CHEMTURA ARE SCAMMING THEIR OWN REVERIFICATION

I've been warning Woolwich Council and the new CPAC for months that Chemtura were going to steal this reverification that comes around every three years with the C.I.A.C. (Chemical Industry Assoc'n of Canada). I even told them how they were going to do it. Former Councillor (prior to 2006) and former CPAC Chair Pat McLean was rewarded for her leadership in bringing Chemtura into the "Responsible Care" designation of the C.I.A.C.. She was rewarded by an appointment from the C.I.A.C. to their National Advisory Panel. This is a paid position involving at a minimum per diem expenses for attendance at meetings and at a maximun $350/day above and beyond expenses. This $350/day is based on Pat's allegedly bragging to one of her former colleagues here in Elmira.

CPAC and Council were informed by me that Pat Mclean was one of the supposed community representatives on Chemtura's reverification committee this summer. This is just so wrong on so many levels. Firstly she is already in the C.I.A.C. fold. It is my opinion that she is strongly biased in favour of Chemtura and this is further clarified by numerous monitoring concessions that she and two other CPAC members have led through CPAC the last several years. By the way one of those Ron Ormson is also on the C.I.A.C. National Advisory Panel and has been for years. I will at least credit Ron for being up front about that. Pat NEVER publicly informed CPAC about this gross conflict of interest of being Chair of a citizens committee while being paid to sit on the C.I.A.C. Natiuonal Advisory panel.

The new CPAC made efforts to appoint two representatives to the reverification committee. Chemtura however advised them that no, only one was required as two others were already appointed. One was from their West Hill facility and one from the C.I.A.C. Yesterday Dwight Este by e-mail advised the Mayor and CAO of Woolwich Township that Dr. Dan Holt from the new CPAC was the community rep along with, you guessed it, Pat McLean. Pat's appointment was justified by claiming that she is a member of a second community stakeholder group known as the APTE Chemtura Committee. How convenient is this? This new "committee" is nothing more than the old CPAC members playing. It is a private group (members only) talking to Chemtura. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. Where it goes off the rails is the moment that Chemtura claim some community status for these private discussions. By the way I have long believed that the old CPAC were in bed with Chemtura. At least now their chummy status with the company is a little more obvious. The former watchdog is now a lapdog.