Canadian Tire development will do damage

June 20, 2013 · 0 Comments

I am in complete agreement with the comments sent along for your consideration from another citizen who questions the thought that the Canadian Tire Proposal may be good for Caledon.
Hogwash to that clumsy and ill-considered conclusion, should such a conclusion apply.
Last June, as you know, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded in a press release that diesel exhaust is a definite carcinogen. Since then, there has been much back and forth comment involving several parties as to why the Canadian Tire proposed depot may or may not produce an environmental disaster, as well as being the possible cause of cancers in humans exposed to diesel fumes. My position is that I have much more confidence in the scientific evidence of WHO than others who are proponents of the proposed depot.
Some in favour of the depot argue that we have a legal framework here in Ontario that ensures that we are protected against all kinds of hazards. Still others might suggest that some of us are alarmist in raising the problem of diesel fumes.
Well, let me say that in the past, various other processes were introduced into our environment that have caused thousands of deaths and illnesses as a result of DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, thalidomide and other health-affecting materials. Does anyone remember the tragedy of Love Canal near Buffalo and how the chemicals there affected an entire community? Your readers might want to read the Toronto Star article of June 14 (Page A10), “Report confirms Agent Orange abuse,”
“Hydro, road and forestry workers in Ontario were exposed to Agent Orange . . . in some cases by levels 700 times what is considered safe . . .” And further, later in the article, a representative from the Ontario government stated, “We are sincerely sorry.”
Yes sorry, after the fact.
People living in Caledon would be wise to continue to question the Town of Caledon and the Region of Peel, as well as Canadian Tire, as to their commitment to protect the thousands of families who will be impacted by the proposed depot and the thousands of trucks going to and from the facility on a weekly basis.
And, what are the possible effects from depot/truck runoffs affecting the groundwater and aquifers? The proposed depot should not be approved or supported by Town council.
Joe Grogan,
Bolton