November 30, 2011 Robert P. Cook Chief Executive Officer Ontario Waste Management Association 2005 Clark Blvd.

, Unit 3 Brampton, Ontario L6T 5P8 Dear Mr. Cook: This letter is in response to the OWMAs correspondence of November 28th, 2011 regarding the procurement process and negotiations between the City of Ottawa and Plasco Energy Group (Plasco). In your letter, the OWMA requested that the City of Ottawa immediately cease negotiations with Plasco and that Council initiate an independent review of the technology, the business case and the procurement date. Surprisingly, this frank demand was sent by your organization without first seeking any additional background information on this matter from the City of Ottawa. As such, your demand was issued without specifically knowing that the actions undertaken to date were on the basis of City staff following Councils appointed course of action. In contrast, you cite two separate newspaper articles as the sole source of your concerns. Furthermore, you failed to identify which Committee, or official at OWMA made the decision to issue the letter in question and under what mandate. As a member of the OWMA, the City of Ottawa is concerned with the unprofessional and unilateral approach taken by your organization. The absence of such clarity with respect to the OWMAs decision-making in this instance calls into question the following rationale that your organization boasts on its website as reasons for joining, including: We provide members with advance notice of new or changing government initiatives, and work proactively to ensure that such initiatives are justified, simple, and practical to implement. OWMA also actively protects the business interests of member companies and promotes public sector recognition of the proven track record of the private sector in providing cost-effective, reliable waste management services. OWMA provides members with valued, professional advice on regulatory and environmental management issues affecting their business.

2 Therefore, the City of Ottawa is terminating our membership in the OWMA effective immediately and is forwarding this letter to all other municipal members of OWMA seeking their support in this matter. Yours truly,

Councillor Maria McRae Chair of Environment Committee

c.c. Mayor Jim Watson Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability Attachment: Document 1-November 28, 2011 Letter from OWMA