Landmark Victory Against Sludge

OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada sends hearty congratulations to the small village of Elgin, who won a large victory in a court case against dumping industrial sludge onto agricultural land.  "This ruling and others like it that safeguard the health and safety of communities should help all municipalities protect themselves from sludge and other horrors," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada.

Elgin, located in Southern Quebec, passed a bylaw three years ago forbidding the spreading of sludge on agricultural land and had to defend the bylaw in court.  Recently, a judge found the bylaw to be legal, on the basis of the 2001 precedent-setting Hudson Supreme Court Case, another hard-fought battle which protected the rights of municipalities to enact bylaws against the cosmetic use of pesticides.

"This is a victory for the Precautionary Principle, which should be a key part of any Canadian policy, as it states that we do not use a lack of evidence of harm as a reason to go ahead, instead the burden of proof is shifted to those who wish to take an action," said Elizabeth May.  "It is a very important mind shift in the way that we govern in this country."

The Green Party of Canada is very pleased that the courts in Canada have upheld the rights of municipalities to protect the health of their residents against environmental threats, whether from pesticides, sludge, or whatever is of concern in communities.

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Contact:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
(c) 613-240-8921
debra@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca