Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Chunky Knit Cardigans Buy Now
Legendary Whitetails Flannel Button-Down Shirt Buy Now
Mens Fashion Loose Fit Crewneck Stripe T-Shirt Buy Now
Pimple Patch for Face Buy Now
Vintage Printed Linen Shirt Buy Now
Two-Button Tweed Sport Coat Buy Now
ASUS Vivobook Go 14 L410 Ultra Thin Laptop Buy Now
Women Bunion Shoes Buy Now
Musey Yoga Tank Top Buy Now
Water Proof Digital Timer Shower Clock for Bathroom Kitchen Buy Now
Short-Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt Buy Now
Regular Fit Straight Leg Jean Buy Now
OQQ Women's 2 Piece Skirts Buy Now
Slim Fit Ripped Skinny Jeans Buy Now
Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Charcoal Buy Now
Kenneth Cole Reaction Chelsea Tote Buy Now
Kenneth Cole REACTION Mens Jeans Slim Fit Buy Now
Bomber Jacket: Lightweight, Stylish for Spring/Fall Buy Now
AUTOMET Long Sleeve Tee Buy Now
Women's Summer Tops Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Island family hit with $345,000 bill from P.E.I. government after oil spill

Island family hit with $345,000 bill from P.E.I. government after oil spill

CBC
Thursday, January 9, 2025 10:13 AM GMT

An Island couple has been handed a $345,915 environmental cleanup bill from the P.E.I. government, more than a year after a full tank of home heating oil leaked into their clay basement and seeped into the soil on their property. 

Betty and Kenny Waite, both in their late 60s, say they're unable to pay the huge bill. So government has placed a lien on their home in Sherbrooke, just outside Summerside. 

It means if the Waites sold their home, the proceeds would potentially go to the province.  

"Just devastated," said Betty Waite. "I don't know what we're going to do. I guess we'll die in this house, because we won't be able to afford to sell it. Hopefully we'll be healthy enough to stay here.

"But it's a big house for two people. I'd love to downsize, but that's not going to happen now."

The Waites discovered the leak in September 2023, the morning after their 1,100-litre tank was filled. They believe a hole had developed in the oil filter leading into the tank, which caused the entire tank to empty before it was caught. 

"The first thought is the environment. You have to clean that up," said their son, Todd Waite, who has helped his parents in the aftermath of the spill.  

"And they have a well on the property. So we want to make sure we're not drinking dirty water. And, you know, we have kids and grand kids around here. So... it was a big concern."

The Waites reached out to their home insurance provider, assuming they'd be covered for the cost of the cleanup. But their provider informed them they had no coverage. 

"I figured it would be mandatory to have insurance for something like this," said Todd Waite. "Why else would you have insurance other than for something you couldn't afford to clean up on your own?"

As required by law, the Waites reported the spill to P.E.I.'s environment department. Officials with the department informed them they were required to hire a consultant and arrange for the oil to be cleaned up. 

Without any insurance coverage, the Waites told the department they couldn't afford to do that. In February, the province issued the Waites an environmental protection order. After they failed to comply, the department took over and hired its own consultant. 

"Once they said 'we're not able to do it, or can't do it, or won't do it,' then we had to step in and take over the process," said Greg Wilson, director of the department's regulatory services division. 

"It's one thing for you to have an oil spill on your property. But it really gets complicated if there are others in the area and this oil spill is going to affect them... We didn't want that oil contamination to go onto a third-party premises."

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Thunder Bay Public Library appoints Indigenous relations advisor

The Thunder Bay Public Library has appointed Stephanie MacLaurin as its new senior advisor of Indigenous relations, a key leadership role aimed at advancing the library's commitment to reconciliation and the decolonization of public spaces.

Mystery leak that forced Scarborough family from home spreads as city continues to investigate

A mystery leak that's forced a Scarborough family from their home for the past month appears to be spreading. 

Small but 'life-changing' policy helps Parkinson's patients who need emergency care at Guelph's hospital

When people go to the emergency department, they're not allowed to take their own medications while they wait, which Theresa Daly says can be a huge problem for people with Parkinson's.

UPEI food bank prepares for surge in use with tuition hike set for upcoming academic year

The University of Prince Edward Island's food bank is bracing for what a fall tuition increase could mean for the students who use the service. 

Yukon launches its 1st-ever family medicine residency program

The Yukon is launching its first-ever medical residency program.

Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax reform bill could cost Canadians billions

A small, obscure section buried in U.S. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost Canadians and Canadian companies billions of dollars, CBC News has learned.

Albertans for Carney? They're as impressed with new PM as they are with Poilievre: poll

EDITOR'S NOTE: CBC News commissioned this public opinion research to be conducted immediately following the federal election and leading into the second anniversary of the United Conservative Party's provincial election win in May 2023. 

Demand for water bombers has 'skyrocketed' as Canada grapples with more intense wildfires

As Canada is again dealing with massive wildfires, the increasing severity of the natural disasters is having the knock-on effect of spiking the demand for water bomber planes — and it will be years before Canada gets its hands on a new one.

GTA mom questions how non-verbal child was able to board bus, GO train alone

Valerie Loewen panicked when she woke in early April to find her 9-year-old son William had left their Milton, Ont., house by himself.

Can roundabouts help reduce crashes at rural intersections?

Twice in the past two weeks, the scenic country roads outside of London have been the scene of fatal vehicle collisions. 

No public trust without police oversight board, says First Voice

Public confidence in police accountability is down, especially among Indigenous people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Scammers attempting to cash in on missing Sullivan kids case: SAR group

A Halifax search team warned Tuesday that "fraudulent individuals and organizations" are impersonating them and asking for money under the guise of trying to find Lilly and Jack Sullivan, the two Pictou County children who have been missing since May 2.

Man found guilty of manslaughter in Moncton casino manager's death

A Moncton jury found Michael Glaspy guilty Wednesday of manslaughter in the death of a casino manager who was fatally assaulted on the job two years ago.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Copper wire thefts surge in downtown London with salvage yards told to be on alert

London police are urging downtown residents, businesses and property owners to be on alert amid an uptick in copper wire thefts in the core over the last several months.

April's $7.1B merchandise trade deficit was the largest on record

Canada posted its largest merchandise trade deficit on record in April — at $7.1 billion — as exports fell sharply in the face of U.S. tariffs.

7-year-old dead after being struck by SUV in St. John's

A seven-year-old boy who was hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle in a St. John's neighbourhood has died.

Sudbury, Ont., seed producer helping expand national seed production through new partnership

A seed company in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production.

Former kids in care need more support to make good use of free tuition, researcher says

The majority of people who have spent time in foster care need support — and not just free tuition — to succeed in higher education.

N.B. rent cap will remain at 3% for another year, minister says

New Brunswick's rent cap, introduced after the Liberals won last fall, will remain at three per cent for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Housing Minister David Hickey announced in the legislature Wednesday.

Manitoba cabinet minister harassed college employee in past job, external investigation concluded

Recently appointed federal cabinet minister Rebecca Chartrand harassed a former employee at Winnipeg's Red River College Polytechnic over a period of several months in 2019, according to an external investigation commissioned by the college and conducted by a Winnipeg law firm.

Groups in La Ronge racing to rescue as many animals as they can after wildfires force evacuation

While residents of La Ronge and the surrounding area have escaped from northern Saskatchewan's wildfires to safer spots, many of their pets had to be left behind.

The FIFA World Cup is heading to Trump's U.S. Will the world want to come — or even be able to?

You could argue the United States isn't exactly the most welcoming country for visitors at the moment.

Hamilton steelworkers hang onto jobs for now but brace for impact as U.S. doubles industry tariffs

It's not clear what increased U.S. steel tariffs will mean for Hamilton, but workers and industry leaders agree it's nothing good.

No tax on tips? Experts warn against bringing U.S. proposal to Canada

The idea of "no tax on tips" has found a way to appeal across party lines in the U.S. The policy is winding its ways through the halls of American government — but economists warn, it's not an idea worth pursuing here in Canada.

'There's a lot I wish I would have taken': Denare Beach residents in shock after wildfire

When Rebecca McCrimmon evacuated with her family from Denare Beach last week, it was out of concern that access to the northeast Saskatchewan community, not far from the Manitoba border, would be cut off by the Club fire burning to the north.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us