ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE

"It would be an extremely short-sighted decision to choose quarries over prime agricultural land. One farmer who spoke to the committee pointed out that he can grow lettuce on his land for $18,000 per tonne year after year, while aggregates sell for a mere eight dollars per tonne, and can only be dug up once."

 

http://gleanernews.ca/index.php/2012/09/20/rosario-marchese-local-produce-or-aggregates/#.UFt_zK7ZbfB

FAR BE IT FROM ME

Far be it from me to be critical... BUT..

When politicans are critized for attending an important conference, at which they only had to ask to see a provincial minister to view their concerns, I have a concern.

One local politician flew to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference, but paid for that flight out of pocket. Another brought his wife, whose AMO conference registration fee was paid for by taxpayers.
Can you guess who did what?
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1499661--amo-conference-costs-for-dufferin-taxpayers

I would hope not one single politican had to pay anything out of their own pocket to attend AMO.

This is their opportunity to get their issues in front of the various provincial Ministers.

AND they should be doing this at every opportunity.

In fact if they have THE biggest issue in Ontario, say a 2,300 acre, 200 foot below the water table open pit limestone mine, they should be bringing this issue in front of the OMAFRA, MOE, MNR and MMAH Minister at least once at month, or at the very least at EVERY OGRA/ROMA and AMO conference there is.

AND if they have to bill the taxpayers to take their spouse, kid, mistress, grandma, grandkid and dog, DO IT.

In the words of  Larry the Cable guy...GIT R DONE....

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER NOT HAPPY

"Ontario’s Environmental CommissionerGord Miller, who singled out the MNR as a “chronic offender” for repeatedly refusing to post proposals and decisions on the web, as required by Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, legislation passed in 1993."

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1259057--ontario-environmental-watchdog-gord-miller-says-ministries-hiding-from-public-scrutiny

 

RECONCILE THIS

The provincial government has just introduced the Local Food Act. Wonder how that will reconcile with the Aggregate Resources Act as of right now, the Aggregate Resources Act trumps everything, even agriculture.

BYLAW SCHMYLAW

This Orangeville news article talks about how County Council, way back in 1995, passed a parking bylaw for county roads, yet have never bothered enforcing it.   
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1503059--no-parking-tickets-on-county-roads-yet

Then why in the hell was a bylaw passed?

The public, should be able to rely on the fact that once a bylaw is passed the bylaw will be enforced.

But then this is the same County Council refused to enforcetheir tree cutting bylaw when Highlands was found in many proven contraventions of that bylaw.  In fact one elected official stated at a public meeting that they had never enforced it before, so couldn't start now.

WTF?

Why should non enforcement of the bylaw bother me?

The issue came up as a result of complaint to the OPP, County and Township of Melancthon about the gravel trucks from Strada "PARKING" every morning on County Road 17, 124 and the 4th Line of Melancthon for over an hour waiting to access the Strada site.

The morning of July 20 there were 16 trucks parked on that road before 6 a.m.

Recently the Court upheld a ruling that a municipality was found to be 2/3 at fault for the conditions of the road that left the two Deering sisters paralyized from the waist down.
http://www.durhamregion.com/article/1370619--oshawa-scugog-to-blame-for-crash-that-left-deering-sisters-disabled

If the County refuses to enforce their parking bylaw and when (NOT IF) someone plows into one of those many "parked" gravel trucks you can be sure the taxpayers will be the ones paying for Council's lack of leadership and enforcement on this issue.

UNLESS YOU ARE ON A COUNTY OF DUFFERIN ROAD

ROB STRANG

Rob has enlightened Mr. Crump on why aggregates should NOT trump agriculture.

So for those just joining the game, here is Rob's original article August 20, 2012:
http://www.orangeville.com/article/1488861--oil-pipeline-a-lot-different-than-a-road

Mr.  Crump's letter to the editor August 27, 2012:
http://www.orangeville.com/article/1492469--rob-strang-s-comparison-with-proposed-quarry-doesn-t-work-letter

Rob's letter in response to Mr. Crump September 17, 2012:
http://www.orangeville.com/opinion/columns/article/1503619--proposed-mega-quarry-is-a-mega-bad-idea-column

FAR FROM HONEY BOO BOO....PYTHAGORAS

I feel that we need to step this blog up a bit, you know, as Honey Boo's Boo's Mom June would say, lets slap some paint on the old barn...

So, Pythagoras, you know, the first pure mathematician (see pic below for reference)...

Pythagoras, 570-495 BC

would likely remind the Highland Companies that every grain of aggregate rock is embodied with a life force as important as human beings.

Pythagoras was instrumental in the premise that all natural phenomenon can be expressed mathematically and believed in transmigration of the soul – to animal, human, plant.

For the entire article, click here: http://www.vinecagray.com/blog/tag/melancthon/

BOO BOO

The only Boo Boo bigger than Honey..(and no offense to Honey, she is my new addiction, or more specifically Mama)

Would be if any bureaucrat or politicians approves Highlands insane idea for a giant hole.

MR. KLARMAN IF YOU PLEASE

Mr. Klarman, if you please
Forget the hole
Put back our trees

Pull up stakes and go back home
Leave our farms
and land alone

Keep your hands off our water
we're saving it for
our sons and daughters

We cannot say that we'll miss you
AND when you leave
take John Lowndes too

Thanks to an anon post under comments!!!

EASY WAY OUT

Seth Klarman aka Baupost aka Highland Companies here is face saving easy way out and you can still collect some coin.

Farmland prices are soaring as they are becoming increasingly scarce:

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1254125--rising-commodity-prices-send-ontario-s-farm-land-prices-soaring
While the soaring prices are a welcome relief after 15 years of stagnation or decline, the short supply and high price of farmland is making it hard for existing farmers to expand operations and newcomers to get into the business.

So some savy investment advice-sell now, make a bit of profit before you lose your very expensive shirt.

There are lots of real farmers who would buy the land and actually farm it.

Sorry, no quarry.

ANOTHER UNHAPPY AGGREGATE PRODUCER

Couple weeks at the Niagara Escarpment Commission opted to file for a judicial review of the Consolidated Hearings Board decision allowing Walker Aggregates to expand its quarry operation.


The expansion would add 189.5 acres to its quarry, with approximately 168.8 acres planned for extraction purposes, directly across the road from their current operation.

The proposed site is habitat to the Bobolink, and has a stand of Butternut trees and a colony of American Hart's Tongue Fern — all of which are endangered.

One member of the three panel board voted no and cited concerns such as:

• aggregate extraction in the Escarpment Rural Area designation of the Niagara Escarpment Plan area is not compatible with the natural environment.
• the application only meets one requirement of the 'three-part' Niagara Escarpment Plan amendment test
• the proposed amendment "not justified, and is not consistent with other relevant provincial policies."
• the use of the property as a quarry could not realistically be called an 'interim use.

The NEC’s decision to appeal was applauded by the Citizens Group fighting this, as well as Environmental Defence, stating: "Ontarians don't want a mega-quarry that puts our land, water and wildlife at risk, for the benefit of few.” said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. "I'm happy to see that the NEC recognizes this quarry in this location is a mistake."

A former Ontario Minister of Environment and member of the Clearview Community Coalition said: In all my time in government and as an advocate, the Walker decision caused me the greatest concern for the health of the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve,” said Ruth Grier, “I commend the Commissioners for their vote to defend the Niagara Escarpment, one of Ontario’s truly unique environmental features.”

SO how did Walker Quarry react?

As per usual for the aggregate industry…blame and threaten and whine. Here are some quotes:

Walker Vice President:
"This whole thing just represents more delays," Walker Vice President said. "We are running out of rock (at the existing quarry), and we were down to the fine line where nobody's job would have been at stake.

"The delays are causing uncertainty for our employees and their families… I have to tell them (on Wednesday) what we're trying to do, but I also have to tell them we can't guarantee that they will be working continuously, and that there will be layoffs."

Walker vice-president …was on the road early Wednesday morning to his company's quarry operation, preparing to tell 22 Walker Aggregate employees their jobs were on the line.

Not only has it been expensive to the company, it has also been expensive to taxpayers, and says he couldn't believe the "disregard" for tax dollars. (HUH?)

READ ALL ABOUT IT:
http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/2012/08/22/quarry-decision-produces-winners-and-losers

http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/2012/08/20/necto-challenge-walker-decision

 

 

 

 

ARBOUR FARMS

Arbour Farms, who has been attempting for the past 12 years to establish a gravel pit on Airport Road, near county Road 21, has appealed Mulmur’s Official Plan, as apparently the aggregate industry knows more about local needs than the locals.


http://www.thecreemoreecho.com/2012/09/arbour-farms-seeks-changes-to-mulmur-official-plan/

They asked for these changes:

MULMURS WORDING:
The Township’s long-term prosperity, environmental health, and social well-being depend on protecting natural features, water, soil and minerals for their economic, environmental and social benefits.

ARBOUR FARMS WORDING:
The Township’s long-term prosperity, environmental health, and social well-being depend on protecting natural features, water, soil and minerals and mineral aggregates for their economic, environmental and social benefits.


  MULMUR’S WORDING:
when aggregate extraction is taking place, it is the intent of the Township to ensure that “its interests and those of local residents are recognized and protected, and that an appropriate balance between competing and often conflicting interests is achieved .”

ARBOUR FARMS WORDING
when aggregate extraction is taking place, it is the intent of the Township to ensure that “its interests and those of local residents are recognized and protected, and that an appropriate balance between competing and often conflicting interests is achieved . To achieve this, extraction shall be undertaken in a manner which minimizes social and environmental impacts.”

MULMUR’S WORDING
Human health and safety and environmental protection shall take priority over resource use proposals”

ARBOUR FARMS WORDING
Human health and safety and environmental protection shall take priority over resource use proposals. Resource extraction activities and sensitive land uses are to be appropriately designed, buffered and/or separated to prevent adverse effects and minimize risk to public health and safety.”

MULMURS WORDING
Proposals should not result in a negative impact on the rural character or the scenic resources and features of the Township taking into account mitigation measures including progressive and final rehabilitation of the site

ARBOUR FARMS WORDING
Proposals should not result in a negative substantial impact on the rural character or the scenic resources and features of the Township taking into account mitigation measures including progressive and final rehabilitation of the site.”

OUR OLD FRIEND LINDA JEFFREY -OOPS SHE DID IT AGAIN

Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey, asked at AMO (2012) if the government would strengthen the need for arbitrators to consider a municipality's ability to pay, reportedly indicated that the government would be prepared to put that legislation forward in the fall.


But as of last Friday, officials at the ministries of labour, municipal affairs and finance were unaware of any concrete plans to introduce legislation.
http://www.recorder.ca/2012/08/24/mayors-want-movement-on-arbitration

How this Minister still has a job is beyond me.

Remember her infamous quote at the 2011 OGRA/ROMA to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Melancthon when she was Minister of Natural Resources?

All together now….
"get constituents thinking about rehabilitation, because this will not be going back to agriculture, but maybe you could get a nice golf course.”

MAYOR ADAMS STANCE ON SELLING THE RAIL CORRIDOR TO ANYONE BUT HIGHLANDS

HEADLINE in Orangeville Banner READS: Dufferin County mulls use of abandoned rail corridor for multi-use recreational trail…..

"Acknowledging many issues relating to the proposed Melancthon quarry need addressing, Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams places selling the rail corridor atop his totem pole of priorities.

He argues it would go a long way toward reducing truck traffic on county roads if Highlands’ proposal, which will be subject to an environmental assessment (EA), is approved."

What he meant to say, and I am paraphrasing here, is if Highlands doesn’t purchase the rail corridor from Orangeville to Dundalk, he loses big time, see synopsis below.

http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1497441--peaks-and-valleys-of-dufferin-s-rail-corridor

Quick recap from the July 22, 2011 post on this blog titled Tail of the Troubled Train:

• In 2000 Orangeville/Adams bought the rail line as an economic driver for Orangeville
• Cost $3 million, $2 million of which was paid for the by taxpayers of Ontario NOT Orangeville
• Net cost to Orangeville $1.5 million
• Rail proved not to be financially viable
• In 2009 Orangeville/Adams enters into an agreement to sell the rail line to Highlands for $7 million (including the “bonus” of $2 million he gets when the track is laid)
• Net gain to Adams/Orangeville $5 million not including the $500,000 annually paid by Highlands on property taxes

 Search this blog with the word Adams for more posts on this issue.

MY FAVOURITE ARTIST DOES IT AGAIN

HoB&K-more bad PR for the PR company

Select quotes from an article on Enbridge’s P.R. firm Hill of Beans and Knowlton:


Hiring Hill and Knowlton speaks volumes about the lengths which Enbridge will apparently go to persuade the B.C. public that supertankers and oilsands pipelines are a good thing for our province.

Guardian journalist George Monbiot describes Hill and Knowlton as "the public relations company famous for the unsavoury nature of its clients."

Hill and Knowlton advised the Chinese government in the wake of the Tianenmen massacre, set up lobby groups for the tobacco companies coached the girl who told the false story about Kuwaiti babies being thrown out of incubators, which helped to launch the first Gulf war. http://www.canada.com/Enbridge+defensive+with+million+advertising+blitz/6903932/story.html

DREDING UP MORE ON THE OWEN SOUND HARBOUR

Owen Sound Mayor Deb Haswell says there are companies interested in owning Owen Sound's harbour -- but she wouldn't elaborate due to confidentiality agreements.

So read the article, then take the poll on this blog:

http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=50077

REPEAT-THREE MINUTE CONCISE OVERVIEW THE QUARRY

Take 3 minutes and watch HoboWally tell us about the quarry in the most concise way ever.

King of the Hole Indeed!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76urC3_XYxQ&feature=youtu.be

IN THE WORDS OF MR. BURNS-EXCELLENT!!!

DIFFERENT RULES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE

An Amaranth property owner was fined $3,240 because he took out a burn permit, but inadvertently failed to contact the fire department before he lit the fire.

In his words : We’re trying to keep the property nice and you want to penalize me for it,” Holmes said. “That is the sad part. That council seems to be more focused on the right and wrong, instead of what is maybe fair in this situation.”


Read all about it here:
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1492478--controlled-fire-results-in-3k-bill-for-an-amaranth-business

Funny thing.

The Mayor of Amaranth, Don McIver sat on County Council in 2009 and 2010 while Highland Companies gutted, razed, bulldozed and burned hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of trees in Melancthon, but wouldn’t vote to fine Highlands, even though it was proven they were in contravention of the County tree cutting bylaw.

Strange, very strange.

ROB STRANG GOT IT RIGHT

Mr. Crump of Toronto wrote a letter to the editor in the Orangeville Banner.

In the letter, supporting the Mega Quarry, he writes:

"While I agree with much of what Rob Strang said about the pristine British Columbia (BC) environment and the northern gateway pipeline project providing little benefit to the province — Oil pipeline is a lot different than a road, On Politics column published Aug. 21— his attempt to draw a parallel with the Melancthon quarry proposal accomplished the opposite.

The quarry, of course, would extract the resource in Ontario for use within Ontario to meet a projected future Ontario demand. The province and its residents will indeed bear the environmental risk, but will also reap the benefits in terms of jobs and a secure supply of an essential construction material.  

It doesn’t take much imagination to envision materials quarried in Melancthon being used in Melancthon. "

http://www.orangeville.com/opinion/letters/article/1492469--rob-strang-s-comparison-with-proposed-quarry-doesn-t-work-letter

His thought process is clearly misguided.  Materials quarried in Melancthon used in Melancthon?  Seriously?

TORONTO LIFE ARTICLE

Here is the Toronto Life Article from last month.

Melancthon’s windswept highlands spread out like a grand table underneath the sky. At 1,700 feet above sea level, southern Ontario’s highest point, the air is different: cool and often foggy, it’s a world away from smog-suffocated Toronto, which lies 100 kilometres to the southeast.

The climate is ideal for raising crops, and tens of millions of kilos of potatoes are grown each year in the township’s rich, silty loam.

The karst, or fractured limestone, that lies beneath the soil delivers an almost perfect drainage system—no matter how much it rains, crops never flood

Click here for the entire article:
http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/from-print-edition-informer/

BEFORE AND AFTER CORRECTION to YESTERDAYS POST

I have to thank the Highland/Baupost/Hob&K/Klarman plants for pointing out that I posted a before picture of the Webb farm that wasn't the Webb farm.

It is kinda hard to keep track of them all, especially after they are torn down.

So maybe this is a better visual.

The actual demolition of the Webb barn and as you can see, the picture of the house, shortly AFTER the Webb's moved out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSh7fu41Ak&list=UUyTrzmMLNXWTYrmc49NXaNQ&index=4&feature=plcp

Tx to Melancthonvision for the Visual!!!

And once again, tx Highlands, for pointing out my mistake!!

BEFORE AND AFTER

The Webb farm as it looked shortly before the family moved out.-see correction in the August 27 post.



Add caption



The Webb farm is owned by Highlands and this is how it looks today. This IS correct

Remember this the next time Highlands spouts off about this being THEIR community.

This is what the locals do when they purchase a surplus house.  They fix it up and rent it out, to improve housing stock for people who then remain in the community who build capacity by volunteering, sending their kids to local arenas and sports team, attending church, shopping locally.

TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER BLOGGED

The article at this link is great,pictures wonderful but one of the comments at the end posted by stonecoldtruth2011 sums it up: http://anicewong.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/not-just-a-hole-in-the-ground/

In one sense the Highland Companies have done us a Mega Favor.

If their proposal were not so ‘Mega’ we might have gone on in slumber, not really noticing our Niagara Escarpment being progressively consumed ‘pit by pit’, 100 acres at a time.

Organizations like Gravel Watch and its affiliated members have been fighting these battles for many decades, with few but locals taking notice.

The Mega Quarry is a proposal for 2300 acres. In Caledon alone, even closer to the GTA, there are 2800 acres of pits and quarries already in operation, with more acres being applied for.

Groups like FORCE, PERL, PitSense, CONE, ProtectCaledon and NDACT, to name a few, are actively engaged in protecting our Escarpment, Greenbelt, World Biosphere Reserve, and Moraine.

The more we learn from each other, cooperate, and coordinate, the better our chances of being heard.

And here is a link to stonecoldtruth2011 blog:
http://stonecoldtruth2011.wordpress.com/

Hey StoneCold-truer words were never blogged and so tip of the hat to you Highlands, Lowndes, Baupost and Seth Klarman.

PLANNING CONSULTANT IN MELANCTHON-DOES HE HAVE A CLUE

Excerpt from an Orangeville Citizen article about an issue in Melancthon:
A lady had purchased a severed lot in the rural residential area in full knowledge that she could not have horses on the lot. However, she believed that she could rent property from a continuing farm to shelter the animals.

The only problem arose when it was discovered that it had escaped both owner’s notice, or been forgotten, that a building on the rented property was to be removed as a condition of the severance.
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2012-08-09/Local_News/DWP_to_buy_needed_aggregate_in_Melancthon.html

Nope, sorry.

It wasn’t forgotten, or escaped anyone's notice.

The planning consultant for the Township of Melancthon assured the owner of the farm that he didn’t need to take down the barn if he severed the property.

It was administrative staff, probably the CAO who caught the planners error and informed the owner that it had to be done.

MUSEUM

If Highlands proposal to blast Melancthon to kingdom come is approved, this will be the ONLY place we will be able to see potatoes:

WELL LOOKY HERE

EXCERPT:
Jane Mendillo of Harvard Management Company, which manages Harvard University’s $32 billion endowment, told the gathering of investors …..that she looks at an increasing world population, …….and believes that the demand for natural resources such as timber, food, and water will increase in the long term.

Therefore, she is bullish on companies that do business in related industries, calling natural resources “our favorite area.”
http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/harvard-endowment-director-says-to-buy-natural-resources-15225/

And now we play a little game called the Kevin Bacon six degree of separation game:

1. Jane is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Harvard’s Management Company

2. Jane was elected to the Board of the Boston Foundation, a charitable organization, in June 2012

3. Paul C. Gannnon, Managing Director and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Baupost Group was also elected to the Boston Foundation in June 2012

4. Seth Klarman is the founder of the Baupost Group and also went to Harvard.

5. Baupost Group has an application in to mine limestone and has a little problem with 600 millions litres of excess water a day.......in which Harvard wants to invest.

Recap:

• Harvard wants to invest in water
• Baupost has 600 million litres of water a day if their mining application is approved
• Klarman/Baupost has ties with Harvard

EVEN MARG SIMPSON LOVES POTATOES

HILL AND KNOWLTON

Uppity ups at HoB&K held a special meeting recently to discuss the colossal failure of their social media PR campaign they were hired to undertake for the Highland Quarry. 

They have been beaten at every turn on twitter by social media savy @TeamHeadwaters.

So in a cunning and somewhat desperate strategic move, they have decided to employ the advanced tactics that helped them win the PR spin game when they were at their heyday, say 1969....

Here it is:

MINEBUSTER DOES SOME CIPHERING

Just like Jethro Bodine, Minebuster has been doing some ciphering.

And sometimes my mind works in mysterious ways.

For instance when I look at the map of the 2,300, 200 foot below the water table open pit limestone mine as proposed by the Baupost Group aka Highland Companies I noticed something.

Take a looky see if you notice it too.
http://www.ndact.com/index.php/images-main/images-maps/70-highland-companies-proposed-quarry-site

What is missing on their proposed map, besides every living creature, tree, bird, house and human being is the municipally owned 3rd line and 4th line of Melancthon between sideroads 15 and 20.

I would like to say the nerve of these idiots just thinking they could buy a muicipally owned asset (meaning WE the taxpayers own it, not  council) and then blast if off the face of the earth but clearly they have no limits.

So if even for one moment Council dared risking the revolt that would follow should they sell these roads to anyone, here is some food for thought.

Underneath those municipally owned roads is limestone, worth about $18 million an acre.

Do the math and you will see that there is about 28 acres of municipally owned road in question here.

And at $18 million an acre, that would mean the purchase price would be about $500 millon bucks. 

You are welcome.

VAYKAY OVER SO START PAYING ATTENTION PEOPLE

We've all had a long lazy summer, and now it is time to shake it all off and get right back into it.

You know what I have noticed lately?

Even people with hearts of stone, steel and wood want to help stop the quarry.

IN THE WORDS OF GOMER PYLE: SURPRISE, SURPRISE

The "State of Aggregate Resources in Ontario Study" (SAROS) was published by the Government of Ontario in February 2010.

The summary report recommends an underground mine or a "mega-quarry" as the ideal solution to meeting Ontario's aggregate needs.

The study area is 75 kms around Vaughan (the city with the highest growth/construction expectations) to adhere to the "close to market" policy built into the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) and excludes Ontario's largest limestone quarry on Manitoulin island amongst others.


The Highland Companies started buying land in Melancthon in 2006.

In her ARA Review submission, Helen Purdy points out that “Five of the six SAROS Papers commissioned by the Ministry of Natural Resources were authored by consulting firms that prepared planning or licensing application reports for the Highland Companies.”

SAROS - http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Aggregates/Publication/287375.html

Helen's ARA Review submission - http://www.gravelwatch.org/orig-gw/misc/ARA-review-2012/Submissions/H-Purdy-Comments-Aggregate-Resources-Act.pdf

2nd submission - http://www.gravelwatch.org/orig-gw/misc/ARA-review-2012/Submissions/Purdy-ARA-2nd-Submission.pdf

Helen requested audience in front of the ARA Review Committee but was denied.

(Tx to D.B. for this great piece of information)

PROACTIVE COUNCIL STANDING WITH RESIDENTS

What is interesting about these articles is I don't see any politician telling people there is nothing they can do, to write the province as it is all their fault.  Instead the council is finding ways to stand with their ratepayers.

BURK’S FALLS – Changes have been made to a proposed pit and quarry site at Pegg’s Mountain and it came before anxious residents at a July 25 public meeting.
Ryerson Township residents have been waiting since the fall of 2010 to learn what will happen to the local landmark and now, it is back before them, with amendments to the proposal awaiting approval that are said to protect the mountain face and area wetlands. http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/1443440--quarry-plans-change-over-heritage-wetlands

BURK'S FALLS – It was standing room only upstairs at the Burk’s Falls Arena as Ryerson Township council was presented with two sides of a debate that could forever change the site of a local landmark.

Ryerson Township held a public meeting on Wednesday, July 25 to consider a proposed bylaw amendment to rezone property on Pegg’s Mountain Road to allow 50 of the 80 hectares of property owned by Glenn Thompson to become a pit and quarry. http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/1443489--opposition-still-strong-at-return-of-mountain-quarry-debate

BURK’S FALLS – Armour Township is going to play hardball if they don’t get dealt into negotiations that will impact their road.

During a July 25 public meeting relating to the proposed development of a pit and quarry at Pegg’s Mountain in Ryerson Township, Armour counc. Pat Hayes announced a resolution passed at Armour Township council only the night before.
http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/1443438--township-vows-to-block-hauling-route

IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS

Peter Kent has been bombarded with emails, foodstock postcards (17,000 if I recall) and generally hounded for his lack of leadership on the Mega Quarry issue.

He did, however, appear in the flesh last week with our MP David Tilson.

I know this because the Orangeville BANNER  reported on it, see link:
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1436985--federal-interest-in-proposed-quarry-grows

The least we could all do is thank him for appearing and thank Tilson for bringing him here.

Just saying...and just a suggestion...PLEASE. No matter the political party they belong to, this is now a non-partisen issue.

Contact emails are here:
kentp@parl.gc.ca
tilsod@parl.gc.ca

And if you do nothing else, please please, pretty please,  thank Michael Chong and Peggy Nash for being concerned at the federal level about something that isn't in their own riding.
Peggy.Nash@parl.gc.ca
michael.chong@parl.gc.ca

UPDATE

Tx to D.T. for another update:

As we head into the August long weekend, we look back on yet another terrific week in our campaign.

 

StoMp the MegaQuarry was a great success and introduced many new supporters to the beauty of the farmland, river valleys and forests we're trying to protect.

 

For those who have yet to travel the back roads of Melancthon and Mulmur, please watch this wonderful YouTube video of the StoMp produced by Greg and Grace Lloyd...and then get up here to see this stunning landscape for yourselves!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpnbwRz5jew&feature=em-share_video_user

The Orangeville Citizen also published an article about the StoMp and noted that while much of Ontario's farmland is suffering from this summer's drought, the abundant water in the Hills of Headwaters has benefited Dufferin County's farmers.

http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2012-08-02/Local_News/A_record_big_day_for_Honeywood.html

And, of course, federal Environment Minister Peter Kent was spotted in them thar hills, escorted by Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson and Wellington-Halton MP Michael Chong. Kent's tour, which was preceded by a busload of NDP MPs and their constituents a week earlier, was covered by the Orangeville Banner.

http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1436985--federal-interest-in-proposed-quarry-grows

A reminder about Paddle the Grand to Stop the Mega Quarry! This 20km excursion down the Grand River in Kitchener will launch next Sunday, August 12th. Thanks again to Sophie for organizing this event to raise awareness about Ontario's precious fresh water resources! You can sign up here for either a canoe or kayak. It promises to be a fun paddle along one of this province's famous rivers.

http://www.ndact.com/index.php/events/476-paddle-the-grand-to-stop-the-mega-quarry-aug12-2012

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Cheers

Donna

SOUPSTOCK

The Suzuki Foundation issued a press release on July 30, 2012 advising that in conjunction with the Canadian Chef's Congress they are hosting Soupstock to raise awareness about the fight to stop the Highland Companies proposed limestone Mega-Quarry in the Township of Melancthon.

You will recall that the Chef's Congress, together with NDACT, hosted Foodstock on the farms of the families who will be impacted by the Mega Quarry-Blacks, Vanderzaags and French's.

It was an amazing and magical event that drew 28,000 people to the site on a cold rainy day in October.

Everyone involved was very appreciative of the Chef's Congress and the awareness that was raised for the idiotic idea proposed by Highland Companies of blasting a hole 2,300 acres wide and more than 200 feet below the water table to remove the limestone on prime ag land.

You should be aware that the funds raised at Soupstock go to the Chef's Congress and Suzuki Foundation for ALL of the causes they support.

None of the money goes directly to NDACT.

So please support Soupstock and the Suzuki Foundation as they have been instrumental in raising awareness about the Mega Quarry.

BUT, if you would rather direct your donation directly to NDACT, please check out their website www.ndact.com

DISLAIMER: this blog is NOT supported, endorsed or even read by NDACT. 

The opinions expressed in this blog are my own.

StoMp the Quarry....AND HoB&K????

GREAT article on the StoMp event held last weekend in Honeywood, ALL proceeds going to NDACT.

Thanks to Maria for organizing an outstanding event, to the Honeywood Arena Board for partnering with StoMP, to Meg for the article and special thanks to a local Councillor for this observation about H0B&K:

While winning the fight for the environmental assessment is a major victory, many in the movement are talking about what seems to be a completely unprecedented victory over one of the most powerful and notorious PR firms in the world.

Less than a year ago Baupost brought in the big guns. They hired Hill and Knowlton (H&K), an American based international public relations firm, to spin the quarry issue into something less controversial.

Anti-quarry activists were initially concerned because of Hill and Knowlton's reputation, and with good reason.

In the late 80s, H&K were hired by the Chinese government in the wake of the Tiannamen Square massacre to put a positive spin on what can only be described as a human rights disaster.

A few years later, Hill and Knowlton were hired to create a fiction, namely Iraqi soldiers murdering Kuwaiti babies in incubators, to manufacture consent for the Gulf War.

While not intimidated, the Melancthon community knew that they now had a seriously scary player.

According to a Melancthon town councillor, Hill and Knowlton probably figured that a group of farmers would crumble under their well-honed PR machine. "

They've met their match," says Nanci Malek, councillor for Melancthon and an active supporter of the movement. "The reaction to any statement made by Hill and Knowlton was so negative, their campaign backfired on them."

According to another activist I spoke to, H&K had no idea what they were getting into.

Actively working for the Baupost Group for months, Hill and Knowlton beat a hasty withdrawal after being publicly flayed by people outraged by their arrogant assumption that a group of farmers, the general public, couldn't possibly see through the spin.

After a flurry of scorn from the anti-quarry community, H&K fell off the radar. "We haven't heard from them in three months," says Malek.

"I don't know what the deal is, whether they were fired, or quit in embarrassment, or what, but a lot of people are wondering why they've been silent for so long."

READ ALL ABOUT IT
http://rabble.ca/news/2012/07/stomp-mega-quarry-ontario-farmers-fight-back

So I have to ask a special favour from Linz of HoB&K.  Can I call you Linz?

IF you guys have thrown in the towel, would you let me know? 

I really don't want to keep flogging a dead pit pony, I mean horse.

A THREE MINUTE OVERVIEW

A three minute overview of Highlands involvement in 'OUR" community from day 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76urC3_XYxQ&feature=youtu.be