The Lambton Community Health Study board has reconvened.
Anne Marie Gillis, who chaired the group when it discontinued in June 2016, told Lambton County Council that it will be the same group.
She says they suspended activities in 2016 when they were unable to secure senior government funding toward the study -- estimated to cost $5-million -- that would examine the effects of the petrochemical industry on the health of local residents.
"With the new development that happened and the Minister [Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Chris Ballard] himself stating that he would fund a study, we needed direction to know are you [Minister Ballard] talking about the study that we've done all of the preliminary work or are you starting from square one again," says Gillis.
Ballard committed to funding the study after several Toronto area journalists raised concerns about industry being secretive and questioned whether Sarnia area residents were being properly notified about incidents.
"We're hopeful hearing the number that he quoted at Queens Park as $1.7-million, that he was referring to our study," she says.
Gillis says if the provincial government commits $1.7-million, they will certainly try to secure matching funds from Ottawa.
She says the Sarnia-Lambton Environmental Association had previously offered 30% of the funds, so they'll be reaching out to see if that's still available.
Gillis has confirmed they will meet with Minister Ballard sometime in the next two weeks, however a date and time is still being worked out.
Minister Ballard travels to Germany next week.
