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Witmer committed to overhauling Environment Ministry Idt0aml _ -- "tt-sNgtre"mdtt+ sun's: I um mummsm [Hui-“m looking for a Howl ew provincial Env- Niiiz'iiiii(t Minister Elizabeth Witmer says her government is com- mitted to overhauling envi- ronmental protection poli- cies in Ontario on the heels of a report stating that most of what is being done is out- dated. The Waterloo North MPP finished a four-year stint as the minister of health last Thursday when Premier Mike Harris shuffled his cab- inet to Fell in vacancies left open by the recent depar- ture of Finance Minister Ernie Eves and Econnmic Development Minister Al Palladini. The government has taken its hits over the envi, ronment ever since the Walkerton water disaster last May. and will face continued tough questioning as the probe into the tragedy that left seven people dead and Waterloo’s newest clerk keeps 'em i rolling in the aisles at city hall J; 'Live With Fred Dobbs' Keeping his conservative attire and serious expression in mind, it may be difficult to imagine Waterloo city clerk Fred Dobbs cracking a smile, let alone a joke. But don't be fooled. Underneath the sober demeanor lies a clown just waiting to unleash his bag of tricks. "Many people are surprised to hear I have a sense of humour," said the soft-spoken staff mem- ber, who took over from long- time clerk Lew Ayers last year. "Yet my wife is surpriied peo- ple don't realize that about me right year" . "At first I thought he was kind of reserved," said deputy-clerk Susan Cream "But once you get “A few beople have been privy to Dobbs' wit. Br Bun VRMNAC Chrogfde Staff BY ANDREA Bum Osr?ruclt staff [mill-“Mull more than 1.000 ill from the e-coli contaminated drink- ing water continues. The second stage of an inquiry into the water man- agement disaster will focus on the provincial govern- ment's role in water quality monitoring. and whether cuthacks to the Ministry of the Environment led to the tragedy. Wither. who has faced restructuring challenges in Elizabeth Wilmer Minister of Environment to know him you quickly find out he has a wicked sense of humour." And, according to another co- worker, when you least expect it. Dobbs will come out with some- thing that will send the room into hysterics. Enter a certain audio tape recorded last summer. While testing sound equip- ment in the council chambers,' Garry Bezruki, director of infor- mation systems at the city, recorded Dobbs giving a mock awards acceptance speech. During the speech, the clerk thanks all the little "Freds" out there who made his victory possi- ble, and described himself as a "wonderful superstar", a "glowing icon", and a “tower of invincibility full of raw animal magnetism." "We still laugh mak that one," Bezmki said. "I've called the tape her previous labour and health portfolios, said the premier has identified the environment as an area of emerging priority and has struck a special cabinet committee to address some of the criticism. "That's pretty signifr- cant," said Witmer. who will chair the new committee. "We've never had a commit- tee that focused on the envi- ronment... so I think it shows how much emphasis will be placed on the envi- ronmenc" A blueprint for the restructuring of the Environment Ministry will come out ofa report done by Val Gibbons, an indepen- dent consultant contracted by the government to evalu- ate the department's short- comings after the Walkerton water crisis last year. The preliminary report suggests Ontario lags behind other jurisdictions in North America in environmental protection, and that those PAGE 3 Live with Fred Dobbs." He also said he understands why people are sur- prised to hear of Dobbs' comedic side. a "He has a real hidden personali- ty," Bezruki said. "To look at him, you maythink'man this guy's dull'. But he's always gotawit about him” Dobbs attributes his humour to the happiness he's found in and out of the workplafe. -- A _ "I always thought I'd be happy if I found two things in life," he said. "The right person to many, which I have, and a job that's not just a livelihood. but something I really enjoy doing. And for the differences are growing worse. Wilmer said one of her first acts as the new environ- ment minister will be to meet with Gibbons and dis- cuss her findings. "lt will give us an opporA tunity to thoroughly review her recommendations," said Witmer, who has become a trouble shooter for the gov- ernment since first joining the cabinet in the Tory land- slide of 1995. "What I plan to do then is meet with stake, holders and get some feed- back on their perception of the report and on the recom- mendations" Wilmer then promises some quick action to resolve some of the issues in the ministry. and some of the issues around the province. "I plan to move forward because the ministry needs a new vision - it needs to be strengthened A» and there has to be some very clear direction in order to ensure the environment will be safe Watedoo city clerk Fred Dobbs is known for being serious at work. However, those who really get to know hint quickly find out he is quite a character. mmmm tis humour first time in my life, I think I've Overafnre-year period, hevis- nmdinand found it here." ited parts of Europe, Israel and Dobbs admits though that it Africa, while settling foratimein 'd be happy did take him years to reach this Japan, Australia and New in life," he sought stage of happiness. Inland. Growing up in Toronto, he attended York University and the University of Toronto before trav- eling the world. "We have to make sure we can protect our soil. our water and our air." for future generations," she Witmer said she's had a good track record of getting things done in her previous terms as labour and health minister, with a massive restructuring of health that saw new services like cardiac care and cancer expand around the province. includ- ing a new cardiac care centre at St. Mary's Hospital and a new cancer care centre at Grand River Hospital. "It (the environment) has really come up on the radar screen and I think that Walkerton has been a wake- up call," saidWitmer. "I think we've all been quite compla- cent thinking that we'd always have safe water. and that the air would always be safe. "There's certainly a recog- nition now that if you don't take the appropriate steps to protect the environment muggy-um looking In a New ‘lddhnl - ”haw-I‘M mtiqit I In When Dobbs felt his adventure was complete, he came home to that it's not necessarily going to improve" Past criticism of the Environment Ministry has also focused on its power- lessness to make environ- mental concerns heard in the grander government schemes. such as the Oak Ridges Moraine and the con- tinuing garbage troubles in Toronto. Witmer said that willchange. "Many of the decisions made at Queen's Park by other ministries need to be considered in light of their environmental impact," she said. "And that's part of the reason for the new Environment Ministry com- mittee. "Every minister with a link to the environment will sit on that committee, including health, energy and certainly others. I think youre going to see the emi- ronment influencing a lot of the decisions that are going to be made by the govern- ment," - Continued on page 4 Ed “in