A DOUBLE STANDARD?

Many years ago, I approached the Ontario Ministry of the Environment with information and photographs concerning a commercial site in the Doon area of Kitchener. This location was in the business of removing old underground gasoline and diesel fuel tanks. The photographs clearly showed a number of these tanks propped up, with their open spouts downwards and indeed evidence (stains etc.) that they had been permitted to drain onto the ground. The ground was not protected by concrete or any other impermeable surface. Furthermore the site was located beside Schneider's Creek. The M.O.E. advised me that they would do nothing as this was not a big deal compared to other issues they were dealing with.

Flash forward to the present and we have an individual who spilled some heating fuel on his property and allegedly it flowed into the municipal drain. This individual reported this himself to the Ontario M.O.E.. He was charged, convicted and fined and his name put into the local paper. Clearly there was no intent to dump involved and yet he was dumped on. Perhaps my headline should have read PLAYING FAVOURITES?