WOOLWICH OBSERVER HAMMERS MAYOR & CHEMTURA / M.O.E.

Oh my oh my has Steve Kannon of the Woolwich Observer ever exposed the elephant in the room. Both his Editorial titled "CPAC review all for naught until MOE takes action" and his story "Woolwich to axe CPAC for new review format" tell the truth, unlike the stickhandling coming from the likes of Councillor Bauman and Mayor Shantz. Steve has seen right through their charade of improving CPAC in order to bring Chemtura and the M.O.E. back to the table. The fact is "improving" CPAC is the very last thing in the world either polluter friendly body wants.

As Steve Kannon states it's all about appeasement. Give Chemtura (& M.O.E.) whatever it takes to bring them back to the table where there will be "...more leisurely noshing and coffee-drinking among likeminded folks.". It's all about appearances as in pretending to resolve a problem when all Chemtura and the M.O.E. want are to be left alone and be able to mutually obfuscate and commit puffery regarding their professional, world class "cleanup" of the Elmira Aquifers. Steve also makes it clear that he and other informed people know perfectly well that that will not happen as promised by 2028.

Steve's comments regarding the proposed replacement committees RAC & TAG are to the point. In revamping CPAC, the citizens' watchdog group, "it essentially removes both the citizen and the watchdog component.". This plan by Councillor Bauman and Mayor Shantz is a perfect example of small town obeisance to large corporate interests. Come on Sandy you're in their pocket, surely you can do more than this for them. How about declaring the 1989 Elmira Water Crisis all just a big mistake. Uniroyal (Chemtura) and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment weren't negligent afterall back then. It really was grease in the waterpumps as was originally suggested.