September 22, 2023
To: Mimico Residents Association
2408 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
P.O. Box #14010, Toronto, ON M8V 4A2
info@mimicoresidents.ca
Dear Mimico Residents Association,
I have received your letter regarding the cleanup of the spill from the fire at Brenntag Canada Inc.
Our government’s top priority is ensuring the protection of human health and our natural environment. Specialists from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks have been on the scene from the start and are working with Toronto Fire and Water to help contain the effects of the fire and toxic runoff.
The contents of the spill included several chemical products that were on-site at the time of the incident, the majority being petroleum-based, as well as contaminated water from the douse water and foam used to extinguish the fire.
Unfortunately, these contaminated materials made their way into city storm sewer, creek
banks, and shoreline. This is a controlled process that is completely weather dependent,
and cleanup for residual material will continue until October.
I can assure you that Brenntag Canada Inc., are being – and will be – fully held to account. It is my understanding that the company has retained a cleanup contractor specializing in containment and cleanup of the runoff from the fire.
For now, the flushing of Humber Creek has been completed, and monitoring of wildlife in the area is ongoing. Cleanup of contaminants caught along the banks of Mimico Creek continues. Ministry of the Environment staff remain on-site to keep track of the situation and the company involved is expected to submit a plan to restore the affected areas later this month, which should be completed in October.
Impacts to wildlife have been observed, including dead fish, ducks, and beavers. Environment and Climate Change Canada is working closely with the company to determine the impacts to wildlife and requested the company to develop a wildlife response plan, which has been submitted and currently under review.
The company has also retained an environmental consultant to conduct environmental surveys in the impacted area and is coordinating efforts with Toronto Wildlife Centre, a nonprofit organization, to rescue and rehabilitate the impacted wildlife.
I can assure you that actions taken so far appear to have contained the damage, while preventing further harm to wildlife and the natural environment. We will continue working with our municipal partners to manage the after-effects of the fire and provide updates to area residents.
I would emphasize as well that once the cleanup and restoration is completed, the ministry will require the company to provide a report of the incident, including the cause of the fire, clean-up efforts, and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
In the meantime, please advise residents who see an animal in distress in the area as a result of the incident, to call the Toronto Wildlife Centre, at 416-631-0662.
Should you require additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 416-259-2249 or christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org.
Kind regards,
Christine Hogarth, MPP
Etobicoke – Lakeshore