Government of Ontario to give municipalities a say on landfill locations

TORONTO – Today, the Ontario Government announced in the Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations: A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan that we are moving forward with giving municipalities a say in how landfills sites are chosen across the province.

“Local communities must have a voice on how landfills are approved in their neighbourhoods,” said Ernie Hardeman, Oxford MPP. “Currently, our municipalities have a say in where a Tim Horton’s goes, but not in something as significant as where a landfill will go in their community. That is why I am proud to stand with my colleague Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, to announce that our plan for the environment will ensure that municipalities have a say in where landfills are built.”

As the Ontario Government looks for opportunities to strengthen the voices of municipalities, we will also make sure that new landfill proposals meet the highest standards, including having strict requirements for the design, operation, and eventual closure of sites. This move is part of our government’s larger plan to protect the key resources of our environment including our water, air and soil.

“I want to thank the Minister of the Environment for moving forward with this, and that we are committed to working with the Province to make this promise a reality,” said Mayor of Ingersoll, Ted Comiskey. “Today’s announcement recognizes that the Government of Ontario has listened to our message and begun to act upon it. This is another step forward to ensuring that municipalities have a right to say yes or no to landfill development in their communities.”

“This is an important step for empowering municipalities and provides them a say on how landfills impact their communities,” Hardeman said. “I look forward to continue working with the Minister of the Environment and our community leaders on this important issue.”

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For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(519) 537-5222