As a born and raised citizen…

As a born and raised citizen of Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, I am opposed to this Environmental Proposal for Algoma Steel Inc. I and thousands of citizens combat black soot and poor air quality on a daily basis stemming from operations at ASI. The steelmaker is applying for exemptions from the Ministry of the Environment in respect to air emissions for two substances, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.
Benzo[a]pyrene is a probable cancer-causing agent in humans. There is some evidence that it causes skin, lung, and bladder cancer in humans and in animals. If benzo(a)pyrene is on your skin when you are being exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, the risk of skin cancer is greater.
My father worked at Algoma Steel and died from cancer at age 52. My husband has worked at Algoma Steel for 40 years and is diagnosed with Leukemia. This does not include thousands of workers who have died or suffered at the hands of Algoma Steel, and the thousands of residents who have suffered just breathing the air quality dispensed by Algoma Steel. Not to mention the emissions into our waterways, spills etc. that affect our water and fisheries and recreation life. I believe, the Ministry of environment has ignored these issues for far too long to avoid a major shutdown of a one industry town and sacrificed many lives in the process. Time to take a stand against harmful contaminants and do the right thing once and for all.