WATERLOO — Ontario NDP MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo) has released the following statement after the co-owners of a Cambridge data centre, Related Digital, confirmed a 5,000-litre chemical spill just weeks before a bacterial bloom was discovered in a nearby creek. The owners say that the substance is unrelated to their chemical spill.
"The fact that we're only learning about this three months later is completely unacceptable," said Fife. "Both the owners, and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks knew that this had happened, and chose to force residents to file Freedom of Information requests about what was happening in their own backyard.
"The Ministry seems content to just take Related Digital at their word. That's not good enough. We need a full, clear picture of how this happened, what the effects were, and what action was taken to ensure accountability and safety for Cambridge residents.
"The Ford government can't allow these tech companies to operate in our communities with impunity. We need strict environmental safeguards, and for companies like Related Digital to act responsibly. The Ministry needs to release the testing results, and answer to the people of Cambridge."