(Queen’s Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop today applauded the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) for publicly questioning the Ministry of the Environment’s decision to reject his application for a review of the Certificate of Approval (C of A) for proposed landfill Site 41. Dunlop filed his Application for Review under the Environmental Bill of Rights on February 25.

In his 2003-2004 Annual Report released yesterday, Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller dedicated four pages to Site 41, outlining the merits of Mr. Dunlop’s application.

Miller concluded his comments on Site 41 in the annual report by noting: “The ECO believes that a broad review of the Site 41 C of A was warranted to increase government accountability for environmental decision-making on this highly contentious proposal. It would have been appropriate for the Ministry of the Environment to evaluate the certificate of approval in light of the province’s intention to strengthen source water protection requirements.”

“I commend the Environmental Commissioner for taking a strong stand on Site 41 and recognizing the impact of Walkerton on source protection,” said Dunlop. “Now that Ontario’s non-partisan, top environmental watchdog has drawn the public’s attention to Site 41, I will work even harder to hold Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky accountable for any decision that allows Site 41 to proceed as a landfill.”

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)