I have some suggestions…

I have some suggestions about this:

1. investigations

Our case is a long term case, since 1999, so many officers are tired with public complaints about this heavy industrial facility pollution impacts people. What often happens to us is after we complain, nobody comes to investigate, even they tell us "this is allowed".

In my memory, there are two things in deep impression:

one is one day the heavy industrial facility lots dust came to us, I called many times, the inspector in late afternoon returned my call, she said she called the facility, they told her it was normal, so she would not come to site.

That evening I had to sent out emails to manger and office, to request them come to check out. Next morning Ministry officers came to site, they found that facility dust collector was leaking, that caused lots dust to us.

What would be result if Ministry never came out? Of course, no violation, and public members would continue in dirty air.

Another thing is we applied for investigation under EBR.

There is a condition - only after ECA issued 5 years Ministry would investigate. I do not think this is right, what happens if this ECA should never be issued, since the facility never can comply with EPA? Ministry may think this is impossible, but this is the fact in our case, it is impossible for this heavy industrial facility to comply with EPA, and during 21 years different ECAs, no one works out to let this facility comply with EPA. So I believe the conditions Ministry sets also need to reconsider with public consultation.

Also that time Ministry took more than one year to hand out a conclusion which was based on denying facts and anti-science, this also very bad, they denied all facts this heavy industrial facility caused adverse effects to us by one sentence: they did not find off-site impact, and this is totally against basic science knowledge that heavy industrial facility causes adverse effects to people and land uses within minimum separation distance. Also we saw there is no way for Ontarians to say anything about such unbelievable worse report.

2. take actions

For a facility which never can comply with EPA, and many times violations, even court gave environmental penalty, it still continuously causes adverse effects, when Ministry can suspending and revoking its ECA?

In our case this facility is illegally set on wrong site, about this site zoning, our community has never stop arguing with City, even brings this to Tribunal, but many years we still wait for a hearing date. We also tell Ministry this fact, and more important it is impossible for this facility to comply with EPA since it just beside public, without separation distance, why Ministry still allows it operate just because City says it is right zoning for heavy industrial facility? Does EPA say if City says it is right zoning, even this facility causes adverse effects to surrounding people, Ministry still can permit it? Does Ministry have power to permit this facility cause adverse effects to us? How Ministry perform your duty, ensure clean and safe air, water and land to Ontarians, in such case?

3. who is responsible to follow up how public health and environment is affected by the industrial pollution?

Every time when we complain about our health are impacted by the pollution from the facility, Ministry always tell us go to City Public Health office, while City always tells us go to Ministry for air pollution issue. I think who permits this facility discharges pollution who should be responsible for all results which are caused by the pollution. So Ministry must investigate how many people feel uncomfortable, sick, pass away because of the pollution discharges to people directly.

Also how other business conducts, residential life, property safety and environment are impacted by bad pollution discharged directly.

About this, Ministry better lists out in compliance practices too, since every one knows long term exposure to air pollution can cause fatal diseases, why Ministry still allow the heavy industrial operate beside us without separation distance? Ministry lets this facility try, you should follow up, and responsible for any damage in public health and environment.