Patrick Brown and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. Photo courtesy of @brownbarrie via Twitter.Patrick Brown and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. Photo courtesy of @brownbarrie via Twitter.
Sarnia

Opposition Demands Inquiry

Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown is calling for a full public inquiry into the impacts of spills and releases in Chemical Valley.

The call follows a TV documentary that aired Saturday. The report highlighted concerns raised by area residents about proper notifications when leaks and spills of chemicals and carcinogens happen.

Brown raised the topic as well during Question Period Monday morning at Queen's Park.

"Mr. Speaker to the Minister of the Environment, they can be operating 24/7 but when the only response we have to spills is no response, it's not good enough," says Brown. "For nine years the member from Sarnia-Lambton and his community have been fighting for the government to wake up and realize there is a serious concern here, but they have not."

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Chris Ballard says the provincial government will work with affected communities to understand the localized impact of pollution on area residents.

"We're building on previous regulations to lower air pollution and we are committed to funding a health study of local Sarnia residents, we've been very clear about that," says Ballard.

Sarnia-Lambton PC MPP Bob Bailey doesn't believe such a study would impact Nova's decision to possibly build a world scale polyethylene plant locally.

He says industry has always offered to help fund an inquiry.

"As far back as almost ten years ago, industry and the community at large were willing to come to the table and fund a study," says Bailey. "A study that's only conducted by industry wouldn't have the credibility of one that was partnered with the provincial government. That's why we've called on the provincial government again to step up to the plate and fund an inquiry."

After eight years, the board of the Lambton Community Health Study was forced to fold due to lack of senior government funding.

The hope was to establish a multi-million dollar study to determine the effects of the petrochemical industry on the health of local residents.

The health study board had completed two phases of a three phase multi-year plan before making the difficult decision last summer.

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