We get the worry and stigma homeowners feel when they unknowingly buy on a brownfield. Will you and your family be safe, and will your new home keep its value? We can tell you contaminated land, like a site of a gas station or industrial warehouse, is reused for housing more often than Ontarians know. Especially if you are new to an area, you may not be aware of what was on a site in past.
By the time a developer has constructed homes, they have spent considerable time and money on soil and groundwater studies, and hazardous waste removal. Cornwall requires a record of site condition, environmental conformance documents, and certificate of property use for brownfield rehabilitation projects. Sites are inspected during and after construction. That said, the city offers incentives to clean up contaminated sites.
So to answer your question, you can sue. But your legal claim may be an uphill battle if the developer, former owner, realtor, and city can show your fears are unfounded. Potential green buyers aside, your brownfield home should go up in value just like any Cornwall home.