People are seriously concerned the local water table and land will be negatively affected. His answer had everything to do with the election in Hamilton East and little to do with environmental assessments. Again the minister answered with the same political bluster. I remind that this is the jurisdiction of the federal environment minister to initiate full panel reviews. The former minister never 4140 conducted these, even when the problem was very close to her own constituency office.
Taro dump is an example of a larger problem of environmental assessments.
The minister may-refer the project to a mediator or a review panel in accordance with section 29. If leachate from the dump goes into Lake Ontario, which is under federal jurisdiction, then yes, the project will cause serious environmental effects. The minister could easily review the Hamilton Spectator newspaper and he will discover the anger of the locals, especially those who have been threatened with lawsuits to keep them quiet about this project. The issue at stake is whether the Minister of the Environment is willing to do his duty. If a minister does not make use of his powers then Canadians must ask what special interest has a hold on him.