NEWS RELEASE
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Peter Mancini, MP
Sydney-Victoria
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 11, 1999
NDP RENEWS DEMMAND FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
FOR FREDERICK STREET RESIDENTS
OTTAWA - Sydney-Victoria MP Peter Mancini called on Minister of Health
Allen
Rock today to take immediate action on behalf of the residents of Frederick
Street.
"Will the Minister continue to put the people of Frederick Street and the
surrounding community at risk or will he do the right thing and take action
to protect the health and safety of our children and the community?" asked
Mancini.
Mr. Mancini was responding to a report released today by the Sierra Club of
Canada carried out by the International Institute of Concern for Public
Health (IICPH). The report raises serious concerns about the CANTOX Risk
Assessment of the Frederick St. Area, which was conducted last year.
"The findings in this report raise serious questions about the accuracy of
the CANTOX study co-sponsored by the federal and provincial governments,"
he
said. "The new report seriously undermines the decision not to move the
residents of Frederick Street and adds urgency to their call for action".
Frederick Street borders the site of one of Canada's most polluted toxic
sites - the Sydney Tar Ponds - where residents witnessed a toxic orange
sludge bubbling up in their back yards last summer.
"This report is a call for action," the New Democrat MP said. "There need
to
be immediate steps taken to address the health concerns of this community".
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For more information: Chris Cornish (613) 995-1537
Sierra Club and Health Department at odds
