For immediate release:

April 12, 2012

Munro to Fight for Clean Fill Standards

NEWS:

Mount Albert - York-Simcoe MPP Julia Munro announced today that she will work to develop clean fill standards at the provincial level as part of the Ontario Government's review of the Aggregate Resources Act. Munro's comments came after a visit Tuesday to the Mount Albert area farm of Dr. Michael Zajac and Judy Zajac, owners of a horse breeding operation just north of a fill site.

Dr. Zajac's farm is beside both an existing fill site and a newly proposed fill site. Local residents, including the Zajacs, have raised concerns about regulations not being followed at the current site, making them fear the new site will also circumvent the rules. The problem with the current site illustrates the need for strong provincial regulations for fill.

QUOTES:

"East Gwillimbury needs to ensure it passes a strong fill by-law that assures local residents that the fill going into old gravel pits is clean and that rules are followed, but the province must help municipalities like East Gwillimbury by establishing strong and clear rules for fill for the whole province."

-       Julia Munro, MPP

"I will bring my constituents' views to the legislative committee reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act and demand that they propose new rules for clean fill and that the province brings in the legislation or regulations necessary to enforce the rules."

-          Julia Munro, MPP

QUICK FACTS:

• - On March 22, the Ontario Legislature passed a motion: "That the Standing Committee on General Government review the Aggregate Resources Act and report to the House its observations and recommendations with respect to strengthening the Act. In developing such recommendations, the committee's focus shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas: the Act's consultation process; how siting, operations, and rehabilitation are addressed in the Act; best practices and new developments in the industry; fees/royalties; and aggregate resource development and protection, including conservation/recycling."

CONTACT: Julia Munro, MPP: 416-325-3392, julia.munro@pc.ola.org