It was an exhausting 16 presentations over 4 hours. There was a
lot of information. It became clear to me that the MPPs rarely ask questions
that they don't know the answer to, and that they use their question as an
opportunity to go on the record. It also became clear that the Committee is
just starting to understand the magnitude of the problems around aggregate, and
that such understanding contradicts their mandate of recommending quick
fixes.
Some quick fixes are easy to pick out: a
substantial increase to the aggregate royalty (currently $0.115 per tonne),
encouragement to increase the use of recycled aggregate product, greater focus
on rehabilitation. However, the more difficult problems (protection of specific
land types, protection of source water, long-term transportation into the GTA,
full cost accounting, compensation for all impacted municipalities (i.e. roads),
rehabilitation, understaffing at the MNR for inspection and monitoring, MNR's
predisposition toward industry, etc.) will not be so easily solved.
The star for me was Bill Hill, Mayor of Melancthon
who came out firmly against the proposed mega-quarry with these
words:
“In closing, I would like to suggest that those
that support the concept of a mega quarry take a short drive up the road to our
Township. I will personally introduce you to the multi-generational farmers who
are concerned and worried for their future and livelihood as they have not sold
out. I will introduce you to the business owners who have seen their business
decline because they may deal with one side or the other of the quarry issue. I
will show you where 30 homesteads once stood that have been torn down to make
room for the quarry. I will introduce you to Women’s Institute Members who have
challenges rounding up support and pies for their long standing “strawberry
suppers”. All this, before a shovel has hit the ground. It is easy for some to
support a concept that will not impact them or their Community.” Bill Hill,
Mayor of Melancthon in a letter to the Standing Committee on General Government
(May 14, 2012)
As at the end of the meeting last night, the
Standing Committee had not yet received an answer from their request to the
House Leaders to travel to Ontario's communities for further investigation.
(Time to write more e-mails!)
Thank you DB!!
Wow powerful, except if you know the behind story. This is the former Deputy Mayor, current Mayor who has yet to attend an NDACT fundraiser. He has shot down every single idea that was proposed to him over the last 3 years to put the tools in place to fight any aggregate operation and more, read this blog. I am disappointed in you minebuster.
ReplyDelete