NDP leader takes up Bayside family's cause

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NDP leader takes up Bayside family's cause

Belleville Intelligencer - Belleville,Ontario,Canada*

/ The Intelligencer

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

http://www.intelligencer.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?

contentid=587434 & catname=Local+News

At the end of a dusty, dead-end private road known as Carrington

Lane, the leader of Ontario's NDP party held a brief press

conference on the front lawn of a bungalow Monday.

Hampton would have loved to go inside, but he forgot his

hazmat suit and respirator.

According to homeowner Graham, improper drainage on her

property combined with flooding has ultimately resulted in a mould

infestation so intense, visitors have been advised by environmental

inspectors and health officials not to venture inside the residence

without a proper respirator or full body suit.

" I believe that as citizens of Ontario, we at least have the right

to live in a healthy environment, " Hampton said, who was on hand to

raise awareness of the family's plight and to call upon the

provincial government to act on the issue.

" Right now, she is the victim of buck-passing, " Hampton said,

looking to Graham and her husband, .

Over the past several years, Graham said, the interior of the home

has been overrun by the toxic mould, which was linked last year to a

litany of illnesses plaguing the married mother of three and her

family.

" I get it the worst, " she said, rhyming off a long list of ailments

the family has experienced - from open sores to diagnosed

respiratory illnesses.

" And we're not living there full time right now, I want you to know

that, " she said, noting that many times the family stays with

neighbours or friends.

" Who is going to pay for the bills to move us somewhere? Our beds

are contaminated ... everything. I want some help - I don't care if

it's the prime minister who comes; somebody needs to get us out of

here. "

Despite her doctor ordering her to move from the residence because

of health concerns, Graham said the family is financially strapped

and unable to find permanent accommodations.

" Who is going to afford to pay the mortgage on this house plus an

apartment? " asked husband . " You can't move, you're stuck. "

The half-dozen homes along the stretch of road known as Carrington

Lane - which is a stone's throw from the CFB Trenton airfield - are

on municipal water with septic systems.

Improper drainage causes wastewater to backup and pool under

Graham's house, creating a perfect environment for toxic mould

growth and mosquitoes.

" I had mosquitoes in the house all winter long, " she said. " It's

disgusting. "

Her anger is reflected in the tones of her neighbours, many of whom

gathered to hear Hampton speak.

" We pay taxes like everybody else ... so why aren't we being

serviced? " said one female homeowner, adding some homes are

beginning to experience similar problems.

Neighbour Benben spoke of the area being " blacklisted " within

the real estate market, leading many to believe selling their homes

to move to another area is literally impossible.

While neighbours have not experienced problems on the same scale as

the Graham family, Benben - who has a three-month-old baby staying

in her home - said any health problems her family experience,

particularly those by the infant, " makes you wonder in the back of

your mind ... is it related to the house? "

The Graham family first noticed drainage issues shortly after

purchasing the home about five years ago and began approaching

people for help to address the issue.

As their health concerns intensified, Graham said they were

turned away from Quinte West municipal officials, the local medical

officer of health and then provincial politicians before finally

having staff from the Ministry of Environment inspect the premises

in May 2006.

Shortly after the inspection, the ministry issued an order the

municipality of Quinte West address the issue immediately.

Quinte West officials ignored the provincial order, she claimed, and

when no support was received from Quinte West-Northumberland MPP Lou

Rinaldi or the medical officer of health, Graham wrote Hampton for

help.

On her behalf, the leader of the NDP party wrote Minister of

Environment Laurel Broten, whose response stated the issue did not

fall under the regulatory authority of her ministry.

While the Ontario government did issue an order to the municipality,

Hampton said the move " is the lowest thing on the totem pole they

could do, " adding the province should be proactively looking out for

the general health of residents.

" She works hard, she plays by the rules, she pays her taxes and

tries to look after her kids and tries to contribute to the

community, " he said.

" The McGuinty government knows about this issue ... but what the

McGuinty government does is say, 'Oh, it's the municipality's

responsibility,' but we all know municipalities are stuck between a

rock and a hard place, " he said, referring to ongoing provincial

downloading of services and responsibilities to municipalities.

Meanwhile, Graham has launched a civil lawsuit against a litany of

people - including Quinte West, the owner of the private roadway,

the home's previous owners and others.

" When I get back to Queen's Park, I'm going to give the McGuinty

government some straight talk, " pledged Hampton.

" What's happening here isn't right and it's time for this government

to do its job and fix this. "