Oil spill cleanup in Toronto raises questions about government transparency

A significant oil spill in northwest Toronto last year resulted in contamination reaching Lake Ontario, raising concerns over the province’s public disclosures and response measures.

Emma McIntosh reports for The Narwhal.

In short:

• Contaminated sludge from a fire at a Brenntag chemical plant flowed into Mimico Creek and reached Lake Ontario, a drinking water source for 9 million people.
• The Ontario Environment Ministry’s containment measures failed after a forecasted rain, allowing the spill to spread.
• Key details about the spill’s extent were withheld from the public, sparking accusations of government “gaslighting.”

Key quote:

“The government was gaslighting the public.”

— Ashley Wallis, associate director at Environmental Defence

Why this matters:

Such events illuminate the vulnerabilities in our water infrastructure and the potential for industrial accidents to impact large populations. The health implications could range from acute poisoning to long-term effects such as cancer, depending on the specific chemicals involved.