Supporters of the “Stop Dump Site 41” movement gathered at Queen’s Park on Nov. 19 to rally in support of Bill 32, a private member’s bill put forward by Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop.
Introduced in 2005 and given first reading in March 2008, the bill aims to prevent the disposal of waste at Site 41 in Tiny Township. It proposes revocation of the Ministry of the Environment certificate of approval associated with the property.
“I’m quite pleased with how it went,” Dunlop told The Mirror a day after a 40-11 vote ushered the bill past second reading. “We thought they might try to squash the bill because they have a majority, but a lot of the Liberals supported the bill, which is kind of strange because (Premier Dalton) McGuinty came out in the summertime that Site 41 was viable, and so did the minister of the environment.”
Dunlop said there was about an hour of debate in the legislature before the vote. The challenge now, he said, will be to get it to committee and then third reading.
“Over the last 30 years, there have been all sorts of provincial approvals put on Site 41. This bill removes any approvals for Site 41– the certificate of approval, the water-taking permit, etc. – and return it to farmland,” he said, adding there is also a clause in the bill that would allow the legislative assembly to compensate the County of Simcoe for its costs.
Nov. 19 was a big day for him, Dunlop acknowledged.
“We had a number of speakers … supporting what I was trying to do,” he said. “A couple of Liberals stood up and they were kind of negative, but, overall, only 11 people did vote against it in the end.”
While Dunlop acknowledged Bill 32 might never be called for a third reading, he remains hopeful.
“We’re going to keep lobbying to make sure the government will not forget that we’ve gone this far,” he said. “Regardless of what happens, we at least know that this got done … and a lot of good information got put on the record. We will use that in the future to get the bill finally passed and continue to draw attention to the Site 41 issue.”
In a letter to all Ontario MPPs, Maude Barlow, chairperson of the Council of Canadians, stated Bill 32 will protect forever the Alliston aquifer beneath the proposed dumpsite.
“This act is needed because the Ministry of the Environment has failed to fulfil its responsibility to protect water sources in Ontario over the last 26 years,” she wrote. “From the very beginning, the community around Site 41 questioned the safety of the proposed dump.”
Bill 32 was introduced in 2005, but last week was the first time it has been debated, noted Dunlop.
“We couldn’t get any attention (in 2005). This whole summer has changed everything,” he said, referring to the native-led vigil and blockade that drew hundreds of supporters to the cause.
“What’s really important here is the community is responsible for this outcry. They have united together and worked together,” said Dunlop. “Over 80 people showed up to Queen’s Park on (Nov. 19).
“Seldom do we have a building full of people for a private member’s bill,” he added. “I do my share as the MPP, but it is really rewarding when you have the support of the community.”
nmillion@simcoe.com
