Page 2, whilby Free Pres, Wokiesday, Doember 291993 *NEW! WASHERS (Water Saver) *NEW! DRYERS (Oas & Electrie) DISHWASHE-RSe *STOVES (Oas & Electrie) @ *REFRIGE-RATORS (with a 10 year monoy back guarantee) PRESENT THIS AD FOR A SAVE WITH i EAR EXTENDED WARRANTYCAH&CRY j SALES DOMESTICbMAGSERVICE j22 Stevenson Rd. S. (Corner of King) Oshawa - 436-9969 Region will study Pic kering request fo]r dump site funig By Mike KowalskI A request for $350,000 te, determine the «validity» of a pro- posed garbage dump in Pickering, h as been put-o hod by Durham Region =~nal council refused te take action last week on a Town of Pickering appeal for funds in its battle against a provincially- imposed landfilîl site in that municipality. Instead, council referred Pick- oring's request te its finance and works committeos for further study. Pickering Mayor Wayne Arth- urs and- the Town's three regional counicillors had asked for Durhaxn's help in funding an independent *review of an Ontario government decision te locate a landfill site in Pickering. The intended site, announced by the provincial Interim Waste Azuthority (IWA) in October will be built near the existing lËrock West dump and would serve only Durham Rego* It and et h or*dumps proposed for the greater Toronto area have run into foerce opposition from citizens' groups and municipal politicians since the IWA began the site selection proceas almost two years ago. Pickering, alone, has spent almoat $360 000 in consultants' fees and ILoblying efforts, Arth- urs teld council. But in pleading for Durham's support, Arhurs stressed that the Region's money will not ho used te, fight the government's plans. *«We want your help in validat- ing the site, net te oppose it,» said Arthurs. "We want te make sure its environmientally safe and techno- logically stato-of-the-art,» ho said. Arthurs argued that Durham has both the leqal authority and financial capability te assist a member municipality in fighting the province. York Region has allooated $1 million te its six municipalities and Peol Region has committed $200,000 te oppose a dump there, Arthurs said. «Only Durham Region is not actively involved financially,» ho said. As for being able te afford it, Arthurs said thére was a surplus of funds local municipalities paid te Durham in 1993 for costs associated with waste manage- ment. "The (waste management) reserve fund is easily capable of allowing the Region te partici- pate financially," he said. Pickering councillor Maurice Brenner said ail of council should be concernod about the manner in which "Big Brother"' (province) imosed its decision on the affec- tedareas. "This is an opportunity for Durham Region te stand united and challenge a government that shows a lack of respect for the local community,» said Brenner. Although skie did not oppose Pickering's intentions, Claring- ton Mayor Diane Hamire asked that her municipality not ho in- cluded in Arthurs' proposai. (The motion had also sought $150,000 te help compensate Claringten for expenses incurred when that municipality was being considered for Durharn's dump. (Council agreed te delete the portion referring te Claringten.) Hamre pointed eut that Claringten is still involved in fighting a private landfill site proposed for the municipality and did not want te feel obliga- ted te outside parties. «We want te be independent and stand up for what we believe and not have te rely on anyone else." she said. Bùt Hamre had diffliculty sup- porting Pickering>s proposai without further study, especially after hearing that; Pickering council gave financial assistance te private greups opposed te the dump. "Our council has nover given one cent te citizen groups in our municipa1ity who are fighting dumps,» said Hamre. "I would feel botter if we can see in black and white what the dollars were spont on," she said. Oshawa councillor Brian Nicholson said Pickering cannot be oxpected te fund the ontire cost of an independent analysis of the IWAs proposaI. "We should net ho in a situa- tion where one municipality is asked te, take on the whole finan- cial burdon," said Nicholson. '«Ail of Durham's garbage goos te Pickering," ho added. Regional chair Gary Herrema, however, had reservations about endorsing Pickering's request at this time. "I'm concerned that this will leave us up in the air. We'd give a financial commitmont but with no blueprint,» ho said. In fact, Horrema wondered if the IWA will survive beyond the next provincial election, noting that Ontario's two opposition arties have proposed revamping the curront system. "One- leader may say hand it back te the local municipalities," ho said. (Prior te the election of a New Democratic Part y government in 1990, Durham had spent $3.6 million on finding a new landfill site. (The .Rogion's preferrod loca- tion -- aIse in Pickering -- was scrapped when the governmnent created the lWA.) Herrema also noted that no decision has been made about whether Durham will operate the IWA dump, ner does the Rogien know how much it will ceat te use it. Oshawa councillor John Aker, werks committee chair, was hesistant about dipping inte the waste management roserve fund for any purposo othor than what its naine implies. «Once it's gone people will see the real cost ef waste manage- ment. It will go on the tax bill,» said Akor. In addition, Akor warnà ed that Metro Toronto ma>t object te, money it gave Durham Region being used for other purposea. (Metro gave Durhamn $20 mil- lion for a new landfll site once the Brook West duinp had rea- ched its capacity.) andao "One thing I ve leare aot waste management is that there are enly two winners -- consul- tants and lawyers,» Aker added. Brook Township Mayor Don Hadden foît that council might be setting a «dangerous procen- dent" by approvnýthe motion. «It'snet thatwe re aandoning Pickering, we should retain the opportunity te assist them in other ways,» said Hadden. «But the financial support bothers me," ho said. mu r 'j' 1.1k F 1