(TX DB for the tip)
News Release about the taxpayers ($31 million to date) cleanup:
http://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2010/11/cleaning-up-the-deloro-mine-site-in-marmora.html
LUV the spin the Liberals have put on it. Cleaning up a big corporations mess they left behind will create jobs and protect the environment. HA.
About the mine:
Production was in stellite, arsenic, silver and cobalt until 1956 when the stellite division moved to Belleville. Only silver ore continued to be treated there until the plant closed in March 1961. 'Clean up' and demolition of the mine site followed with tons of arsenite refuse being buried, with the thoughts that it would eliminate the health hazard.[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deloro,_Ontario
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR RURAL ONTARIO
Liberal government working for rural Ontario?
NOT!!
Carol Mitchell is a former Liberal MPP for Huron-Bruce and former Minister of Ontario Ministry of Agriculture (OMAFRA).
She was born in Goderich, served as Warden in Huron County, and lives in Clinton, all large agriculture communities.
Here are some quotes she made about local food and agriculture, while she was Minister of Ag
Unfortunately Ms. Mitchell lost her seat in the October 2011 provincial election.
But don't feel bad for her, our agricultural and rural champion.
She seems to have landed on her feet.
Within months of being turfed out, she has been hired by the lobbyist firm who work for Baupost/Highlands to try to sway politicans (you know, her friends) into what a great thing a 2,300 acre 200 foot below the water table, open pit limestone mine, situated on prime agricultural land, will be.
Here is a link to the BIG announcement: http://counselpa.com/people/people.php?id=13
So Carol Mitchell has NO aggregate experience, but as a former Minister for OMAFRA I expect she will know on which doors to knock.
Is this what we pay our MPP’s to do? Get elected to make connections, stay in office long enough for a pension, then work for lobbyists?
I would suggest that during her tenure as Ag minister she might gave got off her ass and directed her staff to FINALLY prepare specialty crop criteria.
Something which was required to be done when the Provincial Policy statement was implement in 2005.
Or demanding a review of the PPS at its five year mark to ensure that prime agriculture lands be given a higher priority than aggregate.
Here is her picture.
Maybe you will see her and Mavis, another ex-Liberal MPP, having lunch in Rosedale?
Monday, July 9, 2012
PITSENSE = COMMON SENSE
Pit Sense (who have been denied the opportunity to speak at the ARA hearings) has posted a comment on this blog which makes alot of sense:
Sunday, July 8, 2012
HILL OF BEANS AND KNOWLTON
Click here to see what our good friends HoB&K have been up to:
http://www.crocodyl.org/wiki/hill_amp_knowlton
http://www.crocodyl.org/wiki/hill_amp_knowlton
BURNING BAN IN MELANCTHON
Good job Highlands got all those houses burned before the fire ban.
And here is a reminder how it all started-bulldoze, blast and burn:
1 min.26 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeWY3Xi4xXs
8 min. 8 seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsLOXHkDdM&feature=relmfu
3 min.31 seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSh7fu41Ak&list=UUyTrzmMLNXWTYrmc49NXaNQ&index=4&feature=plcp
COMMENTS;
One day profiteering will come to an end. First, the environment must be raped. It's only human...
And here is a reminder how it all started-bulldoze, blast and burn:
8 min. 8 seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsLOXHkDdM&feature=relmfu
3 min.31 seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSh7fu41Ak&list=UUyTrzmMLNXWTYrmc49NXaNQ&index=4&feature=plcp
COMMENTS;
One day profiteering will come to an end. First, the environment must be raped. It's only human...
What a waste!
Geez. They don't even have the brains to recycle the wood.
What a horrible waste.
What a horrible waste.
It's sickening that this company is getting away with destroying our heritage buildings.
Township of Melancton and the whole county of Dufferin should be ashamed for allowing this company to bring so much destruction to our community...
Township of Melancton and the whole county of Dufferin should be ashamed for allowing this company to bring so much destruction to our community...
So bloody sad!!! My entire childhood bus route is just a bunch of fields now. No homes..... when I'm 70 I won't remember anything now!!!!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
SETH KLARMAN: THE ORACLE OF BOSTON
EXCERPT:
Soft-spoken and based in Boston, a safe distance from the Wall Street mêlée, Mr Klarman keeps a low profile and rarely speaks at industry shindigs. He is probably the most successful long-term performer in the hedge-fund industry who has managed to stay out of the spotlight.
Click here for entire article:
http://www.economist.com/node/21558274?zid=300&ah=e7b9370e170850b88ef129fa625b13c4
Out of the spotlight? Now that is funknee.
Go to the search feature on this blog and search for Klarman, you get tons of hits.
Google search under Klarman and you get tons of hits, some even reference this blog.
Google images under Klarman and you get tons of hits, some even reference this blog.
Comments to the article, thanks to No Mega Quarry:
No Mega Quarry
Seth Klarman has the ability to make money. He seems to have a knack for finding value beyond the obvious. However, over the past 5 years he has associated Baupost investors with Bixby Ranch in California and a proposed mega-quarry in Canada, which have led to a questioning of ethics and loss of credibility. If Seth's companies have to lie, cheat and cover-up activities in communities then there is not much to admire. Any crook can make money that way.
LETTER TO EDITOR IN ORANGEVILLE BANNER
Thank you to my heroes
Related Stories
Ontario's quarry conundrum
Ontario’s thirst for aggregate must no longer trump the need to maintain agricultural land, heard the...
It is with heart-felt gratitude that I extend my thanks to Mr. Cosack, Mr. Lehman and all those who spoke in support of farmland and water at the Aggregate Resources Act review in Orangeville last week.
They are my heroes.
They speak for thousands of us Ontarians and our children, and our children’s children.
Susan Stamm, Grand Valley
http://www.orangeville.com/opinion/letters/article/1387541--thank-you-to-my-heroes
DOG AND PONY SHOW
In the words of the Orangeville Banner on the ARA hearings in Orangeville:
"Lame pony is better than no pony"
Despite his passionate plea, the chair of the committee, Liberal Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti, talked with his clerk and typed on his Blackberry throughout the testimony.
Regardless of substance of his emails or chats with the clerk, it’s disrespectful to ignore the people sitting directly in front of you.
Orazietti has an impressive political resume. In addition to serving as chair of the Standing Committee on General Government, he is also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Education Policy and Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction.
In the past, he has chaired the Liberal Caucus, the Northern Caucus, the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
With that kind of portfolio, paying attention should be his forte.
Click here for entire article:
http://www.orangeville.com/opinion/columns/article/1387757--lame-pony-is-better-than-no-pony
Here is the Chair's email in case you have any questions for him: dorazietti.mpp@liberal.ola.org
And I would bet that the email exchanges on his blackberry could be requested under a Freedom of Information request.
That way we would ALL know what was so important that he couldn't be fully engaged with the ARA review process.
Friday, July 6, 2012
LANEWAYS TO NOWHERE
ONE OF THE LANEWAYS TO NOWHERE NOW OWNED BY
HIGHLANDS/BAUPOST
THAT WAS A HOME AND FARMSTEAD
Great article by Guelph Mercury.
Excerpt:
"Parsons is a walking Google search on the issue of the mega-quarry.
But it’s not all hard facts. He also feels it.
His house and barn were one of several bulldozed by Highland, resulting in sad overgrown laneways to nowhere, which he pointed out on the tour, naming the families who used to live at the end of formerly tree-lined laneways.
It was like listening to a veteran read a list of the war dead.
He passed around pictures of his former farm, telling us in a wavering but controlled voice that he never would have sold to them if he knew then what he knows now.
Highland maintains that the farm buildings they demolished were dilapidated. Parsons’ response is that Highland removed the windows and let the weather in, so of course they were dilapidated."
Entire article here:
PS, the one exception I do take to the article is the inference that the battle is being won due to celebs and rich Toronto people living near here.
The "celebs" and rich Toronto folk are following the lead set by the locals, people like Lyle and the Armstrongs whom the ARA Committee snubbed on their drive by tour.
Highlands should be commended however for bringing city and country folks together in a remarkable way, so thanks for that.
AND one more thing-not only famous women wear lululemon, like Mag Ruffman on the bus tour-there are alot of farm wives who look pretty darn good wearing theirs!!!
OPEN LETTER FROM NDACT
An open letter to David Orazietti, Chair of the Standing Committee on General Government, Reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act.
Dear Sir,
Throughout this Review process, the public participants have been focused on preparing and delivering their presentations and have avoided taking issue with the mechanics of the Review itself.
Participants have not made an issue of the short notice given for the initial Presentation Week in Toronto- with clearly more notice given to the Aggregate Industry.
We appreciate the extension of the Review process to include key visits to prime sites in Ontario.
Specific actions taken, comments made and conduct by you and your Committee leading up to, during and after the June 27th Orangeville visit might be the turning point which caused people to lose faith in this process, its transparency and its guise of being unbiased.
I am deeply concerned that our input to the Review and suggested changes to this outdated piece of policy are not valued, will not be considered and that these“Local Visits” are simply a public relations exercise.
Case in point:
Your Team had a scheduled tour of four sites accompanied by Maureen Miller of the Ontario Gravel Sand and Stone Association.
Who organized and approved the tours of the four quarry sites on the morning of June 27th?
Why wasn't NDACT or the OFA contacted and given a similar opportunity to conduct an on-the-ground tour of farming operations to explain how prime agricultural lands benefit Ontarians and contribute $33-billion to the Provincial economy each year?
Due to some public pressure, your Team conducted an unescorted “drive by” tour of the proposed Mega Quarry and disrespected some key members of our community, the Armstrongs, who were ready and willing to welcome your Committee, and you left them standing on the side of the road as you drove by!
Your dismissive response “We know people who know people” to our query as to who guided your“tour” is simply flippant and unacceptable.
After a day filled with creative, well thought out presentations - particularly Dave Vander Zaag’s poignant presentation, it is incumbent upon your committee members to educate themselves on all aspects of the issues that surround Prime Farmland and Source Water Protection.
You are quoted as stating: “We are not here to stop the Mega Quarry”.
But it is the deeply flawed Highland Companies Mega Quarry proposal that the current Act permitted to be filed, an Act that has clearly outlived its usefulness.
The Highland Companies proposal serves as an ideal case study to highlight the issues in the Act that the Review Report should address to ensure that a project like the Highland Companies proposal will never be proposed again.
As Chair of this Review, you should lead and inspire your Committee and should serve as much more than a time keeper.
Minister Gravelle, who thinks enough of you to appoint you Chair of this most important Review committee, expects more – as do we the people of Ontario.
Your work will have a long legacy. It is incumbent upon you to lead your team, perform your duties, educate yourselves in a way that leaves no stone unturned, pun intended, and is above reproach.
As Chair, you have much work ahead of you, to bring integrity and transparency back into this Review process, and bring it to an outcome that all future governments, whatever their political stripe, will use in order to better serve Ontarians.
Carl Cosack
Chair, NDACT
Dear Sir,
Throughout this Review process, the public participants have been focused on preparing and delivering their presentations and have avoided taking issue with the mechanics of the Review itself.
Participants have not made an issue of the short notice given for the initial Presentation Week in Toronto- with clearly more notice given to the Aggregate Industry.
We appreciate the extension of the Review process to include key visits to prime sites in Ontario.
Specific actions taken, comments made and conduct by you and your Committee leading up to, during and after the June 27th Orangeville visit might be the turning point which caused people to lose faith in this process, its transparency and its guise of being unbiased.
I am deeply concerned that our input to the Review and suggested changes to this outdated piece of policy are not valued, will not be considered and that these“Local Visits” are simply a public relations exercise.
Case in point:
Your Team had a scheduled tour of four sites accompanied by Maureen Miller of the Ontario Gravel Sand and Stone Association.
Who organized and approved the tours of the four quarry sites on the morning of June 27th?
Why wasn't NDACT or the OFA contacted and given a similar opportunity to conduct an on-the-ground tour of farming operations to explain how prime agricultural lands benefit Ontarians and contribute $33-billion to the Provincial economy each year?
Due to some public pressure, your Team conducted an unescorted “drive by” tour of the proposed Mega Quarry and disrespected some key members of our community, the Armstrongs, who were ready and willing to welcome your Committee, and you left them standing on the side of the road as you drove by!
Your dismissive response “We know people who know people” to our query as to who guided your“tour” is simply flippant and unacceptable.
After a day filled with creative, well thought out presentations - particularly Dave Vander Zaag’s poignant presentation, it is incumbent upon your committee members to educate themselves on all aspects of the issues that surround Prime Farmland and Source Water Protection.
You are quoted as stating: “We are not here to stop the Mega Quarry”.
But it is the deeply flawed Highland Companies Mega Quarry proposal that the current Act permitted to be filed, an Act that has clearly outlived its usefulness.
The Highland Companies proposal serves as an ideal case study to highlight the issues in the Act that the Review Report should address to ensure that a project like the Highland Companies proposal will never be proposed again.
As Chair of this Review, you should lead and inspire your Committee and should serve as much more than a time keeper.
Minister Gravelle, who thinks enough of you to appoint you Chair of this most important Review committee, expects more – as do we the people of Ontario.
Your work will have a long legacy. It is incumbent upon you to lead your team, perform your duties, educate yourselves in a way that leaves no stone unturned, pun intended, and is above reproach.
As Chair, you have much work ahead of you, to bring integrity and transparency back into this Review process, and bring it to an outcome that all future governments, whatever their political stripe, will use in order to better serve Ontarians.
Carl Cosack
Chair, NDACT
Thursday, July 5, 2012
HAVE SOME FOTO FUN
Green Party of Ontario wants YOU!~!
Well, at least your pictures:
"Dear Green Party friend:
The deadline for accepting submissions for our Third Annual Calendar Contest is fast approaching!
Since announcing the contest in the middle of June, two dozen individuals have submitted over 100 photos thus far. It's been exciting to see such wonderful examples of the richness and diversity of our province. You will almost certainly enjoy seeing them as much as I when we launch the contest in a few weeks.
Help make 2012 our best Calendar Contest ever! We're looking for your five favorite photos of scenes from around Ontario, which will be posted online for judging by Ontarians in July and August.
If you enjoy taking photos, and have not yet submitted your best shots, send an email to calendarcontest@gpo.ca. The top 12 photos with the highest number of votes will be selected and used to create the Ontario Green's 2013 calendar, which will be on sale this fall.
Submit your photos by July 15th to calendarcontest@gpo.ca. I look forward to receiving your entries!
Sincerely,
Craig Cantin
Deputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario
P.S. The success of our annual calendar is due to your photographic talents. Don't miss the deadline; submit your photos by July 15th!
http://www.gpo.ca/blog/2012-07-04/have-you-submitted-your-photos-yet
Well, at least your pictures:
"Dear Green Party friend:
The deadline for accepting submissions for our Third Annual Calendar Contest is fast approaching!Since announcing the contest in the middle of June, two dozen individuals have submitted over 100 photos thus far. It's been exciting to see such wonderful examples of the richness and diversity of our province. You will almost certainly enjoy seeing them as much as I when we launch the contest in a few weeks.
Help make 2012 our best Calendar Contest ever! We're looking for your five favorite photos of scenes from around Ontario, which will be posted online for judging by Ontarians in July and August.
If you enjoy taking photos, and have not yet submitted your best shots, send an email to calendarcontest@gpo.ca. The top 12 photos with the highest number of votes will be selected and used to create the Ontario Green's 2013 calendar, which will be on sale this fall.
Submit your photos by July 15th to calendarcontest@gpo.ca. I look forward to receiving your entries!
Sincerely,
Craig CantinDeputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario
P.S. The success of our annual calendar is due to your photographic talents. Don't miss the deadline; submit your photos by July 15th!
http://www.gpo.ca/blog/2012-07-04/have-you-submitted-your-photos-yet
NO SENSE OR NONSENSE vs. PITSENSE
Pit Sense has been denied the opportunity (TWICE) to speak at the Aggregate Review Committee hearings.
The committee must be getting tired of hearing the truth, which could be the only explanation for denying them twice, although the committee will tell you they are just very busy......
PIT SENSE:
Our organization was established in early 2010 in order to evaluate and respond to the announcement of proposals for another open pit mine on the Escarpment. We have spent the ensuing 2+ years researching the many relevant issues and building a knowledge base. Read more: http://www.pitsense.ca/about.html
The committee must be getting tired of hearing the truth, which could be the only explanation for denying them twice, although the committee will tell you they are just very busy......
PIT SENSE:
Our organization was established in early 2010 in order to evaluate and respond to the announcement of proposals for another open pit mine on the Escarpment. We have spent the ensuing 2+ years researching the many relevant issues and building a knowledge base. Read more: http://www.pitsense.ca/about.html
SYLVIA JONES CLARIFICATION ON THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
This was just forwarded to me by a regular reader of this blog, follow the trail:
Sunday July 1, 2012
via email to all members of the ARA committee as well as the Premier:
I am looking for clarification on what transpired on June 27 in Orangeville as part of the ARA hearings.
The newspapers report that the committee, after having toured several working aggregate sites made a commitment to tour a farming operation in Melancthon.
There is considerable confusion as to whether committee as a whole or any individual member actually stopped at a working farm to view the infrastructure, the money invested in the operation and the jobs created, as opposed to just driving by in a bus.
Could you please provide clarification for me?
Thank you.
XXXXXXX
Reply dated July 3, 3012
As part of the review of the Aggregate Resources Act, the committee did incorporate tours of existing aggregate operations, rehabilitated area and yes, we also took the bus up for a tour of the proposed Melancthon site after the public hearings wrapped up in 6:30pm.
Yes the bus stopped.
While DXXX V had offered a tour of his operation, the Chair had declined his offer when they spoke after the hearings ended.
Not sure where the confusion began, but DXXX certainly understood that the bus would not be touring his farm.
We will continue our public hearing over the next two weeks visiting communities and hearing from the public in Kitchener, Ottawa and Manitoulin Island.
S
Sylvia Jones, MPP
July 3, 3012 email from Author requesting additional information:
Can you please advise me at what farm the bus stopped and confirm a tour of the working operation was undertaken by the committeee?
Thank you
XXXXXXX
Reply from MPP Jones dated July 5, 2012
Sunday July 1, 2012
via email to all members of the ARA committee as well as the Premier:
I am looking for clarification on what transpired on June 27 in Orangeville as part of the ARA hearings.
The newspapers report that the committee, after having toured several working aggregate sites made a commitment to tour a farming operation in Melancthon.
There is considerable confusion as to whether committee as a whole or any individual member actually stopped at a working farm to view the infrastructure, the money invested in the operation and the jobs created, as opposed to just driving by in a bus.
Could you please provide clarification for me?
Thank you.
XXXXXXX
Reply dated July 3, 3012
As part of the review of the Aggregate Resources Act, the committee did incorporate tours of existing aggregate operations, rehabilitated area and yes, we also took the bus up for a tour of the proposed Melancthon site after the public hearings wrapped up in 6:30pm.
Yes the bus stopped.
While DXXX V had offered a tour of his operation, the Chair had declined his offer when they spoke after the hearings ended.
Not sure where the confusion began, but DXXX certainly understood that the bus would not be touring his farm.
We will continue our public hearing over the next two weeks visiting communities and hearing from the public in Kitchener, Ottawa and Manitoulin Island.
S
Sylvia Jones, MPP
July 3, 3012 email from Author requesting additional information:
Can you please advise me at what farm the bus stopped and confirm a tour of the working operation was undertaken by the committeee?
Thank you
XXXXXXX
Reply from MPP Jones dated July 5, 2012
No working farm was toured, but many were observed by the committee.
S
Sylvia Jones, MPP
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
Minebuster thanks D.T. for this synopsis:
Following your e-mails to the Committee we have received a variety of responses. Some highlighted responses to your e-mail queries about the quarry tours, lack of a farmland visit and the brief drive-by bus tour.
"Yesterday, our committee also decided to visit the site of the proposed application to gain an additional perspective - this area as you know is thousands of acres and yes we did stop. Spreading misinformation is not helpful to this process." David Orazietti, Chairman of Standing Committee
"In the morning prior to the hearings, the committee toured several existing quarries and rehabilitated sites in the Dufferin-Caledon area. The committee also visited the proposed quarry site in Melancthon....members of the committee felt it important to visit the site in order to gain additional perspective and to better understand the proposed project." Aide to David Orazietti.
"I can confirm that the committee changed their itinerary on June 27 to include a tour of the proposed Melancthon site. This was an important change to the itinerary, as it gave the MPPs on the committee a chance to judge the possible impact this quarry would have on both the proposed site and the surrounding area." Aide to MPP Rosario Marchese.
"As part of the review of the Aggregate Resources Act, the committee did incorporate tours of existing aggregate operations, rehabilitated area and yes, we also took the bus up for a tour of the proposed Melancthon site after the public hearings wrapped up at 6:30pm. Yes the bus stopped. While Dave V had offered a tour of his operation, the Chair had declined his offer when they spoke after the hearings ended." MPP Sylvia Jones.
Not one of them has explained why the aggregate reps were given a morning to conduct a guided tour or why the offer to tour the farmland that sparked the review was rejected. As for the Magical Mystery Bus Tour -- not one MPP has revealed where the bus stopped as part of its tour to "better understand the proposed project" or "judge the possible impact" the mega quarry would have on the surrounding area.
Thanks to everyone. We'll keep digging. Pun fully intended!
Cheers
D T
MELANCTHON DRIVE BY
A Melancthon drive by is NOT like a big city drive by, where someone gets shot.
A good description of a Melancthon drive by is on the AWARE Simcoe website and here it is in its entirety:
A good description of a Melancthon drive by is on the AWARE Simcoe website and here it is in its entirety:
 |
AWARE Simcoe June 30 2012
Melancthon residents asked an all-party committee of MPPs who were holding a hearing on the Aggregate Resources Act review in Orangeville on Wednesday to visit the proposed mega-quarry area. At the 11th hour, they agreed. Local farmers scrambled to be ready to greet them and were waiting in a group by the side of the road when the MPPs' bus arrived. And drove past them. And headed up the road, turned round and drove right past them again.
The MPPs were not interested in talking to the residents, not interested in getting off the bus to experience the fertile and beautiful land that's to be devastated by the mage-quarry. But earlier in the day, the MPPs visited four quarry sites. People in Melancthon are infurated by the lack of respect. The following is an account by a volunteer with Friends of NDACT (not a member of NDACT) who asked not to be named, with a link to a CTV news report of the hearing. (A link to the transcript of the hearing wil be posted when available.)
When is a tour a tour?
We have gathered more details about last night's rather odd "tour" of the proposed mega quarry site by the MPPs reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act. After announcing to applause at the Orangeville hearings that the Committee would tour the site once the session ended at 6:30pm, it was understood the MPPs would visit the rare farmland which sparked the review. When the hearings concluded, the chairman MPP David Orazietti, was asked where the committee was going to stop. It had been expected the MPPs were going to accept an offer to visit one of the large farms adjacent to the proposed site.
To everyone's surprise, Mr. Orazietti replied that they would not be stopping in the area but were going to see the site. When asked how they would know the location of the mega quarry site as there are no signs, he said "We know people, who know people."
Meanwhile, a small group of farmers and residents gathered at the side of the road in front of the farm, thinking the bus might stop for directions and they could meet the MPPs. Standing with them was a TV crew from CTV Barrie. They all watched as the bus carrying the MPPs drove past them heading north on Highway 124, turned around up the road and then passsed them again heading south. True to their word, the Committee didn't stop. Their "tour" lasted minutes. The MPPs missed an opportunity to visit a farm at the epicentre of the most controversial quarry application in Ontario history. CTV Barrie captured the bus driving by.
This was not a proper tour by any standard. Earlier in the day, the Committee visited four quarry sites -- some operating, some rehabilitated. If the MPPs can visit four quarry sites they should be able to find the time to visit one farm. The review of the ARA has focused on the ongoing conflict between aggregate and agriculture. To, once again, ignore the agricultural side of this debate is unacceptable.
So, the following questions need to be asked of the MPPs on the Committee:
Why drive by the very farmland at the centre of this controversy and not stop?
Why visit four quarry sites and not visit at least one of the farms adjacent to the site of the largest proposed quarry in Canadian history?
When will a proper, on-the-ground tour be conducted of this farmland? The review of the ARA will not be complete or comprehensive without a clear understanding of the potential impact on prime farmland, water resources and the surrounding environment.
Below is the CTV Barrie report from the hearings. The footage of the MPPs bus driving up the highway and back aired at 11pm last night, but we don't have it on a newscast.
NOTE TO READER: Sylvia Jones was on that bus. Her email is: sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org
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Monday, July 2, 2012
GREAT COMMENTARY BY THE ORANGEVILLE BANNER
RE: Lack of notice about the Aggregate Review Hearings:
Jun 27, 2012 - 5:43 PM
Our View: Short notice to register was intentional
An email arrived at The Banner on Monday, June 18 at 6:52 p.m. It was from Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones, and it carried the first notification the province’s Standing Committee on General Government, which is charged with reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act, would be making a stop in Orangeville.
At the bottom of the news release was the deadline for registering to speak during the hearing — noon that Thursday (June 21). Not much time was given.
Worse yet, our next edition wouldn’t be delivered to most homes until later that very day.
As with most things, we promptly posted it online (visit orangeville.com often for breaking news) so word would spread.
For those without Internet access, or no time for it, the information came too late to register.
The timing of this notice was unfortunate, and likely planned to attract as small a crowd as possible. With proper notice, the list of wanting presenters would no doubt be more than the committee wishes to hear from.
Aggregate extraction is an incredibly sensitive issue for many Dufferin and area residents, as pits and quarries abound to feed the ever-growing Greater Toronto Area.
While written submissions can be made until July 17 — email the committee’s clerk at tamara_pomanski@ontla.ola.org — such things can be easily ignored.
The government isn’t making a genuine effort to hear from the people most affected by the ARA. Don’t expect much in the way of improvements when the recommendations come out.
Unless, that is, you’re looking to start a quarry of your own.
Jun 27, 2012 - 5:43 PM
Province playing tricks
The Issue: Aggregate review hearingOur View: Short notice to register was intentional
An email arrived at The Banner on Monday, June 18 at 6:52 p.m. It was from Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones, and it carried the first notification the province’s Standing Committee on General Government, which is charged with reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act, would be making a stop in Orangeville.
At the bottom of the news release was the deadline for registering to speak during the hearing — noon that Thursday (June 21). Not much time was given.
Worse yet, our next edition wouldn’t be delivered to most homes until later that very day.
As with most things, we promptly posted it online (visit orangeville.com often for breaking news) so word would spread.
For those without Internet access, or no time for it, the information came too late to register.
The timing of this notice was unfortunate, and likely planned to attract as small a crowd as possible. With proper notice, the list of wanting presenters would no doubt be more than the committee wishes to hear from.
Aggregate extraction is an incredibly sensitive issue for many Dufferin and area residents, as pits and quarries abound to feed the ever-growing Greater Toronto Area.
While written submissions can be made until July 17 — email the committee’s clerk at tamara_pomanski@ontla.ola.org — such things can be easily ignored.
The government isn’t making a genuine effort to hear from the people most affected by the ARA. Don’t expect much in the way of improvements when the recommendations come out.
Unless, that is, you’re looking to start a quarry of your own.
HANSARD FROM THE ARA HEARING IN ORANGEVILLE
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committee_transcripts_details.do?Date=2012-06-27&ParlCommID=8958&BillID=&Business=Aggregate+Resources+Act+review&locale=en&DocumentID=26476
Wednesday 27 June 2012 Mercredi 27 juin 2012
AGGREGATE RESOURCES ACT REVIEW
MR. KEN CRESSEY
MR. ROBERT WELLS
MR. RON LEHMAN
PROTECT CALEDON INC.
MS. MARGARET MERCER
MR. BRENT PRESTON
DUFFERIN PARENT SUPPORT NETWORK
GREEN PARTY OF ONTARIO
CHIEFS AND COUNCILS,
SAUGEEN OJIBWAY FIRST NATION
MS. DONNA BAYLIS
NORTH DUFFERIN AGRICULTURAL
AND COMMUNITY TASKFORCE
TOWN OF SHELBURNE
OXFORD PEOPLE
AGAINST THE LANDFILL
DUFFERIN FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
MR. DAVID VANDER ZAAG
SAVE THE OAK RIDGES
MORAINE COALITION
TOWN OF CALEDON
MR. GREG SWEETNAM
Wednesday 27 June 2012 Mercredi 27 juin 2012
AGGREGATE RESOURCES ACT REVIEW
MR. KEN CRESSEY
MR. ROBERT WELLS
MR. RON LEHMAN
PROTECT CALEDON INC.
MS. MARGARET MERCER
MR. BRENT PRESTON
DUFFERIN PARENT SUPPORT NETWORK
GREEN PARTY OF ONTARIO
CHIEFS AND COUNCILS,
SAUGEEN OJIBWAY FIRST NATION
MS. DONNA BAYLIS
NORTH DUFFERIN AGRICULTURAL
AND COMMUNITY TASKFORCE
TOWN OF SHELBURNE
OXFORD PEOPLE
AGAINST THE LANDFILL
DUFFERIN FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
MR. DAVID VANDER ZAAG
SAVE THE OAK RIDGES
MORAINE COALITION
TOWN OF CALEDON
MR. GREG SWEETNAM
Saturday, June 30, 2012
INTERESTING
Astounding and disturbing stats from the current In the Hills issue-link at the bottom so you can read the entire article.
Notice the annual litres for all of these operations show 859,823,200 litres per YEAR in permits to take water.
Enough to service a population of 9,300 people.
Highlands proposal, if approved, will mean a permit to take water of900,000,000 600,000,000 litres per DAY.
http://www.inthehills.ca/2012/06/current/battling-the-bottle/
Notice the annual litres for all of these operations show 859,823,200 litres per YEAR in permits to take water.
Enough to service a population of 9,300 people.
Highlands proposal, if approved, will mean a permit to take water of
http://www.inthehills.ca/2012/06/current/battling-the-bottle/
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