ANOTHER PUBLIC SHELLACKING OF CHEMTURA AND THEIR BED PARTNER THE M.O.E.

Well yesterday I reported on the Elmira Independent's take on Tuesday evenings Woolwich Council meeting. Today I'll advise Township residents that both local newspapers clearly recognize that our so called environment ministry would be better named the MOCPP or Ministry of Corporate Polluter Protection. The front page headline in today's Observer is "Woolwich backs call for action on Chemtura contaminants". Further the Observer's Editorial is titled "CPAC, township out of patience with MOE inaction". This must be a shocking turnaround for both Chemtura's corporate headquarters in Waterbury Conneticut and for Kathleen Wynn's apparently teflon coated Liberal majority at Queen's Park. Under the old CPAC we were used to hearing the MOE brag about how the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) was the best Community Advisory Panel in the province. What they didn't say was that it was the best CAP going for both Chemtura and the M.O.E.. Afterall under the "leadership" of Pat Mclean, the old CPAC were constantly making "nice' to Chemtura including giving concessions relating to reduced monitoring for both groundwater levels and chemical concentrations plus much more. Worst yet the old CPAC grossly failed in their duty to see and understand that the alleged "cleanup" was exactly that ie. alleged. Finally they failed to exercise their duty and mandate to accurately and honestly advise both the Township and the public that the "cleanup" of the Elmira Aquifers and the Canagagigue was off the rails. I do not blame all the individual members as they were under the spell of an award winning, highly personable individual. The cult of personality did not end with horrible examples such as Mussolini or Stalin. The cult of personality has always expolited human weaknesses to overlook accountability and transparency when certain particularly respected individuals are involved. Some of us know how to ride that human weakness and others (like myself) do not.

Regardless Chemtura and the M.O.E. are finally up against a determined, informed and honest CPAC. This CPAC has done far more to let the public know how bad the situation in Elmira is. The creek has been greatly improved regarding reduction of solvents and some pesticides. The colours and odours are gone which is all the M.O.E. ever wanted. Persistent organic pollutants including Dioxins and DDT are another matter all together. This CPAC is working intelligently for the public interest and are ignoring various blandishments handed out and received by the former. Much more needs to be done and the pressure most especially must stay on the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Chemtura and their fellow travellors are all about the money. That is their bottom line and everything else is simply puffery and horse manure liberally applied.