Waterkeeper calls on Ministry of Environment to address Red Hill Creek Expressway approvals

The Honourable Leona Dombrowsky
Minister of the Environment
12th Floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, ON M4V 1P5

Dear Minister Dombrowsky,

Further to our letters of January 23, 2004, December 17, 2003, November 5, 2003, November 13, 2003, and August 21, 2003, we are writing to clarify the status of the Red Hill Creek Expressway project.

For nearly one year, your ministry has been promising a response indicating whether or not the Red Hill Creek Expressway approvals warrant a reassessment under s.11.4(1) of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. We have never received a decision.

On November 7, 2003, Ministry spokesperson John Steele assured the Hamilton Spectator, and thus the public, that a decision would be forthcoming:

Steele said she'd [Minster Dombrowsky] make a decision in a matter of a week or so.
We've agreed that we'll review it [Waterkeeper's request]. I think it's important that we allow our technical people to review this new information and the minister will announce her decision by the middle of the month.

Waterkeeper hopes that the Ministry of Environment will make good on this public promise in the immediate future.

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper also filed a Freedom of Information request on January 23, for information pertaining to our s.11.4(1) request. Since we have never received a response from your ministry, we have launched an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commission of Ontario.

Needless to say, we are chagrined by the lack of response by the Ministry of Environment. Waterkeeper and numerous residents have presented evidence of new information and a change of circumstances since the original expressway approvals were granted nearly two decades ago.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Krystyn Tully
Executive Director