CPAC PUBLIC MEETINGS AT LAST

Credit goes to yours truly, Dan Holt, Vivienne Delaney and also departed CPAC member Lynne Hare for their cumulative efforts to secure the first public CPAC meetings since November 2010. These public meetings are scheduled for June 8 & 15 at 6 pm. in the Council chambers. I do recall last November both thinking and saying at that public meeting that it was a "lame duck" meeting. This was true as I knew that most if not all the members at that time were getting the boot. I certainly did not know that we'd be forced to wait nearly seven months for the next meeting and that it would cost three new CPAC members their appointments.

As I understand it, the M.O.E. will be giving an Orientation Session to the new CPAC members. For Dan and Vivienne, if this includes basic hydrogeology as well as Chemtura specific information such as location of buried pits, waste and pumping wells, this is a good thing. If Ron Campbell and David Marks are either still members and or present for this Orientation, they will have no need for the Hydrogeology 101 course as they are both professionals in the field.

I have two major concerns with these Orientation Sessions put on by the Ministry of the Environment and by Chemtura. Does anyone remotely think that they will be more than an endorsement of the status quo? Do you seriously think that either of these groups are going to criticize hydraulic containment (pump & treat) as the be all and end all for this site? This is where Mayor Cowan will be put to the test. Privately, repeatedly over the months from last summer up until three weeks ago, he has assurred me that he and his buddies (Ron & David) held hydraulic containment in low regard and knew that source removal was essential. Secondly this public meeting will be the acid test for public involvement. Does the Mayor think that public consultation only involves his hand picked friends and buddies or does it seriously include all the public who may or may not agree with either the status quo or that which the M.O.E. and Chemtura will be proclaiming? Will members of the public be permitted to ask questions and to offer alternate plans and opinions? This is the acid test for legitlmate public consultation and involvement.