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LetterOntario Secondary School Teachers' Federation's letter to Premier McGuinty requesting reversal of Site 41 decision. June 7, 2009
Dear Premier McGuinty On December 12, 2002, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2003 to be the "International Year or Freshwater," The resolution was approved by 149 countries. Canada was one of those countries. In an effort to highlight the importance of freshwater, many activities were jointly coordinated by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Since then, many question have surfaced regarding the sustainability of water resources in Canada and, more specifically, within Ontario. Currently, we have easy access to clean, affordable water, and although we may be the envy of the world, we must also be ever vigilant to protect this vital resource. It is for this reason that the Ontario Secondary Teacher' Federation urges you to reverse your decision on granting permission to drain water from the aquifer at Site 41 in Simcoe County. The decision to drain water from the Alliston Aquifer and allow the construction of a landfill site appears to be short-sighted in terms of the impact on neighbouring communities from the shores of Georgian Bay to Newmarket. The preservation of this aquifer should be a government priority. It is used as a primary source by numerous municipalities and also discharges into creeks and rivers which eventually flow into Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe, Lake Scugog and Lake Ontario. All reports indicate that over 225 million litres of pristine water must be pumped out in order to construct the dump site, and even with the removal of this water there is no guarantee that the dumpsite will not simply become a pond similar to the Adams Pit mine in Northern Ontario. Considering the value of the lost water, the damage to the Alliston Aquifer and the susceptibility of water seepage into the dumpsite we urge you to reverse your decision. A decision by the Government of Ontario to withdraw their approval would reinforce the government's stated goal of moving Ontario "toward a zero-waste future." Simcoe County would then be forced to explore other options to manage waste such as implementing waste reduction strategies, upgrading the 50 existing landfills, and recycling recyclable products already occupying current landfills. All of these options would be in the best interest of Simcoe County. We urge you, on behalf of our four 60,000 members within Ontario. to reverse your decision that allows the aquifer at Site 41 to be drained. This reversal would ensure clean, affordable drinking water for the citizens of Simcoe County. Thank you for your consideration regarding this matter. KENNETH CORAN cc: The Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment ________ |
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updated
June 8, 2009
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