The events of September 11, 2001 have highlighted the importance of steps to prevent and prepare for emergencies, such as spills, leaks, fires and explosions at industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that use or store hazardous materials. In response to these events, Mark S. Winfield, Ph.D., Director of the Pembina Institutes Environmental Governance Program recently submitted a letter to Minister Anderson.
In the past few years, Canada has seen a number of emergencies, which have resulted in major releases of toxic substances and other substances of concern into the environment. These have included the July 1997 Plastimet fire in Hamilton, Ontario, the July 1999 Hub Oil Recycling fire in Calgary, Alberta, and the April 2000 U.S.E. Hickson Products Ltd. fire in Scarborough, Ontario. In each case significant questions were raised regarding the adequacy of the steps which had been taken to prevent such emergencies, and of the measures taken in response to them.
