Laurie Scott MPP

For Immediate Release
December 11, 2007

LIBERALS FAIL TO PROTECT HEALTH AND SAFETY
Auditor reports McGuinty’s mismanagement of toxic waste

(Queen’s Park) – Ontario’s Auditor General today delivered a stunning indictment of Dalton McGuinty’s government and how it has negligently avoided its responsibility to the environment, as vast amounts of hazardous waste has disappeared and remains unaccounted for.

Laurie Scott, PC Critic for the Ministry of the Environment, questioned the Premier twice in the Legislature today about the serious lack of action by his Minister of Environment – until being caught by the Auditor General.

“Mr. McGuinty should explain to Ontarians why his government has put the health and safety of Ontarians at risk in a number of areas, including overseeing a disastrous hazardous waste system where 26,000 shipments of hazardous waste arrived at their destination with less waste than they departed with,” Scott said.

“This is a Premier who campaigned on environmental action and accountability but who has been proven negligent on both of those fronts,” added Scott. “He refuses to identify the risk to public safety and determine where the hazardous waste is going; and refuses to inspect large generators of hazardous waste.”

The Auditor General’s Report Indicated:

In 2005, there were 26,000 shipments of hazardous waste where the quantity received by the disposal site was less than what was shipped by the generator. The difference was greater than 10% in half these shipments and was as high as 90%.
900 registered hazardous waste generators had no records of shipments for three consecutive years.
The Ministry of Environment has not inspected 11 of the 30 largest hazardous waste producers in the past five-years.

“This Auditor’s Report details story after story about how this government is avoiding their responsibility when it comes to the environmental priorities,” said Scott.

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For Further Information Contact:
Laurie Scott, MPP
705-325-6654 or 1-800-424-2490