People power! Ontario MPPs pass Bill 32 40-11

By Kate Harries WaterWatch
We did it!
Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop’s Bill 32 passed second reading in the Ontario legislature this afternoon.
It’s a bill that calls for revocation of the Certificate of Approval for Dump Site 41.
Dunlop was supported by his Progressive Conservative colleagues and members of the New Democratic Party – the surprise was that a number of Liberals, including Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield went against the party line resulting in a vote of 40 in favour, 11 against.
“I think it was people who were listening to their constituents,” Dunlop said, adding that MPPs have been deluged with emails, letters and calls over the past few weeks.
Voices like that of David Crombie, former Toronto Mayor and cabinet minister, also count for a lot, he added.
At a press conference before the afternoon’s business in the House, Crombie urged MPPs to remember their responsibility. “It is the actions and inaction of the provincial government that brought us to where we are now,” he said.
Where we are now is that Dunlop’s Bill has to go to Committee – and that’s not a given.
It’s the government that decides what legislation gets committee time, and private members’ bills are low priority.
Dunlop said the next step is to put pressure on the government to send the bill on to committee.
Hanzard debate and vote