McGuinty Liberals continue eco fee fiasco

QUEEN’S PARK – Despite this morning’s rambling damage control press conference by Environment Minister John Gerretsen on Ontario’s eco fees, the McGuinty government continues it’s debacle without a resolution that truly protects consumers or the environment, says NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns.

“This is crazy! The McGuinty Liberals said that taxpayers will subsidize companies’ waste, even when they profit from it, for three months while they figure out what to do next. Bottom-line: Companies should pay these costs, not Ontarians,” said an incredulous Tabuns.

“The way the McGuinty government has handled the whole eco fee issue is a fiasco, plain and simple. They are now in full damage control, but where was the planning to protect consumers before they were blindsided by these new fees on July 1^st?”

Tabuns noted that the eco fee mess is just the latest in a growing string of embarrassing government foul-ups and missteps.

“In the last month, the McGuinty government has misled the public on G20 security, has provincial ministries under criminal investigations, and has bungled its eco fee program, said Tabuns. “Ontarians are rightfully wondering what the heck is going on over there and who exactly is in charge” said Tabuns.

“New Democrats fully support the concept of producer responsibility. But putting oversight directly in the hands of industry is the wrong way to go. It has been proven over and over again that self-regulation doesn’t work,” he said.

“Stewardship Ontario should be scrapped altogether and replaced with a government body that is fully accountable and transparent. If the McGuinty government were truly serious about cleaning up this mess and protecting our environment from harmful and toxic goods, that’s the first step they should take.”

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Media contact: Marion Nader, 416-325-2601