THE PERVERSION OF UPAC/CPAC INTO A COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL & THE 2000 "PINK SPILL"

The January 23, 2000 Elmira Independent reported that Woolwich Council voted 5-2 in favour of Pat Mclean's Motion to make CPAC a committee of Council. This was Councillor and CPAC Chair Pat Mclean's finest hour in undermining true public consultation and bringing Uniroyal/Crompton back to public CPAC meetings. This in hindsight was most likely Uniroyal's demand and as usual Woolwich Council folded. Uniroyal got away with it in 2000 and so they pulled a similar stunt in 2014-2015. Again Woolwich Council folded like a cheap suitcase this time with Mark and Sandy leading the charade. Uniroyal/Chemtura's credibility was getting publicly eviscerated and they once again folded their chairs and ran for cover waiting for Woolwich Council to rescue them from the mean citizens who would no longer swallow their lies and bullshit.

The K-W Record on January 27, 2000 also reported on the penultimate Woolwich Council meeting as follows "...following a heated debate Tuesday night, Woolwich councillors voted 5-2 to make the UPAC committee a committee of Council.". Pat stated in Council that "maintaining the committee in its' current form is not an option". The truth was that Uniroyal had fled UPAC/CPAC and as usual were doing their dirty work behind the scenes with Pat and some Councillors. I fully expect that this was a Bill Strauss and his buddy at that time Pat Mclean initiative in order to ingratiate themselves and Council with Uniroyal/Crompton.

On February 19, 2000 Uniroyal/Crompton had a major spill which they did not immediately share with the authorities including Woolwich, the Region of Waterloo or the Ontario Ministry of Environment. What Woolwich authorities have never understood is that Uniroyal are takers. They only respect strength, force and determination. Concessions to them are to be gobbled up simply as their due. The "pink spill" proved that. This was a discharge of thousands of gallons of toluene which flooded the next door Elmira Sewage Treatment Plant killing off the bacteria and releasing thousands of gallons of partially treated sewage and toluene into the Cangagigue Creek. Uniroyal did not notify the STP nor anyone else that they had had a major spill of toluene on their site resulting in damage to the Elmira STP as well as the Mannheim water Treatment centre in Kitchener being shut down for at least two weeks. Also nearby homes in Elmira had their basements flooded courtesy of Uniroyal's mess.

Odours were still an ongoing concern in Elmira as reported in the February 16, 2000 Kitchener-Waterloo Record. By February 25, 2000 the Elmira Independent (Julie Sawyer) reported that CPAC were pushing hard for answers regarding the "pink spill". Ron Ormson of CPAC wanted more charges laid against Uniroyal/Crompton because of the pink spill. Henry Regier was quoted as saying "This is a crisis." "...due diligence went right down the drain on this one.". Esther Thur stated "It's our health. What about our drinking water?".

In the K-W Record of March 17, 2000 Susan Bryant commented on a Brochure Uniroyal had distributed to the public by saying "It (the brochure) is a propaganda piece. Strictly defined, propaganda is half truths and facts out of context and that's what we've been treated to.".

Interestingly a month and a half after CPAC became a committee of Council David Ash of Uniroyal/Crompton publicly stated in the Woolwich Observer that "the company has no intention of ever attending another meeting of the Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee.". Funny thing how that attitude suddenly miraculously changed not much later.

Later that month Katie Marshall, my daughter, was appointed to CPAC as a new non-voting member representing EDSS (Elmira District Secondary School). She is now Dr. Katie Marshall and is making a name for herself in research and academia on both sides of the border. My son Daniel is a recent Masters of Biology recipient and is working in that field here in Ontario.