ELMIRA'S TOXIC TIME BOMB

The Editorial written by the Waterloo Region Record in today's newspaper is titled "Toxic time bomb must be defused". It gives the decades long litany of inaction and obfuscation by the authorities in regards to the toxic mess still affecting humans and other lifeforms in Elmira and downstream.

The Editorial rightly points out that it is way past time for the federal government to step up and do their duty. They were involved when an American company situated in Elmira Ontario decided to take environmental shortcuts in their pursuit of greater profits while producing 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T and Agent Orange. Not to mention of course DDT which the federal government had alleged was never made in Canada. Nice try with that one.

Will this sudden interest by local media in Woolwich Township's longest running scandal actually result in real improvements or will this be another flash in the pan as we've seen for decades? Will our local, securely in bed with Chemtyra Canada politicians decide it's finally time to get serious with the company? Will our provincial Ministry of the Environment finally get serious with Chemtura. Their latest nonsense from Terri Buhlman claiming that there is negligible risk in the Canagagigue Creek is outrageous while they are still planning to do a Risk Assessment. Why bother if they are going to give the conclusions before the Assessment is even done?