A TALE OF TWO CAPS (Citizen Advisory Panels) - Removing CPAC FROM MUNICIPAL CONTROL

Part of the above title comes from the on-line posted Minutes of the National Advisory Panel for the Chemical Industry Association of Canada held May 2, 2013 in Toronto. Item #4 on the Agenda is Chemtura, Elmira: A Tale of Two Caps. I particularily enjoy the title because indeed it is a tale. I also enjoy watching former CPAC members align themselves with Chemtura (Dwight Este) on environmental issues. Afterall we all know how honest, forthright and proactive Chemtura/Uniroyal have been for a very long time in Elmira, Ontario. Or for that matter throughout the United States. Go on-line and see who are currently suing Chemtura U.S. for which assorted contaminated sites.

Pat Mclean and Ron Ormson, two former CPAC members, are members of the National Advisory Panel. Ron is both technically competent and informed and would have no difficulty comprehending any and all issues raised in that forum. Pat however is technically incompetent in all fields environmental and scientific. Both of them in conjunction with Dwight Este misrepresented the differences between the old CPAC and the current one. Once again I must point out that Ron Ormson has not attended a single CPAC meeting since the current CPAC was formed (4 years). Nor have any other former CPAC members with the occasional exception of Pat McLean and Susan Bryant. Pat was embarassed into it by way of the verification team in Elmira in 2012. She was appropriately asked as to whether she was up to date with the current goings at CPAC. She weakly replied that she had a colleague occasionally attending ie. Susan Bryant

This lack of participation and attendance by past CPAC members parallels a decades long lack of participation and attendance by Assuring Protection for Tomorrow's Environment (APTE) members. This is precisely how one or two people can gain inappropriate influence over a group. If the one or two members are unduly enamoured by influence, status or ego and they are more willing than their peers to put in the time; then they can return unchallenged and give their version of reality to the group.

The lies promulgated by Pat, possibly Ron as he was present although the Minutes fail to specify which former CPAC member is speaking, and Dwight Este are blatant fabrications. Dwight's are the most obviously self serving and he admits his discontent with the requirement that CPAC meetings be public. The old CPAC and Pat are very keen on private, by invitation only meetings.

One notable comment by either Ron or Pat is "We want the ministry (M.O.E.) involved as they are the only body with authority. We don't want the municipality involved." Pat you are a world class hypocrite. The municipality (Woolwich) gave you the CPAC Chair's position in 1999 and as well after you lost the 2006 election and were off Council. Your buddy former Mayor Bill Strauss was the operator of at least two contaminated sites in Woolwich Township (Strauss Fuels & Heidelberg Garage). His influence was a major factor which kept you on as CPAC Chair from 2006 to 2010. Then when the Mayor and most of Council were turfed, then and only then you criticize the new Woolwich Council. Even more hypocritical is the fact that YOU are the one responsible for making CPAC a formal committee of Woolwich Council in 2000/2001. Dwight Este confirms the timing in these on-line Minutes and I was present arguing against you in 2000 on this issue.