LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO INSTANT HANSARD

MARCH 1, 2006 – QUESTION PERIOD

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark–Carleton): I also have a question for the Minister of the Environment. This question relates to the Carp landfill site, in the west part of Ottawa , operated by the Waste Management of Canada corporation. This site has been operating for 30 years, and is slated to close in four. I have driven by this mountain of garbage thousands of times, with the windows of my car firmly closed. Over the past 20 years—

Interjections.

Mr. Sterling: This is a very serious matter for my constituents, and the people of Stittsville, in particular, in Mr. Baird’s riding. Over the past 20 years, the population of this area has exploded. Many, many more subdivisions have been approved which are very, very close to this particular site. In January, this waste management corporation put forward a proposal to more than double the capacity of this landfill site to provide landfill room for Ottawa , part of eastern Ontario and some communities in the province of Quebec . Minister, don’t you agree that this community has done their fair share in accepting the rest of eastern Ontario ’s garbage in the past, and will you put a stop to this proposal now?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I want to assure the member that I take the issues that are being raised in this community very seriously. I understand that, at present, the company has expressed its desire to complete an individual EA for its proposal to expand the landfill. My ministry believes that the size of the company’s proposed expansion would warrant an individual EA. To proceed with an individual EA, we will have to have terms of reference and opportunity for the community to come forward and raise a number of important issues. The process is just beginning. In that process, the community will have an opportunity to raise the many issues that I understand are currently being raised in the community with respect to the future of waste management in this area and how they will manage on a going-forward basis. So I do think it is an important issue. My ministry will be paying very close attention.

Mr. Sterling: Your involvement and discretion with regard to what will take place in the future is greatest at this moment. After May 12, you will be receiving an application to approve the terms of reference for the environmental assessment to take place. Mr. Eli El-Chantiry and Janet Stavinga, both councillors in the city of Ottawa , have firmly stated their opinion against the location of the landfill at this particular site. Mayor Bob Chiarelli, in yesterday’s Ottawa Citizen, said that it is necessary to look at every possible option to deal with waste, including expansion, incineration and the possibility of using other sites for landfill. Will you ensure that the terms of reference are as wide as possible, and will include these alternatives that the city of Ottawa wants included in the terms of reference?

Hon. Ms. Broten: You’re quite right that I would have to approve the companies terms of reference for the individual EA before it would begin. For the individual EA to proceed, the company would have to evaluate alternatives to its proposed undertaking—which is what the member is asking for—identify the potential impacts on human health and the natural and socioeconomic environments, demonstrate that it undertook public consultation and identified any concerns, and propose satisfactory solutions to address those concerns. There is nothing which prohibits anyone from seeking the province’s approval with respect to a number of alternatives coming forward. But I do need to be clear, as Minister of the Environment, those alternatives have to be clean, and they can’t discourage the use of waste reduction, reuse and recycling.