Tire burning idea withdrawal fishy: NDP

Newfoundland and Labrador 's NDP leader is raising questions about the timing of government news release announcing that a proposal to burn tires at a paper mill in western Newfoundland won't go ahead.

The announcement that Kruger had withdrawn its application to burn tires at its paper mill in Corner Brook was made public Friday afternoon after 5 p.m.

NDP leader Lorraine Michael said the timing is suspect with a byelection looming in Humber West district.

"Its quite perfect from the government's perspective because the issue of tire burning at the mill is not going to be a byelection issue, which it certainly would have been, so it's very curious that this announcement would come when it did," she said.

"It looks very fishy to me, and I can't say that's the reason it was withdrawn, but it certainly raises that question."

According to Kruger mill manager Stephane Rousseau, a combination of scientific data and public feedback led the company to withdraw its application to burn tires for eight days as a trial for using shredded rubber as fuel.

Opponent pleased

People who opposed a plan to burn tires at the mill are relieved.

"I was absolutely ecstatic when I heard, but we're upset that it had to come to this," said Corner Brook resident Kelly George. "Like, where are the people that are supposed to be looking out for our better interests,"

The mother of two young boys organized a public protest against the proposal. She said she found a lot of information suggesting burning tires for fuel could harm the health of residents living near the mill.

For her part, Lorraine Michael is not convinced the tire-burning proposal is gone for good.

"I don't trust anybody at this point, and who knows, after the byelection we could see the proposal being presented back to government," she said.

Kruger proposed burning tires more than five years ago, but withdrew the project in late 2005. At the time the proposal had provincial government approval.

Proponents had argued the proposal would have helped the province get rid of more than two million used tires stored near Placentia.

The provincial government has been looking for an environmentally friendly way to dispose of the tires for years.