Premier Bob Rae’s government decided in 1992 that all counties would have to keep their garbage local, instead of shipping it off to other locations. The Interim Waste Authority (IWA) was established, to determine where in Peel Region, York Region, and Toronto the new dumpsites would be located.

The premier held a Feb. 10, 1993, news conference about the 407 at Brampton City Hall. Fifty members of the Credit Valley Coalition attended. They were worried about the chance the Credit River and their well water would both be poisoned by the run-off, as three of five possible dump sites were in northwest Brampton. The area was actively agricultural at the time, with many commercial orchards and dairy farms.

Rae met with the chair of the organization briefly, to assure them that the chosen location would be “safe and subject to a full environmental hearing.” The authority was disbanded by new Ontario Premier Mike Harris, shortly into his first term, preferring to let municipalities choose disposal methods for themselves, including incineration.

The Brampton Guardian photographed this protest, and the image seen here is one of many in the “Brampton Guardian fonds.” The photo negatives, spanning the years of 1966 to 1996, is available for access at the Region of Peel Archives, part of the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, at 9 Wellington St. E., Brampton. The public is welcome to access the negatives by making an appointment with an archivist at pamaarchives@peelregion.ca