A Statement By Stop the Stink:

August 9, 2010

Just in case you have not heard or seen the City of Pickering's News Release here it is below. The results were not totally unexpected because of the announcement made by Mayor Dave Ryan at the Council meeting on July 12th. Some of Pickering Council (it must have been a majority, but we do not officially know who?) had voted to discontinue the Legal Action against York Region. No one wants their property taxes to increase but we will be paying for York Region's sewage flowing through Pickering for the next hundred years. We feel the true cost and fall out of this decision will not be realized until time yet to come. This decision was not forward-looking and will cost us all a lot more than the millions that they speculated it may cost now. The City of Pickering has negotiated to receive enhancements, road improvements, and staff funding. There are no guarantees or penalties when something occurs that may effect the residents and taxpayers of Pickering. Where are the details on how they will protect and secure our safety. Why on June 3rd. did the Ministry of Environment (should be independent) support York in the legal action? There are so many unanswered questions!

To Clarify Our Position

Stop The Stink has always said "It is not the pipe, it is what is in the pipe!" We have always wanted to have York Region take responsibility for their own sewage. The best place to treat sewage, is as close as possible to the source before it becomes septic. We want York Region to process and treat their own sewage within York Region, where it would not have any detrimental effects on residents of Pickering and Durham Region. Once they have treated the sewage to drinking water quality, and if necessary they could then send that clean water down the pipe to be emptied into our drinking water source, Lake Ontario. This solution would not bring Raw Sewage and all the harmful components through our communities. This would also increase York Region's capacity because of the decrease in volume and mass of not transporting the raw sewage long distances. They would not be creating bacteria and odour by agitating and transporting the sewage great distances. There would also be many more benefits for us and there may not be a need for the second Southeast Collector Sewer at this time. There would be a decrease in the concerns of safety and odour because they would only be transporting clean water through Pickering. Do not be fooled or be intimidated by the spin and rhetoric in this news release. We just want everyone to know and understand our position.