Saturday, June 22, 2013

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A (FEW) YEAR MAKES

Head line in the June 20, 2013 editorial of the Orangeville Citizen:

The Province Should Pay!!
The Province and developers of properties to the south have the greatest desire and need for the gravel.

The township doesn’t realize any great revenue from the mining of aggregates, and precious little of that funnels its way to the county’s coffers.

On the other hand, the Province not only gets the desired gravel production but also benefits from taxes arising from increased fuel consumption because of the haulage from the pit, along with other tax revenues, including those from developments made possible by the gravel production.

Accordingly, we submit that the Province should have to foot the cost of bringing Airport Road up to required standards if, indeed, its ministries and agencies approve the pit notwithstanding the wishes of local residents and township council.
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2013-06-20/Editorial/The_Province_should_pay.html

What a far cry from the editorial that appeared in the same publication in 2009 with the head line:

Fighting quarry will be expensive

With the asinine advice:

In the circumstances, perhaps the best course for NDACT will be to strive for a compromise under which Highland will be barred from having an operation that occupies more than 100 of its 6,000 acres and is encouraged to move the aggregates by rail, not trucks on County 124.
 http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-06-25/editorial/028.html

The abrupt change in editorial stance can only be attributed to NDACT and their supporters, who never once waivered from their message and their cause which is to ensure that food and water take priority over rock and stone.

They, unlike this blogger, calmly and rationally stuck to their factual message to ensure people understood about not only the Highlands application, but the aggregate industry and the Aggregate Resources Act and the Provincial Policy Statement in general.

There were some pretty bleak times.  Some families have been divided forever, local papers took editorial stances against individuals and NDACT supporters, but NDACT and supporters resolutely stood firm and kept their "eye on the prize".

And, to do date they have achieved remarkable things with 
Highlands abruptly withdrawing their aggregate application in the fall of 2013 in the face of world wide opposition.

World wide opposition you say? 

Yes!!!

Remember the pictures of Stop the Quarry on  Juno Beach?



Or on Mt Kilimanjaro???


 
 
 
BUT, it is NOT over.  

NDACT and supporters are now focusing on the next phase of the campaign, Food and Water First, which involves lobbying the government, who really, really, really needs rural votes, to make changes to the Aggregate Resources Act and the Provincial Policy statement, so once and for all, Food and Water come first-over everything!!

Please get a sign, a button, make a donation and continue to support the cause.

They have the momentum, please help them capitalize on it now, so your children, grandchildren and their grandchildren's futures are secure!!

www.ndact.com

 

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous24 June, 2013

    It is far from over. The aggregate industry continues to destroy farmland and put our water at risk. The foreign-owned wind turbines continue to multiply like rabbits, destroying farmland and putting our water at risk. Communities aren't consulted and citizens' opinions and needs are ignored as Big Business rolls over rural landscapes, making millions of dollars for corporations that have no concern for our quality of life. We stopped the mega quarry and we learned that our voices CAN make a difference. And that was a great beginning.....

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  2. Anonymous26 June, 2013

    "The aggregate industry continues to destroy farmland and put our water at risk."

    Have ANY of you people actually read the source water protection plans for the different regions of Southern Ontario?

    Aggregate extraction is not a high risk activity, but guess what did make the list (with good reason) farming!!!

    BAHAHAHAHAHA

    These studies were conducted and APPROVED by professionals, members of Government and the community. All the different regions agreed....

    Educate yourselves people before you stick your foot in your mouth!!!

    Carl you figure out who Conestoga Rovers is working for yet?

    Your my hero!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous26 June, 2013

      Hey,Minebuster here. I would, in fact, you educate yourself on what source water protection plans are. The fact is, aggregate is NOT a high risk activity in source water protection plans, because these plans ONLY protect municipal source water aka municipal wells. And there are farms close to urban areas, aka municipal wells, not so much aggregate operations. Apparently source water for urban areas is much more important than source water for rural people.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous27 June, 2013

    "not so much aggregate operations." ??

    You better have a closer look!

    God you make me laugh with your twisted ignorance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous27 June, 2013

    "these plans ONLY protect municipal source water aka municipal wells. And there are farms close to urban areas, aka municipal wells"

    So you are saying we need to included rural source water and it should be protected from farming too? Great idea !!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous27 June, 2013

    You all seem to forget that source water protection plans was the Liberal governments knee jerk over the top reaction to two drunken town employees who did not chlorinate the water. It was farm run off that contaiminated it, but chlorine would have managed it. the ONLY good thing to come out of the protection plans and the ONLY thing that was needed was to put elected officials personally at liability if their water systems aren't managed property-that way no more uncles and nephews of the mayor/councillors getting jobs for which they are not qualified. Problem solved.

    ReplyDelete

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