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Percy Barrett, Opposition Critic for Environment and Conservation and MHA
for the District of Bellevue, wants to know if Provincial Environment
Minister Tom Osborne is on top of the situation related to the release of
chemicals by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans into Quidi Vidi Harbour.
Barrett is also inquiring as to what actions Minister Osborne will be taking
to rectify this situation. In a Canadian Press story published today, it
was revealed that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been releasing
chemicals into Quidi Vidi Harbour. This body of water is at the mouth of
several trout streams which environmental groups have been working to
preserve.
"Does the Minister have any information as to what chemicals were present
in the waste water released into Quidi Vidi harbour?" asked Mr. Barrett. "Is
there any further information on the quantity of chemicals that were dumped,
and if so, will he release that information to the public? This as a very
serious issue and the minister must do everything possible to see that these
problems are dealt with in the appropriate manner.
"It is important that the province stay fully informed on this issue.
Minister Osborne should ensure that tests are completed to determine the
level of damage done to the ecosystem of this area. It is time for our
provincial government to examine the magnitude of this problem and ensure
that corrective steps are taken to ensure this situation is rectified and
does not happen again. It is not acceptable for pollutants to be easily
dumped into our ecosystem. It is even more unacceptable for governments to
sit idly by and allow it to happen."
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