MARSTON TO HPA: Protect Harris Inlet Now

MARSTON TO HPA: Protect Harris Inlet Now
MP joins calls for a moratorium on infilling

Ottawa – Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) has asked the Hamilton Port Authority to put a moratorium on the infilling of the Harris Inlet and put the issue before the public.

“On Friday, I wrote the new interim CEO to express the concerns of many in the community that the seclusion that has allowed Harris Inlet to flourish is threatened by the HPA’s centralized and intensified development plan.” Mr Marston added “This isn’t about stalling development, this is about examining new information to ensure that we have done our environmental due diligence.”

Last week with the Leader of Canada’s NDP Jack Layton, Wayne Marston, MP held a roundtable with environmental leaders, advocates and activists. The issue of Harris Inlet was raised by many. Concerns from the community include the apparent flourishing of the area under seclusion in the area that will be devastated by infilling, whether proper permits were issued and that infilling has begun without proper transparency.

“Development, economic growth and protecting and conserving the environment can go hand in hand. At our meetings yesterday and today, the NDP Federal Caucus is discussing environmental leadership at the Federal level. Protecting Harris Inlet can be an integrated component of the continued development of the port areas.”

“As interim CEO Tony Valeri, has a responsibility to do what is right: stop the infilling and consult with the public and other stakeholders given the new information about this unique biosphere in Hamilton’s industrial heartland.”