Yesterday at Queen’s Park, it was driven home to me once again that engaged citizens can make a difference and actually change public policy.

Organizers fighting Dump Site 41 in Tiny Township in Simcoe County, brought together residents, First Nations, farmers, local politicians, concerned citizens, and others at Queen’s Park to support Bill 32, local MPP Garfield Dunlop’s bill to revoke Site 41’s Certificate of Approval.

I spoke to the rally in my capacity as GPO leader and re-confirmed the Green Party’s past and ongoing support for the citizens of Simcoe County who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to fight for a clean, natural environment.

Clean water and prime farmland is far too precious to threaten with an ill conceived dump site that threatens one of the most pristine fresh water aquifers anywhere on the planet. Clean water is critically important to promoting the health and well being of all Ontarians. This issue is far too important for partisan politics, and it was a pleasure to share the stage with local activists and politicians, as well as Progressive Conservative MPP Garfield Dunlop and NDP leader Andrea Horwath.

In my comments, I challenged Liberals to stand in support with the GPO, NDP and PCs in supporting Dunlop’s bill and listen to the voice of the people of Simcoe County. I joined Simcoe residents and supporters in the gallery for debate on the bill. The government got the message: enough of them voted in support of the bill, allowing it to pass by a margin of 40 to 11.

It is not all that common for a private member’s bill to pass the Legislature. Yesterday’s victory was a great example of what an engaged, dedicated group of citizens can accomplish.

I would like to thank the many Green Party members who participated in the Site 41 efforts. Your hard work has benefitted all Ontarians for generations to come.

Mike Schreiner