IF IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...

Today's K-W Record advises us "Urban planner wins award". This story is about old contaminated industrial sites that have been redeveloped in Kitchener. We have had similar cleanups and developments here in Elmira. Please see the Elmira Advocate September 15/10 and August 4/10.

The list of contaminated sites in Kitchener is truly awesome from factories to former gasoline stations. This article glowingly describes all the financial incentives that developers are given to "clean up" these properties prior to building on them. I have three questions. Above and beyond our Ministry of Errors and Excuses (M.O.E.); who independently determines the quality and extent of the cleanup? Secondly, who do you think is funding these financial incentives? I'll answer that one: You Joe Taxpayer. Thirdly whatever happened to the adage "Polluter Pays"? I'll answer that one as well. It's never been true, it's merely political rhetoric.