceed synchronously. It is our request that the Ministry of the Environment be advised that this matter is being handled by the law firm of Manning & Simone and that any future correspondence be directed to their attention. Yours very trulx, Moms Manning clb Enclosures IM Delivered By Facsimile CJune 25, 1990 o Ministry of the Environment 135 St. Clair Avenue West Suite 100 Toronto, Ontario PM4V 1P5 Attention: Mr. Gary Posen, Deputy Minister Dear Mr. Posen: At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21st, 1990 my office received a facsimile transmission of a copy of a letter dated February 7th, 1990 from Gary Herrema to The Honourable James Bradley. I have had an opportunity to read this material this morning. It is unclear at best just what this faxed material is supposed to represent. There is no covering letter explaining the material. Is the letter dated February 7th, 1990 the, request sought by The Region of Durham to which reference is made in your previous correspondence? In my prior correspondence I requested that your office provide me with copies of the application and all materials which are to be considered by The Minister in making his decision. Instead of providing me with all materials, you have imposed unrealistic deadlines and sent me a copy of one letter. If this is the only information The Minister is going to base his decision on than it is clear he will be acting in breach of the statutory and constitutional provisions governing him. If, on the other hand, this is not the only material The Minister will consider, then your failure to provide me with that material has resulted in my clients being unable to meet the new extended deadline. The absence of appropriate and sufficient information upon which to make a decision not only preludes The Minister from acting within his jurisdiction but also fails to give a meaningful and fair opportunity to my clients to make response to the exemption application. As a result of discussions with my clients, I have learned that on June 15th, 1990 The Mayor of Pickering wrote to you and made reference to a letter dated .M iNG -CDNE Page 2 August 2nd, 1989 from The Premier to Mr. Herrema which indicates that the Government of Ontario has already made a decision to exempt the P-1 site from the Environmental Assessment Act. Obviously, with the decision having been made, there is no point to my clients attempting to make any submissions to you. It also becomes readily apparent that the February 7th, 1990 application was designed to make it appear as if some semblance of procedural fairness was being invoked when in fact, it was merely window dressing attempting to prevent my clients from seeing that the decision had been made in an arbitrary, C unfair and unconstitutional manner. My clients are strongly opposed to the application made by the Region. The procedure your government has followed and the decision it has made is in o breach of every rule of fairness and natural justice. Arbitrary predetermination of quasi judicial decisions which are made in an informational vacuum and without giving those entitled to notice a meaningful opportunity to be heard, breaches the rules of natural justice, the statutory prescriptions governing the P decision makers and the principles of fundamental justice. It also denies those affected their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Yours very truly, Morris Manning MM/cv NG DNE DELIVERED BY FACSIMILE June 13, 1990 ® Ministry of the Environment 135 St. Clair Avenue West Suite 100 Toronto, Ontario PM4V 1P5 Attention: Gary Posen - Deputy Minister ;A-1 Dear Mr. Posen: Further to my letter of June llth, 1990, I have had a further opportunity to discuss this matter with my clients. Notwithstanding what you have indicated in your letter, it is my client's position that they are entitled to full process including a hearing prior to the Minister considering the application submitted by the Regional Municipality of Durham to obtain an exemption order pursuant to Section 29 of the Environmental Assessment Act. However, without in any way prejudicing this position, my client is prepared to make written submissions with respect to this application. In order to make those submissions meaningful in response to the application submitted by the Regional Municipality of Durham, my clients must have immediate access to all materials submitted by Durham as well as all other materials the Minister has or will review in order to make this decision. Accordingly, would you immediately forward to this office all such materials so that the written submission can be prepared and forwarded. I would also indicate that it is my understanding that your office is not yet in possession of all such materials and in this regard I specifically refer to the Phase lI report of M.M. Dillon. Further, your time deadline of June 15th, 1990 is both arbitrary and unrealistic in the circumstances. If the Minister is really serious in receiving and y considering my client's written submissions then my client will require 30 days from receipt by this office of all of the supporting materials for this application as specifically referred to above. I trust the Minister will thoroughly review my client's written submissions and I therefore assume that he would want my clients to have a reasonable opportunity to meet with counsel and to put together a proper brief. W7i C El -V Page 2 I trust that all of the above is clear and satisfactory. I would ask that you respond to this letter in an expeditious fashion so that I may advise my clients and proceed accordingly. Yours very truly, Morris Manning, Q.C. MM/cv Y, JULY 5, 1989 Firm got `inside i By Matt Maychak Toronto Star Environment Minister Jim Bradley will investigate charges that a key aide provided confidential information to a garbage dis- posal firm with links to real estate developer Marco Muzzo. Bradley's office provided "inside informa- tion" to a Muzzo-linked disposal firm com- peting for the lucrative job of disposing of Metro area garbage, New Democrat leader Bob Rae told the Legislature yesterday. "`It raises the most basic questions about the integrity of this government and the integrity of the decision -making process," Rae told reporters yesterday. ormati*on,'Rae says In the Legislature, Rae backed his claim by releasing copies of a private memo writ- ten by Harry Poch, a lawyer for Envacc Re- sources Inc. In the December, 1988, memo, Poch claims his information comes from Gary Gallon, Bradley's policy adviser. Bradley told reporters yesterday, "It may be he (Poch) has drawn conclusions that he wanted to draw. It's very difficult to make a judgment from a piece of paper that's thrust in front of one." "I don't know whether he (Gallon) did say that or not. Most of the stuff I see in there is common knowledge. Obviously, I'll do some checking." "Mr. Bradley may be worried about Mr. Muzzo being associated with the project on a public basis," the memo says. Muzzo is one of the principals in Envacc, Rae said. He was also involved in the 1'987 sale of Premier David Peterson's family's electron- ics firm to Avinda Video Corp. for $9.7 mil- lion. Muzzo and other businessmen signed per- sonal guarantees that enabled Avinda to ob- tain a $4 million bank loan. "I think this puts a lie to the argument that this was a company like any other and there are no special arrangements being made," Rae said. Public will pay f Taxpayers will foot the bill for a lawyer hired by Premier David Peterson's office because of the Patricia Starr scandal. Vince Borg, Peterson's principal secretary, confirmed yesterday that Stephen Goudge will be paid out of a general government fund. The total cost cannot be estimat- ed because Goudge will be paid on an hourly basis at the govern- ment's normal rate for outside legal counsel, he said. Borg said he could not say what that rate is. Goudge was hired because the premier's office cannot depend on Attorney -General Ian Scott for legal advice on the controversy, Borg said in ar. interview. In the Legislature, Scott said it would be improper for him to ad- vise the Premier's office because he has to advise investigating po- After Rae sent him a copy of the memo, Bradley told the Legislature he cannot "verify the accuracy" of its statements. `" Gallon did not return phone calls late yes- terday. Poch refused comment. The memo was orginally sent to Jim liat- ty, one of Poch's colleagues at the law firm of Gardiner, Roberts. Beatty did not return calls late yesterday. Rae identified him as another principal in Envacc. Metro is looking for sites to replace Pick- ering's Brock West landfill site, on;e,.af Metro's two main landfills, which will be full by May, 1990. ier's lawyer lice officers on whether charges should be laid. A charity headed by Starr has been accused of funnelling more than $85,000 into the campaign coffers of more than 25 politicians, most of them provincial Liberals. Gordon Ashworth recently re- signed as the executive director of Peterson's office after admitting that Starr arranged for him to re- ceive a free refrigerator and paint job. Twelve days ago, Peterson ordered a judicial inquiry into the affair. But Scott is still trying to come up with its terms of refer- ence. Interim Progressive Conserv- ative leader Andy Brandt attacked Scott yesterday for meeting with Goudge on Friday to discuss the ground rules for the inquiry. Scott can't "have it both ways' by claiming he can't advise Peter- son and then meeting With the Premier's lawyer, Brandt aid. Scott replied that he is illing to meet with anybody who as sug- gestions on how the inquiry should be conducted. He met yesterday with Chief Justice William Howland of the Su- preme Court of Ontario. But they didn't come up with the name of the judge who will head the in- quiry. "He won't release a judge unless the terms of reference meet the standards the court sets for itself," Scott told reporters. "That � long been the rule." The provincial cabinet, hich has to approve any proposed erms of reference, meets this morning. But it probably won't make any final decisions because Peterson has been in Europe and is not ex- pected to attend the meeting. Lawye by ND r s o r ased P in Legislature The f ollowing is a private ter of the Environment and Gardner memo written by Harry Poch, a lawyer for Envacc Resources Inc., a firm competing for the job of disposing of Metro area garbage. copies of it were released in the Legislature by New Democratic Party leader Bob Rae. 8th December, 1988. Memo To: Jim Beatty From: Harry Poch Re: Envacc Resources Inc. Re: Provincial Waste Management Proposal. Our File No. 11-43,446 A. As we discussed on December 7, 1988, 1 have ascertained the following from Gary Gallon: 1. The following may be willing host communities: (a) North of Sudbury on the C.P. Rail- way line to Chapleau, Chelmsford, Metagama; (b) Along the Ontario Northland Rail- way, north of North Bay; Haileybury, Cobalt (not near Temagami) ; 2. Cabinet may be considering the following types of proposals next Wednesday: (a) Private sector proposals, with or without community support — the Province could expedite this through a scoped EA process; (b) Metropolitan Toronto continues its site search and initiates a request for proposals from the private sector for rail/sites, and if successful, joint venturing with the private sector -- this request for proposal may be first considered at Works Committee on December 16; (c) A Waste Management Authority is legislated by the Province and takes over and searches for a site — under the auspices of Mr. Gardner Church; (d) The Province takes over wast management entirely and selects site as a government measure, withou a waste management authority, B. • ohn Rogers advises that the fol lowin may be considered by Cabinet: (a) ► Waste Management Authorit comprised of five Regional and Metro- politan Chairmen, along with tw Deputy Ministers, (the Deputy Minis e t y Church) , which would take over the site search; (b) Nothing is done until a real crisis situation arrives; (c) Nothing is done and the munlci- palities continue on their wandering way; C. Gary Gallon also advises that: (1) The Premier appears to take his policy guidance from Jan Whitelaw and Bob Carman, with some advice from Vince Borg. .. (2) The inner group that we should deal with, if possible, are Sean Con- way, Robert Nixon, Jan Whitelaw and Bob Carman. (3) Jim Bradley is worried about Gardner Church as he sees the same problems that have occurred with SWEAP and OWMC arising under Gardner Church's leadership. (4) Jim Bradley is supportive of the private sector if it comes in with com- munity support, and he would scope the EA process to ensure its efficien- cy, (5) Mr, Bradley may be worried about Mr. Musso (sic) being associated with the project on a public basis. (6) 1 should be meeting with Bob Ferguson as soon as possible to dis- cuss technologies and our concept. (7) The following will be our competi- tors: (a) Acton Quarries in Halton, Hills', Doug Hallett with RSI, used to be Comcor with Tony Barrett's group Greenshields Investments; (b) Innisfil Town Dump extension - Steve Mernick (bought PTL Club) with Japanese technology; (c) Wesleyville EFW/Landfill —Paul Emond (concept plan only at this stage); (d) CN/Norwaste — rail haul to the north with Austrian technology,:: Steve Janes and C.N. a (8) Mr. Bradley's office b4i+eves that a site is necessary no later t1ian 1996. They believe that it is imperative that a willing community come forward with a private sector proposal, and that if that occurs the Premier's-office and Cabinet will fall in line and do o everything necessary to ensure that an efficient approvals process occurs. FJ A 4 THE GLOBE AND MAIL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989 Ontario gave Muzzombacked. firm inside information, BY GENE ALLEN The Globe and Mail A company backed by developer Marco Muzzo got inside informa- tion about a billion -dollar waste - disposal scheme from Ontario's Environment Ministry, Opposition Leader Bob Rae charged yester- day. But the officiai who provided the information and Environment Minister James Bradley rejected the charge. Mr. Bradley said the information was "common knowl- edge" which his staff would give to anyone interested in a project to dispose of the Toronto area's gar- bage. Mr. Rae tabled in the Legislature a memorandum to James Beatty, a principal in Envacc Resources Inc., from Harry Poch, Envacc's lawyer. The memo, dated Dec. 8, 1988, outlined information which Mr. Poch had "ascertained" from Gary Gallon, a policy adviser in Mr. Bradley's office. Among other things, the memo gave the names of Envacc's four main competitors and the people behind them; discussed the best way to make representations to Premier David Peterson; listed the several proposals that were likely to go before cabinet; and outlined Mr. Bradley's personal views on some of the points at issue, includ- ing the fact that he "may be worried about Mr. Musso (sic) be- ing associated with the project on a public basis. " Mr. Muzzo, one of the largest contributors to the Ontario Liberal Party, is a principal of Envacc. Mr. Gallon said in an interview last night that he was "surprised" by Mr. Rae's remarks. He said he had given the same information to two of Envacc's competitors, to Metro Toronto officials and to envi- ronmental groups. He said it was "not unusual at all" for him to tell Envacc the names of its competitors. "This is a wide-open process and we tell eve- rybody, including environmental groups," Mr. Gallon said. The successful bidder for the waste disposal contract for what the province defines as the greater Toronto area will sign a deal with five regional municipalities in the Toronto area — Metro Toronto, Peel, Halton, Durham and York — to dispose of more than 10,000 tonnes of garbage a day. Mr. Peterson had two private meetings with Mr. Muzzo about the Envacc proposal. The Globe and Mail, quoting from minutes of a June 23, 1988, meeting, reported Bob Rae earlier this year that Mr. Peterson outlined a political strategy for the group. The Premier was quoted as saying that he was "impressed that Marco was involved" in the project. Two months before the last pro- vincial election, Mr. Peterson's family firm, C.M. Peterson Elec- tronics Ltd., was sold for $9.7-mil- lion to Avinda Video Corp., a com- pany controlled by Mr. Muzzo's Consolidated HCI Holdings Corp. The Royal Bank gave Avin a loan to finance the purchase -only after Mr. Muzzo and fiv-.q+ other businessmen signed ersonal cz� FA7 '-Rae charges James Bradley guarantees worth $4.5-million. Mr. Peterson has referred the sale to the conflict -of -interest com- missioner for a ruling. Mr. Rae told reporters that it was "not only unusual, but very improper" for someone in Mr. Gal- lon's position to have given out "detailed information of what is before cabinet, how cabinet is deal- ing with stuff, (and) what the views are of the various players." He said that as far as he knew, only one of Envacc's competitors had been identified publicly at the time the memo was written. He said the document "puts the lie to the argument that this was a company like any other, and that there were no special arrange ments being made." But Mr. Bradley said no special treatment was given, insisting that the information in the memo was "stuff that you could read in the newspaper ... common knowl- edge. " He added that the identity of Envacc's competitors was "noth- ing new at all. " He told reporters that it is Mr. Gallon's job to discuss proposals with "hundreds of people ... who would be proponents for virtually anything." The memorandum, if genuine, only represents Mr. Poch's inter- pretation of what Mr. Gallon had told him, Mr. Bradley said. He emphasized that all proposals will have to go through a full envi- ronmental assessment. Mr. Poch said in an interview yesterday that although the mem- orandum "rings bells," he could not say for certain whether he had written it. Mr. Poch described suggestions that he received inside information from Mr. Gallon as "just crazy." "From what I ga her, everybody was meeting with ev -ybody. " However, he said t at although he was not sure of the p int, he be- lieved that he first heard the names of Envacc's competitors from Mr. Gallon. Snag delays dump deal between Metro, Petrolia By Royson James l TORONM STAR The Metro-Petrolia garbage deal is on hold. Marcel Beaubien, mayor of Petrolia, said yester- day a "legal technicality" has stalled talks between Metro and his town. Because of the snag, the deal won't be signed Monday as planned and a solution could be two or three weeks away. "But the deal is not off, it's on hold," he said in an interview. "We'll do whatever we can to get around the legal hurdle." Beaubien's words were music to the ears of Metro Chairman Alan Tonks. Earlier yesterday, he heard Petrolia had called off plans to accept $32.7 million from Metro in exchange for the rights to dump 2.5 million tonnes of Metro garbage in the town's municipal garbage dump. Petrolia, population 4,500, is 240 kilometres (150 miles) from Metro. Beaubien refused to explain the legal problems. But he said they concern provincial plans for Lamb - ton County to take over garbage disposal in the area, starting Jan. 1. The county threatened last week to challenge the Petrolia-Metro deal in court. rA County officials argued the town should not be bargaining with a dump site that is soon to become county property. But when county lawyers advised that Lambton had a strong moral argument — but not a legal one — county politicians pulled back and said they would only appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. Sources say while the county may not have a legal right to the Petrolia site before Jan. 1, the town is concerned that much of the money from Metro could be gobbled up by the county — be- cause the payments would come after Jan. 1. Metro has insisted it won't pay all the money up front and has put in a conditional offer that be- comes void if the site isn't approved for Metro use. Under the Metro-Petrolia deal, Metro was to: ❑ Pay $11 million up front plus up to $21.75 mil- lion over the life of the dumping agreement for a total of $32.7 million. ❑ Be responsible for perpetual care of the site after it is full. ❑ Build at least two roads leading to the site. ❑ Accept about 7,000 tonnes of Petrolia waste at the site. ❑ Pay royalties and tipping fees to the town. M • -M-etro poised to rati*fy d for dump site O in the Noi4.,h By Jim Byers TORONTO STAR PA�Iong-awaited and desperately needed solution to Metro's garbage crisis could come today. Metro's works committee was expected to meet in private to ratify a potential $362 million deal to ship garbage north to Mrk- land Lake. Much of the trash could be dumped into an aban- doned mine in Boston Township, about six kilometres (four miles) outside Kirkland Lake. „ The deal was approved in principle Tuesday by the Kirkland Lake council. The scheme has also been approved by neighboring Larder Lake council, and last night by another neighbor, Engle - hart council. "It would certainly solve our problems for a long time," a happy Metro works commissioner Bob Ferguson said. "Whether it's for 25 years or 15 years, it's too early to tell. But it's a major deal." Kirkland Lake is 602 kilometres (374 miles) north of Metro. With current dump sites likely to be filled by 1993, Metro has been bearing the bushes for any- one willing to sign a long-term deal to accept our mountains of garbage. Metro has been negotiating for several long-range solutions and the Kirkland Lake deal is one, Ferguson said. More importantly, he said, this is the only one in which the people who would take the trash are happy about the idea. In addition to paying $1.10 per tcanne of garbage — an amount to bo adjusted each year with infla- tion — Metro will contribute $2,0,000 a year to the Kirkland Lake area for a private -sector re- search and development company to study solid -waste issues. That will not only provide good jobs but give the area a solid shot of prestige, Kirkland Lake Mayor Joe Mavrinec said. On top of that, Metro will give the area a early grant of $600,000 to $1 million, he said. And area municipalities will be able to use the site for their own garbage for free as long as Metro uses it. Following Englehart council's approval last night, Deputy M yor Bettyanne Thib said: "Monet ' y, there was a feeling the p 'ect would be very worthwhile. ut there is still a lot of investigating to be done." Even if Metro gives the go- ahead, the plan will have to be ap- proved by the province because the proposed site is in an unincor- porated area, Ferguson said. Meanwhile, Onllia decided yes- terday it will not burn Metro's gar- bage there. Faced with growing local oppo- sition to a plan for a $500-million incinerator, the city's nine alder- men backed down from their earlier approval of the plan, Cana- dian Press reports. In a three -page statement, the city politicians said they are not against incineration, but they are against accepting garbage from Toronto. AE%45IiE4'1VQ9AAM WV 40S FOR LOWz'x TERM GxTA VdM? �AKr MOW A806TTEE Fc ELD�,,., KEEP r�1 M 9 TAT rve jar l -rallW A L L T KE .r. WrLE MAST OF TIE MARTa4trb Mr TEC9q(QUE51 Liberal MPP has had many dealings BY JOCK FERGUSCNi, .� The Globe and Mail Mississauga West MPP Steven Mahoney is the first to admit he's had a lot of dealings over the years with developer Marco Muzzo. "I did a lot of negotiating with (Mr.) Muzzo when he was devel- oping Erin Mills," Mr. Mahoney ,Said in an interview yesterday. "And it's in the public record that he donated money to my election campaigns. "Sure I pushed his Mississauga projects because they were good developments," he said. "I'm used to people saying I'm in bed with ,developers ... but that doesn't mean I'm Muzzo's guy ... I'm the ,city of Mississauga's guy. " Mr. Mahoney was Mississauga -councillor for part of the Erin Mills area — a 1,902-hectare area being developed by Mr. Muzzo and his partners — and head of Missis- sauga's planning committee before he was elected to the Ontario Leg- islature in September,1987. - Mr. Mahoney said his involve- ment with Mr. Muzzo did not end with his election as 4,( provincial legislator. Marco Muzzo Until recently, Mr. Mahoney was lobbying his colleagues in Queen's Park on behalf of Envacc Re- sources Inc., a company in which Mr. Muzzo is a principal that is vy- ing for a contract to dispose of all the garbage from the greater To- ronto area. The contract could be Steven Mahoney worth billions of dollars. Mr. Mahoney said he was intro- duced to Mr. Muzzo's garbage pro- posal by Mississauga development consultant and political bag man John Rogers. "It's a terrific con- cept even if you don't like t peo- ple who are involved with it. It the THE GLOBE AND MAIL, THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1989 A3 with controversial developer - way to go, " Mr. Mahoney said. Mr. Mahoney recently recom- mended that Mr. Rogers be appointed to the Peel Police Com- mission. Both Mr. Rogers and Mr. Muzzo have been in the news recently but have been unavailable for inter- views. "I always tell them they should talk to you," Mr. Mahoney said. "The next time I see Marco I'm going to tell him to talk," he added. When he was a Mississauga councillor, Mr. Mahoney bought a house from one of Mr. Muzzo's companies, Greenpark Homes, in September, 1984. He paid $169,000 for the house at 3381 Swallowdale Court in Erin Mills. A comparison of the sale price of neighboring homes shows that he paid $26,200 and $22,900 less than two of his neighbors paid for houses sold the month before. "I don't think it looks like a dis- count," Mr. Mahoney said when asked about the purchase. "I was told by Greenpark what it would cost. The rumors surrounding my house are a crock. " Land title records show that neighboring houses sold for more money in the month before Mr. Mahoney bought his house. The house next door was bought on Au- gust 30, 1984, for $191,900, while the house. two doors up the street sold three weeks earlier for $195,200. Mr. Mahoney said he got the cash for the downpayment from the sale of his previous home and from assets he had in a real estate com- pany he owned with his brother. In the 1987 provincial election campaign, Mr. Muzzo and his part- ners Alfredo De Gasperis and Ru- dolph Bratty donated $112,650 to the Liberal Party. This is the larg- est donation e—Ver—taorted to an Ontario political party from one group of related companies. Mr. Muzzo and his partners gave favorable housing discounts to a number of municipal politicians and officials in York Region, north of Metro Toronto, in recent years. After The Globe and Mail re- ported these deals in stories last fall, the Liberal government called for a police investigation only into the allegations it said were raised in the newspaper. Last month, York Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police an- nounced that they had found no grounds to lay criminal charges against politicians and municipal officials who received benefits. 'Shun inquiry tal BY TIMOTHY APPLEBY nelled funds from a charity she and LINDA McQUAIG controlled to a variety of political The Globe and Mail allies. Members of the Ontario caFinet 1111, I find this very strange," inter - who have been linked to controver- iProgressive Conservative lead- sial : Liberal fund-raiser Patricia er Andrew Brandt told the Legis- Starr should be excluded from any lature. discussions about the inquiry that will examine her activities, the provincial Legislature was told yesterday, but Deputy Premier Robert Nixon rejected the sugges- tion. Two weeks ago, Premier David Peterson announced a judicial in- quiry to examine the relationship between Mrs. Starr, Tridel Corp. — a leading development company wift whom she is closely associated —Ind with Gordon Ashworth, Mr. Peterson's former top adviser. The inquiry's terms of reference and the name of the judge who will head it are to be set out under an -order-in-council and approved by the Cabinet, which held its weekly meeting yesterday. Neither Mr. Nixon nor Attorney - General Ian Scott would say whether the matter was discussed at yesterday's meeting, held in the absence of Mr. Peterson. Nine cabinet members, plus a number of their junior associates or parliamentary assistants, have received questionable contribu- tions from Mrs. Starr, who chan- "Those members of the cabinet who do in fact have an association with Mrs. Starr — and they know who they are — are in direct con- flict.... They are going to be sit- ting there in judgment and they are going to have some input into the structuring of the inquiry itself." Mr. Nixon responded that the cabinet members involved "have the confidence of the Premier and they are sworn to participate in the duties that are assigned to them." Outside the Legislature, Mr. Nixon said he was surprised to learn that police investigators ex- amining Mr. Ashworth's role in the Starr affair had again raided the former aide's office yesterday morning, this time hauling away dozens of boxes of files. "Forty boxes, gee, " he said. Police sealed off Mr. Ashworth's office the day after he resigned and began examining his files. Mr. Nixon said he had no great concern about confidential docu- ments becoming public as a result of the police inquiries. On June 23, Mr. Ashworth re- ks, Tory tells Starr -linked Liberals Robert Nixon signed from his position as one of the most powerful men in the prov- ince, after admitting he received a refrigerator and a house -painting job, arranged by Mrs. Starr through a subsidiary company of Tridel. Meanwhile, the Ontario Public Trustee is threatening to take legal action against Mrs. Starr and two other directors of her charitable foundation if they fail to repay charitable funds that were inap- propriately spent. In a report to be releas i today, Ontario Public "IYustee , Hugh Paisley calls on Mrs. Starr and the two other directors, Nita Goldband and Lesley Miller, to repay the money or face being taken to civil court by his office to recover the money. Mr. Paisley said yesterday that a five -month investigation by his office has discovered that roughly double the $85,000 that has already been identified was paid out inap- propriately from the charitable funds of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. He said some of this money has been re- paid. Mr. Paisley said that the bulk of this money came from the organi- zation's charitable foundation. Mrs. Starr was president of the foundation and Mrs. Goldband and Mrs. Miller were directors. In addition, Mr. Paisley said that the Toronto Section of the charita- ble group also spent a small amount of money inappropriately, for which a large number of direc- tors will be held responsible, he said. He said that some of the inappro- priate spending was not necessari- ly linked to political campaigns, but was spent, for instance, on chocolates and flowers. A report by law firm Goodman & Goodman, which was called 5n to investigate allegations that the foundation's funds were misu 'ed, identified more than $4,000 in p +.y- ments for flowers and mar than $1,000 hundreds in payments for chocolates. In addition, the law firm's report identified $33,000 in payments made to a numbered company con- trolled by Mrs. Starr. Meetings in Japan show no bia-s for,irlsposal firm, Ontario Grits say GENE ALLEN ential reat ent. -�,�BY The Globe and Mail Mr. Rae told the Legislature that while Mr. Mahoney was in Japan last August A Liberal MPP's meetings in Japan at government expense to look into with representatives of a company seek- waste -disposal methods, he invited con- ing a billion -dollar garbage -disposal sultants who were working for Envacc to contract show that Envacc Resources attend several meetings which he had Inc. got special treatment from the arranged. Ontario government, Opposition leader One of Envacc's principals, developer Bob Rae said yesterday. Marco Muzzo, was among the largest But Deputy Premier Robert Nixon said contributors to the Liberal Party during Mr. Rae's interpretation of events was the 1987 election campaign and was "entirely erroneous," and that MPP involved in the $9.7-million purchase of Steven Mahoney had gone to Japan Premier David Peterson's family firm. "simply to find out the facts in this diffi- According to a memorandum which cult policy area." Mr. Rae tabled in the Legislature, Mr. Mr. Mahoney also insisted that the Peterson had instructed Mr. Mahoney to company had not been given any prefer- "facilitat(e) things" and keep abreast of the Envacc proposal at a meeting with Envacc's principals in June, 1988. The memo was written by D.L. (Douglas) Edgcumbe, who was working as a con- sultant for the company and was one of two men that Mr. Mahoney met in Tokyo. Mr. Mahoney told reporters that re- presentatives of Envacc had arranged to go to Japan to study waste disposal "and it was their suggestion that someone from the government should see exactly what's involved in the Tokyo operation. " Mr. Mahoney was subsequently sent to Tokyo at government expense. While he was there, Ontario govern- ment representatives set up several RAE — Page A3 Ra-q calls Envacc connection a disgnace o From Page Al meetings for him, Mr. Edgcumbe and E.E. Berry, a second Envacc consultant, with Japanese compa- nies. Mr. Mahoney said that he had invited the Envacc representatives to attend the meetings with him and that there was nothing improp- er in this. He said he made it clear at those meetings that the government's in- terest in solving " a serious garbage problem " was his first priority. The five municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area — Metro To- ronto, Peel, Halton, York and Durham — are seeking a way to dispose of more than 10,000 tonnes of garbage a day. Several compa- nies, including Envacc, are in the running for the contract. Mr. Mahoney said he had also spoken to a representative of a sec- ond company seeking the waste - disposal contract. He said he had not met represen- tatives of any other companies be- cause "none of the other companies called me. " His trip was public knowledge at the time, he said, and a report on it Was written for Mr. Peterson. In his dealings with Envacc, Mr. Mahoney said, he had "made it clear from Day One that under no circumstances would they be given any special treatment, that they would have to follow a public pro- cedure, (and) that there would be tendering involved. " Mr. Mahoney, who was first elected to the Legislature in the Liberal sweep of 1987, also said he had received political contributions from Mr. Muzzo which were "with- in the legal limits. " "Mr. Muzzo has contributed to my campaigns in the same way as other companies have, and it's all a matter of public record." But Mr. Rae said the govern- ment's involvement with Envacc was "disgraceful." "I think that to give a leg up to one company ... as the govern- ment has clearly set out to do, makes a mockery of the whole process, " he told reporters. He said the main responsibility for this rests with Mr. Peterson, who originally gave Mr. Mahoney the role of keeping in touch with Envacc: Mr. Edgcumbe's memo of the June, 1988, meeting states that Mr. Peterson "indicated to Steve Ma- honey that he should set up the po- litical end of things with the metro (sic) caucus etc., he indicated that there would be hundreds of prob- lems as this thing went along and that through Steve and Eric (Fleming) as they arose we (Envacc) should come to him. " (Mr. Fleming is an official in the provincial government's office for the Greater Toronto Area.) The memo also said that as the meeting broke up, Mr. Peterson said to Steve that as well as faci- litating things that he should keep abrest (sic) of the project." Mr. Edgcumbe concluded: "The assuption (sic) that I read into his remarks was that Steve in some unofficial capacity should see this through. " Mr. Rae also questioned Mr. Ma - honey's contention that no special treatment was given because he had spoken to a representative of another company besides Envacc. "Did he go to Japan with her?" Mr. Rae asked. "I just think the activities on behalf of one company have been so much greater than on behalf of anybody else. The reality is, the same kind of assistance has not been given to other com- panies. " THE TORONTO STAR, FRIDAY, JULY 7 1 /A11� Premi*erbackedwaste plan, exmpartner say's Edgcumbe said the impression that the% proposal had succeeded remained wh' Envacc representatives met last DecZ with Gardner Church, deputy minister re-,, sponsible for the greater Toronto area. He said Church implied that othe� ;,_. groups would be included in making proposals but would be weeded out until only two remained. Carting waste Edgcumbe admitted that Church did not,s say Envacc would be the ultimate winner;.; adding, "These things are implied." Church dismissed Edgcumbe's conte. tion. "No, it categorically wasn't (implied he said. "There has never been any indica`' tion from anyone, including the Premier that anything but competitive procedur will be used." The Envacc proposal entails carting , Metro's solid waste by rail to a large site''' outside the area. It also involves recycling half of the waste. i MARCO MUZZO: Developer part of consortium seeking government support for waste -disposal project. By Derek Ferguson Toronto Star Premier David Peterson paved the way for a billion -dollar waste -disposal bid once he knew developer Marco Muzzo was be- hind it, charges a former partner in the project. Peterson "did everything he could to grease the wheels and facilitate the project because Marco was involved," Doug Edg- cumbe told The Star yesterday. Edgcumbe was an original partner in a consortium that came to include Muzzo and became Envacc Resources Inc. The group is seeking government support for its waste -disposal project for Metro and surrounding area. Edgcumbe said he was ousted by other members of Envacc in January after criti- cizing the inclusion of costly elements such as a $40 million composting plant designed to sell the public on the enviromental merits of the proposal. The Mississauga consultant said the proposal began to take off after he, Muzzo, and two other partners in the consortium met with Peterson at his Queen's Park of- fice June 23, 1988. "'You guys have got a great idea here,"' Edgcumbe recalled Peterson saying at the meeting. "'I want you to fast -track it and to multi -track."' Edgcumbe said Peterson then told the group to approach, the pertinent regional chairman, since waste dis- posal falls under municipal jurisdiction. He also told the group to F meet with enviromental organizations in a bid . to get them on their side. All this was to be co-ordi- nated through Mississauga Edgcumbe West MPP Steve Mahoney. Mahoney said this week that he thinks Edgcumbe "has an axe to grind. I guess you could call it sour grapes." Both Peterson and Mahoney have denied that Envacc was given special treatment. But Edgcumbe said that after the June 23 meeting with the Premier, Muzzo was sufficiently buoyed to turn his interest in the project into cash. "Shortly after that (meeting), Muzzo committed to $300,000 over the next five or six months. And he made good on that. He wouldn't have put his money in if it wasn't going to go." Muzzo, who refused to comma day, has contributed to both the Liberal party and to Mahoney's campaigns. - Durham -only dump proposal slammed AJAX-PICKERING - Some peo- ple are more than a little concern- ed about the possibility of Durham region owning and operating a landfill site near Whitevale. Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT), says the group wasn't impressed when it saw the terms under which Durham would operate a dump. on Wednesday, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema said the region would own and operate the dump. Metro Toronto politicians and Durham region officials met Wednesday behind closed doors to discuss the landfill. In May, when Durham regional council voted to join the Greater Toronto Authority (GTA) , the region had to offer a site for a possi- ble interim landfill. The region has targetted a tract of land near Whitevale, called P1, as its site. Herrema said the region would make the 200-acre site available for See PACT ... Page 3 O( PACT legal fund raising, FROM PAGE 1 a four-year interim landfill. Dumping would begin in 1992. Metr( would be able to use the land- fill, he aid, but it would cost Metro about $45 million a year in tipping, or dumping, fees. "With these secret meetings, Metro's trying to make the deal for Metro even sweeter than it already is. Metro has the big bucks and the big power. The region• is so anxious to jump into bed with Metro," says Parish. He charges that the region is so eager to work out a deal with Metro that Durham (officials) "have destroyed their negotiating position before they've started. It's going to get out of hand and that's why PACT wants to stop it now." Parish also scoffs at the site being classified as interim. "Calling it a four-year dump is another farce. It has no credibility with us. They're going to develop the THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY, JULY 9, 1989—PAGE 3 off to good start have to pay also concerns Thomas. challenge to the P1 site. The group is "I can see Metro come along and trying to get at least 1,000 people to say it's too much money and I can see sign a pledge and contribute $100 to the him (Herrema) backing down," he fight. says.. Thomas also doubts the site would Parish notes exact figures are t remain an interim landfill, saying available, but he says the campain has been well received. I "There's no way they would go through all this for an interim site." "We've got over 3,000 forms out and we're waiting to get them back. We're PACT has been trying to get also starting a mailing to PACT residents to join the group in a legal members," he adds. °� o oa Ana o ° - a p 6 Z. rD -: r y 0 roads, put in sewers for he leachates and infrastructure. He rema must think we're all stupid," �e says. "They would have to operate it for 20 years to get their money back," he says. Lloyd Thomas, a Whitevale resi- dent, says, "Herrema is partially listening to us about owning and operating the landfill. Now if we can only get him to listen to our concerns about the location of the site..." The amount of money Metro would MPP's mortgage cited,: as Liberals acc us d of backina waste plan,, ­ BY RICHARD MACKIE Mr. Peterson said Mr. Bran The Globe and Mail as wrongly trying "to crea`e The disposition of a Liberal some kind of conspiracy," and t assured him that Environment MPP's mortgage and the altering Minister James Bradley "treats of a secret Environment Ministry everybody with an even hand. " memo were cited by the opposition The Premier also contended that yesterday as evidence that the Ontario there was nothing new in opposition government .is actively promoting a plan for dealing with questions about the activities of Liberal backbencher Steven Mah0- the greater Toronto area's gar- bage. ney, the MPP for Mississauga West, on behalf of Envacc Re Opposition Leader Bob Rae has sources Inc., a group whose bac%-m described the plan as "a licence to ers include Mr. Muzzo. ' print money," and he says a group He suggested that it was unfair including developer Marco Muzzo for Mr. Rae to mention in the Leg - has been given the inside track on islature that the mortgage on Mr` the garbage disposal scheme. Mahoney's house, which wap Premier David Peterson rejected bought from a company linked td this in the Legislature yesterday as Mr. Muzzo, was discharged the d'! nonsense, saying no private negoti- before the MPP asked to meet tz. ations are going on that should be Premier on the Envacc proposals; public. on the garbage disposal scheme. ' ", He also dismissed suggestions Mr. Mahoney said in an inter - that the Environment Ministry view that Mr. Rae was engaging of memo, which deals with the min- "scurrilous character assassina- istry's position on a proposed Peel tion" by releasing details of tle Region garbage dump, was mortgages on his home and linking& changed improperly. them to his interests in waste dij�d Interim Progressive Conserva- posal. tive leader Andrew Brandt had He said he was prepared to put asked why a lawyer for Ronto De- the whole issue in the hands of tqa velopment Corp., which had made conflict -of -interest commissioner: ' a proposal on the dump, was pro- Mr. Rae raised the issue of the vided with the memo. mortgage in questioning Mr. Pe-.' Mr. Brandt also asked why a terson about why Mr. MahonE3/ copy given to the municipality was was en a special in missing a paragraph describing for ago to the greater Torono the political difficulties of Ronto's area's waste disposal problem. proposal. Specifically, Mr. Rae wanted to _ know why the government paid foil Mr. Mahoney to travel to Japan fiy look at waste disposal systems in: co-operation with Envacc officials' and why he attended Envacc boagU meetings. \ _. Mr. Peterson replied that Mr. Mahoney t,as a strong interest its dealing with the waste disposal problem and will advise the gog- ernment on it. He told Mr. Rae that if he thing. Mr. Mahoney has a conflict of it*- terest, he should refer the matterk, the conflict -of -interest commis= sioner. Mr. Rae's office distributed cop-. ies of documents indicating that Mr. Mahoney ei?bt+r�d a $35,000 mortgage on Feb. 15, 1988. On Feb. 16, he wrote to Hershelf Ezrin, who was then principal sec- retary to Mr. Peterson, requesting a meeting to deal with a waste management proposal involving some principals in Envacc. Mr. Mahoney said the $35,0003 was a vendor take -back mortgage that was paid off as part of a refi- nancing of the home in Mississauga that he and his wife bought in Sep-: temberof 1984. Mr. Rae defended the release of these documents. He said he was "documenting — as I think the. public is entitled to — the economic relationship between Mr. Mahoney and individuals associated ultima- tely with Envacc. Beyond the issue of Mr. Ma,- honey's mortgage, however, Mrs' Rae said he is concerned about " confusion of the private interest one company and the public inte r: est of Ontario. " He argued outside the Legis*A, lature that it is inappropriate for$ there to be so much lobbying goinj on on behalf of one company, citi the various ties between Mr. Muz and other Envacc backers and tl*— Liberal government. Mr. Rae contended that the fate of the greater Toronto area's waste disposal is being decided by "an ad hoc government, with the Premier meeting with some people and not with others. " Mr. Peterson defended his ac- tions in encouraging the search for a solution to the waste disposal problem. "It was our view that we should try to assist if possible. We got the regional chairmen together and said, `Would you like us to sit down with you and look at ways of co-ordinating p;<ograms and using our infrastructur 'o assist?' " 5PINIONS TE TORONTO Metro's trash: Who'll cash in on a c�is4s? ETR )'S garbage could be worth $20 million a year. That's the figu e given to Metro councillors in a confiden ial document last week. It shoals how Metro's garbage crisis could make a few people very rich. On Wednesday, Metro works commis- sioner Bob Ferguson gave the politicians his analysis of how much it would cost to dump Metro's garbage in a new, Durham Region site. This new dump would go into operation in 1992 when Metro's own site in the Dur- ham Region is expected to be filled and Metro would use the new dump until 1997. Durham wants to charge tipping fees. Ferguson estimates that if Metro paid Dur- ham the fee Metro itself now charges, $83.33 a tonne (1,000 kilograms), it. would cost Metro V4 million over five years. This woulbe made up of fees Metro would have ,o pay Durham to empty its own trucks • Ind the fees Metro would lose by not collecting from private haulers who I now use Metro landfill sites. If Durham charged Metro $150 a tonne, the tipping fee some private waste manage- ment companies talk about, Metro would lose $421 million. Ferguson then speculates on what would happen if politicians in York Region, just to G d vi The City David Lewis Stein the north of Metro, decided to play Dur- ham's game. If Metro had to pay both York and Dur- ham $83.33 a tonne, Metro would lose $512 million over five years. If the two regions went to $150 a tonne, Metro would lose $934 million. If taking garbage from Metro could be worth almost $1 billion over just five years, imagine how much private companies could make if they had the right to charge tipping fees not only to Metro but to the four other lakeshore urban regions as well — Peel, Halton, Durham and York. I can foresee the scenario that would give private companies control of the garbage dumps. Late Friday afternoon, politicians from Metro and the five regions met and decided ... sort of ... on what they might ask pri- vate companies to do for them. This "call for expressions of interest," was supposed to be ready by mid -July. But it's not ready yet and the way things are going, the politicians will be lucky if they have anything to put out before the end of the year — if ever. Durham Chairman Gary Herrema says the proposal will have to go to his council and the public will have to have their say too. If Durham makes changes, he will have to bring these back to the other regional chairmen. And of course, the other chair- men will be doing the same thing with their councils and there will have to be a whole new round of bargaining. It's all terribly democratic. But by 1993 — or earlier — Metro will have no garbage dumps at all. Enter David Peterson. lie will, tell us that he tried to let local politicians solve the problem but all they did was fight among themselves. Peterson, as Premier of Ontar- io, always has the best interests of his peo- ple at heart, so he is going to form a region- al authority to handle the garbage crisis. Peterson will just happen to have, stand- ing at his elbow, a consortium of private companies who will happily take the gar- bage away — and start charging tipping f ees. Some will suspect that Peterson is trying to give the garbage concession to Envacc Resources because one of Envace's princi- pals, zillionaire developer Marco Muzzo, --- helped finance the sale of the Peterson family company and Peterson himself has been caught having cozy chats with Envacc executives. Peterson will prove that he is not favor- ing Envacc. Envacc will be just one of three or four companies that have to share the garbage concession. After all, it wouldn't be fair for Peterson to punish the whole Envacc company just because of his own involvement with Muzzo. Muzzo will not shed tears because his company didn't get exclusive rights. Clear- ly there is enough money to go around. Politicians have been crying for years that they can't find new places to dump the garbage but it will turn out that the private companies have managed to acquire sever- al sites. Peterson's government will give these quick environmental approval. bme people will object to the possibly dang, rows haste but Peterson will remind us that he is solv- ing a crisis. The companies in the garbage consorti- um will then show us they are not going to exploit the advantage Peterson has given them. They will not charge the $150 a tonne everybody has been expecting. They will charge only $149 a tonne — for the first six months. government flying apart at the seams' f 17-� To the editor:;,0# assistants being implicated with Pat- garbage crisis, I dread to think what The following is a copy of a letter to ti Starr. will happen to anything else that they Ontario premier David Peterson. You have taken away regional touch. Dear Mr. Peterson: government and placed it in the hands Who is running the Ontario govern - I'm really concerned with what's of GTA (Greater Toronto Area). ment? Is it you Mr. Peters or is it happening to our government. I used Under the chairmanship of Gary Her- Mr. Herrema or could it be Patti to think that the Ontario government rema, we see GTA playing blind man's Starr? was one of the most influential govern- bluff with dump sites in the five The only option you have to clean ments in the world, but now I see it fly- regions. The site selected -in Durham up this mess, is to dissolve `TA im- ing apart at the seams. What is hap- beside Whitevale is utterly ridiculous. mediately and return responsible pening? Are we running out of control? Now we hear that GTA, which has no government back to the) elected Your provincial government is being accountability, is looking at: air traf- representatives. Then calla rovincial rocked with political scandal. Daily we fic, transportation and housing. Seeing election and clean up your jwn house. see more elected representatives and the damage that they created with the Lloyd Thomas w on v = �. 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CA CD a. n. � CD CD " � C m� 0-1 to CD Enoo wa�o C Co - o tU En UQ tiomMMm wo (ocoo �t,,� fa o�ate` THE GLOBE AND *on tries to distance' himself from government's tRi :HARD MACKIE Gi be and Mail Ont rio Premier David Peterson tried to distance himself from the troubles embroiling his govern- ment yesterday, some of which have led to the establishment of a judicial inquiry. As the opposition parties tried to tie him more directly to these troubles, the Premier played down) the importance of his meetings with those sc,king a contract to deal with the greater Toronto area's garbage. Mr. Peterson denied any knowl- edge of why a Housing Ministry official was suspended. A Conser- vative MPP suggested it was be- cause the official had links to the Tridel Corp. Housing Minister Chaviva Hosek said she had discussed the sus- pension with officials in Mr. Pe- terson's office, but could not say whether the information had been passed on to the Premier. Sean Goetz-Gadon, who was working as a special adviser to the deputy minister of housing, was suspended on June 30. He had pre- viously worked as executive assis- tant to Ms Hosek and to Skills De- velopment Minister Alvin Curling when he was Housing Minister. His activities are being investi- gated by police because of alle- David Peterson gations of improper dealings with companies doing business with the ministry or groups which it sup- ported. The possibility of a link between Tridel and Mr. Goetz-Gadon, was raised by Conservative Mike Har- ris. He distributed copies of a letter he sent last Thursday to the Ontario Provincial Police and to Deputy Premier Robert Nixon cit- ing allegations Mr. Goetz-Gadon had received gifts from Tridel. Chaviva Hosek His name was linked to that of Patricia Starr two weeks ago when questions were raised about his role in the cancelling of one project to provide housing for the elderly in favor of another project which she allegedly supported. Both Opposition Leader Bob Rae and Conservative Party interim leader Andrew Brandt wanted to know why Mr. Goetz-Gadon's sus- pension was not revealed until last Friday when he had been con- fronted with the allegations on June 29 and suspended on June 30. Ms Hosek said he was suspended because she was told by a person she trusted that there were serious allegations about Mr. Goetz- Gadon's conduct. After consulting with lawyers in the Attorney -Gen- eral's ministry, she turned the matter over to the Metropolitan To- ronto Police for further investi- gation. Attempts by both opposition MPPs and reporters to question Mr. Peterson about the suspension were dismissed with responses such as "you can check with the minister about that. " On the issue of the garbage con- tract, Mr. Peterson said the decis- ion on who will remove the waste from the greater Toronto area will be made by the municipalities involved. "But we will continue to work with them and if they want us to play a co-ordinating role, we'll do so. If they don't, they can solve it on their own, " he said. One of the groups seeking the waste disposal contract includes businessman Marco Muzzo who was also involved in the pur base two years ago of the Peterson _Imi- ly firm, C.M. Peterson Ltd. Mr. Peterson has admitted meet- ing the Muzzo group to discuss its proposal, although he hay stressed repeatedly that the awarding of the contract will be a municipal decis- ion. In the Legislature, when questioned about his dealings with Mr. Muzzo, Mr. Peterson criticized first Mr. Rae then Conservative MPP Robert Runciman. Mr. Rae asked Mr. Peterson whether he had discussed how lu- crative a contract to dispose of waste from the greater Toronto area might be. The area includes Metropolitan Toronto, York, Peel and Halton. Mr. Peterson said that Mr. Rae was making charges that were "unfair" and added that many of the charges "are factually incor- rect. " Mr. Runciman questioned Mr. Peterson about the propriety of dealing with a group that involves Mr. Muzzo, one of the purchasers of � a^.(D w -�U () =0 y n m o-ts ort;* =r'ti Poo D 3�ocoC���o �b .ov w�M co PV ��n �nN V co���n�.� pro�c .�(DEl r v E ro wii oaoaoro n cD m(D Z (Do1J, El ® -i a Cro o'1 o CZ n w �w� o M� o o g &a w o CO 'oyate5oaoxroa— oovao oa9""ti( ro�o(Db : roc��� �I I- xro cow O a� CAo ID - ZEa(D W l(DD f"1 O { A �(D aq 0 a r UQ a R o �— = (D _. Z �i�00 Greater Metros area commit�e6' called `insidious' By Philip Mascoll Toronto Star An umbrella organization creat- ed by the province to help plan the future of the greater Metro area is an "insidious new level of govern- ment," a Durham Region council- lor has charged. Ajax Councillor Pat Clark at- tacked the Greater Toronto Area committee as a group that had se- cret agendas and held meetings "virtually in camera. "If we don't ask questions, we are going to be taken over by an insidious new level of govern- ment," Clark said. The committee was created to address the special municipal in- frastructure needs of Durham, York, Peel, Halton and Metro. It is headed by Gardner Church, Ontar- io's deputy minister for the Metro area. The group's mandate is to look at roads, transportation, housing patterns and population -oriented facilities in the regions. Clark said the group was not able to produce minutes of their meetings over the last six months, but was corrected by Regional Chairman Gary Herrema, who said the minutes had now been put before the provincial ministers. Joint attack Clark was joined in her attack by Oshawa Councillor Brian Nichol- son, who said committee decisions to do with Durham would be made in the cabinet room at Queen's Park. All provincial politicians will look at the power base of popula- tion, Nicholson said. Durham has four MPPs, while the other four regions have a total of 60, which gave them far more power in the Legislature, Nichol- son said. "It will be a case of the flea working with the dog," the council- lor said. "The flea will be riding, but the dog decides where it wants to go." He said the committee will never be accountable to the people of the province because it is not a politi- cal body, but will be making deci- sions that will affect the people. "If the GTA is going to make decisions in the future, everyone here (councillors) might as well go home and watch TV." The argument arose over a recommendation from the finance and administration committee that the Greater Toronto Area committee be supplied with fore- casts of the region's capital expen- diture needs for the next five years. Councillor John Aker of Oshawa disagreed with his colleagues, call- ing the organization the province's attempt to move foward in the area of strategic planning. With the majority of the prov- ince's population centred on Metro, the umbrella organization made the utmost sense, he said. "If we look foward 15 years, we see ei- r�r chaos or well -planned develop - ANGRY COUNCILLORS: Brian Nicholson and Pat Clark oppose committee, Newcastle Councillor Diane Hamre called the committee "a tool" that is making sure the Metro area develops into a high -quality living area. But Herrema said he supported the committee unequivocally. Durham was being left out of the running when it came to roads and development infrastructure, he said. "The GTA is the first in, for Dur• ham," he said. He rejected the idea that the organization would attack the power of the regional councils. "They are just a co-ordinating group, they have no power except to assist in co-ordinating our plan- ning function," Herrema said. "All they can do is help us; they can't hinder us." Durham Council joined the Greater Toronto Area committee, set up in February, on May 17. To join the group, each region had to propose its own landfill site to help the needs of the area surrounding Metro until 1993. Pickering Mayor Wayne Ar- thurs has said he may challenge the organization's right to co-ordi- nate waste management plans among the regions. A6 Fri day�y 13, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR ests set -for potential By Jim Byers TORONTOSTAR 'Test drilling on a potential dump for Metro's garbage near the town of Kirk- land Lake will start next week, Metro's works commissioner says. 'The site, which may be worth $362 mil- lion to the Kirkland Lake area, could be the long-awaited answer to Metro's prayers, said members of a Metro Council committee studying the plan. 'There's tremendous capacity up there," East York Mayor Dave Johnson said yesterday. "If the arrangements can be made it could well handle our garbage for many years to come." Metro Council's works committee ran out of time yesterday before it could ap- prove the Kirkland Lake deal in principle. Committee members, however, said they expect to approve it Aug. 1 and send it on to Metro Council Aug. 15. Just how much the Kirkland Lake site can handle will depend partly on whether Metro can meet the province's target of 50 per cent waste reduction by the year 2000, and whether the other municipal- ities that ship garbage to Metro dumps can do the same, works commissioner Bob Ferguson said. The drilling at the Adams Mine site next week will go a long way to determin- ing whether the rock is as impermeable as people think it is, Kirkland Lake Mayor Joe Mavrinec said. Plans call for the garbage to be shipped north by rail. Much of it would be recy- cled and composted there and the rest dumped into abandoned low-grade ore pits in Boston Township, about six kilo- metres (four miles) outside Kirkland Lake. The deal was approved in principle by the municipal council of Englehart on Wednesday night and by Kirkland Lake's council on Tuesday. The scheme also has been okayed by the Larder Lake council. "Monetarily, there was a feeling the project would be very worthwhile," Englehart deputy mayor Bettyanne Thib said. "But there is still a lot o1 investigat- ing to be done." Ferguson said he hopes to have enough information for Metro Council in about six months for a final decision on how to solve the garbage crunch. The province also will have to okay the deal. But Ferguson said Queen's Park likely will give its blessing now that the three closest local municipalities — Kirk - garbage dump land Lake, Larder Lake and Englehart — have approved the plan, and if tests show it to be enviromentally safe. The province will have to speed up the usual environmental approval process, too, Ferguson added. Previous dump ap- Fprovals have taken up to nine years to get inished, and Metro is likely to run out of room at its current dumps by 1993. Since there's no guarantee that the Kirkland Lake site will be ready by then, Ferguson said, Metro will continue to look at other options for interim dump sites, including dumps in Petrolia, Marmora and the Whitevale area of Pick- ering. A dump in the Rouge River is less likely with the Kirkland Lake site on the way, but it still can't be ruled out, he said. Mavrinec said the deal would create 150 badly needed jobs in the Kirkland Lake area. Ferguson said he couldn't confirm re- ports that the deal is worth $362 million. Metro will pay a certain amount per tonne of garbage it ships, he said, and no- body knows just how much garbage will- be sent. The final price could be lower, or it could be as high as $500 million, he said. In addition to paying an initial $1.10 for each tonne of garbage it sends, Metro will provide $250,000 a year to the Kirkland Lake area for a private -sector research and development company to study solid waste issues, Mavrinec said. As well, Metro will give the area a year- ly grant of $600,000 to $1 million and allow local area municipalities to use the dump for free. F011-c to havesav on Durham dump, chairman declares By Philip Mascoll Toronto Star vale, Herrema says. Durham will Durham Region Chairman Gary set dumping fees at $85 per tonne, Herrema vows that `;eyervone who the rate Metro charges at its concerned" wi a sa in dumps in Maple and Pickering. what is to happen the mumc�pa - The controversial dump, pro- tj s arbage in the future. posed for 80 hectares (200 acres) The region is to hold —a second near the hamlet of Whitevale in series of public meetings on gar- Pickering, could take 6 million bage disposal in the fall. It will tonnes of waste over five years. send a newsletter explaining the If Metro pays the full fee, it Solid Waste Management Master could contribute $500 million over Plan to each household in the re- the five years. But an improved gion. Metro recycling program would Durham's garbage disposal woes cut the costs and fill the dump less were emphasized recently when a quickly, Herrema says. strike, threatened by Metro gar- Regional officials boast that bage workers, would have closed Durham's recycling program is Brock West dump in Pickering, one of the most successful in North where the bulk of Durham's solid America. Last year, the first full garbage goes. The dump is owned year of its blue box program, the and staffed by Metro. region recycled 11,887 tonnes of material. Everyone involved This year is going to be even bet- The strike threat forced Dur- ter, says Ken Donnelly, the re - gion's solid waste operations man- ham ager. for the diposai of garbage if the Early last week, the region start - dump closed, Herrema says. "It showed our dependence on the one ed to isolate tires brought to its landfill site." dumps for recyling. It is also stock - 991025 -master lan i piling discarded household ma- chines, scrap metal, cardboard emg pre*ared by a consor ium and batteries at the dump. e_a�ed byloiac aren .n�meers. Durham is moving away from Toxic taxi its dump -sharing agreement with Metro. The Brock West landfill will The success of recycling depends close next year and Metro and mostly on the co-operation of resi- alurham are esperately seekingternative dents, Donnelly says. sites Herrema says super blue boxes Environmental groups and some — huge versions of the residential regional council members are blue boxes — will be placed around pressuring the region to dump Metro and make its own waste dis- apartment buildings, condomini- ums and town -house complexes posal arrangements. and in industrial and commercial It's vital that ever one possible in areas to collect recyclables. Thy $500.0 __ nroT. eram is to start in the getinvolved suggestin was u _,__ti._-_3'__ ._ fall. Tie Tema says. a m s _ garbap_e, ---•Kere is also a plan for a `toxic - - taxi which will come to homes to Controversial dump collect toxic materials such as "We want them to be part of the decision because it is their gar- bage," he says. "And we are not om o make a decision until everyone has eir y -sa. ' Among t e alterna Ives are incineration — possibly making use of the energy produced — and increased recycling. The re 'an ^ ds a dump, but it may be one for Durham use only. Metro will have to pay the same as everyone else if it uses the re- gional dump proposed for White - "Residents will be able to call us up and we will get rid of the toxic material for them," Herrema says. Durham will spend another $734,500 on recycling, by introduc- ing 9,000 blue boxes in Brock and buying out the leases on four vehi- cles and a baling machine at the recycling centre. Most oft ,is1°" o ey will be recov- ered from capital grants from the Ministry of the Environment and Ontario Multi -Material Recycling 1 Inc. j O O v O 0 y y .moo. o n �uCc) Z.cgx��0 o � `q °: c o 0 Cd ttoQ) a CLa coi cs y C s o a u s CU a zo�oaoi a E CU m ao N O O f1 U 0 O O= C E y ja o o_ o O ca CL C7boa!QF O y 4 cc S.s. F+ co cC W CU /L Ey ° > a= V 0 gEWP ocq Whitevale To the editor: The followK is an open letter to On- tario premier David Peterson. Dear Mr. Peterson: As a resident of Whitevale, I could never understand the selection of my little hamlet as "ground zero" for the new Metro-toronto mega -dump known as P-1. It seemed inconceivable that you would donate valuable provincial land to such a use. This land is 1,000 acres of world -class farmland. This land sits directly over a major acquifer that is life -sustaining to thousands of residents in the area of Whitevale, Greenwood, Brougham and the farms of North Pickering. This is the highest ground in the area and run-off will pollute both the Rouge River and Duf- fins Creek systems. This P-1 site forms the headwaters of the Petticoat Creek which runs through Pickering and directly into Lake Ontario. There are no less than five acknowledged Huron Indian sites including a significant burial ground. The boundaries of the site reach to within 66 feet - the width Ll regrets reterson vole of a road - of the heritage hamlet of Whitevale, threatening directly the safety and viability of an important part of Ontario's past. It seemed to me impossible that this site would be selected for all of those (and more) very good reasons. My astonishment has been compounded by your apparent decision to dispense with a full Environmental Assess- ment. Yet, less than a year ago, your government lead us to believe that no dumps would proceed without full En- vironmental Assessments. We believ- ed you, we trusted you, we put our faith in you. The scales have fallen from our eyes! Our trust has been cruelly misplaced, our faith proven hopeless- ly naive. It is now apparent why the P-1 site will be developed and placed into operation for 30 years or more. Mr. Marco Muzzo, a waste disposal en- trepreneur, wants this site and no one else in Ontario seems to matter. The P-1 site can now be seen to be the ab- solute best, most perfect site possible. The government already owns the land, so it is cheap land within the hot- test real estate market in the country. The site is as close to Metro Toron- to as possible without actually being in Metro, thus not risking critical ur- ban votes. This proximity means it will be cheap to bring the site into opera- tion. Durham is used to smelly, bad dumps so it will be cheap to operate. It helps that the Durham regional chairman acts like a foolish dupe, easi- ly manipulated. Cheap land, close to Metro, cheap preparation, cheap operation, and cheap local govern- ►nent spells only one thing - maximum profits. For 30 years. Maximum pro- fits gouged out of the people of Metro, but at the expense of the people of Whitevale. I guess that is the kind of trade-off you make routinely, but I find it miserably cynical and insensitive to be forced to pay the price of your largesse. A vibrant, vital village is to be destroyed - sacrificed - so that you can help out a friend. Hundreds of lives ruined to repay the favor of selling your business at an outstanding price. This is a very sad situation, and very serious indeed. Obviously, we in Whitevale bitterly regret having voted for you. More importantly, it is now obvious that the people do not matter to you - at least not if profits for your friends are at stake. It is Whitevale and Pickering today. Who will it be tomorrow? Richard Jones, Whitevale ------ ----- NDP leader defends publicising LpberaUMPP's mortgage terms` BY RICHARD MACKIE The Globe and Mail Opposition Leader Bob Rae has defended his publicizing of a Liber- al MPP's moi t" rage arrangements, arguing he was only exposing the financial dealings of someone who was lobbying on behalf of a private firm. But the MPP, Steven Mahoney of Mississauga West, said Mr. Rae has accused him of improper ac- tions and said he will sue the Oppo- sition Leader for libel and slander. Premier David Peterson backed Mr. Mahoney's arguments yester- Oay, promising to appear in court on his behalf and complaining that khere have been too many unsubstantiated accusations made at Queen's Park in recent weeks. Displaying an increased aggres- ; iveness, Mr. Peterson went on the attack against Mr. Rae in the Leg- islature, accusing the Opposition Leader of twisting facts and mis- leading people. Exchanges between the two men have become increasingly bitter as the opposition has spent eight weeks citing government wrong- doings of various degrees and the New Democratic Party has tried to stall passage of the government's amendments to the Workers' Com- pensation Act. The latest issue, which focuses on Mr. Mahoney's mortgages, is what Mr. Rae describes as the gov- ernment's private arrangements in seeking a way to dispose of gar- bage in the Greater Toronto Area. The area, which includes Metropol- itan Toronto, Peel, York, Halton and Durham, faces a garbage crisis. The most prominent propo- sal for disposing of the waste comes from Envacc Resources Inc., a group whose backers include Marco Muzzo. Mr. Muzzo is a prominent devel- oper, a major contributor to the provincial Liberals, and was also involved in the 1987 sale of the Pe- terson family firm, C.M. Peterson Ltd. On Tuesday, Mr. Rae told the Legislature that a $35,000 vendor take -back mortgage on Mr. Ma - honey's home, bought from a com- pany linked to Mr. Muzzo, was dis- charged the day before the MPP inquired about a meeting between the Premier and Envacc represen- tatives. .Mr. Rae said outside the Legis- lature yesterday that he questions "the appropriateness of Mr. Ma - honey's conduct and the fact that he's been an advocate on behalf of a private garbage monopoly. " Mr. Rae said the critical question is not whether Mr. Mahoney had a mortgage held by a company linked to Mr. Muzzo, but whether the public interest will be served in solving the waste disposal prob- lem. He repeated his belief that Mr. Mahoney's activities on behalf of Envacc are inappropriate, and that the MPP "needs to be called to task for them." Mr. Rae also argued that as opposition leader he has "a public obligation to do that." He stressed that: "The material points that I made with respect to the fact he had a financial obliga- tion towards the Elyrin company — which is also connected to Mr. Muzzo— remains true." Mr. Rae issued a press release Tuesday stating that the purchase of Mr. Mahoney's Mississauga home was financed by two mort- gages given to his wife by Elyrin Holdings Ltd. for $80,000 and $35,- 000 in September, 1984. (Mr. Rae said Mr. Muzzo has an interest in Elyrin Holdings.) Mr. Mahoney yesterday disputed this in raising a point of personal privilege in the Legislature. He said the first mortgage was with the Toronto -Dominion Bank and the $35,000 mortgage was a stan- dard vendor take -back mortgage with Elyrin Holdings. He argued there was no link be- tween the discharging of the second mortgage on Feb. 15, 1988, and his asking on Feb. 16 for the Premier to meet Envacc representatives. Mr. Rae also cited a trip Mr. Ma- honey made to Japan where he and Envacc officials studied waste dis- posal techniques and other deal- ings Mr. Mahoney had with Envacc. In his statement, Mr. Mahoney said Mr. Rae's allegations were "false and scurrilous — they have damaged my reputation and that of my family. They have potentially damaged my career in this Legis- lature and they have falsely impugned my integrity." He asked Speaker Hugh Edi- ghoffer to rule that his privileges had been breached so the issue can be referred to the appropriate committee of the Legislature. The Speaker reserved judgment. Mr. Mahoney also said he had met his lawyers to commence legal action against Mr. Rae for his statements and for his press re- lease. He admitted discussing solutions to the garbage problem with Envacc and said he did so because he is concerned about the issue. He argued he was only performing his ,proper role as an MPP. I Mr. Peterson said Mr. Mahoney 'had not sought his permission be- fore launching the suit and added fie understood how Mr. Mahoney was upset. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Pe- terson said: "If you felt your integ- rity had been slandered and if you felt (the truth) had been complete- ly distorted, what would you do? " Mr. Peterson added that "a lot of people's reputations have been hurt" recently. "I think there are many allegations that have gone too far.... I think if you look back over the last month, I've seen many, many allegations that were factually incorrect. "There's a retraction a few days later and who reads the retrac- tion? " Mr. Peterson asked. be < n Greater Metrg�� Area committee' called `insidious' By Philip Mascoll Toronto Star An umbrella organization creat- ed by the province to help plan the future of the greater Metro area is an "insidious new level of govern- ment," a Durham Region council- lor has charged. Ajax Councillor Pat Clark at- tacked the Greater Toronto Area committee as a group that had se- cret agendas and held meetings "virtually in camera. "If we don't ask questions, we are going to be taken over by an insidious new level of govern- ment," Clark said. The committee was created to address the special municipal in- frastructure needs of Durham, York, Peel, Halton and Metro. It is headed by Gardner Church, Ontar- io's deputy minister for the Metro area. The group's mandate is to look at roads, transportation, housing patterns and population -oriented facilities in the regions. Clark said the group was not able to produce minutes of their meetings over the last six months, but was corrected by Regional Chairman Gary Herrema, who said the minutes had now been put before the provincial ministers. Joint attack Clark was joined in her attack by Oshawa Councillor Brian Nichol- son, who said committee decisions to do with Durham would be made in the cabinet room at Queen's Par AN provincial politicians will look t the power base of popula- tion, riicholson said. Durham has four MPPs, while s the other four regions have a total of 60, which gave them far more power in the Legislature, Nichol- son said. "It will be a case of the flea working with the dog," the council- lor said. 1 "The flea will be riding, but the I dog decides where it wants to go." He said the committee will never be accountable to the people of the province because it is not a politi- cal body, but will be making deci- sions that will affect the people. ANGRY COUNCILLORS: Brian Nicholson and Pat Clark oppose committee. "If the GTA is going to make decisions in the future, everyone here (councillors) might as well go home and watch TV." The argument arose ovince r a recommendation from the fi and administration commtee that the Greater Toronto Area committee be supplied with fore- casts of the region's capital expen- diture needs for the next five years. Councillor John Aker of Oshawa di greed with his colleagues, call - in the organization the province's at mpt to move foward in the ar of strategic planning. With the majority of the prov- ince's population centred on Metro, the umbrella organization made the utmost sense, he said. "If we look Toward 15 years, we see ei- ther chaos or well -planned develop- ment." Newcastle Councillor Di ne Hamre called the com mitt "a tool" that is making sure the M tro area develops into a high -qua 'ty living area. -' But Herrema said he supported the committee unequivocally. Durham was being left out of the running when it came to roads and development infrastructure, he said. "The GTA is the first in, for Dur- ham," he said. He rejected the idea that, the organization would attack the power of the regional councils. "They are just a co-ordinating group, they have no power except to assist in co-ordinating our plan- ning function," Herrema said. "All they can d is e p us; they can't hinder us." Durham Council joined .the Greater Toronto Area committee, set up in Febr� May 17. To join the group, each region had -to propose its own landfill site to help the needs of the area surrounding Metro until 1993. Pickering Mayor Wayne Ar- thurs has said he may challenge the organization's right to co-ordi- nate waste mahageinent plans among the regions. VYrI Delziotto�;� tel s party,0� he's victim of `rumors' Elvio DelZotto, president of Tridel Corp., has denied he ever tried to influence the provincial Liberal government. Breaking his long silence in the Patti Starr scandal — in which his firms were named as giving benefits and contribu- tions to provincial politicians and officials — DelZotto last night dismissed the allegations as merely "groundless rumors" that have "amounted to charac- ter assassination." DelZotto, president of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal party, made the com- ments in a short statement he read to a meeting of its execu- tive committee. "You have read allegations that I have been involved in questionable attempts to influ- ence the provincial govern- ment," he told the 25 people present. "Let me assure you that at no time have I been involved in such activities." The statement was greeted by "big applause by everyone in the room," reported Mike Eizenga, executive vice-president, who chaired the closed -door meeting when DelZotto read the state- ment. Height of scandal Eizenga said the executive as well as "an overwhelming majority of Ontario Liberals" do not agree with Premier David Peterson's public call for DelZot- to, to resign from the presidency of the federal wing of the part. Peterson made the suggestion at the height of the scandal in- volving Patti Starr. A promi- nent Liberal fundraiser, she di- verted funds from a Jewish charity to more than 25 politi- cians, mostly provincial Liber- als. Most of the money had come from a tax rebate on a non- profit housing built by Tridel Corp. ,Gordon Ashworth, a 4 ,lopaide to Peterson, resignpkfast month after admitting he hadn't paid for a refrigerator and house painting job arranged by Starr through a Tridel-related compa- ny. The'�o +�ernment has since �- named Justice Lloyd Houlden of the Ontario Court of Appeal to launch public hearings this fall. He'll examilie—MI'relationship between Starr, Tridel Corp. and provincial and municipal politi- cians and officials. In his statement yesterday, DelZotto said he has '`scrupu- Iously avoided any activities which might lead to a suspicion that I am using my position as a Liberal to influence the Ontario government.. . "The stories about my sup- posed activities have fuelled . groundless rumors and have amounted to character assassi- nation." DelZotto thanked federal Liberal leader John Turner and many MPs for standing by him, pointedly ignoring Peterson's call. And without naming Peter- son, DelZotto said: "I've been an active Liberal ...in good times and bad. I do not intend to stop being a Liberal now because the heat is on ." W O a U fA O L. :7 O •O C '-' 'C clv n�Gro ¢da��as C�7C',o�oc N > sr �•' G o 000Do.0 U33N�� w � •n � U O o xE- 08G too � U0 CU cz 30 0ca0 a G U U d0 oco�3co �o3d�oG �yroy�co �•od 3 3 cos � c = t" 0a: o a� does~ CIJ 0a)-> >oo�Uo v aE E �0�3>, Cn d y uo 0 '-> 1010 rn •y Co.- �C;Q�a� 3r fn Q) � co C, G _ � _- A h U o a•3 ,oC? yo W G co a o� DO DO as a g; ocsa as 3 a a G � — O U 03 `n c`no'%gi o� x 0 a c rn CO N rn G rn o 53 t SR r ��OM .DON 1 10 Cn to M. co��G a N a C's C 0-0� e9 00 U M .Y O � cts o •, o �.7 O U 00 Mw 0 C1. o � a>��a �,no� am $ Cz U a p'a� $ nC7 aGi c 3 000 ►o• G 0 0 ca ao E o o a�. 0 3 ►' n.a. �oE�d C7�'�=G .Gp„.-.orn boo aia "p¢o� �,��j� o� Goy co Gi � p cNv .� O o U G •v •«' a0i G rn �y=v3i �w0� c-�,°Cd� �v�y ��Y�oo �y� pn �o�� n�>v v._ as3c asp as CU 3 co G U. h U as n o co O G ocd G a o >, h o w a a> ai'^ v d >, - 0°*.'o royY o.c WE U3�o� 0ti70 mac. �EoG�v �do°q°;o�cm tU. E 0000 hYy�y �Z,J" UCO U "'E 0.Cr aEi y 0 CO d o 2 Cr 0 0 i~. ��. G�OCaF�� Co to t0ycl0. G o� > cv a� o� �Y � o3 C1 a . 0 G G�UZ Cbq lr a� GUrn cdw_ DA'i. U�U0 Uo�Y•cg ,:�co�i�ai Kv �� a`nicov a a� E-&.wxo2°'�-'-�oW«:dx.ngrn7oi ao4i oG�. ��co.-,� -cooco G o o.�o ,.. rna U..,Gd.^ Ov, co ova W DO— U JJ L O 4. f.. y 'C tti U G w a ^ cd — o rn .� G Off.+ y «+ UC co - co U) ?E y ^ ,oa -. 4) 0 'A co " 0 A v E� o ar G s .G• Eo y CU Gr.>a'"i3 0 o� :oo G o 5 o S! CD 0. O 0 0:,� ...� y o.n 0 G O O g o CO —O n ` .in C >> a o0 �- o �' O .'t: .� a co cy o . 3 ���o rn d aco? >< o�aY.H n� Dx 'ate- ao a~� d co a s >,�_ CL) CZ � y o^ G.p�j W-0 U� G co -� to to Uoy>. En co bH y,o co ��a�$ > 0 U w o� o � UcoUG •dF (U«srn A c—.G U OO—Lna'cow�'^ o..» - O•d G cU == O U CL) a�03Q' o�+ CIS �.w oUcovf:Oyv0 ya��yccd 0 a�i�y� 0.o cum 2 0 CUC ai S. 'd H ' w a~.+ CCo .= 0 PAGE 8—THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY, JULY 16, 1989 'omposting to be studied :a 1 B� WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Ajax councillor Pat Clark had a prophecy come true at Wednesday's regional council meeting. About three months ago, Clark warned that authorities involved in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) waste management plan would get involved in business other than gar- bage. At that time, few councillors DURHAM - Durham region will spend $15,000 to see if burning wood will create energy. On Wednesday, the region ap- proved spending the money to have Proctor and Redfern study the feasibility of burning waste wood, such as from a construction site, to :YINI11 believed her or cared to listen. On Wednesday, council approv- ed sending its five-year forecast to the GTA co-ordinating committee for it to review before lobbying the province for funds. The committee says it will advise the province on needs of GTA municipalities which include Durham, Metro, Halton, Peel and York. Clark told council she found this "very interesting. Two to three o R G o o cn o oao ti o m m �ooacxo °m' w� o w °-cnmR y�tim'bm7r-V a S7 o m m a' tv o 't�7r �•� a. ti m o w aQ Cn En ID I G cn o m e p m r El -Iamom Mx�o`�°o�fD�O"Dw cn co 0 0 UQ n CL aoa� �a oEn • om Ep �q ma.op o recover energy at the Duff in Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. Energy from the burning wood would be used as a fuel to burn sludge at the sewage plant, says Ken Donnelly of the region's works department. He explains that the plant ac- 7ti F: months ago, I stood up and said the things I'm going to say today." Clark again warned of GTA having no statutory authority and holding meetings not open to the public. She repeated what she'd said months ago about the GTA handling public business in a "very private manner". Other councillors' concerns about the GTA co-ordinating committee "pleased" Clark. However, she cepts sewage from both Durham and York. More importantly, says Donnelly, burning the wood, in- stead of landfilling it, will help the region in its goal of reducing waste going into landfills by 25 per cent by 1992. The region will also spend $42,000 to study the feasibilit composting system. Officials say compostable food waste and organics are projected to comprise almost 27 per cent of the waste generated in the region in 1992. :4:11 Y.111.`111 noted in conclusion, "We're already in bed with them." (Durham decided earlier this year to join the GTA.) Oshawa councillor Linda Dionne, a strong proponent of the GTA when Durham joined it earlier this year, also expressed concern about the committee. She said it lacks substance. "In the creation of another level of government, there will be no pro- an cn a� goon x.R Cn' ? ob c<D x O m O ,off N g,O o co 3 �x o� z-a =r 9IRL co c M oom��� Em�mmm m,.Yo'm�.y,o m `� 0. m (D• y O f�D w on � 7 O ti gy m£ , aW O O.w o .<ma En6- ,c.�� CD . m TK O• y CD U4 N G R x' r. ..j .b fD O� ° < a m r o Ga ° cmo �w'�o CA o a ? m [� cJD co Ln d (p o ID w o co v < mn�cD oaa �G7~ �� ID >c x m tiCD m a co cr CDI,,B CD Go Go CD Q§ tection for small municipalities," she said, adding that, in the GTA, Oshawa would be one of those small municipalities. "We're going to be left very much in the dark. "We should be requiring the premier to set up a (system) b which we as elected officials hA some control." Oshawa councillor and works committee chairman John Aker See DURHAM ... Page 8 PACE 6-A-THE NEWS ADVERTISER, Jl'1.1' 14, 148!1 Rebellion of '89 Garbage was the issue and the formation of a GTA (Greater Toronto Area) committee was the answer. That, however, turned out to be true only on the surface. Underneath the shine and shimmer of the GTA formation, some perceived what could be called a greater evil. Born in the provincial government backrooms with co- operation from chairmen of five area regional municipalities, the GTA was announced with the type of fanfare usually reserv- ed for events like the announcement of the SkyDome. Until that announcement, even those who follow local politics knew nothing about it. Then, as quickly as Ontario premier David Peterson could read his prepared speech, residents of Durham, Metro, Halton, Peel and York suddenly had something else in common, other than the existing provincial and federal levels of government. Depending on who you ask, the GTA will or won't turn into another level of bureaucrats and over -priced politicians who either can't or won't make the effort to find out exactly what's going on and how to handle it. In addition, and this is the most ominous aspect, the GTA was formed and its members chosen in private even though it has the potential for a great amount of political and public power. t r� The GTA, as it exists, is accountable to no one. There isn't even any information or guidelines available as to a budget, staffing, legislative authority or a basic mandate. What we have is a handful of people who, by virtue only of being in the right place at the right time, have the potential to take control of our garbage disposal and recycling efforts, transportation. and who knows what else. We deserve better than to have politicians who don't repre- sent us pretending they do represent us. Wasn't there a rebellion a while back about this sort of thing? 4. EAST/ THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAI, JULl 18, 1989 to � W r0 0 V La O > Z O bD `� >> U L U C ..U. U ❑ > c L -O U Qa N' noL � E.o E bO c Ts an c a, y a F ca w U o wo a� E.nnca o —a CU O Gr O U U LLc�tioao�-ocoo� d o c g ao. ao oc. -o ci�'�ivo o -ro��> L 3 � (0) 4) �w W OLU 1~+�' O U Y C yto e w d ccto:Inccaocoai I- cao: .�,3otipro>oca�v, `off olto cz cz °'� E•��,�cc�n� U-C��+ 'cc F' p a+P�.+ y,;;.aU.1 o deader questions plans for garbage The Durham Region Master Plan for solid waste management has been touted as the glory road to victory over our waste disposal problem. Considerable research has demonstrated to me, however, that the plan is mostly conjecture. Any plan, no matter how nebu- lous, should have the following among its fundamental alterna- tives: ❑ Recycling; ❑ Backyard and central compost- ing; ❑ Incineration with or without an energy -from -waste facility; ❑ Landfill sites. If these fundamentals are incu- bating in the minds of whoever will draft the plan, the public needs an- swers to several questions: Will landfill royalties and re- bates be directed to the recycling alternative? Recycling, initially, will be expensive. What technology is available to handle the huge volume? Where will the facilities be locat- ed? Will they be exclusively for Durham? Will there be penalties for those who neglect or refuse to sort their waste? Central composting will form the major if not the entire means of implementing this alternative. Where will the central composting site be located? Will it be for Dur- ham only? Incineration with an energy - from -waste facility is believed to be no more hazardous to the envi- ronment than a landfill site. With that thought in mind, where will the incinerator(s) be located? If there is an energy -from -waste facility in conjunction with the incinerator, it will need to be near General Motors and/or Atlantic Packaging because they are identi- fied as the only potential consum- ers of the energy. Are the people of Oshawa aware of the ramifications of this alterna- tive and of the need for a landfill sit44or-rn—cinerator ash? Do they realize as well that Metro garbage will be trucked in to provide sufficient fuel? Finally, the landfill site. Even if the most optimistic targets for waste reduction are obtained, landfill sites, due to population growth, will be necessary. Three sites were identified in Durham as meeting the require- ments before the advent of P-1 (the proposed Whitevale dump site). They were N-2 Newcastle, Brock North and Brock South in Picker- ing. Let's not forget that expropria- tion can and will be used if neces- sary and exemption from a full environmental assessment can and will be acquired if necessary. One need only to read the Metro studies and works department corre- spondence to verify this intent. Clearly, a Durham -only solutie , is much less threatening. The GT. (Greater Toronto Area) is a brim• patch. Council has bought a pig -in -a - poke. Council has dropped its load on its successors. ❑ What happens after interim I P-1? Is the word interim a decep- tion? Is P-1 part of the megasite? ❑ Does council really wish to place a future_ council in a situation where it will have only two out of 10 votes? ❑ Does council know something we citizens have yet to be told? If not, we are all in trouble for no one knows where we are headed. P-1 is a knee-jerk response. ❑ Is P-1 available to Durham if we are not part of GTA.? ❑ Is the Durham master plan separate and distinct from the GTA master plan? ❑ What will be the access routes from Durham to P-1? In a letter dated Aug. 4, 1988, from the commissioner of works to the Metro works committee, com- pensation was recommended `,r homeowners adversely affecte Is Durham Council prepareT tt compensate homeowners adjacent to P-1 for property depreciation, water contamination, and/or numerous vrhVT—possible hard- ships? AL WARD Markham Liberal denies a'6mp plan confli*ct� _" " By Kevin Donovan Toronto Star The treasurer of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal Party was one of the key players in a pri- vate company accused of getting political favoritism in its bid for a billion dollar garbage contract, corporate documents show. Milton Mowbray, Liberal treas- urer for three years and a provin- cial Liberal riding chairman for five years, was president of En- vacc Resources Inc. until a corpo- rate restructuring last December. Mowbray, a senior partner at the law firm representing Envacc, retains a financial share of the company. Envacc has met with Premier David Peterson and government officials, prompting charges that it has an inside track over other companies in getting the contract. But in an interview yesterday, Mowbray said he sees no conflict in his role as Liberal treasurer and backer of a company seeking a contract that will, in part, need provincial government approval. "I have not tried to get any advantage out of it in any way," he said. o m M :3 r � `� -+'mob d � xoa � ooa ona o m ^us •u < O '-S fD O v, d �7 y O•� 0mn �� n y ry �yy tioinbcbC 0cDnE3W '2' -1y oO ��• cD n o < G°,b n. o n r� .., (D n y O ems•. r� y �. r C C L. (D CD (D K Oar. < as < W O O O' w t, O cD Co O o �� 'y �mn a�cDACD03 n d¢o �• CrJ CD r: �cC � ivy ��owl W51D tj ID r'� o D �� aq - o M Cr °tco' CD O Q•Vn'i•O ram•'G7 M _� p- (20 cC 0 DJ O C �`< a•d004 i M c�D d d C v, y a,A (� G7 n�yn� 3�`° a fl,oc`o °i•c�Do ?<°i � m cDb� c~oo=U Sd�< O ry, O� Cr 0 n �mZs�O �00 v,G�Pc�D ��-fD+�� m� CA IDm��ecD b 0 gn`'Co cD a" s C m a ti ~ !31 "I don't really see why the fact that I happen to be the treasurer of the party has got to be an obstacle to my doing things that other peo- ple can do," Mowbray said. Envacc is one of 12 groups vying for the lucrative contract to dis- pose of garbage created by the re- gions of Metro, Halton, Peel, York and Durham. This fall, the five regions and the province are expected to ask for proposals to solve the garbage crisis. Regional dump sites are fill- ing up fast at a rate of 12,000 tonnes a day and the regions are WW 0 c � looking for innovative ays of solving the problem. Opposition MPPs have c urged that Envacc has the government's ear because of the Peterson meet- ing and because Liberal MPP Steve Mahoney joined company officials on a fact-finding trip to Japan. They are also incensed that one of Envacc's largest backers is developer Marco Muzzo, a fre- quent contributor to Liberal elec- tion campaigns. While Peterson has said the re- gions will make the final decision, the province will have a great deal of input because it is acting as a liaison between them. The final proposal will also have to be cleared by the province at environmental assessment hear- ings. Envacc proposes a mega waste management si a using Italian technology tha would separate and recycle as mu ,h as 60 per cent of the garbage. Mowbray got involved with En- vacc because the law firm he is a senior partner with — Gardiner, Please see EX-ENVACC/page A13 I Tonfu popts indicate Indian sites on dump land By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter WHITEVALE - The proposed P1 dump lands may contain ar- cheologically significant Indian sites, evidence shows. However, the evidence is in- conclusive and even contradictory. Records on file with the heritage branch of the Ontario ministry of citizenship and culture are "confus- ing" says Kathy Gray, archeology data co-ordinator. Garnet Beare and his wife Shirley examine Indian ar- rowheads and pieces of pot- tery found on their Whitevale farm. The tray of artifacts pictured here is only part of an extensive collection Gray says a report dated 1972 shows records information provided by ar- five Indian sites on lot 34, concession cheologists and is "not responsible for four -- the Pi area nominated for a the accuracy" of any report. Durham -Metro shared dump. But, However, the strongest evidence of subsequent reports indicate those five Indian sites on Pi may well come from sites are south of Pl. Whitevale farmer Garnet Beare, who Another archeological survey under- has an extensive collection of Indian taken in 1972 indicates two Iroquois artifacts he's found on his land. settlement sites near P1. But, when the Beare's 116-acre farm occupies the survey report was written, the sites southwest corner of the proposed were identified as being on the Pi land. dump. Beare's collection was started "Where they are is a good question," 40 years ago by his father. says Gray. She explains the ministry See REPORTS ........ Page A5 FROM PAGE Al "I've found a bit of everything -- pot- tery, human bones, smoking pipes and beads," says Beare. "Every year when you're working the land you find something." Beare's collection was examined and authenticated by officials from the Royal Ontario Museum years ago. Beare is in the process of moving from the government -expropriated farm his grandfather purchased in 1902, and his collection is going with him. Pickering Local Architectural Con- servation Advisory Committee (LACAC) chairman Anna Willson maintains there may be as many as four or five Iroquois sites "near the centre" of the proposed dump. In a let- ter to the Association c Iroquois and . Treaty Indians, i�W llson mentions an Indian burial site on PI and writes that, without an Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) hearing of Pi, "...All evidence of the native presence will be lost forever." s `• Ontario Metis and Aboriginal Association president Charles Recollet concurs. In a letter dated May 31, Recollet urges provincial environment minister Jim Bradley to order an EAA hearing of P1. Recollet says that, to date, Bradley has not replied. "I guess it's not a priority with him." Bradley's press secretary did not return the News Advertiser's telephone messages. An EAA hearing would require cultural and social impacts of the pro- posed dump to be studied. But the En- vironmental Protection Act (EPA) hearing Bradley has approved for the site requires the study of soil, air and water only. Consultants hired by Durham region are preseptly testing soil on Pi in the fiv -' e of an EPA. Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs was unaware of the possible Indian sites on PI until contacted by the News Advertiser. However, Arthurs says he'll look into the issue. IIIIIIIIIIIIIII111i 1�4whryNN Yet another trash company has made a e6nnection to the inner circles of the provincial Liberal party. Waste Management Inc., con- sidered the largest private gar- bage collection firm in North America, has hired the firm of Hill and Knowlton to do public relations for a controversial landfill site at Innisfil, near Lake Simcoe. The chief executive officer of Hill and Knowlton Canada Inc. is David MacNaughton, the man who co -managed Premier David Peterson's 1987 election cam- paign. Peterson has come under at- tack for his friendliness to En- vacc Natural Refources Inc., another large waste manage- ment company. E vacc is offer- ing to take the larbage from Metro Toronto and the four sur- rounding regions — York, Peel, Halton and Durham. A recent report from the Metro works commissioner said tipping fees for trash from Metro alone could be worth a stunning $200 million a year. Marco Muzzo, a wealthy developer in the region of York and a partner in Envacc, helped finance the sale of the Peterson family company and is a promi- nent contributor to the Liberal party. Peterson held a private meet- ing with Envacc executives to talk about their proposal. One would certainly expect Waste Management to become one of the-comnries competing with Envacc. But Keith Carra- gin, president of Waste Manage- ment's Canadian operation, says that his company hasn't made anv moves yet. fie's waiting until the chair- men of the five regions — what Peterson has tak n to calling "The Greronto Area," come up with the terms for the "expressions of interest." WILL DECIDE When Waste Management sees what the chairmen want, Carra- gin says, the company will de- cide whether to enter a bid or not. Meantime, they are just using MacNaughton and Hill and Knowlton to do this little job up around Lake Simcoe. A group of nine municipalities at the south- ern end of Simcoe Township has been using a privately owned dump that's running out of ca- pacity. A consultant has identi- fied a possible new site and Waste Management is offering to develop it. But what do they need Mac - Naughton and Hill and Knowl- ton for? MacNaughton says the job of Hill and Knowlton is to "advise them (Waste Management) on the strategy for dealing with the public, the media and the federal and provincial governments." Opposition to the site is al- ready building up and there has been criticism of the politicians for listening to Waste Manage- ment's proposal. Some people are saying development of the landfill site should go out for a proposal call. MacNaughton said that if Waste Management does devel- op the site, it would have to go through the full provincial envi- ronment assessment procedure and he himself does not feel any conflict of interest because of his close ties to the provincial Liber- al party. "I have not spoken to Peter- son, (Environmental minister Jim) Bradley or to any provin- cial official," MacNaughton says. Furthermore, MacNaughton says, he is not the only person working on the Waste Manage- ment account. "There is also Phil Gillies, who is not exactly a Liberal (Gillies, is a former Tory MPP)," Mac - Naughton says. "And there is John Piper, a card carrying member of the NOT.' The Innisfil dump would have capacity for about 2,000 tonnes (a tonne is 1,000 kilograms) but only about 25 per cent of this would be needed for residential garbage from the Simcoe area, the president of Waste Manage- ment says. The rest of the capacity, some 1,500 tonnes a day, could be, a`sed to take tras�cted from of- fices and factories in the Metro area. Waste Management has some 125 trucks collecting trash in the Metro area but does not have a landfill site of its own in this area. The great metropolitan gar- bage game continues. i O 2 O U w U O w O y cr .� CZ _�d M y O O >Q)F'�a.00:� V a� � C a) a) 'a , bD a, � Ln3 i III Premier suggests new provincial BY RICHARD MACKIE The Globe and Mail A government -run authority could be established to handle the massive and growing waste dispo- sal problem of the Greater Toronto area although initial work on the project has been done by private interests, Premier David Peterson said yesterday. The authority, in turn, could con- tract with private companies to re- cycle parts of the waste such as paper, metals, plastic and glass, he said. A decision on handling the waste will be made by the five regional governments involved — Metro To- ronto, York, Durham, Halton and Peel regions, Mr. Peterson said outside the Legislature. The chairmen of those regions work together as the Greater To- ronto Area Co-ordinating Com- mittee. Also on the committee is Gardner Church, a deputy minister in the Treasury Ministry who acts as the co-ordinator of the group and ensures that its work is done in concert with work at the provincial level. Mr. Peterson's comment came after an exchange in the Legis- lature with Opposition Leader Bob Rae, who argued the whole question of waste disposal should be dealt with in the public sector ansfi-sho—Wd not be turned over to a private consortium. The New Democratic Leader asked the Premier whether he was "going to stand up for the public sector and for protection of the consumer, or is he going to see it go off to the private sector and the investors who have such a stake in seeing that it is run for a profit and not for public interest? " work with the regional govern- ments to try to find "a co-ordinated solution. " He said the provincial govern- ment does not have any precon- ceived ideas on how to solve the area's garbage problem. Dumps in the area are close to being full, and common estimates are that they will have no more room for garbage after 1993. The Greater Toronto Area Co-ordinat- ing Committee is looking for a so- lution to this problem. It could involve the short-term dumping of garbage somewhere else. Over the longer term, the com- mittee is looking for a system that would transport the garbage out of the region, separate the recyclable material and permanently and safely bury the est. Mr. Peterson replied that the One of the bolder proposals so far provincial government will not has come from Envacc Resources make the final decisigp but will Inc But on its nrominent_back_ THE GLOBE AND MAIL, THURSDAY. JULY 20. 1989 A17 body on Toronto waste probler� ers is Marco Muzzo, a major devel- oper in the area who has also con- tributed to Liberal campaigns and who was involved in the purchase of the Petersons' family firm, C. M. Peterson Co. Ltd. As a result, the Envacc involve- ment and the whole issue of waste disposal for the region is politically touchy for thi.government. Many peop e, including Mr. Rae, believe that jVIr. Church, backed by the authorit of the government, can manoeuvre the regional chairmen into decisions that the province wants_ Mr. Peterson tried to counter this suspicion yesterday by emphasiz- ing that the regions will be res- ponsible for the final decision. "They may use the private sector to do the recovery of the paper, the handled in the area, which should glass, the metal. They may put that open it up to more possible ' rtici- out for tenders or contracts. pants. "It (the waste authority) may be They are "looking for express - some kind of amalgam" involving public and private interests, Mr. Peterson said. "It may be com- pletely a public utility and they would ask the provincial govern- ment to bring forward legislation to create a garbage authority or utili- ty. It's in their hands." The Premier added that "we don't know how many regions are in for sure. They are all looking at it," but only two or three may be involved in the waste management authority when it is created. Mr. Peterson also noted that the regional chairmen have added a preliminary step to the process of determining how waste will be ions of interest. They will talk to people who may have something to contribute ... looking at technolo- gies around the world. " Mr. Rae argued that only a pub- lic waste management authority could meet the needs of the Greater Toronto area without putting them ahead of private interests. By contrast, "private interests could accumulate millions of dol- lars in windfall gains from high tipping (disposal) fees at landfill sites, " he said. These interests would emphasize garbage disposal over recycling because it would be more profita- ble, Mr. Rae said. Cost of Halton dumes�e�arch��ceuecFhse_ BY GAR WEBB-PROCTOR the first full environmental assess- work on the a proved site now to Special to The Globe and Mail ment hearing for a municipal meet that deadline. That cannot OAKVILLE, Ont. The cost of Halton QPgion's seemingly endless quest fora Aft dump could jump by $20-million more because of a private court appeal against provincial approval of a site, regional council learned yesterday. Previously, regional officials had calculated that the final cost of the 15-year dump search could reach more than $50-million — not including what local municipalities have spent on lawyers and consul- tants to squabble over which of two sites should be chosen. A provincial decision in 1979 approving a Milton site selected af- ter three years of looking was over- turned by the Ontario cabinet in 1981. That led to the current search, which has had to weave through dump. happen until all legal obstacles are Halton has already spent more removed. than $30-million, and the tab will-,, Further delays and additional le - keep rising by about $800,000 a gair-Nind consultant expensrrs, if , month as long as the region must court challenges have to be parried continue to pay to have its garbage could easily push the final cost of hauled to private disposal facilities the search to more than $70-mil- in the United States. This became lion. necessary when the old dump be- "If they're successful in getting a came full last year. review, it will delay us another six Although the cabinet has months at least, but probably more like two years since there would be I approved the Consolidated Hearing appeals of that decision," Regional Board's selection of another Milton Chairmann Peter Pomeroy said in site for the new dump, a company an interview yesterday. that stands to lose millions of dollars because of the wording of An even more expensive - the board's decision has applied to . Pome- io could be in the offing, Mr. ome co roy noted. "If the company should the Divisional Court for a judicial be successful in having the hearing review. decision set aside, it would mean The region has been hoping to we'd be back at square one and open the new dump in 1992, but it have to hold another hearing," he would have to start preliminary said. h N t' I S e co mpany, ompany, a Iona ewer Pipe, owns land next to the rejected Burlington site, which it had planned to either incorporate into the regional dump or use as a pri- vate disposal site. But the board's ruling described the area, near the now -full previ- ous dump, as being totally unsuita- ble for any further waste disposal, effectively scuttling the company's plans and reducing the value of its land by millions of dollars, Mr. Po- meroy said. The company says in its appli- cation that the hearing board "re- jected the uncontroverted evidence of every hydrogeologist who tes- tified" and "acted arbitrarily and exceeded its jurisdiMtion and breached the rules of niatural jus- tice" in its decision. a c 'Where to dUMP worlds garbage? The dumping of garbage and toxic wastes in Canada and around the world has become a crisis of enormous proportions. Metro is up to its gutters in garbage, and surrounding communities don't want it in their backyards. Yet, Ontario municipal dumps are reaching capacity, and, within three years, most active sites — 1,400 in Ontario and 3,600 across Canada — will be full. What can be done? The answer lies in a number of industrial and inter- governmental co-operative strategies that include recycling, improved incineration techniques, less hazardous packaging, secure landfills and chemical treatment plants for toxic materials. And cleanups of dangerous toxic chemicals in rivers, on land and in the air. A start in this direction has been made in Ontario and Canada. But rising costs, scarce treatment and disposal capacity, and public opposition to the location of new facilities plague waste programs everywhere, not just in Canada. In fact, there is growing outrage at industrialized nations for dumping millions of tonnes of toxic chemicals in such developing countries as Nigeria, Haiti, Benin and Guinea. Consider what's happening: ❑ For $1 a tonne, The Netherlands Antilles allows U.S. household garbage to be dumped on an offshore barrier reef; ❑ 'Iri the West African nation of Guinea, 15,000 tonnes of toxic ash *from Philadelphia were illegally dumped from a Norwegian ship, killing plant and animal life; Q M'Nigeria, 3,800 tonnes of waste from Italy, including 150 tonnes of cancer -causing PCBs and radioactive waste, were dumped over 10 months in a scam involving Nigerian government officials, 25 of whom have been threatened with death by firing squad. At a recent meeting of the Organization of African Unity, delegates howled against "colonialist garbage" and "toxic terrorism" that is being thrust on the Third World with no concern for morality or safety. Some Third World countries are now cancelling contracts with waste disposal firms. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which groups Western industrialized nations, has agreed on three important principles: equally strict controlg'on shipment to non-member countries; prior notification to and consent from the country of final destination; and a guarantee of existence of adequate disposal facilities in the recipient country. W - wide acceptance of those principles is a necessary first step in this global crisis. And Ontario and Canada can do their part through example and leadership. Ajax & Pickering AM A JUST UNDER 300 STORES & SERVICES TO SERVE YOU VOL. 108, NO. 29 70 CENTS WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1989 CIRCULATION 32,000 64 PAGES Soil testing carried out beyond P1 dump boundaries Envacc won't get garbage contract: HeppemBy JUDI BOBBI! a�N c m � a �•o o a.� � < o � aac�o � o � T F �_c co y �co c'3 y a D ao m C a D ym CL w ID or' oc yco-ESe�co a� n c n c'o m -3°' o trJnw CL E�� 0°c oA�� o�owa a o r: Cd co a v CL s < o 0 o m y a, as 0�comn co�wo� ���� ado y�wwN `3 con a.' E~,Zt~c CoID CD o v c10D_ m y (D c x < a E -" a� o `° N bao R-s C'� 0o�w oc���cva.F oo�o �am�m °��� ID -- tQ aw�avo�� < a. cao caoID `a o 5 m y c cac a�a°a o fD �c"cQC1 aam Pickering Reporter DURHAM - No private firm -- Envacc Resources included -- will be awarded a contract under the Greater Toronto Area's (GTA) waste manage- ment master plan, says Gary Herrema, chairman of Durham region. Instead, Herrema says, "We'll form our own public corporation owned by all the (GTA) regions and award a contract. We'll probably end up work- ing with the host municipality. I expect we'll own our own (landfill) sites and incinerators by the year 2000. Nobody is going to get a $1-billion contract. It won't be handed out to a private firm." ' He adds that no one, including En- vacc, has approached the GTA with a contract proposal. Envacc -- En- vironmentally Accountability Group -- is a company said to be interested in .. See NO... Page A10 j w° ID G7 C" ti C7 _ a Co CD °' ofDi M -s < co � a ° a`< o n d:r ° co ° 0)fD = p= o cn w ° = w ° io °? 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CDnook �■ CD Ca C7 — Ontario) -i Commission of Inquiry Into the Relationship detween Certain Individuals and Corporations and Elected and Unelected Public Officials NOTICE This Inquiry has been constituted pursuant to Order -in -Council dated July 6, 1989, pursuant to the provisions of the Public Inquiries Act, R.S.O.1980, chapter 411: (1) to investigate: (i) the nature and extent of the dealings between Patricia Starr and elected and unelected public officials; (ii) the nature and extent of the dealings between Patricia Starr and private individuals, corporations, unincorpo- rated bodies and charities in relation to elected and unelected public officials; (iii) the nature and extent of the dealings between Tridel Corporation; companies related to Tridel Corporation; representatives, officers, employees or officials of Tridel Corporation; representatives, officers, employees or offi- cials of companies related to Tridel Corporation, and elected and unelected public officials; (iv) the nature and extent of the dealings between Tridel Corporation; companies related to Tridel Corporation; representatives, officers, employees or officials of Tridel Corporation; representatives, officers, employees or offi- cials of companies related to Tridel Corporation and private individuals, corporations, unincorporated bodies and charities in relation to elected and unelected public officials. (2) to inquire into and report upon any such circumstances or dealings where, in the opinion of the Commissioner, there is sufficient evidence that a benefit, advantage or reward of any kind was conferred upon an elected or unelected public official or upon any member of the family of any elected or unelected public official, or where, in the opinion of the Commissioner, there is sufficient evidence that there was any agreement or attempt to confer a benefit, advantage or reward of any kind upon an elected or unelected public official or upon any member of the family of an elected or unelected public official. And that nothing set out above shall be taken as in any way limiting the right of the Commissioner to petition the Lieutenant Governor in Council to expand the terms of reference to cover any matter that he may deem neces- sary as a result of information coming to his attention during the course of the investigation or inquiry. All persons who wish to give evidence at the Inquiry or who have information they believe will be of interest to the Inquiry, are requested to communicate by writing or by telephone with: John W. Brown, Q.C. Commission Counsel The Commission's address and telephone number are shown below. Call (collect) between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. L C C v, CY) a.o L (� c c o �`� °aT L co c� U U .v O O Z _ .0 LL 6 7 a) a) Cz U -0 a� U) c c 75 �3E ° NNrn 0 rn U C _ —o >, ? 0 N () � _ a� �C= m �C T o� T � °i�cocav °a� c U arcE C(3) -d V1 C J C � -0O c ° ~ a) "d , cca .2.U) 70 O E a) a) L 7 ;_ -0 vS a> 20 E 3 i; o aai E 0 c, o 2 is -, U 6 C,UCOLu Y rt What do you- thinN? Your opinion wanted to form master plan on Durham's garbage DURHAM - Your input is needed on what to do with Durham's waste. Officials from the region are working on a master plan to han- dle Durham's waste well into the 21st century. "Durham region is home to over 350,000 people and getting everyone's ideas is not an easy task," says Gail Lawlor, public participation co- ordinator for the master plan. "At one of our first public meetings, people asked for a public liaison committee that has easy access to Durham residents through existing homeowner, agriculture, and environmental groups." Lawlor adds, "People like to be personally notified about meetings and important developments." Decision makers will want feed- back on proposed technologies and sites, says Lawlor. "Anyone who lives and/or works in Durham region is urged to con- sider participating in the Public Liaison Committee. Even people who don't have much spare time should come out to the first meeting to help set the terms of reference and direction of the committee," says Lawlor. "We're looking for a variety of people from homemakers to engineers. People can tailor their involvement to fit their time schedules." The first meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Brooklin Communi- ty Centre, 45 Cassels St. E. Brooklin, at 7:30 p.m. For more in- formation, leave a message on the Master Plan Information Line at 428-9918. p• (0 •=y 08 -:,may a• "i w n O O w O �. coo m w - O p w WO m m n O N m (00 vw p p � w a. � w =Y' n p i n w a- � S w U 5 n O.,< cmo �U C1 N - ? � m y w _ `l m rt P cmo co p c cA v m :3 w .0 �• m a 0"m Q OA cry (o O Q O O n C) rt �p < m 0 Q m rt 7� 0 rt m cn l0 * H O to 'O 7 rt A < VW • �D A 0 w_ G f� w N 'i m m O 0)N to O m D co O a- m n O N (0 r3 C b p in" v.0 CO, (0 Oi O m 6 a N-r f�D m w Q (Q w v m a m T3 rt rt w w ° m o Q m O" (n Q S m co awooSwcDdc.w o ��•� c � •�' co bcfDo �' $ o �o C7� � �� � � � �na]a o m wwo OcD oA,00 ti o Mm �p ° r'A. y ti r poq .f Ali w 5-m in'C CUQ a In En $ cgoa fD M�° �'0:y En y ~�`� QtD m 50-0 Fw ' o vw, to V cw o <� � (D � .�Eno, e. �n cow 'bw u o o m o o� a0$ ��b cD cD o o o w a cD =: c �,�o �� w o o.cn �.$ c oaa� �� 'Q .� :•Oy A mf�D ?7 =cnn a(�D ;' O'Q. ci�'(P O x' o Noww �''Ie d A, o o �oco c- w �.r"ti CD m o �1� ECx3 rnD �d pfD,��vraD�p�7c��lcnn oG cp IUQ nD o tio p es UQ Cb M D�°'•oF^m��� wywo0�a�9 oo "- 0 t:jM• � •orO o�ua D O b o (D O 0Ow CNo dQS" O O � O nn oceoD`D:�?"aP.=w--Dn x� n - Y y <OOofD�VID- yA'o��cD m�7v mm�o (1) (D000 5'ocDc� ''Ea" 'C7 d owm lD C (D C7� lD � � m CD ��. M (9 o n' '? �. 0 G. ' A• CD 0 n' Z (<D a �. �-ps m n M ��s N Q n a_ G m O. C C O m < m O m w � O ii w SW O m m Q rt Z.). .�.. _ Letters i�� Time to be counted :Ln landfill fight To the editor: I am writing in response to the let- ter from Mr. Harris and your subse- quent editorial which appeared over the course of last week's issues of the News Advertiser. Let me begin by say- 9 I agree that the time for ac tin tias arrived. Words are not enough to ma people like Gary Herrema listen and respond; the people must rise up to challenge the illegal and im- moral actions of a bad government. Remember everybody, this is the government that resolved last October not to accept Metro Toronto garbage after Brock West closed, ran for re- election on this platform, and then pro- mptly crawled back into Metro's bed as soon as possible. This set of actions is a lie of monumental proportions and must not be tolerated by the people of Durham. The Pl site is wrong for so many reasons that its selection defies logic. It is above an aquifer which provides necessary drinking water to thousands of people in north Pickering. The site forms the headwaters of Petticoat Creek and it runs -off into Duffins Creek and the Rouge, all of which amounts to an expressway to Lake On- tario for the pollutants. The site is on 1,000 acres of world class farmland which is a non -renewal resource of global significance. P1 is wedged bet- ween two historic communities - Whitevale and the Cherrywood - whose destruction seems guaranteed. The arguments for the site are that it is cheap to bring into production and it is close to Metro so that the profits are maximized. Is this good govern- ment? Is this acceptable? Of course not! So what are we going to do about it? PACT is hoping to go through the courts to challenge these horrid ac- tions and they have committed to ob- taining 1,000 people to form a class ac- tion. Given the monstrous nature of what our regional government is do- ing to us, one would think that this should be easy, but it's not. There are too many people like Mr. Harris in Pickering and Ajax who are sitting back waiting for someone else to do the work; waiting for someone else to fight the battle. Rest assured that the Mr. Harris' of this world will be the first to complain if nothing happens and the last to volunteer to fight the battle and take positive actions. This is the attitude and reaction that was expected of us and this is the reason that the government can dare to break its promises to the people with com- plete disdain. PACT is frozen for now without the signatures. The commitment is for munities is at stake. If we don't fight Show these "servants o' the people 1,000, and the count is just over 300. this here and now, then we deserve the exactly who is in charge. Come on Pickering; come on Ajax; government we have. The time to Richard Jone sign up. The very future of our com- jump onside is now, not after the fact. Pickerin PACT will fight Metro menace at any dump site To the editor: The following is a copy of a let- ter to Mac Harris. Dear Mac, Thank you for your letter of August 27/89. PACT has not abandoned its fight against Metro dumps at Brock South or Brock North. PACT will continue to fight Metro dumps at Brock South, Brock North or anywhere else in Pickering, Ajax or Durham. PACT has to fight where the im- mediate Metro menace appears. Yesterday it was Brock South; to- G-- day it is P1; tomorrow it may be the Pickering airport lands, or Brock North or somewhere else in Pickering or Ajax. PACT will fight the Metro menace anywhere that it raises its ugly head in Pickering, Ajax or Durham. BUT PACT must have definite people commitment for the legal battle now. I urge you and every other citizen of Pickering and Ajax to sign our "legal agreement" and make a donatio Make a definite commitment now together to stop Metro dumps at P1, Brock South, Brock North or anywhere else in Pickering, Ajax or Durham. PACT is a people's organization. If PACT fails to stop Metro dumps anywhere in Pickering and Ajax, the reason will be that too few people were willing to give their commitment and to stand up and be counted. Bill '' rtu- �13 /fl y EAA applies to. aIC? By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Garbage is not a happy subject. At least according to a ministry of environment spokesman. Almost 200 of approximately 1,200 politicians attending the Association of Municipalties of Ontario (AMO) con- ference gathered yesterday for a workshop on waste management. The three-day conference is being held at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Joe Petoia, waste management supervisor for the provincial Ministry of Environment, told delegates the province has set goals for waste reduc- tion and every municipality must work toward achieving those goals. "Waste management is no longer taking your waste and finding a hole to put it in," he said. Petoia said the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) is a planning document that forces municipalities to do more than just look for a place to clump waste. It allows for public par- ticipation into the process. At one point during the workshop, Petoia said the minister of environ- ment wants EAA requirements "ap- plicable to all" although at the mo- ment they're not placed on every municipality. For waste management plan approval, he said, the minister has "placed the requirement of an EAA on every municipality ( represented in this room)". However, when questioned by the News Advertiser after the workshop, Petoia seemed to contradict himself, saying he meant that waste manage- ment plans had to go through the EAA process but didn't necessarily need EAA approvals. He further explained that when municipalities are looking at waste management goals they should use the "complete planning ( process of the) EAA". Petoia's initial statement was later verified by a regional councillor. When asked why the P1 site in Whitevale, scheduled to house Durham and Metro's garbage next ,year was exempt from an EAA, Petoia replied it was an "emergency exemption". Petoia told delegates about the pro- vincial "master plan" for waste management. "We'll help you out financially and help you make the plan." Two problems that could inhibit the plan are NIMBYs and politicians try- ing to satisfy the people they repre- sent, said Petoia. "We must have some central authority," said Petoia. Provincial goals are to reduce waste into landfills by 25 per cent by 1992 and by 50 per cent by the year 2000. Petoia says more must be done than just reducing waste into landfill and in- creasing recycling. He explains that much work needs to be done on reduc- ing packaging of goods. The minister is "pushing" to greatly reduce the packaging of products within 10 years. A Royal York spokesman says 925 rooms were reserved for the event. The conference wraps up today. wo�/mc n=� 0ti W (D v c <U)KU)C:. �.�•C�� r. ww�� �ObC�. r'C7MC7r• r tD' w w n Ai M W < (D C y' (D � `"'" vc �• (�D a A� 2D < �• (9 (o f En � a "'i � "� o C � V a � cD f� „n.. ,y � G7 o iL . � � '-' � (D ' tw'l to °' a n y � G �• o ' °' vQ (D �cd-� o cD �C� e w (Do uo� <<�No�so °off°' cD ti (D .��°' K(D5'a°a �� v C m c n r.� ID (D << YG (o o nr»°< (D c wr'�+� w v a' ��- f (D IDr.a w w CJo w o B°° v �noa. as c M �,� n A7 C b D.7 ram' 7 (`D y " = " _. n O �. a M (o - 0 = F? 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Qq (D TJ G fD y O .y (D (D ($ (nD a . n aq A� Oy (o b. °' u �. �C (fin y * o + M_SD oM0Z��� Q.(na?`ny' oin'aR�u'a°acD�e°,' oo7c�D��oc�D d-- —r- CM C6 PONIN CD PAGE 14-A—THE NEWS ADVERTISER, AUGUST 23, 1 PACT videos tell the whole story R., RL'RL`Od A 11,iTTNT"V DURHAM - Garbage issues often appear to be a new phenomena often hitting media headlines these days, but Durham region residents have read about the pile up for years, says a local PACT supporter. Lloyd Thomas says there are many people involved in documenting and solving garbage problems but there are few people who can tell the whole story. And since documentation of events has not been compiled concise- ly to create more public awareness, PACT supporters plan to put together a series of environmental videos with the help of local cable TV. Thomas, of Whitevale, says issues ii. , F. v lll1. .- mulll�l1/Ql UUUa Lub, and NIMBY resistance to the Pi land- fill site, are high on the list of priorities to be documented. Another issue about to be put to rest in 1990 is the Brock West Landfill site. Thomas says a video documenting its history will fill the public in on en- vironmental problems encountered since it was opened in 1972 and will tell of the political promises not fulfilled. Thomas says, "The more awareness about what's going on at Brock West will be more awareness of what can happen in Whitevale." Another issue is household hazar- dous waste, Thomas says. If people are aware of what is hazardous, and n11Uw 11Uw LU UlbpUse U1 IL, Men a 10[ less toxic material would be dumped in landfill sites, which in turn would reduce the chances of toxins filtering into lakes and drinking water, says Thomas. The video will include successful programs of toxic disposal adopted by municipalities in the United States and will inform of local programs current- ly being discussed and tested. "Some shows could be suitable for kids in school," says Thomas. If children are informed and raised to think about protecting the environ- ment, "it could become part of their lifestyle," he says. Also in the works are recycling and w111FV0L111g YrUr,ralaS. r,acn V1ae0 s format will vary for the half-hour pro- grams about to be scheduled every two weeks. Thomas says formats will in- clude debates, how -to -shows, talk shows and on -location shoots. Thomas says the content of the videos will look at the pros and cons of garbage issues from both sides: politicians vs. residents. But he says that while looking at issues like the "Durham Only Program," and the GTA's (Greater Toronto Area) man- date, "there will be a push for govern- ment to start creating markets for recycled products". This new TV series has been put on hold since the region announced locating Pi in Whitevale, which has seen Thomas and his neighbors con- centrate their efforts in a fight against the landfill site. But now the handful of volunteers is looking for people with video produc- tion and editing skills to help them put these videos together. Writers, cameramen and creative thinkers are needed too. For more infomation call Lloyd Thomas at 294-1978 or Larraine Roulston at 420-5625. PACT needs su ppor now 'o the editor: The following is a copy of a letter se t to Malcolm Harris. D ar Mac, Thank you for your letter of Aug.17, 1989 regarding PACT's legal actions with respect to the proposed PI dump t Whitevale in Pickering. Since June PACT has been working iligently to achieve two objectives: 1. To secure a minimum of 1,000 peo- ple in Pickering and Ajax who will sign PACT's "Agreement to join the legal battle against Metro, Durham and the Province." 2. To raise a substantial sum of money to pay the costs of PACT's legal actions in the courts. Because of the anticipated court costs PACT must have the definite signed comm'ifit eni now from at least 1,000 citizens. Hence the sustained drive for 1,000 signed "legal agreements" and donations of money. PACT has not yet achieved either of the above objectives. To help PACT get the legal fight underway at once there is one simple act you and other concerned citizens in Pickering and Ajax can take -- sign the "agreement to join the legal bat- tle" and send a donation. Words and rhetoric are not enough. PACT has to have definite citizen com- mitment now. The alternative is a huge dump at Pi at Whitevale and/or somewhere else in Pickering and Ajax. The time for all to ACT to support PACT is today. Tomorrow will be to late. The sooner the governments o Durham, Metro and Ontario are challenged in the courts on this fun- damental environmental issue the �et- ter. Now is the time for all of the leo- ple of Pickering and Ajax to Stan ',up and fight for their environmental rights. The battle will be won if each of us acts to support PACT at once. Bill Parish, Chairman PACT for the Environment Soil tests on the proposed P1 dump site have been ongoing for weeks. Stan Den Hoed, left, of M.M. Dillon Consultants, Drillin examines soil test results with Mark Williams of Longyear Canada Inc., the company that is drilling holes to test soil. at d UM Already 100 holes have been drilled, averaging 60 to 70-feet Pdeep. Officials say preliminary tests show the soil is suitable for a dump and a decision on whether to begin stage two of the testing is scheduled to be made this week. `� 3c/F� photo by A.J. Groen Time for PACT to -ab-t#, To the editor: Th following is a copy of a letter hand elivered to Bill Parish, P.A.C.T. chaff man. Dea Bill, For over two years, dozens of PACT signs have stood, saying "NO MORE METRO DUMPS". On May 17 you said "The next step is_tie courts." At the beginning of August describ- ing PACT you said "We are honest people. " PACT has collected hundreds of signatures and many thousands of dollars from residents who believe you. It is high time that PACT, with the funds on hand, instituted legal action to stop all Metro dumps in Ajax and Pickering as PACT promised mark t/ months ago. �/( I will contribute only when yo r legal action is before the cour , because I have never expected PACT to ACT. Please prove me wrong. Bill. I don't want ANY METRO dumps in Ajax or Pickering. Mac Harris Public, privateTirms o/6e' c nsidered in GTA plan 1 By JUDI BOBBITT DURHAM - The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Garbage Authority will soon be calling for written submissions from those interested in developing or operating its long-term waste manage- ment system. A status report released Tuesday by the LTA's Solid Waste Interim Steer- ing Committee (SWISC) outlines steps to be taken in the development of a long-term waste system for the regions of Durham, York, Halton, Peel and Metro Toronto. SWISC has yet to determine how the system will be managed, but will con- sider options ranging from a publicly owned and operated system to one operated -by private sector par- ticipants under direction of public authorities. The long-term waste management program is to be operational sometime between 1992 and 1996. SWISC is comprised of the five regional chairmen, one elected representative from each region, deputy minister of the office for the GTA Gardiner Church and deputy minister of the environment Gary Posen. Five consulting firms have been hired to help develop the system. SWISC will first ask for written sub- missions from any interested organization or group in the public, non-profit or private sectors. All infor- mation from these submissions will be made public. SWISC will evaluate the proposed systems, identify options regarding ownership and operation and will consider respondents' qualifications. Then, formal proposals will be in- vited by SWISC. A preferred system will be identified and selected after in- put from regional councils and the public. Each region has the option of par- ticipating in the long-term GTA solu- tion or going with its own waste management master plan. A back-up plan calls for each region to identify a short-term landfill site no later than three months after SWISC receives formal proposals for the long- term system. "There's some skepticism that anyone can have a long-term system in place as early as 1992," says Durham regional director of opera- tions Art Leitch. "That's why con- tingency landfill sites must be iden- tified for use between 1992 and 1996." Leitch says that, of the five regions in the GTA, "Durham is in the most difficult situation" because Brock West will close next year. He adds he has "absolutely no idea" where long-term GTA landfill sites might be found. "But, looking at tipping fees, I could envision a municipality without a sound tax base looking at the (poten- tial) rdvenue and deciding to submit a proposal. Or, members of the private sector who submit a proposal may have sites." While Leitch says he doesn't know how much the LTA's waste manage- ment contract will be worth, he says tipping fees will be more than $100 per tonne next year and in five years, the fee could be $500 a tonne. At present, Durham tips about 400,000 tonnes of garbage a year. -- — - • •••� N%J01L1 ►1I U1 cniy ui uie nve regions in ine G 1 A when it comes to the garbage crisis, because the Brock West_ landfill is due to close next year, says a regional official. J" 9 ,M 1 d The Bay News, August 30, 1989 Toronto area A new Greater Toronto Area Commit- tee is soon to invite public and private enterprise proposals for systems and sites to solve the looming garbage crisis here. Regional Toronto area municipalities can join in, or go it alone. The Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee (SWISC) made up of rep- resentatives from Durham, Halton, Mero, Peel and York Regions issued its first status report Monday. Copies of the report are available to the public at the regional headquarters of each municipality. The report stipulates a detailed process of bids and sys- garbage authority tem selections. Member regions will pay half the cost accord- ing to population. The province will pay the other half. The public has been slated as an integral part of the on -going proce- dures and decisions made by the committee, along with the regional and municipal councils. SWISC will include the chairman of each region, one other elected official from each region, the deputy minister of the office of the GTA, the deputy minister of the environment and a chair- person. Each member will have one vote, and the chair- person is reserved a vote TINY GRAN® Staff Repo, }-.r in the event of a tie. The chairmanship revolves every three months, ' Durham's Gary Herrema serving first. Also, a technical com- mittee of senior staff from the GTA regions and the province will report to SWISC. An interim administrator, consulting firm member John Far- row, has been named. As a safety measure, an out option is included in the event a regional coun- cil determines the long- term system recommend- ed does not meet its requirements. Ickering tixed on meeting mith GTAofcgals UII11111I111I1111 111111111111 nouumuuuuuunemmnuul°mnuunuuunnu►um�Odll else' �Nnhodv, trusts any y = By JUDI BOBBITT discuss the Pi landfill site, Brenner Reporter says Church blamed the region for the Pickering p ~election of PI and added there's no J 'ICKERI NG - An "explosive" and guarantee it will be shut down in 1996. Y eated" meeting between town and Brenner says the town was told the GTA is concerned with many issues, ovincial officials seems to have ac- garbage crisis, and the mplished little. not just the g gocused on long - Gardiner Church -and Eric Flemm- bulk of the meeting g of the office of the Greater Toron- term planning. council and the tour; n's "We talked about infrastructure. � Area IOGTAI met for two hours think all the regions �surroun- ithPickering to They work co iwyers. According din Toronto) should Discussion was general in nature but operatively. That's great in theory r� sts ocused on the OGTA' ether to solve in reality, it's cutthroat• Nobody else. it (the meeting) got ex iTA regions work tog anybody proble s of infrastructure. plosive at the end." IssXS discussed include garbage, p Councillor Rick Johnson says he However,. tran,�ortation and housing o opinions on "slammed the table" after "I sat t ere cob►cillors have differinggNprthwhion for an hour and a half and listened. whether the meeting an more Everyone dinked around all afternoon "I came out not knowing s Ward I until I slammed t hee table.' cause Johnson say of angry than when I went in, Y no one tried to negotiate with Church local councillor Maurice Brenner. See REGIONS...Pa9e A3 "They were all over the map." G c REGIONS While councillors were anxious xi us d may^ C to d >, � � C1D •� C � � � Q to O O �,a O ,� .� .VQ _ c W W c W .1=1 a> an i .Oa }'•V d V 3 .y ❑ O A 0 C c `° o 0 0 00 y ��c c"� w aU M C y 7 A C_L x" d w .O y z; � � m tom. � ^ ^ y � .a •D V � y cLd O y 7 �cc0U'@ °y'=oe.,Ea) Sao �3 O U= 3 E�Y oy d y� i.. 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O C Ilk .0 O V 5.@ E- r- y c aiv°i v, c d3 d:.�> o ca o00 O O Ja U) g� Ei �°�a�io do�N�.��.� b-o 30 ;cs. >oco 3d. .c°c:�ecooc°co�� c. o o en a o 3 y ens a 'Ei COE w ai o� d� E'u.E do�y'ccVEy Fa�i�, a000ni�o aoiyaE�c�o E- C"i U •= 'tq E Q-Cn N 3 o E O y0 _� 'Q cC C• 3 _ RS cC ,� 'S7 •fl C y d E �+ ' d cC Up y .�' C.4) v O �bD Oq ,�" O C.,M O 3 = � s I c 2 cA coa�oc� yE� nn=C% c O' V O =, "0os 3� Q^ o w 5, E co cd 01 _CQ E� _ U p •� O V O CL. i .-O O taq � a� c o E so W acd o Eeva a,E y�°'yc _•Q3� =o End 0 ca o0 0 Q �cvncoaa�4)t0v°, 4Aso.c°'.oc°',� ax - a cot V o ion p E3 > c c b co.3 °'cam o EEG. 3 �^o a� 3 5cm E I 3 Adverti ... VOL. 108, NO. 36 70 CENTS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1989 Class act for PACT On Sunday, Sept. 17, local real estate agents will stage a fashion show in aid of PACT at the Pickering Recreation Complex. Tickets are available from any local realtor. Get- ting ready for the big event at a dress rehearsal were Jerry England and Diana Sonego, both employees of NRS Achievers. England's evening clothes are from Crossings men's wear and Sonego's ensemble is from The House Boutique. All fashions shown at the show will be from local stores. photo by Ron Pietroniro SOLIDWASTE THE CHALLENGE There are 4 million people living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). While cur- rent recycling efforts deal with about 10% of the waste which is produced, about 4 million tonnes of waste requiring disposal are generated annually. That's about one tonne of solid waste (garbage) for each resident of the GTA. Capacity to dispose of this waste is rapidly being used up. There are three key landfill sites which serve the GTA. Even with the enhanced recycling efforts which are underway to meet the provincial targets of 25% diversion by 1992, the capacity of these three key landfill sites to accept waste will soon be exhausted. Accordingly, the Chairmen of the five regions making up the Greater Toronto Area — Durham, Halton, Metro Toronto, Peel and York — together with the Pro- vince of Ontario, have agreed to explore a joint approach to solving the area's solid waste problem. THE SOLUTION The Regional Chairmen have proposed to develop a long-term plan to jointly manage the solid waste generated in the GTA. The overall goal is to: through a collaborative ap- proach, develop and implement a system for managing the solid wastes of the Greater Toronto Area, which is technically, en- vironmentally, economically and socially sound. It is intended that the long-term waste management system for the Greater Toronto Area be in place as early as possible and no later than 1996. NAGEMMENT THE PROCESS In the search for a GTA waste manage- ment system, the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee has first called for Ex- pressions of Interest, then will issue a Re- quest for Proposals to develop and operate a waste management system. Once selection of a preferred waste management system is made, approvals will be obtained under the Environmental Assessment Act and other necessary legislation before implementation can take place. The Solid Waste Interim Steering Com- mittee is undertaking full consultation with the Regions and the public throughout the waste management plan process. As an early step in the public consultatir` program, workshops will be held in eac,,, GTA Region during the period October 23 to November 9, 1989. Beginning next week, regional papers will carry notices about times and locations of meetings. If you are interested and would like more information on the Greater Toronto Area Solid Waste Management Plan, please clip the coupon below. ------------- ------------------------------ YES, I AM INTERESTED IN THE GTA SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN Please add my name to your mailing list and keep me informed throughout the process. Name Address Postal Code Phone Mail to: Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee, Public Information Office, 720 Bathurst Street, Suite 403, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R4 Or call: (416) 536-0866 S"" SO m WASTE 1N .,M STEM- co"R 2 The Bay News, September 13, 1989 P • • b Tis eringarbage contract wong BFI ny r times, r y Grano service• es, very careful to to obtain references on recalling the difficulties Saving maintain the level of ser- BFI before council they encountered with Browning -Ferris "I have difficulty with Industries Ltd. (BFI) This r-r=e-.ents a the whole tendering pro- vice." resumes next week. collection service. was recommended for $100,000 per year sav cess. I'm not so sure I Concern Mayor Wayne Arthurs "We must have assur- Pickering's five-year, ings for the length of the can endorse this and have said he appreciated Coun- ance before stepping in. multi -million dollar, contract. to go through further He later requested staff cillor Mitchell's concern, Continued on Page 12 garbage collection Despite the cost reduc problems," said Ward 1 contract Monday tion. one councillor Regional Councillor night. voiced concern aboil Robert Mitchell. Executive committee repeating'a mistake expe "We must be, at all ; °i 5' g -d :E ° 0 members voted in favor of rienced prior to hiring th �, ° a- r- M .-j � c c M 'a o IT -- � o approving the BFI bid. It g garbage ~ o w , a `° ° �' G <' F = o- c -� m - j < x y x : WO IT 0 � S. � o existing arba a contrac- ~� m co co` _ ti 5 co co represents a 2.79 tor. _ _ 0 co p $ per f - �-: 'In_0 M0. - con.-Q-'_0.co �m �o�o ZfO�co household per During that time, townof0c�o° �-O�co]o`�°��yco��c�o `0�'�°��c '0 R. cost. p councillors and staff were p 0 co M _o °' co o x °i g. � o o �' a d f0 c�o� �-, " ° n o `0 " co v; 0�i O « v' 5 n �' �' co A * a p O O a co 2 O Garbage collection will deluged by telephone calls -� ro take place on a four day and complaints from resi- 9 c�o cp W o ; ° �? ,c rn Cr° c_ cQ' co y co w F. o 5�. week structure that offi- dents who disliked the V a o o y w o °i Z y a -- -, co cially commences Nov. 1, n a ,c Cro 0 0 0 The committee decision will be forwarded to town rt council next week for final approval. Tenders f A total of 12 compa- nies -- - - -- — - ---- 'P C7'C7 OC �D '+ < '� y O fD •- '» to ? .'7' G n < O' participated in the m -, o o Q - ., o o 0 5' rs„ d O -1 �•�.{ open tender process. BFI b o v y' A; o o < .� ;; G y n < va o - a o g y<< g y o< C7 � fD � ""' ."'i. H' cD' ..,, � � O � � � �- ,,,,� C ,� � � C y � f0D � t'MD H lD `C"! 1�..� submitted the lowest bid. ,� o d v c ,. -, o 0 o g o o .�, c -+ �, O �-+ CD �, During committee dis- °i '� °° o °7 °i a w o o : °' a o- g °i o a o g o °' �•.+ CUSSIOn Ward 3 Local n• er+ .• f °' G.�' ^'v � o—'!�+s Q 0 � -� � �, D: � �� � � ,�'m d � Councillor Rick Johnson 4� y F. ' c �c c �' M "- cUQV� inquired about the Agc o'Do0�„ g" o^ w �a� =r �,'Do 1 amount of moneysaved 0 is a'c -, ±b g O 0 y W c pq in o- o 0, moo• s$v°M..o x'' cm �n'ti-+•�o., 3 p by way of th tender pro- y� c� v n .-. o'•s g o` o d r r `+ a :; . � ., W. •, •v 3 CL 8 k cess. Si r5 a �~ a, <� �°•o d EC d'o v �=� f �- oa �•5� 0 �� dC0> O.^' `t�P •�fA_, y L �iCpq�C C,: C1O O6> ,About $i.7,000 has �d � •o'° o'tL�7Yy ff9,:Fieor°g0� been saved y changing ►-- gg. r� �1 -, � . = :� �, `� g 0 � 0 W ?!. � �gp $ �U 5' A � � i'!*i O 9 fD ti, �. - «^7 . o i+ .`7. . • p 6� `J C7' f9 '� O : Wit' `�. ti the contractor and formu- la (per household cost) for h, the two months remain- ing in 1989," said Town Manager Noel Marshall Pt an saves 8500Gs on new gar agal By JUDI BOBBI I' Pickering Reporter PICKERING - The town is ex- pected to save half a million dollars over the next five years by awar- ding its garbage collection contract to Browning- Ferris Industries (BFI). Town council decided Monday to give the contract to BFI, which sub- mitted the lowest bid in a recent tender call. BFI will collect Picker- ing's garbage four days a week at. a cost of $2.79 per household per month and 72 cents per kilometre. There are an estimated 17,500 homes in Pickering. Laidlaw Waste Management Systems, which has held the town's garbage collection contract for the past five years, submitted the second -lowest bid at $3.329 per household per month. But Laidlaw See OTHER... PAGE A3 Other towns `happy' FROM PA��o l wanted $per kilometre. Laidlontract expired June 30. That firm had been paid on a per tonnage basis, and picked up about 20,000 tonnes of garbage a year at a cost of $33.76 per tonne. Last spring, council went against a staff recommendation to renew Laidlaw's contract and instead in- vited tenders at the suggestion of councillor Doug Dickerson. Council had also requested direc- tor of public works Ray Hutchinson to prepare a report outlining pay- ment options. Hutchinson sug- gested payment on a per household basis is most accurate and noted that, of 20 municipalities surveyed, over half pay their garbage collec- tors using that method. However, at Monday's meeting, councillor Bob Mitchell expressed reservations about giving the con- tract to BF': He s ested the town first ask' for r erences before accepting BFI's bid and asked for another staff report on the advantages of paying on a per household basis. He also said that, because BFI is col- lecting garbage "in a neighboring municipality" there may be a pro- blem with overlapping service. But councillor Rick Johnson said he'd checked with the towns of Newcastle, Kitchener and Ajax -- all served by BFI -- which are "quite happy" with the firm's work. He said BFI won't be overlapping service with Ajax and noted the town will save $100,000 a year with the new contract. Councillor Maurice Brenner pointed out it would be "redun- dant" to ask staff for a second report on methods of payment and recommended the town go with a four -day -per -week contract because "based on experience dur- ing a five-day week, long weekends always (result) in a back -log." The contract with BFI will cost the town $97,000 for the remainder of 1989. Town manager Noel Mar- shall noted Pickering will save $17,000 this year alone with the change in contractor and method of payment. The town had budgeted $695,938 for garbage collection . Ganaraska gets vital rrovstudy Today the provincial Environ- mental Assessment Advisory Com- mittee will be holding a public meeting in Newcastle Village re- garding the environmental plan- ning and approval process, which protects the watershed of the Ganaraska River in view of poten- tial development. This committee is requesting comments from individuals or agencies on the environmental sig- nificance of this area, the adequa- cy of the existing planning and ap- proval process to address environ- mental concerns about proposed development, and suggestions f improving this process. For many of us, this revie holds much significance becaus we might reside within the water shed or use the Ganaraska Regio Conservation Authority educ tion/recreation facilities. However, it also appears tha this seemingly site -specific revie has, in fact, farther-reachin (possibly province -wide) implic tions, for example: ❑ Should any development along geographically significant are such as a watershed, or the Oa or Ridges Moraine, be subject to of the environment based on com- Environmental Assessment under ments and submissions provided. w the Environment Assessment Act? Coincidentalb. the minictry nr e ❑ Should there be changes in plan- - ning and environmental approval n requirements for development in a- these types of (Environmentally Sensitive, and Environmental t Protection) areas? w ❑ Is the current process ade- aquate? Is protection of the environ- ment adequate? a ❑ Should there be reassessment of a municipal urban/rural develop- ment policies? For example, many municipalities are experiencing unprecedented. pressures for urban development which, entails high- way expansion/congestion, higher cost of living, and all the other things that go hand -in -hand with unregulated growth. ❑ A day does not go by when somewhere within the province there is pressure for development, and for which there appears to be little protection — the Rouge Val- ley is a classic example. The ques- tions being addressed at this public hearing most certainly are consist- ent with many other situations. Following the hearing, the Adviso- r(y Committees all be making. ��zkecommmndal' .",te)the ministeri env en on some this public hearing is a significant opportunity for those interested in the protection of the environment to make their views and concerns known. The committee co-Ordinator, Pam Wheaton may be.reached at 323-2667 (collect). HELEN MacDONALD Newcastle Turns table on robber with gun — store owner praised by police/2 Municipal politicians angry — over Metro garbdge pendlty p1an/3 The Man Called lnxrepid - honored by town where he worked/5 Herrema says Metro jeopardizing dump plans By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Metro may have blown its chance to put 4 million tonnes of garbage in a proposed Pickering dump site, Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema says. Durham is considering cancelling plans to take Metro's garbage in 1992 because Metro wants to collect dumping fees from haulers at the site to pay for its future waste disposal projects, Herrema said at a news conference last Thursday. Negotiations with Metro are not working out. We're not going to have Metro make money off our dump." Durham Region offered in May to give Metro the majority of the 6 million -tonne capacity in a landfill site near the hamlet of Whitevale. Metro and Durham will be faced with an immediate crisis when the Brock West dump in Pickering closes next year. Durham councillors are asking Metro to pay up to $421 million over five years for the use of the Whitevale dump, but Metro councillors aren't going for it. "Frankly, it's very expensive," said Metro's works committee chairman Paul Christie. "We have an obligation to our tax- payers to look at other options." Metro has been negotiating waste dispos- al contracts with Orillia and Kapuskasing in case the deal with Durham falls through, Christie said. Metro wants Durham to reduce the fee it charges Metro at the interim Whitevale dump after the contract runs out in 1996, he said. The five regions in the greater Toronto area are expected to have a long-term solu- tion to the garbage crisis by then, but Metro wants to have a back-up fund just in case the plan backfires, Christie said. "We certainly don't want to antagonize Durham because they're our greatest ally," he said. "But we have to have a rainy day fund." The last time Metro and Durham council- lors met to discuss the proposal w more than a month ago and things don't 1 k very promising in the near future, Herre a said. "They're calling us `Gary Herrem and the 30 thieves'," he said. Durham may just decide to make the landfill space available to ork, Peel anc Halton along with Metro o be assured the proper financing, Herrema said. The regions have set up a Solid Waste In terim Steering Committee to tackle their looming garbage crisis. Metro to'peridl ie cites that pr-Acbiuce too much garbage By Stan Josey Toronto Star Opposition is piling up to a Metro Toronto plan that would force the six area municipalities to pay a portion of their garbage dis- posal costs if their citizens don't get on the recycling bandwagon. North York and Etobicoke city councils have strongly opposed the plan describing it as a `money grab' by Metro. Scarborough Council has not yet considered the plan but Works Committee Chairman Councillor Edith Montgomery says the plan would hit Scarborough harder than any other Metro municipality. "Not only would we have to re- duce our tonnage of three years ago but we would have to make up for the tremendous residential growth in our municipality over the last three years," she says. "It's a crazy idea that's totally unmanageable," Scarborough Councillor Doug Mahood says. "We're going to have to label our garbage to make that work." Should ban cans Mahood says authorities would have a hard time tracking down where the garbage came from and who to penalize. "It's bizarre. Somebody's defi- nitely getting caught up with their own self importance," Mahood says. "They should attempt to solve the problem by legislation. Maybe they can start by banning alumi- num pop and beer cans. That'll do a lot more good." And Scarborough Councillor Lorenzo Berardinetti says taxpay- ers would have to bear the burden of the charge -backs. "Ultimately the taxpayer will pay. They have to remember who's accountable," Berardinetti says. "It sounds like a really odd idea." North York Councillor Paul Sutherland said he was `absolutely appalled' at the plan. "If we allow this to go ahead the next thing you know Metro will be asking us to pay for police protec- tion," he says. As part of its Waste Reduction and Recycling plan unveiled in January, Metro is proposing a charge -back system designed to encourage metro municipalities and their citizens to recycle and produce less solid waste. Under the system, municipalites would have to pay Metro to dispose any garbage in excess of a fixed percentage of their 1987 tonnage over the next three years. In 1990 any garbage in excess of 85 per cent of their 1987 garbage tonnage would be subject to a surcharge. In 1991 any garbage in excess of 80 per cent of the 1987 figures would be chargeable. The area municipalities would have to pay about $23 a tonne for any waste in excess of the target f igures. The result would be a net saving to Metro in solid waste disposal costs of 15 per cent in 1990, 20 per cent in 1991 and 25 per cent in 1992 on Metro's $200 million a year solid waste disposal budget. Garbage business However North York politicians have joined Etobicoke in rejecting the plan saying that garbage is a Metro responsibility and Metro should pay the total cost. If North York residents fail to co-operate and do not produce less garbage than they did in 1987 over the next three years, the city would be forced to pay Metro an additional $835,000 in 1990, $1.2 million in 1991 and $1.6 million in ME "All this plan shows is that the directly -elected politicians at Metro have nothing better to do with their time," Mayor Mel Last - man says. "Metro is in the garbage business, we're not." Etobicoke council has expressed 'grave concern' about the proposed garbage levy. To fight the dump Whitevale-homes open doo r s -- WHITEVALE - The finest homes in Whitevale will open their doors to the public in aid of PACT on Sunday, Sept. 24. The Whitevale House Tour will allow the public to view the interiors of 12 unique buildings, with all proceeds be- ing turned over to PACT (Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together for the En- vironment) to aid in the legal battle against the Pi dumpsite. Ticket holders will be given a map of homes and other buildings and will be asked to make their own route. No children, smoking or shoes will be allowed in homes. Included in the House Tour is pie and coffee at the Whitevale United Church. A craft sale and quilt raffle will be held at the Whitevale Community Centre. The 12 buildings on the tour will be open for viewing between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and will be designated by let- ters A through L. House A was a former schoolhouse, built in 1865. It replaced two earlier schools and remained in use until 1960. _It's an attractive brick structure on ,bble foundation with recessed bay ;tailing along the sides and large win- dows across the gable end. Much of the school feeling has been retained by the present residents. Henry Major built home B in 1858. The front entrance and parlor are gracious formal spaces attractively furnished in Victorian. The oak panelling and wainscotting have been refinished. Cranberry glass enhances the hall doors. Building C is a Methodist church, built in 1884 on a dressed fieldstone foundation. This building replaced an 1858 church. First built as a cheese factory in the late 1860s of barn construction, building D has been a private residence since the late 19th century. Renovated in the 1970s to a board -and - batten home, it boasts original floors, beams and pine window and door frames. Building E is a small, modest struc- ture that has housed the local library since before the second world war. The front gable plan, built in 1900, is a typical Whitevale style. Home F was once the location of T)aniel Moodie's 1857 sho . The Gothic yle storey and—imM Tiouse was built around 1870 and has a centre hall plan with a beautiful original staircase. Re- cent additions to the living room in- clude a fireplace and french doors opening onto the garden. The home was used as the Anne of Green Gables porch in the TV series. An 1850s board -and -batten house is Rousseau Heritage House, Whitby Whitevale Craftworks. home G, with a 1986 addition. The bell (668-3483) ; and Whitevale Craftworks, For more information, call Sandy cast roof on the front porch with its Whitevale Road (294-1912). On the d2 Rider at 294-3464 or Maureen Jones at delicate posts grl�frames a of the tour, tickets can be obtained at 471M57. classic entrance. The original kitchen has been enlarged to include a sun porch. �• Home H was built in 1900 and com- pletely renovated this year. The open plan is inviting with an innovative two - storey chimney wall in the dining room and second -floor balcony. Several stained glass windows have been incorporated into the new design. Home I was once owned by T.P. White, after whom Whitevale was named. The 1870 home is designated under the Ontario Heritage Founda- tion. Home J has a two -storey entrance that focuses on an original stairway. Built in 1855 and originally owned by T.P. White, the property was purchas- ed in 1857 by storekeeper_ Donald McPhee. Extensive renovations in the early rt of the 20th-century obscured most the original details of Home K, an 60s house which was used as the ited Church manse. rickets for the Whitevale House ur are $15 each and are available at thers Big-V Drug Store, Markham 28M) ; Ontario County Mercantile, kering Village (428-8628) ; This porch was used in Anne of Green Gables. r hit&Ae sh -'h W, rt ows W Y '0 Ifsavina, By Lisa t�nght Toronto Star Whitevale reside„ts battling a proposed garbage dump in their community are opening their doors to the public Sunday with a tour of 10 historic homes. "We want to share with people why this hamlet is special and why it should be saved," says tour organizer Maureen Jones. The $15 tour features houses that are at least 100 years old, in- cluding .one used to film the movie The Dead Zone, based on a Stephen King novel. Some of the homes were once used for everything from banks and schools to cheese factories, and the hamlet'g church, library and community centre will also be featured. About 1,000 people are expect- ed to attend the open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in efforts to raise money for Pickering's legal battle against the dump, slated for Durham and Metro use be- tween 1992 and 1996. Pickering -Ajax Citizens To - ether for the Environment PACT) needs to raise at least $100,000 to hire prominent Toronto lawyer Morris Manning for the case against the landfill, which will be located on prime farmland beside the historic hamlet. Manning is to argue under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that people in the community are being discriminated against on the basis of where they live. He promised to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary. Homes vandWhed People often "stop and stare" at the beautiful architecture of many Whitevale homes, so it just makes sense to give them a peek at what's inside, Jones says. "We have a lovely place to live. This is why we've been yelling so loud," she says. Many of the homes were expropriated in the 1970s when the federal government decided to build an airport and a support- ing community of 30,000 known as Seaton on the land. The century -old homes and barns were boarded up and some were either vandalized or destroyed before people were allowed to move back when the plans were halted. People interested in preserv- �'V RUSSELLfTORWOST/.F. BEAUTIFUL HOMES: Maureen Jones has helped organize a tour Sunday to show oft 10 old Whitevale homes and show why it would be wrong to develop a dump nearby. ing the hamlet, which now has a population of 250, took great care to restore the homes to their original state, says Jones. One of the homes on the tour, owned by prominent dump oppo- nents Isobel and Tommy Thomp- son, is new, but captures the his- toric flavor of Whitevale, she adds. The rules of the tour are no children, shoes or smoking in the homes. People will be provided with maps that give a brief histo- ry and description of the homes, all within walking distance. Tourists can start the tour at any time and see the homes in any order they wish, but only 10 are allowed inside each one at a time, Jones says. Pie and coffee at the Whitevale United Church are included in the admission price. A craft sale and quilt raffle will also be held at the community centre. Tickets are available at the Ontario County Mercantile in Pickering Village, Rousseau Heritage House in Whitby and Crothers Big-V Drug Store in Markham. Tickets are available the day of the tour at the White - vale Craftworks. Pickering garbn*ore--i�'ai� will save town $500,000 By Daniel Girard Toronto Star A garbage collection contract approved by Pickering council re- cently will save the town more than $500,000. By a 2-to-1 margin, council ac- cepted the bid of Browning -Ferris Industries to pick up garbage for $2.79 per household per month. The next closest bid was $3.32 by Laidlaw Waste Systems. Laidlaw, the first private compa- ny to pick up the town's garbage, has held the contract for the past five years. The new contract will save the town $108,000 per year for fives years beginning Nov. 1, Councillor Maurice Brenner said. "I'm very happy with this con- tract and I'm happy with the money we're saving the taxpayers of Pickering," Councillor Rick Johnson said. Debate became heated when Councillor Kip Van Kempen asked council if any members had dis- cussed the bids with companies prior to the submission deadline of Sept. 6. The bidding process was done fairly, Johnson said. "Why are you being so holy re- deemer on this topic?" Johnson asked Van Kempen. "Where do you go to church?" Some council members said they feared changing companies would result in sub -standard service. "We must be at all times very careful that we have the same level of service we have now because the citizens of this town won't put up with anything less," regional Coun- cillor Bob Mitchell said. When the town began ego -,act- ing out its garbage collption five years ago, residents complained of poor service for about three years until council changed the pick-up process, Brenner said. D T -no 0 3 .�. O O � fD � X My -n�o . ..0 c (� a)Q' =Cr c v <Cn � -� c S. o 70 a IOD n ,CLMo M 33 sID o 0 M 0 X w D O 0 -n n :X)0) =r a) _ a)..v O c, y 7C fD E M. 3 �U' oU3 c �►3m =mao-�Q Q ti m n X cn N N �% cQ o < m m .. o CD m -n 3 Z 00 o 0 y m m 3 ce y 3 e m X S M m 1< (n Dv CO — a k 3. M N/ Q O 3 ? D7 3 < cr 0.7 N O O y M m � m 3 U PAGE 8-A—THE NEWS ADVERTISER, SEPTEMBER 27, 1989 Letters Government enemy but should be leader To the editor: I have been following the comments of your editorial staff and Mr. Harris in the last few editions of your newspaper. I would like to make a few comments about the statements made and the fight over the Pl dump site. Almost two years ago PACT was created by a group of concerned citizens who were and still are ge- nuinely concerned about the state of Pickering and Ajax's environment, specifically the suggestion that Metro would be given access to a dump site in Durham. All those present at the original meeting felt that Bill Parish would be an excellent chairman. The decision to have Bill as chairman was unanimous and was confirmed at the first well -attended public meeting. From that time until the present Bill has been the chairman and has given hie time with unselfish dedication and has never been paid for his service. At the time of the creation of PACT a board of directors was formed, some have served for the two years PACT has existed and others have been in- volved in the battle against Metro since Brock West was built. All have volunteered many hours of their time. The operative word is VOLUNTEERED. No one has ever been paid. All have given of their time and money without question because they believe in what they are doing. PACT has met on a regular basis every three weeks, sub committees have met in between regular meetings of the board of directors. Many of these meetings have gone late into the night. All decisions made, all actions planned and decided upon have been made by majority vote and usually after thorough discussions, the deci- sions have been unanimous. It is un- fair and unwarranted to centre out Bill Parish for any failures of PACT. In fact, if the arm chair quarter- backs out there do not like the direc- tion of PACT, any failure is theirs for not speaking up or contributing in a positive way to the decision making process. Without PACT and the leadership of Bill Parish the decision to put a dump, in Pickering or Ajax would have been`. made and carried out a long time ago. I think it is important to remember' who the villains are in this battle. The Pl site has been offered by premier David Peterson and his Liberal government. The GTA has sought and been given assurances by premier Peterson that this site will be given the short cut process of an EPA and not is conp,t"wn O cwe-' MnNMcn -o Naf yao�^,v -ow ov<cao M�x = CL o w M <'0 o" o w m O o M o o w o C R0�o< o oa o a no< N vCh < < .� oo 0 � o a� '-'.�o 0 0 0 5•0,� � �° � �°aa En M =r a' fl. °'. C °R• OU "��' O °' O' r• O x LT io' . N Ui co < o co o �, � o c co co < o � o•o � ,m � fD ��' co .iD o o Xxo � p'�'y, � EnCD u' O a' Cr (D p O,W O O �, En ffl fl: ro n fD N a,o fD �. 7 G. �p o CL .�-. `n n, m °q c. o n o m m w e �. - as n y o e Y ^a y y d C < tv �, C. A: C c�D G. OV G 7' G. CD 5 a H C=, o 0 rn mho= oa 04'c�o `<oL�� �w �ocni coocoo�N cE =k�� ��n o o p, a a o R m m n o m M n C" oii m a w P<' oco coop xoo aao < v, m_'� -r' o y� �CD �o •o,°no vsuwovc°o�amR 00�'S�rs�c x? GQ n 0 1< 2. M co o � � � � o � m co m -s 5 v m v co o co co n n o co ti v 1 Controversial garbage plan gets Metro Council approval By Jim Byers Toronto Star A controversial Metro Council plan that could force local municipalities to pay millions of dollars for garbage pick-up will go ahead, councillors decided last night. Opponents of the plan say they fear it is the first step toward a system where people would pay directly for each bag of garbage they put up. That kind of system could lead to people dumping their garbage on other people's lawns, burning, their trash or stuffing bags so full that garbage would spill out all over the street-, North York Mayor Mel Lastman warned. Metro last night agreed to con- tinue working on a plan to force its six municipalities, as well as Metro boards, such as the Toron- to Transit Commission, to cut back the amount of garbage they dump by 25 per cent over the next three years. If they don't meet the target, Metro will charge between $25 and $97 for every tonne of garbage it has to dispose. Municipalities pick up garbage in Metro but they get to dump it for free at Metro -owned dumps. Metro is fast running out of places to put its garbage and is faced with skyrocketing disposal costs. Metro officials say the only way to solve the garbage crisis is by forcing the people who pro- duce it to pay. le only way to change peo- ple's behavior is to hit them in the pocketbook," said Councillor Ila Bossons (Midtown). Right now, Metro is moving ahead only on the plan to hit municipalities and Metro boards with new fees. But Metro officials are talking about a system where individuals would pay directly for the garbage they produce. Supporters of the scheme say it's only fair that people who pro- duce the most trash pay the most. Councillor Paul Christie (East Toronto) said the present system, where everybody pas for gar bage disposal thr311� h their property tax, is unfbecauso people who conserve produce, only one bag of trash a week pay, the same as people who put out 10 bags. gnwaon garb age l ut7etro ge s u By Royson James Toronto Star away. People like you. on the amount of garbage they produce. Get ready for the garbage police. By next summer, one of Metro's two gar- First, they offered the carrot: "Recycle, it's Get about oncee week garbage pickup? bage dumps will be filled. By 1993, the other good for you." Orpay-by-the-bagee-trash collection? will have no more room. Efforts to find new Now comes the big stick, and it's landing on sites have met stiff opposition from residents the backs of residents and indugry fie. And don't put that bag of dead leaves out who don't want Metro's mess in their back- If the five Metro cities and one borough with the garbage. It might still be at the curb yards. don't cut back on the garbage they produce — when you retuKi nsn�:�,. Faced with the pro-,pect of Metro residents by 15 per cent next year, another 5 per cent in Metro is getting tough on garbage; and that buried in mounds of trash, politicians have em- means tough on the people who throw things barked on a crusade to make people cut back Please see METRO/back page AM/ THE TORONTO STAR, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1989 * Mete getting tough ongarbagep roblem Continued from page Al 1991 and a further 5 per cent in 1992 — Metro will charge them $25 a tonne for the excess waste. Metro works commissioner Bob Ferguson says that Exhibition Place, the Toronto Transit Com- mission, O'Keefe Centre, Metro po- lice, the Metro zoo, school boards and other commissions run by Metro should pay to dispose of their garbage much like private companies. This would make them more responsible for the waste they create and act as an incentive for reduction. Some cities are already consider- ing once -a -week pickup of regular garbage, down from the present twice -a -week service. East York will hold a public meeting next month to discuss the issue. Those seeking to solve the gar- bage crisis believe people would put out less trash with once -a -week pickup than the combined amount from two days' collection. Starting this fall, leaves will not knowingly be allowed in landfill sites in an effort to divert 60,000 tonnes of waste from the dumps. That's almost as much as is recy- cled in the blue box program. Residents are being asked to buy clear plastic bags from stores and put the leaves in them for separate curbside pickup. Each city will an- nounce the special collection times. Metro officials say taxpayers won't be paying more because of the tough measures. But officials are putting more pressure on the cities that collect the garbage to encourage and educate residents to throw out less. Metro's budget for getting rid of solid waste is $73 million this year. Private companies — office towers, businesses, industries — contribute $42 million in disposal fees. The other $31 million comes from the six municipalities. Any new money that comes in from cities that fail to reach the reduction targets will enter the Metro budget as revenue. This, in turn, will reduce the total amount the six municipalities will pay to- ward the total budget. Under the Metro plan, if all the municipalities reached the 15 per cent 1990 reduction target, Metro would divert about 150,000 tonnes of garbage, a Metro report esti- mates. The new fees of $25 per tonne of excess waste would net Metro about $3 million to $4 million. The Metro levy on the municipalities would be reduced by the same amount, Ferguson said, meaning that Metro won't make any extra cash by asking local municipalities to pay more. Metro cities pick up about one million tonnes of garbage each year, about one-third of the total amount disposed of by the Metro government. The rest comes from private haulers. What the charges will do, Metro politicians argue, is force munici- palities to start thinking about how much garbage they are picking up that could be recycled or diverted from garbage dumps. Some politicians want a full user - pay system, where homeowners pay by the bag for garbage pickup. But that is considered a last resort. Paul Christie, chairman of the Metro works committee, has asked for a study on the full user -pay sys- tem, which he supports. But oppo- nents say this could lead to people dumping garbage at night on their neighbor's lawn, or out in the coun- try, to avoid the charges. To prevent that, a policing sys- tem would be needed. There have been discussions about "garbage police" who would snoop through trash bags and keep an cheating. Metro handles much more gar- bage than the amount coming from homeowners in the six municipalities. Garbage from businesses, office towers, construction companies, apartment buildings and other cities all end up at Keele Valley landfill site in Maple and at the Brock West landfill site in Picker- ing. With that in mind, and a provin- cial target for reduction that calls for 25 per cent less garbage by 1990 and 50 per cent less by the year 2000, Metro is also moving against its biggest producer of gar- bage: businesses. Metro Council has already ban- ned corrugated cardboard from its landfill sites, forcing businesses to recycle it. Refrigerators and other major appliances also are not al- lowed. By next year, motor vehicle tires will also be diverted from garbage dumps. While it costs Metro about $25 a tonne to manage the waste, Metro charges private companies a $83.33-a-tonne tipping fee. And there is talk of raising it to $97. eye out for = Wed. Sept. 27, 1989 THE NEWS/POST Page 3 Scarborough Says "No" To Metro Leaf Composting At Beare Rd. Site by Gay Abbate Scarborough Council has said no to Metro -wide leaf composting at Beare Rd. near the Rouge River. As a result, Metro might not have sufficient com- posting space for all the leaves it will collect this fall says a Metro official. The curbside leaf collec- tion program is due to start shortly as leaves begin to fall. George Kelly, Metro's director of solid waste management, said some of the leaves collected this fall will go to a composting depot near the Keele Valley landfill site in Vaughan. Once that site is full, however, the surplus leaves will likely end up in the garbage dumps, Kelly said in an interview. Mayor Joyce,,Trimmer said Scarborouggkwill take care of its own lea City staff is currently loo ng at possible sites. She said that vcn5=-my ❑ 'b wv'`.::� Z-3 -3 G. � N n < T• Q4 'J O N rC' C .= Q � SU � � (D S ,,,,3 O CL ovoo o�ay.C, o-4Omnc(�D�, co En m" o o In ID a ciy a n: I °7 < IDv IDm o a fD o g. C a 5D y 'G �" m 9 � (D � '� � (D >0.° e rS (D O aQ W C y 'LS C2i CO ^nf n e0•. °< O C (D y (� ID G n.(D `.�°i �.w acts y iv `n N.a.r°<< �•(e � �o G. 'b W (D `- O ­3ID(n ,��,,. o dR vOi -^Ot (ID w C pp CD C-D �co o C ►3 CD va -r m fl Q R ­3 n 'C R, n fD `r C. n-1 f�D .., Cam . m �; CL ID �3 �o cn °70�0 0 ��•oNN�n� o va o ° c�DOO' va coD o CL M o. r- a �. � w n 5 to n o a y v y o n�oa. ova _r C o M .tv n< s a y a w o n w _ v oca CD 0 SD MM aa] 'b Boa `n° o room w m o (n CL -- m j -• cC o C ^p_ < 0 O � m un, mo TJ�ogn a d❑ (D a eD CM aec] �vW cD r o o 3 w a = o m cD y o B v Ct CD o� v c oM (D a x a o y o< G a, : Fr cD c, "3 '3 ^s v (D n y T, O O O (D O (D .OR fD to 10 CD n~ CA�. �' C. O O �- +n• O `C. v ,J O n �O O N (D n N AC7 O (<D 3 n � En� UQ Mn 0 (n Ma M W co �^W Cam�r � 8, �o m o c CAnn �. _� _m m (Do o o cn �- °' n o o m 'bCD Fy n ^7 b O �+ o..C,• n. n . .`3 (D F(D„ n• n .(D-. O. CD c (D r CD d C' M L iv y o n< x ^^ .' r�-.CLy CCD En. �ii' ��i am .. ,ns S n > En(MD (D C (n ..ova am o o o m a. CL a M W (CD (? ti a o. -33 n rA CD 02 C+ one* 0 02 We IMS FMA r C+ it is time for all municipalities to look after their own leaves. Metro wants to use 30 to 40 acres on Beare Rd. for composting. But Scar- borough politicians fear it is the first step in Metro putting another landfill site in the northeast. "It's prime agricultural land. Scarborough already has 28 landfill sites. We've done our fair share," said Coun- cilor John Wardrope. The proximity of the Rouge River to the proposed com- posting site means there could be negative impacts on the water course, he said. "We're trying to clean it up not make it worse." Scarborough will ask Metro to be allowed to use the Vaughan site if it can- not come up with its own leaf composting location in time. 1 The Cities oflEtobicoke and North Yor plan to compost their own leaves. Scarborough is expected to produce about 4,000 tons of leaves this fall. Durham'debates", 4Z one huge damp� , �r or just a little one By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Does Durham need one huge dump? A medium -size energy -from -waste incinerator and a medium -size dump? Or a huge incinerator and a small dump? Whichever option the public and regional government back, Durham will wind up with a new dump. That's the conclusion of a progress report on the search for a long-term solution to the region's mounting garbage problem. The choices are narrowed to the three stated, if Durham decides to handle its own garbage, and "a landfill has to be part of the solu- tion, no matter what option we use," Art Leitch, regional director of operations, says. ? Millions Of dollars "There's no way you can get around it." 1 The new report puts a pricetag i on each option, and each is enough to make taxpayers shudder: ❑ Most expensive is the giant incinerator, which would cost $98 million to build and $9 million a year to run, plus the costs of run- ning a small dump; ❑ Second most costly is the medium -size incinerator, about $55 million to build and $6 million a year to run, plus the cost of run- ning a medium -size dump; t ❑ Cheapest is a giant landfill, from $15 n "" ion to $20 million to j build and alyout $2 million a year to run, but tjie cost in lost goodwill would be eriQrmous. First Durham would need to find a community willing to take it; then there's the problem of finding another huge dump site when the first fills up, Leitch reports. The region now produces 339,000 metric tonnes of garbage a year. That will increase to 517,500 tonnes by 2016, the report warns. Durham's ambitio target is to recycle 25 per cent of 11 garbage by 1992 and 50 per cent W 2000. The progress report, a update on the Durham Region Waste Man- agement Master Plan, states incin- erators and dumps are environ- mentally safe if they are designed and run properly. The public is to be involved in the entire planning process through a liaison committee. Nearly 60 people have already applied to take part. ca n uo nip ca m � cCo. g ai w d u ro b4 n c u(z. ifs o.� : Coo c .o�oc n > A>. 3 toeukou:5 ai oa cc o' r �y'4, o y > v� U G? W � ^ r-, R cn u, w�32 00: o0o R� OCUCn Uw+O�Ucp TSw o>ea�o vovo�x *Q) 0 car. tU. t o� n � 7S 4. tQ: y R CU >y Diu o�ou"oa. c,n� co E CZ —C N � �I1 0) p y11:� oG pip .t. a� o � � c•v c a> n a '� 'J c° ao ° o >, O m t-. !-. 'R. OD m � ccvj 0 64. � a Q o o .Z= WW0MR a� o oUom E~9 .gyp E" " >>.8 `aE .�um �'' C.. 0 r;a� fd 0 O w � y 24 o U a v) 'C7 u@ o R y o ate="o M 0 6= h o .? m o M:g= u co U u.. R o0Z f i wnitevaie Tewvai inanKbuivilly weekend celebrates the land WHITEVALE - A special celebration will be held in the village of Whitevale this Thanksgiving weekend when residents play host to about 10,000 people in a Harvest Festival. A great line-up of events is scheduled to take place in the far- ming community Oct. 7 and 8, and organizers hope city dwellers from the Toronto area will get out and discover what rural life is all about. "This is more a celebration of the land than a fight against the P1 dump," says Lloyd Thomas, presi- dent of the Whitevale and District Residents Association. "It's harvest time." Visitors to the small, historic village will enjoy the smells and sights of harvest time and fall col- ors. Agricultural displays, a display of Indian artifacts found locally, hay rides, trail rides, children's crafts and games, hiking trails, and tours of the village's mill are only a few of the things to see and do. Live entertainment will take place on a stage set up in front of Wilson's feed mill. Music will in- clude folk, country rock, bluegrass, early rock, blues and rockabilly. Clowns, jugglers and street theatre will round out the entertainment line-up. Entertainment has been ar- ranged by the village of Claremont. The village of Cherrywood will offer homemade baked goods for sale. Fresh local produce will also be available. There'll be lots of games and con- tests to participate in. They include "pin-the-tail-on-Herrema" and "kill the rat". The kids will enjoy Leaf Dippin', where they can make their own face make-up. The winner of a limerick contest will win a Harvest Festival sweat- shirt. The subject of the limerick must be regional chairman Gary Herrema and the proposed P1 dump site. Take your submission to the Harvest Festival information centre on Whitevale's main street during the festival. HOW TO FIND WHITEVALE Souvenirs of the festival will in- clude T-shirts and sweatshirts. A quilt, made by local residents, will be raffled off. During the festival, Whitevale Road will be closed. Park around the proposed P1 dump site -- on Altona Road, the Fourth Conces- sion or the Fifth Concession. Shut- tle buses will take visitors into the village. Whitevale holds Thanksgiving -arty sgam` tea se funds to fight proposed dump . By Paul Irish Toronto Star Whitevale residents are holding a party this Thanksgiving weekend and everyone is invited to join the fun. Organizers say the day will in- clude clowns, jugglers, pumpkin carvings, craft sales and much more. The tiny hamlet northeast of Metro is the proposed location of a temporary landfill site and along with providing a good time, the Harvest Festival is to help bring attention to its "plight." "The festival is primarily for fun and families ... but we still want people to know what may happen to this area if a dump is put here," says Judy Lucas, one of the festival organizers. "It could ruin every- thing." Appearing on stage in front of the Wilson Feed Mill will be musi- cians and singers "who support the preservation of ... farmland" such as Dennis Stillwell Martin and friends. Other entertainers include Con- rad Kipping and Steve Goldberger, the International Bluegrass Band and Grant Fullerton and his Rock, Blues and Rockabilly review. There will also be agricultural displays, an exhibit of Iroquois artifacts, a sale of homemade country preserves, country walks to see the colorful leaves and a limerick contest with Regional Chairman Gary Herrema as the the subject. Most Whitevale resi- dents are upset with Herrema's support of their hamlet as a spot for the dump. "We estimate 2,000 people per day will attend the festival which gives us a marvelous opportunity to educate visitors about the pro- posed dump site," Lucas says. "The sad and ironic thing is that most people do not know where Whitevale is — they see it as just a number on a map." Residents of the hamlet say their community isn't expecting any special treatment and that all they're asking for is to be given their "fair and legal rights" to a full hearing under the Environ- mental Assessment Act. The province has proposed a study under the Environmental Protection Act, but residents say it just doesn't go far enough. The area homes are still on wells and homeowners fear their water, along with the rest"of the environ- ment, will be contaminated. Whitevale can be reached by tra- velling east on Highway 401 to the Port Union Rd. exit. Look for the signs to Highway 2 then go east. Turn left on Altona Rd., and travel on it to the end. Admission and parking are free. Environment ministry �y turns down Metro V an to incinerate garbe By Royson James Toronto Star Metro's plan to burn some of its garbage has been scuttled by provincial Environment Minister Jim Bradley. At a meeting with senior politi- cians from the greater Toronto area on Tuesday, Bradley told them that incineration cannot be part of their plans to limit the amount of waste destined for gar- bage dumps. Paul Christie, chairman of the Metro works committee, told councillors yesterday that while the regional politicians "protest- ed violently," Bradley was "unequivocal. "Bradley told us that incinera- tion cannot be part of waste. reduction," Christie said. "That's very troublesome." Metro Chairman Alan Tonks said Bradley's stance closes the door on the possibility of sending some waste to the Northern Ontario town of Kapuskasing for incineration. Bradley should stop making impossible demands from Queen's Park and bring in legisla- tion aimed at reducing packag- ing, Tonks said. Manufacturers should also be forced to use recy- clable materials in cardboard packaging and newspapers should be forced to used recycled newsprint, he said. "Unless we get some stringent legislation from the province we have absolutely no hope of achieving the 25 per cent reduc- tion by 1992," Tonks said. A spokesman from Bradley's office said yesterday the minister wants the legislation but would prefer a national law rather than just an Ontario ban. "The preferable approach will be rules against excess packaging on a national scale," spokesman David Oved said. "Mt. Bradley has put this to the federal minis- ter, but he is on record as stating that if the federal government does not act, Ontario is prepared to go it alone." Oved said Bradley hopes to get some federal commitment at a meeting of federal and provincial environment ministers in Prince Edward Island Oct. 17-19. Christie said Bradley suggested Metro take "more radical steps" to reduce the amount of garbage reaching landfill sites, if current recycling measures are not di- verting enough waste. The province has told Metro and the surrounding regions that they must reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites by 25 per cent in 1992 and 50 per cent by the year 2000. Metro politicians say they are worried -they won't meet the tar- gets because recycling, compost- ing and other reduction efforts will not divert enough waste to satisfy the province. Two weeks ago the regional politicians issued a call for "ex- pressions of interest" to develop a long term disposal plan for the area's garbage. After Bradley's stand, they had to change the terms of reference so that the bid ing disposal companies w111Vow delete plans to recover energy from waste through incineration, Christie said. OPINIONS (- +k,O•O Durham Region: The politics of growth DURHAM residents may not like it, but their region ap- pears to be destined for bigger, and not necessarily better, things. "'For months now, Pickering resi- dents have been 1ted against a proposal to put a ne Metro dump near the tiny farming 2nmunity of Whitevale. They've held town hall meetings, erected protest signs throughout the region and even hired prominent Toronto lawyer Morris Manning. Now, they may have another battle on their hands. This week, a group of 12 private sector develop- er" s announced plans to build a satellite city for 90,000 on the provincially -owned Seaton lands in Pickering, right next to Whitevale. And Gary Herrema, the farmer- cign-politician who's been Dur- ham's Regional C(airman for the past nine years as few com- plaints. "Our sons and(daughters who have roots in our community are being forced to move elsewhere to find affordable housing," he says. "What we need in Durham is more builders and fewer bitchers." Herrema may live to regret The city Susan Pigg r those words. The massive development scheme being proposed by the so- called Seaton Development Corp. (SDC) sounds impressive, but it's dangerously sketchy. SDC's mem- bers, including Bramalea Ltd., Markborough Properties Ltd., Wimpey, Menkes Developments and the up-and-coming Penta Stolp Corp., propose 39,000 hous- ing units on the 8,000 acre site, in- cluding four-plexes at $129,000 per unit. They've offered to build the necessary roads and sewers and still keep much of the housing "af- fordable" — a feat which defies belief. Yet, after months of draw- ing up plans of their proposed community, SDC officials can't say exactly how they're going to move people in and out of it. Already, Durham's roads, schools and social services are overloaded. Highway 401 — the region's "umbilical cord," in Herrema's words — is being choked off by Durham residents commuting to Metro. And further expansion of Highway 407 into Durham, if it goes ahead at all, will take at least 20 years. "The process of building roads and highways and hospitals isn't going to take place in the next two years, but the (proposed Seaton) houses are going to be here in two years," says Pickering Councillor Rick Johnson. "It's scary when you think about 90,000 people. You can't stop growth, but there has to be a logi- cal and sensible plan to control it," says Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale Residents Associa- tion. But what has been happening in Durham over the past few years gives new meaning to urban sprawl. Although 40 per cent of the re- gion's land is still designated agri- cultural, it is fast disappearing. The region's population was 326,- 185 in 1986 and is expected to jump some 62 per cent by 2011. Its towns of Pickering, Oshawa, Whitby and Ajax will be home, then, to some 607,000 people. Yet it's ironic that the legiti- mate planning concerns now being expressed by residents haven't stopped the creation of pricey new subdivisions. Nor have they en- sured that growth is better con- trolled. Herrema complains, for in- stance, that the region is being inundated with single -storey shop- p i n g plazas. "They should have apartments on top," he says. "But the developers won't do it. They're making enough money off the re- tail development that they don't want to be bothered with tenants." That means vital taxpayer money for new sewers, roads and schools is being squandered servic- ing developments which could — and should — accommodate many more people. Queen's Park could stop such wasteful development. But it has chosen to be low-key. The Peterson government appointed bureaucrat Gardner Church as Deputy Minis- ter of the Office of the Greater Toronto Area to essentially medi- ate inter -regional issues, most notably the d�earth for a new dump. UnforQunately, Church has had little lu , and shown little determination in making Dur- ham's politicians see the folly of their ways. "We all had high hopes for plan- ning and for development of Dur- ham Region. But, it seems to me that those hopes have been frus- trated," says Bill Parish, who's lived in Durham since 1951 and is now lead ingg the fight against the proposed Whitevale dump. Dump, or no dump, Durham will look much different in the years to come. Its few remaining rural communities — especiall White - vale — could be obliterat4i. And it will, inevitably, need new highways — most likely through the picturesque Ro ge River area — to accommodat such massive growth, not to me ,tion millions more in public t ansit, new schools, internal roads and social services. That means there will be some tough choices ahead for both Queen's Park and the Region of Durham. The Bay News, October 11, 1989 fig} Terrific! Glorious! A wonderftd. end urban development achievernent Town, `Durham Region, the Greater Ontario Province and even for the n if it can be realized! A... -Week's proposal for a multt-biIl�Qn-dollar .......... 0,000-person dey. here at rang on the Aiax ToId be plan for a community rivaling Oshawa in resident Henry .............. eazlg major le: armest of ?pest -felt thanks they have. It solutions to the sereand across Gary Herrema put the last week when he said, more builders and fewer e gitren every Wuftesy and my accepts the need for he invites it. In return he -1 iidered cooMn. Alcons crust keep their hands F. the workings f the free I&A planners must not limit sities in any way. ;triction on the heights of ,,..:...of the market and technical r;setting of minimum floor f`tpi[tnxtures for housing — o3 i om health and building free market over and a continuing A crisis; with all its -iand economic 30 The Bay News, October 11, 1989 P.A.C.T. gets signatures A citizen's group fight- ing a proposed 200-acre garbage dump in north P ckering has announced it's set to proceed with legal action to block the dump's approval. Pickering/Ajax Citizens Together for the environ- ment says it has reached its goal of 1,000 signa- tures of support to fight planned Whitevale dump. 'We are now in the pro- cess in instructing our lawyers to take appropri- ate legal action," said organizer Isabel Thomp- son in a news release. Armed with lawver Morris�ng, a Cana- dian Constitution special- ist, P.A.C.T. has placed its petition in his hands for the first step in the legal marathon. "P.A.C.T. will continue to collect signatures whenever it has the opportunity," added Thompson. Whitevale tour efforts appreciated To the ditor. who baked the hundreds of pies and Thro gh your newspaper, on all those who contributed to and behalf of the supporters of the supported the great Whitevale Picke 'ng Ajax Citizens Together House Tour. for the Environment (PACT), I Thank you, Whitevale, for show - wish to express PACT's deepest ap- ing everyone the grace and charm preciation and thanks to the of your historic village. Whitevale community for the ex- it t tour of Whitevale homes PACT will do all it can to help keep Whitevale enviro entally safe and free from Metro and GTA dumps. Bi 1 Parish, Chairman, PACT ce en held Sunday, Sept. 24, 1989. 6) 45�1 yz 17?" //1 PACT especially thanks Maureen Jones and Sandy Ryder and their committee for the many hours they spent planning and organizing this tour. PACT is so grateful to groups and communities in Pickering and Ajax who so will- ingly and so diligently sponsor pro- jects to protect the environment of our communities and to fight off Metro and GTA dumps. In addition, PACT thanks all those who opened their homes for the Whitevale House Tour, all those PETER LEE/rhe Globe and Mail Richard Jones and his son, Gareth, from Durham Region attended the anti -dump demonstration at Queen's Park on Satu rdq. _ All/ THE TORONTO STAR, TUESDAY, OCfOBER to,1989 Project Xa problem. forNi*xc I Plan to speed up development process upsets environmentalists By John Deverell Toronto Star In both his lives — Ontario treasurer and Brant county farm- er — Bob Nixon usually sidesteps the prairie oysters. But not lately. Nixon, the deputy premier, has been caught presiding over what amounts to an astonishing secret review of Ontario's land -use poli- cies. His Project X began in June, 1988, after Premier David Peter- son promised the regional chair- men of the Greater Toronto Area that Queen's Park would cut by half the time required to approve lands for residential development. The result is a document, enti- tled Reforming Our Land Use and Development System, which was leaked recently. Causing dismay It bluntly advises the govern- ment to consolidate all provincial land -use planning power, including the Environmental Assessment Act, in the ministry of municipal affairs — and then delegate most of the administration to local gov- ernments. The document is causing great dismay among environmentalists, farmers and even some municipal politicians. Critics say that in the name of speed and efficiency, Nixon's Pro- ject X team has proposed, in es-. sense, to surrender the landscape to market agents, led by specula- tors and real estate developers. Nixon says the document does not represent government policy, BOB NIXON: Ontario treasur- er says land proposal would - protect environment. and even that it's intended to strengthen protection of the envi- ronment. Toby Vigod of the Canadian Environment Law Association has organized the counterattack, tell- ing Peterson on behalf of 13 envi- ronmental groups that some ele- ments within his government are guilty of deception and bad faith. Vigod wants assurances that the Environmental Assessment Act will not be gutted. The act requires municipalities and the province to clear their con- struction projects through an Environmental Assessment Board charged with management of the Analysis natural and social environment. The environment minister may require private sector projects to undergo the same scrutiny. The board does not review residential land zoning decisions. Grant Hoperoft, president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, says the document effec- tively proposes abolition of the environment ministry. Brigid Pyke of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture says Nixon's document views farm land as nothing more than raw material for the development industry. "When 34 per cent of Canada's Class I foodland lies within 100 miles (60 kilometres) of the CN Tower, that attitude should disturb everyone," Pyke says. She accuses Nixon of cynicism, and of "throwing up his hands in despair" instead of struggling to find a sensible balance between food production and greater Toronto's appetite for real estate. When Peterson promised last year to speed up the approval of lands for residential development, the Liberal government was preoc- cupied with the high cost of hous- ing. Private developers were claim- ing that bureaucratic delays in government approvals were forc- ing up the price of tesidential land by as much as 30 per cent. Nixon set out to help cut the red tape, but along the way Project X took on an ambitious life of its own. Nixon and his Project X bureau- crats saw the existing impedi- ments to industrial growth and urban sprawl, limited as they are, : as counterproductive bottlenecks : in the natural workings of the mar- ketplace. "Government is severely limited in its ability to influence patterns of growth," the document says. On the other hand, public investment in roads, sewers and other services "where possible should anticipate : growth pressures rather than react to them in order to minimize the costs and tensions of growth." : This is also the view of the Urban - Development Institute, an associa- tion of developers which includes Bramalea, Markborough Proper- : ties, Tridel, Coscan, Trizec and : dozens of smaller operators. "We're happy that some areas of : government have come to the : same conclusions as we have," : institute director Chris Stoyano- : vich said. Even he was surprised, however, by the sweeping approach of Pro- ject X. Pyke says the scheme helps ex- - plain why the Peterson govern- - ment has failed for more than two - years to produce a promised policy statement on the preservation of = agricultural lands. The longer it = waits, she says, the `pore fragmen- tation of agricultura holdings and = transfers to non-agn laltural are = rushed through the approval proc- ess. K ■1l� Antti'�ump fund6.-, now up to $80,000 in Durham Region By Lisa Wright Toronto Star A Durham Region citizens group Violates Charter Manning told Durham Region council he would represent the group and argue the first case of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The people of Pickering are being discriminated against on the basis of where they live, Manning said at the meeting in May. He said the dump infringes on their right to life, liberty and se- curity of the person which is guar- anteed by the Charter. He said he will take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary to block the proposal. Parish says it's now time to plot their strategy with Manning and Toronto lawyer David Estrin, also retained for his expertise on envi- ronmental issues. Parish has no idea when it will finally be heard in court. Though the group was advised to raise at least $100,000, Parish is not worried about the shortfall be- cause "the money is coming in all the time." The proposed lan 1 is slated to accommodate six million tonnes of Metro and Durham trash until a long-term solution to the Toronto I mp Tovements u r ed /ysy g in waste maneg emoht BY RACHEL LEANEY The Globe and Mail More than 200 people from re- gions surrounding Toronto gath- ered at Queen's Park on Saturday to call for increased recycling and changes in the decision -making process surrounding waste man- agement. Protesters from Durham, Hall ton, Peel and York set their sights on the success of East Hampton, N.Y., a town of 17,000 people that has reduced its disposable waste by 84 per cent through recycling. "I think it certainly can be done (in the Toronto area)," Pat Trunzo, councillor for East Hampton, told the rally. "Even if you get to 75 per cent or 70 per cent, I'm sure that's better than what you have today." Toronto's blue box program will divert an estimated 2.9 per cent of the area's waste this year. Mr. Trunzo said recycling not only eases waste management problems, but also reduces pollut- ion caused by the manufacture of new materials such as glass and paper. "Everyone has to take responsi- bility for the contribution they make to the problem," he said, adding that people should be ready to accept their own waste, rather than transporting it elsewhere. Protesters also demanded that the waste management authority, a body appointed by the province last March to oversee waste dispo- sal in the greater Toronto area, be abolished. Calling it "undemocratic, unac- countable and unnecessary," the demonstrators accused the body, which has representatives from the four municipalities and Metro, of operating behind closed doors and not giving the citizens an opportu- nity to voice their opinions. "What it does is excludes the environmental groups, excludes the knowledgeable people," said Jim Wiseman, vice-chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together. Protesters accused the authority of "fast -tracking" the creation of landfill sites by proposing short- term sites exempt from the strin- gent requirements of the Environ- mental Assessment Act. Provincial Environment Min- ister James Bradley promised that every proposed landfill site in southern Ontario will have to meet the requirements of the Enviro- nemtal Assessment Act, Mr. Wise- man said. Protesters want the regional governments to remain responsible for their waste management. Keele Valley, a site north of To- ronto which will be full in late 1992, and Brock West, a site east of To- ronto, now receive the waste from Toronto, Durham and York. Brock West will close next sum- mer, and the 3,600 tonnes a day it now receives will be added to the 8,400 tonnes a day going to Keele Valley. Peel's 2,700 tonnes a day goes to its Britannia site. When it closes next May, the waste will probably go to Keele Valley. Most of Halton's garbage is incinerated in New York State. The protesters not only want waste management decisions to be made by people directly account- able to the public, but also want the revenue generated from waste handling to be public. _�_ __.1. q 's �`,, tly Lan'dfill ure C nica By Mark Bourrie - Special to The Star, MIDLAND, .Ont. — In the banquet room of an opulent yacht club, a small group of farmers and senior citizens watched for six months as lawyers and consultants haggled over whether a new dump to serve a large part of Georgian Bay cottage country should be allowed in their valley. The farmers had their own lawyer, who was opposed by lawyers repre- Xting local councils and the Ontario eironment ministry. The govern- ent lawyer sat with the backers of ie new dump. The farmers and their allies did not trust the ministry to regulate the landfill site. They maintain the dump would destroy their neighborhood and lifestyle. Supporters of the dump accuse resi- dents of displaying the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome. Oppo= nents say resident's' concerns are jus- tified because the history of dozens of sites in Ontario proves sloppy minis- try regulation. The Metro Toronto region faces a major garbage crisis in the next three years. One of Metro's two dumps will close by next summer; the other land- fill will have no more room by 1993. Appeal process The six-month hearing for the Mid- land dump, which ended last month, is just a taste of the fight that looms for GARBAGE WOES: Metro is facing a garbage crisis over the next three years. One of its two dumps will Metro when it settles on a new site. A close by next summer, the other landfill will have no more room by 199& decision on the Midland site is ex- pected early next year. some horrible problems in the past. that chemicals from the dump would der siege, it became a tra If fewer than 50 farmers in Simcoe P g , p,icommit- County could cause an environmental Until the government learns to reach Georgian Bay, 3 kilometres ment to a place one could not escape." assessment hearing to drae on for half Protect the rights of citizens by doing away, in the early 1990s. A five-vPar Ontnrin hoal+}l �'orV'/A L?e— r/� /�✓iC: ' assessment hearing to drag on for half a year, how long will the hearing take for Metro's new dump, which will likely be in the more densely popu- lated Peel, York or Durham regions? And even if Metro wins in its envi- ronmental hearing, the residents liv- ing near the new dump can appeal to the Ontario cabinet and the courts, dragging out the process even longer. Environmentalists say the Ontario government and municipalities de- serve the problems they face over garbage disposal. University of Western Ontario ge- neticist Dr. Joseph Cummins has been a critic of the ministry's handling of dump sites for more than a decade. He says people who fight the estab- lishment of landfill sites in their neighborhoods "are showing signs of extreme sanity." "All of my experience shows that .people who live by dumps, whether they are active or closed, are perse- cuted minorities, he says."The dump moves in and destroys their lives. They're persecuted by the politicians ho inflict the dump on them and by t e ministry that does not protect d.h?m:" {ai Millyard, executive director of Ottawa -based Friends of the Earth, says people fear garbage dumps in their neighborhoods- "because gov- ernments and industries have created a competent job of watching over landfills, citizens are going to be con- cerned about their health." According to a July, 1986, environ- ment ministry report, about two- thirds of the 3,330 underground gar- bage and toxic waste sites in Ontario are considered dangerous to human health. The report cites 69 dumps con- sidered top priorities for more inves- tition. Yhe people who live in the township where the new Midland dump may be located are experienced environmen- tal fighters: Fourteen kilometres (9 miles) north of the proposed dump is. the Perkinsfield landfill, which was the unlicensed dumping ground for millions of litres of toxic waste in the 1970s and early 1980s. Ministry officials knew during the 1970s that hazardous liquid industrial waste from factories across Ontario and the northern United States was being dumped in the unlicensed site. Rather than press charges, officials repeatedly gave the dump owner ret- roactive permission to take toxic waste, according to a Liberal party research paper prepared in 1983 by Gary Gallon, now Environment Min- ister Jim Bradley's senior policy ad- viser. In 1983, a federal environment min- istry official wrote to the local council iticist Joseph Cummins, .left, and activist Kai dds with Environment Minister Jim Bradley. Jean Therrien, who led the fight to close the dump after chemicals were found in her well, died of cancer in 1986. Residents of the area still want Pre- mier David Peterson to honor prom- ises he made during visits to the site in 1983 and 1985 to have chemicals from the site pumped out of the area's ground water. However, at a public meeting in July, 1985, Gallon told about 100 out- raged cottagers and residents that the Liberals would not honor their pledge. Widespread distrust "In opposition, you can make many promises but you don't have to carry them out," he said. "Now, we cannot make the extended statements and promises of opposition, but we must make the real statements of govern- ment." In 1985, Environment Canada re- leased a report on the social and psy- chological effects of the toxic contam- ination and subsequent controvery surrounding dump sites in Hamilton, Stouffville and Perkinsfield. It con- demned government agencies, scien- tists and local politicians for failing to help residents who were affected by pollution. "There was and still is a widespread feeling among residents at all sites that governments cannot be trusted, that promises will be ignored unless people apply constant pressure and fight for their rights," the report said. As property values plummeted and residents were stigmatized as victims by the media and their neighbors, in- tense psychological pressures caused families to break up and an increase in stress -related disease. The home no longer provided a nurturing environ- ment. "There was a sense of loss of feel- ings about the home as the centre of family life, and love of home turned to hatred," the report added. "The home lost its meaning as a source of refuge and sound 4na cial investment; in- stead, -as ownefs felt increasingly un- o- A five-year Ontario health ministry study of residents and workers at Hamilton's Upper Otta 7a Street dump that began in 1981 food an in- crease in chronic respirato ail- ments, damage to the central nervous system and mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, insomnia and ir- ritability. The actions of the provincial gov- ernment since the Liberals were elected in 1985 have left many rural residents across Ontario distrustful and cynical. Perkinsfield is not the only place where Peterson has refused to follow through on his pledges. Salford dump near Ingersoll opened in 1985 on the orders of the Liberal cabinet. South West Oxford Township council and a citizens' group had pleaded with Peterson to cancel a 1983 decision by the Progressive Conservative cabinet to allow the site to open. The Conservatives had overturned an earlier decision by an environmen- tal assessment board that had.de- clared the site unsafe after a 59-day hearing. When he was opposition lead- er, Peterson called the Tory decision "political arrogance at its worst." As a form of protest, the township became the first municipality in On- tario to pass a mandatory recycling bylaw. Concern over leaking dumps in On- tario began in the early 1980s when polychlorinated biphenals (PCBs) were found in the Stouffville dump about 20 metres (66 feet) above an aquifer that supplies area wells with water. -Residents were not reassured by the findings of a 1986 Ontario health ministry study that found no serious health problems caused by the land- fill, despite an earlier survey by resi- dents that found high rates of miscdr- riages and bowel cancer. Toxic chemicals have also been found to be leaching from 'garbage dumps in London, Hamilton, Brock- ville, Bracebridge, Parry Sound and, Innisfil Township, near Bar ri x, The Innisfil site's owner has a plied -to expand the site to ;take som of Metro's garbage. V Letters, Yore either a solution or p Clem rA To the editor: Recently PACT has come under fire from outsiders and members alike with respect to its mandate and objec- tives. For the record, PACT was form- ed to prevent Metro and other regions outside of Durham from constructing or introducting garbage (landfill operations) in this regional municipality. Durham must look after its own site in its own borders and must ensure that all sites be properly operated and maintained. That means regional council must place sites within town borders such as Whitby, Oshawa, Newcastle, or townships such as Brock, Scott, Uxbridge, Scugog. Each municipality must "take their turn at bat". Regional council must cease with their vetoes against Pickering. Durham region is approximately 1,000 square miles in area therefore other lands must be available for dumps. It has been charged that PACT's scope is too narrow. False! Our organization spends an enormous time educating the public in the 411's. Com- mittee members visit schools and municipalities outlining solutions to waste reduction and re -use. Tedious meetings with works officials from Metro and Durham have been attend- ed, often with negative results. For- tunately we have politicians as members who act as liaisons. This is vital to our cause. Our technical com- mittee works tirelessly to ensure land- fill violations do not occur. Larraine Roulston who is a PACT member has undertaken, on her own, the Recyler's Report (75 articles to date) in an effort to bring solutions. Last year I wrote to regional chair- man Gary Herrema regarding residents who insist in the practice of placing certain objects curb -side -- items which have no business in a gar- bage truck. I received no reply. "Blessed are they who expect no co- operation or recognition for they shall not be disappointed". In the interest of public participation and awareness please consider the I following: - Worn out appliances e.g. refrigerators, stoves, bathtubs, water heaters etc., do not belong at the curb. Take these to the scrap yard. - Leaves, branches, hedge and grass clippings do not belong in a landfill. If you cannot compost or mulch, lobby the municipality or region to secure a designated area for such purposes. - Refrain from using disposable diapers whenever possible; these do not belong in a dump because they are unsanitary. - Use the blue box faithfully, not for planting flowers or as laundry baskets. - Consider a kitchen composting unit or place most organic waste in your back -yard or wherever possible. - Avoid items with excessive packag- ing and/or wrapping. - Refrain from placing toxic pro- ducts such as paint solvents or harsh cleaning agents in your garbage. Take these and other hazardous things like car batteries to your nearest designated depot. There is an endless list of things to do in an effort to head off our waste disposal crisis. PACT cannot do it alone nor should it be expected to do so. It's time to work together with some of our dedicated local politi- cians; remember if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the pro- blem. It's up to ALL of us! Please get involved. Frank Threlkeld Jr., Pickering At imp .Gas from garbage turned into nnwp-r I PICKERING - Canada's first land- fill gas -fuelled electrical generating plant is being built in Pickering. ( A ground -breaking ceremony was held Nov. 6 at the Brock West Land- fill Site, where Eastern Power Developers Inc. is building the 23-megawatt plant. Ontario Hydro will urchase the electricity, which will feet the needs of about 6,000 hoWq!5 Landfill gas, produced by decompos- ing waste, will be burned to produce steam, which in turn will drive a tur- bine and produce electricity. Current- ly, Metro Toronto's works department collects the gas and burns it off in flares to ensure safety and reduce odor. The plant should be in operation by December.1990, 5,VS E4ster0.Power. Developers president Herman Walter. Metro Toronto and the town of Picker- ing are to receive about $14 million in royalties from the company over 10 years. The operation will also reduce acid rain emissions by about 2,000 tons a year, says Walter, because Hydre will use leis cg4l.,at,1t§ rry i u STAR, MONDAY, NOVEMBER Z 1987 /A15 Why A du garbage mp should get a full hearing By David Israelson Toronto Star It's depressing to watch Metro and its neighbors try to fling garbage at one another, and call what they're doing "waste man- agement." The fight is over Metro's proposal to build a fast -track dump in nearby Ajax. Metro wants to get going. It already owns the dump site, which would receive 7 million tonnes of trash. And years ago, the Ontar- io environment ministry gave preliminary approvals for the site. Now the proposal requires hearings under Ontario's Envi- ronmental Assessment Act, which reviews government projects to judge their impact on their surroundings. This will take up to five years. So Metro councillors want to short-circuit the process, by using another law called the Environmental Protection Act. Metro's lawyers say this would cut the hearing time in half. The short-circuit can only be allowed by Environ- ment Minister Jim Bradley and cabinet, if they specifically ex- empt the dump from the assess- ment act. The difference between the two laws boils down to this: Under the protection law, the hearing is required to determine only whether the dump poses a hazard, but under the assess- ment law the hearing must look at whether the dump is really the best solution to the problem, or whether there are alterna- tives. It's not that Metro is com- pletely wrong, or that those op posed are entirely in the right. Metro's problem with the slow track is that the garbage keeps on coming: Every Metro resi- dent tosses out nearly 1.5 tonnes a year — one -and -a -half truck- loads — to make up roughly a ; fifth of all the trash in Canada. Metro's two dumps will be full by the end of the century, with one of them expected to be pack- ed up within two years. If noth- ing is done, Metro Works Com- missioner Frank Horga- _ " re - diets, the city will look as though there's a permanent garbage —strike. Naturally, residents of Ajax living near the site want the longer process to be used. They don't want the d map. Vey point out that one of Metro's existing dumps is already in their region, and by the time it closes in two years, it will be full with 15.5 million tonnes of Metro garbage. They also say the new site will leak, poisoning a nearby park and local water supplies. The situation is not easy. But it's exactly because -it's so messy that Bradley should stick with the longer hearing process. For one thing, being forced into a good, long assessment of the problem is just what both Metro and its opponents need. A fast track may get a dump ap- proved quickly, but the real problem is that it's going to take far more than this to solve our garbage troubles. The municipality simply has to do more to control the amount of trash it produces. It has to push hard to boost recy- cling, which now takes care of only a pitiful 1 to 2 per cent of Metro's waste. Metro officials wil argue that they're already trying to do this. And they are — most notably through a long-term program now in the works. Its aim is to divert as much as 40 per cent of the waste now produced away from landfills, and into recy- cling. However, judging from past experiences, such an ambitious plan will remain just that — a plan — unless circumstances force it to be nudged along. A wide-ranging hearing would mean Metro could not assume that another dump will solve anything. Other choices might start to look more attractive and realistic. It would also ensure that oppo- nents have their say. Are their alternatives any good? Liberal MPP Norah Stoner, for exam- ple, wants Metro to burn more garbage. But within two weeks, the City of Toronto is expected to unveil new data showing that garbage incinerators are a health hazard. These are the kinds of issues that a wider hear- ing could explore, informing the public and perhaps cooling the political rhetoric, which is get- ting silly. And finally, leaving the proc- ess alone would help restore the integrity of Ontario's much abused environmental laws. The record of exemptions from hear- ings runs iuLa-1he hundreds. Some may have been justified, but what environmental ques- tion is more deserving of a full hearing than the question of where to throw garbage? R ----------- 11� 11 THE NEWS ADVERTISER. NOV. 8, 1989—PAGE, 3-A PACT polse-ffuo- for legal fight against dump AJAX-PICKERING - PACT is meeting with its lawyers and should be proceeding with its legal challenge against the proposed Pi landfill soon, says the head of the group's legal committee. Steve Parish, an Ajax lawyer, says Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together ( PACT) for the Environment is work- ing with its lawyers, formulating a strategy and deciding what method of legal action it will take. "There are a number of alternative methods in prosecuting this. We're try- ing to determine the best one. We'll be proceeding accordingly in the not -too - distant future," he says. Parish adds he can't discuss the pen- ding legal action in detail because he doesn't want to tip the group's hand. "I can't discuss strategy in the press because it would be counter- productive." PACT is mounting the legal challenge, hoping it will be successful in court in stopping the landfill from being located in north Pickering. Durham region and Metro Toronto want to develop a site, called P1, near Whitevale for an interim landfill. To fight the landfill, PACT got more than 1,000 Ajax and Pickering residents to join the legal challenge and contribute $100 each. The money raised is being used to defray the group's legal costs. PACT has environmental lawyer David Estrin and constitutional lawyer Mor- ris Manning under retainer. Manning was recently hired by the city of Toronto to help draft laws to fight illegal drugs. Parish says one of PACT's potential opponents in court will be Metro Toronto and not the city of Toronto. "Manning has told us he doesn't forsee any conflict there, so he's still on retainer," says Parish. As for when PACT will go to court, Parish says, "We're looking at pro- ceeding in the near term. Exactly when, I can't say. Timing is an impor- tant issue in itself." PAGE 6-B—THE NEWS ADVERTISER, NOV. 8, 1989 Pulling together to solve garbage crisis By LA IRAINE ROULSTON A new video entitled Pulling Together ntroduces companies to reductional reuse, recycling and recovery -- the "four pillars" of a new approach to waste management. The video profiles Mother Parkers, Boeing Canada and the Kitchener - Waterloo Record newspaper. Materials recovered by these com- panies included burlap jute bags, cof- fee residues, cardboard, wood pallets, scrap metal, aluminum, various paper grades, ink and silver. The overriding philosophy is ex- plained by Paul Motz, president of The Record. "It makes no sense for me to take something and turn it into gar- bage, regardless of whether or not that produces a revenue." R. Woodard, resident of Boeing, states, "I do be ieve the key aspect is the frame of m nd that always looks for a way to rec ace consumption and be a better wor d citizen. Also, if you have people sensitive to recycling waste, you have them sensitive to costs and, if you can raise that awareness and make people concern- ed about costs and all aspects of it, it enhances your competitive position." The video can be borrowed for 21 days or be purchased for $25. It makes excellent viewing for companies who are in the throes of creating their own environmental committee. Libraries should acquire a copy also. Interested people should contact Metro Toronto's Industrial Waste Reduction Hotline at 392-4200. From the Peterborough Examiner's Blue Box Recycling Notes: Each month, Peterborough saves 5,100 trees by recycling newspaper and other paper products. To obtain a free copy of the 12-page booklet Yourr Office Paper Recycling Guide, call Toronto's Recycling Action Committee at 392-7850. Reminder: Kids nine to 13, get in your essay or poster to the News Advertiser Recycling Week contest by Tuesday, Nov. 14. For information, call Keith Gilligan at 683-5110. - In an effort to increase awareness of the benefits of recycling and other alternatives to garbage desposal, the Ajax -Pickering News Advertiser brings you Recycler's Report. Ques- tions, comments and 1i s are welcom- ed. Mail your letters o Recycler's Report, Ajax -Pickering ews Adver- tiser, 130 Commercial Ave., Ajax, Ont., LIS 2H5. Take responsibility for your garbage, group tells Metro Pickering/Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment, (PACT) is a group of people working diligently, under the leadership of Bill Parish, to protect this area from the problems related to landfill operations. We formed originally as a coalition of groups to stop Metro from opening the Brock South site, monitor the Brock West site and see to its proper closing. ❑ The 4 Rs have to be a total social com- mitment. . If we REDUCE the garbage, the problem will be much more manageable. If we REUSE material, it does not become gar- bage. If we RECYCLE materials, we save resources and energy in manufacturing. If we RECOVER materials, we utilize our re- sources to the responsible maximum. Garbage is not garbage until you throw it away. We must all look at garbage in a dif- ferent light, as a renewable resource, and look for creative ways to make use of it. ❑ Each region has to be responsible for its own garbage within its own borders. ham looks after Durham's garbage Metro looks after Metro's garbage. planet is everyone's backyard and w must accept responsibility for what v< doing to it. The elected officials who are respc for the waste management operation to be responsible to the people who posed to the operation. This will ensure that the people hav in the garbage operation and ensu- there is accountability to the sta.. promised in the hearings previous t site receiving a Certificate of Approval. ❑ PACT supports Durham going at. with Durham's Waste Management Ma, Plan to establish a system which is resp, ble to the people of Durham and run to very best standards. The system has to be as fair as possi and the operators have to be answerable the host municipality. The operations hav to go through a full hearing under the Env ronmental Assessment Act to assure tt people of Durham of the very best possit solution. ❑ PACT wants to see Brock West clos, and sealed up as soon as it reaches capaci We want to see Brock North and Bro. South taken off the table as possible dur., sites. PACT is a group of volunteers who : concerned with the community in wh` you live. Although PACT has compiled considt able technical and legal information regar, ing waste management, the members do nc consider themselves to be experts. PACT cannot win this fight without the support of the community. We need your time, we need your money. Please help when you are able and donate whatever you can so that PACT can hire the expert help required for the battle ahead. LLOYD THOM White- .....................������iiiiiii� I Rural Roots/2 -- �%� • �� - Ill ,i :.•. .................................. :.:.:.:.:.:.:.:::.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.::.•.•.:• by Dump roceeds':$..... ��>RTJAKE Chris Shanahan p _. WIIITEVALE - Whitevale residents con- tinue to fight a proposed garbage dump near the hamlet despite the fact Durham Region recently gave the controversial mega -project its approval. Adump agree- ment, that would bring Durham more than $400 million in revenue, still re- quires Metro Toronto's okay in'a vote next month. Plans call for Metro to dump 4.7 million tonnes of waste at the Whitevale site over the next five years. But anti - dump activists say they're ready to fight the proposal all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. Metro selected a site near the Rouge Valley for another area landfill. Finalize dump By Tony Grano The hot potato has slipped through Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema's fingers and dropped right onto Whitevale. Durham Region and Metro Toronto have struck a multimillion dollar deal allowing the region and Metro to dump garbage near the hamlet of Whitevale. In return, Durham gets about $40 million and controlling interest in about 320 hectares (800) acres of land — currently owned by Metro — in Pickering and Ajax. Final Opponents to the plan appeared before tie regional waste management committee and intend to make themselves heard today at a special meeting of regional council where the deal was to be finalized. Representatives of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment and members of the Whitevale and District Residents Association! the plan a give-away. They say they are unhappy with the haste with which it is being put forward and the lack of opportunity for public input. important Region Chairman Herrema said he places importance on the fact the region will have a place to ut its garbage and ventually gain ownership of rock North and Brock South garbage dump sites. The Whitevale site is set to open in 1992. Metro and Durham will unload a combined 6 million tonnes of garbage there by the time it closes in 1996. j�Otlk,�� provinces j for trash. di By Mark Bourrie Spec:lai to ,l he Star EIAIVALF . Farmers and environmentalists are celebrating after the province and six munici- palities lost a.bid to put a dump i a so-enic agricultural: valley near this village. The dump would have served 40,0004 cottagers and 30.000 perma- nent residents alon r the south shore of Georgia. Bay. A municipal committee spent 10 years and more than $1 million ;R Choi?se the dumpsite but msieiints defeated the plan at an environ- mental assessment board hearing. The tKard's report was released d,,r :ng the weekend. _ Environmertalists 'held events such as bake sales and flea markets to help raise money for the fight. They aiso spent nearly $40,000 of their own money to pay a lawyer to fight the d��mp, 'Victory over bureaLTraqilp QO i the v nn _othe to cirr;;axis. The d" si d- InIsIry haewsth tie to be seeping f. Georgian Bay, metres away. Nc a- n,itoniOe site letweep _rraeand itiidlan� said she was sk `'We were told by our iaw'ves¢ that our odds going into the hear-1 ing werebout 10 per cent. But we made sure we had as In i ,4. . mation as we could get and thA understood the act," she said- Lauham said the hoard. inits98 "The key to tHie victory was the Constant attention of the residents and the supporters. There were always residents at the hearing watchingt tatcirig notes and speak ing," said <r< rcr, a former Tiny Township Councillor who. fought the dump at the hearing. Peter Brasher, an rnvironmen- tailst who made Several other proposals to the hearing, said ,the decision ,vas "a victory' of democ- racy over bureaucracy. We were- n't sure it would happen." The hearing was held over 68 clays last spring and summer. Par- tici�ants say it cost more than $1.5 mliion in legal and engineering consultant fees. The municipalities will have to continue sending their garbage to Metro's Keele Valle�z._�I, which will close in 1993. It costs taxpavers in the six towns and townships $112a tonne to dispose of their garbage, up from a tonne in 1987. The local :dump was closed in 1987 after_toxic waste w"Jqund to otner sites or_t) era vess t I46011 s'vch as incineration. one. I wiil says that we `mu=t' tgX yM- - monev," Lapham said. iS "There will be tremendc;tis cysts s to the local taxpayers imm I hope, that people realize that we hzad to speak out and protect a valuabie agricultural resource. "If we get blamed for prote,�ting 3 what's important in the comanun i ty, then we're going to have to take that blame." Older ng appeal Pat Armstrong, cnairma^ of thk six -municipality -ornm ttee theft applied for the dump, :aid lr s group is considering an appeal 10 the Ontario cabinet. The Liberal government over- turned a similar board decision southwest Oxford Township, r- London in 1985 after citiams.wo an environmental board decisio* saying a proposed dump was not environmentally sound. "The heart of'the matter is that( we did do everthing- that was possi- ble to follow the 1 Fnviroarnental Assessment Acts". Armstront said-,. He said cottag>pi^s and sidents who armr-Ft(o eri him cost ai "a e 160 kilo- metres KeekValley. must Wa we tWr gar- bage will tr, w metko fates its own garbage.di Isis in three � Gr�nuns de�e"' province,.-C, for Qh n tras. By Mark Bourrie in 1- .,� ,,-, ,ing from the . tt:.:�:v.ard k i h� Spec:ialtooThe Star 1'ieorgian Bay, a couple of ELNiVALE — I arrners and environmentalists are celebrating metres away. uL t-1?aro'1'a'_�'�-pMid'-P fhat-otgs311iLM opp'?' after the province and six munici 440i► E'n3 group fo foie Site-�tween : r.te alitie�s lost a bid to put a dump in ascenic agricultural valley rearNl,dlriisaid she was �horkc-d this village. The dump would have server; "W ,irer�% owlau�Fr Wit. our csr:cls r �.rkfintc tht hear- 4U,UttO rottagersand 30.000 perms- nent residents alongthe south in w,r rs, ;bout ' U ter r cent. Bert. we g m,3de sure we iiac, as much igfdr> shore of Georgian Bay. A committee spent 10 mation as we could get and that loll _ municipal vears and more than 81 million to understood the ., 1., , said. La_phatn said :llr. ,oa coin 1116 choose the dumpsite but residents defeated the plan at an environ- a e �ecis ,~turn ct d + sumecnus� idle itca,mu a" mental assessment board hearing. The hoard's report was released - . i 1eS_ �v`E?rr co st e ' .foil during the weekend. to6 fier sites or _ �� et . ul such as incineration: . Environmentalists held events. such as bake sales and flea markets�- .an re�oar3 - ' it_' `. to help raise money far the fight. They also spent rearly $4t1,09U of dent lie to r- des will hate tasee:lec vera,sit t zet a Their r�wn money t�. ra) a 1-A:vver to fight the dump,� anti tet,ermine the most aioulnone. �� ei��c=ln�ii� lrvfn �Iiist `Victory over buvvAocracy' The board ordered .`n< ()ntarip Fr.� to"Mc victory was the constant attention of the residents and the supporters. There were always residents at the hearing watching, taking notes and speak- ing," said Art. Oyer, a former Tiny Township councillor who fought the dump at thc, hearing. Peter Brasher, an environmen- talist who rrade Several other proposals to the hearing, said the decision was "a victory of democ- racy over bureaucracy- We were- n't sure it would happen." The hearing was held over 68 days last spring and summer. Par - tic i• ants Say it cost more than $1.5 million in legal and engineering consultant fees. The municipalities will have to continue sending their garbage to Metro's Keele Valle ' =i, which will close in 1993. It costs taxpayer., )n the six to�.vrrs and totti's ills 12 a tonne to dispose of their garbage, up r from $7 a tonne in 198 1 . The local clump was closed in 1987 after toxic wastr� -#: and with consultants' rennrts. `"f'fier e i!f fie a`lot Tp-%A ple wh Will say that we cost the. taxpayer,; money," Lapham sac'.. "There will be trerrendemi casts; to the local taxpayers but I Clops: that people realize that we had to speak out and protect a valuablo { agricultural rc_o,urce. ; "If we get blamed for protecting� what's important in the communi-; ty, then we're going to have to take that blame." Considering anal Pat Armstrong, chairman of th� six -municipality committee that applied for the dump. mid his group is considering an appeal o the Ontario cabinet. The Liberal government ore turned a similar boCT'd decision southwest Oxford Township, ne London in 1985 after citizens wo _ ar environmental board decision saying a proposed dump was no envirorim,nitally sound. t "The heart of the matter is than we did do everthina that was po:� ble to follow the Environmental Assessment Act," Armstrong said:. lie said co+.lagers and residents who are already suffering the high cost �,r shipping garbage 160 kiW metres (100 miles) to Keele Valley must worry about where their gar- bag43. will go when Metro faces its own garbage crisis in three years. I Groups dete a province s pla ,for trash dui //WVV° By Mark Bourrie to be seeping from the bite toward Special to The Star Georgian Bay, a couplb, of kilo- ELMVALE — Farmers and metres away. environmentalists are celebrating Sharon L ham res the after the province and six munici-•-c WUzens grou tha orEanized oppo- palities lost a bid to put a dump in , ition � e site between B a scenic agricultural valley near and Midlan , said she was shocke this village. by the victory. The dump- would have served "We were told by our lawyer, 40,000 cottagers and 30,000 perma- that our odds going into the hear- nent residents along the south ing were about 10 per cent. But we shore of Georgian Bay. made sure we had as much irjf6rs A municipal committee spent 10 mation as we could get and that we_ years and more than $1 million to understood the act," she said. choose the dumpsite but residents La ham said the board in its 9& defeated the plan at an environ- a e ec�s�on, urned down mental assessment board hearing. sum ause a ocal mumcipa ., The board's report was released des no give air consi era ion during the weekend. 1 0 oother sites or to alternatives Environmentalists held events, Ta-h-dTiUsuch as incineration. such as bake sales and flea markets a oar sa s th' to help raise money for the fight. .dent be se it men 11They also spent nearly $40,000 of i ies will hav veral sit s their own money to pay a lawyer an(T-aptPrming he most suits to fight the dump. one rather ,than chosing one `Victory over bureaucracy' The board ordered the Ontario en nmen mMstry o_nay __$f62,000 to the opponenjthe Cum to cover thee costs. The ministry ha si a with t e "The key to tTie victory was the constant attention of the residents and the supporters. There were always residents at the hearing watching, taking notes and speak- ing," said Art Dyer, a'former Tiny Township councillor who fought the dump at the hearing. Peter Brasher, an environmen- talist who made Several other proposals to the hearing, said the decision was "a victory of democ- racy over bureaucracy. We were= n't sure it would happen." With consultants' reports-.— '—'Tffe-fe will ale 'rlot of people wh will say that we cost the taxpayer money," Lapham said. "There will be tremendous costs to the local taxpayers but I hope that people realize that we had to speak out and protect a valuable. agricultural resource. "If we get blamed for protecting what's important in the communi- ty, then we're going to have to take that blame." Considering appeal Pat Armstrong, chairman of th six -municipality committee th applied for the dump, said his group is considering an appeal o the Ontario cabinet. The Liberal government ove - turned a similar board decision southwest Oxford Township ne The hearing was held over 68 London .in 1985 after citizens wo days last spring and summer. Par- an environmental board decisio ticipants say it cost more than $1.5 saying a proposed dump was no million in legal and engineering environmentally sound. consultant fees. "The heart of the matter is tha The municipalities will have to we did do everthing that was possi- continue sending their garbage to ble to follow the Environmental Metro's Keele Valle-1an,ao- , Assessment Act," Armstrong said, which will close in 1993. He said cottagers and residents It costs taxpayers in the six who are already suffering the high towns and townships $112 a tonne cost of shipping garbage 160 kilo-' to dispose of their garbage, up metres (100 miles) to Keele Valley from $7 a tonne in 1987. must worry about where their gar - The local dump was closed in bage will go when Metro faces its 1987 after waste w and own garbage crisis in three years. PAGE 6-A-THF, NEWS ADVERTISER, NOV. 22, 1989 /V61u� - elal-planning;cau:. s eks e soluti(garbn g By Lisa Wright Toronto Star Their vision is a clean, green community. Scarborough's social planning council is holding a panel discus- sion Wednesday to discuss ways to reduce garbage in Metro be- fore it reaches the crisis point. Speakers will include repre- sentatives from the Ministry of Environment, Scarborough works department, Solid Waste Environmental Assessment Plan (SWEAP) and citizens' groups from Pickering, Toronto and Markham. The preferred methods of trash reduction are recycling and re -use rather than creating more landfill sites, which threat- en the environment, or incinera- tion, which pollutes the air with toxic gases. People must change their habits to conserve in order to Editopiaf i We're the solu-rioi,pi in garbage crisis "Changing Attitudes" is a must if we're to save what's left of our environment, especially in our thinking towards waste management. Recycling Week is upon us with this year's theme Changing Attitudes. The Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) believes now's the time for promoting personal responsibility for waste reduction and reuse, not just recycling. "Let's face it," says RCO's John Hanson, "If we're really go- ing to solve the garbage crisis, we have to reduce per -capita garbage generation. That means changing people's attitudes and behavior patterns whether they're at home, school or travelling. It's clear that recycling is, no longer enough." If you're filling you're Blue Box each week like many other people in Ajax and Pickering, that's great. But, there's probably more you can do to cut the amount of garbage you generate. Here are just a few ideas. We're sure you can come up with more and better ideas. --At home, don't use paper towels for cleaning things. Instead, use cloths. --Don't buy pop in cans which can't be recycled, but in bot- tles which are recyclable. --At work, refrain from drinking your morning coffee out of a cup that you'll throw away. Take your own mug and fill it at the coffee machine. --When you drop into the local variety store to buy one or two items, don't have them put in a bag unless it's absolutely necessary. We could go on and on. You get the idea. And, you probably have many of your own ways of reducing waste. Everyone must do his or her part to help alleviate the gar- bage crisis. We caused the problem. We can be the solution. control the trash crisis, says Lois James, secretary of the city's so- cial planning council. "The first and last line of de- fense in the war against garbage is reduction," she adds. The discussion is the second in a series on the future of Greater Toronto Area garbage. Metro and area regions joined forces earlier this year to form the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee (SWISC) to try and solve their long-term garbage woes. Some potential short-term dumps sites have been pegged since then and include Scarbor- ough's Rouge River Valley and the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering. The public meeting will be held at 7.30 p.m. at the Scarbor- ough Civic Centre in committee rooms 1 and 2. Critics odtrageI-A by pl�n-i to dump trash in Rouge By Royson James Toronto Star Environmentalists and same politicians are outraged by a plan to dump garbage on the edge of Metro's last wilderness area in the Rouge River Valley in north- east Scarborough. But others say the alternative may be massive tax increases, be- tween 13 and 26 per cent each year, for Metro residents to pay; for the right to dump outside Metro. Critics of the plan, to be debat- ed on Wednesday, say Metro is offering a national environmen- tal treasure in a garbage poker game that could ruin the valley and poison our water supply. By offering the 55-hectare (136- acre) site as a home for about a third of Metro's garbage over five years, waste could be dump- ed within 50 metres of nationally rare wildlife, said Jim Robb of the Save The Rouge Valley Sys- tem. `Totally unacceptable "To dump right next to the river system is asking for trou- ble," Robb said. The dump would extend the old Beare Road landfill site north to the Canadian Pacific Railway line, between the Pickering Town line and Beare Rd. Robb said leachates could get into the ground water, seep into the many streams in the area and find their way to Lake Ontario, poisoning our water supply. "The proposal is outrageous," added Tory MP Pauline Browes, who has a private member's bill in Parliament to designate the Rouge Valley a national -provin- cial park. "It's totally and absolutely unacceptable," she said. "I don't know how they can vote for this when all parties of the provincial Legislature have voted (last Steeles Ave. I m Q Plug Hat Rd. Finch Ave PROPOSED METRO GARBAdE ZOO DUMP Rouge R. i Monday) that it should be a park." Metro faces a severe landfill crisis. One dump in Pickering will close by 1990 or 1991. The other, at Keele Valley in Maple, closes in 1993. After that, the gar- bage will pile up. On Wednesday, Metro's works committee will nominate a site or sites to take care of its waste be- tween 1992 and 1996. Council votes on the decision Dec. 6. Brian Ashton, a Metro council- lor from Scarborough, says he prefers to keep garbage out of the city, but if council says no, it should provide a trust fund to help preserve the rest of the val- ley lands forever. "If Metro is still intent on kick- ing Mother Nature in the groin, the cost is $50 million," Ashton said. Metro Councillor Paul Christie said Metro taxpayers should get ready to pay big money to dump in Durham. It's either that or the Rouge and Christie says he favors Durham. "You can't put a price tag on the Rouge," said Christie, chair- man of the Metro works commit- tee. The committee will vote on the staff recommendation dump garbage across from Metro zoo as well as four or f other sites outside Metro. Councillor Chris StockA (Lakershore-Queensway) s: Durham's asking price is too h and he and other councillors not going to be held hostage. "What Durham is asking u., pay is tantamount to being t bed. Durham is publicly robt us," said Stockwell. "Dumpini Durham is not financially fe ble." Sources say it could cost MF "not much less than $1 billion take Durham up on its offer handle up to 4 million tonne the area's waste for five years Metro would lose the rr than $100 million a year it i reaps in profits from pri, companies who dump in municipal garbage dumps. Ar would also have to pay at $83.33 per tonne for dumpingg garbage collected from M, residents. `Rather pollute Scarborough Mayor Jo Trimmer says she is devast, but feels Metro will opt for du ing near the Rouge rather ' pay the high price of dumpir Durham. "I have no doubt Metro will it on the table, but it do# mean I will have to go along, it. Let's see how much of a n- erhood issue the environr really is," she said."We'll st they'll rather pollute our ri than pay." Critics say dumping near Rouge will likely result in dal to four spots, within 400 m( of the site, that have been df nated as environmentally s4 tive by the Metro Toronto Region Conservation Auth( because they are home to wildlife. am 0,1�. t 'I�k F 4Ur x K rt t7iM slot `tE'7l haste reserve ft�ncl up front' Aktbti;rs, who learned abut the for duttfp. wing 4,e1* c1u eeittent. Durham will cleat Friday, says it's premised on "They can't go UtA fr li ,i r "� also have the option of buying the Pi being approved as a laitMand, ititited amount of .w4 l Brock No th and South sites. it Pi should be re je „") trham matkes no sense 'at '* deaf tesVeArbt leave The reg%on's waste management, And It�etro will be l� st other Thomas of the W a i l ion over and finaner to nmittees approved sites vithtin the TA- DWdet ReSidec "'.1 five tle deal yesterday. meat." "They're Putting a ptlt++ e deal moons. 'And {, White:'Pickering mayor Wayne 7*PIdeal ,hora�ever,dbad'tad esev�t. it's 0 aft rvlli 4are.t'6e PA'�rba& - •4 kttlui expects "substantial sup- - i.btWr regk_ m that ai�e potl of ' of f na says residAs t.r>estr W ale,�Y Phis apF port' am�g regional poliiictarrs kltie: fib i+ with the region"s "S Id as>t�s1t 11 el4tts�It#i1 for the agreement, PtCkerirgA ltutaai� ll t"OnthePtsite the", ``They'retry� 's'keep fighting the Pl landfills re 3 the }sad hi std la th of g. h and bypass the r ' x- , z R r :..� t} ,t�e,gauge • if apt+', , Will oe+,y . prniieta�il 'yAliw B to rt ,h gatttHC:I r itthtu the 3eare Road nicked hv---Mptrc OM PAGE Al ovincially-owned land. "i think it would be absurd to evelop a community when the rst service is a dump," says Ar- hurs. "We hope we can convince e province that, in developing ton, it's not in their interests to eve a dump there." But Arthurs, who w— ote to pro- ncial environment minister Jim radley outlining his concerns, eceived a reply "basically saying the iPD progess is in the interest of the GTA area, thanks for chance." I' writing." Meanwhile, Metro has tabled it _ Pickering will keep meefing with Mt site as an interim landfill. This its lawyers to form a legal plan 'site, north of the Beare Road land - against the province, says Arthurs. fiU on the banks of the Ro " qe River. While the mayor has been making is on the Scarborough- I•kering this same statement since May, he border and would still of ct the explains, "We need time to review town. The Ontario legis ature everything that comes in. We have recently voted unanimously to to be sure any legal action is solid." preserve the Rouge Valley as a Arthurs says 'the experts" will park. determine when it's time to move `We've got a long row to hoe," legally. "l don't anticipate it being says Arthurs. 'But it's not over till too late. We won't get a second it's over. z rl� JIM RUSSELL,70RONTO STAR WORRIED RESIDENT: Carol DeGeer, who lives on the proposed dump site north of Metro zoo, stands near the home she may lose If Metro Toronto approves location. Toes s no to citv gash By Royson James TORONTO STAR There may be gold in Metro's garbage, but municipalities in Ontario are not rushing to get rich on our waste. Metro is offering towns and cities millions of dollars, plus promises to repair and con- struct roads and other entice- ments. But the little towns are saying a big NO to the King of Trash — Metro Toronto. Today, a Metro Council com- mittee was to nominate as many as four towns it would like to take between 17 million and 22 million tonnes of gar- bage off our hands for five years. Council votes on the decision Dec. 6. The politicians expect a chorus of boos from citizens who are fighting mad and who wear names and acronyms re- flecting their anger. "Let's face it: rodents come with garbage," said Maureen Jones of the village of White - vale, where Durham Region wants to dump its own garbage as well as some of Metro's — for an estimated $500 million. "If the dump goes through we won't be able to live here," she said. A staff report recommends Metro dump up to 5 million tonnes in Scarborough, near the Rouge River Valley; 5 mil- lion tonnes in Vaughan by ex- panding the current dump in Keele Valley; between 5 and 10 million tonnes in the town of Marmora and the township of Orillia; and send 2 million tonnes to Kapuskasing for incineration. The response was predict- able: outrage and promises of "We'll fight this to the end." $10 million offer For example: ❑ Residents in the mining town of Marmora, 40 kilo- metres north of Trenton, have put together an anti -dump group with a powerful sound- ing name: TNT or Take No Trash. Reeve Graham Bell said the townfolk are "just against it, period." The opposition comes despite an initial offer of about $10 million to the township, some sources say. ❑ In the Township of Orillia, citizens have hired a lawyer and formed Residents Agains Metro Garbage to oppose the dumping of waste in a 100-hec tare (250-acre) quarry, 10 miles. north of the city of Orillia. ❑ Pickering and Ajax residents have formed a vocal group and hired prominent lawyer Morris Manning to oppose Metro's trash. "We intend, if we have to, to resort to civil disobedience,"41 Isobel Thompson, a member of Pickering Ajax Citizens Togeth- er (PAC. "We are not going to put up with this." ❑ In Vaughan, Mayor Lorna Jackson has promised to fight any plans ta,.expand Keele Val - which is set to fill up by 1993. ❑ Kapuskasing's council has voted to take 2.3 million tonnes of Metro's waste +and convert it to energy via incineration. But even here, 840 kilometres from Metro, there's opposition. _ coisCouncillorsshturn tra into bunlmga By Royson James TORONTO STAR Burn it. That's the growing cry of Metro council- lors who are frustrated because no one wants Toronto's garbage dumped in their backyard. Metro may have to burn its trash within its borders, they say. A staff report on potential sites in each municipality is due next month. It's time incineration was considered an option for disposing of some of the 3.3 million tonnes of waste Metro produces each year, said Metro works commissioner Bob Ferguson. "It's becoming clear nobody wants our garbage and we have to deal with garbage ,I problems within Metro," said Councillor I 989 THE TORONTO STAR * Joan King (Seneca Heights). "We should be looking at it — it's better than landfill," said Richard Gilbert (Davenport). Strong opposition Councillors say they favor recycling and other methods of reducing garbage, but they see incineration as a necessity when faced with strong opposition to garbage dumps. But some residents and environmental- ists say Metro politicians are in for an even tougher battle if they dare build incinerators. "Incinerators are bad news," said Peter Tabuns, president of Citizens for a Safe Environment, whose group led the fight to close Metro's last incinerator on Commis- sioners St. last iYear. "People area t stupid. Those things are deadly, he said. Politicians and Metro staff, however, claim modern incinerators in Europe and Burnaby, B.C., show that trash can be burned safely and that Metro should con- sider it. "If you go outside Canada and North America generally, you'll find environmen- tal support for incineration," Gilbert said. The Green Party in Britain and the Swedish Environmental Protection Board, one of the toughest authorities in the world, allow the new plants, he said. Incinerators send out the wrong mes- sage and will compete with the blue box, opponents say. Burning garbage will give the message that people can put anything Ut into the waste stream and not worry`about it, they say. "This is a backward step. Recycling is working incredibly well, and theyy are not making the best use of it," Ward -10 Toronto Councillor Tom Jakobek said Backward step' "No matter how modern the incinerator. they are bad news for the environment.' Metro "shouldn't even be thinking about incinerators" until all the recycling, com posting and waste diversion methods are in place, said Linda Lynch, executivi director of Environment Watch. Many industries are springing up tha depend on a steady stream of waste beinj diverted from dump sites or incinerator: she said. lG • Deal In works toumgarbaae in By Lesley Simpson TORONTO STAR Metro and Durham Region are hammering out a financial con- tract th t will let Metro dump garbag ' near the village of Whitev as early as 1991. "We' much closer to what both si es see as a competitive price," Metro Chairman Alan Tonks said last night. "We haven't completed the ne- gotiations, but the tipping fees are what you could call reasona- bly priced." Tonks declined to disclose how much Metro will have to pay per metric tonne to dump the gar- bage in the controversial site in northwest Pickering, on the edge of the Rouge Valley. Metro's garbage could be dumped there as early as 1991, he said. Tonks denied there was a "financial contract" worked out between Metro and Durham, but said the "deal" will help ease the squeeze on landfill sites for Metro. "We have agreed in principle," said Tonks, who stressed the agreement still has to be ap- proved by Durham Region Coun- cil and Metro Council. "We're going after several small sites instead of one mega - dump because of opposition (from residents ...This will be an interim site.' Durham Region chairman Gary Herrema could not be reached for comment last night. The ca- pacity of the Pickering site, known as P-1, is only 5 million metric tonnes, he said. But residents groups in Dur- ham are gearing up for a fight. "This is class A-1 farmland and it should be growing vegetables, not garbage," said Isobel Thomp- son, a resident of Whitevale vil- lage and a member of the citi- zens _group Pickering -Ajax Citi- zens Together (PACT). "We have hired (Toronto lawyer) Morris Manning, and we'll take whatever legal action we can. "We'll resort to civil disobedi- ence. We'll lie down on the road. I can tell you, we're not going to lie down and die," said Thomp- son, who has lived in the village in north Pickering since 1971. Residents will storm the Tues- day meeting of Durham council, said Bill Parish, an Ajax resident and chairman of PACT. "We have a moral responsibil- ityto fight as hard as we can. This is the environ ent were talking about." The first phase of a engineer- ing study done for D i•ham re- gion said earlier this week that the land is suitable for a landfill site. * THE TORONT0 STAR Tuesday, Deccmber J, 2Ov0 A7 By Royson James TORONTO STAR A tentative deal to let Metro dump garbage in Whitevale prob- ably means a reprieve for the Rouge Valley, some Metro coun- cillors say. However, the deal is an expen- sive one that will cost Metro tax- payers $41 million up front, and the loss of a further $254 million to $366 million in dumping fees from private haulers over the next five years. Tomorrow, Metro Council is to name a site next to the Rouge in northeast Scarborough as a gar- bage dump. But the site may never be used now that Metro has space for 4.7 million tonnes of trash in Whitevale, which is part of Pickering. "We don't need the Rouge now," said Councillor Paul Christie (East Toronto), who helped negotiate the deal with Durham. "This gives us a lot of breathing space." "We don't need (dumps in both) Scarborough and Picker- ing," said Councillor Ken Mor- ris, (Scarborough Highland Creek). But he said council will name Scarborough, Orillia Township, Marmora and Kapuskasing as potential du.*1p sites to go along with the Durham site. Metro Chairman Alan Tonks said the Durham deal is a good one because it fulfils Metro's goal of not dumping in the Rouge. The Metro -Durham deal, reach- ed in principle last week after eight months of negotiations, calls for Metro to: ❑ Pay Durham $21 million for the right to dump 2.3 million tonnes of municipal waste in the hamlet of Whitevale and another $20 million to help it prepare the site. ❑ Give Durham the option of buying, before 1996, up to 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of land that Metro has been keeping for a potential dump site in Picker- ing. The appraised value is $20 mullion to $25 million, Christie says. ❑ Dump about 2.3 million tonnes of municipal waste in Whitevale, but give up the lucra- tive business of managing the dump and reaping millions ;of dollars in profits from tipping fees — the price charged for pri- vate dumping. ❑ Secure space for 2.4 million tonnes of garbage for Metro's commercial and industrial companies. However, tipping fees are to be set by Durham and the region will keep the levy. With about 3.05 million tonnes of garbage from the private sec- tor earmarked for the Whitevale site, Durham will get up to $366 million over five years if tipping fees jump to $120 per tonne as anticipated by the time the dump opens. This is money that Metro would normally use for such pro- grams as blue -box recycling. .. "It's the best deal we could get," said Christie, adding that Durham initially wanted about $80 million up front. Councillor Chris Stockwell (Lakeshore-Queensway) promises "a hell of a session at council over this" if the private sector is not protected against price -goug- ing. While it will not cost Metro any more money to dump in Whitevale than it does now to dump in Brock West or in Keele Valley, Stockwell said Durham could now sock it to businesses with huge tipping fees. Durham's waste management committee is to examine the deal today before passing it on to re- gional council tomorrow. Neighbors fume at dump plan By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR A multimillion -dollar deal allowing Metro to dump garbage near the hamlet of Whitevale is a "sellout" of the people and the environment, angry Pickering residents say. Durham Region stands to make more than $40 million by agree- ing to take Metro's garbage until the end of 1996, Durham Chair- man Gary Herrema said yester- dayTh. e region also would regain control and ownership of about 320 hectares (800 acres) of land in Pickering and Ajax owned byy Metro and use it for parks or golf courses rather than landfill sites as previously planned, Herrema said. "The dollars are secondary to me;" he said. "Having a place to put our garbage and having con- trol of Brock North and South (Metro's R d) is more impor- tant."r,r' But citizen groups fighting the dump are funung at the proposal and are urging regional council- lors to vote against it at a joint meeting of Durham's waste man- agement and finance committees tomorrow. Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment said: "We see it as a sellout." Opponents are upset the agree- ment was kept quiet until now and probably will be approved before the public can participate. "They're trying to ram this thing through without letting the people help in the process at all," said Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Resi- dents' Association. The matter should at least be deferred to ensure residents will be guaranteed safe drinking water and compensation for the disruption to their lives, Thomas said. Both groups will speak at a special Durham Council meeting Vdlagm boo dump proposal COBOCONK, Ont. (Special) — More than 500 people jammed the Legion hall in this resort vil- lage during a blizzard to de- nounce plans for a proposed dump for Metro's garbage. Residents and cottagers mobi- lized quickly at the weekend meeting to oppose the idea of a 445-hectare (1,100-acre) dump near the village, which is north of Lindsay. Local organizer Laura Gaunt said ballots handed out at the meeting produced a 475-1 vote against the dump. Walkerton businessman Bill Hutchison has bought an option on the land and is proposing it as a dump for garbage from the Metro and York, Peel and Dur- ham regions. He said the land would be leased to the municipalities that use the site. Bill Crowther, the Metro offi- cial in charge of finding a new dump for the region, said the proposal is not being consider- ed. However, Angelos Bacou- poulos, Metro's chief engineer of landfills, presented a slide show to the angry crowd. Wednesday. Metro Council also will vote on it then. "I think it's a very reasonable agreement for both Metro Toron- to and the Region of Durham," said Oshawa Councillor John Aker, chairman of the region's waste management committeee�°. The negotiations with Metro have been "frustrating" because they dragged on since Durham chose the site in May, with both sides determined to get what they wanted, Aker said. The formula in the deal for how Metro will be charged is still being worked out but the tipping fees have been set at a cost rela- tive to current fees, Herrema said. Durham faces a crisis when the Metro -run Brock West site in Pickering fills up next year. The region is pressuring Metro to stop using the dump a few months early to give the region dumping capacity u til, the Whitevale site is ready. The site is slated to )en in 1992. Metro and Durh - will dump - combined 6 million tonnes of waste into the landfill by the time it closes in 1996. By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Just one year ago Durham region councillors were beginning to panic because space was running out at the landfill site where the region puts its garbage. And, only three months ago, negotia- tions between Metro Toronto and Durham over the 150-acre Pi landfill site in Whitevale were called off because a financial deal couldn't be reached. Today, the situation cotild complete- ly turn around if Durham approves a "statement of principals" (deal) which provides a contingency landfill site for Durham and Metro to dump in for five years until a long-term waste disposal plan is found. The financial gain for Durham would be more than $150 million over the next five years. The agreement is dependent on whether P1 is approved environmen- tally by the province through an En- vironmental Protection Act hearing. if everything goes as scheduled, the dump could be open as early as Jan. 1, 1992 and can accommodate up to six million tonnes. However, the Brock West landfill site, where Durham currently dumps its trash, is scheduled to be full by next summer. In the deal, Metro would make room in Brock West for Durham to dump until P1 is ready. Metro would either divert some of its trash to its Keele Valley site or allow Durham to take its trash to Metro transfer stations. The proposed deal has Pickering residents furious. Residents say they don't want another dump in Pickering, especially one that takes Metro's trash, and they're also concerned the dump will affect well water that serves the communities of Cherrywood and Whitevale. Bill Parish, chairman of PACT for the Environment, was upset that the public received copies of the agree- ment Tuesday morning at the start of the meeting. Parish said he wanted time to review the agreement before council made a decision on it. 'This is an arrogant disrespect for democracy," shouted Parish. "This is not a simple wage or subdivision agreement. It affects the lives and futures of every citizen living in Pickering." Parish told committee members not to promise public participation if they don't plan on fulfilling their promises. "Don't make fools of us and don't make fools of yourselves." Parish also asked coimcillots to wait until Jan. 31, 1990 before voting on the deal and wants advertisements put in- to newspapers inviting public par- ticipation in the decision. "Let what is right and fair be done and be done now." Oshawa councillor John Aker, waste management committee chairman, explained that financial agreement discussions between two parties are never open to the public. Pickering councillor Bev Morgan, who represents the ward the PI dump is in, said she'll continue to fight the dump. "I still think the people in Pickering and in D u'H9Rr 'mve been done a disservice," she said, explaining the region never looked further than Pickering for another landfill site. "This site is wrong and it will always be wrong. A part of me still believes this site offers a very easy and a very quick solution to get back in bed with Metro." - However, Morgan conceded she was "glad to see you did go back and get a better, deal." The deal gives the region the option of buying two parcels of land from Metro, one in Ajax known Brock South and one in Pickering known as Brock North, by Dec. 31 19%. However, Ajax mayor Jim Witty wants to the region to purchase the land immediately in case sometime during the next six years councillors opt not to buy. Witty says he wants to make sure Ajax is protected from Metro ever re -gaining that land and perhaps putting a landfill site on it. Witty said he has a'difficult decision' on whether to vote in favor of the deal today. The first phase of testing on Pt is completed and test results show it's suitable for a landfill site. A tentative date of Jan. 25 is scheduled for an open house in Pickering to update residents on the site's status. Regional director of operations Art Leitch said the open house will be primarily to hear citizens' input on what they want done with the P1 site when it reaches capacity. Leitch said there's numerous options which he believes will "amaze" residents. Metro council is also expected to vote on the agreement today. e__ --;!, Finalize :i. . dump BY Y Ton Grano The hot potato has slipped through Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema's fingers and dropped right onto Whitevale. Durham Region and Metro Toronto have struck a multimillion dollar deal allowing the region and Metro to dump garbage near the hamlet of Whitevale. In return, Durham gets about $40 million and controlling interest in about 320 hectares (800) acres of land — currently owned by Metro — in Pickering and Ajax. Final Opponents to the plan appeared before the regional waste management committee and intend to make themselves heard today at a special meeting of regional council where the deal was to be finalized. Representatives of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment and members of the Whitevale and District Residents Association call the plan a give-away. They say they are unhappy with the haste with which it is being put forward and the lack of opportunity for public input. Important Region Chairman Herrema said he places importance on the fact the region will have a place to put its garbage and eventually gain ownership of Brock North and Brock South garbage dump sites. The Whitevale site is set to open in 1992. Metro and Durham will unload a combjn�million tonnes of garbage there by the time it closes in 1996. PAGE 6-A-tHE NEWS' A6VMT18ER,' DEC. 6, 1989 Dump deal a done deal The test results are in and guess what? We passed. Ordinarily, that's positive. In this case, it's not. Testing of the P1 dump site beside Whitevale has, according to the expert consultants hired by Durham region, shown that it's suitable for a dump. Tests showed the site has "glacial till" as a foundation and that seems to be exactly what a dump calls for. Whitevale and area ratepayers' group president Lloyd Thomas has a different story. He says "glacial till" is sand. You don't need to be a scientist to figure out that sand is anything but suitable for a dump. A foundation of rock would make sense, but sand? The P1 site is too near several waterways that feed into Lake Ontario. It also covers an aquifer that feeds those waterways and the wells of area residents. Imagine what the slightest bit of leachate from that dump (and there will be plenty if, in fact, the glacial is sand) will do to the water. And our health. Still, depending on the outcome of today's regional council meeting, there might or might not be a dump site beside Whitevale. The town of Pickering has been, since earlier this year, in the process of formulating a legal plan against this further destruc- tion of land. "We need time to review everything that comes in," says mayor Wayne Arthurs, explaining the delay. "We have to be sure any legal action is solid." Similar statements come from spokesmen for PACT (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together) for the Environment. But the big question on everybody's mind is simply this: "When does the rhetoric end and some kind of action begin?" Metro Toronto and Durham region are not going to wait un- til their opposition has all its ducks in a row and is ready to take a shot. Arthurs says, "It's not over till it's over." As far as Metro Toronto and Durham region are concerned, the dump deal is done. And the fat lady has already sung. ..� —'' J TWTORONTO,iAR Published at One Yonge Street, Toronto M5E IE6 by Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corp. FstabGshed 1892 — Joseph E. Atkinson, Publisher, 1899-1948 November paid circulation Monday -Friday 550-^rN Saturday 799,996 Sunday eau o9 Sit lel Member of the Audit Bureau of Cimrlations Member of the Ontario Press Council Signs of backbone in garbage crisis Metro and Durham politicians may have proved at last that they are serious about solving our impending garbage crisis. In a commendable move, Metro Council yesterday proposed five interim dump sites including one inside Metro boundaries, near Scarborough's Rouge River Valley. Meanwhile, next door in Durham region, councillors agreed to let Metro use part of a proposed temporary dump near the hamlet of Whitevale, provided Metro meets certain conditions. With Metro's last municipal dump slated to close in 1993, the two decisions are real signs of progress after more than a year of hand -wringing and hoping that other Ontario communities would take our garbage. Instead of the garbage wars of the past, at least two regions now seem willing to work together. Above all, Metro Chairman Alan Tonks and Durham Chairman Gary Herrema deserve credit for showing leadership and guts on this sensitive issue. By putting the contentious Scarborough site on the table, Metro politicians are showing Queen's Park just how desperate the situation is and how serious Metro is about looking at all possible sites. It's also a sign of good faith to other municipalities that are considering requests from Metro to take some of our garbage. For their part, Durham politicians are acknowledging some responsibility to help Metro. After all, many Durham residents commute daily to jobs in Metro and produce garbage here. The regions of York, Peel and Halton are expected to put their interim dump proposals on the table by next April. Extensive environmental studies will follow and the province will hold public meetings under the Environmental Protection Act. Then it will be up to Environment Minister Jim Bradley to give final approval of sites to handle 1lletro area garbage until 1996. Yesterday's events raise hopes that area politicians have the backbone to get us out of the garbage mess, But they can't afford to lose their newfound momentum — nor them commitment to waste reduction strategies. P4 ECONOMIST & N/TRIBUNE Wwksn&r WEEKENDER, DECE FBER 8,1989 Durham too hasty With unseemly haste, Durham Region has signed an agreement to place a king-size dump in Whitevale — the death knell for the historic hamlet and for the Little Rouge River. Residents have been unanimous in their protest against the selec- tion of this dump site yet coun- cillors voted Wednesday to sign the contract with no public discussion or input. What about the impact on the en- vironment? The site is just over one concession north of the Rouge river Heritage Park site — also in the wings as a garbage pit. What about the concerns of the people who live there? They're being denied their rights by this government. And other questions hang fire. How many acres of the 200-acre site are covered? What is the legal description of the site? Town water was promised to Whitevale and to Cherry Wood (the loc it wells will become polluted) but n one to near- by farms and other ha nlets. The list goes on. Durham Regional Chairman Gary Herrema has flown in the face of his constituents on this one and placed them on the chopping block. And standing beside them are the silent protests of our forests, fauna and future. — Jo Ann Stevenson J How 0 ONE could have been happier than Gary Herre- ma. larely had Durham Region Council approved a new Metro damp within its borders this week than the Chairman was back in his modest office, jump- ing for joy. After a heartfelt we - did -it handshake to fellow coun- cillor and chief negotiator John Aker, Herrema was off to a near- by . bar with the boys on council for well -deserved drink. He had lots to celebrate: Metro's dump could well save Durham from financial ruin. "Poor people have to be re- sourceful," said Aker, moments after council voted 22-9 to allow Metro to dump its garbage near the farming community of White - Vale for five years. Durham could make $250 mil- lion — and councillors hope even more — between 1992 and 1996 taking care of Metro's garbage. That's a lot of money to a region that is now so broke, it's had to steal $2 million out of its vital roads budget just to help pay for its recycling and waste disposal programs. As Herrema says: "You can't have a good agreement on gar- bage. Nobody wants a dump but everyone generates garbage." But purham is growing so fast — its 1-986 population of 326,000 is ex- �ected to skyrocket to 558,000 by 011 — that the region needs Metro's money to help pay for all the new sewers, roads, schools kind community centres it re- ' uires to service that growth. Durham taxpayers were hit ,with a 19 per cent tax increase year to help cover those hosts. And taxes are expected to 7 Z garbage can save Dur�eam from fiscal nun The city Susan Pigg go up another 10 per cent next year. Durham politicians aren't dumb. They know that they can't keep hitting taxpayers that hard and still get re-elected. Also, if the deal goes ahead as planned, Durham gets a guaran- teed place to dump its garbage for the next two years until the interim site is open. Right now, it was expecting to run out of land- fill space by mid-1990. It would have taken at least five years to get environmental approvals for a new site. "People would have been park- ing their cars on the street and putting their garbage in the ga- rage," says Herrema. $ut, if Durham helps Metro out of its garbage crisis, even just for five years, Queen's Park has agreed to "fast -track" environ- mental approvals. There will still be lots of time for public protest and environmental safeguards, but the project won't be road- blocked for years. In the meantime, Metro is di- verting some of its waste to its Keele Valley site in Maple, to leave room for Durham's garbagge in the Brock West dump in Pick- ering. In addition — and this is another key point for Herrema — Metro has agreed to sell Durham two potential dump sites it owns within the region's borders. That means the so-called Brock North and Brock South sites — with ca- pacity for some 12 million tonnes of garbage, double that of White - vale — won't be used as dumps by Metro. Durham politicians don't say so publicly, but they must be also hoping that, by helping Metro out of its immediate crisis, they won't get stuck with the long- term dump that Metro still re- quires. You could see the relief on Herrema's and Aker's faces when council finally approved the deal after five hours of debate. The months of negotiations with Metro haven't been easy. Herrema has had garbage dumped on his Uxbridge farm, he's been harassed by dump opponents and even had to have police protection because of death threats. The negotiations themselves have been tense and tiresome. They faltered three times — twice when Herrema walked out in a huff, citing high blood pres- sure, and once when he de- veloped a nose bleed. Metro offi- cials joke that they still suspect that was a sympathy ploy. The third time, in September, they almost broke off completely over the issue of Brock South and North. Herrema and Aker would not deal without getting those lands; Metro finally gave in. "Their investment of political stock in this was incredible," says Metro Councillor Paul Christie, who helped negotiate on behalf of Metro. 'It was an enor- mous display of political guts." Herrema hedges when asked if he'll run again as chairman. Like former Metro chairmen, he is elected to office by regional councillors and not Durham resi- dents. "You can't go through this and survive politically or mentally," he says. But don't kid yourself — Herre. ma is a survivor. ESE 6=THE, NEWS ADVERTISEK-FRIDAV,•Dec. 8, 1989 Determined to dwli Durham region is determined to dump on Whitevale, regardless of whether or not Metro Toronto jumps into the same landfill site. Wednesday, councillors eventually approved, in principal, the money deal with Metro. Metro was to have approved the same deal at the same time but, upon hearing that Durham wanted amendments, deferred it. That still didn't stop Durham councillors from eagerly ap- proving the deal. Now Durham's in the garbage bed waiting for its Metro suitor to decide whether or not it wants anything to do with this over -eager bride that has millions of dollar signs in her eyes. It doesn't seem to matter that little has been done to find long- term solutions. Durham council needs to be more activel ' aggressively seeking markets for our recyclable matert stead, councillors recently killed five proposed programs ed at improving recycling and marketing of recycle because they say there's no market for the products. The short-term solution is the easy solution for politician know their public life is limited anyway. That's the route by the majority of regional councillors and Pickering resi will, again, pay for their short-sightedness. B , WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Durham region approved a financial deal with Metro Toronto Wednesday, allowing Metro to dump 4.6 million tonnes of trash in Pickering for five years. After five hours of debate, Durham councillors approved a deal in principal that would allow Metro to dump trash from 1992 when the contingency Pi site is expected to be ready until 1996 when it will shut down. Durham's lawyers will put the statement of principals into legal terms and bring it back to council for endorsement, possibly in the new year. Metro will pay Durham $40 million in rebates from the Brock West landdfill site where Durham currently dumps before P1 is ready. bw Ajax mayor Jim Witty, centre, listens to delegates speak against the Metro- Durham dump deal. I And, Durham expects to make a profit of at least $251 from tipping fees during the five years the dump is open. The deal also allows Durham to buy two parcels of land, Brock South in Ajax and Brock North in Pickering, current- ly owned by Metro. Councillors were fearful Metro would one day put a dump on one of the sites. A lengthy discussion also took place over whether Picker- ing should be compensated for being the host community of the dump. Councillors agreed to allow region officials to meet with Pickering officials to discuss compensation. However, that doesn't mean council will approve any deal. For more on the meeting, read the Sunday, Dec. 10 issue of the Ajax- Pickering News Advertiser. We'll never satisfy" Pickerin By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Durham council will never be able to satisfy the people of Pickering. That's what Durham chairman give their input. Herrema said he sidering using the Pi site contingency Gary Herrema told reporters after a didn't think they needed more input. site in the spring, Whitevale residents full -day meeting about a Metro- "First they screamed about the en- were approached. "We went to a cou- Durham deal over the P1 contingency vironment, now they're screaming ple of houses in Whitevale and asked landfill site in Pickering. about the money. We were never go- them to assist us in finding another Residents complained they didn't ing to satisfy them." site," said Herrema. However, Her - have enough time to study the deal and Herrema said when council was con- rema said nobody ever came up with Ajax & Pickering residents: Herre a better suggestion. About 50 people showed up at coun- cil chambers Wednesday to protest the approval of the deal. At the beginning of the meeting there were approx- imately seven uniformed Durham Regional Police officers and two plain Advertisff A Metroland Community Newspaper 50 CENTS CIRCULATION 32,000 SUNDAY, Dec. 10, 1989 clothes officers patrolling the halls and council chambers. One elderly lady likened the police presence to that of Nazi Germany. During a council meeting in the spring when councillors approved the P1 site, police protection was re- quested after Herrema received a death threat. And, more than 150 angry people lined the corridor outside council chambers chanting "No way See HOSTILITY... PAGE 7 SUNDAY EDITION 24 PAGES J r H stility to deal C ill come, Par'is%- "ROM PAGE 1 GTA." The large crowd that was ex- pected Wednesday didn't appear. Wednesday, PACT for the Environ- ment chairman Bill Parish said the deal was being "rammed through." The deal to allow Metro to dump in Pl for five years beginning in 1992 will bring Durham more than $250 million in tipping fees. He said Durham is "always going around as Metro's lit- tle boy." Parish called Metro's offer for Durham to purchase Brock South and Brock North sites in Ajax and Picker- ing a "bribe for the people of Ajax and Pickering to get them to soften up to the Pi deal. Metro abandoned those sites because they knew they couldn't per- mit garbage in them. It's not a gift. It's a right for the people of Pickering to have (the land) back." As part of Pi approval as a landfill site by the province and if Metro gives Durham the money, a municipal water service could be installed in the hamlets of Cherrywood and Whitevale. "It's distasteful in the extreme and gross. It's so indelicate and so crude... that the cost of providing clean and pure water for the hamlets of Cherrywood and Whitevale would be tied to the approval of Pl," said Parish. "You should be ashamed. Clean and pure water is provided on the basis of health and safety. I didn't think anyone would stoop to that kind of necotiatinn tactics." Tftg0 a de l \ an't take any guts Re your editorial of Dec. 7: IA `y didn't take guts to approvearba Whitevale as a dump garbage — that was the easy way out. What would have taken leadership and real guts would have been to propose, perhaps five years ado, that when faced with two evils, it's better to take the lesser, and recommend that on a temporary basis, we incinerate the garbage and spread the contamination more thinly, rather than heavily damage both land and water in this much needed area. W. L. TREDREA Pickering THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY-,,Dec. 10, 1989—PAGE Bill Parish, PACT chairman, asked regional council to delay decision on the dump deal. OTT M= IR1111 By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Just what and how much should the town of Pickering receive for being host to Metro and Durham's garbage? Nothing, say some politicians. During debate on the financial deal between Metro and Durham at regional council Wednesday, there was much ado about compensating Pickering for the inconvenience of hosting a six -million tonne dump on P1. Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs asked Durham council to approve a motion to allow Durham chairman Gary Herrema and Durham works committee chairman John Aker to discuss an "equitable agreement" with Pickering council. However, Oshawa councillor Jim Potticary was furious with the sugges- tion. "No way I'm going to get into that game," said Potticary. He said to councillors, "I implore you" not to vote in favor of the motion. Potticary said it's a regional dump and if Pickering's paid for the inconve- PACT bashe By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - PACT for the environ- ment took two bashings Wednesday at Durham regional council. The group first failed to convince council to stop the dump deal with Metro and then had its credibility challenged. Ajax resident Mac Harris told council PACT for the Environment does not speak for all Ajax and Pickering residents. "You have demonstrated you cannot be believed," said Harris about PACT. And, Harris added 98 per cent of the people in Ajax and Pickering don't support the group. Harris said he saw minutes from a PACT agenda that quoted the group's chairman Bill Parish as telling PACT members to "`in- filtrate" the public liaison commit- tee set up to deal with a Durham - only waste solution in the future. Referring to this comment, Har- ris called some PACT members "over -age James Bonds" and "cold -war spies". Also, Harris said he was "bitter- ly disappointed" that Parish said legal action would be started against the dump by PACT and "months went by" but he's heard nothing about it. Harris said he lives tW�. east of the Brock West Landfill Site and because of that he suffers from asthma. Harris said he's happy the nience so should people who live e III highways, airports, the Ajax water- front where a water -supply plant could be built and people who live near the old dump on Ritson Road in Oshawa. "If you start paying out everybody because something's going in their (municipality) you won't have anything left," Potticary said. Pickering councillor Bev Morgan calmed the waves when she said there's "no harm" in approving a mo- tion to allow discussion between the two sides. "We have a lot of concerns in Pickering. All we're doing is asking for an opportunity to sit down and talk." Ajax councillor Pat Clark played on councillors' emotions. Clark said most councillors who approved Pi as a con- tingency landfill site in the spring of this year were thinking, "Thank God it's not in my municipality." Clark asked councillors to approve the motion. "The only losers are the people of Pickering who are getting screwed again." The motion passed by a vote of 27-3. d in meeting Metro- Durham deal will allow Durham to buy the Brock North and Brock South sites from Metro. "Never again need we worry, as I do, about Brock South and Brock North," turning into Metro landfill sites, said Harris. An audience member, seeming- ly a PACT supporter, shouted to regional chairman Gary Herrema, &"How much are you paying this guy?" Herrema replied the only people he pays are workers on his farm and shouted to the heckler, "`Don't ever try that on me again." Pickering councillor Doug Dickerson also took a shot at Parish. Dickerson told council some of Parish's comments are "misleading to the people of Durham region". Dickerson warn- ed there'll be a "credibility gap" between PACT and the people. "I will not allow those statements to be made that I know are not cor- rect," said Dickerson. Outside council chambers Parish was asked about PACT minutes that allege he used the words "in- filtrate" regarding the public liaison committee. Parish said he "can't ever remember that word" being used. "Our goal was to co- operate fully with the public liaison committee. It's open to anybody in Durham to join. We're very in- terested in its success. I'm a volunteer and I'm not paid." __, He.,re are details of dum eal DURHAM -- Below are highlights landfill Between May 1, 1989 and is approved, Metro of the Metro -Durham PI garbage the closing date of Brock West, will make another payment of $21 deal approved by regional council those rebates will total $20.3 million into Durham's solid waste last Wednesday. Metro council has million. reserve fund. yet to vote on the agreement and, --In turn, Durham will pay —Metro will ensure Durham is in the meantime, has approved its residential rebates of approximate- provided with disposal capacity at 411 site, north of the Beare Road ly 75 per cent of tipping fees to either Brock West or Toronto landfill on the banks of the Rouge Metro when P1 is operating. transfer stations until PI is open. River, for a garbage dump. --Upon entering into the agree- -The deal is premised on Pi be- anent; Metro will make an up -front --Over the five-year period Pi is ing approved as a landfill, which payment of $20 million to Durham in operation, Durham will make a Metro and Durham would share in lieu of industrial/commercial profit of at least $251 million. This between 1992 and 19%. The dump rebates and royalty payments. This es to is based on the assume will be Durham -owned and more to be y, put into Durham's fi of operated and can accommodate six solid waste reserve fund, will mean $s�.i ,� - ��1�t� at six million tonnes of garbage, that tipping fees at the Oshawa, per cent a year. Tf tipping fees in- --If Pi is approved as a landfill, Seugog and Cartwright transfer crease beyondsix per cent, Durham *111 purchase the Metro- stations can be paid by the region Durham will snake even snore owned Brock North andSoutb*s es rather than area municipalities, money. by Dec. 3I 1996, the pid�, I_%- ing date of pjir J PIr40*1 Metro will be OWt€a; "icansir" Brock South. --Metro will continue to pay rebates to Durham for residential — Gary Herrema, Regional chairman Durham "goes By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Stop the press, er, meeting. That's what happened in the middle of Durham regional council's debate on the Metro Toronto -Durham Pi dump deal Wednesday. Shortly after 1 p.m. Ajax mayor Jim Witty stood up and said he'd just received information that Metro coun- cil was not discussing the deal. When Metro and Durham hammered out the terms of reference more than a week ago, both councils were to ask their respective councils to vote on the deal Wednesday, Dec. 6. "If they are not discussing it, we should not be discussing it," said Witty. After Witty made the announce- ment, council went into a private meeting for half an hour and then returned to the public meeting. After the meeting Herrema was ask- ed why Metro didn't discuss the deal. first'.''��`'� Herrema replied after amendments were made by Durham at its _ommit- tee meeting Tuesday, Metro chaan Alan Tonks said his council, ul of deal with the agreement until they saw the amendments. "Somebody's got to go first," said Herrema. When asked if Metro was playing games by waiting for Durham to approve the agreement first Her- rema smirked, "Oh, I think they're still negotiating. We've got the guts to go first. We're running out of (dump) space. �GJ Vham One of the amendments U council made to the deal was their decision to buy the Brock North and Brock South sites in Ajax and Picker- ing from Metro. The original agree- ment said Durham had the option of purchasing the land until 1996. Now, Durham must negotiate a price with Metro for the land. "I think they'll find (the amend- ments) fair," said Herrema. Durham Makes Deal For Metro d.-Urirffn_jA1r,, by Gay Abbate Durham Regional coun- cil has approved a deal with Metro Toronto which might save northeast Scar- borough from being used for a garbage dump. The deal, approved last 1 week, would net the region more than $400 million by allowing Metro to dump about 5 million tonnes of waste over the next five years on land near Whitevale in North Picker- ing. Metro is looking for a ° � location because it will run out of space at its two cur- rent landfills within two years. Whichever of the two sites is selected, the Rouge will be impacted. The Pickering site is less than one mile from the Rouge River although the Scar- borough M-2 site on Beare Rd. is much closer. Metro Council will vote next month on whether to approve the deal with Durham. The Pickering site is strongly opposed by Whitevale residents and Pickering Council, both of whom plan to take legal ac- tion to try to stop the dump. Metro Council last week put the M-2 Rouge site forth as a candidate for a short- term dump. The area designated is north of the former Beare Rd. dump. But this site is being op- posed by the Save the Rouge Valley System and by several residents whose homes would be bulldozed to make way for the dump. The federal government has committed $10 million to turn the Rouge Valley in- to a park. However, the province, which owns the majority of the land, has still to decide whether it will preserve the area as a natural park or allow a dump and/or an ex- pressway through it. %ems �����' / -' 7 Goals mask savage acts To the editor: Gary Herrema for Sainthood! ast weekend in a major Toronto aily newspaper, our own chair - an expressed grave concerns about the fragile Rouge System. This is an honorable and important sentiment, but coming from Gary Herrema it is simply not credible. Lest we forget, this is the same Gary Herrema who has tabled a mega -dump in Pickering. Gary's dump is located at the headwaters of the Petticoat Creek. The land drains into both the Duffin Creek and the Rouge (yes folks, the very same Rouge that Gary want to pro- tect!) Part of the site is wetland which is the home of a major Heron rookery. Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Metro Toronto Region Conservation Authority have spoken out condemning the site, but Gary Herrema -- cham- pion of the Rouge -- proceeds to im- plement the dump without even a full environmental assessment. In effect, Herrema suggests saving the Rouge by "Dumping the Duffin". It seems to be too much to ask that the chairman of Durham region cares even a little bit about Durham. We musts �e ourselves from people like Herr ma who use important goals to mask savage acts. Richard Jones, Whitevale ........................................................................................... .. 6 The Bay News, December 13, 1989 merit, it would nave been madeong: ago. `But the public mind on this andseveral other crucial current issues has been unrealistic and illogical, not only here r` but across the whole Toronto region and even beyond Southern Ontario. A situation tending toward anarchy is having ill effects that are growing ever more serious, not only here in Durham Region, but across the province and beyond. Involved besides garbage are much more serious issues including the housing ;shortage cost crisis airport services, cross-country electric power corridors, nuclear power generation, transportation corridors, destruction of both land and atmosphere by low - density urban development, and the air pollution crisis. All these problems require decisive action by 'governments be they municipal, >federal, provincial The solution to all of these problems involves some sacrifice of selfish personal interests by individuals or by groups of individuals. The garbage question is a typical example, t Garbage is a reality. It exists. The municipalities must decide where to put it. But everywhere the municipalities turn, they are met by obstructionism, public 'tantrums and hysteria. An illogical public mind refuses to face reality. People don't like garbage dumps, therefore there k just, must not be any. ; that's it, everywhere! Long past allreason, the municipality hesitates to force the issue. It hesitates long past the point where it is probable garbage will end, up piled in yards and Vichy'Mate of Durham Region That`s ana ;Toronto �p1"'' and the whole —Ies to to the ma,., garbage when it comeshousing, That's the situation listed here earlier, Of the kind power, Power and problems airport nuclear p land wastage, atmosphere, urban density, transportation corridors, the courage of its etc. drains away rows An illogical citizenry GpVernment indecision g elected representatives • archy• here is probably at into an Region s difficult Unfo? unately Durham rm of today' the very vortex of the storm s growth problems are government decisions. Duch ere in Ontario• ne strongest anyw the pains, still, of probably ember the, are But let us rem We will progress and prosperianarchy with the threat of with, our We must deal and cooperation faith in • democratic process. do that by d representative rights are responsible an "mind ourselves that pr°�'�`� interest. We must rem they are in the public far as fair'plice, be given up in held only so must fora community Sometimes they k'sorder and for the the interests of public good' Rural colincit decides against dtivdp proposal COE OCONK (Special) — A rural council in the a proposed dump regiontha lakes erve the greater down a p p Metro area. Laxton Township councillors voted 5 Tuesday night against a plan hectares (1,100 acres) to the Greater Toronto Area Landfill Search Committee. The dump, proposed for a site 15 kilometres (9 miles) northwest of this scenic tourist ,611age, would pollute nine nearby lakes, opponents said. The site could be made safe with a clay liner, said Walkerton businessman Bill Hutchinson, who assembled the land and' proposed it as a dump. Laxton Township is about 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Orillia. .8 Thu ber 14, 1989 THE TOROMTO i PAC'r still fighungMetro dump By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR Pickering citizens' group fighting a proposed Whitevale dump has vowed it won't back down, despite recent negotiations between Metro and Durham Re- gion to use the site. Durham Region Council agreed last week to a deal to take cash and land in exchange for Metro's trash. The region stands to gain more than $400 million in up- front payments and tipping fees between 1992 and 1997. Under the agreement, which must be approved by Metro, Dur- ham would be given the option of buying about 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of land in Pickering and Ajax, planned as potential Metro dump sites. The site, slated for 6 million metric tonnes of Metro and Dur- ham garbage, must undergo an environmental assessment by the province before it can be used. Despite the set -back, both Pick- ering Council and Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Emri- ronment (PACT) plan to forge ahead with their legal battles against the dump, beside the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering. "Our regional councillors should be ashamed of them- selves. They're only seeing dollar signs," says PACT member Isobel Thompson, a Whitevale resident for 18 years. The group has more than $80,- 000 and 1,000 signatures on a petition opposing the dump. PACT has hired Toronto law- yer Morris Manning to fight the dump under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He argues the people of Pickering are being discriminated against on the basis of where they live. But while Durham council adopted a motion by Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs that dis- ruption to residents' lives be con- sidered, Arthurs concedes coun- cil's approval of the agreement brings the town "one step closer to a dump." After Durham's decision, Dur- ham West MPP Norah Stoner made a donation of $215 to PACT to help fight the dump. North Pickering residents feat their drinking water will be con- taminated and the value of their homes will plummet. But Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema does not expect the dump to have a significant ef- fect on Whitevale. "This is a fair deal. This is a great deal better than a long-term dump." Toronto developer Stephen Mernick, 20-hec- who owns the A 4 Friday, December 15, 1 tare (50-acre) dump, missed a deadline last Friday to file for an extension of the order, Gray said. / He said Mernick wants to keep TMsh cnsls the dump open but hasn't met to 1 ministry criteria prevent groundwater pollution. S Sim—cmMernick, U who in September withdrew an offer to buy PTL's If O�ls Heritage USA theme park in South Carolina, could not be reached for comment. 49 Calls unanswered seekpdm The order, which expires Dec. "I don't think the ministry is let it up. They 31, allows the dump to receive going to just pile 140 tonnes of garbage a day may have to order some other By Matt Murphy from Innisfil, Adjala and Tecum- municipality to take our gar - SPECIAL TO THE STAR seth Townships, and Orangeville, Tottenham, Beeton and Cooks- bage," he said. 'We've had a solutely no input BARRIE — Seven Simcoe town. from (Mernick) at all," said County municipalities face a gar- Councillors interviewed said Cookstown Reeve Edyth Brown. bage crisis because the province calls and letters to Mernick's "It's left our future very much up has given them two weeks to find Toronto office have gone unan- in the air." Mernick applied to a new landfill site. The seven communities, all ;veered. Other municipalities asked to Last June, the ministry to turn the site into south of Barrie, have been told take the garbage, including Oril- a mega -dump, which would take tonnes of waste a day the environment ministry cannot extend a two -year -old emergency Ala, Wasaga Beach and four area townships, haven try t replied, in 2,000 from across southern Ontario. order that allows them to use the lnnisfil Towminf --iandfill site, said Tecumseth Reeve James Heath. 1. But that application is also incomplete an ias been referred district officer Ian Gray said "It's put us into a dilemma," he for an environmental assessment Wednesday. said. hearing, Gray said. imp open house fulfills.foes' anxiett� says Pickering mayor By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter PICKERING - Thursday's open house on the Pi dump site was like a home show, says Pickering's mayor. Wayne Arthurs said the open house, sponsored by Durham region and M.M. Dillon Con - P1 vacuum cleaners and hot tubs. Arthurs predicted during the afternoon of the marathon open house that, when the Whitevale residents and Pickering -Ajax Citizens for the Environment members arrived in the evening, "All of their anxieties and frustra- tions are going to be fulfilled." ump "first cla.4s THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY, Dec. 17, 1989—PAGE 3 Iwo ks chairman FROM 'AGE 1 jor interchange at Whites Road and The pen house at the Kahn Auc- Highway 2 and through a communi- tion Barns included several ty up Whites Road. "I don't want displays on recycling, testing of the Oshawa, Whitby and Ajax bringing proposed Pi dump site in Whitevale their garbage up Whites Road." and after -use of the site when it The only alternative identified on closes in 1996. Politicians and the the map had Durham garbage media were invited in the afternoon trucks using Meadowvale Road in for a sneak preview of the evening Scarborough and working back _ session to which the public was towards Whitevale. invited. Durham director of operations Region officials displayed up- Art Leitch said the region will con - and -coming recycling projects in- trol how Metro gets its garbage to tended to show citizens that P1 Pl. "Durham will pick (Metro's) won't contain the same trash that's route. " currently put into the Brock West landfill site and emitting odor and Thursday evening, area causing other environmental residents converged on the auction barn and "took over", said Lloyd problems. Thomas, president of the Whitevale "It's like show and tell," said Ar- and District Residents' Associa- thurs, pointing to the leaf com- tion. Thomas said the takeover was posting display. "It's supposedly an designed to "break up" the tense open house in respect to Pi. I'm atmosphere and provide humor. frustrated by the whole process Thomas said concerned residents overall. I certainly don't agree with held an "auction" of their own. it.,,Items However, works committee `auctioned' included a bottle of tears from a child who will never chairman and Oshawa councillor again see corn growing on the P1 John Aker said the recycling site, pottery from the Indians, new displays were intended to show "club rules" for the area golf what a "first-class site" Pi will be. "We'll course including one that requires be diverting as much visitors to wear space masks and (waste) as we can" from the dump, 'Dump bucks" that were il- he said. "Waste management is not lustrated by a picture of regional a one -segment situation." chairman Gary Herrema on farm Arthurs also expressed anger at land with dark clouds overhead. one display that showed transpor- Thomas speculated there were tation routes that might be used by • •undercover cops" patrolling the garbage trucks from Metro and barn and said he heard there were Durham. The map indicated the possibili- "cop cars" waiting outside the building. ty that Durham garbage trucks might use Highway 401 and then go Thomas believed recycling north on Whites Road. "It's just ab- displays set up in front of the stage surd as a transportation route," -may have been intentional" to said Arthurs, explaining the trucks discourage residents from stepping would be travelling through a ma- onto the stage. -11 A handful of them showed up for the Metro meet- ing yesterday. They made their pitches, Tommy and Isabel i/Thompson and Judy Freidl, and they were articu- late and emotional and reasoned as ever, model citizens. They had come in from Whitevale, a hamlet in the Region of Durham, just east of Toronto. White - vale is said to be one of the prettiest towns in Ontario, and is in the process of being officially designated a heritage village. But it achieved infamy only recently when it became known as a potential site for Metro Toronto's garbage. The Thompsons and Freida live in Whitevale and are just three of the villagers fighting the dump site every inch of the way. But just this month, Durham Regional Council approved "a statement of principles" between Dur- ham and Metro, and yesterday Metro's works com- mittee ratified the deal. All that remains is for the full Metro council to give it the nod. It will happen, of course. Probably, even the staunchest opponents of the Whitevale dump realize that now, though they will fight the good fight. Village The very bottom line is that there are only about 250 residents of Whitevale, and even in pleads the Region Durham that's not a lot of votes. Durham Regional Coun- sn vain cal consists of eight member municipalities, and all of them have ■ more clout. And Toron- against tv, well, for most, thehe village would be a nice place for Ye Olde dum Sunday Visit. And the garbage crisis P is real: Metro is running out of landfill sites and, local Blue Box campaigns to the contrary, Metro is only going through the motions of recycling and reduction, and anyone who tells you different is, shall we say, dissembling. I live on a main street in downtown Toronto; there is garbage pickup three nights a week, special "heavy" pickup on a fourth, and every night, the garbage is stacked high, and much of it is easily recycled cardboard. This is, of course, just what residents of Whitevale suspect is the case, but are always told, oh no, the big -city folk are doing their bit. We aren't, of course. We shouldn't pretend. Still, to be fair, Metro is looking at a number of temporary solutions, and the politicians — oh, dare one say it? — appear to have a good grasp on the seriousness of the problem and the necessity for a L variety of answers. Council, for instance, isn't content to do the Whi- tevale deal and leave it at that. Even with White - vale, Metro is expected to have a surplus of 13 mil- lion tonnes of garbage. Yesterday, the works committee approved investigating the possibility of shipping trash north to such places as Kirkland Lake, which has offered itself (and a soon -to -be - empty mine shaft) up as a potential site. Metro council, at a special meeting tomorrow or at its first meeting in the New Year, is expected to ratify the agreement with Durham and also offi- cially put Kirkland Lake on its list of interim sites. But, but: The Whitevale sitC is located on Class A agricul- tural land, which is in increasingly short sup- ply; the village is not quite "the willing host" Metro and the regional council would like to pretend it is, and you had to feel for those people who came yesterday to the Metro meeting, who made so so much sense, who cared so much, and who, in the scheme of things, are going to lose because they're utnun"red. 1 site okay for dump,, early tests show � By k AVY UALLA(MER Greater Toronto Area region's waste the main objective of phase 1 was to come across an say a . figuredPhase 2 of the testing will co ence urham Reporter until a long-term solution is found. confirm the existence of this till unit. (the test results) were going to be shortly and will involve a si month DURHAM - So far, so good. M.M. Dillon Consulting Engineers, These conditions are considered to be pushed through. I'd really like to see study to prepare documentatio on the That's what consulting engineers after drilling 28 holes at 15 locations suitable for landfill development." those reports. site. The documentation will a sub - have said about the suitability of the P1 site in Pickering for use as a dump. during phase 1 of Pi site testing, report that it's "underlain by a glacial till for- However, Lloyd Thomas, president of the W hitevale and - District "The tests were done to justify the mitted to the Ministry of the Environ- The P1 site is scheduled to be used mation. This type of geologic forma- Residents' Association, has concerns site rather than (give it) a fair evalua tion." ment, a process necessary to gain En vironmental Protection Act approval. as a contingency landfill site for tion would facilitate leachate contain- about the test results. Phase 2 is expected to cost approx- Durham, Metro and possibly other ment and ground water protection and Thomas says, "I expected Dillon to Phase 1 cost �thereg�ion$100�,000.imately $1.2 million. e PAGE 18-B—U NEWS ADVERTISER, NOV. 22, 1989 Metra-can't control own garb ge AJAX-PICKERING - This is the se- cond in a series of articles written by PACT's Technical Committee. This deals with the question "Why do you not want Metro to set up another dump in Durham?" That may seem like a reasonable question to ask, but when you look at the history of Metro dumping on others it appears that Metro will only become responsible i waste management when it has to take responsibility for its garbage ght in Metro. Accordin o the transcripts of the hearings in the early 1970s on the Brock sites in Pickering, Metro pro- mised to operate its site to the best standards. On this basis it was granted Certificates of Approval to operate landfill sites in Pickering. Well, let's compare what Metro said through its"expert witnesses" to what it has done in the Brockplest Sanitary Land- fill site in Picke ing. It was —state 'n the hearings that "odors may emanate up to seventy- five yards until daily cover is applied at a properly run landfill site." The Brock West operational report done by Metro for 1986 states complaints were received from as far away as six kilometers. Mr. Ferguson, Metro's current com- missioner of works, stated in a letter to the town of kickering in December 1985 that )si-gnificant odors were witnesse in the immediate neighbor od at a rate of .02 per cent (1 occurrence every 500 days) . In January 1986 the Brock West operation report done by Mr. Ferguson's depart- ment stated that there were 507 com- plaints from that neighborhood about odors from Brock West. Something smells. Did the site change that much in one month? - Proper landfilling calls for com- pacting the refuse and then covering it with clean fill. Both the quality and the quantity of cover material are im- . portant. According to our information Metro had two compactors in the budget for Brock West for 1988; however, the site has been in operation since 1975 with no compactors. So much for compaction withproper equipment. Metro used sand as cover for the bulk of the site's life at a rate of 9.6 per cent by volume_ The linistry of the Environment states that the normal range for cover material is from 12.5 per cent to 25 per cent. Logic would dictate that as the quality becomes worse, the quantity must become greater to compensate. The federal ministry of the environ- ment does a comparison of characteristics of ground cover materials in one of their codes on land - filling. This comparison defines sand as the worst material to use other than gravel. Metro chose to use one of the worst materials, in quantities less than the prescribed standards for the best cover material. PACT photographed garbage left by Metro with no cover material on two Saturday afternoons in 1988. With this shabby way of operating, it is not surprising to find the statement "Metro has created the worse scenario with respect to odors in a neighborhood we have ever witnessed", in a letter to Durham West MPP Norah Stoner from one of Metro's own consultants. - Metro stated in hearings that it would start with 12 trucks per hour and escalate to 18 trucks per hour by 1986. In 1986 Metro had 80 trucks an hour coming to the site. One could say Metro cannot control its own garbage. It's so ironically true. - What did Metro says about recycl- ing in the hearing? Both Metro's depu- ty commissioner and the solicitor in- dicated that 25 per cent recycling was no problem, but they had to have a site to put the other 75 per cent; you see, they were in a crisis the;;;— Y Well, by 1986 Metro had achieved less than two per cent recycling. or dump - Metro describes methods of con- trolling the seagulls inItLLealtigs. Thirteen years later Metro is talking about getting a contractor to control the white horde that floats over Pickering and Ajax. - Metro stated it would be almost im- possible to contaminate surface water. In October 1987, the creek to the north- east looked like a river of milk from the effects of the dump operations. - We could go on. We could talk about the carcinogenic gases that are seep- ing into the air because the flames are not burning hot enough. The weigh scale station that blew up because of the methane leaks... and on and on... The point of the comparison is that we have not seen a properly run sanitary landfill site by the definition given by Metro in the Brock hearings or by the guidelines set by the Ministry of the Environment or by Environ- ment Canada to this point in time. We believe that most of Metro's woes have been brought upon themselves by slop- py operations. The Ministry of the En- vironment stated that they would lay charges against Metro with regard to the landfill site. That has been re- quested but has never been done. The concept of doing a good job with the proper materials and equipment should not be so hard to grasp. All Durham landfill sites have to be controlled by the region of Durham. - PACT Technical Committee Blue box woes .� n Metro residents who diligently separate their recyclable cans, glass and plastic for blue box pick-up were shocked recently to learn that despite their efforts, tonnes of glass still end up in the dump. Part of the problem, Metro officials say, is that some residents inadvertently contaminate their blue box materials with non -recyclable glass items such as broken dishes, ceramics and window panes. Toronto is the only place in Metro where garbage collectors don't separate blue box contents at the curbside. That means more contaminants slip into loads headed for recycling plants that can't tolerate impurities. Instead of taking the easy way out, Toronto should start separating at the curbside. That way less of our glass will go to the dump and more residents will be educated about what can and cannot go into the blue box. The city can't afford_ to have residents becon about recycling. icouge-area uuuip urged in report to Metro Council By Royson James Toronto Star Metro should dump waste near the Rouge Valley for five years to ease its garbage crisis, a long- awaited report to Metro Council recommends. If approved by council in two weeks, preliminary tests would begin right away and dumping of about 5 million tonnes of waste could begin in two years. " The recommendation from works commissioner Bob Fergu- son ignores strong opposition from politicians and environmentalists who have said Scarborough's Rouge Valley area should be pre- served as a provincial park. The report was to be delivered to Metro politicians today and will be debated at a works committee meeting next Wednesday. Ferguson insists preliminary tests show the site, porth of the Metro zoo and the old Beare Rd. landfill site, is technically suitable for a dump. Five dumps are need- ed to handle between 17 and 22 million tonnes of waste from Metro and York Region over five years. Federal politicians have promised funding for a Rouge park. On Monday, the Legislature supported in principle the idea of preserving the Rouge Valley by making it a provincial park. The dump would extend the old Beare Rd. landfill site north to the CP Rail line, between the Picker- ing town line and Beare Rd It is 55'' hectares (136 acres) and -could han- dle about a third of Metro's_ gar- bage over five years. - - Ferguson's report will from the basis of Metro's response to the garbage crisis in the greater Toronto area. Because Metro -run dumps 'in Pickering and Maple will b- filled by 1993, the regions =4 have short-term solutions by sometime next year. Only Durham has already named a site — in Whitevale — and it has offered to take some of Metro's waste there for about $500 million. Metro has balked at the high -price. The report also recommends that Metro Council: ❑ Apply to expand the Keele Val- ley landfill site in Maple to handle another 5 million tonnes 'of gar- bage. ❑ Pursue one or more sites in Orilla, Piympton Township and the Township of Marmora and Lake where private landowners have ex- pressed interest in accepting Metro's garbage for a price. ❑ Accept an offer from Kapuskas- ing to incinerate a - ut 2 million tonnes of waste. ❑ Continue to negotiate Dur- h a m to take about 2.3 million tonnes of trash at the Whitevale site in Pickering. Down the dumps'y° over region's money deal with Metro DURHAM - This is the third in a series of articles written by PACT's Technical Committee. This letter is about the potential money deal that Durham could strike with Metro. We have sent a copy to regional chairman Gary Herrema to see if we can get some answers to it. We have watched the economic side of the waste management planning for our region over the last few years and we are very concerned with what we have seen. In May, 1989, an amendment to the Durham -Metro waste management agreement was recommended to coun- cil by Durham's waste management committee, which would allow Metro to dump its residential garbage in Durham at cost of operations plus an unknown royalty. In addition to that, our region would accept Metro's industrial -commercial garbage with the understanding that we would give all the profit from that garbage except for a royalty of unknown value to Metro. The royalties at that time for Metro's operations in our region were less than $4 per ton. costs to Metro are approved an( negotiations have stopped. Why should Metro be allowed tc dump its residential garbage in Durham for only a fraction of the go- ing market rate? Where will Durham get the funds for clean-up if an environmental problem occurs at this site, if we make minimum profit on outside garbage being dumped there? A cost trending done by the Durham Board of Education indicates that, based on regional staff input, the average value of the space for a ton of garbage over the supposed life of Pi would be $134.69 and a trending done from BFI input for the same period in- dicates the value would be $192.72 per ton. Why should the region of Durham give Metro discounts for residential garbage of $94.69 to $152.72 per ton when we are enduring its garbage? We recall our regional government waiting with bated breath to see if Metro would give us rebates for gar- bage even though our garbage was go- ing in "our own backyard", not Metro's. We owe Metro no favors! Who would get the $54.66 to $122.72-per ton difference between the intended charge to Metro and the estimated value, if Metro agrees to give us only $80 per ton for the industrial -commercial garbage it produces? It is our understanding that our own Durham Board of Education has to pay full industrial rates for dumping in Brock West, in Durham, while Metro school boards dump in our region for free. What has the region done on behalf of the Durham public school board to ease this burden? III III IIIII II IIIIIIIIIIII On the premise that Metro should pay full value for dumping its garbage on others and Metro should not be en- titled to make a profit on having industrial -commercial garbage dumped on others, PACT did a calculation which indicated our region would be giving a gift of discounts and rebates of about $838 million over five years to Metro. PACT's figures were. based on 14.7 million tons for the site. (Regional staff stated the Pi site would only take six million tons. A GTA document indicates Metro will be responsible for 12.5 million tons and a York -Metro agreement appears to leave Metro responsible for York's garbage until 2003, even if Metro does not have a site in York. This would add another 1.5 million tons after Keele Valley's predicted closing in 1993, for a total of 14 million tons from 1992 to 1996. If P1 was intended to be a Metro - Durham contingency dump site, where did Metro -Durham intend to put the eight million Metro tons not ac- counted for during the supposed lifespan of Pl?) We understand the region later changed its position to charge Metro $40 per ton for residential garbage and $80 per ton for industrial -commercial garbage. Our regional chairman has indicated that Metro says he is being too hard on Metro. We believe Durham would get a poor deal even if the above The idea that Durham's tax increase has been about double the tax increase which Metro has experienced over the last couple of years is very annoying when one considers that Metro has made $100 million profit by dumping its residential and industrial garbage on Durham. We expect our regional gov nment to have deep respect for the taxp .- rs of this region. You should not be giv- ing away huge gifts to Metro. If we get the garbage, then we should get the proper value for the service provided to Metro. Using the trending based on Durham staff input, the gift to Metro for every million tons of resident y waste will be $94,690,000 and the t to Metro for every million tons of Metro industrial -commercial waste will be $54,690,000. Using the trending based on BFI information, the gift to Metro for every million tons of residential waste will be $152,720,000 and the gift to Metro for every million tons of Metro industrial -commercial waste will be $112,720,000. Whether the region's figure of six million tons, PACT's figure of more than 12 million tons or Pollution Probe's figure which was even greater than PACT's is cor- rect, we are giving a huge amount of value to Metro. Why? Thank you for reading. Next time, we'll take a look at why PACT demands that all landfill sites must go through a full Environmental Assess- ment Act hearing. PACT Technical Committee a '%1.. 1-14 By KEITH GILLIGAN Ajax Reporter AJAX-PICKMING - While he hasn't seen many of the dMails, PACT chairman BW.Parish is wary of the possible deal between ment on the deal until late in the process. "This deal should be made available to the public so the public can analyse it to see if it's a good deal or not," Parish says. >3uI — region and Metro Toron to for a landfill site. "1'm skeptical when politicians do something quickly, because that's not their normal speed," he says. A deal announced Friday went before Durham region's works committee yesterday and is before the full regional council today. The deal will permit a planned landfill on the PI site near Whitevale to be used by Durham and Metro. The Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Evironment (PACTS has opposed the site, as have Pickering and Ajax councils. Parish is also concerned the public wasn't permitted to com- H \t "They (politicians) are playing it close to the chest so the public can't comment on it. The public has a right to know. We didn't see the deal until Tuesday and they flipped it to council on Wednesday. What kind of democratic process is that," he says. Parish adds, "If it's such a great deal, why not let the public flip through it for two or three weeks." Steve Parish, head of PACT's legal committee, says the deal "may accelerate us in doing something." PACT plans to file a class-action lawsuit in an effort to stop the land- fill. It has been working with en- vironmental lawyer David Estrin and constitutional lawyer Morris Manning preparing a case, Steve Parish says. "It's hard to judge what ap- proach we'll take. It depends on what's in the agreement," he says. "We have to get a little more detail to see if its attackable in the courts." Steve Parish adds it may have an impact on when PACT takes its case to court. The deal, he feels, may not have much effect on work PACT and its lawyers have already done. "We always knew there were negotiations between the region and Metro. There have been ups and downs in the negotiations, but this isn't a surprise. "What's annoying is the speed and the secrecy. If it's fair and pro- per, if it's a good agreement, open it to public scrutiny. If it's such a good deal, whats the rush and why the secrecy," he says. \1 NJ -�.s PAGE=5 - THE NEWS ADVERTISER, F C4 V, 1989 There is a difference between EPA DURHAM - This is the fourth in a series of articles written by PACT's Technical Committee. This one deals with our conviction that all landfill sites and other development projects must go through a full environmental assessment. We are all becoming more aware of the environment. Chief Seattle said it best back in 1854: "Whatever befalls the earth befalls t' a sons of the earth. If men spit up the gound, they spit. upon themsel s. Man did not weave =. the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." What advantage is gained by economic progress if we destroy the planet in the process? Landfill sites can have a very disastrous effect on the land, the peo- ple and the whole ecosystem. In 1976, the Ontario i- inister of the environ- ment broug in the Environmental Assessme Act to stop that from happening. Prior to the Environmental Assess- ment Act (EAA), landfills were only required to meet the guidelines set down in Part V of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Since the enactment of EAA,.- landfill sites must go through Part I of EPA plus a full EAA. GTA/SWIG , with the approval of David Peter n, is taking us back to the past and only using Part V of the EPA to assess landfill sites under GTA. This is an unfair assessment. Residents are not being treated equal- ly which is a direct violation of our rights as Canadian citizens. Let's take a look at the difference between the older EPA and EAA. --In an EPA hearing, the ministry grants limited pub lc nipu . Witnesses are not permitted to submit informa- tion, no matter how vital to the site, that goes outside of the EPA definition. It does not look for alternative meth or sites. It looks at the en- viro nt in a very narrow definition, just th natural characteristics (air, land, ter, plant and animal life) of the proposed site. This fast track pro- cess takes about two years. --In an EAA hearing, the proponent must prove that there is a need for the site, show that all possible sites have been looked at, show that all possible alternatives (incineration, recycling, etc) and technologies have been reviewed. The ministry redefines en- vironment in a broad sense to include social, natural, cultural, economic, technical and land use planning com- ponents and the interrelationships among them for the site and its alternatives. Input from the public starts early and is a vital role in the EA process. Here are a few quotes taken directly from the ministry's "Guidelines and Policy on Pre -submission Consultation in the EA Process". "Pre -submission consultation means that affected par- ties help plan the undertaking"; "Planning occurs through a phased se- quence of decisions"; "Consultation begins with the earliest planning stages. Affected parties are consulted long before any irreversible decisions are made"; "The role of consultation in planning decisions is visible"; "Con- sultation is based on mutual respect of participants". The public has a very critical role to play and must be allow- ed to take part in the decision making. and EAA Gathering information and going through an EAA hearing takes about five years. Jim Bradley, minister of the en- vironment, has stated that all landfill sites in Ontario must go through EAA hearing. The region of Du- 1 states in its regional plan that ah .end - fill sites in Durham must go through a full EAA hearing. Now we hear Metro scream "we don't have time", "we're in a c isis" just as it did in 1972 (when Brock `,�st came into being). Premier Peterson has responded by granting that all "in- terim" or "contingency" landfill sites proposed under the GTA will only have +_ — thrnnah nccaccmPnt under the Environmental Protection Act. The fact that the P1 site is being called an "interim" or "contingency" site doesn't make it any Iess of a dump. It will do just as much environmental damage as a "long -ter " "or mega" site. You cannot shortcu the process: you have to make tim to do a full assessment. The environment is sacred. GTA's waste management scheme is not the only assault on the environ- ment. Ontario treasurer Bob Nixon has produced a proposal called the Sustainable Development Plan (SDP or PROJECT X), that, if enacted, ,would see the minister of housing, John Sweeney, (who is also responsi- ble for GTA), grant approval or development and for landfill si s, bypassing Jim Bradley and s ministry of environment complete] . This plan contains a strong influence from developers and is totally unac- ceptable. John Sweeney has also stated that he wants to speed up the whole approval cycle for development. This is the wrong attitude. You cannot bypass environmental procedures for the sake of expediency. Everything that affects the environment -- a new highway, an incinerator or a landfill site -- must go through a full EAA hearing. The process is there not only for our protection, but for the protec- tion of our planet. It works. It has to be used. Thanks for reading. Next time, we'll take a look at Durham's waste management alternatives and how we can make time to do a full EAA. PACT Techical Committee AJAX-PICKERING = This is the sixth in a series of articles written by PACT's technical committee. This let- ter deals with why the Pi site was picked and why it is so wrong. North Pickering and in particular the Whitevale area is one of the most studied area in Durham. We have ac- cumulated documentation from the airport studies, hamlet studies, regional planning and the Brock North and South proposals, all of which will corroborate the following points. It would be difficult to find a site worse than the Pi site beside Whitevale to put a dump. Let's take a look at the health and safety aspects of the site and see why it is so en- vironmentally insane. - The site is directly above the large Greenwood Aquifer system, which feeds all the wells in Whitevale, Brougham, Greenwood and all the farms in between. A landfill built here would leak toxins into the aquifer. In fact all landfills leak. Even the Emelle landfill site in Alabama that was touted as being the "Cadillac of Land - rills" lit had over 100 feet of "im- permeable" clay between the dump and the aquifer) and was guaranteed not to leak for 10,000 years, leaked in five years. - To bring city water up would be an expensive proposition, we cannot even get Durham to bring it up to Cher- rywood West (Martin's subdivision). The wells in Cherrywood West are polluted with methane, coincidentally the nearby, closed, Beare Landfill site gives off and continually burns methane as a by product of being a Metro landfill site. Whitevale is even closer to Pi than Cherrywood West is to the Beare. - The southern part of the P1 site is wetland, an increasingly rare and im- portant part of our ecosystem. The northern part is a recharge area for the Greenwood Aquifer. You never put- .dumps on land that has direct conduits down to aquifers. -' . - The roads cannot handle the cur- rent volume of residential traffic. What happens when we start bringing in 1,200 garbage trucks per day plus dump trucks carrying ground cover? This could be the straw that finally breaks the infrastructure's back. Looking at the natural aspects: - The groundwater drains into three different river systems: to the west the Little Rouge River (which joins into the Rouge Valley system). The Little Rouge is also home to the nationally rare species of fish called the "Stoneroller". To the south is Pet- ticoat Creek, which runs through the Alton Forest into the Petticot Conser- vation Park. To the east is West Duf- fin's Creek, one of the last popular and safe trout and salmon streams in southern Ontario, and part of the scenic North Pickering Hiking Trail. All three rivers end up in Lake On- tario, where all urban population gets their drinking water. - A dump on the P1 site would have a detrimental effect on the following Metropolitan Toronto and Region Con-, servation Authority's (MTRCA) En- vironmentally Significant Areas (ESAs); No. 79 Rouge Marsh Area, No. 83 Tabor's Horsetail Meadow, No. 94 Petticoat Creet Forest; No. 99 � - Whitevale Corridor and No. 95 Altona,. Forest. Let's takes look at the cultural,, aspects of the site. . The. site is .on prime, Al agricultural farmland, land that is ac tively being farmed. Farming has been the way of life in this area for over 150 years. The mill in Whitevale has been the hub of the farming com- munity. Before electricity came to WNtevale the mill used the mill race from Duffins Creek to power the mill to process the farm crops. Life in and around Whitevale still evolves around the mill. In Canada we are destroying' farmland at a rate of 27 acres a day. We already have to import food to meet our requirements. Rural Picker- ing is farming. Blocking off over eight hundred acres of Al farmland will have a detrimental effect on the area. - Before the farmers settled, this area was part of shores of Lake Iro- quois and inhabited by the Indians. They left their heritage behind, buried beneath the sands of time. The site contains five acknowledged Iroquois Indian archeological sites that date - back to the 1500s, one of which was a burial ground. We continue to learn about Durham's past through its In- dians and early settlers. - PACT Technical Committee P1,worst possible dump sitey � AJAX-PICKERING - This is the sixth in a series of articles written by PACT's technical committee. This let- ter deals with why the Pi site was picked and why it is so wrong. North Pickering and in particular the Whitevale area is one of the most studied area in Durham. We have ac- cumulated documentation from the airport studies, hamlet studies, regional planning and the Brock North and South proposals, all of which will corroborate the following points. It would be difficult to find a site worse than the P1 site beside Whitevale to put a dump. Let's take a look at the health and safety aspects of the site and see why it is so en- vironmentally insane. - The site is directly above the large Greenwood Aquifer system, which feeds all the wells in Whitevale, Brougham, Greenwood and all the farms in between. A landfill built here would leak toxins into the aquifer. In fact all landfills leak. Even the Emelle landfill site in Alabama that was touted as being the "Cadillac of Land- fills" (it had over 100 feet of "im- `� ermeable" clay between the dump ,nd the aquifer) and was guaranteed not to leak for 10,000 years, leaked in five years. - To bring city water up would be an expensive proposition, we cannot even get Durham to bring it up to Cher- rywood West (Martin's subdivision). The wells in Cherrywood West are polluted with methane, coincidentally the nearby, closed, Beare Landfill site gives off and continually burns methane as a by product of being a Metro landfill site. Whitevale is even closer to Pi than Cherrywood West is to the Beare. - The southern part of the Pi site is wetland, an increasingly rare and im- portant part of our ecosystem. The northern part is a recharge area for the Greenwood Aquifer. You never put dumps on land that has direct conduits down to aquifers. - The roads cannot handle the cur- rent volume of residential traffic. What happens when we start bringing in 1,200 garbage trucks per day plus dump trucks carrying ground cover? This could be the straw that finally breaks the infrastructure's back. Looking at the natural aspects: - The groundwater drains into three different river systems: to the west the Little Rouge River (which joins into the Rouge Valley system). The Little Rouge is also home to the nationally rare species of fish called the "Stoneroller". To the south is Pet- ticoat Creek, which runs through the Altona Forest into the Petticot Conser- vation Park. To the east is West Duf- fin's Creek, one of the last popular and safe trout and salmon streams in southern Ontario, and part of the scenic North Pickering Hiking Trail. All three rivers end up in Lake On- tario, where all urban population gets their drinking water. - A dump on the Pl site would have a detrimental effect on the following Metropolitan Toronto and Region Con- servation Authority's (MTRCA) En- vironmentally Significant Areas (ESAs); No. 79 Rouge Marsh Area, No. 83 Tabor's Horsetail Meadow, No. l al 94 Petticoat Creet Forest, No. 98 Whitevale Corridor and No. 95 Altona Forest. Let's take a look at the cultural aspects of the site. - The site is on prime, Al agricultural farmland, land that is ac- tively being farmed. Farming has been the way of life in this area for over 150 years. The mill in Whitevale has been the hub of the farming com- munity. Before electricity came to Whitevale the mill used the mill race from Duffins Creek to power the mill to process the farm crops. Life in and around Whitevale still evolves around the mill. In Canada we are destroying farmland at a rate of 27 acres a day. We already have to import food to meet our requirements. Rural Picker- ing is farming. Blocking off over eight hundred acres of Al farmland will have a detrimental effect on the area. - Before the farmers settled, this area was part of shores of Lake Iro- quois and inhabited by the Indians. They left their heritage behind, buried beneath the sands of time. The site contains five acknowledged Iroquois Indian archeological sites that date back to the 1500s, one of which was a burial ground. We continue to learn about Durham's past through its In- dians and early settlers. - PACT Technical Committee �SCYA All �i Pickering site approved for Metro tra6sso.." By Jim Byers TORONTO STAR A plan to dump up to 4.7 million tonnes of Metro garbage in Pick- ering has been approved by Metro Council's works committee. But councillors also want an emergency meeting with provin- cial Environment Minister Jim Bradley to talk about Kirkland Lake's offer to take Metro's grow- ing mound of trash. The commit- tee yesterday officially listed the Northern Ontario town's offer as one of Metro's potential interim dump sites. A possible deal to ship trash to the township of Marmora, near Campbellford, northeast of Peter- borough, also should be discussed with the minister, they said. The committee yesterday voted 6-2 for a deal with Durham Re- gion that will cost Metro taxpay- ers $41 million up front and a fur- ther $254 million to $366 million in dumping fees from private haulers over the next five years. The deal, which goes before the full Metro Council on Jan. 17, has already been approved by Dur- ham councillors. Residents outraged But outraged Whitevale resi- dents vowed to block the Durham dump, which they said would be right across Durham Regional Rd. 27 from the village. "We're not NIMBYs (people who say 'Not in my back yard)," said Whitevale resident Isabel Thompson. "We're fighting to pre- serve some of the best farm land in Canada." Thompson also said she's afraid the dump would pollute wells used for drinking water and dam- age Duffins Creek, Petticoat Creek and the Rouge River. Metro's dumps are filling rapid- 71 foMunicipal officials are hoping r a long-term solution to the area's garbage woes by 1996. Councillor Dick O'Brien (Markland-Centennial) wanted the Durham deal deferred end- ing talks on last week's offer by Kirkland Lake to have Metro gar- bage tossed into iron ore mines that are set to close in March. But Metro works commissioner Bob Ferguson said that deal is only speculative and is probably a few years away. rat ,lit Proposais isapoint garbage chief By Royson James TORONTO STAR There are no magical solutions to the garbage crisis in the greater Metro area and 86 proposals to handle the area's waste on] con- firm that, poli 'cians and officials say. In fact, Metr garbage boss says he was disappointed with the offers announced Wednesday. The proposals are intended to take care of about 5 million tonnes of waste for the regions of Metro, Durham, Halton, Peel and York, starting in 1996. "I didn't see anything signifi- cant or viable that was new," works commissioner Bob Fergu- son said. "We've gone through a process that shows that we know what's out there — there's nothing new. Now, we have to choose." Paul Christie, chairman of the Metro works committee, said he is heartened that 86 proposals were received but it is clear a govern- ment such as Metro's will have to work with the private sector for an over-all. waste management plan. Officials don't record as saying have used more tions, ones using ogy. 1, want to go on it, but they could innovative solu- "proven technol- "There is not a heck of a lot of innovation out there beyond what we knew — except the airplane proposal," engineer Victor Morris said. (One firm suggested flying the garbage via "garbage planes" to north of Sudbury and dumping it on crown lands.) "We may have to start off with conventional approaches and re- search the others," said Morris. John Farrow, co-ordinator of the committee looking at the long- term solution to the garbage prob- lem in the Metro area, said he feels at least 10 proposals will be found that deserve an in-depth look. views sought on offer to use mines as dumps. O rock ST* To the editor: I wish to respond to the dump deal coverage in the News Advertiser Sun- day Edition, Dec. 10. Item one: Ajax resident Malcolm Harris stated that 98 per cent of Ajax and Pickering residents don't support P.A.C.T. -- at best a misleading state- ment. The populations in general rare- ly commit themselves even on serious matters because of indolence, apathy, complacency, ignorance, and in our case, an unwillingness monetary -wise. Take the issue of lake water quality for instance. Everyone who owns a tap demands safe drinking water. But as the lakes deteriorate the vast majori- ty remains supine insofar as concrete measures for improvements are con- cerned; it's only when the faucet discharges discolored liquid that con- sumers will take action. Mac Harris' ludicrous remarks that P.A.C.T. members are "cold war spies" are born out of counter- productive political viewpoints on his part. They are not only illogical but childish as well. You, Mr. Harris, besmirched P.A.C.T.'s credibility and have brought the possible demise of Whitevale a step closer to reality. Why have you not assembled an anti- dum- ping group of your own? Item two: s political poKe Regional chairman Herrema stated: "We went to a couple of houses in Whitevale and asked them to assist us in finding another site". What an imbecilic. and illogical statement to make, especially from a leader of a large regional municipality. Pi was a foregone conclusion. The deals behind the scenes prove that. Landfill site locations are to be deter- mined by town councils at regional meetings. After that, engineers, con- sultants, works officials, and en- vironmental leaders get their heads together and make a decision. Her- rema adds "We were never going to satisfy them" (Pickering). How utter- ly stupid can people get? Has regional council ever intervened on Pickering's side over trash troubles since the late 70s. I don't believe so. Did Durham reps ever charge Metro for violations such as dumping of human body parts, toxic incinerator ash, sewage sludge, lead contaminated soil, or nickel catalyst? No, not ever! Where were you, Mac Harris, when Metro rescind- ed its agreement with Pickering that stated after five years of landfill operation Brock West shall be CLOS- ED forever? Did you, Mac Harris, bit- terly complain to regional council? Have you ever marched down to Queen's Park to denounce the pro- vince's irresponsible measures to cir- chip I[- cumvent the sacrosanct environmen- tal protection acts? Item three: Brock North and South are political poker chips on a waste mismanage- ment game. In truth the "waste war" continues unabated because politi- cians everywhere have entrenched themselves on the battle field. Metro may well be willing to shovel out a possible maximum amount of $366 million dollars plus $41 million up front to stay in Whitevale. That money should be used to wage war on trash by implementing the 4 R's. Item four: In order to save itself from fiscal ' ruin Durham has bargained with Metro. Whitevale (PU is only the beginning of a potentially frightening scenario in PIckering. According to in- formation leaks from the province, a huge section of southwest Pickering has been strongly suggested for a com- bination garbage rail haul, incinera- tion, dumping and sorting facility. It will be a mega -project on provincially - owned lands adjacent to Seaton and if ' allowed to proceed will make Brock West insignificant. Therefore, be forewarned. Frank Threlkeld Jr., Documentation and Research Depart- ment of P.A.C.T. A14 Tuesday, December 26, 1989 THE TORONTO STAR Town suing L- over fly ashi*n landrill. By Paula Adamick SPECIAL TO THE STAR LONDON, Ont. — The town of Westminster has launched an $11 million lawsuit against neighbor- ing London over its refusal to stop dumping toxic fly ash at Westmin- ster's landfill site. The town is worried that fly ash, which contains residues of toxic heavy metals, will eventually leach into the groundwater and poison nearby wells. Not only does it want the dump ing stopped, but it also wants the fly ash that has been accumulat- ing at the landfill removed. Since 1987, more than a tonne of fly ash a day from Victoria Hospital's energy -from -waste plant has been dumped at the landfill site. Although the dumpsite is situat- ed in Westminster, it has been .used and operated solely by the city of London since 1975, accord- ing to a legal agreement between the city and the town, said London deputy mayor Jack Burghhardt. The issue heated up after a federal government report releas- ed last September showed unac- ceptably high levels of lead and cadmium being produced in the fly ash. The study indicated there were up to 43 parts per million of cadmium and 21.6 parts per mil- lion of lead in the fly ash particles produced by the hospital incinera- tor. 3 r�� Water pollution< tea'Yed if Metro soil dumped By Mark Bourrie SPECIAL TO TI IE STAR BARRIE — Dumping soil from downtown Toronto into a quarry here will pollute springs used for drinking water by residents and visitors to a nearby provincial park, critics say. About 850,000 cubic metres (30 million cubic feet) of soil are to be removed next spring from railway yards behind Union Station to make room for the Southtown residential and commercial com- plex. Residents here and the 13,000- member Federation of Ontario Naturalists say springs in the area that flow into one of Ontario's largest wetlands will be contami- nated. Kim Gavine, a researcher with the federation, said neither the developer, Marathon Realty, nor the provincial government plans to monitor the flow of water from the old CP Rail gravel quarry near Barrie. She said the nearby Minesing Swamp is home to rare species of orchids and other plants and is one of the most scientifically _imnortant marshes in Canada. Area residents have formed two citizens' groups to try to stop the plan. One organization is attack- ing the possible environmental problems of the project, while a larger group of ratepayers is lobbying the local township coun- cil to extend a freeze on the plan past its March expiry date. A study by a Barrie consulting firm hired by the council says the soil, which was "found to be in part contaminated," could pollute two underground streams. The re- port said pollutants would reach Springwater Provincial Park in two years. Marathon Realty wrote to the local council and residents earlier this year, saying studies show dumping of fill at the gravel pit "should not affect the ground- water" of the pit and surrounding area. The company is also suggesting the filled -in quarry would be used for industrial and commercial development. "We need an environmental hearing into this plan," said Mar- lene Berthiaume, a resident who lives close to the pit. These particles, produced by burning waste, are trapped in fif- ters b(,fore they can escape from emission stacks, and are later dis- posed of at the dump site. Acceptable levels for dumping both cadmium and lead, according to Ontario environment ministry standards, are 5 parts per million. Following the report, Environ- ment Minister Jim Bradley promised tighter regulations gov- erning the disposal of fly ash would be introduced by next year. Meanwhile, London continues to dump the toxic fly ash at West- minster. Repeated appeals to the city to stop the dumping have been ignored, said Westminster Mayor David Murray. The town of 3,000 — which has been fighting amalgamation with its burgeoning neighbor for years — has filed a lawsuit in the Su- reme Court of Ontario claiming 10 million for negligence and an additional $1 million for punitive damages. Puzzles him The town is also demanding a mandatory order requiring the city and the hospital to remove the existing fly ash at the dump site at their own expense. "All we are asking is that (London) err on the side of re- sponsibility and dispose of the fly ash somewhere else until a final decision is made by the province over how to dispose of it proper- ly," Murray said. However, London Mayor Tom Gosnell said the lawsuit puzzles him (because the town should take its concerns to the environment ministry rather than attacking London, which is only acting on curre it dumping guidelines. Meanwhile, environment minis- try spokesman Charlie Murray said new regulations are now being drafted to ensure that no fly ash is buried at common dump- sites without passing leachate tests. Approval of the new regula- tions is expected byril, he said. Ap However, unless lawyers for Lonet..n and Westminster can set- tle t.ieir differences over the fly ash issue, they will meet in court Ja 22 in London. The dig Pi twe � �,Garb—age �.r read that Mayor Trimmer got angry over the decisag?ee offer the Rouge up as a potential Dump Site. While - ' hitsJ1with her, we all should echo her own words. "We've heard c s s that the environment is motherhood and apple pie," she said, "well like hell it is!" she added. Well Mrs. Trimmer, such are the double standards that Muskoka we set .. and so we live by those same standards. I draw your attention to the use of rock -salt as an ice - melting chemical versus calcium -chloride, and point out what we all know .. we are polluting and destroying our en- The garbage crisis has come to vironment by this act. That if the City of Scarborough, the heart of Ontario's cottage would set the example by eliminating double standards, cquntry. and by practicing what it preaches, then the others would Nearly 5,000 year-round resi- follow. dents of Muskoka Lakes township The Scarborough Public School Board being no excep- have been told there's no place for tion, said that they too use rock -salt even though they them to get rid of their trash. preach environment protection to children, because salt is 6 "We don't know what to tell times cheaper than the chloride, and because the city and them," said Paul Davidson, clerk - the province uses it on their roads. I wonder what the real administrator for the scenic area, costs are. I claim that while budget restraint arguments which in summer is one of Cana - are sound, that these arguments do not hold water when it da's busiest tourist areas. comes to the environment. The world looks for real leaders, "Just don't bring it to us." leaders to put away the old traditions that are spelling He said 2,000 cubic yards of disaster for our children and perhaps even for the adults of arbage are already sitting in 75 today. We look for leaders who count the loss of future Steel Inns a transfer site in the revenues in todays decisions. Revenues such as that from township, and they can't be Tourism, Fishing, and pure clean drinking water .. a fun- ` township, because there is be da Friends life supporting need! emptidumb that can accept the garbage. no Friends of the Environment where are you? Are we so in- The area includes three of the to being "Team Players" that we can't go to bat for the lakes most popular with Ontario citizen of the world because we have to "steal a base" for our own little neighbourhood? Does anyone see the Big- cottagers — Muskoka, Rosseau Picture yet? and Joseph — as well as the towns of Part Carling and Bala. Yours truly, Joseph A. Trentadue Scarborough The township's population swells to about 25,000 each sum- ---- --- mer. The township used to have a contract to transfer its trash from its bins to a dump somewhere else, Davidson said, but the provincial environment ministry withdrew the permit after finding Ple t of interest in arba a dis that the dump wasn't environmen- tally y n osal safe. �1 A provincial study done several DU AM More than 80 firms and individuals want to take care of years ago found that as many as the Gr ater Toronto Area's garbage. 3,000 dumps across Ontario may On Wednesday, members of the Solid Waste Interim Steering Commit- be hazardous to human health, tee (SWISC), representing five regions in greater Toronto, received ex- usually because of leakage from pressions of interest for handling waste from Metro, Peel, Halton, York the sites into groundwater. and Durham regions. After the permit was taken Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema says he's "excited" by some away, Muskoka Lakes began of the proposals. A $1-billion plant that would virtually leave no garbage sending its garbage to a dump in for landfills has caught Herrema's interest. He says he'll be discussing nearby Parry Sound, but there is locating the plant in Durham. no more room there either. It's hoped by the end of this year, Durham council will vote on what And so the table scraps and to do with it's garbage. It can either manage waste on it-smuse other messy leftovers of Muskoka one of the 86 proposals in conjunction with the other four •egions. Lakes are festering in the bins. More about Tuesday's meeting and what options are available for waste "We're stockpilingthas Davidson disposal will be available in the Sunday, Jan. 14 edition of the News said, and the bins full.Advertiser. A jGetting more binsnotan op- tion. -The township tried, in- "i`1'' " quiring everywhere, and none can be found. "You tell us where, and we'll get them;"'Davidson said. Letters --' Fresh ideas, new faces needed To the editor: What is really going on with PACT? Here we have Steve Parish now saying PACT will not go to court until GTA applies for the exemp- tion. You told us months ago that you had the money and the legal agreements needed to proceed. Now you tell us your lawyer quit and you have to hire another one. Let's hope two years down the road the new law firm doesn't realize it has a conflict as well. I think the whole PACT ex- ecutive, including Bill Parish, Pat Clark, Rene Soetens, Norah Stoner and Bev Morgan, should stop this process right now and start work- ing on ways to help Pickering get the compensation it rightfully deserves and hope that Premier Peterson doesn't give Ajax and Pickering any more surprises. I think it is time PACT calls a general meeting and gets everything out in the open. The editorial in the same issue of the News Advertiser as this story stated that PACT has shown how to 8t�fdy unlikely to stop dump By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter WHITEVALE - While a heritage study of the proposed Pi landfill site near Whitevale is now underway, "nothing will hold back that site" from becoming a dump, says John Aker, chairman of the region's works committee. ROM PAGE Al standing historic buildings on the pro- perty. While extensive excavation isn't F part of the study, Poulton and Associates will be doing detailed field work and a survgof Pi this spring. "There is eviden a that pre -historic Huron (Indians) Jere there," says oulton. "It's cbknceivable that something i7yvs rtant will turn up that the region have to take into con- sideration. But Aker any significant finds will "absolutely not" cancel the region's plans to use P1 as a dump. In- stead, the dump could be moved to a different portion of the Pi land to ac- comodate an archeological dig. The dump itself is to take up about 200 acres of P1, which covers a full concession. Ai part of the Environmental Pro- tection Act (EPA), archeologists Poulton and Associates are undertak- ing a two-phase heritage study of the PI site and surrounding area. Chief ar- cheologist Dana Poulton says v researching any signific / cheological sites as well as extrN See REGION ... go organize a grass roots movement and that many of the players are the same as organized POP — Peo- ple or Planes. Well, there are also a lot of the same players who were in PACT -- Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment -- and maybe it is time these groups opened their doors and let some new faces in and get fresh ideas because, if things keep going the way they are, this grass roots movement will be looking at grass growing on a covered landfill site. Roger Anderso- "We've got such a garbage crisis on our hands, I don't think anything will get the region to withdraw that site," says Aker. "The,study will be part of the equation, but in my mind, nothing will hold back that site. We're a long way down the road on this site at this point." A h „c Poulton says it's within his mandate to recommend to the region, if necessary, that P1 isn't suitable as a landfill, he agrees it's unlikely that the heritage study alone would stop the dump. "I wouldn't think y one factor would make or break the issue," says Poulton. "In my experience, proper- ty developments have avoided ar- cheological sites but more often than not, the sites have been excavated." Pickering mayor Wayne Arth rs is also pessimistic that any archeol ical finds will impact the region's eci- sions. "It would probably have o be pretty substantial for them to close it down," he says. "I'd like them to, but it doesn't mean they're going to." Meanwhile, residents of Whitevale will keep fighting the dump, says Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association. Pointing out that a heritage study is technically required only in an En- vironmental Assessment Act hearing (EAA), Thomas comments, "I don't know whether they're just trying to ap- pease the people or what. That's why we want a full EAA." Thomas says that, should significant archeological areas be found on P1, "it would cause serious concern. I think a lot of people would be upset (if the dump still went ahead.) But that's only one aspect of the site," he continues. "We'll keep plugging away at it." The region is hosting an open house for the public Jan. 25 to discuss Dillon Consultant's preliminary results on an environmental testing of Pi. As well, Poulton says he'll�ussing the heritage study. ,III�I�I�III�N4� �i�C l�C �EuS GTA--i-nde r i , unaccoun able pis is the seventh in a series of ar- written by PACT's Technical Committee. This one deals with the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the Solid Waste Interim Steering Commit- tee (SWISC), who are they and why they were formed. The GTA was formed by Premier David Peterson in March 1989. Although no official cabinet decree or order from cabinet was given, he gave authority to the five regional chairmen (of Metro, Halton, Peel, York and Durham) to come up with a grand solution for waste management. Waste management was and still is the responsibility of regional and municipal governments, but Peterson has created another level of govern- ment to handle garbage, with Gardner Church, deputy minister, to oversee it. Of the five regional chairmen -- Frank Bean (Peel), Eldred King (York), 1 Allan Tonks (Metro), Peter Pomeroy (Halton) ,and Gary Herrema (Durham) — only Tonks was elected by the public at large, so what we end up with is a new political body that is not accountable to the people being given vast authority to deal with garbage. Since its creation, the GTA has been shrouded in deception, through its secret dealings with developers, pro- vincial government and consultants. It meets behind closed doors and does not publish minutes of its meetings (we've asked on several occasions for copies but have never been given any). The whole emphasis of GTA has been on finding interim landfill sites and getting Expressions Of Interests (EOIs) from the private and public sector to handle garbage over the long term. Its emphasis is on hiding the garbage not eliminating it. Its only mention of eliminating the garbage GTA di n't stop at waste mange- ment; itlinow conspiring to take over housingransportation, air traffic, who knowhat else. We don't unders- tand! Does Peterson feel that our elected regional and municipal representatives were not doing their job? Has rule by the people become ob- solete? Has democracy been replaced by GTA? It can't. Saner minds must prevail. In the summer of 1989, we saw outgrowth of GTA. We're not sure why; maybe it was because GTA was acquiring such a bad reputation, but SWISC was formed, with John Farrow as chief administrative officer, to deal specifically with garbage. Its members consist of the five regional chairmen and the five heads of the regional works departments. Again we haven't seen any minutes or been allowed to attend any of its meetings. GTA/SWISC is undemocratic, unac- countable and not needed. Elected representatives are in place and the responsibilities have been allocated to handle waste management. Dissolve GTA/SWISC now. Let's get back to proper goveruwicn -7 PACT Technical Committee through the 411s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover) has come from targets forced upon them by environ- ment minister Jim Bradley. Those targets of 25 per cent by 1992 and 50 per cent by 2000 are very low. We can be much more aggressive. If the town of East Hampton (population 20,000) in New York can go from zero to 84 per cent recycling in two weeks, surely we can do better than 50 per cent in 15 years. As a requirement for the regions to join GTA, each had to put a site on the table that could be used as an inter- mim site until the long term megasite was up and running. Peterson sweetened the pot for the regions by saying that if they joined the GTA, their intermim sites would only have to go through a scoped Environmen- tal Protection Act hearing (EPA). This was significant especially for the region of Peel, whose site SITE VI was already rejected in an Environmental Assessment Act hearing (EAA). Neither the site in Durham (PI in Whitevale) nor Halton's would pass the scrutiny of a full EAA but they might get through in an EPA. York's site, we think (they are being rather vague), is an expansion to Keele Valley, a site that's set to close in 1993. Metro didn't put a site on the table; in- stead Durham sold out to them and has allowed them to propose PI as a joint Metro/Durham site. C It FO\ PAGE 6-A—THE NEWS AbVERTISER, JAN. 10, 1990 � Editorial Dump fight a lost cause "Nothing will hold back that site. We're a long way down the road on this site at this point." Those words from regional works committee chairman and Oshawa councillor John Aker clearly spell out the future of the Whitevale P1 dump site. Nothing has changed from the day the region first announc- ed P1 as an "interim" dump site. It was definite then, as far as the region was concerned, and it's definite now. Pickering gets another dump despite the residents who have been fighting it. And despite the politicians who say they've been fighting it. After all, it's hard to put up a good fight when you know the deci- sion's made before Round One even starts. While many people with good intentions have joined the public fight through P.A.C.T, it appears to have been a futile effort. Public education aside, there has been little else done. P.A.C.T. has shown how to organize a grass -roots movement and how to publicize a grass -roots movement. Of course, with many of the same players as organized (POP) People Or Planes to fight an airport in the early 1970s, it's hard to miss. But we're still waiting for "the right time" for the legal ac- tion that's been promised and promised and promised for so long the initial announcement of it is almost ancient history. The time for some type of delaying action, buying time to mount a proper fight, was back at the beginning, while P.A.C.T was still busy organizing this committee and that committee. It was no secret that Durham was desperate to find a dump site. It should've been obvious that, on this matter at least, the government wouldn't waste time. Now, unless P.A.C.T. can pull a rabbit out of its hat (and of- :cials in the know say it can't), the Pi site will have garbage in it within two years. And there will be a lot of disillusioned; Ajax and Pickering residents who still care about the environment. More of the same Keith Gilligan What will happen in 1990? A thousand subdivision agreements will be approved in Ajax and Pickering, bringing un- told thousands of new residents and further straining already straieed services. A couple of businesses will open, employing a few residents. The re- maining new residents will get in- to their cars and inch to and from work on Highway 401. Work on widening the 401 will move only slightly faster than the rush- hour traffic on the highway. Taxes will rise in Ajax by 9.6 per cent and in Pickering by 9.9 per cent. Durham region will increase taxes 14 per cent and the schoo board 16 per cent. PACT will go to court, hoping t _ stop a landfill from opening in north Pickering. The wheels of justice be- ing what they are (see above item on traffic on the highway), the legal action will conclude in someone's lifetime. There will also be babies born, people will marry and politicians will do strange things with the public's money. N ■ ,N te poups URI ,./ d A) i.2 , Fb '0'-to fight dumps, ■ d 1_05 pu3n rucyunng By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter AJAX-PICKERING - Community groups from in and around Metro Toronto have amalgamated to convince Metro council to back out of the Pi landfill deal with Durham. The newly -formed coalition includes Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT), Save The Rouge Valley, the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) and groups from Scarborough, Vaughan and Halton. The coalition is to meet tomorrow, Saturday, to form a plan of action and discuss giving itself a name. Last month, both Durham and Metro councils agreed in principle to share the proposed Pi landfill near Whitevale if Pi is found suitable for a dump. Metro is to pay $41 million to use the Durham -owned dump, which is scheduled to operate between 1992 and 1996. "We're going to Metro to convince councillors to spend that money on recycl- ing instead of on the deal," says PACT technical chairman Lloyd Thomas. "This is the first time that Metro groups have supported Durham (groups), which is really nice." " See GROUPS... Page 3 The coalition wants Metro to spend its time and money on recycling and com- posting instead of making more landfill sites in surrounding municipalities necessary. Its suggestions include mandatory separation of garbage by homeowners and businesses; community composting facilities and storage of recyclable materials for which markets don't yet exist. "We can work toward a garbage -free society," says Thomas. "There's no reason it can't be done." Thomas, also president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association, says the coalition will also stop Durham from creating a garbage dump on the P1 land. "There's no doubt in my mind we'll stop P1. I'm as sure of that as (regional chairman Gary) Herrema is that it's going to go in." But regional chairman of works John Aker says nothing will stop the dump. In an earlier interview Aker commented, "We've got such a monumental gar- �Ikge crisis on our hands, I don't think anything will get the region to withdraw th `site... nothing will hold back that site. We're a long way down the road on this Ke at this point." Once legal documents, now being prepared, are ready Durham and Metro will vote on final approval of the Pl deal. _ "We're hoping to get to councillors before the voting," says Thomas. An. JA#N/ s* 'Desperate' tp aes a rate' Metr Won't back out P1 dumpof deal By JUDI BOBBITT !,//� � Pickering Reporter DURHAM - A `desperate" Metro Toronto council won't be swayed by en- vironmentalists' pleas to back out of the Pl dump agreement with Durham, predicts Metro chairman Alan Tonks. While both Tonks and Durham chairman Gary Herrema assure there's go- ing to be a Metro -Durham dump, Tonks cautions that Pi "is just a drop in the bucket" when it comes to solving Toronto's garbage problem and even more landfill sites are going to be needed. One of those sites, he says, could be Metro's Ml site near the banks of the Rouge River. "At this point, we're very desperate to acquire landfill sites," says Tonks, explaining that Toronto will generate about 15 million tonnes of garbage over the next six years. "P1 is a very small part of our overall needs." Adding that Metro is looking at larger sites in Kapuskasing and other areas, he says, "The Rouge Valley site is about the size of PI. If we can't find any other site, we'll have t put that one up. We are dedicated to working in tandem with Durham. Eithe we'll share one of their sites or they'll share one of ours." See METRO... Page A9 Metro needs P1 other dump sites FROM PAGE Al Metro and Durham councils will soon be voting on an agreement to share the proposed Pi landfill near Whitevale, scheduled to operate between 1992 and 1996. Both councils have already approved the agreement in principle and Tonks predicts Metro council will support the deal. While a recently -formed coalition of environmental groups wants Metro to back out of the Pi deal and spend its money on recycling and composting, both chairmen say that expectation isn't very realistic. The coalition, which includes Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the En- vironment (PACT) and Save The Rouge Valley, advocates working towards a garbage -free society. "They've got good suggestions, but they've got their heads in the sand," says Herrema. "No matter what we do, we'll need a dump." Adding that Durham will spend $45 million in the next three years on three composting centres, Herrema repeats, "We still need a dump. What will we do with our garbage? We'll need an environmental study for a compost (facili- ty), and Metro needs 600 acres for a compost." Tonks says the coalition "means well", but Metro will need about four land- fill sites before regions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) come up with long- term waste management solutions. "We're all trying to achieve the same objectives, but some of us are laden with the responsibility to carry out a plan as opposed to talking about it," he says. "We have to be realistic. We're coming down to the short strokes; we'll be out of Brii k West by 1992 and Keele Valley will be closed down." MeanwhilMetro is committed to reducing its neration of waste 25 per cent by 1995nd 50 per cent by 2000, he adds. "We hink that's realistic, but we still need and, at the very least, another two or ee sites to get us through until 1996. In the longer term, the GTA will find b ter ways." 1AND AN — 4TN A REFOKT oil VE FOWSLE TOXIC 5MEL-5 TKOWDWMAL 40- TuSLIc �EE7113Ct p iCKE.Rtt1� w4A UKoa L Your trash may cost more cash By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Homeowners here might some day be charged for the garbage they generate. According to Art Leitch, Durham region director of operations, an "economic incentive" might be necessary to convince residents they must cut down on the amount of trash they generate. The province has instructed municipalities to cut down on garbage that goes into landfills by 25 per cent by 1992. Leitch says Durham's 1990 waste management budget could include an $88,000 study on a user pay system for trash. This system is already in effect for the industrial/commercial sector. Effec- tive May 1, Metro will charge that sector $97.50 a tonne to dump at any of its dumps, a 17-per cent increase from the current $83.33 a tonne. Leitch notes, in 19.87, Metro was charging $18.50 a tonne for industrial/commercial waste. The increases are an incentive for companies to reduce their trash and, Leitch says, according to Metro's figures, it's working. Yet, Leitch says, homeowners are taxed a set fee no matter how many bags of trash they put out. Durham now pays $83.33 a tonne to dump residential trash it the Brock West Landfill site but gets a $55.12 a tonne rebate from Metro. In Europe, many municipalities have user pay systems, says Leitch. One municipality provides each home with a plastic cart on wheels in which to put the trash. If the homeowner requires another cart, he must pay for it. Another municipality gives out tags that must be attached to the garbage bags in order for them to be picked up. If you run out of tags, you must pay for more. Cur- rently, there's experimentation with weigh scales on garbage trucks. Leitch says, after the trash is weighed, a computer prints out a bill for the homeowner. Closer to home, Peterborough has a four -bag limit per house and Halton is experimenting with "garbage police" who inspect trash for items that could have been recycled. Leitch says a consultant has submitted a proposal to study the various op- tions for the region. The study would include looking at other systems, their problems and how they were overcome and possibly visiting municipalities where systems are in place. q.i W C` a V 9 U O W V O 4 in !V I �1 �J kb0 -bD cn=Wd0 MO�'�• 0�iWbO0-Z C c .5 q� b°.- 8 U •c = LD Ts 0 a' � b 0 b4— W 50c;�0nM.5a�c,� n00�sa W s033o0:�Urr Cc`COSScCa�i0.C�w�CMiLY�w a2.S'5 O bi:n,d Or. O C p a�i Oor. a�Cz Ma Ocda�.r 334. •n•�'� bDU �oa0��' � cu o 3[�'��°D'�ya� n o.oM•��,bMn n4o 0 0 " 0 a 0 "a w. W 3 3an Et MajW C O C C U y 0 4-cn C 4 Oa>Cali, :M CDU -aC 6D U 0°3 0.�0 0 o � •O •'� 0 a� •5 �;6. W r. ,mEiz (Daa, ay r.w0 a> U ovo_E=° a' 1 (b ( bD m& .40 co` a� AIRG�yQiO o� �: o go•cs 9E� PACT "out lunch'.Pegion boss By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - A citizens' group is claiming Durham will lose $123 million on a garbage agreement with Metro in a report that regional officials call "utter nonsense". Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the announce Durham will be losing $123 million saying PACT is "out to lunch". Environment ( PACT) maintains that on the deal instead of making a $251-million David Strain and Richard Jones of PACT ex - Durham's pending agreement to share the Pi profit as a regional analysis claims. plained the group's analysis is based on two dump with Metro is "a very bad deal". The While Arthurs is calling for a "thorough issues. Firstly, the group is claiming Metro group co -hosted a press conference with review" of the agreement, regional officials will only bring residential garbage into PI Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs Monday to are reacting with amusement and disgust, See PACT... Page A3 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JAN. 24, 1990—PAGE 3-A PACT `wrong again' in' latest claims: works boss FROM PAGE Al near Whitevale, for which Durham will have to pay rebates. Industrial garbage, which is dumped without rebate, will be taken somewhere else, it says. PACT is also claiming the region made a $64-million error when calculating rebates. Ac- cording to PACT, the region expects to keep $43 in tipping fees from every tonne dumped when in fact it will only be able to keep $9. The region's $43 calculation covers total operating costs of Pl, for which Metro doesn't intend to pay, says PACT. "It's utter nonsense," scoffs John Aker, chairman of the region's works committee. "I'm not going to waste my time responding." Aker says he read PACT's report and "threw it in file number 13 - the garbage can." He says PACT is "wrong again" in claiming the region made a $64-million error in calcula- tions. Regional commissioner of finance Jack Gartley "will prepare a response to (Durham) council. That's all I can say." Regional chairman Gary Herrema says he agrees with Aker. "They're really out to lunch," says Herrema of PACT. "Obvious'.y they haven't read the agreement." Herrema says residential tipping fees haven't even been set and won't be until the dump opens in 1992. Tipping fees per tonne will cover Durham's costs of preparing the PI site, the region's recycling program and water for the hamlet of Cherrywood, he says. "All costs will be charged in the final dum- ping rate; the worst we can do is break even," maintains Herrema. Pickering regional councillor Doug Dicker- son, who voted in favor of the Pi agreement, says he doesn't believe PACT. Dickerson says every tonne of garbage dumped by Metro will be treated as if it were 50 per cent residential waste and 50 per cent industrial waste, mak- ing it impossible for Metro to dump only rebated garbage in Pickering. "We may have been born at night but it wasn't last night," says Dickerson. Arthurs, however, says regional lawyers should re-examine the agreement and "tighten up" the wording, which has "so many loopholes you could drive a tandem garbage truck through them. "Both Durham and Metro are working on a trust scenario," said Arthurs at the press con- ference. "I'm not trusting any of them. Durham politicians should not be overly - anxious to approve the deal without a thorough review." The agreement means Metro can duet 4.6 million tonnes of garbage in Pi between 1 2 and 1996. Both Durham and Metro coun Is have approved the deal in principle, with Durham regional council still to vote on a final legal document. 2 THE OSHAWA TIMES, Tuesday, January 23, 1990 e lon$.T,..-23will lose m�lll on in dumpdeal By Christy Chase n� Oshawa Tunes staff The mayor of Pickering and PACT have reaffirmed their opposition to the proposed Whitevale dump and the corresponding agreement for its use between Durham Region and Metro Toronto. In a press conference held Monday in the new Pickering town hall, Mayor Wayne Arthurs and two mem- bers of Pickering and Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment re- peated the town doesn't want the dump. "Durham may be receptive but Pickering is and will continue to be a hostile host," the mayor said. "We won't willingly accept 4.6 million tonnes of Metro's garbage." Arthurs said the town will go all out to stop the dump, but if it goes ahead, he wants to make sure Durham is get- ting the best possible deal from Metro. The mayor and PACT members Richard Jones and David Strain all blasted the financial agreement be- tween Durham and Metro over use of the proposed dump, known as P1, saying the region will lose $123 mil- lion, not profit by $210 million as ex- pected. "This is a very, very bad deal," Jones said. "Durham taxpayers will be paying for years and years and years for the privilege of taking Met- ro's garbage." says PRESS CONFERENCE — Richard Jones, treasurer of the White - vale and District Residents Association, and David Strain, member of the Pickering and Ajax Citizens Together for The Environment present a financial analysis of the Metro -Durham dump agree- ment. fOsnawa rmian n1v,m Jones, treasurer of Whitevale and District Residents Association, said that "as imagined" by regional offi- cials, Durham would take in $671 mil- lion in revenues from the dump be- tween 1992 and 1996 by accepting 4.6 million tonnes of Metro's waste. That would result in $210 million in profits. But PACT's review of the figures shows that Durham would take in only $402 million, leading toward a loss of $123 million, Jones said. He said that analysis is based on PACT's belief that Metro won't send all 4.6 million tonnes of waste to Pi and differing definitions of dump op- erating costs between Durham and Metro. Under the deal, Metro would re- ceive rebates from Durham for 2.23 million tonnes of residential waste. Durham plans to make the money off the remaining 2.3 million tonnes of in- dustrial waste. But Jones said Metro probably won't use the yet -to -be -approved Whitevale dump for anything other than the residential waste. He said the large municipality in its reports and in council debates has talked about other options for industrial waste. Strain pointed out that in the statement of principles on which the financial agreement will be based, w`tics a �•iD o n �°i �.E 0— Up A `�° o U -� 8 0 _b a' cD G .. �'! CY .7 'Y Q.. '.+c' '.7 ►-i y e+ y O (D A �n w w5' 0 o . m cy, p 5 G¢ ao 7s�C a0 5 5 �(Dwa,.», w o 5'b ]°�.� ]vw�w r7 �' ro O w Ev5, 5 E✓,> fDA�0-W::Im b �� cg�ogwp'w y r �o`�v,��, (DwR �a.00Q' c3 �� o a� ys �C �. Er 5 $°' a� a t'iw a lD ONy o- �•Op0 Ow OM9;w.+.p(D w ID M 5 o0ow ti N w G `�w5 c���� Yo �� c��,��5 .v ,� a c� F� CD 0 5 �a x vs b m a w v, ^ w Q„ w oa cr 5' ?u�f a'c'��"ti�fDcP�n o od°'c5obp� wo�ly� w.�50 fi'+(D wq�''Y-��pw �°�`� , 5' a ory wFR5'oo2 (DPac�C�o a,5' 2,42 �oa� y �G c 5 OQ iT� 5 w 0S4 N o vi oq in o .0 n .•t Fi aq d �.. L1 'y l0 " w ?'. R. CD n 0 c iD $��~+ E��� <G w o'w Q �� w mZ:r _ a a o 'dco �� o fD nQ 5 �o d 5 ciw coo ~°q'°• a� p,•o tn' o ti' >�•� �F', c''Cy� ,vw �Xn ^.�'�n.5 y..�•e a�•o�po M M ."'�'. G' CD 0 'O �+ p VS lD O e0-. O vw�i IwCD 0-4 �'7 0 (OD A fD 'C b 7C' 'nr l�D 'O w SDqQ G qq GQ ro `2L`�v;G! if°''Y c�Da r70TR?:. �D .^in' 7cD. � oao °,�,`Y tP Durham West Liberal MPP Norah Stoner holds a Dump Buck with Lloyd Thomas, presid nt of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association. The Dump Buck, handed out by an ry residents at an open house for the P1 dump site, portrays Durham regional chairman Ga y Herrema as a dictator. y�� �J ;Z ju **" N%O Will Durham stick with the waste management solution favored by the GTA (16reater Toronto Authority),ar will it strike out on its owr . If all goes according to schedule, Durham Region should be in a position to make its waste management choice by fall. The first round of public meetings in the search for a Durham -only solution to the garbage crisis was launched in Uxbridge Thursday at the About 70 residents attended the meeting hosted by the Public Liaison Committee of the Durham Region Waste Management Masterplan to hear about the work ac- complished thus far by the con- sulting firm, MacLaren Engineers. 'rject manager Jon Read tined the role of the study +, ,o monitor the wAC}P rorhio- tion programs in use now, and decide how to handle the waste that's left over" for the years 1996 to 2016. Durham is commit- tables c garbage ted to a 25 per cent waste reduc- tion by 1992 and a 50 per cent reduction by the year 2000. MacLaren Engineers are ex- amining the waste quantities generated by the region and the technologies available, both fr- inge and mainstream, in order to come up with a short list of possible technological solu- tions. The list is expected to be presented to Durham Regional Council early in May, with fieldwork on those alternate sites to progress during the summer. The preferred waste mangement solution is ex- pected to be presented to the council and to the public in September. There are three likely scenarios: landfill only; land- fill coupled with a small EFW (energy from waste) plant that separates recyclables; and landfill coupled with a mid- sized waste processing/EFW plant. "Any waste management plan requires a landfill to some degree; the part that's flexible is how big that landfill has to be," Mr. Read stated. But those looking for anything more than generalities on Thursday were disappointed. The first step in the process is solely the preparation of inventory maps of the region illustrating signifi- cant features pertaining to la-nd- use, natural environment, geology and hydrogeology — which were made available at the meeting. But so far the elimination process has not started. According to Steve Lindley, of MacLaren Engineers, the results of preliminary screen- ing will be presented at the se- cond series of public meetings, beginning March 20, 7:30 p.m. at Uxbridge Secondary School — after public input is received from the first series. By then 30 to 40 per cent of Durham Region will be eliminated as a possible site location, but for now every municipality is fair game for the location of a long- term waste management facility. "We haven't ruled out any ex- isting sites for longterm use," (See Page 3) J11d ,41P UX Durham searches for solution (From Page 1) Mr. Read said, including Ox- bridge's Pedersen site that was slated to close Dec. 31,1989, and the hamlet of Whitevale in Pickering which is vehemently fighting the proposed Pl dump- site next door. The criteria used in analyz- ing and comparing sites include the following factors: public health and safety, social en- vironment, natural environ- ment, cultural environment, financial costs, economic en- vironment and technological environment. Studies indicate that Durham residents are far more concerned with public health and safety and the preservation of the environ- ment than they are about the cost. Of particular concern to many Uxbridge residents is the preservation of agricultural land, which Mr. Lindley described as "a difficult issue." "Just because land is Class 1 or Class 2 doesn't mean it's pro- ductive farmland, and just because it's Class 4 or Class 5 doesn't mean it's suitable for landfill," he said. "We try to avoid productive agricultural land, whether it's Class 1 or 2, or tile -drained Class 4 or 5." It was evident from the ques- tions and comments from the residents that they are not satisfied with a crisis mange- ment approach and called for action in lobbying the govern- ment to reduce the amount of "excess packaging, excess col- oring, junk mail and so-called newspapers that are dumped in our driveways", as one resi- dent phrased it. "There's no point in digging holes for millions of tons of gar- bage if we're not trying to reduce it in the first place," ad- ded another concerned citizen. Regional Councillor Don Jackson confirmed that Ux- bridge has in fact joined with a number of other municipalities in lobbying the government for appropriate legislation to that effect, but has not yet received a reply. Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock Townships are lacking representation on the Public Liaison Committee of the By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - Most Pickering politicians say they believe PACT's claim that the Durham -Metro P1 garbage deal means a $123 million loss for Durham. PACT (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together) for the Environment held a press conference Monday morning to announce that, far from making a $251 million profit over the next five years on the deal, Dur ` m will go $123 million into I debt rham taxpayers will be pay- ing for years for the privilege of ac- cepting Metro's garbage," said Whitevale resident Richard Jones. Jones again outlined PACT's position at a council meeting Mon- day night, asking Pickering politi- cians to "communicate to the region so nobody votes in favor of this deal." The garbage agreement will allow Metro to dump 4.6 million tonnes of trash in the proposed Pl dump from 1992 to 1996. Both Metro Toronto and Durham region coun- cils have endorsed the agreement in principle, with Durham yet to vote on a final agreement. PACT members have analyzed the financial aspects of the agree- ment and now claim: Durham Region Waste Management Master Plan, and are looking for residents to get involved. The recently formed PLC br- ings together people from across the region to assist in the preparation of the master plan. They report to regional council through the waste management committee. PLC has identified several key responsibilities: • To learn the facts, understand the situation and get involved. • To get information about the master plan out to the general public. • To "translate" technical com- plexities for public understanding. • To network with the affected parties, consultants, en- vironmental groups, elected representatives, government agencies, ratepayer groups and the general public. • To evaluate the process and ensure participants understand their responsibilities. Interested residents are urg- ed to call 1-800-465-4216. -- Metro's profit will be $209 million while Durham's loss will be $123 million; -- Durham will pay $43.21 to dump a tonne of garbage on Pl while Metro will pay $9.11 per tonne. Of Pickering's three regional councillors who will vote on the agreement, one believes PACT's figures, one doesn't and one is reserving judgment. Beverley Morgan, Pickering council's liason with PACT and Ward 3 regional councillor, says she has "no reason not to" believe PACT's numbers are correct. The town treasurer has reviewed PACT's financial analysis, she adds. But Ward 1 regional councillor Bob Mitchell is taking a more cautious approach. "My job now, in all fairness to PACT and the region, is to go about doing more homework," says Mit- chell_ "I believe they (PACT's numbers) could be quite realistic. Maybe we rushed in too quickly, or there are parts (of the agreement) the region doesn't understand." He adds that, if there are glitches in the agreement, they'll be ironed out. Only Doug Dickerson maintains PACT is off base and the Pl agree- ment is a good financial package for Durham residents. Dickerson, Ward 2 regional councillor, endors- ed the deal. While regional chairman Gary Herrema says there's no truth to PACT's claims and says tM1119roup is "out to lunch", mayor Way Ar thurs disagrees. "If the legal agreement is writ- ten using the terms in the state- ment of principles, then PACT's figures are accurate," says Ar- thurs. "A change in terminology could correct those flaws." Arthurs is calling for a "thorough review" of the agreement and the "tightening up" of wording. Local councillors, who don't vote at the regional level, also say they believe PACT is right. Both Maurice Brenner and Kip Van Kempen agree with PACT, although Van Kempen admits PACT is presenting "the worst - case scenario" and its numbers "are based on an assumption." Ward 3 local councillor Rick Johnson could not be reached for comment before press time. Meanwhile, all councillors have re -stated their opposition to allow- Ing any more Metro garbage into Pickering. Arthurs says Pickering will always be "a hostile host" and will continue the fight against Pl. Z_-- E4: ttUrsday;;laFaiiary-26i 1990-THE TOR0WGSTAR `Worse' trash site than Whitevale difficult to find North Pickering and, in particu- lar, the Whitevale area is one of the most studied areas in Durham. We have accumulated documen- tation from the (proposed) airport studies, hamlet studies, regional planning and the Brock North and South (garbage dump) proposals, all of which will corroborate that it would be difficult to find a site worse than the Pl site beside Whitevale to put a dump. It is environmentally insane) El The site is directly above the large Greenwood aquifer system, which feeds all wells in Whitevale, Brougham, Greenwood and all the farms between. A landfill built here would leak toxins into the aquifer. In fact, all landfills leak. Even the Emelle landfill site in Alabama that was touted as the "Cadillac of landfills" (it had more than 100 feet of "impermeable" clay between the dump and the aquifer) and was guaranteed not to leak for 10,000 years, leaked in five years. To bring city water up would be an expensive proposition. We can- not even get Durham to bring it up to Cherrywood West. The wells in Cherrywood West are polluted with methane. Coincidentally, the nearby closed Beare Landfill site gives off and continually burns methane as a byproduct of being a Metro landfill site. Whitevale is even closer to P1 than Cherrywood West is to the Beare site. ❑ The southern part of the P I site is wetland, an increasingly rare and important part of our ecosys- tem. The northern part is a re- charge area for the Greenwood aquifer. You never put dumps on land that has direct conduits down to aquifers. ❑ The roads cannot handle he s "current volume of residential traf- fic. What will happen when we start bringing in 1,200 garbage trucks per day, plus dump trucks carrying ground cover? Look at the natural aspects: (�1 The groundwater drainsinTo— three d' Trent river systems. To the west is Little Rouge River, which joins the Rouge Valley sys- tem. Little Rouge is also home to a nationally rare species of fish, the "Stoneroller." To the south is Petticoat Creek, which runs through Altona Forest to Petticoat Conservation Park. To the east is West Duffin's Creek, one of the last popular and safe trout and salmon streams in southern Ontario, and part of the scenic North Pickering Hiking Trail. All three rivers run to Lake Ontario, which the Metro Toronto area urban population uses to get drinking water. A dump on the P1 site wo d have a detrimental effect on e following environmentally sign 'fi- cant areas under the control of the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority: The Rouge marsh area, Tabor's Horse- tail Meadow, Petticoat Creek For- est, Whitevale Corridor and Alto- na Forest. Look at the cultural aspects: LJ The site is on prime agricultur- al farmland, actively being farm- ed. Farming has been the way of life in this area for more than 150 years. In Canada, we are destroy- ing farmland at a rate of 27 acres a day. We already have to import food to meet our requirements. Blocking off more than 800 acres of Al farmland will have a detri- mental effect. - ❑ The site contains five Iroquois Indian archeological sites, dating to the 1500s, one of which was a burial ground. Many Indian sites in southern Pickering have al- ready been destroyed by housing and industry. Do we continue on this destructh"ath? Look at the social aspects: ❑ The site is directly across the road frdr r w4iFi i.tage village, 150- year-old Whitevale, and just up- wind from another heritage vil- lage, Cherrywood. These villages have gone through fires, hurri- canes, wars and expropriation. ❑ The people of Pickering/Ajax have suffered through expropria- tion, have rallied time and time again against the (proposed) air- port and have had to put up with Metro's garbage at Brock West dump for the past 15 years. Before Brock West, Metro dumped at the Beare Landfill site on the border of Pickering. It also dumped at Brock North and still comes weekly to drain out the lea- chate. Brock South almost became Pickering's third Metro dump and now we are faced with P1. We also have the Pickering Nu- clear Plant, the York -Durham sewer trunk lines, the Ontario Hydro criss-cross lines and we are now looking at a proposal for a water treatment plant. Our area is one of the most studied. We get studied for health abnormalities, radiation, birth de- fects, asthmatic conditions, well contamination, odor pollution. How much can you ask the peo- ple of Pickering/Ajax to take? (Durham's chairman) Gary Herrema said, "This is a bad site." Why was it picked? John Akers, Durham's other representative in the Greater Toronto Area group, said: "It was purely a political decision." LLOYD THOMAS Whitevale Durham to B`�y tsL a Wright TORONTO STAR consider user -pay The Durham Region works committee will consider a propos- al at the end of the month to start a user -pay system of garbage col- lection to encourage residents to recycle as much as they can. "It's an economic incentive that would make people think twice about what they throw out," says Art Leitch, Durham's director of operations. Staff will suggest a study be done this year at a cost of $88,000 before a pilot project begins in Lpst chance Editor's Notes Gord Malcolm It's funny how everybody oppos- ed to the planned PI dump in Pickering continually threatens legal action but, months after the site announcement, nothing has been done. This inaction on the part of Pickering council and PACT is dif- ficult to understand. While these opponents say they'll never allow another dump in Pickering, Durham region and Metro placidly carry on putting together a deal. The only opposition comes in the form of verbal threats of court action and perhaps some backroom lobbying. With all the high-powered legal advice PACT has retained, residents supporting the group had hoped for some type of action long before this. Of course, it took many months before one of PACT's lawyers determined that he had a potential conflict of interest because he also does work for one of the regions in the GTA. It seems legal action of any type is not taken quickly, despite the consequences of delay. That was the only hope Pickering and PACT used to havejnf storming a dump. Now, they have none. one of the region's eight munici- palities, Leitch says. The study would look at the possibility of residents paying a fixed price per bag or kilogram of garbagge when it's picked up at the curb, he says. Residents now pay a fixed amount for garbage disposal in their municipal tax bill, but the new system would be as costly as each family decides to make it. garbage disposal Metro municipalities protested a similar plan in '88 to charge them $25 a tonne for excess waste, but Metro Council plans to stick to the provincial recycling target of 25 per cent by 1992. Halton Region has just started a strict system known as the "gar. bage police," whereby resid nts' garbage is monitored to sure recyclables are not being dumped in landfills. Group says Durham will lose on garbage deal 4 PACT "out lunch". Pegion boss By JUPI BOBBITT Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the announce Durham will be losing $123 million saying PACT is "out to lunch". Pickering Reporter Environment ( PACT) maintains that on the deal instead of making a $251-million David Strain and Richard Jones of PACT ex- PICKERING - A citizens' group is claiming Durham's pending agreement to share the PI profit as a regional analysis claims. plained the group's analysis is based on two Durham will lose $123 million on a garbage dump with Metro is "a very bad deal". The While Arthurs is calling for a "thorough issues. Firstly, the group is claiming Metro agreement with Metro in a report that regional group co -hosted a press conference with review" of the agreement, regional officials will only bring residential garbage into Pl officials call "utter nonsense". Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs Monday to are reacting with amusement and disgust, See PACT ... Page A3 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, JAN. 24, 199 —PAGE 3- Fgagain' i PACT wron in boss FROM PAGE Al near Whitevale, for which Durham will have to pay rebates. Industrial garbage, which is dumped without rebate, will be taken somewhere else, it says. PACT is also claiming the region made a 1$64-million error when calculating rebates. Ac- cording to PACT, the region expects to keep $43 in tipping fees from every tonne dumped when in fact it will only be able to keep $9. The region's $43 calculation covers total operating cost Lsays Pl, for which Metro doesn't intend to pay, PACT. ` I utter nonsense," scoffs John Aker, chaffan of the region's works committee. "I'm not going to waste my time responding." Aker says he read PACT's report and "threw it in file number 13 -- the garbage can." He says PACT is "wrong again" in claiming the region made a $64-million error in calcula- tions. Regional commissioner of finance Jack Gartley "will prepare a response to (Durham) council. That's all I can say." Regional chairman Gary Herrema says he agrees with Aker. "They're really out to lunch," says Herrema of PACT. "Obvious'.y they haven't read the agreement." Herrema says residential tipping fees haven't even been set and won't be until the dump opens in 1992. Tipping fees per tonne will cover Durham's costs of preparing the Pi site, the region's recycling program and water for the hamlet of Cherrywood, he says. "All costs will be charged in the final dum- ping rate; the worst we can do is break even," maintains Herrema. Pickering regional councillor Doug Dicker- son, who voted in favor of the P1 agreement, says he doesn't believe PACT. Dickerson says every tonne of garbage dumped by Metro will be treated as if it were 50 per cent residential waste and 50 per cent industrial waste, mak- ing it impossible for Metro to dump only rebated garbage in Pickering. "We may have been born at night but it wasn't last night," says Dickerson. Arthurs, however, says regional lawyers should re-examine the agreement and "tighten up" the wording, which has "so many loopholes you could drive a tandem garbage truck through them. "Both Durham and Metro are working on a trust scenario," said Arthurs at the press con- ference. "I'm not trusting any of them. Durham politicians should not be overly - anxious to approve the deal without a thorough review." The agreement means Metro can dump 4.6 million tonnes of garbage in Pi between 1992 and 1996. Both Durham and Metro councils have approved the deal in principle, with Durham regional council still to vote on a final legal document. THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, Jan. 26, 1990—PAGE Opinions vary j Will Durha n� lose a m ions on du mp deal with Metro. By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter AJAX-PICKERING - Area politicians are expressing widely differing opi- nions on a citizens' group's claims that Durham will lose millions of dollars on a garbage deal with Metro Toronto. Regional council will soon be voting on a final agreement to allow Metro to dump 4.6 million tonnes of garbage on the P1 site near Whitevale. A regional financial analysis of the deal concludes Durham will make a $251- million pro- fit during the five years the dump is in operation. But Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment says Durham has miscalculated and will actually lose $123 million. Ajax mayor Jim Witty says the region has made no mistake in calculations. "They aren't looking at it the same way I am," says Witty, a member of the region's waste management committee. PACT's calculations are based on the assumption that Metro will dump only residential garbage on P1, for which it will receive rebates. Metro will take its industrial waste, which is not rebated, somewhere else, says PACT. But Witty says every tonne of garbage Metro brings into Durham will be assumed to be 50 per cent residential waste and 50 per cent industrial waste, thereby getting around that loophole. Witty says PACT members were present at a regional council meeting when that aspect of the deal was discussed. While the agreement's statement of principles doesn't spell out that condi- tion specifically, "The final agreement better contain words to that effect," vows Witty. However, PACT member David Strain says he's more concerned with the agreement's long-term ramifications on the Greater Toronto Authority's (GTA) master plan. "There's nothing that will make Metro bring any garbage out at all," says Strain. "They could come up with a 14-million tonne capacity (site) somewhere else. Then Metro will have us in the position that we have to make that (4.6-million tonne) capacity available to them at any time." If Metro doesn't dump on P1 at all, Durham will lose $143 million instead of $123 million, says Strain. PACT's financial analysis of the deal has prompted Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs to call for a "thorough review" of the agreement before regional council votes on it. Most Pickering councillors say they believe PACT's figures are accurate. Regional councillor Doug Dickerson is the only Pickering politician to flatly say he disbelieves PACT. Other doubts have been expressed by regional coun- cillor Bob Mitchell and local councillor Rick Johnson. Mitchell says PACT's numbers "could be quite realistic", but he's giving both PACT and the region the benefit of the doubt until he does "more homework". Johnson says he doesn't know if PACT is right, but "They're trying to drop the deal before the deal is even drawn up. They're not an elected group; they shouldn't be worrying about tax dollars and tinkering with figures. They should stick to environmental issues. I think PACT will hang themselves." John Aker, Oshawa councillor and chairman of the region's works commit- tee, calls PACT's claims "utter nonsens ". Aker says regional commissioner of finance Jack Gartley will be responding to PACT's concerns at an upcom- ing regional council meeting. -I-- ___% OPINIONS - Metro's garbage: Too valual By Jeff Rose THE GARBAGE CRISIS facing the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is the problem everyone wishes could be buried. It can't: Soon, there will no longer be a hole big enough to put it in. The problem could be resolved, how- ever, if only the chairpersons of the five GTA regions would stop pandering to the private garbage companies and put in place a co-ordinated public sector solution. The basic environmental facts of the crisis are widely known. GTA busi- nesses and residents now produce close to 4.5 million tonnes of garbage annual- ly. Existing landfill sites absorb about 95 per cent of this waste, but will be full by 1992. Despite growing public concern about environmental issues, waste reduction, re -use and recycling efforts are still inadequate. If environmentally responsible solutions are not given priority in the immediate future, the GTA will face a disastrous environmen- tal overload. The best way to tackle the crisis is at its source — by eliminating the produc- tion of unnecessary waste. This will re- quire tough waste reduction measures by governments at all levels — measures they have so far been unwilling to carry out. These must include more and better recycling and reduction programs, strin- gent packaging regulations, and bans on the sale of products for which there are existing substitutes and which cannot be re -used or recycled. But over and above these environmen- tal considerations, the garbage crisis is threatening to generate a fiscal crunch for GTA taxpayers. As much as $23.6 billion of public money could be lost over the next, 20 years if GTA politicians do not adopt a sound economic ap- proach for resolving the garbage prob- lem. Unfortunately, the economic dimensions of the crisis have receh ed little attention so far in the public de- bate. As a result, taxpayers are in danger of being stampeded into a quick -fix "solution" — a private sector bonanza which would be an environmental fail- ure and costly to boot. Crucial to an understanding of the economics of garbage is the revenue generated by disposal, specifically through the tipping fee charged at land- fills. Although there are other disposal options, landfi " } es almost all of the GTA's solid waste. A garbage dump is like an oil well in reverse: The more GARBAGE EMPIRE: Turning over trash disposal to private firms will cost the you put into it, the more revenue you make. Because landfills have relatively low capital and operating costs, the profit on tipping fees is very hi h. For example, in the Keele Valley landfill, which Metro Toronto owns and oper- ates, less than 16 per cent of annual revenues covers all the site's costs, in- cluding the original purchase price, capital investment, salaries, and day-to- day operating expenditures. The remain- ing 84 per cent of revenues is profit. During the past decade, tipping fees have risen from $10.42 per tonne to $83.33 per tonne in Metro Toronto, an increase of 700 per cent. If we assume that tipping fees will continue to in- crease to an average of $250 per tonne over the next two decades (a figure al- ready exceeded in a number of major U.S. cities), the potential revenue for iandfrll owners at current rates of GTA waste generation would amount to $23.6 billion (for the forecast 96 million tonnes of garbage). Even if waste were to be reduced by the goal of 40 per cent by 2010, disposal revenues would still amount to some $19 billion. So it's easy to understand why so many private gar- bage conglomerates are lining up to "lend a hand" with future disposal of the GTA's garbage: If they get ownership of the system, they'll benefit from those huge munii GT impol in ma privat mana of the to WE enter with pal o, site. 7 ployei sultan inten. suade $40 m At i tonne waste year I THE TORONTO STAR Tuesday, January 30, 1990 A17 ale to give away iONTO STAR FILE PHOTO BY ANDREW STAWIC4 Icpayer big money. evenues (at the expense of al taxpayers). politicians have a number of nt precedents on which to draw ig their decision about public vs. ownership of the future waste ment system. At the beginning )80s, for example, Metro Toron- advised by consulting firms to to a long-term disposal contract ste Management Inc., the princi- ler of the Keele Valley landfill Canadian Union of Public Em- intervened to oppose the con - recommendation. After an public debate, Metro was Per- o purchase the site for just over on. Tent tipping fees of $83.33 per he 20 million tonnes of solid e site will accept during its 10- time will be worth $1.7 billion. This revenue is now flowing into the - Metro Toronto treasury to the benefit of. its citizens. In this year alone, disposal revenues will be more than four times the original purchase price of the site. If WMI, the world's largest garbage conglomerate, had continued to own the site, this revenue would have been lost to Metro taxpayers. The public would have been in the position of the resi- dents of Halton, who are currently pay- ing $83.50 per tonne to outside firms for disposing of their garbage. Not surpris- ingly, Halton has been pressing .rigor- ously to get a publicly -owned landfill ap- proved. No less surprising, however, is the frenetic activity of the private gar- bage conglomerates to purchase poten- tial landfill sites within a 100-mile radius of Toronto and to capture control of the GTA waste stream. HE CHOICE Metro Toronto faced with regard to the ownership of Keele Valley is now facing the whole of the GTA. The financial stakes are not millions, but tens of billions. Ex- perience has taught that the only way the public can protect its financial inter- ests is to ensure that the GTA's future waste management system is publicly - owned and operated. Unfortunately, the politicians respon- sible for the GTA have put in place a process which is already leading in the wrong direction. They have opted to call for private sector "expressions of inter- est" for the future ownership and opera- tion of the GTA's waste management system, while ignoring the urgent need to develop a public waste management master plan. They have refused to call together the works departments of the member municipalities to develop a joint public sector alternative. If future waste disposal revenues are captured as profits by private compa- nies, GTA taxpayers could end up pay- ing over a billion dollars a year for the pnvdege. Taxpayers would also forfeit enormous potential public revenues which could be used by regional treas- uries to reduce the need for tax in- creases and to fund environmentally - necessary programs. GTA politicians owe it to their constituents to ensure that the public interest is properly repre= sented. There is too much at stake to get it wrong. U .Jeff Rose Is national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employ- ees. � Dump fight hisn't really There's a famous saying, which I think owes its beginnings to American baseball. "It ain't over'til it's over". NOrSh It is the thought to hold onto with Stoner respect to the proposed Pi landfill site near the village of Whitevale. k Although recent newspaper M.P.P. headlines would indicate that the war is over, the truth is it has not yet real- ly begun. Let's talk about where we are to date what skirmishes have taken place a and what battles we have yet to fight. M p p Report To date, Durham regional council has rescinded its pre -election resolu- case, "It ain't over" means we've not tion to prohibit another Metro dump in yet had our day in court. Durham. It has voted to join with other The region off' DuriVam chose the Pi Metro -area regions and Metro itself to site on Altona Road near Whitevale join in a two -pronged "interim" and and put it forward as an "interim" site "long-term" waste management for both Durham and Metro. The site scenario. "Interim" means landfilling is 8W acres although Durham says it's within the various regions over the only going to use 200 acres. short term -- although the garbage Durham has hired MM Dillion to do would remain in its "interim" burial the investigation of soil and water con - site forever. "Long-term" means all ditions on the site. Dillon has finished of the regions jointly exporting their phase 1 of its study and is starting waste somewhere outside the Greater phase 2. It hasn't released its report Toronto Area. on phase 1. "It ain't over" in this case This could mean that the vicinities means it is still possible the site could of Marmora, Sudbury, Haldimand, be found technically unsuitable. Flamborough, Bristol Quebec, Milton, Metro and Durham councils have Kirkland Lake, Englehart, Larder passed resolutions agreeing in princi- Lake, Kenogami, North Bay, New ple to put forward Pi as a joint interim Liskeard, Kettle Point, Sarnia, Sault site but they haven't signed a legal Ste. Marie, Kapuskasing or Laxton agreement with respect to the finances Township will have to live with our of the deal. For years, Durham has garbage. watched Metro make millions of It is p/osed that the "interim" dollars from its landfill sites in our sites are to be fast tracked through the community. shorter Environmental Protection Act process and that the "long-term" sites are to undergo the longer En- vironmental Assessment Act process. The Act looks not only at the specifics of a proposed landfill site, but also the other options and alternatives which could be considered. This is one of the battles yet to be fought. PACT (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environ- ment) will be challenging in court the' removal of our rights under the En- vironmental Assessment Act, noting that the region of Durham's official plan states than any new landfill site must be reviewed under t En- vironmental Assessment Act. I strong- ly support PACT's position. In this Durham council saw Pi as its chance to make millions on the P1 site. The millions would come from the commercial and industrial wastes which pay the full tipping fee and not from the household or municipal waste which gets a rebate on the tipping fee. When Metro councillors were discuss- ing this recently, they were told not to worry about all the money going to Durham because they could send all the municipal waste to Durham. By undercutting Durham's tipping fee, they could direct the commercial and industrial waste to the Metro -owned Vaughan site and still collect full tip- ping fees. One Metro Toronto coun- cillor, Richard Gilbert, was quoted in the Toronto Star recently as saying, in the Star's words, "Metro got such a good deal that he ^_..+��:,;aerstand why Durham went along with it." In this instance, "It ain't ovety - means Durham has not yet signed an agreement with Metro and it still has the opportunity to reassess its position. begun Regardless of the outcome of the court challenge referred to above, the Environmental Assessment Act ver- sus the Environmental Prob tion Act will still have a public hear' g process. It must be proven that FA is a suitable landfill site. Metro and Durham have not yet made an application for a hearing. Here, "It ain't over" means we could well'��vin the battle of the hearing and haveithe site turned down because of such' things as the potential con- tamiliation of the aquifer which is the only source of supply of water for many villages and farms, or because of potential damage to the Duffins, Petticoat or Rouge rivers. g At the same time that Durham is / considering going to bed with Metro pp again, the region is also undertaking J a study of a "Durham for Durham on- ly" waste management strategy. There's been very little coverage of this study but it's possible that it will show that Durham would be better off handling its waste within its own boundaries. This is the option which I personal- ly endorse. We should neither import waste (for questionable profit) nor should we export waste to some other community. The people of Pickering, having liv- ed with Metro's Beare Road Site, Brock West Site and Brock North Site, know first hand the horrors of living with other people's garbage and could not in good conscience wish the same on any other community. If we had to live with our own waste, we would be highly motivated tAeen sure that there is as little of it as possi- ble. The phenomenal success of the Blue Box program shows that people ver much want to do the right thing`' A well -orchestrated publicity cam- paign is trying to persuade you that the dump is a "done deal". Don't fall for it! Don't assume that the dump battle is lost; it has not yet truly begun. "It ain't over." ­� Keep up the good fight' PACT could've sto-pped P I To the editor: Norah Stoner MPP is talking nonsense. PACT ]sot the legal battle to stop Pl many months ago. Any legal action before the courts that PACT might take now would be only a sham, and would probably not delay the use of Pi even one day. PACT's infamous promise made last May that "The next step is the COURTS" has become on- ly a very expensive joke to those who contributed over $100,000 to PACT in good faith. For Norah Stoner, MPP, to use that empty promise in a futile at- tempt to rally the few remaining PACT troops is totally irresponsible. The Durham Region Official Plan is the Bible that governs development activities including landfill sites. PACT directors Bev Morgan and Pat Clark are regional councillors. Stoner used to be. Bill Parish was once an Ajax mayor. Steve Parish was former- ly an Ajax councillor and is a lawyer who for 1 rs has been involved in developmets. Rene Soetens MP was for years ch irman of Ajax works and planning. Al of them are PACT direc- tors, and have been so from the begin- ning. Their individual responsibility to know the Official Plan throroughly ex- ists whether or not they have any in- terest in the environment. Section 1 of the Offical Plan is entitl- ed ENVIRONMENT. Clauses 1.2.2 and 1.3.3 refer to studies by Conservation Authorities, and state that these studies of environmentally sensitive areas become an integral part of the region's Official Plan. Under its man- date from the region the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority conducted those studies, in- cluding very specifically the Whitevale area. They are environmen- tal assessments, performed by experts. There are several designated en- vironmen % sPnc' ive areas in or near Whitevale, the most important being No. 98, known as the Whitevale Corridor. This, shows that the water- shed of Duffin Creek completely through the Whitevale community is environmentally sensitive. To locate a landfill site encompassing all of Pi would be a breach of the Durham Region Official Plan, because of its clear danger to the environmentally sensitive area called the Whitevale Corridor. In March I wrote and delivered a brief to Pickering council, including PACT director Morgan. The brief spelled out exactly how citizens in Halton region had successfully prevented a4azAILM Bite by proving a breach of the Halton Region Official Plan. They had first obtained an In- terim Injunction at very little cost. When the injunction was pealed and a hearing for a anent injunction planned, the residents had many months to raise funds to defray the costs of the hearing. Since a landfill site at Pl was a breach of Durham's Official Plan, I expected PACT to take action for an Interim Injunction with the funds it had, in the name of a Whitevale resi- dent. PACT did nothing. On May 23, I spoke to Pickering council, including PACT director Morgan, and explained exactly how the Halton experience was tailor made to stop Pi, citing specifically the MTR Whitevale Corridor. I cited the co t, only a few thousand dollars; the ti e, three weeks for an Interim Injunc 'on, and the fact that I expected obtaining an Interim Injunction against Pl would so embarass the pro- vincial government that Pl would be removed from the table without fur- ther action. This was only one week after Bill Parish has said "The next step is the courts". PACT did nothing. PACT had been in existence for 18 months. PACT founding director Norah Stoner, MPP, was elected on her personal pledge of "NO MORE METRO DUMPS." PACT signs were located everywhere in Ajax and Pickering reading "NO MORE METRO DUMPS." PACT had all those directors who were completely familiar with the regional plan. PACT had Steve Parish, a lawyer, directly on its board. But PACT in all that time and with all the experience of its direc- tors had NEVER looked into the ways and means of actually stopping a dump if the need arose. What does this say about PACT? In my opinion, PACT never intend- ed to STOP Pl or any dump. Pl is useful, and will continue being useful over the years, to attract followers and generate funds. PACT's Legal Agree- ment raised over $100,000, even though it took nearly five months to do so. While PACT talked about floats and bingo and cookbooks as its minutes state, GTA calmly and publicly went ahead with the plans and actions that make any effective legal action to STOP P1 impossible. GTA was well aware of the environmentally sen- sitive areas. GTA designated only a 200-acre site in Pl for landfill, it began test drilling, it pledged sanitary sewer lines to remove for treatment all leachate, it announced transportation routes to awieevale Village, it began archeological studies on the 200-acre site. Every am&4Lth se steps protects the environmentally sensitive areas, and the community, and the aquifers. While PACT watched and critized and yammered, all hope of ef- fective legal action to stop Pi has been removed. If PACT had been ready to act on its own mandate of NO MORE METRO DUMPS in May and June, GTA would have been prevented from taking any of these protective steps by an Interim Injunction. The drill test results would not have been available for a Perma- nent Injunction Hearing. Pl would have been stopped dead. What about the nonsense of Charter of Rights action? There was never a hope. There have already been so many studies of the Whitevale area of an environmental nature that a Hear- ing under the Environmental Protec- tion Act is certainly sufficient. As PACT's own Technical Committee said in this paper on Dec. 20, "North Pickering and in particular the Whitevale area is one of the most studied areas in Durham." Because of PACT's own delay in seeking an Interim Injunction, no In- terim Injunction would be granted. If PACT went after a permanent injunc- tion, the courts would be most unlike- ly to order GTA to stop site prepara- tions during the hearings, again because of PACT's delay in going to court. GTA would argue properly that the matters that would be heard in court were exactly the same matters that would be studied in hearings under the EPA, so that no injunction would follow anyway. I would love to -ee PACT take Pl to court. It would provide two opportunities to observe PACT's total incompetence; once in court and once in the environmental hearings. _ Norah Stoner, MPP, knows all this. She is and has from the beginni2i�been a PACT director. She knows t any legal action against Pl is fu,, She knows that GTA will win in en- vironmental hearings. She is respon- sible with the other PACT directors for failure to act at the proper time. She is responsible for helping to raise the funds that should all be returned to the donors. But Norah Stoner MPP and most of PACT's directors never bothered to sign. and contributing money was left to what PACT chair- man Bill Parish calls " a bunch of ragtag citizens". 100 per cent of the people in Ajax and Pickering are opposed to a landfill site in Whitevale. Yet less than two per cent have ever supported PACT. That's why it took PACT so long to col- lect 1000 signatures for the legal agreements. In preaching to us once again the ut- terly useless words of PACT, and say- ing "It ain't over", Norah Stoner MPP is showing sheer contempt for everyone in our communities. The small numbers who paid their money and signed the legal agreements have good reason not to trust PACT. The 98 per cent who never did trust PACT have had their judgements confirmed. I have always had great reo;�t for the intelligence of people in, _11iom- munities, which they proved by not contributing to PACT. The same in- telligence will be demonstrated by the democratic removal of Norah Stoner MPP from office, at the next election, if not before. Stoner made her defeat inevitable by continuing to support those who call all of us "Ragtag citizens". I am proud to wear the label, so long as it means the end of PACT, and Norah Stoner as MPP. Malcolm E. Harris, Ajax /� • " �` � 12'A February 7, 1990 Dear PACT Supporter: Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment 68 Hills Road, Ajax, Ontario L1 S 2W4 As a person who signed PACT's Agreement to Join the Legal Battle against the Region of Durham's and Metro Toronto's proposed contingency dump at P1 at Whitevale in Pickering, i 1... .. r, .. ._. 1 1"1•-.. ,..t - l r- a k ate_._ n �^. �-. !� LI IC Board of Vi,racto s of —' C i ri;queJis y001 to a —end' PAC l s Fins luai 'enerai Meeting on Wednesday, February 21st 1990 at 7:30 pm in the Pickering Highschool Cafeteria. Pickering Highschool is located on Church Street in Pickering Village just north of Highway #2. At the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors will report to PACT's members about the following: a. PACT's legal activities - past and future. b. PACT's financial position - a statement showing receipts and expenditures to December 31 st, 1989. The ^. rr��lt "iL LIV�t vviiil reSpe�i iu iiit proposed F'i dump at Whitevale. d. Fundraising activities - past and proposed. e. Report of the Nominating Committee for the election of the Board of Directors for 1990. Your attendance at the Annual General Meeting is very important so that PACT is able to report fully to you. PACT is dedicated to keeping Metro and the Greater Toronto Area's (GTA) garbage out of Pickering, Ajax and Durham. Your continued support and commitment to PACT is the major factor that will help prevent Metro an,01 ilia GTA ron—, uJlJli pin g on Pickering and hax. Thank you. See you and your friends on Wednesd y;February 21st at 7:30`'pm at the Pickering Highschool Cafeteria. For information, ca(,683-4577 or 683-2003. Sincerely, Ti,�U P6�--! 1, Bill Parish Chairman, PACT for the Environment -� legion seeks P-1 by Michael Maunder The P1 dump at Whitevale inched another step closer to reality at region council Feb. 7 despite the continued resistance of all Pickering and Ajax councillors. Region council voted 21 to 10 to apply for the necessary approvals for the site. This includes application for environmental consideration of the site under the province's Environmental Protection Act, less stringent than procedures under the Environmental Assessment Act. Premier David Peterson, in a letter to Durham Region council confirmed the P1 site would be evaluated by the ministry under the less stringent statute. This is because it is considered an interim - not permanent - X ly open until 1996. s province, under Premier Peterson, has been a vet` good partner in this proce$s," said Oshawa Councillor John Aker, chairman of region's waste management committee. "He's aware there's a crisis in garbage in the Greater Toronto area." "The premier is a good ally to the region, but a formidable opponent to our town," replied Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs. "Our opposition to this site remains intact." Pickering and Ajax councillors were joined by Whitby Councillor Joseph Drumm, Oshawa's Nancy site 'approvals Diamand and Brian Nicholson, in opposing region's approval for applications to go ahead with the site. Waste chairman Aker indicated the next major step forward will be consideration of the formal P1 agreement with Metro Toronto, to be on the agenda of council's Feb. 21 meeting. "We want to deal with terms of the agreement before we deal with budget," confirmed Region Chairman Gary Herrema. Thank Grits; for P1 dump.' waste boss_ DURHAM - The province got three cheers Wednesday for giv- ins? Durham region the P1 landfill site to dump trash until 1996. At Durharp regional council's meeting, John Aker, chairman of the waste management committee, prais- ed the work of the province in the field of waste management. The province has been a "very good partner" in helping area regions with waste management problems, said Aker. The province "initiated GTA", the Greater Toronto Area authority which is set up to assist regions in common needs, particularly waste disposal. A letter to the region from premier David Peterson is "very clear" in assuring contingency landfill sites will be subject to a hearing under the En- vironmental Protection Act, rather than a full Environmental Assessment Act hearing, said Aker. And the premier gets the "highest marks" for his concise letter, Aker said. Peterson's "aware there's a crisis in garbage." And, Aker reminded coun- cillors, it was the province that gave Durham the land for the Pi landfill site near Whitevale. Council voted 20-10 to allow the PI site to be nominated as a contingency site for Durham and four other regions to use if necessary. All Ajax and Pickering regional ; councillors voted against the motion. j After the vote, Aker said PI discus- sions over the past year have "ex- hausted" him and region chairman Gary Herrema and neither of them have "taken this process lightly.", Me The Stoner Report Norah Stoner, M.P.P. Durham West xe DUMP BATTLE UPDATE There is a famous saying which I think owes its beginning to American Baseball, "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over". It is the thought to hold onto with respect to the proposed Pi landfill site near the village of Whitevale. Although recent newspaper headlines would indicate that the war is over, the truth is it has not yet really begun. Let's talk about where we are to date - what skirmishes have taken place and what battles we have yet to fight. To date Durham Regional Council has rescinded its pre- election resolution to prohibit the creation of another Metro Dump in Durham. It has voted to join with other Metro area Regions and Metro itself to join in a two pronged - "Interim" and "long term" waste management scenario. "Interim" means landfilling within the various regions over the short term - although the garbage would remain in its "interim" burial site forever. "Long term" means all of the Regions jointly exporting their waste somewhere out- side the Greater Toronto Area. It is proposed that the "interim" sites are to be fast track- ed through the shorter Environmental Protection Act pro- cess and that the "long term" sites are to undergo the longer Environmental Assessment Act process. The act looks not only at the specifics of a proposed landfill site, but also at the other options and alternatives which could be considered. This is one of the battles yet to be fought. PACT "Picker- ing Ajax Citizens Together" will be challenging in court the removal of our rights under the Environmental Assessment Act - noting that the Region of Durham's Official Plan states than any new landfill site must be reviewed under the Environmental Assessment Act. I strongly support PACT's position. In this case, "It Ain't Over" means we've not yet had our day in court. The Region of Durham chose the "Pi" site on Altona Road near Whitevale and put it forward as an "interim" site for both Durham and Metro. The site is 800 acres although Durham says it is only going to use 200 acres. Durham has hired MM Dillon to do the investigation of soil and water conditions on the site. Status - Dillon has finished Phase 1 of its study and is starting Phase 11. It has not released its report on Phase 1. "It Ain't Over" in this case means, it is still possible that the site could be found technically unsuitable. Metro and Durham councils have passed resolutions agreeing in principle to put forward "P1" as a joint interim site but they have not signed a legal agreement with respect to the finances of the deal. For years Durham has watched Metro make millions of dollars from its landfill sites in our community. --� Durham council saw "Pl" as its chance to make millions on the Pl site. The millions would come from the commer- cial and industrial wastes which pay the full tipping fee and not from the household or municipal waste which gets a rebate on the tipping fee. When Metro councillors were discussing this recently they were told not to worry about all the money going to Durham because they could send all the municipal waste to Durham. By undercutting Durham's tipping fee they could direct the commercial industrial waste to the Metro owned Vaughan site and still collect full tipping fees. One Metro Toronto councillor, Richard Gilbert, was quoted in the Globe & Mail recently as saying, "Metro got such a good deal that he can't understand why Durham went along with it." In this instance, "it Ain't ever mean uurnam nas no[ yet signed an agreement with Metro and it still has the op portunity to assess its position. Regar �' s of the outcome of the court challeng erred to abo e, the "Environmental Assessment Ac versus the "Environmental Protection Act" will still have a public hearing process. It must be proven that Pi is a suitable landfill site. Metro and Durham have not yet made an application for a hearing. Here "It Ain't Over" means we could well win the battle of the hearing and have the site turned down because of such things as the potential contamination of the aquifer which is the only source of supply of water for many villages and farms, or because of potential damage to the Duffins, Petticoat or Rouge rivers. At the same time as Durham is considering going to bed with Metro again, Durham is also undertaking a study of a "Durham for Durham Only" waste management strategy. There has been very little coverage of this study but it is possible that it will show that Durham would be better off handling its waste within its own boundaries. This is the option which I personally endorse. We should neither import waste (for questionable profit) nor should we export waste to some other community. The people of Pickering - having lived with Metros' Beare Road Site, Brock West Site and Brock North Site know first hand the horrors of living with other peoples garbage and could not in good conscience wish the same on any other community. If we had to live with our own waste we would be highly motivated to ensure that there is as little of it as possible. We would expand the Blue Box recycling program to in- clude plastics and cardboards and make it available to apartments and businesses. We would introduce a two pro- nged composting program that would A) provide bins for garden compost and B) provide a collection service with a large scale composting facility. As consumers we would demand the prohibition of excess packaging, that newspapers be printed on recycled paper, that reuseable items be given priority over disposable ones and that "post consumer -recycled" fine paper be available for use to us in our offices and schools. The phenomenal success of the "Blue Box" program shows that people very much want to do the "right thing". The Atlantic Packaging newspaper deinking plant, being built in Whitby, clearly demonstrates that environmental objectives and business opportunities are profitably linked. A well orchestrated publicity campaign is trying to per- suade you that the Dump is a "done deal". Don't fall for it! Don't assume that the Dump Battle is lost; it has not yet truly begun. "It Ain't Over". Keep up the good fight. % J i THE TORONTO STAR Tuesday, Febmary 20, 1990 C7 olddump,' deals threaten residents sa41\ By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR Pickering and Ajax residents fighting a huge garbage dump planned for their area say they have unearthed two old agree ments that may jeopardize the deal between Metro and Durham Region. The new Whitevale dump deal, already ratified by both councils, Is expected to cost Metro at least $251 million in dumping fees and upfront cash payments. Durham Region is also sup- posed to pay $40 million to buy back from Metro about 400 hec- tares (1,000 acres) of unused land previously slated for dump sites in Pickering and Ajax. But under separate contracts signed up to 20 years ago, Metro was already obligated to Pickering and Durham Region to hand over the lands as of yesterday to the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for recrea- tion purposes, said Isobel Thomp- son, spokeswoman for the Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT). While the recent deal forces Durham to pay the appraised value for the prized properties, Metro was able originally to buy some of the land in the '70s for as little as six cents an acre, accord- ing to agreements dug up from old Pickering council meetings. "It was sold to Metro back then for virtually nothing and the ronfore- pproposes to buy it back now r $40 million. We're being had," Thompson said. PACT feels that such "serious and devastating blunders" occur when major agreements are struck without sufficient study and debate between politicians and the public, the group said in a recent statement. But Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema denied any deals were made 20 years ago or that the land was bought so cheaply. "It's just more garbage and half- truths from PACT," Herrema said in an interview yesterday. "There were no agreements - m" U ID & �&. a ro0 ,, < ��@, - �� �� ova ag t7 CD a�'a w °•°=,w `� �_ o Qna<,=-0 = 5 = 0 � R.pq �wv,'toy0 0 a•"^O Iowa o, a'� O fD v,- 5�j°'o> W CD 0 0;XV w :aa �� o �.-, m CD 'W" o 0� (D 0 o o cCrJ 00 �2)0=afD=Ga ovb �ooR� o5'�,CDr05 M��5� 0 sz �ro� »p �o'�co �Fo=m�0 �Ko coo o�o.,000�<m5 M �C m m C O � o a _ 5 nova �= o va fD O � RCL NO n� o�� 0: ow .� cR � a9 .� io5co ,o ooa m d a�coo5cm�co�� m = v'do .wv,- n 5 o is 5 = xv o S �, M. as o,< ° u o =`< �S •-. o= 5 . m 7� 4 0 5 5 co5� w �sv °'a�w 0 oow�o wycc�s' �aQ �� o 0 oa,ma .1 5a oco 0 0 o yt" m a� Y.M� •< v _ m y 0 �, o o Z. do do. OQ C a o� o v° =. fD o o N Or- !D 0 I M° 5 A -cam '0�coco�°a-ems �wm�'aa".mfDSa�mS�T °5� n^oo 5co".5000a 5 ov0�aiooC7�5 ooe �o x y w _Eros w w 9 =.� p7 Go a rL IQ tt - y lD a A�7 fD O = v, o cco� o � o• 2s a "a IL des w � � � oa -, = co ^M d y 0S o� o= o ry c5ox �o afDa=�xEc�o�c�oO wwbg 0 c�.c%�y� v, o o a� n.a�� is .o�'m 5 0 �C a o�° a. o :or�a n.� Ln a� 0x0 � I.n 2 R, .c c wam ao °5''fl o�5 co 5 m o a m w ' ' o cs M Cn m 0 0 y iD '7 p, 5 co 4 5 rn r� o yccarcav va0 r=no=0 5co omm =`'cso� 'fD SroLy�wcoo�co�omo <0550`00 coa�50� `°m"m `° ��-0oa~ coco�000�� �o �o°EGo 05Mo�a° v°7a�=xca d�IDE.o�c�o°❑�<Mc5o=6 °�� o e� ,00000�,o C7 mono yLyoo�'_v CPE- a�<�C, i3' m oom ooaoaOc�E°�ty `'Fd-=i��-=s oo ''+a�'a "c� 'fDic�oa� owo= �.��, oC7F-•.so-r°aoa0 o.,cer000• o .-p5�" _ ,cow v, � °e=' <� <_.�--vim o=RO�m oava�,R, ece5e�' S'ti7�oo�0 row 0�, o`°o°`nm 5 xC95 O`0cowco�o s' ��'rnoc '__ -5n'°` I=D N�S.� m MF5 �020 0 o cfDo co g i`' S Rom. Eo c �? a oaQ 0. v 5 5 m o -s n= o o o w _. �n < =� a v, °5 <. •O0 .°, �o <cn Cnoc 0. C o = o o .. y— 5 area c o a cC CL E 47 „ Cn M 0 0 = c o ti v� 0�¢ w D'o;�aa m sum .�', 5 z ��� °� = 0Ex o = 0 a ¢ ° 0 o w w5�o"T Db- <Dx❑gin �ooa<�< �N n T k�&n n 0- o S o E� 0 a% `o a�5 o —W (D O 0 o m0° n (p `-rvcc, G. (D O 'O '3 °C O (D f9 = , (D 7 lD .—, fD fD (D (D ^7 - C7 fn << M =, 1< (n fn there were discussions of agree- ments (that never came through)," said Herrema. "It's just more rhetoric." Durham Region wants to get back the land, known as Brock North and Brock South, to ensure 12 million tonnes of Metro gar- bage will not be dumped there as originally planned, Herrema said. The recent agreement would bring 6 million tonnes of trash to the hamlet of Whitevale from 1992 to 1996. The citizens group is urging Durham Region Council to rene- gotiate the parts of the deal eon- cerning the two parcels of ,land and insist Metro turn them over as a "gift," as originally promised. C. CD E 16 Thursday, February 15, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR 4�ftitevale dtimp to get approval in quickest way By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR -_-' To head off the impending gar- bage crisis, the Ontario govern- ment has agreed not to put the proposed Whitevale dump under the intense scrutiny of an Environ- ment Assessment Act hearing. Instead, the interim landfill for Metro and Durham Region gar- bage could be approved in a mat- ter of months under a fast -track environmental hearing, says a staff report from Durham Region council. . The 6 million -tonne site beside the hamlet of Whitevale in north Pickering is planned for use from 1992 to 1996, when the Metro area regions are expected to have a joint, long-term solution. ' In a letter to all the regional chairmen in the .greater Toronto area, Ontario Premier David Peterson promised that all interim sites need only to meet the less -re- strictive requirements of the Envi- ronmental Protection Act. However, the long-term solution for the five regions — including Metro,. Durham, York, Peel and Halton — will be fully subject to an Environmental Assessment Act hearing, Peterson said. Picker 'in Mayor Wayne Ar- thurs said the town's opposition to the dump remains firm and legal action will be taken to stop it. Consulting engineers at M. M. Dillon Ltd., hired by the region to test drill the site, have said docu- mentation to apply for a certificate under the Environmental Protec- tion Act will be ready in June. Arthurs has hinted that would be the ideal time to start the court battle. Preliminary test drilling has re- vealed the site would be suitable for a landfill. - John Aker, chairman of the re- gion's waste management com- mittee, said the premier's promise means the huge dump "will defi- nitely be closed Dec. 31,1996." But Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson said there is no guaran- tee that future councils in Durham won't try to reopen and expand the site once the interim dump is full. We've a choice of To the editor: The lack of specific and logical rebuttals offered to our arguments has been the source of great comfort to PACT over the past few days. It is now appropriate to respond to the damage control efforts put forward by the region in the media. It has been asserted that 50 per cent of all garbage received into the Pl site from Metro will be deemed Industrial, and therefl a profitable. If the State- ment of P neiples stated this, it would be a val' argument. However, it is simply of there. This assertion can- not be substantiated. Mr. Herrema speaks volumes when he says that the worst the region can do is break even. In one small sentence Mr. Herrema has taken a quarter of a billion dollars off his profit projec- tions for the Pi dump. This is signifi- cant. At this point he has come two- thirds of the way to our position. We commend him and urge him to admit the remaining losses are also real. The unfortunate part of Mr. Her- rema's statements is that he does not understand the workings of the agree- ment, and yet he negotiated it! Tipp- ing fees are the market price charg- ed everyone to dump. Various municipalities then receive "kick- backs" (called rebates, or sometimes royalties), leaving a net to apply to cover costs and earn a profit. In the agreement with Metro, this net amount is defined as The Actual Cost of Disposal, and will be approx- imately $9/tonne for Metro's residen- tial garbage. If Durham raises its tipping fees, as Mr. Herre problem, P kick -back. ment nego Metro will losers in Durham to kick -back Herrema is ple of Durl I'Miig m sue area in Me late it": til governor DON'T WAIT FOR SPRING DO IT NOW AIR CONDITIONIN B! Ll,;. F C01 -gym d THE OSHAWA TIMES, Monday, February 19, 1990 The Oshawa�Time� ^- EDITORIALS Do we smell a rat it this garbage deal with Metro? What's going on here? that no profit is in it for the re - Does anyone smell a big rat in gion certainly changes the per - Durham's proposed new gar- plexion of the whole issue. bage dump near Whitevale? In fact, there have now been y February 15, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR You remember this dump; it intimations that Durham tax- is supposed to be the interim payers may even be hit for ex- • dump site for Metro to use until tra money to help pay for the iteva adump 1996, when that elusive perma- dump. That's a far cry from the rent site will have been found early, heady talk of millions in and prepared. "windfall" profits for Durham. This dump was also supposed Either our politicians knew to bring a few dollars — as in a from the start that this was the `et nova few million dollars — into Dur- case, and deliberatly misled ham region, along with all the Durham taxpayers, or else' tonnes and tonnes of garbage something sinister happened • that is going to despoil the pris- between the time of the agree- fulckest Wa ailu the time oiiT icduciJ PROFITS VANISH sat down with Metro leaders to But now word arrives from dot the is and cross the Vs. regional treasurer Jack Gart- DURHAA1 SLICKERS? sa Wright ley that talk of profits from the Either way, Durham resi- NTo STAR Whitevale site is ... well, just dents have every right to be up- the impending gar - garbage. set, and to start asking some ie Ontario govern - Capital costs for developing questions. wed not to put the and running the site, together Questions such as, will tax- tevale dump under with other financial odds and payers here wind up paying the utiny of an Environ- ends, will apparently eat up tab for this "Metro -area" solu- ent Act hearing. those millions of extra dollars tion? And, if so, why? interim landfill for that had been mentioned by the Regional chairman Gary Her- urham Region gar - politicians. rema has some explaining to do approved m a mat - Now, it's true this dump was on this one. ; under a fast -track ►1 hearing, says a agreed to as part of Durham's It's beginning to look as if our om Durham Region share of solving the Metro -area side was taken in by Metro on garbage mess, not as a profit- this one; does the word an -tonne site beside making ente-*prise. But the fact "sucker" come to mind? . Whitevale in north planned for use from 1992 to 1996, when the Metro area regions are expected to have a joint, long-term solution. In a letter to all the regional chairmen in the greater Toronto area, Ontario Premier David Peterson promised that all interim sites need only to meet the less -re- strictive requirements of the Envi- ronmental Protection Act. However, the long-term solution for the five regions — including Metro, Durham, York, Peel and. Halton — will be fully subject to an Environmental Assessment Act hearing, Peterson said. Pickering Mayor Wayne An thurs said the town's opposition to the dump remains firm and legal action will be taken to stop it. Consulting engineers at M. M. Dillon Ltd., hired by the region to test drill the site, have said docu- mentation to apply for a certificate under the Environmental Protec- tion Act will be ready in June. Arthurs has hinted that would be the ideal time to start the court battle. Preliminary test drilling has re- vealed the site would be suitable for a landfill. John Aker, chairman of t e re- II gion's waste management _)m- mittee, said the premier's prom' e means the huge dump "will defi- nitely be closed Dec. 31, 1996." But Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson said there is no guaran- i tee that future councils in Durham i won't try to reopen and expand the site once the interim dump is full. �lllh" g focusing on dump battle By Lisa Wright TORONTOSTAR High -profile Toronto lawyer Moms Manning has told Picker- ing residents they can fight and win against any government that tries to force a garbage dump on them because they're in the right. Toronto's former anti -drug crusader, who quit the post last month after Metro's solicitor blocked his access to police files, has now shifted his focus toward the environment by plotting the legal battle against the Whitevale dump. "I think they're going to win be- cause what the governments (Ontario and Durham Region) have done is wrong. "There have been all kinds of political plays and reasons for choosing this site, and I think the courts will make them go back to the drawing board," Manning said in an interview yesterday. The dump is slated for 6 million tonnes of Metro and Durham gar- bage from 1992 to 1996, The province should especially be held accountable and attempt to reconsider its actions for allow- ing the region to bypass a full hearing under the province's Envi- ronmental Assessment Act for a speedier route of approval, Man- ning said. Whitevale dump opponents have "renewed hope" that their hamlet will be garbage -free now that Manning has reassured them of his interest in the case, said Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering - Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment. Though Manning was retained by the group nearly a year ago, his ob as special drug counsel to oronto threw into doubt his com- mitment to the dump battle. Manning was hired by Toronto City Council September at a fee of $250,000 for an 18-month attack on drugs, but it wasn't meant to be. ,,That other job was a big job and I wr.&_ ' d to devote a lot of time to it," said Manning. "It certainly has cleared my timetable quite a it now (that I'm no longer involved)." His strategy, however, in terms of the timing and legal grounds on which he will fight the province remain top secret. He has hinted the landfill will be fought under the Constitution because the residents of Whitevale are being discriminated against on the basis of where they live. Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the dump infringes on their right to life, liberty and se- curity of the person in their com- munity, said Manning. He Nvill be working on the case with Guelph lawyer Peter Pickfield. P1 deal in jeopardy, PACT tells region] DURHAM - Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) For The Environ- ment says it's found two old agreements that could jeopardize Durham's P1 garbage deal with Metro. While Durham is now negotiating with Metro to buy the Brock North and Brock South sites as part of the Pi agreement, PACT says the old documents mean Metro should turn over Brock North for free and sell Brock South for six cents an acre. "Brock North shoutd be ours for zilch," said PACT chairman Bill Parish at Wednesday's regional coun- cil meeting, where he distributed copies of the old agreements. "It pains me I have to come here and correct blatant inaccuracies." The first agreement dug up by PACT was signed in 1970 between Metro and Pickering. That agreement stated that, once Brock North was finished as a garbage dump, the site would be turned over as a gift to the Metro Toronto and Region Conserva- tion Authority (MTRCA) to be used for recreation purposes. The second agreement, signed in 1978 by Metro, Ajax, Pickering and Durham, allowed Metro to purchase Brock South from Ajax for about six cents an acre, says PACT. Claiming the region is making "serious and devastating blunders" because it has not studied the propos- ed Pi agreement closely, PACT is urg- ing Durham council to re -negotiate those parts of the agreement that deal with Brock North and South. Specifically, PACT wants regional council to insist that Brock North be turned over to the MTRCA for free and to insist that Brock South be sold back to Ajax at six cents an acre. Ajax mayor Jim Witty told Parish the town didn't sell Brock South for six cents an acre. "That (price) didn't take into con- sideration our dumping privileges," said Witty. "As far as I'm concerned, we should look at all the facts and all the facts are not included. The land was not sold for six cents an acre." Regional chairman Gary Herrema said the MRTCA denied it had an agreement with Metro over Brock North. Herrema passed on PACT's documents to the regional solicitor for review. "We'll see who's right in the end," Herrema told Parish. "There may be items in here we don't want to live up to. I don't want Brock North full of gar- bage ... This looks like a garbage agree- ment to me. I have no intention of liv- ing up to some of these (conditions)." R gional council is to review a legal ument based on the deal's state- ment of principles at a special meeting next Wednesday. No delegations will be permitted to speak, said Herrema. P' �y Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment y�R Ot4 Annual General Meeting o Date: Wednesday, February 21 st 1990 - 7:30 pm Place: Pickering Highschool Cafeteria Church Street North, Pickering Village, Ajax, Ontario. 0 AGENDA �- y 1. Call to order and Introductions - Bill Parish_ 2. Chairman's Report Y. 3. Treasurer's Report 4. 5. - Bill Parish. - Paul Middleton. Appointment of Auditor - Paul Middleton. Fund Raising Committee Report - Angelo DiClemente. 6. Legal Committee Report - Steve Parish. 7. Election of 1990 Board of Directors - Pat Brown. Speaker: Lloyd Thomas Topic: The proposed P1 Dump at Whitevale, the GTA and PACT. 9. Your Questions.. a 4 10. Adjournment. I V/V/11 PACT's Board of Directors thanks the people of Pickering and Ajax for their great past support and encouragement. PACT's future success depends on your continued support and encouragement. PACT Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment OBJECTIVES 1. To work to secure a full and comprehensive hearing with respect to the proposed Brock South landfill site under The Environmental Assessment Act so that every element of the environment will be protected and all alternatives studied. 2. To prevent the possible extension of the Brock West landfill site and to make certain that Metropolitan Toronto provides secure protection from any pollution from that site in perpetuity. 3. To present forcefully before the Environmental Assessment Board with the best technical evidence possible P.A.C.T.'s case that the proposed use of Brock South or Brock North as landfill sites is detrimental to the environment of the communities of Ajax and Pickering, the Greenwood Conservation area, Duffins Creek and its valley and, therefore, should never be allowed. 4. To attempt to make Metropolitan Toronto and the Region of Durham more responsible in their methods of waste management and to urge them to take immediate action with respect to all other safe alternatives to landfill. To promote within the Region of Durham a responsible program of solid waste management stressing the "Four R's" - Reduce, Reuse, Recover and Recycle. 5. To urge the Region of Durham to forbid the dumping within Durham of any garbage or solid waste from any Municipality outside of Durham and to require Durham Regional Council to take responsibility for their own safe garbage disposal. 6. To raise the funds necessary to support and achieve these objectives. K PACT Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment Annual General Meeting February 21, 1990 Summary of Receipts & Expenditures for the Period to December 31 st, 1989 RECEIPTS: General Fund Raising General Funds Sales Items Garage Sale Registrations Corporate Sponsors Re: Legal Community Associations Re: Legal Town of Pickering Re: Telephone Total Receipts: EXPENDITURES Legal Fees, Advances and Expenses Public Relations Activities Expenditures on Fund Raising Activities Education Committee Membership Committee Administration Expenses Total Expenditures: 12 Months to Dec 31, 1989: $32, 766.05 6,942.00 9,434.31 38,990.00 23,201.50 2,200.00 0.00 15 Months to Dec 31, 1988: $15,181.87 7,198.20 6,281.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,500.00 113,533.86 30,161.47 14,063.47 5,400.00 1,088.17 2,628.39 16,561.84 6,115.03 0.00 566.80 0.00 98.89 10,199.33 1,802.48 41,912.81 16,611.59 Net Income For Period: 71,621.05 13,549.88 Net Income & Surplus, Beginning of Period: 13,549.88 0.00 Net Income & Surplus, End of Period: $85,170.93 $13,549.88 CASH AT BANK, Represented by: Mortgage 30-day Certificate 66,895.48 30-day Short Term Deposit 5,153.79 Current Bank Account 13,121.66 Total Cash at Bank: $85,170.93 Note: The above covers only those items affecting cash or payments made for which a waiver of reimbursement has been agreed. It excludes many items given on which no value has been placed, such as billboards and the Fire Hall/Notion Road facility by the Town of Ajax. K PACT Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment Current Board Members and their positions: Sandy Aivaliotis Member of the Technical/Medical Committee Pat Brown Chairperson, Board Development Committee Angelo DiClemente Chairperson, Fund Raising Committee Margaret Egoroff Audrey Groff Doug Groff Katrena Halliday Richard Jones Paul Middleton Bill Parish Steve Parish Nancy Rose David Strain Lloyd Thomas Isobel Thompson Jim Wiseman Pat Clark Beverley Morgan Rene Soetens Donna Carl Norah Stoner Marion Thomas Chairperson, Ajax Neighbourhoods Committee r Chairperson, Pickering Neighbourhoods Committee ,7 Member of the Technical/Medical Committee Chairperson, Council's Liaison Committee Alternate Chairperson, Publicity Committee Treasurer and Chairperson, Financial Committee Pro-Tem Chairman Ch-airnarcron Legal Cornmittc�e Secretary Member of Technical/Medical Committee Chairperson, Technical/Medical Committee Chairperson, Publicity Committee Vice -Chairman, Chairperson of Political Lobby and Education Committees Representative of the Town of Ajax Representative of the Town of Pickering M.P. Rene Soetens' Representative M.P.P. Norah Stoner's Representative Ell Charter challenge on P1 dump planned FROM PAGE 1 ning did say he would be using the Charter of Rights to fight the Pl landfill. "The charter not only protects in- dividuals, but also groups who have been discriminated against," he said. "Governments must learn to toe the line and live up to the letter of the laws they passed. When the system falls down and politicians give in to consti- tuents and don't live up to the letter of the law, there is a recourse and it's the courts. They don't have constituents," he said. Manning added, "The courts deal in principals in a way different than politicians." Pickfield, who works for the firm of Garrod and Associates, recently won a case in Tiny Township that is similar to PACT's. He will be focusing on en- vironmental aspects related to the fight, including a possible bypassing of an Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) hearing. (in a deal between Metro TOonto and Durham region, the two parties world seek a scoped Environmental Protection Act (EPA) hearing. A scoped EPA is both shorter and less stringent thanfa full EAA hearing.-) The new board of PACT includes Bill and Steve Parish, Sandy Aivaliotis, Pat Brown, Angelo DiClemente, Margaret. Egoroff, Audrey Groff, Doug Groff, Katrena Halliday, Paul Middleton, Nancy Rose, Lloyd Thomas, Jim Wiseman, Celia Bronkhorst, Mike Heck, Camille Jacques -Carr and Mark Reesor. PACT has $85,000 for fight AJAX-PICKERING - PACT has more than $85,000 in its war chest to fight the proposed I'll dump near Whitevale. At the annual general meeting of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT) on Wednesday night, the group releas- ed its financial statement. The group had $113,533.86 in receipts last year and expenses of $41,912.81. PACT had $13,549.88 in the bank at the beginning of 1989, giving it group a total of $85,170.93. During the group's drive last year to have 1,000 residents sign up for its pending legal fight, $38,990 was raised. Another $23,201.50 was raised through corporate sponsor- ships, while $2,20o was raised through donations from communi- ty associations. All the money, which totalled $64,391.50, raised by the sign-ups, corporate sponsorships and com- munity association donations will be used to pay for legal expenses, says Bill Parish, PACT's chairman. "All the money raised will go to a legal fight. The lawyers will eat up a lot. They may want us to hire some technical people to do some work," says Parish. PACT has retained Morris Man- ning and Garrod Associates, a Guelph -based firm that specializes in environmental cases, to handle its legal fight. During the meeting, Manning said he'll use the Charter of Rights in an effort to stop the P1 landfill, near Whitevale, from opening. So far, PACT has paid $14,063.47 in legal fees, advances and expenses. The group had hoped to collect at least $ioo,000 during its sign-up drive last year, but Parish says, "We found a lot of people couldn't afford $100. Some gave less." Once PACT begins its court challenge, people will contribute more money, Parish believes. Critic charges PACT has f ai�d By KEITH UILLIUAA Ajax Reporter AJAX-PICKERING - PACT's an- nual general meeting was a rather tame affair until Mac Harris showed up. Harris, one of the group's strongest critics, used the Wednesday night meeting to level several charges against the direction and operation of the Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT). "Where's the legal action? PACT has never succeeded in what it said it was going to do," he said. Last year, PACT signed up more than 1,000 Ajax and Pickering residents to legal documents to join it in a legal challenge to stop the propos- eu ri iaiiuuu ivi ...,.L �u "You people had the opportunity to stop PI and you chose not to," Harris claimed. Harris has written several letters, many published in the News Adver- tiser, in which he charged PACT was being dishonest about its intentions. "PACT has been talking, raising funds, but it's never done anything," he said. Harris added it wasn't until PACT began collecting names last June that the group made any steps towards stopping a landfill. Harris also charged that Bill Parish, PACT's chairman, has threatened to sue him for statements Harris has made in some of his letters. Parish dismissed the charge, saying Ajax & Pickering Before Harris addressed the meeting, PACT elected a new slate of directors, the audience heard from Morris Manning and Peter Pickfield, the group's lawyers, and was given an update on the landfill fight. Neither Manning, Pickfield or Steve Parish, chairman of PACT's legal committee, would be specific on when or on what terms the groups would take legal action. "You don't tell your enemy you're going over the hill with 12 muskets at three in the morning. You just go over the hill and bomb him out," Manning said. While he wouldn't be specific, Man - See CHARTER... Page 3 A Metroland Con 50 CENTS _ VOL._ZNO. 8 SUNDAY, FEB. 25, 1990 FHE OSHAWA TIMES, Saturday, February 24, 1990 3 Editor: Gerry Rose — 723-3474 ■ Reju on should g at P1 dnext week By Christy Chase Oshawa Times staff A garbage agreement between Durham Region and Metro Toronto could come before regional council in a special meeting next week. Regional chairman Gary Herrema said the detailed, bilateral legal ag- reement concerning use of Durham's proposed Pi dump in Pickering could be ready for council review Feb. 28. In a statement of principles ap- proved by both sides earlier this year, Durham agreed to provide Metro with room for 4.6-million tonnes of garbage in the site between 1992 and 1996 in exchange for $41 million im- mediately, room for its garbage in Metro facilities until 1992, the change to buy back two chunks of land in Ajax and Pickering that Metro bought years ago for dumps. Durham expects to make another $251 million in tipping fees from the dump which has yet to go through the environmental approval process. Un- der the agreement, Metro would get rebates on dumping fees for half the waste deposited at P1, near White - vale. Herrema told councillors they'd be given 24 hours notice of a special meeting to deal with the agreement. When Durham approved the statement of principles, council de- manded the agreement containing the statement be brought back before them for final review and approval. Meanwhile, the agreement and Durham's financial analysis came in for more questioning this week. Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering and Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment, asked why Durham would buy the Brock North and South sites from Metro for appraised value when old agreements call for them to be handed over to Metro Toronto Re- gion Conservation Authority for rec- reational purposes after the sites are finished. Herrema said he'd have regional lawyers check on this although he in- dicated MTRCA has no trace of this agreement. Oshawa councillor Nancy Diamond asked for a balance sheet on the is- sue, saying she wants to know the projected revenue and expenses be- fore she votes. "We are getting a chapter here and a chapter there," she said, asking for the full r icture. Iry Farrell, another Oshawa coun- cillor,lasked if he would get a staff rEL port on his suggestion of a "take it or pay" guarantee from Metro. He wants top see Metro guarantee to pay for dumping 4.6 million tonnes of waste in Pi even if it doesn't bring the full amount out here. And Ajax's Pat Clark asked about royalties to the province which owns the land and has indicated it doesn't want to sell it. Finance commissioner Jack Gart- ley said council has had the full bal- ance sheet on the agreement from the beginning. He said staff estimates show the region bringing in more than $671 million in total revenues from the dump in tipping fees. Oper- ating costs and debt repayment, in- cluding the $25-million cost of design- ing and building the dump, amount to close to $260 million, he said. With rebate to Durham's area mu- nicipalities and Metro, the net reve- nue will be $210 million, he said. He added this is all based on current tip- ping fees of $83.33 per tonne plug od est six -per -cent annual inelp es. The net revenue would be higher if higher fees are charged, he said, add ing Metro is increasing its rates to close to $100 a tonne in May, an in- crease of 17 per cent. Last week, Gartley said capital costs, which could be financed through the region's garbage reserve fund, into which the tipping fees would go, amounted to an estimated $225 million. These include $25 million to build th � — 25 million to close it, wa- ter for nearby Chem -wand Whitevale, $15 for improvements to local roads, $20 million for the pur- chase of Brock North and South, the two sites owned by Metro, along with $90 million for Durham's waste re- duction programs and its search for its own long-term dump site. All these projects, which Durham council would have to approve before the money could be spent from the re- serve fund, would be covered v tip- ping fees, Gartley said. (A sto v in the Oshawa Times on Feb. 14 quo`ed him incorrectly as saying the $ 5 million wouldn't be covered by the . fees.) He said that even after paying for the projects, there will still be sub- stantial money left in the reserve. fund. Harrell was told by Herrema to check out the agreement when it ; comes before council. He said that while the phrase "take it or pay" isn't* . in the document, there are several areas that will interest Harrell. Herrema also said royalties to the province, which haven't been dis- cussed formally yet, could amount to; $18 million over the five years. He said the province wants to own the land and have ultimate control over the site. Meanwhile he and waste manage- ment chairman John Aker defended the agreement. Herrema said it pro- vides Durham with place for its gar- bage immediately since Brock West, Metro's dump in Pickering, will be full later this year. Aker said the deal means "lucra- tive revenue" for Durham. "It is a lucrative deal for us. This is the best thing that's ever gone down here." In a waste management and fi- nance committees meeting held be- fore council, finance chairman Don Hadden said that if Durham dce n't go with P1, it could end up shippi g its garbage to the United States r Montreal at a cost of $30 million year. hitevale c By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR Preliminary tests show the Whitevale area is not suitable for a dump, despite what Durham Re- ron politicians have led the pub- lic to believe, a Royal Ontario Mu- geum geologist says. A technical report from an inde- pendent firm of consulting engi- neers does not support the conten- tion of Durham officials that the soil drilling has only shown posi- tive results, said Sydney Lumbers, the museum's curator of geology. "There's nothing in that report to back it up," he said in an inter- view yesterday. Lumbers finally obtained the de- tailed report of the first phase of testing by M.M. Dillon Ltd. over the weekend after months of re- quests. Though he lives in Pickering, Lumbers denied he has a direct interest in the choice of this site. "I just don't like poor decisions being made on our environment," he said. Ken Donnelly, Durham's solid waste operations manager, said everyone is entitled to their opin- ion but "we're already dealing with experts." PCs to tour proposed park, dump By Lisa Wright FORONTO STAR Members of Ontario's Progres- sive Conservative caucus will tour the Rouge River Valley and the proposed dump site near the vil- lage of Whitevale tomorrow. PC leader Andy Brandt and most of the 16 MPPs also plan to see the location of the proposed subway station on Sheppard Ave. between Victoria Park Ave. and Highway 404. . After a brief discussion with North Yo"k politicians, the caucus will meet representatives of Save the Roug Valley System to tour land the group wants preserved as a provincial park. Residents of Whitevale, a village south of Highway 7 and west of Brock Rd. on Metro's northeast- ern doorstep, will lead a tour of the proposed dump on prime farmland. The villagers are battling a proposal to dump six million met- ric tonnes of Metro trash from 1992 to 1996 near the Durham Re- gion community. The provincial Conservatives chose Scarborough and Durham for the tour because they are par- ticularly interested in the environ- ment, said Sarah Lawman, spokesman for Brandt's office. "It's a good opportunity for our caucus members from outside Metro to see some of the issues that affect the area," Lawman said yesterday. The time to develop party poli- cies is before the legislature re- sumes March 19 and the PCs hold their leadership race May 12, she added. Whitevale residents are happy provincial politicians are interest- ed in their fight against the dump, said Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Resi- dents' Association. "If they actually see it, maybe they'll be able to understand why we're fighting so hard to save it," Thomas said. Though the Tories are not in power in Ontario, they can still raise the residents' concerns in Queen's Park and lobby for change, Lawman said. 1 l lv u iney power a Ontario, -- , concerns in raise the residents Queen's Park said lobby for change, La`s However, the engineers will be made aware of the criticism and look into it further, he said. Lumbers found the data does not prove that the glacial till lining the dump will prevent the leakage of leachate into the underlying water tables, which could eventu- ally contaminate residents' drink- ing water. The calcium carbonate found in the 55-metre-thick (180.5 feet) till below the site will not be able to protect the water system from exposure to dangerous toxins, he added. "They shouldn't be putting land- fill sites in areas like this. It does- n't take a genius to know you shouldn't put garbage dumps near water," Lumbers said. The site is slated for 6 million metric tonnes of Metro and Dur- ham Region garbage from 1992 to 1996. Two more phases of soil testing must be submitted to the province's environment ministry for final approval. Durham Region should start looking at alternative sites rather than spending millions of dollars studying this one, Lumbers said. A new, detailed study f how the dump will affect regio al and town aquifers directly be w the site should also be done medi- ately to ensure resident. ' safety, he added. sites ately to ensure residents t-1-it he added. XWh itevale & District Residents Association P1 DUMP SITE UPDATE - MARCH 1990 Well, our January newsletter sent out the message that we were still very much alive. Now we are pleased to report that we are more alive than ever. The Metro -Durham money deal is still not settled, having been thoroughly unsettled by our P.A.C.T. financial team. Herrema will try again to push this through Regional Council on March 21 or 22 - - if nothing else happens before then. Evidence mounts every day that from the geological and hydrogeological points of view, P1 is an outrageous choice for siting a landfill. Stories about this have appeared in the Toronto and local newspapers, and there'll be more. May we remind you how important it is not to cooperate with Dillon in their Social Impact Assessment. Ms. Mary Simpson, from the Institute of Environmental Research (IER), a firm subcontracted by Dillon to do this assessment, will be sending out questionnaires. Please do not return these questionnaires under any circumstances. Our lawyers have emphasized that these people must be regarded as the enemy, and if we cooperate in any way, we signal acceptance of P1. Those who were able to attend P.A.C.T.'s February 21 meeting heard Toronto lawyer Morris Manning deliver his preliminary challenge to those politicians who would deprive citizens of what is theirs under the Constitution. With this widely known legal expert on our side, we may witness an attack on the very core of the problem, and it will be an effective attack. We repeat one of Mr. Manning's closing remarks: WE'LL WIN BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT! Lloyd Thomas, President Whitevale and District Residents Association 294-1978 P.S. Don't forget we are holding monthly update meetings in the Whitevale Community Centre at 8 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month (March 8, April 12 etc.). You're invited to attend. Tory leadership hopeful backs tough P1 hearing, wants `serious changes' in education, health care By KEITH GILLIGAN Ajax Reporter AJAX-PICKERING - One of the can- didates in the provincial Progressive Conservative leadership race says she would support a full Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) hearing for the proposed P1 landfill near Whitevale. "Local residents have to live with the end result. I'll support what they want always," says Dianne Cunn- ingham. "If (the residents) agree to a shortened process, I'll support them." Metro Toronto and Durham region have indicated they would seek a scoped Environmental Protection Act hearing, which is both shorter and less stringent than a full EAA hearing. Cunningham was in Pickering on Monday, meeting with the Ajax - Pickering Board of Trade. She's one of two candidates running for the leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservative party. She and her opponent, Mike Harris, toured Durham region on Monday. During an interview, Cunningham defended her lack of experience as an MPP, saying that spending time in the provincial legislature doesn't train a person to be the leader of a party. "If 15 years in Queen's Park develops leaders ' e David Peterson, then I'm glad I ha n't been there that long. It's a simpl as that," she says. "If people don't now me, I suggest they go back and ind out if they knew who David Peterson was after two years at Queen's Park." She's been an MPP for two years, having won a byelection for the riding of London North in March, 1988. Before being elected an MPP, Cunn- ingham served from 1973 to 1986 as a school board trustee in London. Cunningham also slammed the Liberal government for its policies and direction. "I don't see any good vision of where the province should go. There isn't a recognition of the serious changes we need in education and health care. We're looking for better management. We have some tough decisions to make on what we can afford," Cunningham says. She adds, "Someone has to be deter- mined to get the province back on track. This government hasn't paid one penny to get a $40-billion debt down in booming economic times." During the five years the Liberal government has been in power in On- tario, it's added or increased 32 forms of taxation, including an increase in per capita tax to $3,300 from $1,600, she says. "The key is there is no improve- ment in program delivery," Cunn- ingham charges. The provincial government has hired 7,000 civil servants over the past five years, she says, while the federal government has cut 15,000. The Liberal government spent $11 million on a report on insurance and Cunningham says nothing from the report was implemented. "The money is going to more civil servants and not to the front lines. The civil servants are pumping out reports and pushing paper," says Cunningham. Although the Liberal government, and particularly Peterson, remain popular in polls, Cunningham says support for the government is slipping. "The groups I'm asked to speak to are interest groups, such as nurses, physiotherapists and counsellors, and people are upset. There's a feeling of unrest," she says. Not listening to the electorate can be harmful to a party, she says. "Our party is no shining example. We weren't listening," Cunningham says. "Peterson didn't win the last election (held in September of 1987), we lost it by not being in touch with the public, by not communicating with the public." Cunningham and Harris will be at- tending a Durham West PC Associa- tion fund-raiser tonight, March 7, at the Old Liverpool House, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. For more information on the fund- raiser, call 427-7888 or 286-9458. l� l i ,J — _ _�._.....u.b�.. whose letter on Feb. 4 appears to con- tain political overtones. Airports, freeways, power stations, water treatment plants, etc. must all go through a five-year Environmental Assessment Act. So do landfill sites. But not in the Greater Toronto Area, Karl. Oh, but we have a crisis in this huge region; site approvals have to fast -tracked. What kind of govern- ments do we have in Durham and Metro, sir?' Durham politicians are running scared. Because of P.A.C.T., Gary 'Ierrema fears us otherwise he'd ig- iore it. Three times now, regional council has scurried back to the polish- ed desks to review the financial deal .+...., v a.a. W11V ALUUMU Ule llgul-eJ, the same person who, along with P.A.C.T. member Jim Wiseman travelled throughout Durham with a special educational presentation on the 411's. Unfortunately most residents do not understand many of the waste issue proceedings which have con- tinued for the last two decades. Con- trary to some opinions, some P.A.C.T. members have attended conferences faithfully. Political hay has been reaped for nearly as long and will probably con- tinue for a while yet. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, waste management is, by and large, a political problem. At least half of Metro's politicians don't participate O A [fin roRf�D `J'"" r% mil+ Cn �.Ncw•tiZ.g.11-.M�� eo r o •-R o t7 �^�� NiCD � c'e Qao�d° > — <�e ° M Cn c `D 'v C2 coo CD o � boo . ID n `� Y 0 NMI �N ID 0 co o m CD CDCrQ O �, n `- g b w: .n n d oy.. cE.='cfDn o0 pZ r_ ofD 5°'ma�❑ m �� -o ce 1D o �� R CD sutZ- (nCn= �'mo�: 3 c.w v o 0-1 rA x �o. " A� 7C' O •'7' N y' R7 OC " CD as ' my0� a"" Cnn a vo `CD '' CD a a'En o m CD CD Q. C R �•�—�Z. V aQ N !D posung program aespite an the jaw- not applicable to P1 since the wagging and lip service rendered. Whitevale dump is not officially on SWEAP (Solid Waste Environmental . paper. However, if Karl, Roger, and Assessment Plan) spends 50 per cent Mac want to proceed they have my of its time implementing ideas into ac- blessing. tual visible progress because of the As far as the P.L.C. meeting at the hindrance of paper shuffling Kahn Auction barn is concerned, I bureaucracy. The P.L.C. (Durham's agree with mayor Arthur's statement Public Liason Committee) which is that "It was like a home show, like based upon public openess and par- checking out vacuum cleaners and hot ticipation cannot be infiltrated; this is tubs." Sure we'll get a ski slope just a contradiction of terms. like the one at Beare Road or the one The injunction Karl refers to in 'at Brock West, the Cadillac design. Halton is the work of St. Mary's Ce- Wake up, Karl! ment Ltd. which is attempting to Norah Stoner is not a miracle lady. secure a site for its own purposes. An Councillor Rick Johnson told me that IF .................... 1.1 ... 1.1 ..... .............................................. true. Too bad that our dynamic leader and his buddies like Gardiner Church passed her over along with the sacred EAA provisions. The democratic pro- cess is in a crisis not unqke garbage. It would seem to me, IlVrl, that you have taken a considerabjjji amount of time and energy to expresyour ideas in our local paper. Take my advice and steer clear of the politics of garbage. Frank Threlke d Jr. Pic!q..1ng EDITOR'S NOTE: The ".C. meeting at the Kahn Auctionarn" was in fact a Pi Open House, not related to the PLC. "itevale taxes should fall It's time to pay taxes and taxpayers Another route is across Steeles Ave. and should consider this. up the Townline. If they feel the value of their property has dropped because of such threats as a dump The final routes are across Highway 7 from the west through Markham and in Whitevale, they should appeal their assessments. Locust Hill and from the east through Brougham and Green River and down the We must pay our taxes but we can appeal Townline. our assessment; this is our right as citizens of Ontario. Originally, the deal for the P1 site was gi y In Whitevale, we have had estimates of property devaluation from a low of $50,000 per house to as high as 40 per cent of its value, merely with the threat of a dump. People who live on a garbage truck route may also be affected. One suggested route is from Highway 401 up White's Rd. to Finch Ave. and across to Altpna Rd. Trucks cpuld also come up Altona from Highway 2. . '►}.1 �; M 4 V X. i 'fig r,e. HS.. + between Metro and Durham. Now Durham is looking at making more money by offering the site to all five regions in the Greater Toronto Area. That will mean that instead of 800 garbage trucks a day, there will be more than 1,200 garbage trucks a day, plus dump trucks carrying clay -cover material. LLOYD THOMAS Whitevale Vnar Ing Whitevale visit ✓' ��o Conservid3tives make call for -full _JEAAA hearwing on dump By JUDI BOBBITT for the express purpose of preserving — you've got to say to your friends, `It's Pickering Reporter the area. us today, but it may be you tomor- WHITEVALE - A call for a full a n- "Frankly, to see anyone suggest a row."' vironmental assessment of the props. 6- �d P1 dump site and criticism of loc al highway, development or a dump (in the Rouge Valley) is just absolutely In an interview following Brandt's MPP Norah Stoner highlighted a vie pit asinine," he said. address, PC leadership candidate oy the Ontario Progressive Conse r- He congratulated residents for their Mike Harris denied the Tories are just vative caucus to the historic hamlet i of efforts in fighting for the environment looking for votes by supporting Nlutevale Wednesday. and invited them to submit further in- Whitevale residents. Members of caucus toured tl to put and suggestions. "It's politically easy to say we sup- itouge Valley before slopping , at PC environment critic Margaret port the community, but the longer Whitevale's community centre, whe: re Marland cautioned residents that term implication is -- we will support they were met by residents, sever al Stoner should get more involved in the a dump somewhere, but the EAA will local politicians and the press. Pi issue_ be brought in. We must follow that." PC interim leader Andy Bran( It, "You have to impress upon her that Harris also said that, if rumors that calling the excursion a "learning a x- it's her job to represent your con- Peterson will call an election in the fall pedition" for members of caucL IS, cerns," she said. "If your local are true, "It's a possibility I'll be stressed the need to have Pi evaluate ed member (of provincial parliament) premier within six months. Then, we'll under the Environmental Assessme nt doesn't get involved, all we're going to have the power to restore fairness and Act (EAA). be able to say about her later is that balance in environmental issues." Liberal premier David Peterson is she's a very nice lady." In the meantime, said Harris, the allowing the site to be scrutiniz( !d Marland also called Peterson's PC government will "point out where under the less -stringent Environme n- allowing an EPA assessment "a giant the (Liberal) government is going Lai Protection Act. step backward. Every person in On- wrong, embarrass them and hold the "If you took a vote on caucus, you 'd tario should be conePrned about that government accountable." find we'd be in opposition (to PI) at t he moment," said Brandt. "In fairness to the government, however, our positi, on is no short cuts; we must have a fi All EAA so if, in fact, the site is develop ed we can be assured there isn't a n- vironmental degradation." Ile drew applause from residen is ,when he added, "Please keep us i n- forrned; we'll monitor things careft il- ly and fight, at the very least, for t in Brandt also criticized the provincial government for cc ment in the enviro. Rouge Valley. He s. ment had purchas( Environmentalist criticizes fine By Philip Mascoll TORONTO STAR The $12,500 fine slapped on etro Council over a near -fatal rilethane gas blast at a Pickering gga�rrbbage dump is a joke, an envt- ,fonmental watchdog group says. / But the employee who was dis- figured in the blast — he is now back at work in his old job — says he is satisfied "justice has been served." Gary McGowan, 29, of Mount - land Drive in Scarborough, suffer- ed lung damage and first -degree burns to his arms and face when the weigh station building he was working w dpped apart by the explosion. "They have taken up the slack as far as safety is concerned. They have installed alarm systems and taken all the precautions," McGowan says. Metro was charged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for the February, 1988, explo- sion at the Brock West dump site. After Metro pleaded guilty last December, a fine was unposed two weeks ago in Oshawa Provin- cial Court. "A fine of $12,000 to Metro is like a $12 fine to me," says Bill Parrish of Pickering Ajax Citizens Together (PACT), a group formed to lobby on environmental issues. "The fine was far too light," he says. "Especially in a situation where a human life was endanger- ed." Methane, a colorless, odorless, highly explosive gas, is produced by decomposition. It usually rises through the ground and dissipates harmlessly, unless it becomes trapped in an enclosed area. At the time of the explosion the building's vents had been blocked by piles of snow, Angelos Baco- poulas, the senior engineer at the site, says A labor ministry investigation found the gas exploded when McGowan lit a cigarette. McGowan, who has a young daughter, spent weeks in hospital and nearly a year in physical and occupational therapy. He wears protective clothing while on the job and works two eight -hour shifts and four three- hour shifts per week _ Liberals attacked on By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR Ontario PC interim leader Andy Brandt and a dozen caucus mem- bers came face to face with the battle to save the Rouge River Val- ley and Whitevale farmland — the hard way. The Tory politicians hiked through snowy trails in sub -zero weather last week for an on -foot tour of the Scarborough valley and the proposed Whitevale dump site to see up close what's at stake. They used the occasion to slam Premier David Peterson's Liberals for dragging their feet on preserv- ing the Rouge as a provincial park. The Ontario government should Rouge at least match Ottawa's pledge of $10 million to show its commit- ment to the environment, Brandt says. "This area should be sacrosanct from any kinds of intrusions. The preservation of this irreplaceable land is absolutely critical." The province "has not cont ib- uted one dime yet" to show its support, despite the fact it backed a resolution last fall to designate 4,330 hectares (10,700 acres) of the Rouge as a heritage park, the Tory leader notes. "It's a natural wildlife treasure. We shouldn't have to fight so hard to protect the environment," says Glenn DeBaeremaeker, a member of Save the Rouge Valley. To make matters worse, mem- bers of the PC caucus and Save the Rouge said they've heard a rumor that Peterson's government will make an announcement in the next few weeks that will partially back down on the park proposal. The Liberals might designate only the Rouge land within Metro for the heritage park but hold off on the valley lands north of Steeles Ave. to Stouffville to con- sider them for development, says Mississauga South MPP Margaret Marland. "It's like cutting a body in half. How can the bottom live without the top? It's just terrible," says Margaret Marland, PC environ- ment critic. The Rouge has been threatened in recent years by a Metro �ar- bage dump, a major 10-lane high- way and a subdivision of estate homes. Brandt, former environment minister for two years during the Ontario Tory reign, told Whitevale residents there should be no short-cuts under the environmen- tal assessment process as promised by Peterson. If it were given the exhaustive environmental hearing it deserves, "this site would be rejected — I'm confident." Brandt told a rh-4— * THE TORONTO STAR Tuesday, Ma, .,FT��uuv-rT - Mississauga allows dump to stay open a year longedBy Mike Funston Faced with a crisis over what to do with its garbage, Mississauga plans to allow a landfill site that was supposed to close this spring to remain open for up to one more year. The city's planning committee voted unanimously last night to support a request from Peel Re- gion, which has responsibility for waste disposal, to fill the Brittania Rd. dump to its maximum capaci- tyThat should occur by June, 1991, at the latest, Peel's works commissioner Don Markle told the committee. Under an agreement the city made with the region in 1977, the landfill was supposed to close on May 31 of this year and the gar- bage was to be dumped at a new landfill in Brampton. But even if it receives environ- mental approval, that site won't be ready until Jan. 1, 1992 at the earliest, Markle said. So local politicians had two choices — truck the garbage to a site outside Peel at a cost of $90 million a year — about $600 for each Mississauga household, in Markle's estimate, or extend the life of Brittania. 'We're bailing out the region and bailing out Brampton," said Mayor Hazel McCallion, who is furious with the other govern- ments over delays in selecting the new landfill site. The committee's decision is sub- ject to final approval of city coun- cil, and is contingent on a number of conditions being met by region- al council, which must: ❑ Agree not to request that the boundaries of the dump be further expanded after it is filled to the original design contours. ❑ Assume responsibility for any legal liability arising from the decision. ❑ Agree that after Brittania closes, it can't be used as transfer station for any garbage that might be trucked outside the region. ❑ Compensate about eight home- owners near thP_�tfip who will be adversely affected by its contin- ued operation. There will still be a period be- tween the time Brittania closes and the new landfill opens when garbage will have to be trucked outside the region at great cost, Markle said. PI land in north Pickering hasn't yet been ruled out for a long-term landfill. The meeting, hosted by the region's Public Liason Committee (PLC) and MacLaren Engineers, was the lat t in a series to keep citizens 4dated on the site selec- tion rZocess for a Durham -only, long-term garbage dump. Currently at step two in a four - step process, MacLaren Wednes- •IaIsrrr- the study progresses. But PI is not on the initial list of areas deemed unsuitable, said Lindley, because it doesn't meet criteria used in the preliminary screening. Residents reacted with anger. "It stands to reason this is an ex- ercise in futility to look at other sites," said Whitevale resident Isobel Thompson. "We're not all stupid." •[Iloilo two reasons why Pi can't be used as a long-term garbage site. the PLC in the preliminary screen - "If it doesn't become an interim ing to identify unsuitable areas in - clude: sand/gravel deposits; s'te. a province will withdraw the lan%. Secondly, the GTA (Greater bog and swamp deposits; aquifers pro- ronto Authority) said any site nominated ducing more than 50 gallons per minute; designated urban (for a short-term dump) would not become a long-term site. areas; Indian reserves; floodplains; pro - You're going to have to take it off." vincial parks, conservation areas and forests; But after the meeting, Thomas said all Whitevale residents designated environmentally -sensitive areas, are worried that Pi will be expanded into wetlands and wildlife habitat. "The next round a long-term solution for the region's garbage crisis "because of screening could rule out other communities," there's so much land there. Once said Lindley. MacLaren the damage is done, there's no reason Engineers and the PLC will next identify not to keep on doing that." Criteria used by MacLaren candidate sites and waste management op - and See REGION ... Page 5 At her suggestion that P1 will be used for a long-term dump, Lindley replied, "We haven't said that." Thompson quickly retorted, "Oh yes you are ... it would save a lot of work in the long run." f Others expressed anger that Pickering is being considered at all for another landfill site. Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents Association, told Lindley there are FROM PAGE 1 tions. By this summer, they'll be conducting field work on candidate sites and will identify a preferred site in September. A final deci ion is expected to be made on a sire in November. Regional council has yet to decide if it will use a Durham -only waste management master plan. Regional officials are also in- vestigating a joint plan with neighboring regions. But regional councillor Doug Dickerson told residents at Wednesday's meeting the region won't overrule MacLaren's recommendations. "We've agreed to keep our hands out of the PLC and the recommen- dations," he said. "There will It no site selection by the reg on; whatever they come forward ith is what we're going with." ...GAwFologist � claims high pollution risk =i t By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - A local geologist is refuting the region's claim that preliminary testing on P1 shows it's suitable for a garbage dump. In fact, locating a garbage dump on the P1 site could pollute major streams flowing through Pickering and Ajax, says Dr. Sydney Lumbers, curator of geology at the Royal On- tario Museum and a Pickering resident. Lumbers says preliminary testing on P1 shows the site "has the potential to cause serious pollution of water resources." Lumbers drew his conclu- sions after reviewing data provided by Dillon Consultants and sent a letter outlining his concerns to the region. Dillon, hired by the region, is currently conducting Phase 2 of testing on Pl. Lumbers, after reviewing Phase 1 results, says evidence shows Halton till on P1 is permeable, posing a "high risk" that leachate would escape and contaminate aquifers below the till. Lumbers says there's both lateral and vertical waterflow through the till and underlying aquifers are charged with rain water. "That throws some suspicion on the permeability of the till," he says. Leachate will also dissolve limestone located in the till, further increasing its permeability, he adds. "There is no technical way we can be absolutely sure the leachate won't hit the aquifiers," says Lumbers. "(Landfill) liners are not 100 per cent effective." Although Lumbers is a resident of Pickering, he denies having a personal stake in the Pi decision. "My main concern is the degrada- tion of the environment. I don't care if it's Pickering or where it is. It should be a concern to anybody. Lake Ontario is becoming more polluted -- where are our alternatives for water?" While he concedes Phase 2 will "add much -needed data to further assess the P1 site", Lumbers adds, "They don't indicate in Phase 2 they're going to study the (limestone deposits in) the till or why the till is weathered (decomposed in the top layers). These are critical factors," v o m caw' m c� �b o u 3� u coc s°. •� m ami O C"�•� � �n tamDy�� c c L. c u ro is � '� o m so• 'c m °0 0 o .o � m Cz a c ws Z -to 'O �e3a� uomco W e axi 3 B ti Cz u x w c a c a m m o�v o o M .n•3o3 rococ�3E O C O O ■� U � O N— � O X coo 4) E = ■R C O m ■ i EW no. OW a Elmo W a a Z u'yDo d CO Z W � V � C W 'MCOD W 0 O 0 N CO) Z L O a Q a 3 � Z c 3 E O U c o OCD d � Q 0 Q Q C co W Z C W c Y a ad x Cn cp H Q Z W V 0 n w W O ti� U O W ?j Z o a $ OJ -- -- !N. tt By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - The Metro -Durham dump agreement could be in jeopardy if Metro offils don't concede to Durham's interpreta- tion of one clause thIf"has caused a snag. If the deal fails, tro's trash won't be coming to Whitevale, but it's possible other regions' garbage will. Thursday, Durham councillors expected to approve the legal financial document covering Metro's right to dump 4.6 million ton- nes of garbage at the proposed Pi landfill in Whitevale for four years beginning in 1992. Instead, councillors held a four-hour, closed -door meeting because Metro and Durham officials and their lawyers had a dif- ferentinterpretation of one clause of the agreement. This eleventh - hour s ag was realized Wednesday night when Herrema, works commit ,e chairman John Aker and Durham's lawyers met to finalize .t k deal with Metro officials. Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema told council Thurs- day "we couldn't accept" approving the deal because of Metro's interpretation of one clause. He asked council for direction and said late Thursday afternoon Durham councillors told him to stick to Durham's interpretation of the original deal. Herrema said councillors discussed a "B-plan" which will be ready in two weeks. "You'll see the tax increases that we may have to propose under plan B," Herrema warned taxpayers. Plan B involves nominating the Pi site to the Greater Toronto Authority, thereby inviting "other municipalities within GTA" to use the P1 site, Herrema said. Under the Durham -Metro deal, Durham officials expected to profit $251 million in four years. The deal called for Metro to deposit $20 million in Durham's solid waste reserve fund when the agreement was signed. A further $21 was to be deposited "upon approval" of the site by the Ministry of Environment. The `upon approval' clause is what prevented the signing of the agreement. According to Herrema, Durham and Metro couldn't agree on the "legal wording" of what the approval process meant. Herrema refused to disclose what Metro's legal interpretation of "approval" meant. "We've got millions of dollars at stake." Herrema said Durham "couldn't accept" the deal under Metro's interpretation of that particular clause. Herrema said Durham officials will spend the next two weeks planning the financing of a five-year B plan. Herrema warned of a tax increase because, if Durham and Metro don't go through with the deal, Durham doesn't get the $41 million from Metro that was slated to finance construction of the Pi dump. "We'll be in control of our own destiny," Herrema said. When asked if Durham is ultimately scrapping the deal with Metro, Her- rema replied, "I think I've done enough negotiating through the press." Metro works committee chairman Paul Christie et briefly with Herrema. at regional headquarters while the Hosed -door debate was on. Christie told reporters 10 days ago wlfn Durham and Metro officials met, he assumed everything w ss resolved. "We left - shook hands - and asked the lawyers to execute a draft agreement." Christie said, "We always knew there'd be a $41 million obliga- tion on the part of Metro." Although Christie said he has not seen the legal document, "Nobody wants to strike a deal that winds up having people litigate immediately over legal technicalities." However, Christie doesn't think the deal is in jeopardy. `When the legal issues are resolved, I think we'll still have a deal." There are "a lot of plans" for waste disposal Metro as if the deal fails. However, Christie said none are as far ad nced as the Pi site and the alternatives could take years to come onstream. Stall in dump deal called a By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Some local politicians believe Metro To onto is playing dir- ty pool. Last Thursday Durham council met for four hours behind closed doors because Metro officials refused to sign the Durham -Metro dump agreement the night before. Metro and Durham couldn't agree upon the word "approval" in one clause of the agreement. The financial agreement would allow Metro to dump 4.6 million tonnes of garbage into the P1 site in Whitevale for four years beginning in 1992. Pickering councillor Doug Dicker- son says Metro is afraid of losing money if the proposed P1 dump site is challenged in the courts. Dickerson explains that upon ap- proval of the site by the ministry of the environment, the agreement says Metro will give Durham $21 million. Yet, if the ministry approves the site and Durham begins work on the dump, someone could still challenge the ministry's approval in the courts. Metro says, if this happens, it wants its money back. Durham's saying any money already spent constructing the dump or committed to the region won't be given back. This disagreement bet- ween the two sides has caused a snag in the deal. Dickerson says that, after an En- vironmental Protection Act approval is given by the ministry and a cer- tificate is issued, residents have 28 days to appeal the decision to the ministry. After 28 days "anyone has the right to call for a judicial review", Dickerson says. However, Dickerson feels there's on- ly a "remote possibility" that anyone could convince a judge there is grounds for a judicial review. "There's one chance in 20 million," he says. What baffles some Durham coun- cillors is that Metro officials waited until the night before Durham was supposed to approve the deal before announcing their concern with the one clause in the agreement. "Metro's buying time," concludes Dickerson, explaining that Metro wants to find other cheaper sites to dump its garbage. Dickerson believes Metro is "negotiating with other municipalities" in Ontario for a cheaper dump site. "It's probably a Metro ploy... it (the deal) fell apart at 7 p.m. the night before" Durham and Metro were sup- posed to sign the deal, he says. "Pickering has never been in favor of (hosting) any garbage," says Dickerson. "If Metro's not going to live up to its word, then we don't need them." Ajax councillor Pat Clark echoes Dickerson's feelings. "It's typical of Metropolitan Toronto," says Clark. "Once more they're showing that they are not acting in good faith. I'm not surprised." Clark refers to a Metro document which outlines potential interim capacity sites throughout the pro- vince, able to accommodate up to 22 million tonnes of Metro's garbage. The Pl site on the document is like a "foot- note" at the bottom of the page and isn't included in among the list of other THE NEWS ADVERTISER,-MARCIF N, iW(—PAG8 3-A e ro plo'..',,,' potential sites,. Clark says. "Perhaps there is more to Metro's 11th hour delay than meets the eye," she says. "One has to wonder." Clark also believes Metro is working on finding other, cheaper sites to dump its garbage. "But, because they haven't got a deal signed, sealed and delivered" they're holding out. "One has to suspect the worst with Metro." Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association, says public pressure is causing Metro to think twice about the deal. "Metro knows what people out here are like," Thomas says, adding Metro realizes local people in the Ajax and Pickering area are going to fight the dump. Thomas says he was "surprised" Thursday morning when he found out Metro hadn't signed the deal. Although, he finds it "ironic that Metro is calling the shots." Local residents have been sending letters to Metro council about the dump, Thomas says. Some of the let- ters included reports from geologists who say the site isn't suited for a dump and won't be approved by the ministry of the environment. "I think they (Metro) know there's going to be al problem with the site," he says. o Thomas says a Metro councillor recently stated that numerous sites that are considered possibilities for a dump will take seven or eight years to come on stream. "I strongly suspect" i that councillor was referring to the proposed Pi dump as one of those sites, says Thomas. Last Thursday, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema said Durham council will prepare to move on to plan B, which will involve in- viting other area regions to 'um in- to P1. But, Thomas says, "I don't kn w .l why any other region would be mo'e co- operative than Metro." Durham council has directed Her- rema, works committee chairman John Aker and other Durham officials to report back to council Apr. 18 with a plan for the future of the Pi site. Letters To the editor: How amusing it is to watch PACT directors stumbling so slowly toward the truth. Isobel Thompson and Lloyd Thomas are beginning to realize what most of us who truly oppose a dump at Pl have known for a year. If PI is studied under a full EAA hearing and approv- ed, there is absolutely nothing to pre- vent P1 being used as a long-term !L ff Mess the province Durham de � >e. g he provincial jf jj�jjn `d, Twin the needs of cipalities, including on garb age P1 as an interim site pprove P1 and other hits legal snag !er EPA only. That gh for PACT. ily demanding a full By Lisa Wright 1, is gambling with TORONTO STAR evale by removing osed Metro -Durham deal an interim site. If 6 million tonnes of trash court to demand a A prop to dum near th village of Whitevale is in jeopard after a conflict over pay- ment. Under the terms of the financial agreement, Metro would pay Dur- ham Region $41 million up front before the site opens in 1992. Metro is to deposit half of that money into Durham's solid waste reserve fund "upon approval of the Durham Contingency Landfill Site by the environment ministry," the agreement says. But lawyers on both sides have different Interpretations of what constitutes "approval," which will affect precisely when that money would be handed over, Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema said yesterday. Discussions with Metro have not yet broken off, though Dur- ham Council is now developing a "Plan B" that would offer capacity in the site to Peel, York and Hal- ton Regions, Herrema said. But Metro has not given up hope yet. "We've got a deal and after the legalities are negotiated, we still do," said Metro Councillor Paul Christie (East Toronto). Christie, chairman of the Metro works committee, showed up at Durham Council chambers in Whi y yesterday to fired out what was appening with the stumbling bloc H ma had called a special meeting for yesterday so council could study the legal document before signing it. Instead, they spent four hours in camera hashing out the problem that was discovered in negotia- tions with Metro Chairman Alan Tonks and Metro lawyers. �� � 771d14/��a e needs no enein-les full EAA study and wins in court but loses at the subsequent EAA hearing, Pl will be a long-term megadump. PACT's own technical committee admitted that the Whitevale area was the most studied area in Durham. Regional staff, PLC and Maclaren engineers are and have been studying all optional sites in Durham. A full EAA hearing for Pi would complete the long-term landfill site re- quirements under the regional official plan. PI would be larger and last far longer than Brock West. Is this what Whitevale wants? Would Whitevale rather take a chance under EPA and suffer an in- terim landfill site at worst or trust PACT and take a chance on a long- term megadump? Did PACT stop Brock South as it claims? NO! Metro's decision was purely economic. Would PACT's biodegradable garbage bags biodegrade in landfill sites as PACT claimed repeatedly in writing? NO! And the manufacturer withdrew them from the market. Did PACT leave legal agreement funds In Trust as they promised in October? NO! We who at- tended the PACT annual general meeting heard this admitted by PACT treasurer Middleton and confirmed by the financial statement. And we have tapes of the meeting. The legal funds were dumped into general revenue. If I were a Whitevale resident who contributed to PACT and had trusted them, I would be furious at PACT for now trying to gamble on a long-term megadump at Pl. In my first letter to this paper last August, I wrote that I had never ex- pected PACT to act. The only ap- propriate time for legal action against Pi was from last spring until late June, before GTA took the steps to pro- tect the environmentally sensitive area. Legal action now for an EAA hearing, even if successful, would make a P1 megadump a probability under the official plan. As I said at PACT's recent annual general meeting, PACT will never take Pi to court. It's time for PACT to face reality. It's time for Whitevale residents to recognize that with PACT as a `friend', they don't need enemies. PACT in- competence has no limits. Mac Harris, Ajax The dail newspa r fo' Oshawa, Whitby, Bowmanville and Port Perry -:Dump agreementcouldbe jeopardized Sn� de SelqPS Inucra �'' By Christy Chase bshawa Times staff -Durham Region's lucrative garbage pact with Metro Toronto developed a $21-million hiccup just hours before the deal was to be approved. A disagreement over wording concerning n Durham will get half of the promised million in upfront payments from Metro nas stalled final approval of the deal and could even jeopardize it. The proposed agreement calls for Dur- ham to own and operate a dump in north Pickering between 1992 and 1996, accepting up to 4.6-million tonnes of garbage from Metro which would pay full dumping fees for half that amount. Metro would in turn pay Durham $41 million upfront and give the region some place to dump its garbage until 1992. Dflxham expects to make S251 million out of the deal. But Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said the problem cropped up at a meeting Tuesday night between himself, waste man- agement chairman John Aker, Durham's lawyers, Metro Chairman Alan Tonks and Metro's lawyers, and there was no agree- ment yet for council to approve. Herrema told reporters that Metro had added some extra words into the clause dealing with when Durham will get the sec- ond portion of the S41 million" The statement t i V oa D urham Region g of principle calls for $21 million to be paiud by Metro to Durham "upon approval of the Durham contingency landfill site by the Ministry of the Environment." "It's the interpretation of the legal words," Herrema said. "They had some ex- tra words in there. Metro has a different in- terpretation of the word 'approval.' We couldn't accept the wording of their law- yer." - :.. : . After four hours of behind -closed -door de- bate Wednesday, Durham council decided to stand pat on its position, reaffirming its support of the original statement of prin- ciples adopted by both councils months ago. But a decision was also made to investigate an alternative to the deal with Metro, a 0 FRIDAY MARCH 23, 1990 Vol. a9—No.�o ilpago­ d eel "Plan B," Herrema said, although he added 's (A -court challenge is negotiations with Metro haven't ended. j possible since Pickering He wouldn't comment further on the 1 T and Ajax Citizens To - wording problem although Oshawa coun- gether for the have s meat (PACT) have said cillor Brian Nicholson said Durham wants " `Y ' they'll take the choice of the money when the province issues an cer- fir': � the «'hitevale site to the tificate of approval for the proposed dump= '`-'� site on provincially owned farmland near . _—, top court in the country, challenging in Pickering. challenging it on environ- mental and constitutional Nicholson added Metro insists that if the NICHOLSON grounds.) deal is challenged in court successfully, it However, Metro works chairman Paul wants the money back including any that Christie, who came to Whitby during the the region has spent, council meeting to talk with Herrema, said "Metro is in a sense reneging on its origi Metro intends to pay the money and isn't re- nal agreement," he said. "That's the hic- neging on the deal cup." Continued on Page 3. Eleventh -hour hitch stalls zarbaLye deal (Continued from Page 1) ;"Metro said that was okay," he said of the $41 million in upfront pay- rf)ents. "It could be a matter of context, how Durham might invite Metro to put that money forward," he told re- porters. I He said the problem with the agree- ment is one of "legal niceties" and not substantive issues. But he said he understands Metro's lawyers in con- sulting with Tonks had some difficul- ties "in terms of the legalities of the deal. "Nobody wants to strike a deal that winds up having people litigate im- mediately because of legal technicali- ties." Christie said he hasn't seen the fi- nal draft of the agreement — neither have Durham councillors — but he thought that all major issues were re- solved at a meeting a week ago. "Everyone shook hands ... assum- ing there was a deal," he said. Asked if this snag would put the deal in jeopardy, he said "I don't think so. We've got a deal. When the legal issues are resolved, we've got a deal." . Herrema wasn't so positive. lie said that in two weeks regional coun- cil will be presented with Plan B which involves nominating the White - vale site for the greater Toronto area joint interim garbage solution which involves Durham, Balton, Peel and York regions and Metro. l f Dump debate Mims into real mess PICKERING - Three days before regional council was to decide on a garbage deal with Metro Toronto, Pickering councillors were busy arguing about the consequences of a deal. The discussion began smoothly enough Monday night when coun- cillor Bev Morgan moved a motion restating the town's opposition to another garbage dump in Picker- ing. The motion, together with all other resolutions Pickering has ever passed against Pl, is to be sent to the province. But confusion and differences of opinion surfaced when councillor Kip Van Kempen spoke against the Metro -Durham deal itself. Van Kempen suggested council pass a second resolution opposing any gar- bage deal between Durham and Metro. Regional council is to consider a final, legal document outlining the deal with Metro at a meeting, Thursday. "It's my understanding that P1 is not available (for a dump) unless there's a deal with Durham and Metro," he said. "Pi is only available if and when the region enters into an agreement with Toronto." But regional councillor Doug Dickerson contradicted him. "Should (the agreement) fail to be passed Thursday, it does not remove Pi from consideration," said Dickerson. "It could be nominated for a long- term site. In fact, we could have a dump of such mega -proportions, it will make Brock West look like a pimple on a pumpkin." Dickerson said he's opposed to Pl but "the agreement is something entirely separate. Until I see the language of it, I can't say what I'll do (when it's time to vote on the agreement at the regional meeting) ." Van Kempen then accused Dickerson of "using smoke and mirrors to avoid the point. Obvious- ly, he didn't understand the point. If there's no deal, there's no dump. Forget the financial side of it; it's simply unacceptable to accept Metro's waste." Councillor Maurice Brenner ask- ed that the motion include the words that Pickering regional councillors refuse to discuss the deal with the region on Thursday. The amendment was withdrawn from the floor after Brenner failed to get a seconder. Van Kempen's motion opposing the deal was passed unanimously on a recorded vote. After the meeting, Van Kempen called Dickerson's vote "very strange" since Dickerson had sup- ported the deal at the region earlier. "It's like barring the barn door after you let the horse out," he said. "It's a shame the solidarity displayed (Monday) by the entire council was not displayed at the region earlier." Time to rally Ontario premier David Peterson plans to breeze into town tomorrow (Thursday), likely to announce his governm nt's plan to solve the housing crisis. Then he'll breeze out of tow riding the expected wave of positive media coverage. His plans could change. Normally, press conferences such as this aren't announced in advance in any media. In fact, while this editorial is being written Monday, the province isn't planning to call us about the event until sometime Tuesday, perhaps in attempts to avoid any pre -conference publicity by informing us after our press deadline. T.x We think it's important that residents are informed in ad - Vance of Peterson's visit. In fact, we're inviting all those in- terested and able to be on hand Thursday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at Pickering's new civic complex to show Peterson just how much we appreciate all he's done and planning to do for residents here. 4> Not to put ideas in anybody's head, but you could mention: -- the fact that Peterson handed over the P1 site beside Whitevale for possible use as a dump; zthe fact that his health minister Elinor Caplan cut 70 chronic w care beds from Ajax -Pickering General Hospital expansion _F plans; a -- the fact that we've waited too long for the long -promised fun- w ding for that expansion; :Q There are any number of other issues worthy of attention but space is limited. Peterson publicly stated, when he announced the creation of the G.T.A. (another level of government), that politicians must sometimes take pressure from ratepayer groups in attempts -,,�P%4ve, in this case, the garbage crisis. Obviously, as a politi- cian, he's not afraid to take a little criticism himself. Thursday, ' arch 29,10 a.m. at the Pickering civic complex is as g a place and time as any to start telling Peterson exactly how we feel about his plans and actions. �'' THE NEWS ADVERTISER, MARCH 28, 1990—PA E 3-A Stall min dump dealcalled -a 'Metro pi By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Some local politicians believe Metro Toronto is playing dir- ty pool Last Thursday, Durham council met for four hours behind closed doors because Metro officials refused to sign the Durham -Metro dump agreement the night before. Metro and Durham couldn't agree upon the word "approval" in one clause of the agreement. The financial agreement would allow Metro to dump 4.6 million tonnes of garbage into the Pi site in Whitevale for four years beginning in 1992. Pickering councillor Doug Dicker- son says Metro -is afraid of losing money if the proposed PI dump site is challenged in the courts. Dickerson explains that upon ap- prov . of the site by the ministry of the env' : onment, the agreement says M , o will give Durham $21 million. Yet, if the ministry approves the site and Durham begins work on the dump, someone could still challenge the ministry's approval in the courts. Metro says, if this happens, it wants its money back. Durham's saying any money already spent constructing the dump or committed to the region won't be given back. This disagreement bet- ween the two sides has caused a snag in the deal. Dickerson says that, after an En- vironmental Protection Act approval is given by the ministry and a cer- tificate is issued, residents have 28 days to appeal the decision to the ministry. After 28 days "anyone has the right to call for a judicial review", Dickerson says. However, Dickerson feels there's on- ly a "remote possibility" that anyone could convince a judge there is grounds for a judicial review. "There's one chance in 20 million," he says. What baffles some Durham coun- cillors is that Metro officials waited until the night before Durham was supposed to approve the deal before announcing their concern with the one clause in the agreement. ' MPtrn's buying time," concludes Dickerson, explaining that Metro wants to find other cheaper sites to dump its garbage. Dickerson believes Metro is "negotiating with other municipalities" in Ontario for a cheaper dump site. "It's probably a Metro ploy... it (the deal) fell apart at 7 p.m. the night before" Durham and Metro were sup- posed to sign the deal, he says. "Pickering has never been in favor of (hosting) any garbage," says Dickerson. "If Metro's not going to live up to its word, then we don't need them." Ajax councillor Pat Clark echoes Dickerson's feelings. "It's typical of Metropolitan Toronto," says Clark. "Once more they're showing that they are not acting in good faith. I'm not surprised." Clark refers to a Metro document which outlines potential interim capacity sites throughout the pro- vince, able to accommodate up to 22 million tonnes of Metro's garbage. The Pi site on the document is like a "foot- note" at the bottom of the page and isn't included in among the list of other potential sites,. Clark says. "Perhaps there is more to Metro's 11th hour delay than meets the eye," she says. "One has to wonder." Clark also believes Metro is working on finding other, cheaper sites to dump its garbage. "But, because they haven't got a deal signed, sealed and delivered" they're holding out. "One has to suspect the worst with Metro." Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association, says public pressure is causing Metro to think twice about the deal. "Metro knows what people out here are like," Thomas says, adding Metro realizes local people in the Ajax and Pickering area are going to fight the dump. Thomas says he was "surprised" Thursday morning when he found out Metro hadn't signed the deal. Although, he finds it "ironic that Metro is calling the shots." Local residents have been sending lett8rs to Metro council about the dump, Thomas says. Some of the let- ters included reports from geologists who say the site isn't suited for a dump and won't be approved by the ministry of the environment. "I think they (Metro) know there's going to be a problem with the site," he says. Thomas says a Metro councillor recently stated that numerous sites that are considered possibilities for a dump will take seven or eight years to come on stream. "I strongly suspect" that councillor was referring to the proposed Pi dump as one of those sites, says Thomas. Last Thursday, Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema said Durham council will prepare to move on to plan B, which will involve in- viting other area regions to dump in- to Pl. But, Thomas says, "I don't know why any other region would be more co- operative than Metro." Durham council has directe Her- rema, works committee c .irman John Aker and other Durha fficials to report back to council Ap . 18 with a plan for the future of the P1 site. Region may fare 22% ta''x''' hike if garbage deal falls throug`ai4�� By Christy Chase Oshawa Times Staff If a proposed garbage deal between Durham Region and Metro Toronto falls through, regional taxpayers will e face a 22-per-cent increase this year in their tax bills. Durham's finance commissioner, =f a Jack Gartley, told the finance -admin- istration committee Wednesday that HERREMA AKER . without the deal, another $6 million waste reduction programs, including will have to be added to the region's budget this year. That translates into composting and recycling, and re - lated water and road projects. an extra 10 per cent in the tax in- Half of the upfront payments is to crease, which so far stands at 12 per be paid to Durham on signing of the cent. _'. agreement, and it's that money the "It would be 22 per cent," he added. region planned to use for its solid And that would be another $ 30 on waste budget this year. - top of a proposed M tax increase for Meanwhile, Regional Chairman the average taxpayer since a one -per- Gary Herrema and waste manage - cent tax increase reprekents $3 on a ment chairman John Aker are set to tax bill. " .. start two days of negotiations with The region and Metro were set last Metro over the problem clause today week to sign the agreement, but a in hopes of having an agreement back last-minute snag scuttled that. to regional council before it reviews Under the agreement, Metro would its budget on April 18. get dumping privileges for 4.6 million -' i • On Wednesday, the finance com- tonnes of garbage at Durham's pro- mittee ordered more than $1.9 million posed interim dump in Whitevale be- in cuts from committees, police and tween 1992 and 1996. In exchange, outside agencies and special levies in Metro would pay Durham full dump- order to get the tax levy to $73.2 mil- ing fees for half of that amount and lion,12 per cent higher thanlast year. another $41 million up front. Durham Another $1.8 million was ordered expects to make $251 million from the cut from the special levies to accom- deal, which would pay for devel- modate anticipated increased w•el- opment and construction of the dump, fare costs of $1.8 million, expected due to huge jumps in welfare in Jan- uary and February. Social services commissioner Garry Cubitt told the committee that the jump in welfare statistics was un- expected and is happening through- out the province. "I don't think it's going to drop," he said. "That's the bottom line." With the extra welfare costs, the committee had a choice between keeping to the 12-per-cent guideline by cutting the special levies or put- ting the guideline up to 14.9 per cent. The committee went with I2 per cent but the chairmen of some re- gional committees argued for going to 14.9 per cent, adding that deferring an increase this year means a bigger one next year. Finance commissioner Gartley, who said he supports putting the in- crease up to 14.9 per cent, said annua- lization costs of staff hired this year and growing capital costs will mean Durham. will start its 1991 budget dis- cussions with an 18-per-cent increase. "That's 18 per cent before we do anything," said Ajax Mayor Jim Witty. "It grieves me," said Marie Hub- bard, chairman of planning. ."Politically we're looking good but financially we're not as sound as we think - Diane Hamre, chairman of health and social services committee, said she agreed. , "1'd rather go home and have it (the increase) spread over two years, than go home and have a big kick next year," she said, adding the cuts means there'll be no expansion of the region's day care programs as planned this year. THE DEWS ADVERTISER, MAKUh YD, Resident turn -out for pternier urged PICKERING - With premier David Peterson expected to speak in Pickering tomorrow, a local councillor wants residents to use the opportunity to challenge Peter- son on a number of issues. Rick Johnson says he hopes a big crowd turns out for Peterson's press conference at the Pickering municipal complex tomorrow mor- ning. Peterson, along with housing minister John Sweeney and transportation minister Bill Wrye, is expected to make an announce- ment concerning the planned Seaton community in north Pickering. At Monday night's executive committee meeting, Johnson sug- gested council "negotiate a deal" with Peterson while he's in town. "This is an opportunity to take the bull by the horns if the premier is entering our municipality," Johnson told councillors. "If the province wants Pickering to be the affordable capital of Toronto, Pickering no longer wants to be the landfill capital." He said his notice of motion would state that Picker- ing "continue not to be a happy host of affordable housing for Toronto." But councillor Doug Dickerson, chairman of the meeting, told Johnson it would be more ap- propriate to bring forth the motion at next week's council meeting. In an interview, Johnson said that everyone in Pickering has been "socially complicated" by Peterson's creation of the GTA and the proposed P1 dump. "Why would the town open• its arms up to the one man responsi- ble for putting the Pi site on the table?" said Johnson. "Why should we accept any more deals with the province?" He said he wants to turn the Seaton announcement into a Pi discussion and suggests residents also challenge Peterson on the hospital expansion, no- fault in- surance, transportation and the ex- propriation of Pickering farmland for the planned Highway 407. "Now's the perfect chance to negotiate and take Pi off the table," he said, adding that he's also "not prepared to take on Seaton -- it's too premature. We're socially not content in Pickering." While no further details on Peter- son's planned Seaton announce- ment had been released at press time, Johnson says the premier is expected to be at the municipal complex at approximately 10 a.m. $04to "174 It, Peterson, ministers _ face activsts_ at un vefling By Christv Chase Oshawa Timm Staff y The controversial Whitevale dump, one of the hottest topics of debate in Pickering and at Dur- 'ham Region council, took a large chunk of the limelight at Thurs- day's announcement by Premier David Peterson of the devel- opment of Seaton. ; Reporters, invited,to ask ques-� bons about the planned north Pickering community of Peter- son, Transportation Minister Bill Wrve, and Housing and Municipal _ Affairs Minister John Sweeney, spent most of their time asking . _aside for the community of 90,o0G about the proposed dump's im- � people, the minister said. pact on Seaton. The dump would (The Whitevale site, also known be located just outside of White- as P1, is also provincially owned vale, which is at the extreme land.) western end of Seaton. - - - WORKING SITE MODEL COMMUNITY "It will not be a working landfill Peterson and Sweeney were ; site by the time that particular asked about the irony of building . section of Seaton is developed," what was described as an innova- Sweeney said. five, creative, model community And he said the dump won't be where it will be close to not only allowed unless it passes environ- the proposed Durham dump but mental approvals.. also the existing Brock West "No landfill site is being put dump owned by Metro Toronto. into here without the environmen- The Whitevale dump would be tal protection review," he said. located on the northwestern edge Peterson pointed out that there of Seaton, while Brock West is lo- are strict standards for anv sites sated just south of Seaton's bor- ders.proposed, adding the site is pro- posed for interim use only. Sweeney pointed out that the But their responses didn't Whitevale dump, proposed by please many of the people who at - Durham to take six million tonnes tended the press conference. Res - of its and Metro's garbage be- idents of Whitevale and members tween 1992 and 1996, is temporary of Pickering and Ajax Citizens To - only, and will be closed by the gether for the Environment time Seaton develops to that (PACT), both groups opposed to point. Initial construction will the dump, showed their feelings start in the south-east section of by booing and hissing at Swee- provincially owned lands set ney's and Peterson's comments. w WHITEVALE PLAN ATTACKED — Dur- about the ham West MPP Norah Stoner, Pickering Thursday. Mayor Wayne Arthurs and Ontario Pre- Whitevale mier David Peterson answer questions conferenc Bill Parrish, bead of PACT, said he was surprised to hear the provincial politicians talk about preserving the environment in the Seaton area, when Peterson is on record as saying interim dumps in the greater Toronto area will have to go through the shorter En- vironmental Protection Act ap- proval process and not the stricter Environmental Assess- ment Act. . He added Peterson and Swee- ney stated the public will be in- volved in planning Seaton. But they are actually being excluded because the EAA isn't being used for the Pi dump, he said. Meanwhile area MPP Norah Stoner said she's positive the dump won't go in Whitevale be- cause the people of Whitevale and PACT will defeat it. "This community has done the impossible before," she said. "It was impossible to stop an airport, but they did it." She was referring to the federal airport proposed for north Picker- ing, north of the Seaton area, but l Cc ice.. cq�ycyy� O buy �' ?C c�C CO CU 0 N o c9 �W cc0 .= CU o� ar n is U 0 J v Q) p 'ramrC1 bZ*r- 19 Sq 9Z CZ 'ELH C 0 S cca 8h q 'v a .5�6:ov,.� 'avOH Residents Zp don't want Metro waste in minepitRouge ask noVlace p By John Driscoll ins SPECIAL TO THE STAR for a gqrbageWid mP MARMORA — th test drilling about to begin, a citizens' group is stepping up its oppo- L 1 sirion to a plan to dump Metro's garbage down your editorial Yoca ,an abandoned mine pit just outside Marmora. , To save a valley tion of the dump site. Exploratory drilling to assess the geological suitability of four potential sites, including and find a dump, is typical of your strategy in demeaning the Tories First, you state that the "corner" (how many hectares?) can be used Marmora, is expected to start this month. while elevating the Grits to a more noble level, as a "temporary" dump site. There Metro has approved tests in Orillia Township and south of Kirkland Lake at a minimum cost you note, the site has been unal is no such anas aAs "temporary" dump site. Dumps of $250,000 each. threatened for years by all kinds last forever, generating methane In Marmora, about 160 kilometres (100 of development; now, the Peterson and other dangerous gases as well miles) east of Metro, the proposal is to use a 194-metre (636-foot) pit. government has come up with a wonderful answer — turn it into a as toxic leachates into the groundwater. These leachates will "We already have ies a members and the support of municipalities and conservation au- beautiful urban park (could a provincial election be slated soon, find their way into the Rou&e River, then into Lake Ontario, and Quint ," from Highways to the Bay of Quinte," said Ray Black, president of Marmora maybe?). The main problem, however, is the westward current flow in the lake will take them right into our Takes No Trash (TNT). "And we've just water treatment plant p ant intakes and scratched the surface." beaches. The group has started a fundraising cam- and organized Dumps are by far the most hazardous methods of paign several public meetings; garbage one in Havelock last week drew more than disposal. There are hundreds of 1,000 people, them in Ontario now being Residents claim that use of the pit for investigated. Take a look at the Metro's garbage will result in contamination of line of pipes along the top of both the Trent and Moira water systems and Riverdale Park on Broadview Ave. pose an environmental threat to the richest These serve to vent methane and farmland in Hastings County. many other dangerous gases They are also concerned about a CP Rail proposal to extend the former VIA rail line 11 emanating from garbage dumped into Riverdale Park some 50 years kilometres (7 miles) from Havelock to the 2,200-acre site to haul up to 12,000 tonnes of ago. They were installed when young boys were found lighting garbage daily. There is now an estimated 1.7 billion gallons matches near the faucets of water dispensers to see the flames erupt. of water in the pit, with the water level at 100 There are many other examples metres (320 feet). Marmora residents say the — Scarborough is being sued by a water comes from springs and underground property owner adjacent to the old streams, but officials of Armbro Ltd. of Bramp- Morningside dump for land ton, owners of the site, say it is primarily run- contamination. When will the off. dioxins from the Love Canal Armbro estimated that the former iron ore dumpsite disappear? pit operated by Bethlehem Steel could contain The lesson is clear. Nothing more than 23 million tonnes of garbage. Metro reusable, compostable or now disposes of 3.2 million tonnes of garbage combustible should be dumped. a ygar. The alternatives are reduction, re- bert Ferguson, Metro's public works com- ioner, use and recycling, with the mis admitted time is running out in the remaining 50 per cent being search for an appropriate site. But to raise environmental issues before the incinerated in energy -recovery facilities. testing is completed is premature, he said. The Peterson government has "We've walked away from potential sites at cleverly left the dump decision up a later stage than this," Fer&uson said. "We- to the municipal governments won't know until the test drilling is completed involved; the last thing they want whether the Marmora site is environmentally is the responsibility for another safe for a landfill site and we can't discuss disaster like Hagersville. environmental issues until we have this infor- E. R. FOX mation." --' Toronto OT APR •��q kenkeyswelcomele. my la�iand gi'ds ^' 4 vale right on the western border of bilitated. That's another big word, It's a beautiful day in the neighbor��u., ;.,...� 1 �� Seaton. Isn't Whitevale pretty and isn't it? Do you know what it means; a beautiful day for a-neighbor1r Y.'. 7' ould you„be, mine? Could you;, be' 1 r >x very historic? Can you say historic. I . It means he can be turned into a nice e9 ; o, I yw ! ,�h 1 i q . ,� thought you could. person that the neighbors will like. Do Hello boys and girls, and welcome+ ' r:' ,tr Some people want to use my land to , your believe that? The neighbors Mr. Peterson's neighborhood. CCpr, _ ,,,• raise PI, a smaller and. distant rela- don't. That's me, Mr. Peterson. And this , �Jl. },;' five of Brock West. They say it's a my neighborhood. It's called Sea-., Oshawa T-ime5 5taff ^, good o ddts of lace to dot the t is tyke there, Can you say; that? I thought you; d• . • grow and thrive. They say they d only Let'a hop on the trolle y and go visit '; , need my land for a few years since • � the wonderful neighbors we have Now well bead east to visit another• ' they've! only got temporary custody Seaton in beautiful north Picker- i neighbor, one of Brock West's broth- of Pl. Do you know what that means? g. They're all waiting for us. Ding, ers. His name is Brock North and he, , I'm sure some of you do. �' too lives right on the edge of Seaton., gl - ' g g But there are other neighbors here Here we are in this wonderful, envi- Brock North isn't as big as his who don't think I should let those peo- nin 0entally-friendly, compact, inno brother, is he, boys and girls?That's live, model communityof the, because he's unemployed and hasn't u e have l t land. They say it will P use up all the fine country air and Can you say all that? Try' It k had a regular meal m years. His boss, tip; drink up all the good clean water as ain without gagging. I thought you ; Metro Toronto discovered he wasn't .� . he grows. This makes them sad. It uld. + good at his job of disposing of gar- is also makes them mad. They don't Let's go this way, it's south. Our y ge and fired him just six months of-. want Pi as a neighbor. They think t neighbor is a giant but he's not a ter he was hired a long time ago in he'll be a bad influence on their child- 'endly one, so don't get too close. 1977. You probably weren't even born ren. They say they'll go to court to etter plug your nose. His name is t then, were you, boys and girls? kelp him out. Can you say uncoustitu- rock West and he's full of garbage. 1 'But Brock North is messy and ven though his place is a dump, he: Metro has to send trucks out daily to tonal • I thought you could. kes living right next to a model com- pick up after him. I hope your parents These people also say PI isn't a unity that's sure to bring the whole don't have to pick up after you, boys good neighbor for Seaton. But, boys orld here to view it. Can you say, and girls. q ' • ' "' and girls, Pi will be grown, retired ethane gas? Can you smell it? 1 The trolley will now take us to some and even buried by the time Seaton is t you could.; ... ' nice farrpland that I own near White- all grown up. He can always be reha- mught time to move on now, boys and girls. We're going north now. No, not to see Santa Claus. We're going to see some more land bu' I don't own it. Mr. Mulroney does./Have you heard of him? Just ask y ur parents about GST and Meech Labe. They'll tell you who he is. Mr. Mulroney is saving this land for an airport, maybe. A big airport with all sorts of jets flying in from all over the world. Maybe the planes can bring the world in to see Seaton. Sea- ton is just a few miles away. Isn't that handy? It's time to go now. I hope you en- joyed your visit to my neighborhood, boys and girls. Oh, before you go, what do you call it when adults spend a few months running around, announcing new cit- ies, roads and parks? I call it an elec- tion. Can you say election? I thought you could. �earch and study for MacLaren Engineers has been hired by York Region to search out contingency dump sites. After receiving council approval last week, the North York firm -will begin the search of the region's 1,720-square-kilo- metre (664-square-mile) shortly. The search and study is not to cost more than $262,000. The firm, which has done work for the region before, was the only company to bid on the pro- ject. Four others were offered the tender but all turned the request down. Three of them are doing con- sulting work for Metro Toronto and, some believe, would be in conflict of interest if they took on York Regional work. The fourth firm said it was too busy to take on the project. Last year MacLaren Engineers produced a waste management study for the region. This study will include public hearings and experimental drilling to test certain areas for dump capability. Vaughan Councillor David Chapley suggested the consultant should not be limited to York Region and should expand it study to other areas. But the suggestion was turned down. Markham Councillor Ron Moran said "I don't want to be spending additional taxpayers money t inak or sites all the way up to Timiskaming." Markham Mayor Tony Roman agreed. "t'/tl dump f7 p 1 ann e d JIM BEATTY "It would be duplicating an Staff Reporter exercise already being done." The search for garbage sites is required by the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee, a co-operative effort of the chair- men of York, Metro Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Durham regions. Most of York RegionJ_g:sbwge is dumped in the Keele Valley Landfill site in Vaughan, which is owned and operated by Metro Toronto. The dump is expected to reach capacity by 1993. York Region has already nomi- nated the Keele Valley dump in Maple as a contingency site for additional garbage. The suggestion could mean an additional 5 million tons of garbage into the Maple dump. The province has said contin- gency sites suggested in the Greater Toronto Area will be subject to the less stringent Envi- ronmental Protections Act instead of the more scrutinizing Environmental Assessment Act. Morris I Manning, Q.C. Barrister —at —Law 390 Batt Street. Suite 29H1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2Y2 Fax (416) .367.8029 April 10, 1990 Tel: (416) 863.6262 Whitevale & District Residents Association P.O. Box 28 Whitevale, Ontario LOH 1M0 Residents of Whitevale: I have been informed that government officials have been approaching residents of Whitevale and surrounding areas with the view to obtaining certain information in connection with the Waste Site Management Plan scheduled for development. This is to advise that anyone not wishing to respond to this government intrusion has the right to refuse to answer ally questions, correspondence, etc. concerning those matters in relation to personal data and/or inquires with respect to what, if any, effect such a development will have on local residents. It is not a requirement that a resident give information concerning land value, water conditions, soil conditions, etc. Should anyone feel intimidated, or have difficulty in telling a government representative tlrat he/she is not welcome at your home, please advise such person to contact your lawyer. Any person requesting a statement or otherwise may be instructed to contact your lawyers with respect to any and all matters. Should any government official cause you difficulty with respect to your refusal to cooperate, please contact one of the lawyers listed below. Mr. S. Parish, Mr. P. Pickfield, Mr. M. Manning; or Ms, T. Simone Morris Manning, Q-C. Page 2 it is also requested that any and all documentation received from government agencies concerning this matter be forwarded to Mr. S. Parish. Yours very truly, MANNING & Sffi10NB Moms M niug MM/clb Trash deal delays budget in Durham By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR Durham Region council has put off its budget day for two weeks while officials try to salvage a $251 million cash -for -trash deal with Metro. The region's finance depart- ment planned to recommend yes- terday a 12 per cent increase in the 1990 regional tax levy. They weren't ready, however, because the $73.3 million budget hinges on Metro's money to finance critical waste disposal projects, Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema said. Metro politicians are playing games with Durham by holding up' the deal with internal squab- bles over legal technicalities, Herrema said. "If we don't get the agreement, we'll have to make some changes. And we won't be seeing just 12 per cent (tax increases)," Herrema said. The tax hike for Durham resi- dents could be up to 22 per cent Without Metro's millions, Herrema said. Under the proposed deal, Metro would give Durham $41 million in upfront payments and about another $210 million in dumping fees over five years, in exchange for 4.6 million tonnes of capacity in, the Whitevale dump starting in 1'>3M2. Y 4 —1 -rAAL :Dump deal revived, Tonks says. Yetro chairman `guardedly optimistic' after talks with Durham By Royson James and Lisa Wright TORONTOSTAR The Metro -Durham deal to dump up to 6 million tonnes of garbage in Pickering "is very much alive," Metro Chairman Alan Tonks said after private talks for almost two hours with officials in Durham. "We are talking. I'm guardedly optimistic," .-said, Councillor Paul Christie, who yesterday :accompanied Tonks to the talks aimed at rescuing the multi -million -dollar deal. Tonks said he is confident Durham Region Council will approve the package over the next two weeks. Durham and Metro signed the deal in princi- ple last January. With dumping fees, and $41 million up front from Metro, the landfill site could reap between $250 and $366 million for Durham over five years. Since January, there has been haggling over the wording of the deal to dump waste in a 80- hectare (200-acre) site in Whitevale, in north Pickering. The plan collapsed last week and Durham threatened to go it alone. But Tonks emerged from the meeting saying he was confident that Metro has clarified several of the differences of opinion. "These are very complex negotiations and they never should have been made public," he said. Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema said last week the deal was off. He said Metro staff had inserted several changes into the con- tract that were not satisfactory to the region. Durham officials insisted the signed agree- ment sent to them by Metro meant they would not get any of the $41 million until the site gets full environmental approval. Some residents fear the Whitevale site could contaminate the water table. But Metro officials insisted Durham would get $20 million up front, with a further $21 million once the site was approved. Neither Tonks nor Christie would give de- tails of yesterday's talks. Meanwhile, Durham Region has agreed that homeowners whose health and property values are threatened by garbage dumps and incinerators to be built in their neighborhoods will be eligible for compensation. After studying the concerns of residents in recent months, Durham's waste management committee formed a special panel yesterday that will develop a compensation policy for those personally affected by future waste sites, including the proposed Whitevale dump. There has been no discussion of the amount of compensation that homeowners could claim. "We're trying to set up the mechanisms now so that everyone knows the rules and their rights of recourse before we go ahead with a site," said Pickering Councillor Doug Dicker- son, who will sit on the panel. "There has -to be some way of rectifying the problems that people will be faced with," he said. Whitevale residents have expressed fears of sinking land values, contaminated drinking water, the destruction of prime farmland and reduced enjoyment of their property if a dump is developed nearby. The region is preparing a waste manage- ment master plan to be ensured of some op- tions when the proposed Whitevale site fills up in 1996. The final choice on a long-term site will be made in the fall. THE NEWS ADVERTISER'Z AT; AERIL 2d,1906L IPltr 3"` Polintician wants -1--, road upgrades cut to discourage garbage trucks' PICKERING - Road construction projects in Pickering should be cancelled so garbage trucks won't have access to the proposed Pi dump, says a local politician. Ward 1 local councillor Maurice Brenner asked council during its Apr. 17 meeting to withdraw its support from two planned road construction projects, saying he had "shades of gar- bage trucks" using the roads. The pro- jects involve constructioh on the Pickering/Scarborough Town Line and on Finch Avenue west of Altona Road. The proposed projects are part of the town's five-year capital forecast and are currently scheduled to be car- ried out in 1993 and 1994. Brenner was absent from council's executive com- mittee meeting the previous week when the forecast was approved. In the forecast, the town estimates it will spend $2.5 million on the town line project and $1 million on Finch Avenue. "I do recognize residents use the Scarborough Town Line, but $2.5 million will certainly provide smooth access for garbage trucks," said Bren- ner, adding that the planned Taunton Road-Steeles Avenue connection will provide an east -west commuter route. "I'd sooner have a problem with transportation than garbage trucks." Brenner, however, received no sup- port on his suggestion to remove the projects from the forecast. "These roads just don't move gar- bage; they move people," said coun- cillor Kip Van Kempen. Pointing out the town's numerous transportation problems, he added, "Anything that will help, I'm going to support." Bob Mitchell cautioned that "If we continue to block programs to upgrade roads, the roads are going to get worse. We'll pay for that going to work in the morning and trying to get home in the evening." WE USE REC. CLED Nam'" SPRINT Prernier,M explains fd By Michael Maunder Premier David Peterson said Monday the province would not intervene in the crumbling P1 dump negotiations between Durham and Metro Toronto. He also explained his position on plans for an Ajax water plant and local hospital expansion. "We don't have the power to force a solution," he said in discussing the dump and a number of other issues relating to the province's role in the Greater Toronto Area. The GTA includes a number of provincial offices trying to evolve policies for the area as a whole. "The GTA in some minds is symbol of conspiracy," th premier said. 'There is a sem that it is a new level c government, but the Regior rule on it at the end of the day.' Pressures He said the province's GT, offices were an attempt to he] co-ordinate planning at a tim when there are enormou pressures on the area: i housing, in garbage, i transportation and commute traffic. "How do you develop?" h said. "Can you shut the door o growth? We can't stop it so hoi do you collectively control it?" Part of the province's job, h said, is to think this out. In Ajax Thinking out the long terr solutions also shaped th premier's response to question about the Ajax water plant an( the Pickering hospital. Referring to a new provinciz program to help municipalitie replace their aginc infrastructure, the premier saic many municipalities faced bi growth are facing problems. He said he had not reviewec Ajax Mayor JamPs-vvirrg5 lettei on the water plant question. But "I'm not going to gel ON . _ ._ n--- q Prem-ter explains Continued from Page 1 involved whether it goes here or there," he said. Hospitals The hospital expansion program is also part in a comprehensive look at the health care system, figuring out how best to use limited funds in spiralling health costs. "The commitment is there and it stands," he said about funding for the Ajax -Pickering hospital. But he explained the provinci _ eview of the health care system is moving away from institutions and looking at programs to reach the community. Too much is now spent on treating those whose poor health leads to chronic care, he said. The only salvation for the provincial health care system is to keep it affordable over the long haul. "Number of beds is not the benchmark," he said. "Everyone wants new buildings, politicians like to snip ribbons." But what is the best facility for the community? The premier made his comments in an informal session with Durham area journalists organized by Durham West MLA Norah Stoner. �Coi✓J/Y�I�'j Sr �Ctti JULIE CASPERSEN / G 7/ � Staff Reporter It's French only at Franklin Street Public School. The school, despite objections of parents and regret of board staff, is slated to become home of French Immersion students only. In September, the few English stu- dents remaining at the school will be bused to either William Arm- strong or James Robinson schools. Projected enrollment of English children at the school for the fall is 104, but 28 of these are student spy bused from outside the school' boundaries, leaving the loca enrollment at 76. A meeting was held at the school last week where parents were informed of the decision to discon- tinue English classes at the dual - track facility. Area F Superintendent Wayne ' Houston said last year he told par- ents that if the enrollment of 16 decreased, the York Region Boar — of Education would be forced t bus the children to neighborin schools. / Next September, the Grade 8 0 class of 26 will attend William Armstrong and most of the younge students will travel to James Robin- t� son. Only the Kindergarten childre„ will remain at the century -old �y p school as French Immersion does. not begin until Grade 1.�- An alternative is holding triple-7 <D6 split classrooms, but this is not an ideal situation. "We want and T can r anarant - Ban on public input on last DURHAM - It's a "travesty" for Durham regional council to refuse to hear delegations before making a deci- sion on a legal contract, claims PACT's chairman. Durham council is holding a special meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday to review the agreement that allows Metro to dump in the proposed P1 landfill site in Whitevale for four years beginning in 1992. In December, Durham coun- cillors voted against allowing any delegations at tomorrow's meeting. Councillors heard delegations before approving the dump deal in principle last year. Tomorrow, the region's lawyers will go over the document with councillors to explain the legal jargon of the deal. Durham officials say the deal will earn the region a profit of $251 million. "It's a travesty, with an agreement of this nature, with such wide- spread implications for the people of the town of Pickering and Whitevale, at every stage, they don't have the right to speak. It's a denial of their democratic rights," says Parish, leader of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment. "With public business, people should be welcomed and urged to make sub- missions," he adds. Last fall, Whitby mayor Bob At- tersley made a motion against allow- ing delegations to talk durin- council's final consideration of tH deal. Parish says, when ACT first heard the item was coming before council, members requested delegation status _ so they could speak on the matter. "We were told at the time by the (regional) clerk's department there wouldn't be any delegations," says Parish. rish says, "We haven't seen the ment, so we don't know what the 2illors will�c oifZ[te document een changed, that's all the more n it should be open to the public." ional chairman Gary Herrema if councillors want to make es to the final document, "I say we'd scrap it." ie deal is off, Metro will have a iva fight" trying to use Brock in Ajax for a dump, Herrema e'd try �IIiina-another site" to -ash. However, "We have no `B' 11 i nursaay April 12, 1990 Dump couldea t . By Lisa Wright TORONTOSTAR Taxpayers in Durham Region will face a 22 per cent increase in this year's regional tax levy unless a $41 million dispute with Metro over the proposed Whitevale dump is resolved. A financial deal between Metro and Durham that would allow the two regions to dump six million tonnes of trash in a landfill near the hamlet of Whitevale, begin- ning in 1992, is now jeopardized by a dispute over payment provi- sions in the contract. Officials refuse to divulge the exact nature of the dispute, how- ever. Negotiators for Metro and Dur- ham have been unable to resolve the deadlock despite several meet- ings over the past two weeks, Councillor Paul Christie of east Toronto said. "It would be foolhardy to walk away at this point," added Christie, the chairman of Metro's works committee. "This is a good deal for everybody." Cut services A portion of the $41 million in upfront payments expected from Metro has already been designat- ed for work on the dump site and related water�7 road projects that are ' ,clues uded in this year's preliminary Durham budget, fi- nance commissioner Jack Gartley said last week. Without the Metro money, Dur- ham residents will face cuts in services or see an additional 10 per cent added to an anticipated 12 per cent regional tax increase, Gartley said. For the average Durham home- owner, that would mean another $30 on top of the $39 increase al- ready expected, bringing the total levy to $399. - Durham tax hike Regional taxes represent 20 per cent of the total tax bill, with taxes to local nicipalities and schools making r the other 80 per cent. "It's v ry difficult," said Gartley, who 1 present the budget to re- gional council next week. "Re- gional council will have to pare down somewhere." The finance committee this week may consider asking council to cut nearly $2 million from vari- ous departments, committees and special projects in the preliminary budget lust to stay within the original 12-per-cent-guideline. But the garbage deal leaves everything hanging in the balance. Over the life of the deal, Metro was to have paid Durham more than $250 million in cash and fees Ta � tied to Continued from page 1 dump fight But the chairman of for the privilege of dumping 4.6 works committee, John million tonnes of trash. dicterda compromise If the deal falls through, Christie reached. said Metro may have to consider other sites identified across Ontar- io, including the controversial site located on the edge of the Rouge Valley. Durham Chairman Gary Herre- ma has hinted that if the negotia- tions fail, dump capacity will be offered to other Metro -area r gions. Durham's Aker, pre - will be "Durham can go alone, but fina- nancially it is much more dif- ficult," he said. "There's a tremen- dous need for landfill sites in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). The various governments seem to have �re t difficulty co-operating in this area, but the crisis will force co-operation." * THE TOR0." 0 STAR Tuesday, May 1, 1990 A7 Metro, Durham- set to sign ` adjusted' dump deal\ By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR A h-for-trash deal between Metro and rham Region has been revived and will likely be signed next week, Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema says. "We've come to an understanding with Metro," he said in an interview yesterday. Herrema would not give details of the changes, other than to say Metro agreed to stick to the original payment schedule foreseen for the proposed Whitevale land- fill. "They took out some thins and made some adjustments on things, he said. He and his Metro counterpart, Alan Tonks, kept the proposed agreement to establish a landfill near Wlutevale alive after Durham politicians threatened to scuttle it. Metro Councillor Paul Christie (East when Metro balked at making the upfront payment before provincial environmental officials confirm a landfill can be safely opened on the 80-hectare (200-acre) site. Another Durham official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, hinted that the province pressured Metro to get the agreement back on track, in order to clear up the future of the Rouge River Valley Toronto), the chairman of Metro's works committee, said he is also confident the deal will now go throw ent b A $41 million up ro Pa fees were Metro and subsequent dump g . expected to pump up to $366 illion into Durham's treasury over five years, begin- ning in 1992. In return, Metro would get the right to dump about 4.6 million tonnes of garbage in the landfill. But the deal ran into trouble recently before a provincial election m Y observ- it ers predict for later this year, A landfill would not have to be built in the environmentally veceatedsa huge uIv rban where the P h if the Whitevale site is de park in Marc , ve1Mp� is expected to send the l agreement to Durham this week so clans can study it before a sTY meeting to be held next v,o Dump 14&1 debated``'' continues Li By Michael Maunder Garbage will likely continue dominating much of the regional scene this week. A May 9 special meeting of Durham council has been called to give final approval to the $91 million regional budget. A budget which the P1 dump deal with Metro is an important factor. i Four delegations are scheduled to appear before council to speak against P1 and the Metro deal. "We haven't even seen the deal with Metro yet," Regional Councillor Bev Morgan complained at Pickering council on Monday. "As we speak, I don't know whether there's an agreement. It will be handed out at Wednesday's meeting. It's like designing a budget based on winning the lottery." Preliminary figures indicate Durham expects to make at least $230 over five years from Metro. A total of $180 million will be used as follows: • $64 million to develop reduction and recycling programs. • $51 million to open and close " �e Pl landfill site. • 35 million to develop a long- fterm garbage plan. 0120 million to purchase Brock North and South sites from Metro to keep them from becoming Metro dumps. • $10 million for general operations. Whitevale resident and financial analyst Richard Jones will be one of the delegates at Continued on Page 9 P 1 dump Continued from Page 1 this week's regional council meeting. He said the region's estimates should be $40 million higher to allow for inflation over the five year agreement. He questioned the $20 million to purchase Brock North and Brock South predicting their market value is much more. Jones also said much of the money earned from the dump must be spent upfront yet revenues will be received near the end. At an earlier meeting, Nigh Bush public school PTA president Marti Coles appeared before Pickering council with 800 letters from concerned residents living along Whites Road. The road has been identified as a possible route for garbage trucks to the P1 site. Regional Councillor Bob residents as uri=gym Whites Road would not be used as a truck route. However Ward 1 Councillor Maurice Brenner was skeptical. "Can we believe the region?" he asked council members. "The same region that said there would be no mega -sites considered in Pickering? The same region that has never shown any sensitivity to the concerns of Pickering residents, their safety or environment?" The final word came from Ward 3 Councillor Rick Johnson. He said he has received several telephone calls from rural residents who are being charged to dump their garbage at Brock West, a Metro Dump. "I hope they (Metro) are not playing hard ball with our community," he said. "The tipping arrangement at Brock West expired on April 30th and is pending the new deal now before regional Mitchell sent letters to area council." mi�urduuluuuuiuuu Illlj��{m1111�Illllll�"'" du �?A� J�rus rn9s; By Michael Maunder The on- oa�n off -again deal on etro and Durham sharing the P1 landfill site is now on -again. Reports indicate Metro has agreed to accept the deal after a month of poker -style negotiations. Acceptance of the deal by Metro means a number of important things here, all with details yet to be confirmed: • Durham will be able to go with the 1990 operating budget it has already put together, calling for a 12 per cent average increase in taxes. Dump proponents predicted a 22 per cent rise and cuts in programs if the deal did not go through. The reason the deal has such financial clout is that Durham expects revenues of $210 million over the life of the dump. Metro and Durham together will dump their garbage at the site near Whitevale until 1996. Yet to be worked out are the amounts Durham will pay for royalties to the province for use of the site, $25 million plus in rehabilitation costs when the dump closes in 1996, and any compensation that might be paid to local residents for safe water measures or rebates to the Town of Pickering on its garbage costs. Opposition to the site will oe redoubled as Durham seeks a certificate of approval under the Environmental Protection Act. Opponents to the location near Whitevale, including P.A.C.T., have a massed a war chest of over $85,000. They will be challenging in the courts the location of the site and demanding the more stringent examination under the Environmental Assessment Act. Pickering cgwidl 4 be fighting the same fight. • It is because of the pending judicial challenges that Metro was re -negotiating the deal. The deal called for $21 million 0 p on again from Metro upfront to fund Metro's share,(approx 75 per cent) of capital cosTs, ng costs, site preparation and excavation, etc. Metro wanted assurances it could get its money back if the site was stopped. Details All of these details —Durham's budget; costs and compensation to come out of the $210 million; court challenges; and details of the Metro up -front payments —will be resolved in the months ahead as the deal proceeds. It is now time to negotiate a good deal for Pickering from Durham, says Pickering Councillor Doug n._ �'kPrson. a_ member of Durham Region's waste management committee. Decision "There is no chance the political decision on the site of P1 is going to change," he said in an interview. "Metro and Durham need the capacity and the choice was made last spring." "We fought the good fight then, and lost it. Now, as a businessman, I have to accept the decision." "My responsibility is to get the best deal for Durham that we can from Metro. And once we've got that, my responsibility is to g.-;—' trBest deal for Pickering from Durham." Future `�— All of the decisions surrounding P1 are an interim solution (til 1996) of the garbage Problems in the Greater Toronto Area. Longer -range plans for the ultimate solution are being searched out by the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee, a difficult one A lot of political leg work and bargaining may pay off this week with a deal between Metro and Durham Regions in the bid to secure a place for an interim dump- site. And while Uxbridge's roads bud- get will benefit from a deal, it may well be struck at the expense of the hamlet of Whitevale in the south- western portion of the region. The dangerously thin line between political leadership and suicide has been stretched beyond any normal bounds, but Durham Regional Council had to make a decision - however unpopular - in the midst of our mounting garbage crisis. Meanwhile, the potential for a huge property tax increase for Durham Region taxpayers loomed largely on the horizon had the deal been scrapped. There was no easy answer in any of this. But there sty 1 remains the fact that a place i needed for our tonnes of waste. Now more t an ever, political leadership at all levels of govern- ment is needed to ease the garbage crisis. Programs, policies and public participation are the keys to our future. Let's take advantage. ALTERNATE DUMP SITE BATHROOM RENOVATIONS DO NOT PAY TILL OCTOBER (OAC) Mathie Plumbing Ltd PHONE 266-BATH Or visit our Retail and Renovation Showroom at: 3355 Kingston Road Scarborough, Ontario (Just West of Markham Rd.) Wednesday's Mirror May, 2, 1990 CONCERNS Dump deal EXPRESSED revived ray By STUART GREEN Toronto area had to nominate V Staff Reporter at least one site. Durham(4114, The site the Metro uses in A multi -million dollar deal Pickering is expected to reach and Metro that would see Durham Region capacity by 1992. take 4.6 million tonnes of Metro Scarborough residents and rn y2V garbage over five years could politicians fought the Rouge DEB BODINE CHAMPION C be signed by next week, but site because of the runoff from Correspondent (� local environmentalists and the dump that could leach into politicians say it may not be the Rouge River. The on-again/off-again garbage the best solution. Robb said the Whitevale site dump deal between Metro and "I'm pleased there is less is less than a kilometre from Durham has apparently been sal - pressure on the Rouge site but the river making it just as en- vaged, despite regional politicians' I ' m not confident that vironmentally inappropriate. reports to the contrary. Whitevale (the Durham site in Mayor Joyce Trimmer said Regional Chairman Gary Herre- north Pickering) is any more she too is concerned about ma said Durham had reached a ver- safe" from an environmental Whitevale and feels that the bal understanding with Metro standpoint, Save the Rouge deal is being fast -tracked as an Toronto. "It's out of our hands. Valley System chairman Jim "easy way out." We've told Metro what conditions Robb said yesterday. "This is a case of despera- we'll accept. It's up to them now." The agreement, being ham- tion on the part of some politi- Durham lawyers are writing up a mered out by Metro Chairman cians," Trimmer told The Mir- deal and Metro Chairman Alan Alan Tonks and Durham ror. "I hope that staff doesn't Tonks has until the end of this week Region Chairman Gary Her- give up trying to find other to sign the deal.Herrema apparently rema, is expected to go before solutions. Durham Council in the next Similarly, Metro Councillor reported that all the extra clauses put few weeks. Ken Morrish (Scarborough into the agreement by Metro without If approved, Metro would Highland Creek), a member of Durham's approval have been delet- pay a start up cost of about $41 the Metro works committee, ed, and that he believes Durham million with additional dump- said a Durham site would " Region will now be able to accept ing fees of about $325 million reduce the need for a Rouge the terms. over five years. site. If the agreement comes back Metro Council last year "But to start dumping on top signed, it could be presented to nominated a site in the Rouge of prime farmland is just Durham Council next week. Valley as a potential dump ridiculous," he said. With the Whitevale dump deal, site. The deal will also have to ap- Durham hopes to make $251 million Under the guidelines of a proved by Metro Council and between 1992 and 1996. garbage authority established the provincial environment Residents =; vale, however, by the provincial government, ministry before the site can be intend to stall the construction of the each region in the Greater used. site by taking the issue to the Supreme Court of Canada. Group set to fight dump deal in court By Lisa Wright TORONTO STAR ' Pickering residents oppos)d to the Whitevale dump will la';,iunnch court action as soon as a lucfative Metro -Durham garbage deal is signed, says a Whitevale com- munity leader. "As soon as the deal is signed, we're ready to go. It's to our advantage to tie them up as long as we can," said Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale resi- dents' association and a member of Pickering -Ajax Citizens' To- gether for the Environment. Metro is expected to send a re- vised legal agreement to Durham this week so politicians can study it before presenting it to a special council meeting for approval next week. Led hy Toronto lawyer Morris Mannin the Pickering group will likely s k a court injunction to stop the evelopment of the 6 million -tonne dump whenever the financial agreement is formally signed, Thomas said in an inter- view yesterday. VNtevale residents, now frus- trated after fighting the dump for more than a year, thought their worries were over when Durham politicians recently threatened to trash the deal. Citizens would have been able to persuade Durham council not to use the site if Metro were out of the picture, said Thomas. But things don't look good now that it is nunored the province helped the deal along, he added. "Let the court action begin. We've got a garbage crisis and we've got to solve it. We're not shrinking violets," said John Aker, chairman of Durham's waste man- agement committee. Manning, Toronto's former anti- drug crusader, has advised White - vale residents that the province and Durham Region have been unfair in their choice of a dump on provincially owned land in their community. Manning has hinted the dump will be fought under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because residents of V hWtevale are being discriminated against on the basis of where they live. Rumors that the province per- suaded Metro to strike a deal with Durham to save the Rouge River Valley from being used as a dump as an election ploy "makes the Charter of Rights case a lot stronger," said Thomas. With dumping fees from the pri- vate sector and $41 million up front from Metro, Durham is ex- pected to get up to $366 million for the use of the site over five years starting in 1992. The Pickering group has raised about $92,000 for legal fees since it started the fight against the dump more than a year ago. Whtevale plans 2-prong challen to garbage dump Whitevale residents say they'll launch a two - pronged court challenge of a Metro -Durham deal that will direct 6 million tonnes of gar- bage to their northern Pickering backyards. Both Metro and Durham Region councils ratified the agreement yesterday. Metro did so without debate; Durham took almost five hours to review the 17-page document line by line before appproving it by a vote of 22 to 9. The deal w. I earn the region from $250 mil- lion to $366 million between 1992 and 1996. But Lloyd Thomas, president of the 250- member Whitevale and District Residents As- sociation, warned the council decisions aren't the end of the battle for dump opponents. The group has retained the services of law- yer Morris Manning to fight the deal with a legal strategy based on the Charter of Rights. Another lawyer, Peter Pickfield, will attack the dump plan on the environmental front, Thomas said. Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said he believes the dump deal will withstand the chal- lenges. "We will have a landfill site and we're going to do it environmentally safe," Herrema said. John Aker, whys the regional works committee, said he's not concerned the legal action will significantly delay the Jan. 1, 1992, opening of the dump. forge ahea,0.,v5-rR1- on dump site ilp near Rouge, report urges By Royson James TORONTO STAR Metro staff is urging councillors to move ahead quickly on the legal steps needed to set up a garbage dump in northeast Scarborough, near the Rouge River Valley. A report from Metro staff recommends council ask Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley "as soon as possible" to ex- empt the Beare Rd. site from a tough and long hearing under the Environmental Assessment Act. Metro should pursue a less bur- densome hearing provided under the Environmental Protection Act, the report recommends. Hearings under the protection act can last a year, but an ass`sment-act hearing can drag for more than seven years. Metro has been looking for alternative dump sites and this week arrived at a tentative deal with Durham Region. It would let Metro send about 4.6 million tonnes of trash to a dump planned for Whitevale in Pickering. The Whitevale site, however, still faces environmental hearings and a court challenge by resi- dents. It must also be approved by the province. Metro nominated the 55-hectare (136-acre) Beare Rd. site, north- east of the Metro zoo, to take up to 5 million tonnes of waste be- tween 1992 and 1996. It's part of a short-term strategy to handle Metro waste until bigger sites are found to take garbage from the entire--GMUR-Mr Metro area on a long-term basis. The report was to be debated yesterday, but the works commit- tee of Metro Council deferred ac- Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer said her council will try everything to rate Metro's ef- forts to dump in r city. And the politicians will ha help from the city's legal staff - well as more than 2,000 residents who support Save the Rouge Valley System, a group fighting to preserve the area's wildlife. "They (Metro) see Scarborough as a patsy, but things have chang- ed," Trimmer said. In light of the provincial an- nouncement that the Rouge River Valley will become the largest urban park in Canada, Metro will "look like idiots in the eyes of the world" for continuing with its plans to dump there, Trimmer said. Apart from the assessment hearing, Metro also faces other OS. Metro must persuade Scarbor- ough to close Finch Ave. between Beare Rd. and the Pickering Town Line as well as Beare Rd. south of the CP Rail tracks. Without the closing of both streets, the capacity of the site would be reduced to 2.2 million tonnes, a staff report says. Trimmer said Scarborough won't voluntarily do that, so the issue may be decided by the Ontario Municipal Board. Metro also has to expropriate property from private landowners to the area. Tonks says the plans for gar- bage in the Rouge have to stay on the table. "We are caught between a rock and a hard place," Tonks said. "We need a place to put our gar- bage by 1993, and there are no happy hosts running to Metro's aid. said if Metro says no now to garbage near the Rouge, it would send the wrong signal to residents of Metro and other Ontario communities considering whether or not they should take some of Metro's garbage. Metro's two landfill sites will be full by 1993. The regions in the greater Metro r are seeking a fon ,folution for the area's garbage, but that won't be avail- able until 1996. Deal reached over dump in Pickering By Leslie Papp TORONTO STAR Metro and Durham Region officials have buried their bicker- ing and reached a new agreement of trash at a Pickering landfill site "It's terrific," Metro to dump up to 6 million tonnes Councillor Paul Christie, chairman of the works committee, said last night. A previous agreement collapsed last month anud confusion over how much money Durham was to receive before environmental ap- proval of the Whitevale landfill area in northern Pickering. That confusion was resolved during several meetings between Metro and Durham officials over the past two weeks. "There was a total misunder- standing ... that had to be clari- fied," Durham Region Chairman Gary Herrema said. After some legal tinkering and a word -by -word review of the deal, an agreement was reached yester- day afternoon. It was to be offi- cially announced today. The deal's terms remain much the same as in April, Herrema said, adding that legal gray areas are gone and the obligations of Metro and Durham have been clarified. "There was some pretty tough negotiation on wording," he noted, adding that at one point he had considered the deal doomed. I was sure it was all over until (Metro Chairman Alan) Tonks and Christie came out here and discussed it with us," Herrema said. Counting dumping fees and $41 million paid up front by Metro, the Whitevale site could earn between $250 million and $366 million for Durham over five years. A January agreement in princi- ple fell through when Durham officials feared they wouldn't re- ceive initial payments until after the landfill site received full envi- ronmental approval. Metro replied Durham could have $20 million up front, with the rest conditional on the site clear- ing all environmental hurdles. That $20 million plan forms the cornerstone of yesterday's agree- ment. Christie (East Toronto) s .1d the two -stage payment plan was art of the original deal, but had to be clarified to the satisfaction of Dur- ham officials. The new agreement "is not fundamentally different," he said. It means Metro and Durham share the financial risk of having the landfill site rejected. In the case of a Vaughan landfill site, Metro stands to lose about $2.5 million in legal and engineer- ing fees after a hearing dismissed its right to a clay deposit near it. The decision by a joint Ontario Municipal and Environmental As- sessment Board slows any hopes Metro has of putting more of its garbage in the Keele Valle land- fill site, Vaughan Mayor IbMa Jackson said. Metro works commissioner Bob Ferguson estimates Metro has spent $2.5 million in legal and engineering fees. ❑ With files from Bruce DeMar I PICKERING - Amid "rumors" and "confusion", parents have written hundreds of letters protesting a pro- posed garbage truck route that the region isn't even considering, says a regional councillor. Several parents' associations are worried about student safety after regional consultants proposed Whites Road as an access route to the plann- ed Pl dump. While Ward 1 regional councillor Bob Mitchell last April sent 3,000 letters to residents stating Whites Road would not be used by garbage trucks, Ward 1 local councillor Maurice Brenner told them the pro- posed route is still on the table. The conflicting information supplied by the two ward councillors sparked a letter campaign by parents and caused a heated argument at Mon- day's council meeting. "There's been no official resolution to remove Whites Road from the table," said Brenner, who outlined a long list of resolutions passed by various government bodies opposing the route. "Why did councillor Mit- chell move a resolution (at Pickering council in February) objecting to the route? When we review the facts, can we afford to trust the region? I'm not prepared to believe anything out of See WHITES ... Page A3 Whites Road a `top choice' FROM PAGE Al regional cou cil without a resolution." Mitchell sfiid he could have "cleared up the c fusion" and "rumors" amongpaents if their calls to Bren- ner had been directed to him. "Metro trucks and regional garbage trucks are not going up Whites Road," said Mitchell. "I can't be any more ex- plicit. We're talking about regional business I know best about." He added, "If my local counterpart annot accept the word of his local +interpart, so be it. Let a resolution ,e and I expect the issue will be 1) Earlier in the meeting, council heard from Marti Coles, represen- tative of a group of parents' associa- tions. Coles said she had 800 protest letters with her that were only a "sam- ple" of more she had at home. She also said she called the region and was told Whites Road was identified as a "top choice" route to the Pi dump. In an interview, Coles said the parents' understanding i that "the recommendations of D Ion (Con- sultants) will stand until resolution is passed through counci If he (Mit- chell) knows it's going to be passed, that's fine, we're happy." 0 a Metro may pur waste in Rouge if Scarborough blocks dump By Ralson James TORONTO STAR .Metro has warned it may dump garbage in & Rouge River Vall if Scarborough won't h , it open a p=dump nearby. _ orough politicians say they won't close sections of two roads to allow a proposed dump near the Rouge River. : Metro has already nominated the site for 5 'on tonnes of waste. But without the road osings, dump capacity would be reduced to 2 million tonnes. The dump site is too close to the river valley And Metro should not be thinking of dumping Oedre, Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer In March, Premier David Peterson an- nounced 4,250 hectares (10,500 acres) will be set aside in the river valley for a provincial But Peterson left 52 hectares (136 acres) what he touted as "the largest urban park in Canada" open for a landfill site. Metro Chairman Alan Tonks warned yester- day if Scarborough refuses to close th road sections, Metro will look at the dump ite in the middle of the planned provincial par "If •Scarborough throws up roadbl and have no sites, no happy hosts, we ve no a'ltebatives" but to dump in the valley, Tonks said. i "We are going all over the provinceg to find a way not to dump in he Rouge, but we I*ve to keep that option open." Trimmer was not un ressed, vowing to fight Metro's plans. Told of Tonks' comments, she said: "Is the Metro chairman threatening Scarbor- Wugh, I wonder? Scarborough is geared up and to do anything possible to stop the dump, ' she said. The problem Metro faces is that it needs dis- posal sites to handle about 17 million tonnes of garbageTERWMi 1992 and 1996. Metro and Durham Region announced akiement on a. dump site in northern Picker- g yesterday to handle 4.6 million tonnes of Metro trash. But Whitevale residents near the site are preparing a court challenge. F4 ECONOMIST & SUN[rMUNE WEEiKSNFDER, JUtiI� i9 Premier to blame Whitevale rallied last week during a tour of the Whitevale dump site with picket signs laying the blame for the site on the shoulders of David Peterson. They were criticised, not surprisingly, by Liberal MPP Carman McClelland of Brampton North as `displaying a great deal of naivete'.,He told reporters that the process of designating a dumpsite has nothing whatever to do with the premier. Well who is being naive? The premier offered the site (Class A farmland) to Durham on the condition that Metro be allowed to dump its garbage there. When he gets down to specifics in a letter to Gary Herrema, Durham regional chairman, he states that short term measures will apply to the interim site at Whitevale under the Environmental Protection Act. (The name is -a misleading as it is a short cut for the more thorough Environmental Assessment Act which will apply only to long term prospects). Peterson is not only involved with this project, he initiated it. The Liberal MPP from Brampton would do well to contain his remarks to his own turf, where presumably he's on firmer soil. Whitevale soil is a little tainted these days. .Jo Ann Stevenson co"sionover'U Roas P1 dump PICKERING - Amid "rumors" and "confusion", parents have written hundreds of letters protesting a pro- posed garbage truck route that the region isn't even considering, says a regional councillor. Several parents' associations are worried about student safety after regional consultants proposed Whites Road as an access route to the plann- ed PI dump. While Ward 1 regional councillor Bob Mitchell last April sent 3,000 letters to residents stating Whites Road would not be used by garbage trucks, Ward 1 local councillor Maurice Brenner told them the pro- posed route is still on the table. The conflicting information supplied by the two ward councillors sparked a letter campaign by parents and caused a heated argument at Mon- day's council meeting. "There's been no official resolution to remove Whites Road from the table," said Brenner, who outlined a long list of resolutions passed by various government bodies opposing the route. "Why did councillor Mit- chell move a resolution (at Pickering council in February) objecting to the route? When we review the facts, can we afford to trust the region? I'm not prepared to believe anything out of See WHITES... Page A3 Whites Road a `top choice' FROM PAGE Al regional cou cil without a resolution." Mitchell s id he could have "cleared up the c� fusion" and -rumors" among pAents if their calls to Bren- ner had been directed to him. "Metro trucks and regional garbage trucks are not going up Whites Road," said Mitchell. "I can't be any more ex- plicit. We're talking about regional business I know best about." He added, "If my local counterpart •annot accept the word of his local anterpart, so be it. Let a resolution �e and I expect the issue will be Earlier in the meeting, council heard from Marti Coles, represen- tative of a group of parents' associa- tions. Coles said she had 800 protest letters with her that were only a "sam- ple" of more she had at home. She also said she called the region and was told Whites Road was identified as a "top choice" route to the P1 dump. In an interview, Coles said the parents' understanding i�- that "the recommendations of D;llon (Con- sultants) will stand until , resolution is passed through councitIf he (Mit- chell) knows it's going to be passed, that's fine, we're happy." Metro may ppu� waste in Rough 0 i Scarborough blocks dump By Royson James TORONTO STAR Metro has warned it may dump garbage in the Rouge River Valley if Scarborough won't h�l it open a proposed if nearby. ,,Scarborough politicians say they won't close sections of two roads to allow a proposed dump near the Rouge River. 'Metro has already nominated the site for 5 r6illion tonnes of waste. But without the road closings, dump capacity would be reduced to 22 million tonnes. The dump site is too close to the river valley and Metro should not be thinking of dumping there, Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer said. In March, Premier David Peterson an- nounced 4,250 hectares (10,500 acres) will be set aside in the river valley for a provincial park. But Peterson left 52 hectares (136 acres) in what he touted as "the largest urban park in Canada" open for a landfill site. Metro Chairman Alan Tonks warned yester- day if Scarborough refuses to close thp. road sections, Metro will look at the dum ite in the middle of the planned provincial par "If Scarborough throws up roadblolks and we have no sites, no happy hosts, we have no alternatives" but to dump in the valley, Tonks said. "We are going all over the province trying to find a way not to dump in he Rouge, but we have to keep that option open." Trimmer was not impressed, vowing to fight Metro's plans. Told of Tonks' comments, she said: "Is the Metro chairman threatening Scarbor- ough, I wonder? Scarborough is geared up and willing to do anything possible to stop the dump," she said. The problem Metro faces is that it needs dis- posal sites to handle about 17 million tonnes of garbage ew i 1992 and 1996. Metro and Durham Region announced agreement on a dump site in northern Picker- ing yesterday to handle 4.6 million tonnes of Metro trash. But Whitevale residents near the site are preparing a court challenge. P4 ECONOMIST & SUN/TRtBUNE WEEKBNDER, ll2a Premier to blame Whitevale rallied last week during a tour of the Whitevale dump site with picket signs laying the blame for the site on the shoulders of David Peterson. They were criticised, not surprisingly, by Liberal MPP Carman McClelland of Brampton North as `displaying a great deal of naivete'.,He told reporters that the process of designating a dumpsite has nothing whatever to do with the premier. Well who is being naive? The premier offered the site (Class A farmland) to Durham on the condition that Metro be allowed to dump its garbage there. When he gets down to specifics in a letter to Gary Herrema, Durham regional chairman, he states that short term measures will apply to the interim site at Whitevale under the Environmental Protection Act. (The name is a misleading as it is a short cut for the more thorough Environmental Assessment Act which will apply only to long term prospects). Peterson is not only involved with this project, he initiated it. The Liberal MPP from Brampton would do well to contain his remarks to his own turf, where presumably he's on firmer soil. Whitevale soil is a little tainted these days. -Jo Ann Stevenson I, - P4 ECONOMIST & SUN/TRIBUNE WEEKENDER, JUIJ f) 1 q _I�j Premier to blame Whitevale rallied last week during a tour of the Whitevale dump site with picket signs laying the blame for the site on the shoulders of David Peterson. They were criticised, not surprisingly, by Liberal MPP Carman McClelland of Brampton North as 'displaying a great deal of naivete'.,He told reporters that the process of designating a dumpsite has nothing whatever to do with the premier. Well who is being naive? The premier offered the site (Class A farmland) to Durham on the condition that Metro be allowed to dump its garbage there. When he gets down to specifics in a letter to Gary Herrema, Durham regional chairman, he states that short term measures will apply to the interim site at Whitevale under the Environmental Protection Act. (The name isA misleading as it is a short cut for the more thorough Environmental Assessment Act which will apply only to long term prospects). Peterson is not only involved with this project, he initiated it. The Liberal MPP from Brampton would do well to contain his remarks to his own turf, where presumably he's on firmer soil. Whitevale soil is a little tainted these days. -Jo Ann Stevenson P4 ECONONUST & SUN/TRIBUNE WEEKENDER, , w,;', I - J( (-'f J�c Premier to blame %itevale rallied last week during a tour of the Whitevale dump site with picket signs laying the blame for the site on the shoulders of David Peterson. They were criticised, not surprisingly, by Liberal MPP Carman McClelland of Brampton North as 'displaying a great deal of naivete'.,He told re orters rocess—oT esignating a durn. site has not ing whatever to do Well who is being naiye? Th�, premier offere (Class A -f�and) to Durham on the condition that Metro e allowed to, dump its �Wfien he gets down to specifics in a letter to Gary Herrema, Durham regional chairman, he states that short term measures will apply to the interim site at Whitevale under the Environmental Protection Act. (The name is a misleading as it is a short cut for the more thorough Environmental Assessment Act which will apply only to long term prospects). Peterson is not only involved with this project, he initiated iL TFe-O—beral MPP from Brampton would do well to contain his remarks to his own turf, where presumably he's on firmer soil. Whitevale soil is a little tainted these days. -jo Ann Stevenson 0.0 E V= ,moo 0 "Moo U-0 <U I',- .0 "MEMO 01-4 CU 0 E M Q) -0 0 0 �: -0 0 .2 �n C: 0 — 0 v 0" .2 > Ln E E >0 C: O> CL E E p- E �2 c: 't U ,2 0 7) Cc: 2 1 ; a, 0 0 :, 0 - -, j� �� ME- if� Z Q -0 (3) E ' Y - d, -00 0 0 U M -T J -0 -2- 0 *U) U �- M O> fc t 0 -D� 0 - U 0 0 E Ir --5 >' a' a' - r- a -0 t'- Lu 0. 0 0- E E Ln > -0 0 0 >M 0 M — U 2 p Ce -r- t.s, � o 0 > 0 (1) qj ul E 0 CL CL �: E 0 0 �h U -0 0 E 0 5 CL -�e C W 0 Q) UO -F -00 46 z " = -0 0 " V) 0 a-0 M a ca ttm-. 0 C- 0 a- �� 0 (V 7U C 10 Q) 0 M � 4 � I t� — - I a) �5 0 M .2: .E M 0,0 .r — W CL U 0 0 r- L(=An V -E 65 > Q 0 0 z M 2 -LA E O> 2co,-Oc2mn CI-0 a — w u 7 u r- 0 , -L' >1 CL � = M > Z: M -2 M -C t- = M � o " (V 0 Ln 0 U C) > 0 'n .5 " M LA a — E o E (n � VO) U —C = �: M 0 2 C�4 — 0 = 4) 0 — = L:n3 0 CN -0 0 a C " Q) L� a) -C E M > — - Q) U Q) N = C 0 r M t� (V 0 -C >, V�I C� �: 0, in — — P OP � :3 E 0 (V a) :E a 0 tw a) 0 -C CL 0 0— CL r. E 0 CL E S? 0 (U 0 4 2 s0zi 0 — E 2tn -=5 �,M *5 , -0 L -0 0 E -0 vi 0 c M C C 0 - 0 Op M M M c E 0- -a 0 V 0 0 0 c> w E - -2 !z E -0 0 U " ,OELOPE -Mm 0 . U 0 -Fa = 0, U (6) -;a C 0) 0,4 Q) 0 v E u 6L Q) r- (u = U-0 0 x E cL m 0. U -0 Q) a) -0 0 E E C) > > 0 rq -ji E Lr, C4 CL U E E W C'. -5 Q). Q) C) . �i- , a) E 0 V 0 tp-c 'Ui 0 E 0 Q, C U) -C (U Q) -C W -C 2 < " :, MD x 0 V < C: E 2 IQ� L I Q) CL -6 > L E 6 r� E 0 E 0,01 tO 0 0 -r- . 0 E -=a 0 -U Q) C :3 E 0 0 (3) 2.s 0 a Q) Fp t� -- -o t '15 v m 2 a- Q) (U C� 2 W V 0 4. -0 C V Ln E (A v) E -U E s .2 E 5 OC, (1) 0 �0- U Q) 0 C) -r- 0 0 5 C C -0 - U M -"e E Of U fu M C.- 0 M> E C 0 V C: M C, U 0 0 C J-- t-- U U AS Monday, June 25, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR LPon't burn Metro trash in Orillia, By Mark Bourrie SPECIAL TO THE STAR ORILLIA — Metro's garbage should not be burned in cottage country, Bob Rae, leader of Ontario's New Democratic Party told a rally of incinerator foes. Opponents of a proposed plant that would burn thousands of tonnes of Metro garbage in Orillia should prepare for a gruelling fight, Rae told about 300 people at a festive protest Saturday. He said his party opposes incinerators because they pose a health hazard. Ogden Martin Systems Ltd., a U.S. waste disposal firm, unveiled plans in April for a $500 million plant to produce electricity by burning waste. Orillia city council has approved a plan to ship 1 million tonnes of trash to fuel an incinerator in the city of 25,000, about 130 kilometres (80 miles) north of Toron- to. Greenpeace organizer Jay Palter said residents should not lose heart, even if the fight against the incinerator takes years. "For every dollar you spend, the company that wants the incinerator and its backers will have to spend $1,000," he said. Organizers had considered cance Ing the day of concerts and speeches du to the poor weather, but decided the tally should go on because hundreds of pe ,ple had ignored the rain and filled the park. Folk singers parodied Orillia Mayor NDP leader says., John Palmer, a vocal supporter of the incinerator, and the Stop Incineration Now group sold all the T-shirts made for the rally. Folk and rock groups played between speeches by medical experts and environ- mentalists, who said the incinerator poses a health threat to Orillia's citizens and is likely to cost the city tourism jobs. Local MPP Al McLean (PC—Simcoe East) said the incinerator should be built in Metro if it is as safe as its backers claim. "Hopefully, this will give our council the message that we're opposed to this, not on the basis of economic reasons but because of concerns for health," organiz- er Bill Tinsley said after the rally. "If Metro Toronto really want an incinerator, they'll have to put it in T ron- to. Then they'll realize that politi ;ians have to do something about packaging. That's the only way to get rid of the gar- bage problem." Al2 Wednesday, July 25, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR 'Wasaga Beach doesn't want county's trash By Royson James 5 TORONTO STAR `A plan to dump up to 30,000 idnnes of garbage a year in the re- ent town of Wasap Beach has sidents and politicians fuming. They say North Simcoe County turning their tourist town into a onal dump at the risk of kill - In g the local tourist industry. North Simcoe has selected the gown's municipal clump as one of two sites that will receive garbage from six towns in the county. As of Aug. 1, the towns will have no place to dump their waste. Tiny, Tay, Penetanguishene, Midland, Port McNicoll and Victo- ria -Harbour have been dumping at the Metro Toronto site at Keele Valley in Maple for several years. .Theircontract runs out in Au- gust and the county, which over- sees waste disposal, must find a new dump. The county chose Wasaga Beach and Nottawasaga Township as regional sites last week. Local residents will not take the county's plan sitting down, said Reeve Dennis Wilson. He has al- ready threatened to quit the coun- ty's waste management commit- tee, and he says he will fight the plans on the council floor. "Our only draw is our clear. pollution -free beaches," he said yesterday in an interview. "The smallest hint of pollution and we might as well close down." Wasaga t3each town council has asked to delay the arrival of the garbage for 90 days. Meanwhile, it is marshalling forces for a battle with the county over the plans. "There is no way they are going to kill this resort town with gar- bage," said Manuel Antunes, a Wasaga Beach real estate broker and a former deputy reeve. "We have to Join forces to fight this thing to the highest court in Cana- da." The provincial government made Wasaga Beach a tourist town in the 1970s by spending $40 million to acquire 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) of beachfront property as a provincial park, Wil- son said. "Tourism is the town's only industry, attracting as many as 200,000 people on a weekend," Wilson said. "I don't think half the garbage produced in the county should be going into a significant tourist area." The 20-hectare (50-acre) dump in Wasaga Beach now handles about 5,700 tonnes of the town's garbage each year. At that rate, the dump would take 15 years to fill up. But if the county's plans go through, the site would be full in three years. Under new provincial le ' la- tion, Bill 201,, the county akes over responsibility for tv age disposal- next February. The bill gives the county jurisdiction over dump sites. Social impact'OrficluLde� in EPA study of P1 site 40 By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Social impacts will be considered when hearings begin into the suitability of the P1 landfill site for a dump. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner says she was "delighted" to get in writing a confirmation from the min- istry of environment on the issue. Last week, the province con- firmed the site will be exempt from an Environmental Assessment Act. "The length of time required to com- plete such a process would substan- tially exceed the date of landfill exhaustion for the Greater Toronto Area..." said environment minister Jim Bradley. Instead, the site will be subject to a less stringent Environmental Protection Act hear- ing. However, Stoner says now that the social impact study will be included in the board hearings, the only difference between the EPA and the EAA is that an alternate site search would be done in an EAA. "(But) obviously I would prefer to have the full EAA," she says. The social impact study will take into account the impact on nearby residents from the truck routes, dust, noise and odor, says Stoner. The hearing board will listen to evidence from Durham region, who will own and operate the dump, and from concerned residents. Stoner says the region will try and say there is no social impact. However, residents will "be much much more concerned" about impacts. Whitevale residents have raised money to fight the dump, says Stoner. They wanted a "guarantee" that they could make a presentation at the hearing especially with respect to dump impacts on the community. Now they have the guarani e, she says. If the board finds that there is a great social impact from the dump on the residents it could turn down the region's application to construct P1, Stoner says. One of the largest impacts the dump will have on residents will be the odor. Stoner says the Brock West Landfill Site has a terrible odor com- ing from it. However, Art Leitch, director of operations for the region says P1 will be a "state of the art" landfill with little or no odor. Leitch says the composting programs that will be in full swing by the time the dump is ready in 1992 will wipe out any odor problem. "Baloney," says Stoner. She claims that meat by-products, which cause one of the worst smells, can't be composted. Also, Metro is behind on recy- cling programs and "hasn't done a good job of educating people" about the importance of recycling, she says. Stoner says Metro offers twice -a - week municipal garbage pick up. Stoner says by allowing residents to put garbage out twice "they're more or less saying fulfill your duty (and put out more trash)." Metro should cut its trash pick-up to once a week and put more money into recyeliog programs, she says. The ministry's formal annout>cs ment about PI being exempt from r EAA "isn't really going to httve! effect" on the election camptl says Stoner, noting that the peo0lil said a year ago any GTA conk, cy site would only be subjW 1tt EPA. But, "we did manage tU 10 dki social impact hearing and pleased," Stoner says. t Lawyers predicted to move "soon" on.- P I dump fight WHITEVALE - Lawyers repre- senting PACT and Whitevale resi- dents on the issue of the P1 dump are expected to move "anytime now". Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association, says lawyers Morris Manning and Peter Pickford are in the process of "getting final paper- work done" now that the province has agreed the dump will be exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act. The province's decision means the proposed landfill site near Whitevale will be scrutinized under the less stringent Environmental Protection Act. "The lawyers can go anytime now; I expect it will happen very soon," says Thomas. The attorneys are to attack the choice of the Whitevale site from both an environ- mental angle and on the premise it violates the Charter of Rights. The region received notification from the ministry of the environment July 24 that the landfill will be exempt from the EAA process. But a number of conditions are attached to the exemption, including that the region set up a residents' advisory committee to address complaints and to suggest methods to reduce off -site impacts. "I think (Whitevale residents should be on it," says Thomas "although I'm not sure what it' going to buy us. We have to do everything we can." He adds the committee will be "meaningless" unless local residents are on it. Being par!! of such a com- mittee won't force local residents to acknowledge the Pkdump as reality, he says. "We're going in all directions. It's just another direction we're going to have to follow through." Thomas says he welcomes the ministry's conditions, but calls the stipulation that any municipality using the dump achieve a 25—per cent waste diversion target "ironic" because Metro will have until Dec. 31, 1992 to achieve that target, while the dump could open months earlier. "It's going to be difficult for Metro to attain," he says. "'They have a long way to go. What we're seeing is the ministry has bark, but no teeth." Thomas says he "has a real con- flict" because he's a member of a task force looking at ways Metro can reduce its waste. "Now it's not to my interests to reduce Metro's waste," he says. "I'm torn between a rock and a hard place." it Z: 6;_ ' Metro's tennis courts, parks considered for trash dumps By Royson James TORONTO STAR Parks, buildings and tennis courts could become garbage dumps under an emergency trash plan to be considered by Metro Council. Other emergency measures — suggested in case Metro finds no new dump site when current ones are full — include storing the gar- bage on the Toronto Islands, charging residents per bag of gar- bage, and a ban in Metro's municipal dumps on waste pro- duced by private companies. "I want a report from the com- missioner telling us what parks Rouge plan 'obscene'/A6 What The Star says/A22 we will have to dump in, how to keep the rats away, what we will do," said Metro Councillor Joan King (Seneca Heights) yesterday. "The clock is ticking and we have no solution," King said in calling for the emergency plan. "Let's get this plan going. We've run out of time." The emergency plan is to be put before council's works committee Please see TRASH/back page _ _A, A26 Thursday, August 2, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR Trash woes may mean dumps' in parks and tennis courts Continued from page Al in September. Councillors said yesterday the plan is needed because nobody wants Metro's waste. Its two dumps at Brock West in Pickering and Keele Valley in Vaughan will be full by the end of 1993 or earlier. Committee members were told by staff that none of the proposed new dump sites will be ready for garbage before "early- to mid- 1993 at the earliest." And that deadline would only be met if residents put up a minimum of opposition. "Unless a miracle occurs, and it seems increasingly that it's going to take a miracle, we won't have a site in time," said Councillor Rich- ard Gilbert (Davenport). The emergency plan was called for as Metro Council approved a series of moves aimed at securing new landfill sites. The works committP . Ve. prday also voted to: ❑ Approve a deal worth at least $362 million to send waste by rail to an abandoned iron -ore pit mine near Kirkland Lake, 600 kilo- metres north of Metro. ❑ Approve another conditional deal to lease a site in Marmora, 220 kilometres northeast of Toronto, to dump up to 25 million tonnes of garbage into another abandoned mine. ❑ Continue negotiations with the southwestern Ontario town of Petrolia to take a year's worth of Metro's waste for $32 million. ❑ Apply to the environment ministry to dump about 5 million tonnes of waste at a site near the Rouge River Valley. ❑ Spend more than $2 million on engineering tests to learn whether sites in Kirkland Lake, Marmora, Plympton Township (near Petrolia) and Orillia are suitable for waste. Works commissioner Bob Ferguson said that, if tests show the four sites are suitable for gar- bage, Metro will apply to the prov- ince for a licence to dump at them, even if the town councils are not in favor. But despite the multi -million dollar agreements, Ferguson said he is no longer optimistic about finding a short-term solution to the problem without Queen's Park intervening in the crisis. "I'll only be more optimistic if the province is willing to cut through the red tape surrounding the environmental approval proc- ess," Ferguson said. "We need their help," he said. The provincial government will have to change the rules, if no one is willing to take Metro's waste, the politicians argued yesterday. Under provincial rules set up for the approval of sites to handle Metro's waste between 1992 and 1996, only proposals with "willing hosts" will be considered. On v Kirk nd Lake and Kapus- kasing councils have agreed to take Metro's waste. But both proposals are expected to take so long to approve that the sites may not be ready until 1996. tras called `an act of vandalism' By Royson James TORONTO STAR In a series of blockbuster deals that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, Metro politicians have moved to secure a garbage dump. The deals are sure to infuriate citizens across the province who have said they don't want Metro garbage buried near their homes. Metro's works committee voted 5-2 yesterday to apply to the province's environment ministry for the right to dump near the Rouge River Valley, and to explore the possibility of using a bigger site in the middle of the provincial park planned for the valley. The plan to dump trash in the Rouge angered a group of Metro residents who warned the politicians are in for a fight. "I don't think this committee heard what the public is saying. There will not be garbage in the Rouge," shouted Robert James as the voting took place. James, who lives in northeastern Scarborough near the proposed dump site, had plenty of support from others who called the Rouge dump plans "obscene and immoral." "This is an act of vandalism," said Stephen Marshall of Save the Rouge Valley Systems. He said the dump would destroy the habitat of high -profile species such as the bald eagle. Kay Mehren of the Metro zoo told the committee a dump near the Rouge would likely make zoo animals sick. The incidence of disease has dropped among the animals since Metro closed another dump in 1983, just south of the proposed one, she said. The works committee yesterday also voted to: ❑ Approve a deal worth at least $362 million to send waste by rail to Kirkland Lake, 600 kilometres (400 miles) north of Metro. O Approve another conditional deal to lease a site in Marmora. 220 kilometres (130 miles) northeast of Toronto, to dump about 25 million tonnes of garbage into a former mine. ❑ Continue negotiating with Petrolia in southwestern Ontario to use its municipal dump for about a year's worth of Metro trash. O Spend more than $2 million on engineering tests to learn whether sites in Kirkland Lake, Marmora, Plympton Township (near Petrolia) and Orillia are suitable for waste. "We are not going to use all of them, but we need more than one," works commissioner Bob Ferguson said. Town councils near Kirkland Lake welcome Metro's waste as an economic boon to a area rocked by the closing of several mines. The towns near the former Dofasco iron - ore pit mine are to get $600,000 a year from Metro. They will also share $250,000 a year for private -sector research and development. Metro has agreed to build a recycling plant to take 120,000 tonnes a year of blue box material. In all, the deal could mean 250 jobs and at least $362 million over 25 years. In Marmora, Metro has been unable to negotiate a deal with the town councils in the area, which oppose taking the trash. If Metro can get provincial approv ls, it would pay the private firm Ambro Enterprises $8.33 per tonne to dump ip to 25 million tonnes of waste into an aband ned mine pit. Once approved, the town would get about $2 million to $3 million in royalties, plus 100 jobs, said John Beck, president of Ambro r Enterprises. In Petrolia, a deal that would have allowed Metro to dump 2.5 million tonnes of waste fo $32.75 million appears dead. Friday, August 3, 1990, THE TORONTO STAR * �Vletro trash bill forecast to jump 4,50.2 million in extra costs estimated after 1994 for dumps and recycling R By Royson James TORONTO�STAR A private report says Metro residents will 1,�oon be paying millions more in taxes to stash their trash far away from their back- yards. The report to Metro Council's works com- mittee says that after 1994 taxpayers will :)gave to pay an estimated $50.2 million more .than they do now to dispose of and recycle waste. .'And Metro could lose an additional $61.6 million a year in dumping fees it now puts ..into. a reserve fund, the report says. The -costs are a direct result of plans to ship our =>waste to faraway places and the fact that flew communities want Metro's trash — even in exchange for loads of cash. The report blames provincial government policy for much of the added waste man- agement costs, estimated at $111.8 million. The new costs include $25.2 million to transport garbage by rail to communities like Kirkland Lake — an amount equal to what Metro now pays to manage all its household waste at two landfills — and $25 million more for blue box recycling after the province stops paying a share of the program's cost. "We have known that a new day will be upon us," said Metro Chairman Alan Tonks yesterday. "People have to accept that it will be costly" to manage waste in the future. Councillor Dick O'Brien (Markland Centennial) said the province is hindering Metro's efforts to solve its garbage crisis. "They forced us to take garbage from other Ontario municipalities when they didn't have a site and now they want us to find a willing host to accept ours." Politicians say the provincial policy of only approving garbage sites in municipal- ities that are "willing hosts" has caused the price of dumps to skyrocket. "They (landowners) know Metro is in dire straits and they are sticking it to us," said Councillor Ken Morrish (Scarborough Highland Creek). The "willing host" clause has forced Metro to cast a wide net all over Ontario at a cost of millions of dollars, he said. sites prove environmentally sound there i no guarantee of community acceptance Momsh complained. "It's ridiculous ... when there are hun dreds of sites across the province when only the odd bear goes by in a year." Metro now charges private companie; about $97 a tonne to dump in its landfills u Pickering and Vaughan. The money is pu in a reserve fund, now nearing $200 million that is used to fund the search for new gar bage dumps. But when the Metro dumps close by 1993 much of the money raised through the fee will go to the host community or the owne m,f the dump site costing Metro about $61 1 Preliminary test drilling at just four sites illion a year in lost revenue, the repor is expected to cost $2 million, yet even if the estimates. a co w 0.0w Wg° o ° W o,rs5-o -I t')Q.. z tan o ID A �u4. � oCJ5�..'Ra gww�sv p AZL ° �wt�° °o �i a =E0�ya n 1 .. o- o °� CD 0 CD z r- a. r� Rae pins garbage' crisis on Liberals kyvl*� By William Walker TORONTO STAR The Liberal government's unwillingness to get tough with its corporate friends has led to a complete failure to deal with Metro's garbage crisis, New Democratic Party leader Bob Rae says. "The decisions about garbage are being made in the boardrooms of this province .. . by companies with a very strong stake in this issue," Rae said after he saw mountains of paper, metal and glass at Quebec and Ontario Recycling Ltd. on Commissioners St. on the Toronto waterfront. 7_ company Rae toured dea.. ✓ith 1,400 tonnes of newsprint and 300 tonnes �, f glass, metals and plastic a ch week — three times its planed capacity. That's largely due to the success of the Metro area's blue box recycling program. Liberal 'excuse' But Rae said the blue box program has been the Liberal government's excuse for inaction on more important environmental issues: Reducing packaging and regulating use of more refillable and reusable containers. "The public needs a solution that relies on reducing the amount of arbage coming into the stream, ' he said. "For example, when it comes to pop cans, why not get us to the point where we have refillables? We do refillables for beer. It works for 98 per cent of the beer bottles sold in the province. It's a good system. Why not use that system for ;other containers? It ikes good sense. But it woo- .!regwre a tough decision from the government of Ontario. More than anything else, it would require a decision that would take on industry." Rae was once again accusing TONY BOM TORONTO STAR SUMMER OF 42: New Democrat leader Bob Rae eats a slice of birthday cake courtesy of Xenia Mueller at the Hamilton Farmers Market. Rae turned 42 yesterday. the Liberals of failing to crack down on their corporate friends, which has been the major theme of his attack on Premier David Peterson's government in this election campaign. "Everyone knows we're in a garbage crisis. The blue box program cannot deal with this crisis," he said. Despite its popularity with the public, the blue box program has reduced waste by only about 2 per cent, even though the Liberals boasted of planning to reduce waste to landfills by half, Rae said. But a blue -box -only policy is what "industry imposed on'the the government, he said. An NDP government would legislate to make pop cans refillable and other packaging reusable, he said. The party would also set a target to reduce packaging by 50 per cent. Rae said costs involved would be shared between the public and private sector, but had no exact figures. "We need a tough provincial approach to garbage," he said. The Liberals' failure is so complete that now there is talk of "filling up tennis courts and filling up our parks with garbage" while rural areas balk at becoming dump sites for city trash, he said. But the president of the recycling firm Rae toured didn't agree that the Liberal government has failed. "I personally think the Liberal government has been doing a pretty good job at this, actually," said Vincent Benvenuti. "They've been very, very supportive in terms of policies for recycling. They have many, many programs to aid municipalities. They've done a fairly good job at it," he told reporters after showing Rae around. Last night in Sudbury, Rae reiterated longstanding party policy on auto insurance, saying Ontario needs a non-profit government -run system now more than ever. He said he would tell auto insurers they were no longer needed if the NDP formed a government. "I'll say gentlemen, the door opens out. We will write insurance for ourselves. We don't need you anymore." He reconfirmed to reporters later that lie would indeed advocate ublic auto insurance during thi�election to replace the so-call-d no-fault insurance legislation passed by the Liberal government, which severely restricts the rights of accident victims to sue for compensation. "We have the worst possible situation now (under no-fault)," Rae told reporters. "I've heard evidence already of $200, $300 and $500 increases for six- month policies. That's incredible." Rae said an NDP public auto insurance system would restore victims' rights to sue for damages, as government plans allow in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Rae also said that he is convinced that a government - run system, by wiping out "excessive profits" now earned by insurers, would mean lower premiums. He said the NDP will talk more about the issue later in the campaign. Premier would allow du'-"*4mp site in ll*gBy William Walker TORONTO STAR More coverage/A10 A picturesque walking tour through Rouge River parkland turned into a controversy yes- terday for Premier David Peter- son over the possibility of a garbage dump site in the valley. In the end, Peterson refused to rule out a garbage dump in the area, which Ontario is spending $1.5 billion to protect. As he posed for television shots surrounded by placard - waving party supporters, the Premier was accosted on the banks of the Rouge River by local resident Marilynne Pitch- er. "You have the ability as Premier of this province in a majority government to say, 'I don't think there should be a dump here'," Pitcher told Peterson, who was decked out in sneakers, jeans and a red sweatshirt. "Well, you see, there is due process here that has to be re- spected," the Premier replied. Noting that garbage dump sites are highly controversial, Peterson said he doesn't want to dictate which community will get stuck with Metro's overflowing trash. Pitcher told Peterson that his government's decision to de- clare the Rouge parkland is "wonderful" but won't make much sense if a dump is locat- ed there. "I understand your feelings," Peterson replied, "but people right across this, province, no- body wants landfill. Nobody." "I think you have to admit this situation is a little different because now we' a talking about a park," Pitcher shot back. "Now, is garbage going Please see PRENH ER/R/page A10 Premier won't Yale out dump Continued from page Al to go i to the park or not?" "Ev hing that is done will be thoroughly scruti 'zed. If anything is done, the integrity of the site I be well looked at," Peterson said. "I'm not the dictator, saying it must go here or not go here." After Peterson moved on, Pitcher said the Premier's answers left her unsatisfied. "I think he's smooth," she said. Pitcher said she doesn't belong to any of the organized environmental groups dogging Peterson during the campaign. She said she's just a concerned resident from Liberal incumbent Alvin Curling's Scarborough North riding. Later, when pressed by reporters about why he can't stop a dump site at the park, Peterson said the decision rests with Metro Council. "They have the ultimate power. It is their responsibility, not ours," he said. The province's only role is a regulatory one, to ensure environmental laws are not broken, he said. "I'm not in a position to tell them (a dump) must go here, or there, or any other place," he said. Peterson refused to say how he feels about dumping garbage in the Rouge River park because he said he doesn't want to jeopardize "the integrity of the process." The Premier scoffed at Ottawa's threat to withdraw its promised $10 million funding for the park if a dump is located there. "Frankly, the $10 million from the federal government wouldn't even buy coffee for the Save the Rouge group. I mean, that's the reality ... Ask me if I'm holding my breath." During a stop in Niagara -on -the -Lake yesterday afternoon, Peterson took some heat for calling an election just three years into his term. When questioned by Eva McMahon of St. Catharines, Peterson just urged her to support the "good guys," his favorite phrase when meeting people on the campaign. But McMahon told him, "I used to think you were the good guys. But for the first time in my life I think I'm going to vote NDP." "No kidding?" Peterson said.. "I've never voted NDP, and I don't want to, but I don't know who to vote for," she added. "I am so disillusioned," she told reporters later. "People who try to work are taxed beyond belief. People who need help often don't get it. This election, as far as I'm concerned, is totally uncalled for. Mr. Peterson already has a big majority." Another person who met Peterson, Patrick McEachran of Scarborough said, "He never should have called an election. "He's not doing a good job in Ontario," McEachran said. "He's not vocal enough against the Prime Minister. I don't think he speaks up against the federal government enough and I don't like his close relationship with (Quebec Premier Robert) Bourassa." r TONY UU(.; /I UMUNIV 0 1 J TREE ROUTE: Premier David Peterson walks through Rouge River parkland yesterday followed by party faithful, including Scarborough North incumbent Alvin Curling, left. ND15's Rae lashes Grits at " -1 site By Michael Maunder Ontario NDP leader Bob Rae toured the P-1 Pickering dump site Tuesday to introduce some hopeful NDP candidates to the media and lash out at Premier David Peterson. He used the tour to rehash claims he has made that the Liberals are bought and paid for by the development industry. Referring to a plan by Laidlaw Waste Systems to expand a 20-acre dump near Newcastle to a 140-acre landfill, he pointed to ties between Laidlaw, developer Marco Muzzo and Liberal campaign donations. Farmland "The Liberal sellout to their corporate friends is endangering prime farmland," he said in his press release. Local NDP candidate Jim Wiseman criticized comments made by the premier Monday when Peterson walked the Rouge Valley and refused to protect a possible landfill site in the park. "It's hypocritical of Peterson to say in that case the process must work without his intervention," said Wiseman. "But in the case of the P-1 site, he already suspended the regular EAA assessment of the site." "Look at this corn," he said Nomination of the P-1 site. Wiseman is a high school "It's taller than I am. But teacher who ran third behind they want to use it for garbage." Norah Stoner in the 1987 Policy election. It is expected he will be acclaimed NDP candidate Wiseman was a founding for Durham West at the NDP member of I A.C.T. and is also nomination meeting Thursday a contributor to the NDP's night. environmental committee. This He said he is an committee worked over the last environmental activist because, two years to prepare a policy over the years, he has seen the on the environment to be environment deteriorating all presented to the party around him. convention this fall. The Bav News, August 8.1990 0 Ontario NDP leader Bob Rae is flanked by the two local candidates for the Sept. 6 election — Drummond White and Jim Wiseman — during his visit to the proposed P-1 dump site at Whitevale. (James Yorke photo) THE NEWS ADVERTISER, AUGUST S, 1"0--PAGE 3-A 1 I Metro eyes the Rouge for a dump F.W"PICKERING - Metro Toronto's proposal to dump in the Rouge Valley is "an obnoxious attempt at vandalism" that it won't get away with, says Save The Rouge Valley System chairman Steve Marshall. "I'm somewhat surprised Metro politicians don't seem to be on the same wavelength as other levels of government," says Marshall. "They're not going to do it. Should it come down to it, there won't be a shortage of people who would place themselves in front of bulldozers." Metro's works committee Aug. 1 voted in favor of applying to the province for the right to dump near the Rouge Valley. Metro is also look- ing at the possibility of dumping in the middle of a provincial park planned for the valley. Marshall says the SRVS is "disap- pointed and frustrated" with Metro's plans. He says it's "hard to believe" the provincial government would approve the idea after designating the valley a heritage park. A dump in or near the Rouge Valley would have serious effects on wildlife, says Marshall. "A dump is a serious source of disease that would be transmitted to wildlife, and through wildlife to the (Metro) zoo animals," he says. "Polluted run-off would affect the river forever and (a dump) would involve bulldozing centuries -old woodlots. " Marshall says the SRVS will do everything it can to keep a dump out of the valley. Residents' committee to form before P 1 dump site is opened DURHAM - A residents' com- mittee to address complaints about the proposed P1 landfill site in Whitevale will be in place before the dump's scheduled opening in 1992. The province said that hearings on the suitability of the land for a dump be heard under the Environmental Protection Act, a less stringent but faster process than the Environmental Assessment Act. However, the province attached eight conditions to the exemption from the EAA. One of those was the formation of the residents' committee to "address complaints and suggest La th rTa-raduce off -site impacts result of the landfill opera- tion." The terms of reference of the committee shall be established by the Provisional Certificate of Approval under part five of the EPA "if one is issued for the land- fill," says the province. Other conditions of the EAA exemption include the establish- ment of a Municipal -Regional Waste Diversion Committee to monitor waste haulers and to develop programs and policies to divert waste from landfills. The committee will consist of representatives from local resi- dents' associations, environmental interest groups, commercial and industrial business associations and staff of local municipalities and Durham region. C L TOM' BOCNTORONTO STAR MURKY MYSTERY: New Democrat leader Bob Rae peers at samples collected by Newcastle -area farmers who fear a landfill site Is slowly poisoning their water supply. Big business setting on garbage crisis, Rt By Paula Todd TORONTOSTAR NEWCASTLE — The children no longer bathe in or drink from now -clouded streams curling through their farms. Cows abort their calves. Dump trucks roar over rolling hills, rattling kitch- en window panes. This, residents say, is life near a 20-acre landfill owned by Laidlaw Waste Systems, poten- tial host to up to 7.5 million tonnes of garbage if the Ontario government grants a 100-acre expansion, says New Democrat- ic Party leader Bob Rae. Decisions about waste dispos- al are being made in corporate boardrooms by "companies which profit from the amount of garbage that's produced," Rae sai 1 during an election cam- pai n stop yesterday. "I you allow the expansion of sites to the extent that's being contemplated by the Peterson government —here by six -fold — you take away any incentive for a reduction in garbage. "The only way Laidlaw is going to make money out of this project is by a massive expan- sion of the amount of garbage that it processes." Rae told about 70 protesters opposing the expansion the "Liberal party is the party of garbage production because their friends are making a lot of money from it." A 600-acre dairy farm beside the former gravel pit has been in the family of Glen Stapleton, 53, for 140 years. Several years ago, the Stapleton noticed an in- crease in cows spontaneously aborting after grazing near a creek downstream from the 20- year-old landfill. That stopped when they moved the cows, but Stapleton dreads the 100-acre expansion. "If they start dumping 30 feet deep, then I figure they're gonna pollute our water. And who agenda ze charges wants to drink milk from cows that are drinking polluted water?" Farmer Elgin Heard, 56, gave Rae two jars containing water samples taken yesterday morn- ing. One, drawn from water above the landfill, was clear, the other, from Heard's creek down- stream of the dump, was cloud- ed and contained particles. Laidlaw division manager Don Tefft pointed out that few people live in the area and said the landfill will be "probably the most modern, environmentally safe landfill site in the world." Rae said an NDP government would: ❑ Reinstate quotas eased by the Liberals that require soft drink companies to sell at least 30 per cent of their product in refillable bottles. ❑ Introduce stringent laws against excessive packaging. ❑ Make environmental review mandatory for all landfill sites. PAGE 6-A-THE NEWS ADVERTISER, AUGUST 8, 1990 100 mucn talk, not enough action �&,oe:U How many times have you heard in the last year that Metro Toronto has a garbage crisis? To our mind, too many times. Unfortunately, that's all we've heard. There's been virtually no talk of how Metro plans to deal with this crisis, other than to fast track landfill site approvals. Now Metro's works committee has voted to ask the province for the right to dump near the Rouge Valley. The committee members are also looking at creating a dump in the middle of the provincial park planned for the valley. The provincial government, which announced the park this year, should immediately come out against this plan to prevent it from going any'further. Dropping a dump in the middle of a natural park is a ludicrous idea but, as we've come to learn, it's entirely possible that some- body, somewhere in the Metro political and bureaucratic process is in favor of it. Yes, Metro has a garbage crisis but it's one of its own making. The solution should also be one of its own making. The only points .Metro gets for this one is that it's trying to find a solution within its m borders. But this dump -in -the -park idea deserves no more consideration. It should be squashed by the province right now. That goes for the exemption from an EAA hearing for the P1 dump site as well. Just because Metro's neglected to plan for the future is no reason for the province to grant this exemption. Metro should be told to come up with reasonable solutions to its problem, not ones that abuse the environment and the residents of areas outside the city. t KA1 Wt Ir"ty TO THE MANNA REWOM AREA TO CAET AWAI WO Dump could harm zoo animals Metro Toronto Zoo officials call a proposed garbage dump for Scarborough's Rouge Valley a breeding round for harmful bacteria and a potential health hazard for their animals. r. Bill Rapley, the zoo's executive director of biology and conser- vati p, told Metro's works committee last week that garbage attracts rodeAts and gulls and that these animals could, in turn, infect valu- able a' d rare species. e 55-hectare (136-acre) landfill site, which is part of a planned 4,250-hectare (10,5010-acre) park in the Rouge Valley, is a kilometre (0.6 miles) from the zoo and easily accessible by birds. "It's difficult to quantify the risk ... but it must be recognized that free -ranging native animals are potential (carriers) for d�sAes9e.�' Salmonella and various viral and parasitic diseases couldjeopard- ize the zoo's live collection. Rapley told the committt'- M ring -billed gull, due to feed ing habits, presents the most likely source for disease. Sf-, lL ci 1a Metro threatened by more trash By Royson James TORONTOSTAR More than a million tonnes of out-of-town garbage could be dumped in Metro's landfill sites at a time when the garbage crunch is at its peak, Metro officials say. And Metro won't be able to do anything because the province will force it to take the trash, says Councillor Paul Christie, Metro's works committee chairman. Metro has already been told its Keele Val- ley site in Vaughan must take garbage from six North Simcoe County municipalities for another three months. About 30,000 tonnes of garbage a year come to Keele Valley from the towns of Penetanguishene and Midland, the villages of Port McNicoll and Victoria Harbour and Tiny and Tay townships. 414 Whmitevale only ID ' MPSite Peel holds back on GTA And Metro expects an order from the province telling it Orangeville's waste must also go to Keele Valley because the town has no dump site. As the shortage of garbage dumps around the province worsens, Metro will be asked to dispose of waste from several Ontario com- munities, especially those in southern Ontar- io, councillors warn. For example: ❑ Since last August, the City of Peterbor- ough has been asking to dump at Keele Val- ley until its site is ready in 1995. ❑ Brock West in Pickering, the other dump operated by Metro, is expected to close next year, so Keele Valley will have to take about 250,000 tonnes of Durham Region's waste. ❑ Peel's site at Britannia Rd. is also expect- DURHAM - Durham's proposed P1 garbage dump is still the only landfill site on the GTA's table, after the region of Peel failed to join the GTA at its Aug. 10 meeting. Peel was to consider joining the GTA at a council meeting last Thursday. A contingency landfill site, recommended by regional chairman Frank Bean, was also on the meeting's agenda for con- sideration. GTA chairman and Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema had said in an interview he expected Peel would join the GTA and offer the landfill site once it was assured the landfill site ed to be full next year, diverting about 700,- 000 tonnes of waste to the Metro site ❑ The closing of several priva : sites around the province, such as Steetl y near Hamilton, is channelling more waste to Metro. Steetley alone means an extra 100,000 tonnes a year of construction and demolition debris are bound for Metro's dump. Christie (East Toronto) said although Metro is helping out other municipalities, the three provincial party leaders are travelling the campaign trail "poisoning communities' feelings against Metro Toronto." Christie had particularly harsh words for Premier David Peterson who told a Trenton group last weer that they had no more re- sponsibility to take Metro's w#s}- 'than Metro had to take theirs. would be used in the short-term only. But Donna Pajeska of the Peel clerk's department says council "did not come up with any concrete decision" at Thursday's meeting. Instead, says Pajeska, Peel will hold a series of public meetings before considering "a number of recommendations." Pajeska says the region's prefer- red landfill site is an area known as 6B in Brampton. She could not elaborate further on the location of the proposed landfill site. Another idea council is considering is the ex- pansion of Mississauga's Brittania landfill, where the region present- ly dumps. Peel's agreement to dump at Brittania expires next May. Pajeska says the region ill hold public meetings in both Mississauga and Brampton and will present "an entire waste management package" to residents before making any decisions. Other regions under the GTA um- brella include York, Metro Toron- to and Halton, none of which have identified a short-term landfill site. A C TL .......J. A.......+ -1 G -1 nnn TL]r TmmnhiTn CTAr!) L Garbage crisis nearer, By Royson James TORONTO STAR A Metro Council vote that may have saved the Rouge River Valley from a dump site has pushed the garbage crisis nearer Metro's door, Chairman Alan Tonks says. The vote last night is "very disconcert- ing and very naive. We have really de- luded the people tonight with this mano- euvre into thinking we can avert the ulti- mate decision," Tonks said. Metro will likely have to now apply for another site, north of the one rejected last night, and right in the provincial park an- nounced by Premier David Peterson earli- er this year, he said. "This is far from over." Council voted 15-14 to apply for a dump site near Scarborough's Roug. River under the Environmental Assessm,.nt Act, a process that could take up to 10 years to get approval. The works committee had recommend- ed Metro apply under the Environmental Protection Act, a shortened process that could have had the site ready in two to three years when Metro's two current dump sites are full. But by opting for the longer environ- mental assessment process, council has ruled out a Rouge dump for up to a dec- ade. By then, Metro hopes to have found a long-term solution to its garbage crisis and the Rouge site, northeast of the Metro zoo, may not be needed. Councillors have said repeatedly that they don't want to put garbage in the Rouge. But under rules set down by the province and a committee trying to solve the area's waste management problems, each region must name a potential short- term dump site within its borders. Council was being asked to apply for environmental approvals to dump in the Rouge, with the thought that the site would only be used if no other ones were found. The vote, in effect, takes the Rouge site off the table as an interim site for Metro's waste between 1992 and 1996. But it may have increased pressures to go for a nearby dump site right in the middle of the Rouge Valley provincial park announced by Premier David Peter- son. The potential park site is the only other place in Metro that could handle a garbage dump, Tonks said. Under rules set down by the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee, a committee considering proposals to han- dle waste in the greater Toronto area after 1996, Metro has to nominate a site within onks says its borders or it won't be able to use other sites in the Toronto area, including the proposed Whitevale dump in Durham Re- gion. Works commissioner Bob Ferguson was shaken by the decision that will make his job of finding a landfill site that much more difficult. He has been beating the bushes, with little success, trying to find a site anywhere in Ontario to take Metro's garbage in the short term. "It's regrettable," he said of last night's decision. "I have been instructed to use a process that may take 5 to 10 years to get something that we need in three years," he said. Several councillors were livid as the vote was announced. They said the vote will make it more difficult for Metro to get other municipalities to take its waste. "Everybody will say if it's a (full hearing) for your site, then it's the same for ours," said Councillor Derwyn Shea (High Park). Those in favor of a long-term environ- mental process were: Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer, Councillors Joe Pantalone, Anne John- ston, Ila Bossons, Maureen Prinsloo, Scott Cavalier, Paul Christie, Brian Ashton, Ken Morrish, Roger Hollander, Dale Martin, Marie Labatte, Bev Salmon, Bob Sanders, Brian Harrison. Those against were: Chairman Alan Tonks; Mayors Bruce Sinclair, Dave Johnson, Mel Lastman and Fergy Brown; Councillors Norm Gardner, Peter Oyler, Dick O'Brien, Derwyn Shea, Lois Griffin, Richard Gilbert, Mario Gen- tile, Mike Colle, and Joan King. e- the Globe and Mail, Thursday, August 16 1990 Pickering sues over exemption Town wants Whitevale dump assessed BY LARRY TILL Special to The Globe and Mail The Town of Pickering is suing the Ontario Environment Ministry over its decision to exempt the proposed Whitevale garbage dump from full environmental hearings. The town charges that the exemption is illegal. Council autho- rized its legal department to file the lawsuit last week. "We have some questions about whether the minister had adequate information before he made the de- cision to grant the exemption," Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs said. "And we are also wondering whether, in fact, the minister had made that (exemption) decision be- fore the town and the region were allowed to give their input." Durham Region and Metro To- ronto have reached a deal that would allow Metro to dump solid waste for five years at a landfill site north of Pickering, despite objec- tions from about 300 residents of the adjacent hamlet of Whitevale. A hydrogeological study pre- pared for the region earlier this year showed that the proposed dump posed potential problems. On July 11, the Ontario govern- ment issued an order -in -council exempting the proposed landfill site from hearings under Environmental Assessment Act. The proposal is still subject to hearings under the Environmental Protection Act, which provides for both public and technical input on the site. The exemption order also stip- ulates in part that any municipality wanting to dump at Whitevale must be recycling at least 25 per cent of its garbage. The dump's opponents say Metro Toronto is nowhere near that mark. There is already some concern that the town's lawsuit — and an- other expected shortly from the environmental activist group PACT (Pickering Ajax Citizens Together) — could jeopardize Whitevale's scheduled Jan. 1, 1992, opening date. Mr. Arthurs said Pickering's legal experts "told us that we had good, solid ground for this suit. We feel there are alternatives available, and that neither the ministry nor the region has explored those options. "They also have not sufficiently explored ways to reduce, compost and recycle so that less trash ulit- mately ends up in landfill. Our goal is to get a fair hearing under the Environmental Assessment Act, and that is what we intend to do." Rouge River Valley dump approved by Metro council But hearings may put it on permanent hold, Christie says BY JANE COUTTS Urban Affairs Reporter TORONTO — Metro Council turned green last night and effecti- vely blocked plans to dump gar- bage near the Rouge River Valley, an environmentally -sensitive area designated a provincial park in March. Although council voted to have staff begin the paperwork to create a landfill on the 55-hectare site, which lies on either side of Finch Avenue and along the Pickering town line, it also voted 15-14 to submit the project to a full Envi- ronmental Assessment Act hearing. Paul Christie, chairman of Met- ro's works committee, said that voting for an Environmental As- sessment hearing effectively means the Rouge River site will never be used. Since the complex act was passed in 1975, only one proposed munici- pal landfill site has been approved. The Rouge River site is slated to be an "interim contingency landfill site" to help tide Metro over be- tween the closing of its present dumps, which will certainly be full by 1993 (and could be used up sooner) and opening a new one. Mr. Christie said hearings on the proposed site will take many years and Metro is committed to finding a permanent solution to its garbage problem before the end of 1996. "it demonstrates that council clearly supports environmental pro- tection in the Rouge," said Mr. Christie, who added that he was surprised at council's decision. Conservationists, who call the river valley the last wilderness area in Metro Toronto, fought hard to protect the area from development, and seemed to have won the battle when Premier David Peterson an- nounced creation of a 4,250-hectare provincial park. But the proposed landfill site, adjacent to the Beare Road dump which closed several years ago, is on table land above the valley and was not included in the proposed provincial park. Mr. Christie said he had never supported use of the site for a land- fill. He said its 5 million tonne ca- pacity, which is less than two year's worth of waste for Metro, made approving the dump little more than a symbolic gesture to show Ontario that Metro was willing to find somewhere for its own gar- bage. "I suspect we will need provincial' intervention to solve the problem, he said. "We have a garbage crisis, but we. have to follow the full process too," Toronto Councillor Joe Pantalone said. "We say you should keep it as an option but you should follow due process, you shouldn't have a shortened process because the area is really very environmentally sensi- tive.., During a debate, which lasted several hours and was frequently acrimonious, Scarborough Coun- cillor Robert Sanders got into a shouting match with Metro Chair- man Alan Tonks over the issue. Mr. Sanders had called for a de- ferral of the decision until an advi- sory committee studying the pro- posed park reports to the province next year. He predicted that approval in principle of the plan would in reali- ty mean that the dump would even- tually be opened. Mr. Tonks countered that while. Metro would prefer to send its gar- bage to an abandoned open -pit mine, it had to be prepared to han- dle the looming garbage crisis by lining up necessary approvals for the Rouge Valley site. TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO BY BORIS SPREMO GARBAGE EVERYWHERE: Metro produced 78 per cent"more waste last year than it did In 1980, In spite of the blue box program. But no one wants trash dumped in their backyard, even if they helped produce It. How others feel abbiit taking our trash armory says no and means it IORA — Half a mile from int village on the Crowe kilometres east of Peter - a hand -made sign nailed warns that this town is at Metro over garbage. fora Takes No Trash," it T, N and T outlined in a bold reminder that garbage has become an issue across the prov- "We are being threatened and we are at war," said Marilyn Wren, a relative newcomer to Marmora. She and her husband retired here two years ago from St. Catharines. Her son followed with his family. Standing outside the IGA store, 'th a TNT sticker on her car, t ren said Metro must dump its wn waste in Metro, not on the -rest of the province. "When my garbage can is full, I don't put the garbage in my neigh- bor's backyard," she explained. When Premier David Peterson, during a recent campaign stop in Trenton, said that Marmora had no more responsibility to take Metro's trash than Metro has to take Marmora's, it was sweet music to the townsfolks' ears. However, if Metro trash ever does end up here, it would likely be the result of a government order. Everyone you talk to is commit- ted to one thing: keeping up to 25 million tonnes of Metro's trash from being dumped in an old open -pit iron mine to their town. "We are not going to sit back and take it — we don't care if the fight takes 20 years — our chil- dren will take over," says Glen Caverly, a TNT member. With fierce dedication, this town of 1,400 people has mobilized residents from Belleville to Tren- ton to fight the planned dump. TNT leaders say they have sign- ed up 3,500 members. More than 2,000 showed up for an anti -dump march from the village to the mine Please see MAR.M1IORAIpage B5 site, about 3 kilometres away, in May. A one -day charity auction raised $10,000 for a legal fund. RhG;---,'vrdro Works Confmf§s-io er Bob Ferguson visited the town last year to explain the plans, he Ieft all shook up. "They rocked my car," he said. "My wife was sitting in it. I thought about going out (to confront them) but I thought better of it." TNT has hired Roger Cotton, an envi- ronmental specialist with the Toronto law firm of Baker and McKenzie, to head any legal challenge. Virtually every council in the region has approved resolutions condemning the dump plans. TNT has collected a battery of figures to back up its opposition to the proposal that Marmora handle between 25 per cent and 33 per cent of the waste in the entire Greater Toronto Area up to the year 2016. The group says pollutants leaking from a dump would be too close to the village and would contaminate the local water supply and the watersheds of the Crowe, Trent and Moira rivers. Opponents also complain there will be excessive rail traffic, damage to an envi- ronmentally sensitive area, destruction of fish in the newly formed lake at the mine site, and a loss of wildlife. They also say it's becoming a tourist attraction. During 45 minutes at the site recently, a Star reporter counted 25 visi- tors — some from Toronto, others from neighboring towns who wanted to see it. HUGE PIT The Marmoraton Mine opened in 1955 to supply iron ore pellets to Bethlehem Steel Mills in Buffalo, N.Y. When it closed in 1979, it left a pit more than 200 metres (656 feet) deep, covering 34 hec- tares (85 acres at the surface). It is filling up with water, mainly from underground streams. Metro's Ferguson believes it is possi- ble to pump out the water and set up a pumping system to keep it out of the site. Because the streams are flowing into the pit and not away, it's argued that a system can be designed to keep pollu- tants from leaching into the ground water and the wells, rivers and lakes that supply the nearby towns. Last Thursday, Metro approved a deal with Ambro Enterprises Inc., owners of the site, to begin preliminary test drilling to see if it is environmentally sound for a garbage dump. If the environment ministry approves it as a long-term site for Metro's waste, Ambro would get an estimated $8.33 per tonne plus annual inflation increases. In total, Ambro could reap about $200 mil. lion. Ambro president John Beck said the town will get up to $3 million a year in tax revenues from the landfill. But Marmora Reeve Andre Philpot ut�'Tie�i�i"Cf to dojo�oa�5py p��oM'ey! pue ayl Ipul p!r queo uoilewao/ul e4pnbgUe3 'S it 'jetueo ayl '9l 'Bn sdleuv eJewpo 'S -ri rsaeinos xuopipPv dol S uug „•pajji� uaaq spy Aeq ayI ui Buiyl punoaBaapq Uana asneaaq s,auodiana Inq'ssol ppy AE)gi ii Cash -flow temPIS ', Kirkland La-kelqlffid KIRKLAND LAKE — The mayor of this northern Ontario mining town knows a gold mine when he sees one. And Joe Mavrinac sees the glit- ter in Metro's trash. With a shrewd bit of negotiat- ing, Mavrinac and a North Bay businessman have strung together a deal with Metro that could bring $362 million to the area's econo- my over 20 years. If the plans are approved by the Ontario environment ministry, up to 30 million tonnes of Metro waste would be hauled by rail 600 kilometres (375 miles) to two of the: Adam's Mine adandoned iron - ore pits on 3,238 hectares (8,000 acres) of land. If the waste -management deal passed by Metro Council on Thursday receives approval, it. means the towns of Kirkland Lake, Larder Lake and Englehart share the following: ❑ $600,000 a year, in lieu of taxes — an important condition because the iron -ore mine operated for 22 years without paying taxes. ❑ $250,000 a year for private -sec- tor research and development. ❑ $1.10 for each tonne of gar- bage dumped at the site. ❑ Free garbage disposal, valued at $10 million. ❑ 150 full-time jobs at the landfill site and at a $30 million recycling facility to handle 120,000 tonnes a year in a multi -material recycling facility. Gordon McGuinty and his company, Notre Development Corporation of North Bay, which purchased the site after the mine closed, will get about $1.75 million from Metro, %vith more to come. "People think we are grasping at straws but we are treating gar- bage as a resource and it is part of our diversification plan," Mavri- nac said this week. "Gold is' still the backbone of our economy and our economy Please see IMUi VINDipage B5 Continued from page Bl will get better as prices rise, but we don't want to be a one -industry town any more." The 12,000 residents here are just coming out of some bleak times. When the Adam's Mine closed in March, more than 300 people lost their jobs. Mining exploration is also down. Up to 1,000 jobs disappeared from the area over the past 14 months, McGuinty says. The Ontario Northland Corporation lost 40 per cent of its rail freight when the Adam's Mine and another mine in North Bay closed, throwing more than 600 people out of work. Northland and CN are salivating over the prospects of Metro's garbage replac- ing their 22-year cargo of.iron ore. Plans call for the trash to be double -stacked in 12-metre (40-foot) containers on CN flat- bed cars from Vaughan to North Bay. There, a Northland crew would take over for the rest of the trip into the site. Although council approval of the plan means that Kirkland Lake is a "willing host" for Metro's trash, there is no big welcoming party of residents waiting to cash in on the new re Some residents s plans to locate a nucl the area and thought tiolenuasgp 9Jo16eH ao alls 1S81 Pasep jnN 1B uolsoldxe Jeep% Ue p910919p poounouue (c � source. munity. But th uccessfully fought garbage was ear disposal site in communities, they were finished hart. All three 'E�lyswaolSleoldoal ueMle N-nefits. l! pawe01e41 asinoo Apgisem Wow Aluoa 8 � 001 AOueA wiols leoldojl lseoo -sl 4 walsea s,n4suoH 6uole passed 1! ulM e Se Ilelu!ej 10 sa40ul IeaanaS �� wools 1 the area since 1920. "All we have going for us is clean air, clean water and a de- cent environment," he said. "We don't want that spoiled." Dr. Richard Denton has been leading a low-key fight against the dump. He help- ed form REEPA — Responsible Environ- mental & Economic Prosperity Associa- tion — to fight the proposal. Residents are afraid their water supply will be contaminated, he said, adding: "When there is a large amount of money involved, things like the environment get pushed aside." Denton worries about the transporta- tion of disease and vermin, possible train derailments, the attraction of more sea- gulls and what he feels is the inevitable contamination of area wells. "We won't know what Metro is send- ing us in those green garbage bags," said Dr. Bill Durocher. "We'll put it in a pit and we'll be creating a chemical stew." The mine site is actually located in Boston Township, 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Kirkland Lake. Because it is in an unincorporated township, Kirk- land Lake is considered the host com- e agreement to take the also signed by two nearby Larder Lake and Engle - will share the economic a ue W 04 (SPIPA 99 L f§ealew p, .IaM Sw1101n 94 j •ulelunow pL uON a uo aspaxe 6ululeil , 6uunp wa41 paddeal MODS 6Ulpull0 e PeArolia 0 C) incinerator proposed 0 N Existing dumps ONTARIO 0 Proposed dumps 0 lKirkland Lake f Rouge Orillia Marmon I Keele Valley 11111��itev�ale, 0 100 1!-1y—MPtTj lling hA& ts %F*7 for our hard to ana JJ Metrcf�as taken out newspaper adverb & nents in about 300 COMMuni- !Xross the province in its searct, for "wilding hosts" for its garbage. The t7ar-- vest has not been bount&l. Coumii has now set its sights on ,ino miVor sites — in Scarborough, Pickering , , Maple.. Petrolia, Plympton, Orillia Township, Matmora, Kapiusk�—,-- i I ng and Krkfard Lake. Here's a summary of each. Scarborough Pooulation: 470,000. Distance: in Metro. S41e: 52 hectares (136 acres) northeast of the zoo, near the Rouge River Valley. Facility: landfill site. Capacity: 5 million tonnes. Willing host? Yes, but not for insterim site. Oppositi—i- Save. the Rouge Valley Systex" W6tevale Population: 270. Distance: In Durham Region, near its borders with Metro and York Region. Site: 80 hectares (200 acres) of farmland. Facility: Landfill site. Capacity: Up to 6 million tonneew,. VVWing host. Yes. Opposition-,1�4WOmembers of PACT. Pickpiring A' k Citizens Together. Maple Popu orlon? 80,500 (Vaughan). Distance. Higftway 7 andlKeele 3/ Facility: Extens-bn of current Metro dump. Capacity: 5 million torines. Willing host? Yes. Opposition: Town of Viughan and reside -its association. Population : 4,500. (Distance- 326 W10metres i.2C4 miles) frctm Toronto. Sits: 24 hectares (59 acres.) Facility: Existing municipal durnp Capacity: 2.5 million tonnes. Wiling host? NO. 0' po-sifio�l� Lo,!rbton Orillia ToWnShiP Population: 7,238. Distance: 128 kilometres; (80 rniles4 Siter, 100 hectares (250 acres) of6io' quarry site. t-acility: Landfill. Capacity: 6.7 million tonnes. Willing host7 No. Opposit!om Township and Citizens Against metro's Garbage. Plympton Population: 5,000 Distance: 25 kilometres (15 rnii'Ps) e,rtst of Samia. Site: 277 hectares (685 acres:. Facility: Landfill. Capacity: 30 million tonnes. Willing host? No. Oppositiom Township. pus asin Popuiatio, : 12'ofo- ;Distance : 832 kilornetres (5n miles) Site- To t)e named. Facility: Incinerator. Capacity: 2 million tonnes. vVilling host? Yes. Opposition: Residents. Kirkland Lake Population: 12,000. Distance: 598 kilometres (374 miles), Site: 2 abandoned iron ore mines on 3,240 hectares (8,000 acres). Facility: Landfill, recyclirtg Plant. Capacity. 25 to 30 Million "1116s. Willing host? Yes. {apposition: n. Citizen groups called North vj an the Responsible Environmental and Economic Prosperity Association. Marmora Population: I-A-11---.=11 DiMnce: 216 kilometres (135 miles). Site: Abandoned ircirl ore mine on 970 hectares (2,000 acres). Fadifty: Landfill. Capacity` 20 million tonnes. Willing host? No. Opposition, Area councils and citizens group, Marmora TNT (Takes No Trash), Where Metro's wastel ,comes from'' Landfill seurce sties 0,00nes) industrial! Commercial 2,010,795 Total residential 934,435 Toronto 347,611 North York 197,651 Scarborough 186,561 Elobiocko 119,093 YOtk 52,025 East Yor'K' '31 2 Total Waste 2,945,230 d %4116� —`a 11� August 18, 1990 $1.2 R DAY STARThe Toronto Star Established 189 July/90 Saturday paid circulation 757,193 facini :Metro It's more serious than you may think: Metro is running out of places to put its garbage. In the first of a� three-part series, reporter Royson James (right) F examines the problem and why we're in such a dire situation. By Royson James TORONTO STAR For years we've been burying our trash and forgetting about it. Now it has come back to haunt us. There is no more hiding our mess or escaping what Metro Chairman Alan Tonks says is a "crisis of mammoth proportions." Garbage is front-page news, a provin- cial election issue and a befuddling dilemma for politicians. Nobody, it seems, wants our waste — not even ourselves. Nobody wants a dump near the Rouge River Valley. Nobody wants incinerators in their backyards. People are even bick- ering about composting plants.'The blue box program is not working as well as was hoped. And we scoff at het-t gh schemes like reduced garbage pickups or pay -by -the -bag plans. as trash plies up A\nd all the time, the trash piles up at an 4stonishing rate at Metro's two dumps in Pickering and Maple. Ten years ago, Metro disposed of 1.85 million tonnes of solid waste. Last year, the amount had swollen to 3.22 million tonnes. That's a jump of 78 per cent. So far this year — despite recycling and dire predictions of rats in the street and garbage in the parks if we don't soon find new dump sites by 1993 — the garbage flow to our landfill sites ha7 let up. In fact, it has increased. It's coming at a rate of almost 9,000 tonnes a day, enough trash each year to fill 800,000 garbage trucks stretched bumper to bumper from Toronto to Van- couver. All this unanticipated waste is part of Please see MEMUS/page A8 k, RB Satumry, August 18, 1990 *uEttMwum srna Metro's garbage may be force on some unwilling community �Sd03 wa�i o a•»ro '�`� m�� a� Q arn �Q,vop A�eDwcD .AlT7 rri'O � °O•-*,e�D O O ti i � _� ��q � ro ~ ^�we� v, er � �� (C4 per.Q,w � � X� �.o OraD ��. w`�� �e� vroa QQ- a o.`•ro-., � .-o��''��:cDd�%�' D�a'v�erCDroc�',� ?e °' o�o �w��, •o-c� ' Sr-. `�T<wri+u`z` oa�-A,vo�ropro�n' iaD �Cnro°oro :�an,, wb '.qo ti �or�o� yOro ��cwo�°o pOc a ova o ao o� ° •oy^ACo•��_°�� roO ro pi OOcD^ti..a.O •' �. ro cD 5rwi7 O �. „01 O w w o , o vi i ro A i c�O D" 21 of Z":.—k :orro 00 q 0,pnon o0 A E4. O• � 0:.Yt ° QQ4 w�sw+ebn�'a�`3 roa oo� �� nbc�I�''c:;n �y5rnc rop:0CD �`n' v, ?CL� viD CVa a w�wi ". °OCM 000 °o x 0o_r ro w S 'ro w p° Ux ACD - ro C •v C o 0 a"'o� ro v, �o �wrov @ao a..0�<�?_ CD 0 0_ 0 .O+ CL C' Cn CJ C y N 1 Q. O O' El CD (DD ' r G CD O aQ CD CD CAl�D CAD O C" O i0i, CAD -0 so < A " O •* cr p Az; Q' cAc o �aa�. " o a 5'oro Cro �•c1,aro O O ro n a..0 W �•(D O® OM O w oo cD vam`o CD,:,-)�p -CaD:" oEnvi-ro, �oO A-°C ��qceCo =rn CD 0 y 0 � F :3 0 G.M WA P O p�'sc�D cADm cn8zM.5Oro o v.Q CDaoa :- ,_..ar ov tp n' Lloyd Thomas, president of the White - vale and District Residents Association, was quick to respond. He and residents in Us hamlet of Pickering have been fight- ing pplans for a d»TM in their backyard. 0. viousl a "crisis cannot be all that great when Metro takes its own site off the table," he said. "This decision re- verses everything they've been telling us. It can't be that critical -- or they are say- ing, it's different when it comes to their own land." The dilemma posed by this site north- eact of the Metrn zoo provides a good study of the complexities of Metro's gar- bage disposal problem. All the regions in the greater Toronto area got together in March, 1989, with the help of the provincial government, to launch a joint strategy to solve their land- fill shortage. The chairmen of Metro, Durham, York, Peel and Halton formed a solid waste in- terim steering committee. It set a target date of 1996 to come up with a long-term strategy on landfill, incineration, recycling, re -use and reduc- tion to handle the 4 million tonnes gener- ated in the area each year. But because dumps are needed by 1992, an interim plan was also devised. It's this plan that is causing concern in farming communities and mining towns across Ontario as greater Toronto area governments look to find a quick and easy dump site. Normally a dump site would take five to 10 years to get full environmental ap- proval under the Environmental Assess- ment Act. But the province agreed that for interim sites, it would allow a curtail- ed hearing, under the Environmental Protection Act, if certain conditions were met. Each member of the steering commit- tee agreed to name an interim site within its own borders and make the site avail- able to the other member regions up to 1996. Other sites outside the greater Toronto area can also be submitted, but those must have the blessings of the governing council of the area, a condition called the "willing host" clause. Another condition is that municipalities intending to use the site must manage to reduce their garbage by a quarter by 1992, over their 1987 levels. The shortened hearing takes a maxi- mum of about two years, barring pro- tracted court challenges. Of the five regional governments, Metro h E been the most active in seeking sites becau disposes of the most waste. Works Commissioner Bob Ferguson estimates Metro will need to dump 17 million to 22 million tonnes of garbage between 1992 and 1996. Metro nominated a location ne Rouge River as the interim site wit boundary. It also nominated si Plympton, Orillia Township, Ma and Kapuskasing. And it plans to nate Kirkland Lake soon. Although the Rouge site is in Sc o'-_I gh, and Scarborough council i� set against a dump there, the site have been accepted as one with a host" because it is the regional g went, in this case, Metro Counci must accept or reject plans for a I site. Metro has not applied to the pr for an environmental hearing on ; the six potential sites. The Rouge was supposed to be th and likely the only one that woi granted a shortened hearing, but th reaected last Wednesday by Metro ci . Tonks and others argued that must put its own site on the table + losing credibility with its steering mittee partners. Tonks now will have a difficult j( ing his steering committee toll( next Friday. He'll have to explain h council could have "undermine process" of finding interim sites. If Metro now goes to the provir. help, the government can justifiabl' We gave you an alternative and yo ed it down, Tonks said. Meanwhile, Durham Region applied for and received approval t a shortened environmental approv ' site in Whitevale. The hearing is ex to begin next February or March. Halton has a site in Milton that'., approved for long-term dumping. 'I gion has nominated a portion of the site to take short-term waste. Peel has nominated a site in Brar And York's nomination is for an sion of the Metro -owned Keele dump. That dump is in York Region With so many sites nominated, sl n't it be easy to find one in time for A site -by -site evaluation reveals er story. None of the sites nominal Metro could qualify for interim use present rules are changed. Councils in Plympton, Orillia Tom and Nlaimora have resolutions con( ing any plan to dump in their co ties. That makes them unwilling that can't be considered for t dumping. Kapuskasing is a willing host, wants an incinerator. Plans for in tors have not been exempted from t . TORONTO STAR Tue day, August 21, 1990 A Metro trash woes raise big stink among 3 leaders By Robert Brehl TORONTO STAR The mud began to fly in last night's provincial leadership debate once the topic of Metro's garbage came up. "Where are you going to put it? Where are you going to put it?" all three leaders heckled each other at various times during a lively four -minute segment of the debate. No one really answered the question. Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris came closest, with a vague promise to put it in any and all landfill sites that go through full environmental assessment tests. "You've said one of the silliest things I've heard in the whole campaign," Premier David Peterson shouted at Harris. "You said you're going to send it to Europe at $1,000 a tonne," Peterson said, waving an acrosatory finger at Harris. Peterson said his government's blue box program for recycling is diverting 800 tonnes of garbage a day from dumps. But a lot more must be done, he said. "We're still cleaning up the messes of your (previous Conservative) government now to this day," Peterson taunted Harris. New Democrat leader Bob Rae said the key.is�lement a more stringent recyling and bottle -refilling program. "I'm not going to decide here as to which part of the province should take Toronto's garbage," Rae said. �° °' o a� a tb`n o (V0'°C2tf aa0� apt-!-44 O.� u�iC7 O 0 cod O t •,t4 a s Q p O O �, 7> y° O C U 3 0 fa p 3' 2 a> >O o y to 6 > v ao o p. O .c a"o a����o°aaNO i�� to�>>3 �Q��.c'd eCd ao �' a� � n.r. �� cc � . 0 Q. �x p al b s 4. O � 'O (0 o cis CL)p >>� :4'C7 -oa.c�� 2�ao .5 d' 82, � � a� ,p � � •0 3 0 00 C-jOa�ic°iI1.a0U=°a��c UCL)> Croy � �caa>i.raCg aoi��3 waia3�c°dzQOCe ^s� U. O O�.04pc�' boo v�N �00 0 l; �a��3zohoIX �°�Eb c a ��.� tc bo � �maiGo`"cdoocvoEW.nC4 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1990 CIRCULATION 35,000 60 PAGES By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter WHITEVALE - Ontario PC leader Mike Harris would immediately begin an environmental assessment to find a site for garbage from Metro and Durham if his party's elected to power Sept. 6. Harris was in Whitevale Tuesday morning to speak to a small group of residents and a large group of reporters on the lawn of the Dysart family home. The Dysarts are fourth generation Whitevale residents and are concerned about what the proposed P1 landfill site will do to their crops and well water. Durham West Progressive candidate Rick Johnson and Harris toasted each other with a glass of the Dysarts' well water. "To Whitevale water," said Harris as he drank the water. While Harris blasted premier David Peterson for allowing a dump to be built on Whitevale farm land, he offered no firm plan for waste disposal when Durham and Metro exhaust their landfill capacity in two years. "In the short term, there is a crisis. It didn't have to be that way." Harris said he would "find a site that is already suitable (for garbage) somewhere in the world." Peterson wants to build a garbage dump in Whitevale, said Harris. "Metro said they wanted to put garbage in Durham. David Peterson said he'd take care of fit," said Harris to shouts of support. "Forty per cent of prime agricultural land in Ontario lies within 160 kilometres of Toronto. It soon will be SEE PC ... Page A3 Ontario PC leader Mike Harris was in Whltevale Tuesday morning to talk about the P1 d mp. photo by Ron Pietroniro nothing more than a memory." Harris promised to "preserve farm land as farm land." For more details on Harris's visit, see the Friday, Aug. 24 edition of the News Advertiser. ,Grits assailed overgarbage crisis ,Grits ernment has 'stood back and watched, group says TORIY MARGARET POLANYI Urban Affairs Reporter NTO — David Peterson's Liberal government has "stood back and watched" while Ontario's garbage crisis steadily worsens, says a searing review of its five years in office released by Pollution Probe yesterday. The report accuses the Liberals of taking no real action to reduce the growing amount of waste gen- erated in the province each year — expected to be at least 12 million tonnes in 1990, the environmental lobby group said. Entitled Five Years of Failure, the report also estimates that Ontario produces four million tonnes of hazardous waste annual- ly, more than one million tonnes of which is dumped down sewers by industry. "While the waste crisis has esca- lated rapidly, the Ont rio govern- ment's actions to allevia the crisis have amounted to little lore than green rhetoric," says the 60-page report. And one of the authors, Pollution Probe's David McRobert, says the other parties are no better: "We haven't seen anything to date which convinces us that any of the parties are really serious about the envi- ronment." Thursday August 23, 1990 f i Dumpacti*on sparks suit by Pi*ckeri*ng By Linda Quattrin TORONTO STAR The Town of Pickering is suing the Ontario Envi- ronment Ministry over its decision not to assess the proposed Whitevale garbage dump with full environ- mental hearings. "The suit is premised on the minister's legal au- thority to make the exemption (from full hearings,)" Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs says. "We believe the minister made the decision before full information was made available." Under an order -in -council issued July 11, the provincial government exempted the proposed landfill site from being reviewed under the Environmental Assessment Act. Although public, hearings are not mandatory under that legislation, when they . are called for they are very extensive and allow for broad public participation. "EAA requirements take years to go through, particu- larly if there are appeals in- volved," says David McRob- ert, an environmentalist with Pollution Probe. However, an environmen- tal hearing will be carried out under the Environmental Protection Act, says a spokesman for Environment Minister Jim Bradley. But Arthurs says the EPA is solely interested in wheth- er a site can be deemed to be engineerable. "The social and environ- mental issues would be bet- ter addressed by the EAA." The EAA also obliges the ministry to consider alter- nate sites. The province feared that other dumps in the Greater Toronto Area would have been filled before an EAA 1 hearing in Durham was j completed,-- Arthurs says the time-con- suming nature of such a re- view is the province's fault. PACT (Pickering Ajax I Citizens Together) is also j expected to launch a suit against the provincial minis- E4 Thursday, August 30, 1990 THETORONTO STAF 841'/,C of voter � � ev �^ No more backyard Ifor Metro garbage Anyone even contemplating putting garbage in the Rouge Valley should be subjected to a mental examination. The excuses — repeated by Metro Chairman Allen Tonks — (that it is) a short-term requirement are a ridiculous cop- out. Misconceptions held by the public make it that much more difficult to secure an area for waste disposal. One of the misconceptions is the 'not in my backyard' syndrome. That should read'our backyard.' The dump site (needed) is, or should be, a collective site to include the surrounding communities. Scarborough simply has no more backyard left. We can't fill our remaining parks with dump sites. While Metro had a backyard, Scarborough's backyards of yesteryear got spotted with debris sites that accommodate the waste of surrounding communities. Metro is getting choked with density problems. We are simply asking the communities of Ontario to throw us a lifeline. Industrial considerations for Ontario's trash woes are out of control By Paula Todd TORONTO STAR Most voters think Ontario's garbage crisis is out of control and see no solutions in sight, according to a Toronto Star- CFTO Television poll. But charging households by the bag for disposal or trucking Metro Toronto trash elsewhere are bad ideas, voters say. Almost one -quarter of decided voters identified the environment as their Number 1 concern. And 84 per cent of voters think municipal waste disposal is out of control. Just 11 per cent believe solutions have been found but they were not asked to name them. Nearly two-thirds of Ontarians — and especially those in Metro Toronto — are opposed to charging households for each bag of garbage collected for disposal. Thirty-three per cent support the proposal. Only Northern Ontario voters showed any kind of enthusiasm, with 38 per cent backing garbage fees. Four per cent of respondents said they had no opinion on the subject. Voters who live outside Metro Toronto were asked whether they favor a landfill site in their community for Metro garbage. Under the hypothetical plan, Metro would lease the land for a dump or pay user fees. Seventy per cent of voters opposed the idea. Twenty-three per cent support the plan, while 6 per cent have no opinion. producing the county's wealth are going to be more dense (here) :;than on any other Ontario land ract. _ �C• "nn cu Cn cC.0 aV U n �'� ° �' c {y. O bio ° ti�oca.000cM�• .ca�v°n�oE.� �o Wen �g VCcs-0 rx .4o-Cs Z 2V°-ao .6 'F '3 Ev U0OUIn :3 Z U Q r Oas U �� Tsr~ °ECoVEczc•r o,E0tko "V xoo� oOW, O .OV 6. �°n "I a C ^roVaa EnU)•F �T oQ)-tEn=°o��cvoo `�aaU2C�Oa :.i CZ>aDW��'s - 3.804. @.0U2 v- —0 ;w�v> C.E oZ Do you think the garbage situation Is under control? Under Not under Don't control control know Province 11% 84% 5% Regio nal`Weakclowrt Metro 9 87 5 North 10 85 5 West 11 84 5 East 13 82 4 Although opposition to accepting out-of-town garbage is fairly uniform across the province, people living in mid- size communities with between 10,000 and 100,000 residents are most averse. Overflowing landfill sites have been a central theme of the election campatgn. Among other things, Liberal leader David Peterson wants to expand the province's blue box recycling program. New Democratic Party leader Bob Rae would find ways to reduce waste production. Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris has called for stiffer packaging laws and faster environmental assessments for proposed landfill sites. Environics interviewed 1,008 eligible voters by telephone Aug. 21 to 25. Results from a sample of ''is size are considered a curate within 3.1 percentage poi s, 19 in 20 times. On regional issues, the possibility of error ranges from 6.4 per cent in Metro to 10 per cent in the North. f By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Some landowners in the region could really be dumped on in the third week of September. That's the week the region will notify landowners that their property could be cho- sen to host a Durham dump beginning in 1996. At Tuesday's waste management meet- ing, councillors discussed how to prevent the potential sites from being leaked to the Cr = � n A '� •v rn 'O 'T �' - r ' o av -0 -� n � LD. 'j�•g' � coo �� �0 0-0 � A�o`Z M SDMW0 LM_n�a�a n sm. �. cD �p O �.� "� N� M (� '� y WS 7 co «O+>N O ate^' 4.�(D �' < �S3''L% N cooc coow90 Cr ao°,C� lyjc� � aO w O O V 23 Ore, �J :3O_ '0 OO N �ON On ,YOO O En M (ADO!-'�� M0 .»,M �WC U to iI=z• ■ f =16 I No Region to decide soon on potential landfill sites media before the landowners are notified. " I find it really hard to believe that everything will be kept confidential," said Ajax mayor Jim Witty. On Sept. 19, McLaren Engineers, who have been on a region -wide search for a suitable landfill site for two years, will pre- sent their site -search results to the region's waste management committee and later in nn- g� 1-� 0 g � zZ0 a-q2 O O. � .O as �. 0 Fes• CD�^ mx0 cD 5 y :3 7 W17pi the day to regional council. The media has been excluded from both presentations. That evening, members of the Public Liaison Committee (PLC) — a group formed to get public input about how Durham should handle its trash and where it should be put — as well as regional coun- cillors and staff will meet to discuss telling landowners about the decision. Between Sept. 20 and 24, affected landowners will be notified in person that their property could be turned into a dump. The region has agreed to a compensation policy for affected landowners. On Sept. 25, a public announcement on the potential sites will be made. c c < cv o c0 ° a c c� < w p _ w :ECD CD no a yPIT' n a � � � F � � � _�• �,CD nG� a a� cc =v_i9 N a ro B CD CE CD -� c � � CD 2.10 y' co `° to m C trop d O o a;c ° ao B °a CD B Q' 6 °4 c a On C o ova o F3 vf� NBC O ..., ° X• -y n n y n CL w„ o 0 El o c "o.O o5'2.oS c to a rn . CD o w See MANY ...Page 8 N L�J �E 0 7 Q N 0 0 70 70 0 H How we can start solving the trash crisis By P. H. Jones `6 Me n facing dilemma s trash piles up." his was the head- line on the fro agge of the Aug. 18 Saturday Star A sad and al- most childish commentary fol- lowed, with every agency blam- ing every other agency. The garbage problem can easi- ly be solved in an environmental- ly sound and safe way if we are willing to employ all the techno- logical and social solutions avail- able to us. Unfortunately, one by one, each technology is condemned vigorously and violently by one or more environmental groups, leaving us with no solution at all. As one who helped to found one of these environmental move- ments more than 20 years ago, I am disappointed by the way they have all deviated from the path of environmental problem -solv- ing to the fanatical fundamental- ist approach to bring environ- mental concerns to a crisis de- manding a social, economic and cultural revolution. Society is engulfed in fear. This fear is not based on scientif- ic findings, which_ havQ c+ MAKING MORE SPACE: A combination of measures, including separation of hazardous wastes, recycling and Incineration, would make landfill sites last 10 times longer. ago a substance present at 1 bil- could be implemented within lion parts per quadrillion was two or three years and improved wastes should be separated at home into wet nutreseiblP roev- In time, the recycling markets will develop and m y ultimately approach 100 per gent recycle and reuse. This to mique must be considered valid lid carefully monitored and used The safe incineration technol- ogy includes the use of existing cement kilns. No financial resources are re- quired to develop and employ this technology. Also, a site does not have to be found because these sites already exist. All that is required is monitoring to en- sure that residual products (exhaust gases and ash) are safe- ly controlled, which can be done. If specially designed mass burn or fluidized bed incinera- tors are contemplated, then fly ash and bottom ash must be safely disposed. This can be done through the proven tech- nology of fixing the ash in lass (vita ication). Glass neither leaches liquids through them nor does it decompose as demon- strated by archeological finds of very early glass buried for cen- Any residues from incineration ......1A--".--- .A ___ -­ -- I --- UX Uxbridge sites considered for dump for GTA As the search for a permanent dump for the Greater Metro Area's (GTA) garbage continues municipalities around the province are being asked to consider locating a landfill site in their community. As in other communities in Ontario, several properties in Uxbridge I Township are among a short list of sites presently being assessed for their suitability as a permanent home for the GTA's waste. These include the Leaskdale dairy farm of Regional Chairman Gary Herrema and the 2nd Concession property of town treasurer Ron Kester. "These properties like many other sites all over Ontario are being con- sidered in the elimination process to find a new landfill location," says Regional Councillor Don Jackson, who also sits on the Durham region waste management committee. This doesn't mean Uxbridge will be the host municipality for Metro's garbage it just means the lands are being considered along with many oth- ers in the province, he says. The only sites Councillor Jackson says will most likely be ruled out are those within the environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine, which spans from Peel to Durham and makes up one third of Uxbridge Town- ship. Road and rail patterns will play an important role in the decision process indicated Councillor Jackson, who adds that there could be potential bene- fits of finding a site adjacent to an existing train line. "The idea of packaging garbage and transporting it on a train to a landfill site does have some merit," he concludes. A 200-acre site in Whitevale located just south of Uxbridge in Pickering Township, with a capacity to hold six tonnes of garbage has been chosen as a temporary home for Metro's waste. It is currently undergoing a speed- ed up Environmental Assessment`(E process which is being challenged through the courts by the town of Pickering. Any land ultimately chosen as a permanent landfill site will undergo an Environmental Assessment which usually takes five years to complete. PAGE 6—THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY; SEPT- 7' g" Initiative long overdue It sounds like Metro Toronto is trying to weasel its way out of looking after its own garbage. The latest from Durham regional chairman Gary Herrema is that he thinks Metro politicians "are playing politics" by nominating the M2 site under the condition that it be subject to an Environmental Assessment Act hearing. The game riles of joining the Greater Toronto Area with respect to garbage disposal indicate that all nominated sites will be subject to a shorter and less stringent hearing under the EPA (Environmental Protection Act). As well, the EAA voted on by Metro for its M2 site requires a comparison of potential landfill sites, not just an assessment of one. This, in effect, leaves Metro still out of the GTA landfill solution. In fact, according to Metro works chairman Paul Christie, Metro hasn't even decided to join the GTA. And, says Christie, an EAA hearing on the M2 site could not be done quickly enough to meet Metro's interim disposal needs. But it still intends to use the PI site near Whitevale regardless of the fact that it was intended for use by GTA members. Metro's understanding of the dump deal with Durham is that it's "a contrac- tual relationship between Metro and Durham" and doesn't `fect the GTA terms, says Christie. Meanwhile, Herrema says regional staff are reviewing the legali- ty of the agreement in light of this latest Metro vote. It's becoming ever clearer that, as our garbage crisis mounts, it's less and less likely that neighboring municipalities will be able to solve the problem. This puts it squarely on the shoulders of a higher level of govern- ment — the province. It's time some initiative was taken and con- cem was shown. Otherwise, this thing will be dragging on for years and we still won't have reached an environmentally safe solution. PAGE 8—THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY, SEPT. 2, 1990 �] Election `90 Whitevale responsive to Wiseman I By KEITH GH.LIGAN WHITEVALE -'It's as much a part of the electoral process as cast- ing a ballot — candidates going door-to-door soliciting votes, talking to residents, trying to get a handle on the pulse of the riding. When New Democratic Party can- didate Jim Wiseman went knocking on doors in Whitevale, the pulse he got was racing. At most houses he went to, Wiseman encountered residents angry at their MPP and the possibility that a dump could be located in their com- munity. In the 1987 provin- cial election, Liberal Norah Stoner ran on her record as an envi- ronmentalist and her willingness to fight to As Wiseman knocked on doors, it became apparent that he was preach- ing to the converted. Those who were at home were angry that a land- fill could be located in their commu- nity and said their MPP had "let us down". "I'm certainly not going to sup- port Peterson," one lady told Wiseman. "We've committed several hundred dollars to fight the landfill. about the proposed landfill, Wiseman usually began by saying he's an environmentalist, a member of PACT (Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment) and that he's signed PACT's legal docu- ment to stop the dump. Saying that he's signed the legal document was usually greeted with approval: One fellow said, "It's not just the NDPF keep another landfill from being located in Durham West. At that time, the landfill fight was over Metro Toronto's plans to open a dump on the Brock South site, in north Ajax. That plan was eventually scraped, but since then, Durham region and Metro have pitched the P1 site in Whitevale. The P1 site is on provincially - owned lands. The week before the election was called, the province announced that the site could be examined under a scoped Environment Protection Act process. "I'm afraid Norah isn't going to get much support this time," she said. At other doors, Wiseman heard the comment, "I like Norah personal- ly, but her party is shot. She's going to have problems in several polling stations in the north." In the 12 rural polling stations in the1987 provincial election, Wiseman got 160 votes, while Stoner received about 960 votes and Progressive Conservative candidate George Ashe got about 600. dump. That s good farmland and we can't keep giving our land away." The P1 site sits on an aquafir that sup- plies water to Whitevale residents. Leachates from the landfill would even- tually get into the aquafir and contami- nate the water. As one lady told Wiseman, "The waters will be wrecked. Let's be realistic." While knocking on doors throughout the riding, the environ- ment is the number -one issue, Wiseman said. In second place is the level of taxation, while the number - three issue shifts. The fact that the election was called was the third issue, but Wiseman said that's slipped. Replacing it is the new no-fault insurance system. Viseman said education is the per issue. `There are more porta- now than in 1987 when porta- were an issue," he said. going door-to-door, day -after - is also a good way to lighten the 1. "If you want to lose weight, is the way to do it," he said. - NDP candidate Jim Wiseman stopped to talk t Marion Thomas while campaigning In Whitevale. As t e sign's Indicate, David Peterson and the Liberal Par y aren't welcome. Residents are upset that a landfill could be located in their community. Despite the current unpopularity of the Liberal government in Whitevale these days, Stoner does have her supporters, although only one person at the time (a week after the election was called) had a Stoner sign on her lawn. "I'm a Norah fan, not a Peterson fan. I went through the airport days with Norah. I've always had faith in Norah," she said. The woman added, jokingly, that she's waiting for someone to throw a brick through her window. Whether the support Wiseman received at the door will translate into votes is another thing. "A lot of the people here are pri- vate individuals. They don't like unions or labor. Whether they put that aside for the dump is the ques- tion," Wiseman said. He'll have to wait until Sept. 6 to find out. Letter To The Editor ..About Dump Dear Editor: $iteS Anyone even contemplating putting garbage in the Rouge Valley Park should be subjected to a mental examination. The excuses repeated by Metro Chairman Allen Tonks as short term requirement it is a ridiculous cop out. The misconceptions held before the public of Metro and Ontario make it that much more difficult to secure an area for waste disposal. One of the misconceptions held before the public is the syndrome of "not in my back yard". That should not read my back yard - it should read "our back yard". The dump site is or should be a collective dump site to in- clude the various surrounding communities. Scarborough has simply no more back yard left. We can't fill our remain- ing parks with dump. While Metro had a back yard Scar- borough's back yards of yesteryear are spotted with debris sites that accommodate the waste of surrounding com- munities. Metro is getting choked with density problems. We are simply asking the communities of Ontario to throw us a lifeline. Our resources of land area can't go on forever. Some industrial concentration for producing the country's wealth is going to be more dense than other On- tario's land tract. True Canadians value all land tract. We cannot afford to hold any area in disdain so when anyone says not in my back yard it is our backyard too. The simple necessity it is hard to believe that within On- tario there is not a site that would have less impact on public moral than the declaration of our treasured parks. If Metro were allowed to strangle in its refuse the loss in wealth produced would be a loss felt throughout the coun- try. It is, however, criminal on the part of our Provincial Premier David Peterson to simply stand aside in this crisis. Peterson's jurisdiction and responsibility is beyond the bounds of Metro not to actively assist Metro Council in ac- quiring suitable area, Premier Peterson is simply concern- ed about keeping his hands clean. Metro Council is in hot water trying to negotiate for pro- perty outside its jurisdictional territory. The token finan- cial gesture made recently by the federal government to Scarborough in the way of encouragement toward the crea- tion of park area in the Rouge Valley was so appreciated. The federal government could have said this is not our jurisdiction. Peterson shouldn't be able to say this but he does by his inactivity. I suggest Premier Peterson get off his horse before he gets into his big election bus. Yours truly Mike Boychyn Scarborough THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, SEPT. 7, 1999—PAGE 9 "�#ro trying to avoid By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Metro Toronto is trying to worm its way out of nomi- nating a potential landfill site within its boundaries, says Durham region- al chairman Gary Herrema. Metro recently nominated the M2 site on the banks of the Rouge Valley as a potential landfill site that could be shared with four other Greater Toronto Area municipalities. Under terms of the GTA waste management authority, each region must nominate a landfill site for pos- sible use by other regions for a short term. Any community that joins the GTA plan is then eligible to be part of a long-term waste disposal solu- tion, yet to be decided. However, when Metro approved the M2 site, it did so on the condi- tion that it be tested under the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). GTA rules, set by the province, say that, because of the garbage cri- sis, all nominated sites can be tested under the shorter Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Furthermore, an EAA requires a comparison of potential landfill sites, not just one, says Herrema. "I think they're playing politics," he says. Because Durham has nominated its site — P1 in Whitevale — it's questionable whether or not Metro will be allowed to dump in it, because it hasn't followed the GTA rules. Yet, Durham and Metro have already signed a financial agreement allowing Metro to dump into P1 for four years beginning in 1992. Herrema says regional staff are presently reviewing the legality of the agreement and says he can't comment any further. "I don't know what (Metro offi- cials) are doing," says Herrema. As for the short-term P1 site, Herrema says Durham will he "going on our merry way." Metro works chairman Paul Christie admits asking for an EAA on the M2 site doesn't fall within the rules of the GTA authority nor would it be done quickly enough to make M2 an available site for regions to use in the interim. He says by the time Metro sub- mitted a document for an EAA "we would be beyond our interim needs." Christie says Metro is pursuing "a number of sites" to put its garbage. And, he says Metro hasn't yet decided whether or not to join the GTA. When asked if this would affect Metro dumping into P1, he replies, "Not in my understanding...not in my view. It's a contractual relation- ship between Metro and Durham" and doesn't affect the GTA terms. Herrema hints that Metro might not want to use P1 to dump. When asked if Metro still intends to dump in Whitevale, Christie replies, "Oh, that's the way I view it." Christie downplays the rumor that Metro councillors misunder- stood the difference between the EPA and the EAA when they voted to have M2 tested under the EAA. It's been said the councillors intend- ed to have M2 tested under the EPA. "I suppose that's a possibility (that they voted for an EAA by mis- take)." Be says if they voted by mis- take someone should have come for- ward and recalled the vote. He " most certainly won't be" asking for a new vote. C, Stoner knee: ol dump proposal months before P1 announced, Whitevale residents contend By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter WHTTEVALE - Incumbent MPP Norah Stoner knew about a proposed dump in Pickering months before the P1 site was announced, a residents' group has revealed. Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association, says he has a tape recording confirming that Stoner attended a "secret meeting" of the Liberal caucus in July, 1988, nine months before P1 was announced. At the meeting, politicians heard Envacc Resource's proposal to develop a mega -dump on provincial- ly -owned land in Pickering. Stoner "abandoned the people of her riding and instead chose to sup- port the Liberal party and the big land developers who control their decision -making process," charges Thomas, who says that an Envacc co-owner "arranged the purchase of (premier) David Peterson's electron- ics company and is a major financial supporter of the Liberal party." Thomas says he's had the infor- mation for some time and "didn't want to use it at all" until Stoner claimed, in a recent telev+&od_e1qp- tion debate, that she was advised by ,homas and other residents not to ss the floor of the Queen's Park 'ature over the PI issue. "She used our name to get votes (in Thursday's provincial election)," says Thomas, who maintains he was never at a meeting with Stoner where she was advised to stick with the Liberal camp. "I can't recall that at all." He adds, "It's not Norah I'm after; it's (premier David) Peterson's government." But Stoner maintains Thomas was at the meeting and was among those residents who advised her not to cross the floor. Furthermore, Stoner says Envacc's proposal had nothing to do with P1. "They were looking at the whole provincial lands and the whole feder- al lands," says Stoner. "They didn't know the difference between them. They were looking at the urban sec- tion." She says Envacc's proposal was "off the wall" and "they were shot down. You have to listen to a pro- posal. It wasn't the P1 land." She adds that Envacc was "never given any credence or credibility; they went away." She also blames Durham region for the selection of the P1 site. Because of press deadlines and Stoner's earlier unavailability for comment, Thomas's information was unable to be released before Thursday's election. THE NEWS ADVEWYtSER; _SEPT. 12, 1990—PAGE 3-A Pickering may halt P1 clummi" court action By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - The election of '13ob Rae's NDP government in 6 •tario last week could mean Pic: ?ring will back out of a court batty against the province over the propos, I P1 dump. Counc:Mors Maurice Brenner and Doug Dickerson want the town to instruct its lawyers to withhold any further legal action "at this time" and want council to urge Rae to with- draw P1 from consideration. Council will vote on the issue next Monday. "Why should we spend even more money on (the legal bill) when we have a one -in -five chance of win- ning?" says Dickersvna, who adds that Rae promised a full Environmental Assessment Act hear- ing on the site "at the very least" and "that will be the end of (the dump)." Brenner says he expects support on the issue from other councillors. calling any further lePi expenses "frivolous" spending. "The least the province can do is overturn the previous decision to fast -track (P1 through environmental hearings). It's a waste of taxpayers' money to continue at this time when we know the potential outcome," he says, adding the town would be bet- ter off to save its money to make a case if an EAA hearing is called. Council unanimously endorsed taking the province to court over PI at its meeting Aug. 8. The court case was based on the argument that the environment ministry didn't take Pickering's wishes into consideration when allowing P1 to be fast -tracked through shortened hearings. At that time, it was estimated Pickering had already paid about $60,000 in legal bills over the issue. After the Aug. 8 meeting, both Dickerson and Brenner expressed pessimism the town could do more than delay the dump opening by a few weeks. i PI-durnp court fib `n PICKERING - The town has decided not to trash its P1 dump court battle. Council voted 5-2 Monday night against asking its solicitor to with- hold court action against the province over the proposed P1 dump in Whitevale. Councillors Maurice Brenner and Doug Dickerson wanted the town to suspend legal action in order to give the newly -elected NDP government a chance to reverse the outgoing Liberals' plans for P1. The decision likely sits well with Whitevale resident Lloyd Thomas, who urged council to continue with court action. The town's legal case is based on the argument that the envi- ronment ministry didn't take Pickering's wishes into consideration when approving a fast -tracked envi- ronmental assessment for the P 1 site. "Holding back now puts doubts in the minds of the NDP and the peo- ple," argued Thomas. While Brenner urged council to "put our hand out in good faith" by withholding court action at this time, councillor Beverley Morgan shot back, "We've reached our hand out and had it slapped so many times, mine's staying in my pocket." While the town's solicitor pro- ceeds with legal action against the province, Pickering will congratulate the NDP on its recent win at the polls. In a separate motion, council also decided to ask the province not to allow extensions on the Brock North or Brock West landfill sites. Councillors expressed concern that, if PI is withdrawn, Metro will exercise its rights to use those land- fill sites. THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY, SEPT. 23, 1990--PAGE 3 DURHAM - If a representative from Durham region hasn't paid you a visit yet, chances are your property won't become a dump. Regional councillors were told in a private meeting Wednesday the candi- date sites for Durham's long-term waste disposal facility. Councillors and/or staff were expected to advise landowners affected by the decision Wednesday night or Thursday. The Brock West Landfill Site, which Durham and Metro currently use to dump trash, will reach capaci- ty in less than two years. The P1 landfill site in Whitevale is expected to take Durham and Metro's garbage for four years beginning in 1992. MacLaren Engineers have been studying land in Durham region for more than a year. The company sug- gests the' region has three alterna- tives for a long-term waste disposal facility: landfill only, landfill with a small waste processing/energy from waste facility (WP/EFW) or a mini- mal landfill with a mid -sized WP/EFW. Now that the candidate sites have been chosen, further testing on the proposed dumps will be carried out in the spring. A favored site is expected to be chosen then. However, regional councillors will have to decide whether to use that site for Durham garbage only or join other regions in a giant waste disposal facility, yet to be decided. Ajax mayor Jim Witty says, when the potential sites were announced Wednesday at regional council, "Nobody really made any com- ments." He said neithex the number of sites, nor their locatio�rbe made public until all affected landowners are contacted. Durham pored , to elease list o sites for dump TORONTOSTAR Durham Region is bracing for an uproar as it officially re- leases a short list of five potential sites for a garbage dump that could remain open 40 years. More than 50 residents from the eastern edge of the Town of Newcastle, one of the chosen sites, were expected to jam a meet- ing of the works committee to voice their disapproval when the announcement is made today. The other locations are spread across Scugog Township, Picker- ing and the northern border of Oshawa. The 160-hectare (400-acre) dump, to be chosen in about a year's time, is part of Durham Re- gion's attempt to provide its own solution to the 360,000 metric tonnes of garbage it produces every year, a regional works de- partment official said. The announcement also comes in the middle of a continuing con- troversy over the selection of Whitevale in Pickering as the re- Oon's contribution to the greater Toronto area's search for a short- term dump site. The Whitevale site will be con- sidered for a dump to be used be- tween 1992 and 1996, along with other locations presented by member regions of the greater Toronto area. Garbage disposal is expected to reach crisis proportions in the Metro area by early 1993, when the present Brock West dump be- comes full. Today's announcement by the region 1s part of a "Durham only" strategy that aims at dealing with the region's garbage problem within Its own borders, said Ken Donnelly, a works department official. The Durham -only solution will be considered along with another long-term proposal being sought by the greater Toronto area re- gions, Donnelly said. That solution calls for a major permanent dump site somewhere in the province that could be used by Metro and the surrounding area. A choice will finally have to be made, based on economic and other factors, between Durham's own dump and the greater Toron- to area dump, Donnelly said. PAGE 6-A—THE NEWS ADVERTISER, SEPT. 26, 1990 Editorial Land rights the issue lAs expected, the naming of five potential Durham dumpsites has utraged many, especially those who could be forced to hand over their land to the government. While the issue of dumps, where to put them and how to handle our growing burden of garbage continues, it serves to mask another more fundamental issue - the right of the individual to actually own land. Almost any government can come along for almost any reason and take your land. When it happened in 1972 with the fees ral air- port land and Seaton land, protesters were able to force tt airport onto the shelf. But they didn't go far enough. A much stronger and more effective protest would have seen the laws governing expropriation changed to protect property rights. But now many property owners in Durham are again faced with the prospect of losing their land. Perhaps this time, we'll get it right and future generations won't have to surrender to such nonsensical decisions by politicians and Residents promise, to -Tight landfU-sitel By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - A Pickering senior citizen had to learn from a neighbor that his property is the potential site of a long-term dump. Doug Plitz, 67, somehow fell through cracks in the system when regional officials set out to inform various landowners their properties are candidate sites for a Durham -only dump slated to last 20 years. Plitz says he was "aghast" to find out a century -old house he's renovat- ing for his daughter and her family might never become their home. "It was a bit of a shock; I'm not looking for excuses why they didn't get in touch with me," says Plitz, who speculates the region's records might not be up to date because he didn't take possession of his proper- ty until July. He owns 28 acres within Pickering's candidate site, one of five sites identified by regional con- sultants. The square -mile site is bounded by Durham Road 23 on the east, Concession Eight on the north, Sideline Four on the west and Concession Seven on the south. Plitz says he's put "a lot of work" into the house on his property. "I don't intend to stop working at it because of the threat of a dump," he says. `Ratepayers are going to get up in arms... We don't want another dump in Pickering." Plitz was among many residents who attended a Monday night meet- ing with politicians and regional rep- resentatives. People at the meeting were filled with "a sick kind of anger," says Fred Beer, president of the Pickering Rural Association. "We made sure residents got the whole story," says Beer, who claims the region doesn't intend to pay mar- ket value for whichever site is cho- sen for the dump. "Rural people tend to have stronger ties to their home; it may have been in the family for gen- erations." Beer says residents "are NIMBYs. If we don't defend our backyards, who will?" Residents will probably have the backing of town politicians in their battle against a dump. The number of landfill sites in Pickering "leaves us very little option but to fight," says mayor Wayne Arthurs. "It's very difficult to support the system when you've been dumped on for the past 15 years," he says. Doug Turner, a lawyer who lives within a mile of the site, says he was "shocked at how little work (regional engineers) had done" in choosing the site. They were unaware, says Turner, of an orchard and a large nursery on the land. See REGION... Page A3 Region can't test potential dumps k without property owners'consent FROM PAGE Al W - "I can't conceive of the sloppy, lousy work the engineers did. They couldn't even have driven around the block." Turner says regional officials won't be able to legally con- duct tests on the property unless landowners sign consent forms. Res tents protest potential dumps By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - More than 50 peo- ple turned up Tuesday morning at a regional meeting to protest some of five candidate long-term dump sites, one of which will be opera- tional in Durham in 1996. One of the sites is in Pickering; bordered by Lakeridge Road on the east and in between the Seventh and Eighth Concessions. Two of the sites are in Scugog, one in Newcastle, and one in Oshawa. Many politicians and residents criticized the way the dump sites were chosen, laying much blame on MacLaren Engineers, who were hired to find potential sites, and on the Environmental Assessment Act, by which procedures in choosing a dump are set. Durham has already spent $500,000 for MacLaren to find a waste disposal site for Durham's trash. The region is looking for a 20-year, 150-hectare (375 acre) site. Angry residents from the Newcastle area, where one of the candidate sites is located, were vocal about their community hav- ing a dump in the Ganaraska Forest. Durham region chairman Gary Herrema said he sympathized with those affected. "The stress it causes a community is pretty bad." John Reid of MacLaren Engineers told politicians and resi- dents that employees of his firm, in their search for a site, never stepped on anyone's property. Reid said constraint mapping was done and dump sites that could adversely affect such things as water tables, marshes, conservation areas, urban developments and crown land were ruled out. Newcastle mayor and planning chairman Marie Hubbard said she was "not impressed" that MacLaren never consulted the region's plan- ning commissioner when choosing sites. MacLaren needs landowners' consent to go onto their properties to test the suitability of the land as a dump site. Ajax mayor Jim Witty said it would be an "unwise move" for property owners to refuse access. He said, once tested, the land may be "eliminated quickly" as a candi- date dump. ri I 1 The public and the press turned out Tuesday when five candi- date sites for a Durham -only dump were announced at a regional waste management committee meeting. At right, Eleanor Magder lets politicians know how she feels. photos by Ron Pietroniro NARAS101 Dump I i Oshawa councillor and waste management committee co-chairman John Aker, left, and regional chairman Gary Herrema listen to complaints from Newcastle residents about a potential dump site in the Ganaraska Forest. It will be at least spring before the preferred site is chosen. Even hen, Durham could scrap its own Ilan and join other Greater Toronto 'rea regions in hauling trash to a remote site by rail. PACT to begin legal action over P 1 landfill site \lau,h AJAX-PICKERING - Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment is expected to announce today it will legal action against the province. PACT plans to challenge the province and the region of Durham on the e -m tion of the proposed PI dump at Whitevale from a full environmental assessment. For further details, see the News Advertiser's Friday edition. What is PACT? Formed in 1987, PACT is a non-profit public interest group concerned with the issue of waste management in Durham Region. Created in response to Metro Toronto's proposal to create a landfill site in Pickering and Ajax, PACT has the desire to protect the environment of the area as its guiding principle. Over the last few years, PACT has gained valuable experience in its battle with Metro Toronto. As a result, PACT has developed a system of specialized committees with which to continue the fight. Since the creation of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and SWISC (Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee), we may now be forced to take garbage from the Regions of York, Peel and Halton, as well as Metro Toronto. The risks to Pickering and Ajax have never been greater. What we offer. • Knowledgable guest speakers. • Up-to-date research and analysis of waste management issues. • Legal representation in the fight against landfills. What you can do: • Practice the 4 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover). • Volunteer for a PACT committee. • Stay informed. Talk to your friends and neighbours. • Ask questions of your political representatives. You have a right to know. • Complete the enclosed form and Now is the time for action. mail it to PACT today! Pickering / Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment PACT is a member of the Ontario Environmental Network PACT's Objectives: 1. To work to secure a full and comprehensive hearing with respect to any proposed Durham landfill site under The Environmental Assessment Act so that every element of the environment will be protected and all alternatives studied. 2. To prevent the possible extension of the Brock West landfill site and to make certain that Metropolitan Toronto provides secure protection from any pollution from that site in perpetuity. 3. To present forcefully before the Environmental Assessment Board with the best technical evidence possible P.A.C.T.'s case that the proposed use of P1 (Whitevale), Brock South or Brock North as landfill sites is detrimental to the environment of the communities of Ajax and Pickering, the Greenwood Conservation area, Duffins Creek, Petticoat Creek, the Rouge River and their valleys and, therefore, should never be allowed. 4. To attempt to make Metropolitan Toronto and the Region of Durham more responsible in their methods of waste management and to urge them to take immediate action with respect to all other safe alternatives to landfill. To promote within the Region of Durham a responsible program of solid waste management stressing the "Four R's" - Reduce, Reuse, Recover and Recycle. 5. To urge the Region of Durham to forbid the dumping within Durham of any garbage or solid waste from any Municipality outside of Durham and to require Durham Regional Council to take responsibility for their own safe garbage disposal. 6. To raise the funds necessary to support and achieve these objectives. YES, I would like to support PACT: ❑ put me on PACT's mailing list. ❑ contact me about volunteering for one of PACT's committees or events. ❑ accept my enclosed donation in the amount of $ , which I understand is not tax- deductible. Name: Address: City: Province: Postal Code: Telephone: Please return to: PACT c/o 68 Hills Road Ajax, Ontario US 2W4 Dickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment 68 Hills Road, Ajax, Ontario L1 S 2W4 September 26, 1990 Dear PACT Supporter: As a concerned person who signed PACT's Agreement to Join the Legal Battle against the proposed contingency dump at P1 at Whitevale in Pickering, the Board of Directors of PACT wants to keep you informed of our progress and tell you about two upcoming fund raising events. Update: On September 26, 1990, PACT's solicitors, Morris Manning Q.C. and Peter Pickfield, began our legal action in Divisional Court. As you are aware, the Peterson Provincial Cabinet exempted P1 at Whitevale in Pickering from the very strong environmental protection of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) so that the P1 site could gain fast -track approval under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). PACT is fighting this legal battle to ensure the people of Pickering and Ajax are granted their full environmental rights and protection to which we are entitled. Fund Raising: To sustain our costly court battle against the Provincial government, the need for additional funding is urgent. Although PACT has raised a base of funding through support such as yours, we do not want to surrender because of lack of funding now that the expensive fight has commenced. You can help in several ways: 1. Make as generous a donation as you can. Cheques payable to "PACT for the G„viann vpin ° imay hc GoIn+ +o ivAli-. PaulMiddleton, ACT Treasurer , nVn/At-Cy Road, IGO %UU Pickering, Ontario L1 X 1 V9. 2. Support PACT and have fun at the same time! Join in the fun by attending our fund raising events, or volunteer your assistance. Please tell your neighbours about our 2 upcoming major fund raising events (2 mini -posters are provided on the back of this letter - please post them where you work or in other public locations): Trip of the Month Club: One Trip of the Month Club ticket makes you eligible for 12 draws for a fabulous vacation. A drawing will be held each month starting in December 1990 to award a trip for two to a unique destination. The retail value of each trip is approximately $1,600! Drawings will be made by the mayors of Ajax and Pickering, and will alternate between the Council Chambers of each town. Tickets are $50.00 each. For tickets or further details, call Angelo DiClemente at 839-9436. Eric Nagler Show: Two shows for children, the young and young at heart will be held on Sunday, October 21 st 1990 at the Eastdale Collegiate Institute (265 Harmony Road North - north of Highway 401 in Oshawa, Ontario). Shows will be at 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Tickets are available at $10.00 per person. A limited number of tickets are available, so contact Dave Steele (839-8739) or Angelo DiClemente (839-9436) for ticket information. Your continued support and commitment to PACT is the major factor that will help prevent Metro and the GTA from dumping on Pickering and Ajax. For information on PACT and our continuing legal struggle, or to offer your assistance toward raising funds, please call any of the following persons: Bill Parish 683-2003 Camille Jacques -Carr 471-8096 Angelo DiClemente 839-9436 Sincerely, P" Audrey Groff 683-0894 Lloyd Thomas 294-1978 Paul Middleton 839-5695 Margaret Egoroff 683-45.77 Nancy Rose 831-6074 Dave Steele 839-8739 Bill Parish - Chairman, PACT for the Environment WILT A FABULOUS TRIP FOR TWO! Cancun Jamaica St. Lucia Barbados Venezuela Dominican Republic Antigua Costa Rica Purchase a ticket for the "Trip of the Month Club" Your ticket enters you into 12 monthly draws. aC yiiiviith, the i inner is awarded tea trip f.. ��AT� F to a unique and exciting destination! Tickets are $50.00 each Only 1,000 tickets will be sold! For tickets / information contact: Angelo DiClemente at 839-9436 (First Drawing to be held in December, 1990) Sponsored by: PACT Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment PACT Pickering Ajax Citizens Together for _ the Environment Invites you and your children to: An afternoon with Eric Nagler (from "The Elephant Show") Sunday, October 21 st 1990 Shows at 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm at Eastdale Collegiate Institute 265 Harmony Road North (north of Highway 401 in Oshawa, Ontario) Tickets $10.00 each Tickets are limited, so call now! Phone: 839-8739 or 839-9436 for tickets and information. RESIDENTS BALK: Catherine Grusselle tells Durham Region officials she's against A dump. in Ganaraska. Some residents vowed to keep inspection teams off their land. selection Residentsprotest_ otential Durham dumPs.o p By Phinjo Gombu TORONTO STAR About 75 angry Durham Region residents jammed a meeting on waste management to protest the selection of five potential sites for a garbage dump that could remain open for 40 years. During the meeting yesterday, residents vowed to prevent inspection teams from conducting environmental tests on their property. Shared site "We have engaged legal counsel and intend to fight it, said a determined Dick Morton, whose family has owned about 100 hectares (250 acres) of targeted farmland in the Town of Newcastle for more than a hundred years. "I won't allow tests or people on my land until my lawyer advises me otherwise," said Morton, who has hired former Durham East MPP Sam Cureatz as his lawyer, .._ about a year's time, is part of Durham Region's attempt to provide its own solution to the about 360,000 tonnes of garbage it produces each year. Regional Chairman Gary Herrema and works department officials have said the dump would be used for 40 years but an engineer hired for the site selection told the meeting it would be open for only 20 years. The region must decide between its own dump or a shared site with municipalities in the Metro area when the Brock West dump becomes full by early 1993. Meanwhile, Durham has selected Whitevale in Pickering as its contribution to the Metro - wide search for a short-term site between 1992 and 1996. Most of the protesters at yesterday's meeting came from the Town of Newcastle and carried signs opposing one site slated for the environmentally sensitive Ganaraska region. The other locations are spread T h' Pickering and the northern border of Oshawa. The protesters found support from Newcastle Mayor Marie 46 Hubbard, who attacked the secretive process of site selection by a private engineering group without any input from regional planning staff. Secretive process 'To loud applause, Hubbard pointed out that the site 0 her municipality was selected despite the fact it could have been exempted under the guidelines used by the firm. A proposal by Hubbard to remove the site from the list was turned down. Councillors urged residents not to prevent environmental tests and said everyone has t - y learn to live with the garba� e problem and it has to go somewhere. "We are a victim of a waste' society," Herrema later said. "Recycling is just not catching The dump, to be chosen m across Scugog owns rp, up. PACT launches suit against rovi nce over -proposed Whitevale garbage dump t F The new NDP member for Durham written b Premier -elect ��b Rae in B Paul'.zJohnson L • o yOhawaTi es Queen's Park Bureau V /rj�' ��/t�C1� West, Jim Wiseman, was also at the which he tells Wiseman ththe NDPTORONTO —The 1,000 member atable with PACT members yester- view is that all garbage dups, short day. or long term, should undergh the ful- PACT group of Pickering and Ajax He said he did not see a contradic- ler EAA hearing. citizens against the proposed White- '� tion in his being there even if the ac- Bill Parish, chairman of PACT, vale garbage dump has launched a tit'��,'` tion will have to be dealt with by the said in a press release that Durham court action against the Ontario gov- /R oN NDP government. Regional Chairman Gary Herrema ernment. At a Queen's Park press conference on Wednesday, spokesmen for the Pickering and Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment group said it has applied to the Divisional Court of On- tario for a judicial review of the Pe- terson government's order, issued July 11, exempting the site from a full hearing under the Environmental As- sessment Act. The action, said Camille Jacques - Carr of PACT, is timed to go after the Peterson government during its last few days in office but also to put the new NDP government on notice that resistance against the Whitevale dump will continue. "We are encouraged by the NDP, who have supported our position so far, and they certainly will be fair, but we have to go ahead with it," Jac- ques -Carr said. The legal action is also directed at the Region of Durham. The region is part of the Greater Toronto Area group examining short- and long- term options for dealing with the gar- bage crisis. Under the plan, each of the five re- gions is to propose short-term contin- gency dumps while longer term solu- tions are sought. Also under the plan the provincial government, under Pe- terson, had said the contingency dumps could be approved under the Environmental Protection Act in- stead of the more in-depth Environ- mental Assessment Act. The EAA re- 1-9 quires a comparison of all available Wiseman has been committed to has admitted the Whitevale site sites for suitability, instead of looking helping PACT in the past, Jacques- would not pass an EAA hearing and at just the named site, and more pub- Garr said. "the best solution is to pull the site off lic input. The group also submitted a letter the table altogether." BOWMANV/LLE Awg//f 1:: � Ki* forum.n 100 trucks a Jay � would use proposed dump By Michael O'Reilly Oshawa Times staff KIRBY — Up a hundred trucks da- ily will be using a proposed perma- nent regional dump near here, local residents were told last night. And if landowners don't accept of- fers of compensation from Durham Region, they will be expropriated. That's was the clear signal to emerge from the meeting, billed as an information session by the consult- ing firm hired to find a regional dump site. MacLaren Engineer's, the firm re- tained by the Region of Durham's Waste Management Committee, an- ticipated about 50 local landowners adjoining the site between Clarke Concessions 6 and 7 at Henry Road would be at the meeting at Kirby Pub- lic School. But like the meeting Tuesday night in Blackstock, it was a full house, with some 600 residents turning up to protest the selection of the 800-acre , short-listed along with two sites Scugog Township, one on the ushawa-Newcastle border, and one in northern Pickering. RESIDENTS FUME While Tuesday's meeting in Blacks- tock had to be called to a halt as it got out of control, last night's was equally angry though more restrained. But there was little solace for those who attended. As occurred previously, MacLa- ren's representatives Jon Read and Helen Jackson outlined the con- straints which led the company to short-list five of twelve possible sites as a permanent home for Durham's only solution to its landfill problems into the next century. The Kirby area site is located in the headwaters of the Ganaraska on the Oak Ridges Morraine, with residents strongly opposing the sites on envi- ronmental and social grounds. At last night's meeting, Regional Councillor Larry Hannah defended the role played by Durham's public liaison committee, saying he had even gre Ater respect for the mem- bers follo iing the abuse they endured at Tuesd 's stormy meeting in Blackstock'' —And that sentiment was repeated regional councillor Diane Hamre. HANNAH HAMRE VELDHUIS CUREATZ Former MPP Sam Cureatz said he had been retained by a number of landowners affected by the proposed dump. He said that the net result of the propsoed site would be to freeze the assets of those farmers, making it virtually impossible for them to carry on their operations. "The reality is that they will be un- able to get mortgages until this issue is resolved," he said. Local environmentalist Helen Mac- Donald said that according to the cri- teria described by Helen Jackson, the Ganaraska site seemed to be inappro- piate. She said it was on the Oak Ridges Moraine, adjacent to Crown lands and in an environmentally sen- sitive area. Jon Read, MacLaren's project manager, said the site needed to be studied in detail to determine its long- term suitability. "It's on a century farm," MacDon- ald persisted. "That was one of the constraints." Ken Donnelly, the region's solid waste manager, said a compensation package is being recommended by the public liaison committee. COMPENSATION OFFERED For engineers to gain access to the sites, landowners will be paid $3,000 plus $1,000 for each test of the first five test puts dug, and $500 each for every other test pit. Compensation will also be offered for loss of crops or dents within 500 metres of the landfill. "No other residents will be adver- sely affected by the landfill," he said. "What are you going to do?" some- one shouted. "Put diapers on the sea- gulls?" Neil Allen, representing Durham Federation of Agriculture, asked what compensation was being made available to cover farmers who would suffer as a result of the effective freeze. NO GUARANTEES "The issue of compensation is not inflexible," Donnelly said. Asked if the site would be used solely for Durham's garbage, Read said that was the intent of the exer- cise. Donnelly, however, agreed with a questioner who said he could not give a guarantee that the site would not be used by Metro Toronto at some point in the future. Elva Reid, chairman of the ad hoc committee established to fight the Ganaraska dump proposal, asked what considerations had been made to cater for the hundred or so trucks which Read said would be using the site daily. Read said the transport aspect had not yet been considered. David Scott, chairman of the Clarke Constituents Committee, formed to fight the Laidlaw landfill site near Newtonville, asked what consideration was given to the fact that the 800 acres for the proposed site was in prime agricultural farm- land. "It's the best farmland in Canada," Scott said. "At last night's meeting in Blacks- tock, they said the Cartwright sites was the best farmland in Durham," Read quipped. "The fact is that agricultural land is not a consideration. Good farmland is good for landfill." John Veldhuis, chairman of the Port Granby and Newcastle Environ- ment Committee, said he was sur- prised to see that a landfill site was suggested for the Oak Ridges area of Newcastle. He expounded that the Town of Newcastle produces very little garbage, and that most of the garbage for the site would come from points west. -lsaij aoj palsaaat; svm-3�.of,,!hP,,gast lq�tu snoiAaad aql ao; sxoeaa atagl aanoo of Igtle ue pal000uoo magi ;o aaagl aql `Ptus ssaupm aql sep lxau aqZ •$utuopsanb aalle paseal -aa lnq lg2tu lugl aalel emegs0 uT uotlels a;)tlod aql of paTlez) sum eulaa _ni. •inn �i�.. Cam ... ........ ........r ..--_ MEWS ITEM' _---� TICKEKQN MAy w I TAIAK LGO-IERM SUMP I Aes JUST "DIscUmv TAE OLUE of LW QMERbAlp I t � / 171- Don't dump on Recently, Mother Nature shock i1 our community with a devastating tornado. Over the last few days, shock has again struck this quiet rural area with the news that the Region of Durham has named an area east of Orono as one of several potential dump sites. Another potential site, it appears, is in the area north-west of Mitchell's Corners. This community seems to be deliriously strolling from one disaster to another, as did Alice in Vdonderland. There is something of a sinister attraction to the Town of Newcastle for dumps (garbage, nuclear), environmentally questionable industry and pervasive &Velopment. Enoup is enough! Society has a responsibil to its environs — we, here in t Town of NeWcastle,,are trying to -come to grips with'this very serious PAGE 6-A--THE NEWS ADVERTISER, OCT. 10, 1990 Politicians responsible for garbage mess Durham politicians are scrambling to get out from under the garbage left behind by MacLaren Engineering when the firm named five potential dumpsites in the region. Councillors claim they were left in the dark and without information to answer questions from residents about how the sites were chosen. Don't you believe it. It's a blatant attempt to diffuse the anger felt by residents' to 'Avarious sources so one particular group doesn't take the full % runt of it. Councillors have been playing the garbage game long nough to know what criteria are used to choose dumpsites. he specifics of these five latest sites might not be known but, n general, the engineers look at the same things for every site and the councillors know it. Now MacLaren says it'll be at least four weeks before a report explaining the choices is ready. Surely these people had a report ready before announcing the sites. Or were the sites, (X chosen without benefit of any reports? We hope not. At least, regional chairman Gary Herrema is honest about D1JUMPED- fIA'r the whole fiasco. "We've got to go up front," he says. "We are E�L N 19� the ones ultimately responsible." But then Herrema's never E� been afraid to state his position, however unpopular it is. Regional councillors, not MacLaren Engineers nor the PLC (Public Liason Committee), are responsible for this mess. Newcastle They know they're the ones who'll pay some municipal election time in a year. It's up to you to remember that. responsibility. However, "they" just don't want to leave us alone. Job had only so much patience -- ours has reached its limit! I note that our Premier -elect, Mr. Bob Rae, has some very strong policies regarding the environment — including the issue of garbage. Clearly, the electorate of Ontario has extended its hands in faith to Mr. Rae's ability to deliver the goods. My observations lead me to conclude that -not only Metro Toronto but also the Region of Durham are holding the province ransom with the unknown monster called the "garbage crisis." The short-sightedness of planners/politicians has come home to roost — but I note that roosting is exclusive to rural communities! HELEN MacDONAL.D ` NewtunOMe` Ontario asked to help resolve arbage crisi gs By Phinjo Gombu TORONTO STAR The province must provide leadership to solve the gar- bage problem, says Durham Chairman Gary Herrema. The Sept. 25 announcement of five potential sites for a long-term garbage dump in Durham has produced what he calls "near -hysteria." "It's turning neighbor against neighbor," Herrema says of the name-calling and general animosity that have characterized packed information meetings in site -munici- palities such as Scugog and Newcastle. Since the announcement of sites in Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog and Newcastle, battle lines have been drawn for a long dump war. Five sites One site will be chosen after lengthy assessments under the Environmental Assessment Act. Newcastle, with one candidate site on the headland of the Ganaraska River, has already set aside $100,000 for legal expenses. "We're going to fight. We're not going to let them do what they like," says Newcastle Mayor Marie Hubbard. The site in her municipality was chosen by a private engineering firm hired by the region for $500,000. "The selection of this particular site has blown the cred- ibility of the whole process. I can't believe it," Hubbard says. She claims the sites were chosen on the basis of theoretical data rather than on -site inspection. Residents in Scugog and Newcastle have set up anti - dump committees and will consider united opposition. There's widespread concern the future dump will take Metro garbage. "I don't believe this is a Durham -only dump," says Dick Morton, whose family has owned about 100 hectares (250 acres) of targeted farmland in the Town of Newcastle for more than 100 years. "There will be a deal between Durham and Metro." Colin Kemp, a Scugog resident says, "There's no guar- antee that a proposed dump anywhere in Durham Region will be not be used by Metro or the Greater Toronto Area governments." Durham is seeking a long-term solution to disposing of the 360,000 tonnes of garbage it produces each year. N bt 0 a W r_ Durham wants Metro trgsh blocked D6it1T,X'M_ - The region has told Queen's Park it wants no Metro REGION garbage in the Durham -only dump. Durham councillors and officials have been hearing that only one person has the authority to keep Metro's area residents express fear that more than just local trash trash out — the minister of the environment. Under sec - will be dumped in one of the five potential Durham -only tion 29 of the Environmental Protection Act, the minister landfill sites which were announced recently. may force a municipality to take another municipality's Councillors reiterated on Wednesday that, as long as trash. they're in power, they won't allow Metro's trash in Councillors decided Wednesday to send a letter to Durham's long-term site. However, they acknowledge _ _ / See REGION ... Page 3 FROM PAGE 1 newly -appointed NDP environment minister Ruth Grier asking her not to impose section 29 on the region. "Your assurance that no such drastic requirement would be imposed on Durham region would greatly assist us," says the letter to Grier. The letter continues. "Second, there is concern that Metro could use its unique powers to expropriate our preferred site. While we do not believe that Metro would take such a step, your assurance that the provin- cial government would not permit such a step would be of great assis- tance to use." Regional council unanimously agreed to send the letter. �1 _ 07DDDREGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM I OPEN HOUSE DURHAM I M.M. DILLON LIMITED on behalf of THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM invites you to attend an OPEN HOUSE On the Region of Durham's Proposed Contingency Landfill Site (P1) This Open House will provide you with an opportunity to discuss the documentation that has been prepared for the Certificate of Approval under the Environmental Protection Act The Open House will be held THURSDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1990 from 4:00 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M. at the KAHN AUCTION BARN (5 kms north of Hwy 401, on Brock Road, Pickering) FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL IAIN DAY AT (416) 229-4646 ------ THE NEWS ADVERTISER SUNDAY, OCT. 7, 1919= GE 3 Politicians feel left in the dark over potential Durham dump FROM PAGE 1 has so far handled the master plan. After a long pause, he sighed "Yes". He echoed complaints of regional councillors who felt left in the dark after the sites were announced. Representatives from the PLC and the region were sent out to inform affected landowners of the five candidate sites in the days following the announcement. Local councillors complain they were given no further information by MacLaren after the sites were made public. Herrema said council- lors ate being asked ques- tions by constituents about which roads would be used for dump access and about financial impact on farms on or near prospec- tive landfill sites. MacLaren hadn't provided the information. "They (MacLaren representatives) live remote from Durham," said Herrema. The process MacLaren used was "very bureaucratic" and left councillors scrambling for .,more information", he said. At regional council Wednesday, Newcastle councillor Diane Hamre said the process is "not being han- dled well" and asked "Why are there no answers?" At a waste management meeting earlier that morning, councillors dis- cussed the role of the PLC in han- dling complaints by affected landowners. Committee members commented on the abuse the volunteers on the PLC were taking from the public. "We've got to go up front," said Herrema. "We are the ones ultimate- ly responsible." Herrema said that PLC member and spokesman Vern Garlick became "visibly shaken and upset" at one of the information meetings held to answer landowner ques- tions. He said PLC members are "very well meaning people. I think ik� owe them thanks. I think they got abused..." Ajax mayor Jim Witty expressed his dis'gust at so-called "critics" of the region's master plan who he said are "misin- formed". Witty said the 'crit- ics' are getting information from people "who profess to be environ- mental experts." Critics are claiming other places in North America are enjoying more success at waste reduction than Durham. It's been said Seattle buries little of its waste. "They hear all this crap and they believe it," com- plained Witty. Herrema said Seattle burns or buries most of its waste in another state and charges homeowners $9 for each bag of trash they put at the roadside. Witty also said he's donating 20 town of Ajax ceramic coffee cups to the waste management committee boardroom. At the last meeting, a resident complained about the plastic cups councillors were using. By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - A MacLaren Engineers spokesman defends the procedures his com- pany used in selecting five candidate sites for a Durham -only, long-term landfill. Jonathan Read stands by his company's work in the face of criticism from residents and regional councillors who say they were left in the dark without answers after the sites were announced. The criticism "is pretty normal", says Read, adding his firm has done "more (waste master plans) than any other firm in Ontario." Read says it's "quite natural" that politi- cians and residents take the "brunt of frus- tration" out on the people who chose the sites. "You have to expect that to happen. The councillors didn't know about the sites. We keep them essentially distant to free our- selves from political influence." Durham chairman Gary Herrema and some regional councillors complained last week that they had little information to tell residents about the sites, such as why they were chosen. "We're the only ones with the answers," admits Read. And, "unfortunately in this case," it will be four to five weeks until a report will be ready explaining why particu- lar sites were chosen. Some councillors complained that MacLaren didn't consult regional staff about See AREA ... Page A3 Area residents 'less tolerant' of future dumps: MacLaren FROM PAGE Al r�,0 /f Durham's official plan that's in the process of being revised. Read defends the action saying MacLaren couldn't have made its selections based on plans that might not come to fruition. An example, he says, is the proposed Highway 407 that currently has four different alignments. "If we had adopted that approach" of using proposed plans, there would have been criticism that sites were chosen based on planning proposals. © MacLaren used the region's "cur- rently accepted plans" that had "provincial approval" to decide on potential landfill sites, says Read. Because Durham has "a bit more of a history in waste management than other areas", Read says, resi- dents are "a bit less tolerant of fur- ther landfills." However, Durham residents aren't "any more intelli- gent" about waste disposal matters than people living elsewhere in Ontario. "It's a pretty topical sub- ject," says Read, adding, "I don't think anybody would say `Here, put a landfill in my area. — His advice to landowners who live near or on a proposed dump site: "The best way to fight or get the site off the table" is to allow MacLaren officials onto the land to conduct further studies. So far, about six land owners have signed consent forms allowing MacLaren on their properties. Read says 78 land owners are affected by the candidate sites and at least half of those land owners are nee d to give consent before MacLar i can make a decision on which 'sites should be eliminated as pot tial dump sites. By WENDY GALLAGHER Durha�,�orter DURHAM - Let people tak charge of waste disposal becaus it's their responsibility, Pickerin farmer Al Ward told politician uesday. Pickering residents owning Ian near or on a potential dump site o Lakeridge Road turned out i droves to voice their objections the regional waste managemerl committee meeting earlier thi week. The proposed dump site is o of five in the region chosen as c didate sites by MacLaren Enginee to take Durham's waste for 20 ye beginning in 1996. Ward told a packed committ room that history has shown peop, will help out in a crisis situation. "People are willing to make sac- rifices," he said. "It's their job to look after garbage, not the govern- ment's." Ward accused councillors of accepting "too readily the informa- tion that has been put in front of you as if it's carved in stone." He told politicians and regional staff to focus more on encouraging resi- dents to reduce, reuse and recycle. Residents should have to pay for teach bag of trash they put out, and �)r by voice, residents �dTring and Newcastle -their objection to the hosen as potential Durham's garbage. Brock mayor Don Hadden appeared to be praying for a solution to the garbage crisis. buy their own composters and blue boxes, he said. "People want to solve this problem... You've got to have the faith that they can do it." Ward said he believed the region is concerned about the environment and reducing trash, but it should ask residents, not consultants, about ways to do that. "Expert advice See PUT ... Paee 3 FROM PAGE 1 sometimes is the least accurate." Doug Plitz owns land that's intended for his daughter to use for raising horses. That land could now become a dump. He pleaded with councillors: "For heaven's sake...don't Zak (Pickering) the world capital dump site. Dn't need four sites. All of these have had I terrible effect on the people of Pickering." Bill Lennox, who owns land near the site, said his business "could go down the tubes" if the Pickering site is picked for a dump. Lennox told the committee he bought the land in 1979 and planted 21,000 apple trees. Today, the trees produce between 25,000 and 30,000 bushels of apples, which he sells to 1 fruit markets and grocery stores. "I put a large part of my life into these trees," said Lennox. "I would very much appreciate 'f you put (the dump) somewhere else," h said. Regional chairman Gary Herrema th ,ked Lennox for the "honest" statement. Ron Death owns and operates a farm northeast of the candidate site. He also rents land that's in the middle of the potential dump site. Death specializes in growing fruit and vegetables and told councillors of the nega- tive effects the dump would have on his farm, such as seagulls, contamination by waste and road congestion. He said his farm lets customers pick their own fruit and vegetables. "I'm concerned about attracting customers when they have to A VOL. 5, N0.41 50 CENTS //��� FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1990 CIRCULATION 35,000 44 PAGES Res e-nts dumponproposed Pickeringdu np 5T CD n 5 CD �CL O �_. QD c� CD a CD Q, O co (D a 0 0 CD CD �. 2) �o v `CD o m O `c' m N-. -» CCD CD 9 cp O CD CD < x m � m O 7 N 10 a" O cD (n M) Cr D m m Ca O su M THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 1999—PAGE 3 deal with the odor" from the potent17 dump. In a lighthearted gesture, Death handed Herrema a bag of apples. "This is not an attempt at bribery," joked Death. "These apples were grown in an orchard right in the middle of the (potential) dump." Herrema replied, "I know your land is the very best of land." Gwen Mowbray's property has been in her family or 120 years. It sits on the northwest corner of the potential dump. Mowbray said there' a the and a woodlot with deer on the land and asked councillors to remove all five candidate sites from the table. Mowbray complained that the process for choosing the sites was flawed. After the meeting, she said, "The whole process is just ridiculous." told The wetland on her land, said Mowbray, sits on the comer of the road, and she asked aloud how the consultants picking the sites didn't see it. When asked if she attended the Public Liaison Committee (PLC) constraint -mapping meeting earlier this year when residents were invited to show consultants sensitive areas of land, she replied, "I never heard of any meet- ing. They never asked us." The waste management committee is mak- ing no further moves on the five sites, until, as Herrema said, all options are looked at including an energy from waste facility where trash is burned. The waste management committee will meet with representatives of the agriculture industry about the candidate sites. Regmion made Arnistak keeping hoff c Herrema said the committee "isn't happy" with what's happened so far in thew master plan. Referring to the five canidate sites, Herrema asked, "How long are we going to hold this cloud over peo- ple's property? - -- "We're not going any further (with MacLaren recommendations for potential dump sites). We're not satisfied." Herrema said about Enkga� From Waste facilities," I'm notisfied that it's not a good alternative. ' Another alternative that has been discussed little recently is Durham joining the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee (SWISC) plan. It calls for a solution for handling the garbage of all five greater Toronto area regions. "Three communities invited us to take our garbage" to their municipal- ity at "some cost", said Herrema. However, SWIS which Herrema chairs, hasn't met ith the commu- nities yet. "We'll try nd see what it is they're proposing. Whether it's an option that has validity only time will tell." The committee will hold further meetings to discuss the sites and ■ other alternatives. waSTe piano cnairmqu�--­ "People (serving on the PLC) have been attacked on our behalf site in Whitevale, scheduled to take By WENDY GALLAGHER and we apologize" Herrema said, trash from Durham and Metro for Durham Reporter DURHAM -Regional council , He rrema errema said After the meeting,long-term four years beginning in 1992 when a site is suppos'�d to be made a mistake in not being more he wis._ ed the region was able to pick a site for garbage "but the ready. The former provinci , Liberal involved in the Durham waste mas- (Envi:onmer.tal Assessment) act . government exempted the s to from ter plan, according to regional chair won't let us.'�(The EAA requires a an EAA hearing). 9� man G Herrema. "This committee made a mis- comparison f different sites and technologie and a comparison of Pickering councillor Doug Dickerton expressed the same opin- take," he told councillors and resi- dents who attended a waste manage- the selected method and site against the alternatives.) ion. Although it's "obvioCss"fP race is flawed", he noted that people in O ment committee meeting Tuesday "We The region has paid MacLaren Pickering are "begging" for an EAA afternoon. were told to keep $500,000 so far to find five candi- hearing on Pl . our hands off (choosing the potential date sites, all of which have brought Dickerson said he'd like to dump sites) and we did. We've kept harsh criticism from politicians and remove all five candidate sites from too far back and we won't do that the public. But, Herrema said, the the table and "P1 with it." any longer." MacLaren Engineers were hired work that's been paid for was "worth Last year, Herrema and some other members of the waste manage - by the region to find a dump for every penny" because it brings to the forefront the garbage ment committee travelled to Europe Durham to put its trash for 20 years crisis and "helps us come to a better to inspect methods of waste disposal beginning in 1996. Alongside decision" on what to do with the there. Herrema told the comrittee Macl,aren, a Public Liaison 'ttee trash. Europeans have "no magic `solu- -r'n (PLC) was formed, com- Earlier in the meeting, Pickering tions" to waste disposal. ,wd o` volunteers throughout the 'nform councillor Bev Morgan couldn't "None of us wants this job to find ��ion to the public about bring herself to join the criticism of a dump; we want to find the solu- Durham's waste master plan. the Environmental Assessment Act. tion. This damn act doesn't work. MacLaren steered clear of politi- "I'm not going to fight the EAA pro- I'm more and more convinced that cians when picking sites, preferring cess because I've fought long and this act is made to disrupt communi- no political interference`— to hard get it (for the proposed Pl ties." Farmers fear losing land to a dump . fi .,�.. R., WRNnV r-AT I AGURR C` v-, Durham Reporter c"'` --7;. / cf —-PUR.LIAM - Representatives of the agriculture industry are concerned about five candidate dump sites chosen to take Durham's trash. One of those sites could take garbage for 20 years beginning in 1996. Farmers in Pickering and Newcastle whose land the potential dump is on or near are worried their livelihood will be ruined. John Finlay, representative of the Durham branch of the Ontario min- istry of agriculture and food, and officials from the Durham branch of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture were invited by the region to speak at the waste manage- ment committee meeting Tuesday. Finlay said he wasn't approached by MacLaren Engineers when MacLaren was selecting candidate sites for a dump. "It's surprising," he said. "The brunt of this (waste master plan) 's going to be borne by farm- ers," s 'd Finlay. "Can we go on and waste farmland indefinitely?" he asked Neil Allin, past president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Durham branch, said his group's first priority is the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle). And, "we've gone on record as supporting incin- eration." Allin said agriculture appeared to have been ignored when choosing dump sites for Durham's waste mas- ter plan. "If it's been looked at at all, it's been glanced at." He asked councillors who had businesses if they would be prepared to put any money into their estab- lishment knowing it might become the site of a dump. He suggested council reimburse any farmers who want to spend money on items such as a new roof for the barn if it's later decided their farmland will be a dump. He wanted assurance for farmers who improve their business- es "that that money's not going out the window." Brian DeGeer, president of the Durham chapter of the Federation of Agriculture, complained that agricul- ture "hasn't been considered very strongly" when potential dump sites were selected. He said, "Without agricultural land you do not have a dump site." See FARMERS. -Page 4 compensation if land affected by a dump FROM PAGE 1 DeGeer asked that fair compensation be given to farmers living and working near the designated site that's finally picked for a dump. "It's very crucial compensation is consid- ered," he, said. Regi , gaff and coun- cillors will meet furthQr with the members of the agriculture industry. F I r'1 Durham asks province for garbage dump help By Dan McLean The Region of Durham will seek the province's help in preventing Metro Toronto's garbage from being dumped into Durham's yet -to -be - announced final proposed new regional dump site. In a letter directed to the Ontario government and drafted by the waste management committee, region last week asked province not to allow Metro use of Durham's yet -to -be - announced landfill dump. The letter was approved by council members during a region council meeting Oct. 3. Under Section 29 of the Environmental Protection Act, the province can require any of the five municipal regions surrounding Metro to accept the waste from each other in the the event of a declared garbage crisis in those regions. Massive However, most regions are concerned with having to accept Metro's waste. The massive volume of Metro Toronto -produced landfill would rapidly deplete available landfill in other regions, it was explained during the meeting. The Durham waste management committee has had to deal with local reaction to that scenario, in addition to concerns regarding the location of the region's proposed dump. The committee's letter explains that if the province will assure Durham Region would not have to accept Metro's landfill waste, then public hostility to the landfill site proposal would be reduced. Leading "Without a doubt, Durham Region is leading the way in trying to solve its waste management problems," waste management chairman John Aker told region council. Aker said Durham is actively trying to solve its waste management woes while other regions — especially Metro Toronto — are dragging their heels on the issue. "Other municipalities are not (seeking local solutions) and are hoping the province will come to their assistance in the 11th hour," Aker said. Five potential Durham -only landfill sites are under review by the region's waste management committee. A final decision will likely be made sometime in March or April of next year. Components The proposed landfill site will represent only one part of Durham Region's over-all plan for long-term waste management. Whitby Councillor Marcel Brunelle said composting, recycling, reducing and re -use, and potential incineration are other components. Waste that can't be managed by these alternatives would be dumped into landfill and would represent much less waste than what is being put into landfill today, Brunelle said. The proposed Durham Region dump is expected to last some 20 years. But it wouldn't last two years if Metro dumps its garbage there, the Whitby councillor added. By WENDY GALLAGHER PICKERING - Town councillors have trashed plans to sue Metro over garbage being dumped at roadsides here. Politicians on Monday abandoned their idea of suing Metro for the mess that's been left since Metro starting charging people for dumping trash in the Brock West Landfill Site it owns and operates. The town solicitor suggested the town wouldn't win the lawsuit. Pickering has been plagued with roadside trash since earlier this year, when Metro imposed a fee on people taking garbage to Brock West in vehi- cles larger than passenger cars. NDP urgeto toughen waste laws The provincial government's war against waste is moving in the right direction but should include tougher measures, environmental groups say. fl Environment Minister Ruth Grier said yesterday soft drink Vinpanies are being ordered to sell at least 30 per cent of their products in refillable containers. "We were hoping (Grier) would commit the government to �o be- yond the 30 per cent quota, ' with at least a promise of a 50 per cent limit by 1992, said David McRob- ert of Pollution Probe. "It's a very cautious first step and it reflects the fact there's been a lot of behind -the -scenes lobby- ing going on by the soft drink industry," McRobert said. "We're pleased to see she's making progress," said Gordon Perkes of Greenpeace. "We just feel she could be doing a lot more." The Liberal government im- posed the 30-per-cent quota in a deal with the industry that also in- volved financial support for the province's blue box recycling pro- gram. But the most recent charges under the Liberal legislation were laid in September, 1989. Since then, enforcement has been lax, and earlier this year the regulation was abandoned while the government negotiated with industry over new rules. When asked if they were happy with Grier's announcement, soft drink industry officials were va e. eorge Bothwell, ZI sident of Coca-Cola Ltd., said soft rink containers make up less than 1 per cent of Ontario's garbage and the industry has made a major contribution to the recycling pro- gram. The fee was imposed to prevent the commercial sector from taking advan- tage of free disposal originally intend- ed for householders with bulky garbage, loose material or other waste they didn't want to place at the curb- side. Angry residents, believed by See PICKERING... Page 3 IcKering ro tell Metro to collect trash at roadsides FROM PAGE 1 Pickering councillors to be mostly from Metro, are refusing to pay the fee and instead are disposing of their trash on area roads. Pickering staff estimate it will cost taxpayers between $75,000 and $100,000 to pick up roadside trash next year if the trend continues. However, councillor Kip Van Kempen called this figure "mislead- ing" because staff hadn't indicated how much it used to cost to pick up trash on the roadside before the new fee was imposed. Councillors instruc ,d staff to have further discussions vith Metro on the problem. Staff w 11 suggest Metro trucks be responsible for picking up roadside trash within an agreed upon radius of the dump, such as two to five kilometres. Toxins -could leak froOi clump By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - Residents' well water could potential- ly be contaminated by a dump on the P1 site near Whitevale, tests have shown. But plans are proceeding to develop the dump. Consultants say they can prevent toxins from seeping into underlying aquifers — and thus into wells — by constructing a leachate collection system and a ground- water control system. Damp coul FROM, P GE I tamination in West Duffins Creek or Petticoat Creek. The back-up groundwater control system will last for 100 years, c+insultants say, and by that time "contaminant discharges from the landfill will he so low that water qual- ity will be met." This conceptual design for the dump was prepared by consultants M.M. Dillon Limited and has been submit- ted to the ministry of the envi- ronment. Members of the public examined the plan dur- ing an open house Oct. 18. If the landfill is approved under Environmental Protection Act hearings, a final design will be drawn up. The proposal calls for a fill area covering 40 hectares and Under the plan, groundwater will flow into the site with no leakage of contaminants out of the dump. If the leachate collection system fails, a back-up groundwater control system including manholes and extraction wells with pumps would be used. Surface water run-off would be controlled by two storm water management ponds and two temporary sedi- ment control basins, minimizing the possibility of con - See DUMP ...Page A3 • • ' • • • • � • • � �` �' 'E j�E�VS' AD'V�)�tiIS�it,OC`f. 24, 1�90-PAGE V feet neighbors' quality of life Pickering resident David Farr, right, was one of several who attended an open house Thursday to view a proposed design for the P1 dump noar Whitevale. With him, from left, are M.M. Dillon Ltd. consultants Jim MacLachlan and Ernie Hartt. photo by Ron Pietroniro rising 33.5 metres above ground. Another 85 hectares on site would be retained as a buffer. The dump, under this pro- posal, will result in the loss of about 143 hectares of agricul- tural land and could affect six heritage resource sites contain- ing 19th century buildings on the site. Consultants have also concluded the dump "could have some impact on the quali- ty of life" of residents. The proposal also calls for a wildlife pond to replace lost wetlands, re -vegetating dis- turbed areas, regular inspec- tions by pest exterminators and screening the site with trees along Altona Road and Regional Road 30, the latter = highway containing the - entrance to the dump. - j -AiDP's Rae hasn't ruled out P1 yet PICKERING - The NDP govern- ment has made no decision on the fate of the P1 site near Whitevale, says Durham West MPP Jim Wiseman. "I talked to (environment minister) Ruth Grier Friday, and no decision has been made," says New Democrat Wiseman, who became our new MPP when he defeated Liberal incumbent Norah Stoner in the Sept. 6 provin- cial election. "I expect a decision in the near future," says Wiseman. "The reason it hasn't been made yet is ministers have been undergoing non-stop brief- ing sessions since the first (of October when they were sworn in at Queen's Park)." Regional councillor Doug Dickerson maintains P1 has been withdrawn from consideration. Dickerson says he spoke to premier Bob Rae privately during a provincial conference and says Rae told him he's "cognizant of the commitments he made prior to the election and during the election and he will live up to those commitments after a review." Dickerson says he's "99 per cent sure" that statement by Rae means the P1 dump is dead. "I wish it were true," says Wiseman of Dickerson's assumptions. "(Regional chairman) Gary Herrema and Doug Dickerson will not be the first to know ," says Wiseman. "I will." Proposed routes.: to P1 dump site PICKERING - Consultants M.M. Dillon Ltd. have identified preferred access routes to the proposed P1 dump in Whitevale. The routes are part of a conceptual design for the landfill sub- mitted to the ministry of the environ- ment. There are four proposed routes for Durham's garbage trucks to travel to the dump, which will be entered off Regional Road 30. They are listed in order of preference: 1) Whites Road north to Finch Avenue, west to Altona Road, north to the Taunton Road/Steeles Avenue con- nection, west to Regional Road 30; 2) Whites Road north to the Taunton Road/Steeles Avenue connection, west to Regional Road 30; 3) Whites Road north to Highway 2, west to Altona Road, north to Taunton/Steeles, west to Regional Road 30; 4) Brock Road north to Taunton/Steeles, west to Regional Road 30. Two routes have been identified for Metro Toronto's garbage trucks: 1) Meadowvale Road to existing Beare Road landfill entrance, northeast through the landfill to Beare Road, north to Steeles Avenue, east to Regional Road 30; 2) Meadowvale Road to Beare Road landfill entrance, northeast through the landfill to Finch Avenue, east to Scarborough -Pickering townline and Regional Road 30. To the editor: In response to calls I have received following articles in the press on the matter of the resolu- tion I moved regarding P1 and the provincial government, I would appreciate it if you would print the following Open Letter to the People of Pickering Dear residents: Several weeks ago you will recall reading about a resolution I moved asking the new govern- ment to withdraw P1 as a site and also asking Pickering to withhold further legal action at this time. In order to ensure that there is no misunderstanding as to the intent of this resolution I feel it is imperative that everyone is aware of the background. 1. I always have and always will oppose the destruction of prime agricultural land for any purpose. 2. P1 is located on good food land and is an area which is envi- ronmentally sensitive and would impact on all of us. It is not a good choice for a landfill site. 3. The land is owned by the government of Ontario which has the power to withdraw them as a considered site. 4. The former government not only failed to do this but chose to fast track the hearing stage which examines the impact of P1 on the community. 5. With the recent election I felt that the new government would be more sensitive to issues such as P1 and would hear what we have to say and either remove it from the table or at least agree to full envi- ronmental hearings on it. 6. Regarding the suggestion to withhold legal action by the town at this time, I was referring to the action being taken challenging the process to fast track, not the action that may be necessary to defend Pickering once it reached a hear- ing stage. In summary I would hope that this affirms my commitment to continue to work at all levels to represent the people of Pickering in an attempt to stop P1. Maurice Brenner, Councillor, Ward One Pickering Public hearings' on Pl dump site may be delayed By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Hearings to establish whether the P1 site in Whitevale is suitable for a dump could be delayed 60 days. The public hearing process, as part of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), is scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 26 at Kahn Auction Barns in Pickering. But, rumors abound that the provincial NDP government could kill the EPA hearing and elect a more stringent full Environmental Assessment Act evaluation or com- pletely drop P1 as a dump site, there- by delaying the public hearings. The P1 dump is scheduled to take six million tonnes of trash from Durham and Metro for four years beginning in 1992. It could also take garbage from other Greater Toronto Area municipalities which partici- pate in the GTA waste master plan. It's expected current landfill capacity for Durham and Metro trash will he exhausted late next year. By 1996, municipalities will either use their own waste manage - regions in a mega -disposal scheme. Durham is currently working on its own waste plan, having selected five sites in the region that could be used for garbage. John Aker, Oshawa councillor and chairman of Durham's waste management committee, said Wednesday senior members of the GTA authority met with Durham's waste management committee earlier in the day to discuss the fate of P1. "The province is looking at alter- natives. There may be a requirement for us to defer or adjourn the hear- ings for 60 days." Aker said there are "few alterna- tives" available. When asked if there was any alternative at all for P1, he replied, "I don't think so." Aker dismissed speculation about P1's demise as "rumors". He said there are three partners in the devel- opment of the dump site. The province is allowing use of the land, Metro Toronto is providing the money and Durham is providing the "political will". Aker said P1 will only become a reality if all three partners work ment plan or join with other GTA,_tn-_�er. y f9 M SD t:s aq ~. 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O ;4:Ki• _o O M cD o M -q�va 0�' SD a ctnD C O 0f s CDC .tO'ytiO� p� t1.CD rn•� p' O ¢Doa, vo°°� 0 le :3 09 o0'CD 5. 00 O 0.0 ~s ts Vo m - � aq ,Pdo �� CD 7rn707 O a 0 Cr Co N N CO O m O 70 O z O Cn D 70 Politicians say By Phinjo Gombu TORONT'O STAR Durham Region has to do a much better job of selling the region's waste reduction plans to the public, says regional councillor Marcelle Brunelle. "Too many people think our waste man- agement committee master plan is one huge dump," Brunelle told a waste management committee meeting last week. "It's a heck of a lot more than that. We need to let the public know what it's all about and what is it that we're trying to do," Brunelle said. "Dumps are probably the smallest component of our master plan." The remarks were made during a discus- sion about the need for better communica- tion with the public over garbage -related issues. Battle lines have been drawn between citizens groups and the region since the Sept. 25 announcement of five potential long-term dump sites in Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog and Newcastle. Durham , `' Only one site will be chosen after lengthy study under the Environmental Assessment Act so that the dump can be ready by early 1996. Brunelle says, among other things, the re- gion should be proud of: ❑ Plans being drawn for a massive com- posting plant that will cater to apartment dwellers, restaurants and factories that don't have access to backyard composters; ❑ The recent distribution of backyard com- posters in Pickering as part of a pilot project to find out how much household waste can be diverted from dumps; ❑ A proposed waste processing facility to separate recyclable waste from landfill gar- bage; ❑ A pilot project in Uxbridge for a toxic taxi that collects hazardous waste from households and factories; ❑ The continuing expansion of the blue box collection program., fails to sell garbage plais The garbage dump problem has to be seen in the context of efforts to reduce the amou of waste that goes to landfill, Bru- nelle s esses. "On the stuff that can't go anywhere else w • 1 be going to landfill sites," Brunelle says, adding that landfill sites cannot be done away with completely. The region, he says, is committed to di- verting 25 per cent garbage from landfill sites by 1992 and 50 per cent by the year 2000. "But there are some things you can't do anything else with but send to landfill," Brunelle says. Vern Garlick, volunteer chairman of the region's public liaison committee, stresses the same point. No matter how successful you are in waste reduction something will always be left over," Garlick says, adding that landfill and incineration are the two known meth- ods of disposal. Garlick says attempts are under way to make contact with anti -dump committees so that the region and the grassroots groups can work together toward the common goal of waste reduction. At least one group from Scugog, Zero Garbage, has shown some interest in estab- lishing contact with his group, Garlick says. But other councillors at the meeting say a public relations program at the present time would not be appropriate. "People are not ready to listen to any- thing that makes sense," regional councillor Yvonne Christie said. "They are still venting their anger and frustration (over the dumps)." Waste management committee chairman John Aker said the region's goals were tied to provincial policy and the plans of other regional municipalities. The region is still waiting for a reply from a letter to the Environment Minister, Ruth Grier, asking for a guarantee that the Durham -only, dump would not be used by Metro, Aker says. �l Letters " Tie To the traitor: winner Rotary Park to be site for garbage processing plant. The benefits to the community of this project were outlined to a small exclusive meeting held in downtown Ajax last night by an unnamed inde- pendent engineering firm. In a similar move in every com- munity in Durham region, apropos - al based on a study by the same engineering firm recommended that waste disposal facilities be sited in centrally -located parks which are close to the largest centers of waste production. The report stated that this was the best possible solution for waste from an overall environ- mental viewpoint and that parks would be the ideal locations for state of the art waste handling and local- ized landfill facilities. The Durham regional waste man- agement committee, which commis- sioned the engineering firm, has voted to accept the plan and has rec- ommended to local councils that they commence forthwith to erect these waste disposal facilities in the parks. Of course, this is not true, I only put this fictitious news story forward to dramatize to our urban cousins how we, in what used to be !!!"a-* ?/4�, 6 gets the Cartwright township, feel at the pro- posal of two landfill sites in our neighborhood. The ideas are flowing fast and furious from the various organiza- tions that are opposing the five potential landfill sites around the region. We, who have the potential of being worst effected, feel that the garbage of the multitude is being held as the sword of Damoclese over a few rural communities. It would appear that only a few people in the unaffected urban areas are worried about the real garbage crisis. We feel unfairly treated and that our town -dwelling cousins are secretly smiling thinking that it will be out, of their back yard and some- where out in the sticks. Out of sight and out of mind. Well here is one of the ideas that powerfully struck a number of peo- ple simultaneously. Let there be a competition among all communities in Durham region based on per capi- ta production of garbage. This com- petition, of course, would have the prize going to the community which produces the most amount of garbage per person - and the prize is - T"uR or the regional waste processing facility in whatever form it takes, sited within the bounds of that win- ning community even if it does mean giving up a park or valuable urban land. Too hard to organize a competi- tion like this you say? Already domestic waste is accounted for by the region on a community basis. Of course there are ground rules and changes that need implementing to put all communities on an equal footing. That is not an outrageously difficult task. The region would just need to re -direct its waste manage- ment team and volunteer Public Liaison Committee to fairly lay out the rules. This competition could take on the air and excitement of a huge ongoing sports event in which everyone participates. A garbage reduction race, maybe it could be called the, "The Great Durham Dump da durdp' Dump Race" or "The Garbage Pail Challenge" There would be a weekly running commentary in the media, periodical prizes for outstanding feats in the reduction of garbage, strategically located billboards graphically show- ing the position of all the competi- tors, and a multitude of minor com- petitions for a variety of recycling and reduction classifications. Neighbors would band toge .her sharing waste -saving tips andom- munities would commun over waste reduction. The competitive creative juices would flow. It is even possible that in the end there would be no prize and the losers are really the winners for we would have all reduced our garbage to the degree that the waste processing facility would be insignificant. This would be the fairest solution of all. Let's go! The starting gun has already been fired. Bill Lishman, Chairman Zero Garbage, Scugog Steering Committee „minister to rule on planned dump By Royson James TORONTO STAR Environment Minister Ruth Grier says she will announce the future of the proposed garbage dump in Pickering before Nov. 26, the day an environmental hearing on the site is to begin. In an interview with The Star yesterday, Grier refused to say outright that she plans to halt the hearing and thus kill the plan for Pickering to take 18 months' worth of Metro's waste. But she repeated a NDP election promise to ensure the Whitevale site will remain farmland and not become home to about 6 million tonnes of trash between 1992 and 1996. "It's my concern that disposal facilities deserve the fullest possible assessment. That's my starting point,” Grier said. "We have concerns about the shortcuts in- volved in the environmental protection act process," she added. Grier said the NDP waste management strategy will focus on a waste reduction mandate, not on recycling and definitely not on incineration. She said her government is under pressure to come up with a plan quickly because the hearing on the controversial dump is set to begin and "people want some answers quickly. "I think it's safe to say that obviously we have to make some determination before the (Pickering dump) hearing opens on Nov. 26." Fgrmer Liberal environment minister Jim Bradley arranged for an expedited hearing for the dump because the Metro area is running out of space to put its garbage. A full hearing can take up to eight years. The shortened hearing in Pickering is expected to be over by 1992, when the site would be needed for all of Durham Region waste and some of Metro's. But that scenario is based on present waste management strategies, which Grier says can The Bay News, November 7, 1990 9 P-1 dumpsite verdict before Nov. 26.-- Environment Minister Ruth Grier election promise to preserve the version of a full assessment that expressed concerns about shortening will decide the fate of the proposed farmland in Whitevale. normally lasts up to eight years. the environmental hearing process. Whitevale dump sometime before the The Pickering site would handle 18 The Whitevale hearing is expected It's expected Grier will announce a beginning of a environmental hearing months worth of Metro Toronto waste to be completed by 1992, about the comprehensive waste reduction on Nov. 2( and about 6 million tonnes of trash same time that a landfill site would be strategy to coincide with her decision Grier said this weak she would not between 1992 and 1996. required by Durham Region and Metro. regarding Whitevale. The New dismiss the possibility of a landfill site Hearing Grier has gone on record stating Democrats are also expected to being located in the north Pickering improved waste management could announce legislation designed to rural community. However, that would The environmental hearing planned extend the life of current landfills in extend current dumpsites through be contrary to a New Democrat for Whitevale is to be a shortened Brock West and Keele Valley. She also reduction strategies. be improved. She said a comprehensive plan to reduce thi amount of waste sent to landfill sites will accompany her announcement on the Pickering dump. Some environmentalists think the waste now produced can be reduced by 90 per cent, "but it's going to take a while to reach that level," Grier said. Paul Christie, chairman of the works committee of Metro Council, said that if Grier kills the Pickering site, she had better have alternatives. Christie said Metro has 9 million tonnes of capacity left and it has to last five and a half years. Metro now disposes of 3.2 million tonnes per year. Grier said the NTDP will likely bring in legislation to cut back garbage and prolong the life of Metro's two dumps at Br ck West ii Pickering and Keele Valley in Vaugl �n. Qz« i70 Metro area `in deep trouble' I over trash plans, Tonks says By Royson James TORONTO STAR The five regional chairmen in the. Greater Toronto Area are de- manding a meeting with Environ- ment Minister Ruth Grier over the province's waste management plans. "Nothing that we have heard so far from the minister gives us any comfort," Metro Chairman Alan Tonks said yesterday. "We are in deep trouble." :'Tonks' fears are shared by the other chairmen, all members of the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee, which is seeking a solution to the garbage woes of the Greater Toronto Area. 11 They say the province may mis- calculate badly on how much landfill capacity is needed for the area, and plunge the country's largest economy into ruin. The Greater Toronto Area pro- duces about 4 million tonnes of *rbage a year, most of it handled at Metro's two dumps, Brock West in Pickering and Keele Valley in Vaughan. Tonks sent a letter on behalf of the chairmen of York, Durham, Peel, Halton and Metro on Oct. 22, asking Grier to meet with them before she makes any decisions. They have not received a reply. Grier has said she will an- nounce at least some of the prov- ince's waste management strategy before the Nov. 26 hearing on a proposed dump in Pickering. But the regional chairmen still don't have a meeting date. During an interview with The Star on Monday, Grier said she wants to "consult widely" on the issues of waste management. But she said she did not know if or when a meeting had been arrang- ed with the heads of the regional governments. The chairmen said if the minis- ter is to meet with anyone, it should be them, and the meeting should come before final plans are made on the future of the landfill sites planned for Pickering and Brampton. Yesterday, the steering commit- tee sent another letter requesting an "urgent meeting with the minister." Grier is "courting disaster" if she kills proposed dump sites in Pickering and Brampton, Tonks said. "It would be shortsighted to place all of their eggs in the waste reduction basket. Grier said "waste reduction will be a cornerstone of any policy for this government. But Peel Region Chairman Frank Bean said the minister had better have plans for landfill sites as well. "Give me a damn break. We can't reduce garbage enough to make (the current sites) last forev- er," Bean said. "We've got to have a dump." The planned dump in Pickering is to handle 18 months of Metro's waste and all of Durham Region's between 1992 and 1996. An expedited hearing is to start on Nov. 26. A similarly shortened hearing, under thf Environmental Protection Act, .s expected in February for the Brampton site, which is to handle Peel's waste. The steering committee was promised the short cuts by the for- mer provincial government. But the New Democratic Party has always been critical of the plan and promised during the last elec- tion that it would not allow a shortened hearing for any npw dump sites. A regular Environment, As- sessment Act hearing canst up to eight years — too long for a site to be ready for 1993, when Keele Valley, the last of the current dumps to the Toronto a ea, is ex- pected to be full. Bean said the muncipal dies are trying to be patient. The , have even agreed to delay the hearing in Pickering to give the province more time to consult. "I'll be very surprised if we are not down to see Grier by next week," he said. E4 Thursday, November 8, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR Liaison group asks for help with waste plan The Public Liaison Committee (PLC) has played an active role in the recent announcement of five candidate landfill sites for the Durham Region Waste Management Master Plan. Some of its volunteer members assisted regional staff in meetings with on -site residents, while others assisted in the delivery of letters to off -site residents whose properties are adjacent to candidate sites. The PLC hosted four local meetings for MacLaren Engineers to explain the site selection process and answer residents' questions. The PLC was organized in September last year to encourage public participation in Durham Region's Waste Management Master Plan. PLC membership was solicited through press releases and a region -wide mailing of a newsletter. Since then, the committee has met twice a month. Its mandate is to provide information to the public, Durham Waste Management Committee (WMC), and the master plan consultants, MacLaren Engineers. The PLC has 35 members from Ajax, Newcastle, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge and Whitby. Membership is open to all residents in Durham who do not hold public elected office. The purpose of the master plan is to develop an effective waste management system for Durham only by 1997. A 3R's program to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle solid waste is part of the master plan. Unfortunately, there will still be a large volume of garbage requiring disposal. The alternatives being considered are to dispose of all garbage in a landfill, or incinerate the combustibles and dispose of the remainder, including incinerator ash, in a landfill. Heat generated from incineration could produce energy for local industry. This is an Energy From Waste (EFW) facility. Four PLC reports have been delivered to the waste management committee and MacLaren: Compensation Policy Review (April 16, 1990); A Review of the September, 1989, Draft Master Plan Progreso Report (May 9, 1990); A Review of the Durham Region 3R's Programs (Sept. 5, 1990); and Equity in Waste Disposal (Sept. 25, 1990). Also, in September a pamphlet was published entitled The Durham Region Waste Munagement Master Plan: What It Is And What It Means To You. Copies of the above can be obtained by calling the Master Plan Hotline at 1-800-465-4216. On a PLC recommendation, the WMC r established a Compensation Policy Committee. It has been approved by regional council. PLC memb s have spent hundreds of hours at waste management seminars and other meetings, organizing and hosting public meetings, reviewing public questionnaires and waste management literature, preparing reports, and promoting the master plan, including the 3R's, by means of public displays, newspaper articles, and presentations to schools and various organizations throughout Durham. We are proud of what we have accomplished. VERN GARLICK Chairman Public Liaison Committee Durham Region Waste MN n'agemerit Master Plan Reprieve, not reversal for Whitevale By Theresa Boyle TORONTO STAR The provincial government has confirmed it wants to delay an environmental assessment hearing on the proposed Whitevale gar- bage dump. "We would like a delay to review the decisions of the past gov- ernment," environment ministry spokesman John Steele says. An Environmental Protection Act hearing set by the former Liberal government was to get under way Nov. 26. An gssistant to the new Environment Minister Ruth Grier said she is co sidering finding a way to postpone the hearing. "Th situation at P1 (Whitevale) is not an isolated case. We're looking nto the whole Greater Toronto Area garbage problem," Edna Li says. Keep election promise Earlier this week Grier told the Star she would decide on the fate of the proposed dump before Nov. 26. While she refused to say outright that she intends to halt the plans for the landfill site, she did say she will hold to the NDP elec- tion promise to preserve Whitevale farmland. John Aker, head of Durham Region's works committee, is pre- pared to put off the hearing until Jan. 31. "The (NDP) government has just been elected and wants an opportunity to clarify its position and explore alternatives," he says. But he warns the province "will find that there are not many alternatives" to a dump at Whitevale. Dumps in Metro are filling quickly and a decision cannot be delayed too long, he says. Lloyd Thomas, a member of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment (PACT), is delighted with the news. "The Liberal ship has been going ahead until now. It sounds like Ruth has got hold of the ship and is turning it around." Under an agreement reached last May, Metro can dump 4.6 million tonnes of garbage in Whitevale between 1992 and 1996. The deal would net Durham between $250 million and $366 million. The Liberals passed an order -in -council in July exempting the site from review under the Environmental Assessment Act in favor of a less time-consuming hearing. A full environmental assessment requires public participation and consideration of alternative sites and waste reduction methods. Suit launched PACT has launched a lawsuit against the province and the re- gion over the exemption. It wants the government to reverse the decision, saying a full environmental hearing would lead to Whitevale being ruled out as a dump site. In its election campaign, the NDP promised Environmental As- sessment Act hearings on all future landfills, including Whitevale. Thomas expects the NDP will stick to its promise. The govern- ment needs the extra time to arrange for a full hearing and to find better waste management solutions, he says. "This is a move in the right direction. I think the government realizes the Environmental Protection Act (hearing) is not fair. This will give the ministry a chance to look and reassess its position." Metro Toronto Chairman Alan Tonks has indicated Metro W tld appxore �,or" delavk r . ; THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, NOV. 9, 1990—PAGE 5 If NDP kills PI-9� trash will be province's problem: Aker By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - If Ontario environ- ment minister Ruth Grier refuses to make the P1 site in Whitevale an interim dump, the responsibility of waste disposal falls into the hands of the province, says a regional councillor. Grier said earlier this week she'll announce the fate of the land before Nov. 26, when envi- ronmental hearings are set to begin on the proposed dump. If Grier lives by NDP provin- cial election campaign promises, the site will remain farmland. "What she's really going to be saying is the province of Ontario is taking over waste management" if she cancels P1, waste manage- ment chairman and Oshawa coun- cillor John Aker said at Tuesday's waste management committee meeting. And, to Aker, that deci- sion would be "perfect." The Brock West Landfill Site can only take another 70�,000 tonnes of trash. Aker not 'that 100,000 tonnes of trash are being dumped there each month, there- fore the landfill has seven months before it reaches capacity. After that, Metro and Durham were expected to take their trash to P1 in Whitevale, for four years until a long-term solution is found. However, if the P1 dump is can- celled, Aker said, it will be up to the province to find a place for garbage from Durham region and Metro. A6 Friday, November 9, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR * " `C'rucial nlee By Royson James TORONTO STAR Environment Minister Ruth Grier has agreed to meet with senior politicians in the greater -Metro area Monday to discuss the garbage crisis. The "crucial meeting," announced yes- terday, heads off a confrontation with the municipalities. Municipal officials had said Grier was planning to kill two pro- posed garbage dumps without consulta- tion. The future of the dumps in Pickering and Brampton will be at the top of the agenda, say the regional chairmen of Metro Halton, Peel, York and Durham. MeN Chairman Alan Tonks said yes- terday he doesn't expect any promises, but the meeting shows Grier realizes she has a huge problem that can't be solved without input from the municipalities. "As far as I know, she is just going to listen," Tonks said. "But she knows now that she's got a real tiger by the tail. The realization is sinking in that they (the NDP) have painted themselves into a cor- ner" with the election promises they made, he said. Grier is reportedly poised to kill the sites as interim homes for about 4 million tonnes of Metro -area waste by withdraw- ing an offer made by the previous Liberal government. Former environment minister Jim Brad- ley agreed to allow the two sites to go e crisis � it won't need a short-term landfill site "fly in the face of reality" and it appears that Grier believes them, Tonks said. "We'll have to tell her what reality is." Grier said earlier this week she will an- nounce plans on the Pickering dump be- fore Nov. 26 — the date the Environmen- tal Protection Act hearing is to begin. She said she will also announce other waste management plans that will stress reduction of waste over recycling. And she said municipalities will get the au- thority to burn garbage 'only as a very, very last resort." At a special meeting of Metro Council yesterday to discuss the waste manage- ment crisis, councillors were told the last remaining dump site in Metro will be fill- ed by mid-1993. Staff told council: ❑ Starting next month, Metro and the surrounding region will launch.. a multimillion -dollar advertising blitz tq, in- form residents of the seriousness of the garbage crisis and what they can d*., to help. ❑ Staff will soon recommend a two-tier charge system for waste disposal at land- fill sites aimed at punishing those -that don't recycle and rewarding those who do. :,. ❑ By April, Metro's long-term plan for waste management into the next century will be unvefled. The plan will include<.one or more of landfill, incineration, compost- ing, recyclinjg and reduction. set it through a shortened environmental hear- ing so they could be ready by 1993, when several older sites in the area will be full. The New Democratic Party promised during' the election campaign that all new landfl sites would have the full hearings, a procedure that can last up to eight years. Tonks said the new government has had to go back on some of its basic posi- tions and campaign promises — the apparent backtrack on rent controls and allowing the sale of Consumers Gas to a foreign company, for instance — and he fears it will feel pressured to make a stand on garbage. Claims that Metro can reduce and di- vert so much of its waste in two years that l By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - The public can now find out how and why the five candidate sites for Durham waste disposal were chosen. A 98-page report on the selection process was presented to members of the waste man- agement committee Tuesday. It explains Durham's waste man- agement master plan and details what engineers are looking for in a waste disposal site. Jonathan Read of MacLaren Engineers pointed out highlights of the document to members of the committee and said the next step in the master plan is to eliminate candidate sites from the table. Five candidate sites, including one in Pickering off Lakeridge Road, were announced recently. The site area which has the least overall impact and the greatest advantages will be rec- ommended as the preferred site," says the report. "Essentially, we have to get onto the sites" for further test- ing, Read said. ACL� /,r /it Read also told councillors that new population and employ- ment growth projections will eventually mean there'll be more trash dumped at the site than first expected. Last year, MacLaren project- ed the waste that will be dumped in the landfill from 1997 to 2016 would amount to 6,966,000 tonnes. However, that projection is now 9,844,500. The size of the site remains at 150 hectares. Councillors were told any site that has what's referred to as an "absolute constraint" will be eliminated immediately as a waste -facility site possibility. However, if the absolute con- straint falls in a corner area of the site, the remaining land could still be considered. An absolute constraint can be placed on a site for numerous reasons. For example, a property could be eliminated because it has less than 25 feet depth to bedrock, areas with peat, muck and bogs or cold water streams. If landowners give MacLaren permission to go onto the sites the selection process will be much quicker, said Read. Once permission is granted, excavators, hydrologists, biolo- gists and land -use planners will study the land. Test pits between 20 and 25 feet will be drilled. "If we get stuck on getting access onto certain sites, we can (still) drop sites," said Read. For instance, if two owners of prop- erties identified as potential dumps gave permission to study their lands, one site will be com- pared against the other and the preferred one will remain on the table, while the other is dropped. The report contains a chapter answering concerns that resi- dents have raised since the five sites were nominated. Candidate site landowners and landowners within 500 metres of a candidate site will be given a copy of the report if they request one. The reports will be made available at libraries and munici- pal buildings for people to look at. Because of the size of the report, councillors agreed to charge $30 for anyone else wanting his or her own copy. 5 "H Garbage so ulloaltions? Environment Minister Ruth Grier will get an earful from senior politicians in the greater -Metro area tomorrow when they sit down to discuss the garbage crisis. And so she should. By favoring one environmental assessment process over another during the provincial election campaign, Premier Bob Rae effectively ruled out a planned dump in Pickering to handle Metro's waste and all of Durham Region's by 1992. Instead, Rae and Grier promised that all new landfill sites would have full environmental assessment hearings, a process that can take up to eight years, and one that's far r too long to meet Metro's short-term needs. Now, Grier says she will announce plans for the Pickering dump before Nov. 26. That was the date set by the former Liberal government for a shorter process that could take only two years under the Environmental Protection Act. If Grier keeps Rae's election promise, what does she intend to do about Metro's garbage? The cornerstone of the NDP's waste disposal policy is reduction, reuse and recycling. And to show the ew government means business, Grier was quick to reinst 0 a regulation requiring soft-drink companies to sell at lea �t 30 per cent of their products in refillable containers. The NDP also promised to impose taxes on packaging that people can't recycle in blue boxes or return for reuse. This is all very well. But can it be accomplished before existing dumps are full in two or three years? Metro Chairman Alan Tonks thinks not. "Nothing we have heard so far from the minister gives us any comfort. We are in deep trouble." It's time for Grier and the NDP to make their case. Grier VO1CeS doubts on '' trash crisis ,, By Royson James TORONTO STAR Environment Minister Ruth Grier came out of a "garbage summit" last night saying, she isn't convinced there is a trash crisis. . "I'm not ready to answer that questionyet," she told reporters after the meeting on gar- bage problems held with senior politicians from the greater Metro area. And she says she is still trying to figure out if Metro is really running out of landfill space as fast as the municipality says it is. The politicians told Grier there will be a major crisis if she kills the hearings on pro- posed landfill sites in Whitevale and Bramp- ton. The regional chairmen of York, Durham, Peel and Halton, plus two Metro councillors, had the minister's ear for 90 minutes, but she made no promises. Metro Councillor Paul Christie said: the meeting was cordial but Metro didn't get what it wanted. "If progress is measured by jeopardy being lessened for the people of Metropolitan Toron- to, that did not happen today," said Christie, head of Metro Council's works committee Christie said the garbage problem is wopgn- ing and every day of delay now will pst,Zhe region in 1993, when no more sites remain, The Whitevale dump is to have a capacity of 6 million tonnes, and 4.6 million tonnes of it has been sold to Metro by Durham Regiot. If the site is not approved, Metro will lose its downpayment of $20 million. The Brampton site is to handle garbage from Peel Region. A shortened environmental hear- ing is to begin there in February, unless it Is halted by the province. Grier said she still doesn't like the exemp- tion from a full Environmental Assessment Act hearing that the Whitevale and Brampton sites were given by the Liberals. And she said she will decide the fate of the Whitevale hearing before it opens Nov. 26. She said she is still trying to determine how much waste can be diverted from the dumps and how much capacity is left. Municipal politicians and even Ontario gov- ernment staff have said for several years that the existing dumps in the Metro area can list only until 1993. Prince unc[w'* are of magnitude of trash crisis: Aker By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - Top guns from Toronto area regions voiced their concerns about garbage in a private meeting with environment minister Ruth Grier Thursday, but at least one Durham politician doesn't think the message got through. Durham chairman Gary Herrema and John Aker, Oshawa councillor and chairman of the region's waste management committee, told Grier about Durham's impending garbage crisis. When asked what the minister's response to Durham's waste problem was, Aker replied, "My only fear is that I don't think the province under- stands the magnitude of the problem. That's the impression I get." At Thursday's meeting, the envi- ronment ministry "had no solutions or anything for us," he said. "My fear is rather than meeting the prob- lem and solving it, they will try to defer and postpone solutions." Aker said he told the minister, "We really have to get (the) P1 (landfill site proposed for Whitevale) up and running as soon as possible." Next year, the Brock West Landfill Site reaches capacity^, leav- ing Durham with few options for garbage disposal. Aker said, "I think" Durham could duml;linto Keele Valley and York region. For how long? "That's the big question." Aker said, until the province announces otherwise, Durham will continue "fulfilling our responsibili- ties" and move forward with prepar- ing for the P1 environmental hear- ings scheduled to begin Nov. 26. A28 Wednesday, November 21, 1990 THE TORONTO STAR ron to relvealstategy P-r-oviencle By Royson James TORONTO STAR The provincial government is to an- nounce today a major strategy to tackle the garbage problem, sources at Queen's Park say. Environment Minister Ruth Grier will announce the plan in the Legislature, one day after the New Democrats were round- ly criticized for not including a waste management plan in their first Throne Speech. The decision will outline the future of the Nov. 26 environmental hearing on the Whitevale garbage dump in Pickering, but will apparently include much more. "It's big," the source said. "The an- nouncement is propelled by that date (Nov. 26), but is not restricted by that issue." The government has been under tremendous pressure from residents and garbage crisis today politicians to make up its mind on what to do with 4 million tonnes of garbage pro- duced in the Greater Toronto Area ea51 year. The regional chairmen of York, D r ham, Peel and Halton met with Grier 1 t week and told her she risks a tremendo crisis if she kills the planned Whitevale dump. Former Liberal environment minister James Bradley granted Durham Region an exemption from a full environmental assessment hearing to assist the region in Party swept all of Durham Region. ReSi- getting a site ready for 1992. Durham's dents there say a major reason was the last Pumping ground, at the Metro -owned "garbage factor," the promises made by du in Brock West, closes at the end of the party to put the Whitevale site throte_h ne year. a full hearing, and, effectively kill itet ro has struck a deal with Durham to cause it would not be ready for 1992. send a total of 4.6 million tonnes of Metro The residents have sent several letters waste to the Whitevale site. Durham will to Premier Bob Rae complaining about put about 1.4 million tonnes of its waste his party's silence over the dump plans, there. days before the Nov. 26 hearing is sched- In the election, the New Democratic uled to begin. NDP scrap'` By Peter Gorrie and Royson ' -nes TORONTOSTAR- The province has shelved propo_ c-1 garbage dumps in Pickering and Brampton, and `lunch- ed a search for new ways to cope with the greater Toronto area's growing mountain of waste. The New Democrat government will focus on reducing and recycling waste to avert a garbage crisis in the area while it conducts a full-scale search for an alternative disposal site, Environment Minis- ter Ruth Grier said yesterday. "I reject the idea of continuing with a waste man- agement system that squanders material resources," Grier said in the Legislature. Plans had called for the dumps, in Brampton and on prime farmland in Pick- CitieS happy ering's Whitevale area, to be rushed into service with to see province only limited environmental take risk/A6 reviews. The region's existing landfill sites are What The Star forecast to run out of room says/A24 in 1993. Grier rejected that fast - track approval and an- nounced that any disposal site must undergo a thor- ough review. The search will be led by a new authority, repre- senting the province and the municipalities in the greater Toronto area, with powers yet to be defined. But Grier also said the environmental assessment process for any waste disposal plan in, the province is to be revamped — after public consultation — to make it quicker and simpler. I With a strong push toward waste reduction and recycling, the Pickering and Brampton dumps shouldn't be needed, she said. And she has the power to extend use of the existing dumps at Keele Valley in Vaughan, Brock West in Pickering, or Britannia Rd. in Mississauga. "It is better to contemplate, in an emergency, going to an existing site rather than opening up a new site," she said. Grier also said she would quickly introduce mandatory plans to reduce waste from major users of packaging. "Industries and institutions that produce waste could be forced to go through a waste audit to see what they're producing," she told reporters. RUTH GRIER: Environment minister pushes for recy- cling and waste reduction. ...and what's recycled province assuming trash By Royson James TORONTO STAR The new provincial plan for waste man- sement means Metro will lose millions of dollars, but most politicians say they are happy with it. That's because the province has virtual- ly assured it will do everything it can to make sure garbage doesn't end up in the streets. "There really isn't much for us to be worried about" in Environment Minister Ruth Grier's announcement, Metro Chair - `risk' man Alan Tonks said yesterday. "Maybe they don't realize the degree of risk they are taking. I'm happy because now the province is assuming the major risk," he said. By suspending the previous Liberal government's ruling that the proposed Whitevale and Brampton dump sites be fast -tracked without full environmental reviews, Grier, in effect, killed the sites as interim dumps. Even under the new, fast- er full environmental hearing promised by Grier, waste management experts -- Tonks ,arbag authority planned by the prov- mce wr 1 find dumping space for the re - _ion. He aid Peel "can now spend the time , on things that we should be spending it on, such as trying to reduce the amount of garbage being produced instead of being burdened with trying to find a site and then being dumped on by everyone." But politicians in the Town of Vaughan think garbage from the entire Toronto area will end up at the Keele Valley land- fill site, long after its scheduled closing. Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson said f, that, by holding out the promise of invok- ing emergency powers to extend Keele Valley, the province has let Metro off the hook at the expense of her town. Pickering residents, on the other hand, are relieved that an 18-month battle against a proposed dump in Whitevale has paid off. "This is good news. It's the result of a tot of hard slugging," said Bill Parish, head of Pickering -Ajax Citizens Together for the Environment. ❑ With files from Theresa Boyle and Bob Mitchell don't think the dumps would be ready for 1993. That means Metro stands to lose the $20 million it gave to Durham Region as a down payment for the right to send 4.6 million tonnes of waste to the Whitevale site, should it be approved. It also means Peel will have no place for its 700,000 tonnes of waste each year, after the current Brittania Rd. dump in Mississauga closes next year. But Peel Region Chairman Frank Bean said he is not sorry over the loss of Brampton as an interim site, because the DTmped Whitevale pleases PACT By Dan McLean Last week's Ontario environment ministry decision to trash the Whitevale Dump was a great relief to many local residents. But it was especially good news for Pickering Ajax Citizens Together (PACT) for the Environment — a citizen's group who have fought long and hard to defeat the proposal. In an announcement on Nov. 21, Environment Minister Ruth Grier rejected fast -tracked approvals for contingency dump sites in Whitevale and Brampton. The New Democrat government unveiled an approach to focus on recycling and reducing waste as a way of extending the life of current landfills. PACT spokesman Bill Parish was thrilled by the minister's announcement, saying he believes the spectre of a dump in Whitevale has been courts. "What they advise us to do, we'll do," he said. But the group has no Dlans permanently removed. Dump dead "It would seem to me that any garbage dump at Whitevale is dead," he told The Bay News. "The minister (Ruth Grier) was 'right on' in her plans for waste reduction. I don't think you have to twist too many arms in Pickering and Ajax to convince people that we can and must achieve waste reduction." "Our contention all along has been that we don't want any gargantuan garbage dumps in anyone's backyard," Parish added. A stronger commitment to the three "R's" of waste reduction has Parish believing the province is finally getting serious about solving critical garbage problems. "There's never been the political will before," he said. Renewed-ti iti "I believe for the first time my faith and hope is that the present political government will provide that. Waste reduction is achievable." Members of PACT and the Whitevale Residents Association have been spearheading opposition to the proposed dump since it was announced by Durham Region some 18 months ago. Most recently, the group's lawyers filed a case in Divisional Court in September, to protest the former Liberal provincial government's decision to fast - track the environmental assessment process. While the latest announcement seemingly removes the threat of a Whitevale dump, Parish said PACT will consult with its lawyers before decidi = whether to withdraw the case 'rom the The Bay News, November 28, 19 0 9 to disband its efforts. The landfill threat may still exist. Grier suggested to some reporters after the Whitevale announcement that the site could still be an oDtion in the event of "an abtolute tremendous emergency". "If that happens, PACT won't be dead," he said. 'It will still be here to stop them_" t MPP Report We can .1 solve our. waste. crisis, Last week, Ruth Grier, minister of the environment, presented a Conserver Action Program to the legislature which outlined the frame- work of an environmental plan. There is no question that we are in a crisis in waste management. There are two paths to choose. The first is the easy route, which involves the use of contingency dump sites or the delayed closing of three existing sites. We chose the more difficult path which allows for the suspension of the Environmental Assessment Act exemption for Whitevale. In the long run, this will be the most envi- ronmentally -responsible, sensitive and cost-effective plan, however to be successful it will involve the co- operation of all sectors. Jim Wiseman M.P.P. Bad h�are difficult to break. We must break together to change from a consumer way of life into a conserver way of life. The 3Rs must be prioritized (first reduce, second reuse, and third recycle). Many of us in our homes, schools, offices, indus- tries and institutions have begun to take the first steps towards becoming environmentally responsible but we must now take further and more drastic action. Our government will be imple- menting a number of waste reduction measures and review policies so that we discourage waste and provide incentives for reducing garbage. We will also introduce changes to the Environmental Assessment Act. This Act encompasses values and princi- ples that are admirable but has other- wise proven to be frustrating, time consuming and costly. The responsi- bility of finding suitable landfill sites will continue to rest with the munici- palities. By reducing waste and improving the environmental assess- ment process, the benefits will be reaped by the entire province. We wish that the solutions to the waste management crisis were quick and easy but unfortunately this is not so. To he successful, the full co- operation and a supreme effort is required from everyone — provin- cial anc municipal governments, industries, businesses, and each and every one of us. With the leadership of our government and a supreme effort by everyone to become a "con- server" rather than a "consumer," we can work our way out of this waste management crisis. 4 1 �_IL o Rx- ion aps p ans for landfill By Dan McLean Plans to consider a number of engineer -identified areas across Durham Region as landfills have been buried as a result of a decision to trash long and short-term regional waste disposal studies. Region councillors approved five recommendations on Nov. 28 designed to comply with an Ontario environment ministry directive to abandon waste disposal responsibilities. The move was prompted by Environment Minister Ruth Grier's Nov. 21 legislature statement. Her announcement removed the region's responsibility to seek landfill sites. Grier proposed a public authority to assume the role of landfill site selection if necessary. Scrapped As a result the region has decided to scrap a study being conducted by consultants M.M. Dillon and Miller Thomson. The groups were hired to formulate long and short-term waste disposal solutions. One of their recommendations included declaring P-1 in Whitevale as a contingency dump. The groups were also in the midst of formulating a master plan for the region's over-all waste management. It included a list of five potential areas across Durham Region for future permanent landfills. History "All these efforts are history with the announcement from the ministry," John Aker, Oshawa councillor and waste management committee chairman, toll councillors. has advised us in no uncertain terms that they are taking it over," he said. site However, despite the announca.;,�, some councillors suggested the region should continue to retain it's long-term waste disposal plans. "The minister has not clarified her government's position " Ajax cillor Pat Clark argued. "There is a lot about the minister's statement that is unclear. Until she has amended the legislation, it (waste disposal) remains our responsibility." Hesitant "We're acting in haste," she added. "What we're going through is a knee-jerk reaction." Both Clark and Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson said the region should wait at least until the environment minister formulates specific legislation before trashing current studies. "Let's at least not sell our car until we get the new one delivered," Nicholson told council. Clark argued areas previously declared as potential landfills could once again resume that status if the province is unable to effectively solve the current garbage crisis. "They won't re -invent the wheel to go through a site selection process," she warned, suggesting potential landfill sites proposed by consultants would likely be reconsidered if a dump is necessary. "There is a smidgen of life left." Definite However, Aker argued regions simply don't have the responsibility for waste disposal anymore. "The only reply I can give is that we're not responsible for waste management," he said. "The minister has given us a cleave — that our role in long-term waste disposal is terminated." The waste management chairman added it was important rv-remvve the threat of dumps in declared areas so people in those regions can get on with their lives. "We owe it to the citizens and municipalities who are near these sites," he said. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1990 dead Vir ua y P1 dump ing the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) exemp Durham says waste a provincial problem By WENDY GALLAGHER Durham Reporter DURHAM - The proposed PI dump site in Whitevale and the five candi- date sites for Durham's long-term waste plan could be history by Wednesday. See GARBAGE...Page 3 By KEITH GILLIGAN PICKERING - The P1 dump proposed for Whitevale is all but dead. An announcement by the province on Wednesday that would require a full Environmental Assessment Act hearing for the P1 site means it is "virtually off the table," Jim Wiseman says. The Durham West NDP MPP says the people of Whitevale are "happy, very happy". Provincial environment minister Ruth Grier told the Queen's Park legislature Wednesday that she's "suspend- tions for the Whitevale and Brampton sites." The previous Liberal government had permitted the two sites to be examined under a much -less stringent scoped Environmental Protection Act (EPA) hearing. Under an EPA hearing, the P1 could have been ready by 1992, when the Brock West landfill site in Pickering is full and the Keele Valley site in Maple nears capacity. A full EAA hearing could take up to eight years to See NDP...Page 3 THE NEWS ADVERTISER FRIDAY, NOV. 23, 1990—PAGE NDP fulfils election promise by killing Pl: Wiseman FROM PAGE 1 complete. Grier also announced the Brock West landfill could be used on an emergency basis beyond its expect- ed 1991 closing. Wiseman will "push to have (Brock West) closed on time. If not, then theldeal with Metro Toronto (which o vns and operates the site) should bd, renegotiated." Wiseman wants the deal renegotiated because he's critical of the way Metro has operated the site. The Whitevale site is 200 acres of prime farmland. P1 had been picked as a landfill by Durham region as a member of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The site would have been used until 1996 and about six million tonnes of garbage would have been dumped there. Wiseman says, "The only way the Whitevale site can be examined is with a full EAA and it can be argued they can't bring it back because the site's been prejudiced because it was so arbitrarily chosen in the first place." Even if the site is put through an EAA hearing, Wiseman says, "it won't fit the criteria." A large aquafir, which supplies wells to homes in north Pickering, runs through the site. Grier's announcement fulfils an NDP election promise to put the site under•a full EAA. Premier Bob Rae has visited Whitevale twice this year and both times he promised a full EAA. "I've been telling people all along that there was no indication we were going to backpedal on the promise," says Wiseman. "It was frustrating for the people of Whitevale and for me, but in order to rescind (the EPA hearing order), she (Grier) had to have something in place, or the framework of some- thing in place. "She had to have a fallback if targets aren't met. That's why the announcement took so long to come," Wiseman says. To combat the amount of garbage being produced, Grier announced a massive waste cutting program, with emphasis on the three Rs — reduce, reuse and recy- cle. In the legislature, Grier said, authority to deal with waste an - "Right now, we have runaway agement problems in the T``A. waste generation." She said the authority, with th cl, operation of the regions, w ald Grier also announced the cre- search for and select a landfill site, ation of a new public sector to be considered under a full EAA. `Whitevale resider 'delighted, ecstatic' By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter .,-7 PICKERING - Champagne will be flowing in Whitevale this weekend as residents celebrate the almost certain death of the P 1 dump. "I'm ecstatic," says Lloyd Thomas, president of the Whitevale and District Residents' Association. "Everybody's delighted. Friday night, we're going to have a party in the village." Thomas was in the provincial legislature Wednesday when environment minister Ruth Grier suspended the Environmental Assessment exemption granted on the P1 site by the former Liberal government. "I let out a little yell," chuckles Thomas. "You're supposed to be really quiet." Thomas says his phone was ringing off the hook Wednesday night and victory • all': ;e 3 FR M PAGE 1 one neighbor even sent him flowers. Bill Parish, chairman of Pickering -Ajax Citizens' Together (PACT) for the Environment, calls the announcement "a victory for all of us ... it's been a hard, fnistrat- ing, difficult struggle." But the struggle may not be over; Thomas says residents' concerns now are focusing on the Brock West and Brock South sites. Metro Toronto, owner of both sites, could try to extend the life of Brock West or open the Brock South site in Ajax. Thomas says PACT could be in for another full-scale legal battle over those sites, and Parish promises that, "If they try to open Brock South, we'll be there fighting as hard as ever." But Pickering mayor Wayne Arthurs, who intends to show up in Whitevale on the weekend bearing champagne, says he doesn't believe Brock South will be opened because "the government won't allow it to happen." Ajax mayor Jim Witty says there's a possibility Ajax could face a dump at Brock South but "I feel confident Brock South would never get past the first stage of an Environmental Assessm� t. On that basis, I'm very co dent." How er, Witty admits he's concern, the region now can't purchase Brock North and South, a condition that was part of the Metro -Durham P1 deal. "It would appear Metro feels they can dump (at Brock South) tomorrow," he says. "I'd hate like heck to be caught in the middle of a war." As for Brock West in Pickering, Arthurs says "it's premature to talk about it" until the province establishes the total garbage capacity in the Greater Toronto Area. The region should now be focusing on reducing and recy- cling, says Arthurs, while the province should be looking at the entire GTA area for landfill possibilities. "I don't think there's a prob- lem," says Arthurs about the garbage issue. "I think 'crisis' is a misnomer; I don't believe it's a crisis." But Witty maintains the region "is on the brink of a crisis" and says he expects regional council to look to the province to provide solutions. Meanwhile, Pickering could become embroiled in another court battle; Arthurs says the town expects to be repaid the money spent on legal bills and will take the province and the region to court if necessary to get it back. "There's no way I'm going to ask my taxpayers to pay," he says. As of the end of December, the town had racked up $340,000 in bills over Pl. PACT, too, is uncertain about the status of its legal battle against the province until it gets advice from its lawyers, says Parish. "I suspect it's over," he adds. Although Thomas speculates PACT will likely retain money raised from residents until the future of Brock West and South has been determined, Parish says the money has "largely been spent." PACT has rung up about $75,000 in legal bills. `- Tier would waive assessme ` Emergency ' could open 2 new dumps FROM CANADIAN PRESS The Ontario government would use garbage dumps in nearby Whitevale and Brampton in an emergency to prevent trash from piling up in tro-area tennis courts, -F-wir „ e-1RI TMiilAister .AzAh Grier said esterday. "I think it w uld have been irre- sponsible of me not to acknowl- edge the possibility that there could be an emergency," Grier told the provincial Legislature. In announcing a plan Wednes- day to reduce garbage to try to ex- tend the life of rapidly filling land- fills, Grier said the two sites would have to undergo an environmental assessment process before municipalities could dump gar- bage there. The previous Liberal govern- ment had exempted the two sites from an9vironmental review as a step tpp solving the growing gar- bage risis. But during the sum- mer election campaign, the NDP promised reviews would go ahead if it came to power. Grier made clear yesterday that the sites would continue to be ex- empt from environmental review if she had to bring them into use in an emergency. She would also be prepared to use emergency powers to extend the life of Keele Valley, an existing Metro landfill site. That choice is politically moti- vated, charged Liberal Greg Sorbara, in whose York Central riding Keele Valley is located. "Why is Whitevale completely exempt and the minister, at her whim, at her discretion, if she de- cides, can dump garbage in Keele Valley? I can't understand it," he said outside the Legislature. "Whitevale is an NDP riding. The other two are Liberal ridings. It just stinks to high heaven — it just stinks like rotting garbage. " Grier rejected his allegation. "I'm really disappointed that Mr. Sorbara would make that kind of an accusation. This whole inte- _ ated waste management plan is signed to look at what's best for e enaimmi:. nt," she told report - �eJ% Resldenttal 5.5 mdGon lcnnes 22% Commercial 1 1 md<<ontonnes � j%o lndu�tns, t m,ilicn tonnes 5% C,GRstfllCt10t1, demolltton 2m�lirontonnes IS% Miscellaneous ,6mi[�ontonnes �, Xe bage ;` Crisis 'Rai 4.3 million tonnes of solid waste is generated every,,. year in the greater Toronto, - area and would fill the SkyDome to the height of ' CN Tower every year. Waste source& -- Metro Toronto qQ%;I 2.5 million tonnes • Peel Region 7 .7 minion tonnes �, ;� f �.E York Region 120/. .5 minion tonnes "I think it's better to go back N Eovlronment and expand an existing site than - to open up a ne what they call greenfield, t"5�e, new. said. The government's plans to get businesses, institutions and indus- tries to reduce, recycle and re -use their materials should eliminate the need to use emergency powers, Grier said. She also promised to investigate an accusation by the chairman of Ottawa -Carleton that Laidlaw Waste Systems Inc. has been transporting more than 100 tonnes of Toronto garbage daily to a waste disposal site its owns in that region. "Toronto and the province of Ontario have a moral obligation to solve their own g Vrob- lems," Andy Haydon, Ottawa- Carleton's regional chairman, said in a statement. Officials at Laidlaw in Ottawa were unavailable for comment. Durham Region 80 4 million tonnes Halton Region 70 .2 million tonnes . _ �iS odd. .Z TiY^� PATRICK CORRIGAN/rORONTCMMR 5'iW ro ;e? Environment Minister Ruth Grier's solution to Metro's looming garbage crisis is woefully inadequate. She has effectively killed two interim dump sites in Pickering and Brampton that would have accommodated Metro's garbage into the late 1990s. And in their place, she has offered little more than the idealism of reduction, reuse and recycling. These are fine sentiments for the long term. But what is Metro going to do with its garbage in 1993 when the last -dump is full? Grier admits it would be "irresponsible to take risks with public health and safety." So she wants existing Metro -area dumps kept open beyond 1993 as an emergency measure. But how can that be done if they're full? Either the dumps are full or not full. And what would neighbors of those dumps think about building a mountain of garbage on top of what's already there? Grier hasn't ruled out landfill as a solution. In fact, she wants a new public authority to find another dump site. But where will that be? In northern mine shafts? And what did she think the Solid Waste Interim Steering Committee — made up of Metro's regional chairmen - has been doing for two years? It concluded that an interim dump is crucial to guarantee that about 4 million tonnes of garbage generated annually by Metro -area municipalities does not end up in parks and tennis courts. Grier has called for mandatory workplace reduction, reuse and recycling measures. But who's responsible? Who pays? And how will it be done? Grier also says she's sticking to the former Liberal g vernment's goal of 25 per cent reduction. If so, she will sti have to find a place to put millions of tonnes of Metro area's trash by 1993. She hasn't told us how she will do this. Indeed, she hasn't given us any coherent plan for waste disposal in the Greater Toronto Area. The Globe and Mail, Thursday, November 22, 1990 Minister announces plan to deal with garbage crisis 2 temporary dumps unnecessary if waste reduced, Grier tells House BY GENE ALLEN Queen's Park Bureau TORONTO — Environment Min- ister Ruth Grier outlined a high - stakes strategy yesterday for dealing with Metro Toronto's garbage crisis that she said will make it unneces- sary to establish temporary dumps in either Whitevale or Brampton. Mrs. Grier is betting that by cut- ting the amount of waste that goes into landfill sites and speeding up the environmental assessment proc- ess, the Greater Toronto Area can make do with its three existing dumps until a new permanent site is chosen. At the present rate of waste dispo- sal, it is expected that the existing dumps will all be full by mid-1993. Mrs. Grier said she believes their useful life can be extended beyond that, but she did not set a date. In a three -pronged announcement praised by the environmental group Greenpeace as "a good first step," Mrs. Grier said she will also set up a joint provincial -municipal agency to carry out the search for a permanent dump. Her inten ,she told the Legis- lature, is d ".change Ontario's 1980s consu er way of life into a 1990s conserver society." If the search for a new site takes longer than expected, Mrs. Grier said, she will be prepared to "delay final closing" of the three dumps now in operation "so that if they are needed in an emergency they can be reopened very easily." Mrs. Grier said she believes a "very aggressive waste reduction and waste reuse program" will re- duce the amount of garbage going into landfill sites in the Greater To- ronto Area by more than 25 percent in 1992. This would include regulations re- quiring "major users of packaging" to reduce the amount of waste they produce; a ban on dumping materi- als such as wood and cardboard in landfill sites; and mandatory sepa- ration of recyclable materials by industry, business and institutions. The announcement was short on details in many areas. It did not specify, for example, which busi- nesses are considered "major users of packaging." It also failed to state a deadline for choosing a new per- manent dumpsite; a target for the amount of waste that is to be diver- ted from landfill sites; or the makeup of the new joint agency that will re- place the existing Solid Waste Inter- im Steering Committee, which in- cludes representatives of the five mu- nicipalities that make up the Greater Toronto Area. Other measures will include great- er public education to promote the blue box recycling system and com- posting; seed money for new ideas on how to cut the amount of garbage produced; and more money for mu- nicipalities to expand their waste-r�- duction and recycling efforts. Liberal MPP Barbara Sullivan criticized the announcement, saying it did not represent an integrated approach as Mrs. Grier claimed. " We see a new approach relating to landfill only," she told the Legis- lature. "We see no integrated waste management, we see no recycling ,plans there; we see no place for the garbage to go when landfill runs out in Peel (Region) in one year. This is simply inadequate." 4 But Gordon Perks of Greenpeace, who dogged the footsteps of formdr premier David Peterson during the summer election campaign, praised Mrs. Grier's decision. "She's got the fundamental mes- sage, which is that it's not garbage. Instead, it's material that has to be separated, that has to be banned from disposal. Then we'r not going to run out of landfill site as quickly as we used to do. " Mrs. Grier did not have cost esti- mate for her proposals, but pre- dicted that "an integrated waste management system is not likely to be a net cost to the government. " By WENDY GALLAGHER the region to locate potential landfill sites for Committee for Durham's master waste plan shouldn't be located. Durham Reporter a Durham -only dump, recently announced held information meetings throughout the Regional chairman Gary Herrema was DURHAM - Some Durham councillors five candidate properties. region in the months preceding the asked by the News Advertiser on Wednesday are concerned about the way the region's MacLaren, as part of the Environmental announcement. Residents were encouraged if he was unhappy with the way MacLaren master waste plan is being handled. Assessment Act process, chose sites without to attend the meetings and offer suggestions I MacLaren Engineers, which was hired by political interference. The Public Liaison on where the waste facility should and See POLITICIANS... Page 3 ;, Ajax & Pickering A Metroland Community Newspaper Sunday Edition PICKERING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS All Week Long VOL. 2, NO.41 50 CENTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1990 CIRCULATION 35,000 28 PAGES Durham's garbage crisis-, called'a grim situationl/k`' FROM PAGE 1 the landfills it operates, including Brock West in Pickering. When Metro bans an item from the landfill, Durham region must fol- low suit, to prevent an influx of garbage prohibited from Metro dumps. The region is also concerned about vehicle tires. Since they were banned from Metro dumps in January, Durham had to hire a com- pany to dispose of tires dropped at its transfer stations. The contract is up in a month and tenders closed yesterday for any company wanting to take over the operation. "It',. a grim situation, " Art Leitch, regional direcior of opera- tions, s id at Tuesday's waste man- ageme committee meeting. Leitch said he felt "quite uncomfortable" about the ban keep- ing contaminated waste out of land- fills because there's no other place to put it. "I think this is probably the first material you're going to see (banned) that there's no answer for where it's to go. The message is going out. Leave a space in your garage for (banned items) because there's no place for them to go." Councillors' worries about con- taminated soil being dumped at road- sides were somewhat relieved by Leitch. Fie explained that, when con- taminated soil is identified by the ministry of the environment, the MOE traces where the company excavating the soil takes it. The tire ban at landfills could lead to residents having to keep them in their garage. Ken Donnelly, solid waste opera- tions manager for the region, said Durham is "one of the very few municipalities that doesn't charge for (the disposal of) tires." There are currently 6,000 tires at the Ritson Road transfer station in Oshawa. Achievor Tire has a contract with the region and is paid 65 cents for every tire it takes away from any transfer station in Durham. Already this year, the region has paid $10,000 for tire removal. However, it's not expected Achievor will bid again for the con- tract because, as yet, no practical use has been found for used tires. And, Donnelly wamed, if a com- pany wants the tires, the region will probably have to pay it a "much higher price" than 65 cents a tire for removal. Councillors asked what the province is doing with the $5 tire tax it imposed last year. The go emment said the money would be used to find a use for the tires. Donnelly replied that a "small study" is currently being conducted "that amounts to a pittance of the money that's being collected." Pickering c/e�/:acil told Rouge valley is threatened by road work By JUDI BOBBITT Pickering Reporter PICKERING - The Rouge Valley faces serious threats from proposed road construction, Pickering council was told Monday night. Vice-chairman of Save The Rouge Valley System, Glen DeBaeremaeker, urged council to reject a proposal to upgrade Twyn Rivers Drive and to veto a request to link Bayly Street with Lawrence Avenue in Scarborough. Calling the Rouge "a national severe," he warned. wildlife treasure", DeBaeremaeker He asked politicians to work with said the proposed construction the community to develop alternate would dump salt, oil and grease into transportation plans. the Rouge River, suffocating fish, The proposal to upgrade Twyn destroying spawning grounds and Rivers Drive — ultimately to four affecting the entire food chain. See BAYLY.. age "The consequences will be very , m w vi R p' vc- -•, o a v 5' n� p a 0 0 ID ID 0'Q 0 y o e Y m �¢(D� " Cn sv $ ma' d n . m �e X0 y �.a �.�oiTo� El r ID < xcn •ti o y coD C. o-s MO Mc�e -, rr aQ 0 oow (D CDc �C) ,so �-Dco _ //®�/� V) _ p o -s y (D p vC (� wID l�D z 's7 fSD O O 7 Cfir - O lD CL `G 'O a O `C , lD ^ '� 7 y 0. g 7Q A 4,00 oOQ R7 to G p .C�D CD am'`� Oi O• O � -e-• 0'Q lD a O � '. a y <2. v Cr 2 ~"rs: a 4)-os o a 0CD5 cl —V 4 a . r" m y .•t ty C O O ,Ly Vi iTl O �� • g `� Via$ w oa /r}�f 7Q. o c cD x E cG� \V O .b .y n• A�' a0i Otn CD dQ Thursday December 6, 1990— Durham withdraws 1 from dump business By Theresa Boyle TORONTO STAR Durham Region has dumped its waste management commit- tee. Instead, regional council will set up a waste reduction com- mittee after the province sus- pended an exemption from full environmental assessment of the proposed Whitevale dump and formed a public sector au- thority to find a long-term site for Metro's garbage. "We no longer have responsibil- ity for waste management. We were more or less told we were no longer in the business," Durham Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said last week. Three Rs Waste managment is now a provincial responsibility, he told council. But the region will concentrate on the Three Rs — reducing, re- using and recycling waste materi- als. Council voted to halt its plans for short- and long-term waste disposal, abandoning six landfill sites under consideration. They in- clude land proposed as an interim dump in Whitevale and five long- term sites in Scugog, Oshawa, Newcastle and Pickering. Councillor Pat Clark was con- cerned the move could leave the region's long-term sites open to consideration by the new provin- cial authority. "We're running the risk of say- ing we've dropped the five (long- term) sites, so you can now come in and put dibs on them," she �= said. No choice _ "If the province gets control of the sites we could be in big trou- ble." Councillor Marcel Brunelle said the region has no choice but to "disentangle itself from the dump question. "It has Teen aekn from our hands. We must accept that. I sug- gest we get on with making the Three Rs (work)." Hefty tras- By Mike Funston and Brian Dexter TORONTO STAR Shelving the search for a bage dump in Brampton co cost Peel taxpayers $100 mill re a year, more than quadru th present waste disposal c re ion Chairman Frank Be sa s. It now costs about $30 milli to dump garbage at Peel's Brit nia landfill site m Mississauga, costs will skyrocket to the $1 million range if the trash has to trucked to a site .outside the gion, Bean said yesterday. "My big concern is the futu cost of haulage . and wh could be a real drain on our serves and the property tax base he said. Up tOA0 planned that mnv 5�A4 , 711*1111qe) By Royson James TORONTO STAR As many as 6,000 homes have been planned for a subdivision near a Mississauga garbage dump that Environment Minister Ruth Grier says she could expand to take waste from the greater Toronto area. Grier's announcement has sud- denly made the homes less attrac- tive to prospective buyers because they could now be going up be- side an active dump, Mississauga officials say. Plans for the subdivision, which were made in anticipation of the Britannia Rd. dump closing next year, are far advanced, said works commissioner Stan Spencer. "Obviously, it will be more dif- ficult to sell homes on land next to an active landfill," he said. Hundreds of homes are already very close to the Britannia Rd. dump site, some just over 100 i metres away, he said. Residents have put up with the dump be- cause of a clause guaranteeing the h dump will close next year. "You could end up with a mountain (of garba&e) in the mid- v dle of a residential neighbor- p hood," he said. A. 00 hom'.es- ear dump expand Grier announced WednesNq9 she is shelving plans for tV8 dumps, in Whitevale, a hamlet-W Pickering, and Brampton. 91't� said with tough waste reductf`bn strategies, the Toronto area w&T need the interim landfill sites. 4',01 But if it does, she will use en141 gency powers .to order an e Sion to Keele Valley in Vaughan Britannia Rd. or Brock West in Pickering. I Britannia and Brock West ,are scheduled to close next yearl Keele Valley should be full b 1993. After that, there would b no more sites to dump at in th greater Toronto area. Meanwhile, there is anger in thei Town of Vaughan over Grier"' plans to expand the Keele Valle site, which Metro had planned to turn into parkland. But Grier said she could e more waste on to the site if reduction efforts fails and the ite. s needed. "It's madness," said an outraed Lynn McMillan yesterday frpns er farm, southeast of the dump' iri Maple. Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson owed a bitter fight if the province roceeds with plans to extend the imp. .1 sit h bill edicted I t 1 No By not running its own landfill the site, Peel would face increased pick transportation costs, would have coin gar- to pay tipping fees to the dump's cost uld operator and lose revenue from ion tipping fees it now charges In ple industrial -commercial users he Lorn ost, said. Grie an The Britannia dump is expected stud to be filled by the end of 1991, cY si on Bean said, but noted Grier has the Ab an- power to order the dump filled to esti but beyond that limit. been 30 Until Environment Minister Hod be Ruth Grier's announcement, the er, to re- region had been seeking environ- As a mental approval for a five-year Regi re dump off Airport Rd. in north cance at Brampton while a search was con- ing th re- ducted for a long-term site. Engin ," Work on the dump application conti has so far cost $1.5 million, a tab Regio for Pe el region will ask the provinc4' to up, along with a demand for pensation should disp*ai s skyrocket, Bean said. York Region, Vaughan Mayor; a Jackson said yester ay tat, is announcement has nadp a y aimed at finding con ng6n "a waste of money." out $130,000 — half of the;j mated $262,000 — has alreadyy;) spent on the study, Bob, I gson, engineering comission :; ld regional council last nigbr, result of Grier's move, Y(Vk;I on Chairman Eldred King;, fled a regional council brief -'a at had been set by Macl aren•' eers for yesterday to unveil : ngency dump sites in Y^ n. Metro signs deal 'to ship trash north, By Royson James TORONTO STAR Metro has signed a multimil- lion dollar deal with three North- ern Ontario towns to ship 30 mil- lion tonnes of garbage to an aban- doned mine near Kirkland Lake. The deal, worth more than $450 million over the expected 20-year life of the landfill site, was signed last night after council approval. But it could cost close to $900 million just to get the trash there by rail, 600 kilometres (373 miles) north of Metro. And because the province plans to set up a new agency to search out and operate all new landfill sites taking trash from the greater Toronto area, last night's deal may be turned over to the provin- cial government by next spring. "This will be our gift to the province," said Metro works com- missioner Bob Ferguson. "Let's see what they do with it. The deal will not ensure that garbage will go to Kirkland Lake. Metro must make an application to the environmental assessment board, which under the current rules could take eight years or more. ut the province has promised to make the act simpler, cutting the approval time to as little as thr to four years. T e towns — Englehart, Larder Lake and Kirkland Lake — will get a recycling plant, royalties and other payments totalling up to $382 million to be shared among them over the life of the site. In a letter to Metro Council, Environment Minister Ruth Grier encouraged Metro to go for the Kirkland Lake deal and use its re- serve funds, now sitting at more than $200 million, to secure the rights to the site. Dale Martin, one of the two councillors to vote against the deal, called it irresponsible and expensive. Kirkland Lake's mayor, Joe Mavrinac, calls the move a "sweet deal." "This is going to be our crown- ing glory," he said soon after Metro Council's 29-2 vote. Province has promised to cut approval time to 3 or 4 years The fact that Kirkland Lake, Englehart and Larder Lake have approved the deal makes them a "willing host," a prerequisite that Grier is expected to insist on be- fore sending garbage outside of the greater Toronto area. Metro Chairman Alan Tonks said the Adams Mine that once produced iron ore to Dofasco's steel mills in Hamilton will prob- ably be the destination for the trash. "Adam's Mine will form an important part of any option that a new (provincial -municipal) utility will be implementing," Tonks said. "Anyone who thinks we are not going to need this option is only fantasizing," he said. Council voted yesterday to Spend $1.5 million to extend an option on the abandoned iron ore pit in Boston Township, near Kirkland Lake. That means Metro now has the rights to the 3,240-hectare (8,000- acre) site for five years. Metro also will pay Kirkland Lake $500,000 to cover legal and other technical expenses in seeking approvals for the landfill site. If the site is approved for dump- ing by the Environmental Assess- ment Board, the deal calls for the three towns to get: ❑ $1.10 per tonne of waste dumped. This will increase with the consumer price index and the estimate is it will bring the area $50 million over 20 years. ❑ $600,000 a year in lieu of taxes or $12 million over 20 years. ❑ $250,000 a year for private sec- tor research and development. ❑ Free garbage disposal, valued at $10 million, for area towns. ❑ 150 full-time jobs at the landfill site and at a $40 million recycling plant Metro is to build to handle 120,000 tonnes of waste each year. The job impact is estimated at $265 million over 20-year- length of the deal. Meanwhile, the owners of the site are in for a windfall as well. Notre Developments, w ich signed the deal with Metro, will get the $1.5 million in option ees over the next five years. If th site is approved, Notre will get at least $35 million in royalties. Durham Region councillors still stirring du By Dan McLean ome Durham Region cou icillors still question the pro ince's new waste management scheme, despite assurances given last week by Environment Minister Ruth Grier. In a letter dated Dec. 10 addressed to Region Chairman Gary Herrema, Grier expanded on her Nov. 21 action plan statement in the legislature. The 5-page document reiterated her commitment to the "three R's" of waste management, improvements to the Environmental Assessment Act and establishing a new public sector authority. However, some councillors expressed concern with certain elements of the minister's letter. Ajax Councillor Pat Clark said six sites in Durham, sites identified as potential landfills by consultants, remain options the province might consider in the future. Future "She's clearly still looking at the GTA sites in the short term," Clark told council. 'There is a great deal of ambiguity in the letter." The Ajax councillor added the province will ultimately get to a point where it needs to find a dump and won't "re -invent the wheel" to deal with the problem. "When the province gets desperate, those are the first places they're going to look," Clark said. "I still have some concerns about (Pickering's) P- 1." Assurances However, Chairman Herrema and Oshawa Councillor John Aker, who are part of a ministerial advisory committee, offered assurances to the contrary. Aker said the criteria for a potential future landfill would require a capacity for 25 million tonnes and a willing host community. This, in effect, eliminates all of the potential sites identified in Durham Part of Grier's letter states including P-1, he insisted. one of the questions to be dealt Herrema concurred, adding with by a new waste that none of the previous management authority is candidate sites were discussed whether to include the Greater during talks with the minister. Toronto Area potential sites in "1 think those five sites are future landfill searches. gone forever," he said. Aker outlined the current landfill situation in Metro and Durham. The Metro -owned Brock West dump in Pickering, which receives 70,000 tonnes of garbage from Toronto and 30,000 tonnes from Durham, is expected to be filled by 1992. Funds If Metro diverts its landfill waste to Keele Valley, then that move would extend the life of the Brock dump for Durham. "However, it's not our site, so it's strictly what the province can do with Metro," Aker said. It would be up to the province to persuade Metro to expand Keele Valley. Aker also announced the region will be able to keep its $16 million dollar waste management reserve fund. The funds were to have been turned over to new public waste management authority. However, the region will use this money for it's own waste reduction program. 'They will not interfere with our $16 million," Aker said. Durham's fund is proportionately much smaller than that of other regions. Herrema said the minister mps issue indicated there would be no problem if the region were to retain this money. Incinerators In reference to another item in the minister's letter, Oshawa Councillor Jim Potticary said Grier should consider incineration as a highly effective way to eliminate. landfill. The The Bay News, December 19, 1990 5 minister remains firmly against incineration as a method of reducing landfill. "I certainly hope we are going to get into some investigation of this because nobody wants garbage," he said, explaining the process works extremely well in other parts of the world. While many councillors are still uncertain about specific elements of Grier's over-all master plan regarding waste management, Herrema said he believes the minister is working towards a solution. "She's trying her best," he said. "None of us want to deal with it, but at least this lady is trying." Whitevale Could Be Dump Despite NDP promises, Town of Whitevale may be the City of Brampton and getting a garbage dump after all. On Nov. 21st, Environ- ment Minister Ruth Grier effectively killed the pro- posed interim dumpsites at Brampton (6B) and Whitevale (Pl). But the following day, the Minister suggested an emergency dump may have to go to either of those locations without a full environmen- tal assessment. Liberal environment critic Barbara Sullivan said she is appalled at the NDP's direction on this issue. Ruth Grier says she's committed to the former Liberal government's goal of 25 percent solid waste reduction by 1992. But she will have to find a place to put millions of tonnes of Metro trash within two years, and says she would use her emergency powers to extend the use of existing Metro Toronto and Peel landfill sites, and to open the proposed Brampton and Whitevale sites if necessary without a full en- virnnmPnt�l commitment that the public must be involved in tions. determining landfill loca- "That's very scar " said Lloyd Thomas Y' dent of Whitevalepand District Residents' Association. "We are pro- bably in worse shape than we were before." during NDPis shad promised pro- vincial electiou n me s pro - limited enviror mentap hearings on the proposed sites, saying limited hear- ings violated proper waste management principles. Newcastle gets another break: Medical garbage Welcome, Browning Ferris Industries (BFI). What a delight — yes — to welcome your medical garbage incinerator proposed for the Town of Newcastle! We were about to take a moment to spend some time with our friends and families over the festive season and relax from the recent threat of playing host to the proposed Durham Region garbage dump. However, you were ever mindful to ensure that there is never a dull moment in this community! Having suffered at the hands of a serious recession and the "spin- off benefits" of the free -trade agreement, we have lost CurvPly, JASCO, Delta Faucet, to mention a few. Yet, we are truly blessed in the Town of Newcastle to still hold some attraction to new industry — industry that would appear to have a place in this community. Yes, medical garbage fits in so nicely — low-level nuclear waste at Port Granby; industrial/ commercial waste imported to our community by Laidlaw; the storage of -high-level nuclear waste at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station and the waste associated with the tritium removal plant; landscape architecture undertaken by the aggregate industry, not to mention the quarries at St. Mary's; and the landscape ad'ustments made by our friends, to developers. And now, medical garbage. (Does this include an ash disposal plant, as well)? What a bright future for the Town of Newcastle! Lots of beautiful land, clean air, and fresh water — the perfect location for thes&L-n.As,�of industry We shall reap in the benefits — jobs, prestige, and lower taxes! Would it be presumptuous to hope that you could spread the word among your colleagues in the waste industry? There is room for everyone in the Town of Newcastle. Yes, we are open for business! Thank you, BFI, for opening up shop in this otherwise sleepy community! Al the best to you, and your families, for the holidays — and may 1991 be a most profitable year! HELEN MacDONALD Newtonville