FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2007
OPSEU says McGuinty
Liberals courting disaster in Oshawa
OSHAWA – Ontario Public
Service Employees Union (OPSEU) President Leah Casselman
warned of possible serious consequences if the new Oshawa
courthouse is built in a contaminated site without a proper
Class Environmental Assessment (EA).
In a letter to the Minister
of the Environment Laurel Broten and Attorney General
Michael Bryant, OPSEU asked that the government not agree to
waive the Class EA. The union also said the government
should consider other possible sites for the courthouse.
“This is a serious issue
fraught with risk not only for these workers but also for
the government,” Casselman wrote. “To rush ahead today
without a proper EA is to put this entire project in
jeopardy.”
Worker health and safety
“should not be compromised on the job,” wrote Casselman,
noting the Ontario government’s previous experience with
toxic buildings including the Newmarket courthouse which had
to be closed for a long time because of contamination.
“Given the potential risks,
and the Ontario government’s sorry history of contamination
and toxic air in court buildings, I strongly urge the
government to seriously consider the implications of this
move for worker health and safety, and listen to the
concerns of the Durham court workers.”
-30-
For information please
contact:
David Cox, OPSEU
Communications 1-800-268-7376 x 8314
