ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Ed Grant, the chair of the Eastern Regional Service Board, says his resignation is out of frustration with the provincial government.
“They have shown contempt for their own waste strategy on the backs of communities and residents throughout eastern Newfoundland,” Grant stated in a news release.
“There are also indications that this is all about the transfer of wealth from one region of the province to another, with communities in the Eastern Region having to potentially pay for the transfer of waste in Western and Central Newfoundland.”
Grant says he’s worried that a directive issued by the province on March 8 will “potentially see 15-20 jobs eliminated in rural communities, and over $750,000 in annual revenue for the regional system eliminated by removing 7,500 properties from the current waste collection service.”
The department was accused of trying to “buy votes” ahead of the election.
Derrick Bragg, parliamentary secretary for the Department of Municipal Affairs, says that’s not the case. He says the review of waste management is taking place across the province, without singling anyone out.
“This is not the only area of the province where there’s towns in the back country,” said Bragg.
“We need to find a way for those people, whether in unserviced areas or not, that they can get out and there’s a place for those people to dump their garbage.”
Bragg denied political interference with the review, saying, “I have no information on that.”
Twitter: DavidMaherNL
