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QUEEN’S PARK – Today in Question Period, NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns urged the McGuinty government to strengthen its proposed regulations for the Toxic Reduction Act in order to better protect the health of Ontarians.
“Ontarians expect that the air they breathe and the products they buy will not make them sick,” said Tabuns. “Unless the proposed regulations are tightened, the majority of polluting companies in Ontario will get a free ride and people won’t be much safer.”
As it stands, the Act will only cover large polluters in the mineral processing and manufacturing sectors – or only about 3 per cent of companies in areas such as Toronto.
While Environment Minister John Gerretsen claimed that the Act is “the strongest in Ontario”, this month a coalition of medical groups including the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Ontario Lung Association reported that “the draft regulations will not help achieve the government’s objective” which is “to protect the health and environment of Ontarians.”
Minister Gerretsen said the Ontario Act is “modelled on a law that was passed in Massachusetts” even though the “Take Charge on Toxics” coalition has indicated that toxic reduction plans required in Ontario are much more superficial than those required in Massachusetts, and less likely to be implemented.
Tabuns also raised concern that the Act uses the federal National Pollutant Release Inventory, which was roundly criticized by the Federal Auditor General in report this week for being unable to accurately report changes in toxic emissions.
“The Act will be of little use if it can’t show whether we are actually making progress in cleaning the air,” said Tabuns.
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Media Inquiries: Peter Tabuns, 416-325-3250 |
