News Release
Office of the Official Opposition
 

Garbage piling up:  Time for mayors and minister to get their act together
February 10, 2004

George Sweeney, Opposition Government Services and Lands critic and MHA for Carbonear - Harbour Grace, is concerned with the lack of progress on the waste disposal problems in Conception Bay North following the closure of the Harbour Grace incinerator.

"This issue has haunted the region for too long," said Sweeney. "A permanent solution must be found to dispose of the region’s garbage before our forests become a permanent landfill for household and commercial waste.

"The Avalon Waste Management Strategy is still many years from becoming a reality. The mayors and Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs must come to some reasonable solution for waste disposal in the interim."

Sweeney stated that the Liberal government had offered $2 million to assist in the capital cost of purchasing equipment for the region to tranship waste to the Robin Hood Bay landfill in St. John’s.

"What is the status of this $2 million? The government has laid charges against a contractor for inappropriately disposing waste, yet there is no meaningful attempt being made to find a permanent solution. Does the Minister realize the magnitude of this problem?

"The provincial government has to show some leadership on this issue. They should meet with Mayor Coombs of Harbour Grace, Mayor Garland of Carbonear and the other municipal leaders to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties."

Media Contact:
Jeff Mackey
Caucus Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
709-729-6427