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Big Stink
Mayor Carrier and MPP Jim Wilson Continue To Communicate With Ministry Of Environment As Citizens Speak Out
“You can clearly sense that the frustration level from the residents that have been directly affected has grown substantially. I must say that I’m so impressed with dealing directly with the Environmental Action Committee”
- Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier
Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier continues to apply pressure to the Ministry of the Environment and to Collingwood Ethanol to bring a speedy and satisfactory solution to ongoing odour problems that plague not only the immediate east end of Collingwood, but the town of Collingwood in general. Carrier hopes to meet with Ministry officials on Monday August 18th and again on Tuesday August 19th.
Carrier said that the ongoing odour issues have now spoiled two consecutive summer seasons for a large number of Collingwood residents.
On Friday, Mayor Carrier received 20 to 40 emails regarding the ongoing odour situation. On Saturday August 16th, he received approximately another 70, with more on Sunday and Monday. Clearly Collingwood residents want to see the situation resolved.
”The lines of communication must be kept open. Yes, we are using strong language, however as business people as professionals we understand the difference between using strong language. I understand that some media will play games with that language, will take that language and use it for whatever personal agenda they may have so I get that part, however it’s not going to detract me from focusing on a resolution, working with the Simcoe County District Health Unit and Ministry of Environment, plant officials and the citizen’s group.” Carrier said on Georgian Bay Today on 97.7 The Beach on Monday August 18th.
"Everybody has been patient. Everybody has been waiting and wanting a compliance with the certificate of approval of the conditions, however we are 15 months into the process and that has made it completely intolerable” Carrier said.
Mayor Carrier said that some people are asking how the Town of Collingwood can pin-point one particular industry regarding the ongoing odour issues in the east end of town. "Well, right now we can't difinitively if you're going to go to that extreme and say it's this one particular industry, however, anecdotally we do know that when Nacan was in business and running that they had a "sweet" smell. Canadian Mist, LOF (Pilkington), Goodall Rubber and a whole bunch of industries in that part of town were always in business, so the only new major player in that market out there is Collingwood Ethonal.
"What I'm asking people is to say, look, balance the fifteen months of putting up with this from the residents and their patience against the fact that why isn't the Ministry of the Environment taking a stronger stance when I think they should be" Carrier said. Mayor Carrier says that he still stands by the contents of a recent letter that he wrote to the Ministry of Environment demanding action. "The first paragraph stated that I herein request that the Ministry of the Environment enforce all conditions of the certificate of approval" Carrier said. Mayor Carrier went on to describe the closing of the letter to the Ministry. "As the Mayor of Collingwood I demand that the Ministry of Environment officials use their power to take the necessary action to stop the odour and noise emissions from Collingwood Ethonal to restore the quality of lifestyle Collingwood citizens have come to expect" Carrier wrote in his letter. "I'm the Mayor of Collingwood. If I wasn't demanding action from the Ministry of Environment, I'm suggesting people would have a problem with that" Carrier stated.
The Ministry of Environment began air-monitoring testing in June and July. Samples taken on June 3rd, 11th, 20th and 26th revealed emissions as high as 116 odour units. This number is 115 units above the acceptable limit of one odour unit.
MPP Jim Wilson Asks Minister of Environment To Get Personally Involved
In an open letter to The Honourable John Gerretsen, MPP, Minister of Environment, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson asks the Minister to get personally involved in what he refers to as the "noise and pollution emanating from Collingwood Ethanol in the Town of Collingwood." Below is Mr. Wilson's letter to the Minister:
August 18, 2008
The Honourable John Gerretsen, MPP
Minister of Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5
Dear Minister:
I am writing on behalf of a number of constituents who have contacted my office with very serious concerns about noise and pollution emanating from Collingwood Ethanol in the Town of Collingwood.
I know that you are in receipt of letters from Mayor Chris Carrier, Collingwood Ethanol and the Collingwood East Environmental Action Committee on the same issue. Given the significant concerns that have been expressed by all of the parties involved, I think it is incumbent upon you, as Minister of Environment, to provide leadership from the province on this ongoing matter.
This is an issue that I first raised with your predecessor, Laurel Broten, last summer when I forwarded a series of emails to her from area residents who expressed legitimate concerns about noise and pollution emanating from the plant. A response was received that indicated that your ministry would be undertaking a series of tests to ensure compliance with the Certificate of Approval. Unfortunately, it has now been a year since that first letter and it would appear as though the problem is just getting worse.
I am enclosing emails that I received over the weekend from local residents who in several instances describe the situation over the weekend as "the worst ever disgusting foul odors to date." Clearly this situation has gone from bad to worse.
To that end, I am asking you to get personally involved in this situation. The community deserves to know whether the air they are breathing is healthy and we all need to know what specific steps your ministry is undertaking with firm timelines for their completion and constant reporting through the local media on the results of your testing. I would also ask you to make yourself available at the first opportunity to meet with me and representatives from each of the parties involved so that everyone is on the same page and so that we can have a clear understanding of what your ministry is going to do to rectify this situation with solid timelines attached.
I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and look forward to your response.
Please accept my best wishes.
Sincerely,
Jim Wilson, MPP, Simcoe-Grey
The Mayor's actions send a very negative message to prospective industries
- Bruce Chandler, Collingwood Ethanol
The Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin newspaper quotes Collingwood Ethanol official Bruce Chandler as saying that we was surprised to learn that Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier had written a letter to the Ministry of Environment recently.
Here is a portion of the Enterprise Bulletin article:
"The Mayor's actions send a very negative message to prospective industries who are considering locating in the Eden Oak Industrial Park to the east of our plant and to those companies who are looking at establishing a presence in one of the many recently closed industrial plants in Collingwood," Chandler added. "It is particularly disappointing because the mayor knows the resources that we have expended on improvements. It is a far cry from the encouragement we received from staff, Town Council and Mayor Geddes when we were courted into establishing an ethanol plant at the closed Nacan Starch plant."
Mr. Chandler has told the media that his company has made several changes to its facility to deal with odour and noise issues.
Emails to both Mayor Carrier and MPP Jim Wilson over the past weekend indicate the situation remains unacceptable.