Outdoor boiler furnace debate continues to burn

Aug 29, 2007

To the Editor:

Regarding the outdoor boiler furnace issue.

We live in Seguin Township and face similar problems to Ms. Loney in South River. Our neighbour also installed an outdoor boiler furnace just before the new township bylaws were put in place.

Our township also refuses to do anything, saying that he has “grandfather rights.” Contacting the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has only been helpful in that the MOE has spoken to the neighbour and asked him to be courteous and burn drier wood. However, any type of wood smoke from this furnace blows directly into our property and we also have to keep our doors and windows shut.

We can no longer enjoy our property during the heating months. I also suffer from asthma and chronic health problems and this type of pollution is bad for my health as well.

With all the concern about global warming, pollution and the burning of fossil fuels, it astounds me that these types of furnaces are even allowed to be installed – or allowed to continue to operate.

The MOE says that if a person requires this type of heat for fuel, they can’t stop it. Let’s get real here: everyone can access propane, electricity, oil or other alternative sources of fuel that are less polluting than wood. People burn wood in this part of the country only because it’s the cheapest. The fact that it’s perfectly legal to affect someone’s health by blowing smoke in their house is insane.

At one time people could also smoke anywhere they wanted and the health department finally wised up to the fact that people were dying because of it. Well, maybe it’s time the same rules were applied here.

It’s time for an area petition to stamp out these polluters. I stand behind Loney. The municipalities and the MOE need to be held accountable for damaging people’s health (with) their laissez-faire attitude to this situation.

Miranda Chivers
Parry Sound