Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today is also for the Minister of the Environment. The question concerns the future development of site 41 in the township of Tiny. It's a very highly sensitive proposal in many ways. Just this Monday in the House you said in a response to the member for Huron-Bruce, and I quote from Hansard, "I'm happy to stand in the House today and say that ensuring clean, safe water is a top priority for this government. We agreed with Justice O'Connor that proper management of our drinking water must be a priority."

I'm assuming this has to include protecting groundwater sources and supplies around future landfill facilities. Are you prepared to stand in this House today and place a moratorium on the development of site 41, which at this time has over 200 recommendations from peer reviews, most of which are related to the possibility of groundwater and surface water contamination?

Hon Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of the Environment): With respect to site 41, I have had an opportunity to review that particular issue. At this point in time, the community monitoring committee -- which you know includes representatives from the community -- has participated in a peer review. The peer review comments from this committee were forwarded to the ministry, and they are at this point in time being considered by the ministry.

Mr Dunlop: Thank you very much, Minister, for that answer and that non-answer.

The peer review actually came up with the 200 recommendations. They're waiting for the ministry to actually approve it.

On November 14, in Alliston, as part of Justice O'Connor's recommendations, you announced the creation of two expert advisory panels on protecting water sources. Just yesterday you stood in this House and promised legislation, and again I quote from Hansard, "to ensure that our source water is protected."

In light of these actions, and in light of your passion for clean and safe water, will you please wait until you have recommendations from your own advisory committee, and will you wait until legislation is passed before you allow staff at the ministry to allow the county of Simcoe to proceed with any further development of site 41?

Hon Mrs Dombrowsky: The Ministry of the Environment has received information from the local committee. This is a process -- it's not new to this province -- that was followed by your government. Staff at the ministry have a responsibility to ensure that whatever is proposed is not going to have a negative impact on the environment. When they have made those assessments, then recommendations may or may not be brought to the minister. I am not going to pre-empt their good work. I trust the people who work at the Ministry of the Environment. I believe that if they have identified, if the community has identified, a reason to be concerned, then people at the Ministry of the Environment will bring that to my attention and I will certainly act to protect the local groundwater.