Get rid of the toxic dirt at site in Troy

Here is one of those things that makes no sense, no matter how you slice it.

At a site on Highway 5, known as Waterdown Garden Supplies, mountains of contaminated dirt sit. How they got there is a long, litigious and contentious tale as related by The Spectator’s Matthew Van Dongen. There are claims and counterclaims, law suits and even a potential link to the Mob, but that’s not the point of today’s commentary.

Today, we pose a simple question, and it’s one of right versus wrong. Should neighbours in the rural area of Troy continue being exposed to the toxic dirt, or should it be removed and the risk of exposure dramatically reduced or eliminated. Yes, or no?

There have been attempts by the provincial government to get the site cleaned up. But no one involved with the property has taken action. Neither has the municipal or provincial government.

It was back in 2018 that trucks began dumping what would become 24,000 loads of dirt contaminated with lead, cyanide and oil. Why the dumping couldn’t have been stopped at some point is a question that should be answered eventually. And someone needs to pay the legal and environmental price for the illegal dumping. After four years, none of that has been resolved yet, and it’s not likely to be resolved any time soon.

But does that reality equate to the toxic dirt sitting there, month after month, year after year? If so, something is seriously wrong with Ontario’s environmental oversight regime.

There is no evidence at this point that toxics have leached into nearby water supplies and wells. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen, and common sense suggests the risk of something going wrong increases the longer the dirt sits there.

So why can’t Hamilton and the province partner to load up the dirt and take it to a site where it can be properly and safely stored? Then continue down the tortured road of responsibility and liability, and make sure the individuals and companies involved foot their fair share of the bill. But first, move the damn dirt.

This is far from the first time this indefensible problem has occurred, including in Hamilton. Whether it’s about piles of dirt or buried barrels of toxic substances, governments appear to have their priorities backwards. First, reduce or eliminate the public safety risk. Second, figure out who is responsible and deal with them. Instead, governments haggle between themselves and in the legal system, while the public health risk remains. Like we said — it makes no sense.

Fight hard, but let’s fight clean, too

To date, Hamilton’s election campaign has been relatively clean. As in, mudslinging and personal attacks have been absent or minimal, and dog whistle politics have not played a major role.

But in the race for the mayor’s chair, there are some signs of candidates slipping off the high road and that is concerning.

Bob Bratina referred to the threat posed by “special interests,” as if they are some sort of shadowy secret operatives as opposed to citizens and taxpayers Bratina doesn’t happen to agree with.

And in the debate between Keanin Loomis and Andrea Horwath, broadcast by Cable 14 and co-sponsored by The Spectator, there were a couple of examples.

Loomis questioned Horwath’s motivation given she had only recently been elected MPP for Hamilton Centre. It’s fair to ask candidates who have flipped back and forth between jurisdictions about their records. Ward 2’s Jason Farr sought a provincial seat and failed, then jumped back into the race for city council. But suggesting jurisdiction-jumpers are less sincere is a leap.

Perhaps most concerning was Horwath’s allegation that because Loomis was born in the U.S. and came to Canada 15 years ago he is less fit to be mayor than she is. That offended a lot of newer Canadians, not only Loomis who has paid his dues in Hamilton business and politics. It smells a bit like an “old stock Canadians” bias. And her dismissive reference to the chamber of commerce, which Loomis formerly led, as just a “small organization” seems disrespectful to the chamber and its members.

Candidates and voters in this election are facing a raft of serious questions and issues. Let’s not add mud wrestling to the mix.