At it’s March 25, 2019 council meeting, Halton Hills reinforced its opposition to the Hidden Quarry proposal. Halton Hills and Halton Region will be presenting legal arguements to the LPAT (previously OMB) hearings which are set to begin May 21, 2019… read full article.
Category: News
Aggregate Summit Protest Planned for 7:45 am Sat. March 29th at the Hampton Inn in Bolton, ON
The Ford Government is holding a secret Aggregate Summit in the Town of Caledon tomorrow (March 29th).
The Government has gone to great lengths to keep the location secret, and has refused requests from concerned residents, environmental and other stakeholder groups, to participate. We have learned the location of this secret meeting. It will take place at the Hampton Inn in Bolton, ON. The address is: 12700 Highway 50 (on the same side of the road as the McDonald’s).
At this point, we only know two mayors who will be in attendance, and one of them is Caledon mayor Allan Thompson.
We know that pits and quarries do not produce a large amount of jobs and it would be far more valuable to the Ontario economy to keep this land as working farms. In 2017, Ontario’s family farm and food processing businesses contributed $39.5 billion and supported 822,483 jobs. Agriculture and agri-food processors are the number one economic contributor to Ontario’s overall economy. (Source: Ontario Federation of Agriculture)
I have attached a copy of a couple of the OSSGA white papers. They are alarming, to say the least.
You can see in the attached OSSGA documents that many of these industry requests would have monumentally adverse effects for the residents of Ontario. In summary, the aggregate industry would like to be exempt from virtually all environmental legislation.
Some of the industry requests include:
· Insisting municipalities have no right to set hours of operation for pits and quarries
· Allowing below-the-water table aggregate operations anywhere, including places where they are currently excluded (e.g. Oak Ridges Moraine National Linkage and Core areas)
· Allowing commercial fill to be brought in as part of the rehabilitation process – without requiring additional approvals or having to abide by current Table One soil requirements (potable/safe for drinking water)
· Exempting aggregate operations from the Endangered Species Act and requirements to not extract in areas containing significant wetlands or treelots
There is also language that they would like to simplify aggregate license approvals, which implies that municipal approval for zoning could be taken away. This could be an unprecedented attack on municipal control over land use planning and turn communities into giant pits, completely destroying the health & safety of our communities and our quality of life.
Multiple residents’ and environmental groups have requested that they be allowed to attend this summit and have been refused.
The Ford government has sent out messaging that they are preparing to give the aggregate industry everything they are asking for, under the guise of creating jobs and reducing red tape.
Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Minister John Yakabuski will be in attendance at the meeting.
Stakeholder groups not invited to Ontario’s aggregate reform summit
We are planning to demonstrate at the Summit, to show Minister Yakabuski and #FordNation that their secret backroom meeting with this rich and powerful industry is not happening unnoticed. We will show them that “the people” of Ontario value clean air and water, our environment and our farmland. We will not stand by quietly why they continue their secret assault on the environment to the benefit of their rich industry friends.
Please plan to attend the protest. The Summit is expected to begin at 8:00 am with the Minister expected to give opening remarks. We would really like to see a good crowd when Mayor Thompson and Minister Yakabuski arrive. It would be great if you could be there by 7:45 am.
We apologize for the late notice but we did not receive confirmation of the location until today.
Shelburne Free Press – NDACT calls for stakeholders to be included in Aggregate Summit
The Ford Government’s Summit on Aggregate Reform continues to cause concern for the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT.) John Yakabuski, Provincial Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, says his “government wants to “work with industry leaders,” to “cut red tape” and “tear down barriers.” The summit, which takes place somewhere in Caledon, March 29th, includes Aggregate Industry leaders, Municipal leaders, and Indigenous leaders. However, NDACT Chair Karren Wallace reports, that as of now, the location has not been disclosed nor have stakeholders been invited.
“NDACT is a stakeholder, why aren’t we at the table?” asks Wallace… full story.
Halton Hills Council gives overwhelming support to CRC
Excellent Halton Hills Council Meeting last night, March 25, 2019
Bonnette and Best Motion to Halton Region re support for Bill 71 Paris Galt Moraine
Last night CRC supporters filled half the gallery of the Halton Hills Council Chamber. A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Hidden Quarry issue.
1. Doug Tripp, CRC President, gave a brief update on CRC’s preparations for the upcoming LPAT Hearing and our financial position. His presentation was received with a series of comments and questions from councillors, many of whom congratulated CRC on the serious approach we have taken to the Hidden Quarry issues. Video of the the meeting and Doug’s presentation will be available in a few days at www.haltonhills.ca/Committees/Council.php.
2. Council members received a staff report on the status of Halton Hills/Halton Region’s case for the LPAT Hearing. Halton Hills’ focus is on the many issues relating to the potential increased volume of heavy trucks in downtown Acton, Georgetown and Norval. Halton Region will include this in the much broader case they will bring. Status Update Hidden Quarry Proposal – HH March 25, 2019
3. Council passed, unanimously, a motion to request the provincial government to revise provincial policies to require that aggregate companies demonstrate the need for new quarries and pits. The current Provincial Policy Statement states that there is no need to show need. This is something that Halton Hills requested of the former Liberal government and CRC took part in a campaign organized by HH to distribute postcards with this message to the Minister at that time. Several other municipalities took up the call. Council is committed to keeping this question on the table. Halton Hills – recommendation to require need to show need March 25, 2019
The Halton Hills Councillors recognize all the concerns CRC has raised, and several councillors spoke eloquently and knowledgeably since Acton is a quarry town. We were all proud to be there, and left feeling renewed in the work we are doing. Thanks everyone for coming!! See photos on our Facebook Page
Rick Bonnette will speak at the CRC Community Meeting on Thursday evening at the Eden Mills Community Hall.