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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, is questioning the
status of a proposed Waste Management Committee that would oversee the
establishment of a regional waste disposal site for the Corner Brook, Bay of
Islands and Humber region. Government correspondence regarding the
establishment of a Waste Management Committee to oversee a regional dump on
the Avalon Peninsula have informed towns that the City of St. John’s would
be given 50 per cent plus one control, while other towns would have a token
representative on the committee. Town Councils of the Avalon region are
opposed to this arrangement and are organizing a meeting to have this
decision reversed and ensure equal representation for all. Joyce says he was
informed that the City of Corner Brook has requested a similar arrangement
as St. John’s for the dump in the Bay of Islands region.
"The Minister of Municipal Affairs met with all towns in the Bay of
Islands region on May 26th and committed to setting up a Waste
Management Committee," said Mr. Joyce. "This was well-received by the towns
in the Humber region, as they believed they would have an equal voice during
the decision-making process. It now appears that the City of Corner Brook
has requested the same arrangement as St. John’s and is looking for majority
control over the committee.
"The towns in the Humber region that I have contacted believe that giving
the City of Corner Brook decision-making control over a regional waste
management site will make their input meaningless. While the committee would
make suggestions, the decisions will ultimately be made by the City of
Corner Brook representatives.
"$20 million has been allocated from the gas tax to establish new
regional waste disposal sites in this province. It is imperative that these
new sites be established to reflect the interests of all towns, not just the
larger municipalities. I have written Minister Ottenheimer and asked that
there be equal representation from all towns on any Waste Management
Committee for the Bay of Islands and Humber region. I also believe the
minister should visit the towns of our region and hold meetings to hear
their concerns first-hand. All residents of our area will use this waste
disposal site, and they should all have an equal voice at the table."
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