How to Request for Your Community to be Included in the Ministry's Sewage Bypass Alert Review
Earlier this year, we wrote to the Ontario government to say that Torontonians should be informed when sewage is bypassed into Lake Ontario. People are out there on the lake paddling, surfing, and sailing and they have a right to know when their health or their waterway is in jeopardy.
A thousand people wrote to say they share our concerns. They also wrote to say that they want to protect other communities–like London and Kingston–as well.
The good news is, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change may want to hear from you.
When the Ministry agreed to review our concerns, they said this:
I have concluded that a review is warranted. ... The Ministry's review will consider the issues you have raised about public reporting of water quality issues during severe weather events.
If you’d like the Ministry to consider including your community in its review, here’s what you can do:
Contact:
- Nancy Matthews, Assistant Deputy Minister
- Scott Shaw, Environmental Bill of Rights Office
- Peter Lapp, Environmental Commissioner’s Office
Tell them you know that this review is underway. Explain why you have concerns about the way the public is informed of sewage spills and bypasses in your community. Ask the Ministry to include your community in its review.
If you would like a template to help get you started, here you go.
The Ministry says its review will be completed by March 2015, so consider submitting your letter as soon as possible.
Feel free to share this information with anyone you think might be interested. If you have follow up questions, our Public Interest Law Fellow would be more than happy to help! You can reach her via email or at (416) 861-1237.
