While the deadline may have come and gone for those wishing to comment to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on the proposed ethanol plant, the City of Oshawa’s fight is far from over.

So says Mayor John Henry of the City’s ‘No Ethanol’ plant campaign, which has been ongoing for more than six weeks.

“The campaign is not over,” he says. “We’re going to continue to put as much pressure on the government as much as we can.”

The deadline for comment, which was extended from July 28, was Friday, Aug. 12 and Mayor Henry says he hand delivered to Ottawa the City’s 300- page response along with 3,300 opposition letters from the community. To go along with the thousands who opposed the proposed refinery at Oshawa’s waterfront were letters from the David Suzuki Foundation, the Council of Canadians, and author Margaret Atwood.

“We’re working hard to get the message out there. Locally, I don’t know how much more I can do,” explains Mayor Henry, adding that the next step includes appealing to various ministers across the country for their support.

Mayor Henry says while he hopes to garner more support, he says the response to the campaign thus far shows how committed Oshawa residents are to making sure the plant doesn’t end up at the harbour.

“I think we did very well considering it’s the summertime,” he says. “On behalf of Oshawa City Council, a sincere thank you to Oshawa residents and to community and advocacy groups for voicing their strong opposition to the construction and operation of a colossal ethanol refinery at the Oshawa Harbour.”

According to a release from the City, the 300-page submission “is based on an in-depth review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) Screening Report from a legal, land use planning and scientific perspective.”

“The submission emphasizes that the Screening Report does not comply with the legal requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), fails to address serious land-use compatibility issues, and does not provide the data and analysis necessary to evaluate the environmental effects of the ethanol refinery,” a release from the City states.

On top of the City’s stance and that of the community, Friends of Second Marsh is also challenging the EA.

According to a release sent out by the group, the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) on behalf of Friends of Second Marsh, concludes that the EA documentation is inadequate and fails to meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

“In our opinion, the federal EA does not contain a sufficient level of detail, and does not adequately address the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of this project upon the environment,” states CELA lawyer Richard Lindgren. “Thus, it is our submission that the project should not be funded or permitted to proceed at this location.”

The need for the federal EA was triggered by FarmTech’s application to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for funding support to build the ethanol refinery.

“In our view, there is absolutely no justification for building this industrial complex at this sensitive location,” says Brian Brasier, executive director of Friends of Second Marsh.

On the federal end of the spectrum Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada states, “we are assessing the input we have received. We appreciate all of the input. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada initiated this consultation, promoted it – and even extended it – so that we could consider input from the community, the City and other interested organizations. This input will assist in finalizing the Environmental Assessment and help to inform a final decision on the proposal.”

On top of these lengthy submissions, is the development that the province has also stated FarmTech will need separate approvals under Ontario environmental law.

For more information on the City’s campaign visit www.oshawa.ca/harbour.