CAW Durham Region Environment Council

What We Stand For

Durham Environment Watch

	Opinion Piece		Pollution
	Facts and Issues		Energy
	Lethal Consequences		Costs
	Climate Change		Dioxins

Open letter to the Citizens of Durham Region

The recently released “Consultant Report” has not considered alternatives other than incineration; in addition, it has identified Courtice as the preferred location to build an incinerator.

Wherever it may be located, incineration is bad and its consequences are well documented. One would hope that elected politicians, both on the Clarington Municipal Council and the Durham Regional Council, would rise to their responsibilities and consider ALL the implications before reaching a decision.

There are numerous questions that should be addressed, such as:

The presence of a thousand tons a day incinerator in Clarington;
The prospects for lowered air quality and higher contributions to Green House Gases;
The health related implications, such as cancers and respiratory problems;
The effect on taxes of a capital project estimated at $250 Millions;
The full “Curbside-To-Landfill” costs, including transportation costs;
The consequences on property values;
The impact on the food, dairy and water supplies;
The implications for local agriculture and its financial viability;
The anticipated effects on road traffic, congestion and pollution.

Politicians will have more incentive to examine these issues if the population clearly indicates its concern. Consequently, it is important to contact both Councils BEFORE the matter proceeds any further.

It is quick and easy to do so, but it must be done in writing, i.e. telephone calls are not acceptable.

There are 4 easy steps to follow. Your letter or e-mail must be:

addressed to the City and/or Region Clerk, for the attention of Council;
concise, 1 sentence only – the purpose is to inform, not to educate;
identifiable, i.e. containing your full name, address, telephone number;
dated (and signed, if regular mail is used).

Note 1:
This should be addressed to the Clerk, so as to be properly put on record. It should contain the following:

"Please make available to all councillors and include to next Council meeting’s agenda".

Note 2:
You can increase your effectiveness if you also get your close ones to also take action; spread the word.

Regional Council and Clarington Council must be swamped with letters and e-mails – yours.

We cannot afford to do nothing.

Letters and e-mails should be addressed as follows:

Using the Postal Service

Using the Internet

Office of the Clerk,
Att’n: Durham Regional Council,
605 Rossland Road East,
Whitby, Ontario, L1N 6A3.

Office of the Clerk,
Att’n: Durham Regional Council

Clerks@Region.Durham.On.Ca

Office of the Clerk,
Att’n: Clarington Municipal Council,
40 Temperance Street,
Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3A6.

Office of the Clerk,
Att’n: Clarington Municipal Council

Clerks@Clarington.Net

We count on you. Your family counts on you. Future generations count on you.

Information on incineration can be obtained on the Durham Environment Watch web site:
http://www.DurhamEnvironmentWatch.Org

Contact via E-mail: Dave Renaud

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