Ontario NDP leader says Premier Doug Ford 'has the answers' to what's in soot blanketing Hamilton communities
Ontario NDP politicians are demanding that the provincial government disclose the contents of a mysterious soot that blanketed Hamilton neighborhoods in July. Residents have reported health concerns and an unusually high volume of complaints, but the Ministry of Environment has yet to identify the substance.
Why it matters
Public health transparency is a critical issue for industrial communities, and the lack of government response has sparked political tension regarding environmental accountability.
In early July, communities in east Hamilton became covered in soot.
The mother of two said she found her one-year-old covered "head-to-toe" in soot and grime. "I had to scrub him in the bath pretty hard."
Soot blanketing Hamilton neighbourhoods, prompts 'unusually high' number of complaints, councillor says
The Ward 4 resident spoke to reporters at a news conference alongside Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles and Hamilton NDP MPPs Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre) and Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas). The opposition politicians say the government knows what's in the soot and demanded they share that information with the public.
"The premier has the answers. It is time to share them with the people of Hamilton," Stiles said at Woodward Park Tuesday morning.
CBC Hamilton asked the premier's office for comment but didn't hear back by deadline.
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