Over three quarters (77%) of Timiskaming residents
oppose using abandoned open pit mine for Toronto garbage disposal site
(Kirkland Lake, September 7, 2000)
Three quarters of Timiskaming region residents are opposed to using the
Adams Mine as a garbage dump for southern Ontario waste. A similar number,
76% said they did not belive the area was a "willing host" for Toronto
garbage.
The Timiskaming Region was divided into two study areas. The first, which
included Kirkland Lake and the area south of Englehart, said more than 6 in
10 (66%) respondents were opposed to the Adams Mine dump proposal.
In the second (more southerly) study area between Englehart and the Tri-Towns
(New Liskeard, Haileybury and Cobalt), opposition to the project soared to
86% of respondents stating their opposition.
Other important observations from the Oracle Poll include:
84% of respondents stated concern about groundwater and surface water
contamination.
80% of respondents stated garbage should be disposed of where it is created.
79% of respondents indicated they were concerned the landfill will have to be
maintained by future generations.
77% were concerned that there had not been a local referendum on the issue.
76% said they did not feel the area was a willing host.
David Ramsay, M.P.P. for Timiskaming-Chochrane said, "in the absence of a
local referendum. this public opinion poll illustrates that there is
substantial and undeniable local opposition which undermines the concept of
a "willing host community."
Mayor Denton of Kirkland Lake stated, "Mel Lastman knows the numbers, and he
will have to admit the numbers show this is not a willing host community.
The project should be scraped since Toronto politicians often stated their
garbage would not be sent to any community that was not a willing host.
Mr Ramsay commissioned the research to quantify what he describes as
"substantial and growing opposition to the Adams Mine proposal,and the
absence of a "willing host community."
"The results of this survey supports the coalition's resistance against the
project and will lead to an escalation of protests" said Mr Ramsay.
For further information please contact:
David Ramsay MPP at 416-325-7137
or Paul Seccaspina at Oracle Poll (Sudbury) 1-800-494-4199
The sample size was 300 voting age individuals in the Kirkland Lake region
(Kirkland Lake to the north and the Tri-Towns in the south), the accuracies
of a poll of this type is +/- 5.8% 19 times out of 20.
The poll was conducted between August 21 and August 25, 2000.
The Adams Mine is an open pit iron ore mine the ceased production a decade ago.
The site is being promoted as a possible location for the disposal of mixed
waste from southern Ontario. The City of Toronto has since wisely chosen not to consider the
the use of the Adams Mine site as a replacement for the Keele Valley
Landfill.
