OWMA Annual Conference 2013
A record 185 Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) municipal, private sector, associate and affiliate members and guests attended the OWMA annual conference and meeting in Toronto on March 6, 2013. The program contained information sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities, a lunch attended by Michael Harris, PC Ontario Party Environment Critic and a dinner attended by the Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of the Environment.
The program speakers provided the meeting attendees with interesting and informed perspectives on the current issues and challenges facing the waste sector. The program presentations are posted on the association website
www.owma.org.
The keynote speeches of MPP Michael Harris (PC Environment Critic) and Minister Bradley are also posted. Both gave passionate and compelling speeches on the need for change to Ontario's waste diversion framework. Both also referred to many of the challenges and solutions that the OWMA has brought forward in the new
ReThink Waste Policy Report. There does appear to be a growing political will from all political parties to make the changes the sector has been advocating and needing for many years.
The ministry did also send three of its senior staff to the AGM which shows the interest the ministry is taking on issues facing the waste management sector.
Based on the speeches, it appears additional work will be necessary to ensure OWMA has clear positions on what is necessary within new legislation; how to tackle the issue of IC&I waste; and how to improve the effectiveness of the 3Rs regulations (Regs.101/94, 102/94, 103/94). Many of these issues have been dealt with in broad strokes by our latest report and in previous submissions, but details will be important. We will be reaching out through our current committee structure to address these details over the coming weeks. If you have specific suggestions or would like to play a role within the committee structure, please contact Peter Hargreave at
phargreave@owma.org.
The success of the annual conference and meeting is the result of outstanding support from event sponsors, program speakers and attendees. The following companies were event sponsors and strong supporters of the OWMA annual conference and meeting.
AET GROUP INC.
BFI CANADA INC.
CANADA FIBERS LTD.
COUNTRYWIDE RECYCLING INC.
EMTERRA ENVIRONMENTAL
GOLDER ASSOCIATES LTD.
KEITH MFG. CO., WALKING FLOOR INTERNATIONAL/CANADA
LAFLECHE ENVIRONMENTAL INC.
MOLOK NORTH AMERICA LTD.
NEEGAN BURNSIDE
ORGAWORLD CANADA LTD.
SAFETY-KLEEN CANADA INC.
TORONTO RECYCLING INC.
WALKER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC.
WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CANADA CORP.
WILLMS & SHIER ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS LLP
At the annual meeting, Mr. Mike Watt completed his two year term as Chairman and President of the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) and 'passed the gavel' to Mr. Cal Bricker of Waste Management Corporation of Canada. In accepting the Chairmanship, Mr. Bricker reaffirmed the commitment of OWMA to be the strong and persistent 'voice' of OWMA members and the waste sector in Ontario. Mr. Bricker committed to continuing to work with government and key stakeholders in addressing Ontario's waste management challenges.
The 2013-2014 OWMA Executive Committee was confirmed by the members as follows:
Cal Bricker - Waste Management of Canada Corporation - OWMA Chairman of the
Board/President
Mike Watt - Walker Environmental Group - OWMA Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Jake Westerhof - Canada Fibers Ltd - OWMA Secretary/Treasurer
Dan Pio - BFI Canada/Progressive Waste Solutions
Norm Lee - Region of Peel
Michael Cant - Golder Associates Ltd.
Nigel Guilford - Miller Waste Systems
Adam Chamberlain - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP - Legal Counsel
Rob Cook - OWMA
Mr. Westerhof and Mr. Pio have recently been appointed as new members of the Executive Committee
New members elected to the Board of Directors for 2013 - 2015 were Jim Harnum, General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services, City of Toronto and Joe Johnson, President, Joe Johnson Equipment Inc.