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Adams Mine decision gains mixed reactions


MARK FENTON JR

Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 08:00

Local News - Kirkland Lake:

Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP David Ramsay was in Temiskaming Shores Monday to make what was considered a very consequential announcement.

He announced that the Liberal government plans to put forth legislation that would ban the use of the Adams Mine as a landfill site. This announcement was made in front of 200 supporters at the New Liskeard Community Hall.

The bill being tabled is called the Adams Mine Lake Act 2004.

“This will mean no other community will have to go through what we went through,” said Ramsay at his press conference Monday afternoon. “This will stop the Adams Mine once and for all.”

A discussion paper will be released by the province with options for achieving the 60 per cent target, and asking how they might be implemented “in an economic and practical manner.”

Charlie Angus, of Public Concern Timiskaming, said that there are two real important lessons to be learned from this experience. “One is, I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to say that Adams Mine changed the politics of garbage in Canada – that up until Adams Mine, the idea of landfill planning in Canada was find a hole that could not be seen from an office tower in the city,” said Angus.

“The action taken by people in the North was to ensure the watershed was protected.

“I think it was a real eye-opener for people in the city and across the country.”

Although some may have been overjoyed by this decision, it has left a bitter taste in the mouth of several people in the district.

During an interview with the Northern Daily News, Mayor Bill Enouy stated that the Adams Mine never was and never will be a lake.

“I can’t believe that Mr Ramsay would come to New Liskeard to make this announcement and not include Kirkland Lake or even give us forewarning about it.

“As far as I can see, it’s the biggest bush-league move he’s made yet. His position was clear on this subject, so it doesn’t surprise me he’s fighting against it. We spent 12 years on the project and I think we deserve better then this,” said Enouy.

“I see that they are going to put compensation forward to the owners of the Adams Mine. The town of Kirkland Lake has spent a great deal of time, effort and money on this project since 1989, and I want to be compensated as well. Our people deserve that.

“Everyone keeps telling us we have to diversify our economies in Northern Ontario. Since the late 1980s, the Town of Kirkland Lake has made a concentrated effort to be into the environmental solutions field and because of minority pressure groups, projects like the Adams Mine, Bennett Environmental and Unisphere have been pushed back with the help of the government, and I think it’s about time that this government decided they were going to help the town of Kirkland Lake and come forward with some initiative that would put us forward instead of pushing us backwards with their legislation and environmental rules,” added Enouy.

“We knew that Mr Ramsay and the Liberal government were influenced by the environmentalists, and no one could convince them that it was a safe project, but I’m not surprised,” said Larder Lake Reeve Jo-Annn Thompson.

“I’m very disappointed that this announcement took place prior to any advice to either Englehart, Kirkland Lake or Larder Lake. The content of what I read also surprises me and I see that the Adams Mine is referred to as a lake,” said Englehart Mayo Dennis Mortson. “I don’t believe that you should ever shut the door for economic benefit until it’s absolutely necessary. It should be the last straw.”


ID- 63479


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