With a number of accidental chemical spills from Chemical Valley into the St. Clair River recently, the NDP’s environment critic was in Sarnia Monday looking for solutions to prevent future spills.
Chemical Valley companies have come under fire for the spills from residents in the region and those wanting to protect the environment.
Jonah Schein, a Toronto Davenport MPP, met with Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, Fire Chief John Kingyens, Phil Nelson, the city’s police chief, and other stakeholders seeking insight on the problem.
Schein believes more government oversight may be an answer.
“Unfortunately we see it too often around emergency response, which is critical when there is an accident, but government has a role to play to prevent accidents from happening in the first place,” Schein says.
Residents, including members of Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia, were alarmed by a recent series of spills, including one in September that saw chemicals spilled directly into the St. Clair River and forced municipalities to shut their drinking water intakes.
Bradley says he’s still looking for answers as to why the spill wasn't contained in a drainage ditch as was supposed to happen. He says any spill that ends up in the river is damaging to the community.
Bradley thinks industries have been doing a better job of preventing spills, though, and being more publicly accountable.
“I do believe there's a role for government, but it needs to be collaborative. The relationship right now between the Ministry of the Environment, the companies, the local government has been very cooperative in trying to find out the answers to why this last spill occurred. No one should have to worry about their water quality, their drinking water or the water they’re fishing from or swimming in."
Schein says he's determined to have greater government accountability on all environment issues.
“We have concerns about Sarnia, about Southwestern Ontario, but around the province in general. The environment commissioner has just issued another scathing report about this government's failure to protect our environment. Unfortunately, I think this is another case in point.”
