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What you can do:

1.    We're down  to the wire. The final decision will be made by Regional Council on June 16th and June 24th. Write to Durham Regional Council regarding your concerns about incineration/thermal treatment of waste – Durham and York Regions are the project proponents and leading the Environmental Assessment (EA) study. The incinerator will be built in Clarington, if it proceeds.

2.  Attend the June 16th Durham Council Committee of the Whole meeting (begins at 9:30 a.m.). Show Councillors that a LOT of the region's residents are concerned and don't want an incinerator to be built. This is a public meeting where the only topic discussed will be the incinerator project, and a decision will be made at this meeting whether to recommend the incinerator to Council (themselves) on June 24th or vote to delay it or to stop it.

3.    Sign up to speak as a delegation for the 16th of June (and June 24th if possible).  Raising your concerns in person can be very effective. See Delegation Information page for instructions on how to register to speak at  Regional Council or Committee meetings (10 minute limit). Phone the Region (toll free 1-800-372-1102) or email clerks@durham.ca to register to speak. You must register at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, but the sooner the better. Sign up by Friday, June 12. For the June 24th final meeting, sign up by Monday, June 22, at 9:30 a.m.

4.    Write to the Region’s Project Consultants and send them copies of correspondence you send to Regional Council. Any questions you ask of them MUST be addressed and included in the Environmental Assessment documentation that will be sent to the Ministry for final approval. It is another way to get your questions and concerns on the record. The more the better. Send a copy to Durham

5.    You can cc or write directly to the Minister of the Environment, as well as the Project Officer for the EA, so your concerns are on the record with them, and so that they understand that there is much concern by residents/voters. Send a copy to Regional Council and the Project Team Consultants.

6.    Please sign the following petitions:
***Stop the Durham Region Incinerator
***Prevent Cancer Now Position Statement

7.    If you wish to have your name included on our "Action/Alert" List, send an email to info@durhamenvironmentwatch.org. You will receive notification of upcoming events.

“Consultants’ Reports” have not fully considered alternatives other than incineration and have 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 140,000 to 400,000 tons per year 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 now sitting at $236 Million;

·         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 Durham residents clearly indicate their concerns.  Consequently, it is important to contact both Councils and the Project Team BEFORE the matter proceeds further. It is quick and easy to do so, but it should be done in writing.

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

·         addressed Durham Regional Clerk, to the attention of Council;

·         concise, Just a few sentences is enough to get your concerns across.

·         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 copy to all councillors and include in next Council meeting’s agenda".

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

Regional Councillors must be swamped with letters and e-mails – yours.  It is crucial our Council hear our community concerns.

 We cannot afford to do nothing.
 

Contact your Municipal/Regional Councillors Contact ALL Councillors, as a group Contact All Councillors plus Province through a one click form

Additional Contact information:

Using the Postal Service	Using E-Mail
The Regional Municipality of Durham 605 Rossland Road East Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3 Att’n: Durham Regional Council	Office of the Clerk, Att’n: Durham Regional Council  clerks@durham.ca
Municipality of Clarington Municipal Office 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 Att’n: Clarington Municipal Council	Office of the Clerk, Att’n: Clarington Municipal Council  clerks@clarington.net
Durham/York Residual Waste Study P.O. Box 42009 2851 John Street Markham, ON L3R 5R0 Telephone: (905) 307-8628 Toll Free: 1-866-398-4423	Durham/York Residual Waste EA Study - Consultants info@durhamyorkwaste.ca
Hon John Gerretsen  Ministry of the Environment 135 St. Clair Ave W, 15th Flr Toronto ON M4V 1P5 Tel 416-314-6790 Fax 416-314-6748	Hon John Gerretsen  jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Gavin Battarino, Project Officer Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch Ministry of the Environment 2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A Toronto, ON  M4V 1L5 Telephone: (416) 314-8214 1-800-461-6290 Fax: (416) 314-8452	Gavin Battarino gavin.battarino@ontario.ca (MoE Project Officer assigned to this file)
Gord Miller Environmental Commissioner of Ontario 1075 Bay Street, Suite 605 Toronto, ON M5S 2B1 Canada Tel: (416) 325-3377 Toll-Free: 1-800-701-6454 Fax: (416) 325-3370	Attn: Gord Miller Environmental Commissioner of Ontario commissioner@eco.on.ca

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