Toxins tests for GM site expected soon
St. Catharines MPP says they are coming before end of year
Results from air and water quality tests around the former General Motors site on Ontario Street could be known within weeks.
St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens says she’s been given assurances by Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Jeff Yurek that results will be in the city’s hands by the last day of fall.
“We’re going to get it back sooner than we thought and it’s not going to take the six months as the first test did, so that was really good to hear,” Stevens said Friday.
“I think that’s what needed to be done and I think the public needs to hear that we are acting on it. We are getting things done and that is so important, because it is all about the safety of the residents at the end of day.”
Yurek met Stevens on a video call Thursday with St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik and city directors of planning and economic development to discuss the property at 282-285 Ontario Street.
The ministry of environment conducted water sampling in
February in Twelve Mile Creek, which is adjacent to the west side of the former factory. Results in July found levels of PCBs and cadmium in the creek higher than the province’s guidelines.
The ministry said the results of the water quality downstream of the site had not been impacted.
Ministry officials conducted further water sampling this fall during a dry weather event to assess the potential for impacts to aquatic life. It also did air
monitoring around the site in October, which included testing for asbestos.
During question period at Queen’s Park in October, Stevens asked Yurek to expedite the testing taking place. That lead to the meeting Thursday with Stevens and city officials.
Stevens said it was a healthy conversation and it was good to get the minister on board and explain what St. Catharines is dealing with in the middle of the city.
“It shows to me that we can all
get together and we’re all concerned. Putting all parties aside, we have to look after the community and we have to listen to what the community is saying.”
GM operated on the land for decades until 2010 when it closed its factory. In June 2014, the company sold the 54.7-acre property to Bayshore Groups for $12.5 million.
Bayshore auctioned off equipment and demolished part of the buildings before stopping work at the site. For sale signs went up in March 2019 in front of the piles of rubble.
Environmental concerns have been raised by citizen’s group Coalition for a Better St. Catharines, which stepped up efforts this year to put a spotlight on the issue.
The group has been calling on the city and upper levels of government to stop toxic chemical run-off from the site entering Twelve Mile Creek and questioned whether there are asbestos present that could be affecting nearby residential areas.
The ministry has told the city that there were no “obvious sources of asbestos insulation” present during a site visit.
Stevens said people want to know what’s on the site because they live in the neighbourhood. She said getting a hard date for test results from the minister is good and once everyone knows what the results say, they can move forward with a plan.
“It’s not a political thing. We are all concerned at all levels of government, and the minister is, of making sure we’ve got these tests right and they come back and then we can do action if needed,” Stevens said.
“Hopefully we can get some good news.”