WE GOT OUR ASSES IN GEAR AND THEY ARE HITTING THE ROAD FOR ARA HEARINGS-THANKS!!!!

INFORMATION BY EMAIL RECEIVED THURSDAY MAY 31 ,2012 AND THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WROTE REQUESTING, NAY DEMANDING THE AGGREGATE REVIEW HEARINGS BE EXTENDED.

We learned tonight that the Standing Committee on General Government will take the public hearings into the Aggregate Resources Act on the road for four days. As you'll recall, the all-party committee voted unanimously three weeks ago to extend the hearings beyond the 12 hours allotted in Toronto and to travel the province. While four days does not seem like a lot -- I had expected at least a couple of weeks to fit in travel time, the more than dozen towns that requested a visit plus the promised tours of quarry sites -- it is a victory and another phase in our fight. PC MPP Sylvia Jones says the public hearings into the budget bill were given less time. (That's not exactly comforting news, either!)

Thanks to everyone who wrote letters, sent e-mails, attended the Toronto hearings and followed the process closely. We did it. The hearings have been extended. The committee is travelling. Let's keep the MPPs busy and on the road!

No dates or specific locations have been chosen yet, but we certainly want the members to visit the proposed mega quarry site and hear from those most impacted. The committee has already received an invitation to stop by Honeywood where there is a large arena, perfect for a very large turnout! Over the next several weeks we will encourage them to add Honeywood to the list. It's only fair. If not for the proposed mega quarry, the review of the ARA would not be happening.

Thanks again for all of your hard work. Enjoy the weekend. We'll get busy again next week!

Cheers

Donna