Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: July 7, 2011

Regional Council – June 29, 2011

Incinerator

Chair Anderson announced that the Ministry of the Environment issued the Certificate of Approval (C of A) for the waste incinerator on June 28^th. With Ministry approval of the C of A, the project can move forward with construction expected to start this fall. The incinerator is anticipated to be operational by 2014.

Copies of the Ministry of the Environment’s Certificate of Approval are available.

The Energy from Waste Management Advisory Committee, as agreed upon by Clarington and the Region, was approved. This Committee will act as a public advisory committee to the Regional Works Committee, regarding the incinerator and waste management matters.

The Durham-York Co-owners agreement was referred back to staff for further information. Delegations to Council requested a written opinion from the Medical Officer of Health regarding changes in emissions of concern, such as PM2.5 (particulate matter). The clause in the Agreement that any additional costs for enhanced environmental and health monitoring would be borne by the initiator was also raised as an issue of contention. A special meeting of Regional Council will be called to deal with these matters.

ROPA 128

A motion to instruct Durham Regional staff not to proceed with the filing of a motion with the Ontario Municipal Board to consolidate the Seaton and ROPA 128 appeals was defeated. All Ajax Councillors voted in favour of the motion brought forward by Pickering Councillors O’Connell and McLean. The Seaton lands (Central Development Plan) are subject to the provisions of the Ontario Planning and Development Act, 1994 and the Seaton Plan takes precedence over the Region’s growth plan. Therefore, it should not be consolidated with the appeal of ROPA 128 which is subject to the Provincial Places to Grow plan. Because the motion was defeated, Regional staff will be requesting that the two appeals be consolidated.

Ethanol Plant

Council unanimously endorsed a resolution to support Oshawa’s opposition to an ethanol plant being built on their waterfront at the Oshawa Harbour next to the provincially significant Second Marsh. Concerns were raised regarding the environmental impacts on the waterfront and Second Marsh as well as the barrier to public access to the waterfront that an ethanol plant would pose. The decision to proceed with an ethanol plant rests with the federal government.

Green Energy Act

A motion brought forward by Mayor Parish indicated Durham Region’s support for green energy. This issue was raised in response to comments by the leader of the Conservative Party that the Green Energy Act would be repealed should their party be elected to govern. Concerns of potential losses for a number of businesses who have invested in green energy initiatives and the loss of environmental gains from green energy installations were raised should green energy initiatives not be supported.