Pickering Council tries to stop the stink
Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland
Oct 21, 2009
By Keith Gilligan and Kristen Calis
Pickering News Advertiser
www.newsdurhamregion.com
PICKERING -- Rick Nicolussi, with the organization Stop the Stink, set up an information table at the open house held at the Petticoat Creek Community Centre October 17, 2009 by Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Littley.
The BIG PIPE & OCF Approved
Councillor Littley has been a strong opponent of York’s Big Pipe and Odour Control Facility at Pickering and Regional Councils’ and also through her ongoing work with the Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition (RDGC) and Stop the Stink.
Unfortunately the previous Council in 2005 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreeing to the twinning of the York-Durham sewer project as it served Pickering’s development plans for the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP) through the City’s Growth Management Study at the time.
Fortunately, we have great advocacy in this City, RDGC and citizen action prevailed and the DRAP was included in the Greenbelt - but this time we haven‘t been so fortunate.
Although, the current Council has unanimously made significant effort through various resolutions at City and Regional Councils to have York and Durham review the project, (technology, location and Environmental Assessment (EA)), York refused and left the City with court action as its only option.
With Councillor Littley’s assistance, her community colleagues with RDGC assisted Stop the Stink with funds to hire the prestigious legal counsel of David Estrin, and RDGC hired David Donnelly of Environmental Defence to aid in the case against what is believed to be a flawed EA.
April 6th, Minister Gerretsen approved the Big Pipe and Odour Control Facility EA with a set of conditions - but without any remedial action or sanctions if something goes wrong. Mayor, Council and it’s residents are not satisfied and the City will be pursuing sanctions and a Judicial Review.
Contact Councillor Littley for further detail
And see: www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/index.php
Also visit: www.stopthestink.ca
Direct Election of the Regional Chair
Littley’s motion passes at Regional Council
While Pickering, Ajax and Oshawa residents had a referendum question in the 2006 election, the residents of the other 5 municipalities have not had an opportunity to vote on this very significant issue of Regional interest.
Councillor Littley’s motion, seconded by Ajax Councillor Jordan passed on having a region-wide referendum question on the ballot for the upcoming Municipal Election, Oct 25, 2010.
As Councillor Littley stated at Regional Council, “It’s important for every citizen in the entire region to have a voice on whether or not they want to directly elect their Regional Chair - it’s not personal, it’s democratic. It shouldn’t be left to the local municipal councils to decide. The people should decide - north and south.”
Incinerator - Regional Council refuses to review contract with Covanta
The Ministry of the Environment released its review of the environmental assessment of Durham’s incinerator project and concluded that “The Ministry is satisfied that the proposed mitigation methods and contingencies will ensure that any potential negative impacts will be minimized and managed”. Needless to say, residents are not satisfied with the answers they received, nor agree.
Unfortunately, Whitby Councillor Mitchell and Ajax Mayor Parish’s motion to review the contract with Covanta to ensure that promises made to the public on emissions standards and costs failed to be supported by the majority at Regional Council.
MOE Review available at : www.ebr.gov.on.ca;
Also see: www.durhamenvironmentwatch.org
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