Candidates discuss environmental issues at Seneca
By Bill Rea

Candidates Phil Bannon, Janice Hagan, Helena Jaczek, Attila Nagy and Doug Ransom faced each other and the issues last Wednesday night.

The King City sewer issues is still alive and kicking, at least in provincial politics.

The controversial connection of the village to the Regional sewer system was raised at last Wednesday's all-candidates' meeting at the King campus of Seneca college, with both scorn and praise being applied for its proponents.

Five of the six candidates running in Oak Ridges - Markham were on hand for the session, which was sponsored jointly by Concerned Citizens of King Township, Markham Board of Trade, the York Region News Group and the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce. Patrick Redmond, who is running for the Family Coalition Party, was absent.

A Stouffville man raised the issue from the floor late in the meeting, complaining there is to be a connection to the York-Durham Sewage System (YDSS) in his village. He was concerned about possible environmental damage, and he wondered if it was right to send sewage to Pickering.

"I am deeply opposed to the big pipe coming through," declared New Democratic candidate Janice Hagan, who expressed her fears for the protection of the water resources on the Oak Ridges Moraine, the safety of farmers' wells and possible impacts on wildlife.

Liberal Dr. Helena Jaczek observed this has been a big issue for her, since she used to be medical officer of health for York Region. Safe disposal of sewage is important, and she pointed out this material has to go somewhere.

Jaczek also defended the decision to connected King City to YDSS, pointing out there were numerous studies on the situation. There were many who believed a local solution would have been ideal for the village, but it was realized the pipe was needed. She added environmental assessments were conducted on this, and the work has been monitored.

Green Party candidate Attila Nagy voiced his opposition to the pipe, especially in terms of its size. "You can drive an SUV through it," he remarked.

He added the system is not maintainable, and the material is to be pumped into Lake Ontario only because the population is expanding.

Nagy charged the pipe is being used because it's cheap, adding officials didn't do their homework and look hard enough for alternatives.

"They had better done all their homework, otherwise there's going to be hell to pay," declared independent candidate Doug Ransom.

He pointed out the areas north of Toronto are growing, which means dealing with the resulting sewage is a problem.

Ransom also observed the underground infrastructure in Toronto is breaking down. "Its going to be a big problem in the next three or four years," he said.

He also wondered if a YDSS connection could ever be contemplated for Pottageville, where he lives.

Progressive Conservative candidate Phil Bannon defended the decision to put the pipe in his area (he's currently deputy mayor of Whitchurch - Stouffville), arguing it was needed to address anticipated population growth.

Be he argued it shouldn't have been installed in King City because of all the public opposition.

Hagan added the Seneca campus supports a huge community, with the sewage being treated in a bog on site with green technology.

Seneca has lots of land for something like that, Jaczek countered. The village is different, with tiny lots and saturated soils that couldn't effectively accommodate septic systems. She added officials from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Ministry of health also approved the YDSS connection.

The real solution is to plan neighbourhoods better, Nagy observed. "We have to be pro-active," he declared.

Bannon observed King City had only been looking at minimal development and didn't need something like YDSS.

"Long term, you did not need it in King," he declared. "Long term, you do need it in Stouffville."

A King City woman asked what the candidates would do to protect the water in the Great lakes, considering the sewage that's being dumped in.

Jaczek observed water quantity issues are up to the federal government. As far as quality is concerned, she said the Liberals have provisions in their platform to clean up a number of places along Lake Ontario.

Nagy declared the water quantity in the Great Lakes is dropping too. "We are losing a lot of water," he declared, as he called for fees to be charged to high water users.

He also raised the issue of water being lost through global warming. He wasn't sure if that trend can be changed, but did say it will need a lot of research.

Ransom agreed maintaining levels in the Great Lakes is important, and he suggested observing what's being done in the rest of the world.

Bannon said there's going to be a world-wide water problem eventually and steps to address it have to start now, involving all levels of government.

Hagan also raised the issue of climate changes, observing that's a big problem that needs to be taken seriously.

She added it won't be enough to just wait for government to do something. Hagan also said society has what it takes to change things, pointing out it abolished slavery and did away with a lot of racist attitudes. "We need that kind of fundamental change for the environment, as well," she remarked.