A decade ago, Queen's Park -- the castle that is home to the Ontario Legislative Assembly -- underwent a massive restoration, at a cost running into the hundreds of millions. Some aspects of the renovation were unnecessary but in this case building an entire new legislature would have cost even more and have been even more unpopular.
One would think in such projects every detail is taken care of, including the plumbing. Apparently not. Yesterday, the water flowing from the taps at the Pink Palace tested for unacceptable levels of lead. And the weirdest irony was this news came out just as the members were about to vote on legislation to -- toughen water standards.
Consider that back in 1990 when a report revealed a high number of children with lead poisoning, then Canadian PM Brian Mulroney immediately banned leaded gasoline a full three years ahead of schedule. Yet no one bothered to get rid of the lead in water, or at least attempt to reduce the levels of it. And we're expected to pay the costs of fixing our out-of-date storm and sewage sewers?
If there's lead in our water, we fix the pipes at our own expense. Or we get a water filter or softener at our own expense.
No ... clean up your own mess. The members from all three parties -- from the Premier on down -- should be forced to forfeit their stipends until the mess is fixed and the water at Queen's Park is safe both for them and the thousands who visit every day. Why should we get stuck with the bill?
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