Healthy skepticism

April 30, 2019

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The Equity

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the editorial of April 23, 2019.

It is important to clarify the position of the MRC Pontiac Council of Mayors. At our recent Plenary meeting, we heard a presentation by representatives of the Pontiac Sorting Centre who updated us on their current situation. They asked for our assistance with the Ministry of the Environment to help them resolve certain issues.

We think it is important for the MRC Pontiac to support our business community and ensure that environmental rules are being followed. The Pontiac needs economic development and jobs. We want to help this business move in the right direction. An invitation was extended by them to the Council of Mayors for a tour of their facilities. It is important for us to see this operation. We will follow up on that offer.

A meeting has been requested with the Ministry of the Environment to include the Mayor of Litchfield, our MRC environmental coordinators and the Warden of the MRC. We want to open the lines of communication and see exactly what needs to be addressed.

The Pontiac Sorting Centre is a private business on private land within the municipality of Litchfield. The activities of the business are in conformity with municipal zoning by-laws as well as the MRC Pontiac Interim Control Bylaw for this site. They have a unique waste stream which is not household waste but construction debris. Many local contractors from all municipalities benefit by taking construction debris to this site.

The Pontiac Sorting Centre has already received approval from the Ministry to treat asbestos. It is the Ministry that grants approval for all environmental aspects in this file, not the MRC, but we are required to follow guidelines and businesses are expected to do the same. The asbestos recovered by the sorting centre is currently double-bagged, labelled and being shipped to the lined technical landfill in Lachute, as per ministerial guidelines.

For the Pontiac to be revitalized and sustainably developed, we hope to attract new investors who can create new jobs. Equally important though are our existing businesses. When they experience difficulties let us all stand behind them and help them move forward.

Jane Toller

Warden, MRC Pontiac

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