Minister refuses to provide air quality information

QUEEN’S PARK – Today the Minister of Environment and Climate Change refused to provide information on air quality monitoring for the Beachville area despite a question in the Legislature from Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford, and repeated requests over several months.

“The people in my riding are tired of waiting to find out whether their air is safe,” said Hardeman during the question. “Will the Minister please provide us with an update on the air quality in Beachville right now?”

When the Minister failed to provide an update Hardeman went on to ask him to commit to providing the data this week. The Minister responded with information about the Ministry regulating air quality and historical data on industry in the Beachville area, but would not commit to providing an update on the air quality monitoring.

“In 2003 the Ministry of Environment committed to monitor air quality in the Beachville area after a report found higher than acceptable particulate levels, but over and over we have had trouble getting the data,” said Hardeman. “People just want to know that the air they are breathing is safe.”

In the question Hardeman pointed out that his office had requested an update on Beachville air quality monitoring in August, then followed up on September 9. Hardeman wrote to the Minister directly on September 27 and to date has only received a form acknowledgement.

“Your predecessor apologized and promised to monitor the air and share the data with the community,” said Hardeman “So I would like to know from the Minister why he has failed to do that and will he commit to releasing the air quality data this week?”

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For more information, contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

(416) 325-1239