Completing Your Objection Form? Writing Letters?
Here’s what you need to know.
Objection Forms
If you received one, it must be returned by March 11 for you to remain an objector in the licensing process for the Highland Line pit proposal. If you are unable to open your form and have not received a version you can open, please let Neal DeRuyter know by replying to his email.
Want In Person Help from FLH?
FLH will be hosting workshops to provide clarification, discussion, and assistance in completing Objection Forms. Technical expertise will be available for the forms. We want to ensure as many Objection Forms as possible are returned, so are offering several options.
Workshop #1: March 1, 10:00 a.m., at MERA Schoolhouse 974 Dalhousie Conc 9A McDonalds Corners
Workshop #2: March 5 at 6:00 p.m. at MERA Schoolhouse 974 Dalhousie Conc 9A McDonalds Corners
Zoom Workshop: March 7, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Email: friendsoflanarkhighlands@gmail.com for a Zoom link.
Please register for one of these options via RSVP friendsoflanarkhighlands@gmail.com
For those not eligible to complete an Objection Form, these workshops will provide help with letter writing.
Contacts for letters are listed in Did You Know? What Can I Do?.
Email any questions to us at friendsoflanarkhighlands@gmail.com and we will respond as quickly as possible.
Need Resources to Fill in your Objection Form or to Write a Letter?
Have your voice heard by completing your Objection Form by March 11th (if you have one) and writing letters to Lanark Highlands Township, Lanark County and others! Include concerns that are important to you. The following resources may provide helpful information to support your concerns.
Summaries prepared by FLH:
Highland Line Pit Proposal – The Process Continues and Did You Know? What Can You Do? present facts about Cavanagh’s revisions of December 2024 and January 2025, the aggregate industry, and how best to stay involved.
Studies commissioned by FLH: We hired Mark Heaton to respond to the 2023 studies and the 2025 revisions. Mr. Heaton’s comments were critical of how Species at Risk, Wetlands and Significant Wildlife Habitat were dismissed. Preliminary Report and Updated Report)
Studies Done by Cavanagh’s Consultants: The Technical Report Summaries (originals from 2022/2023 and the Public Response Package (January 15, 2025) are on the TCCL website: www.cavanagharaapprovals.com.
• Part A – Response to Public Comments (January 15, 2025) includes the consultants’ responses to 78 comments which they feel summarize the concerns raised by the public in 2023. You may find it helpful to see their replies.
• New in the 2025 material is a study done in response to concerns raised about uranium and thorium contamination on the site. [For additional material related to health concerns, not from Cavanagh’s consultants see additional summaries of papers.
Also new is the Planning Addendum Report, intended to show how the pit would conform to the Official Plan of the township.
In the January 2025 package you will see that Mark Heaton’s comments from 2023 prompted the hiring of Cambium to write Response to Comments from Mark Heaton.
Many of Mr. Heaton’s criticisms are supported by a peer review of the Natural Environment Report done for Lanark Highlands. (Peer reviews are critical comments done by experts.) This document is in 2025 reports.
If you are particularly interested in the protection of fish and fish habitat in Barbers Lake, check out the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Project Review in the 2025 reports.
If you are particularly interested in trying to protect the turtle population in and around the site you may find the following link useful
Response to MNR Comments presents wide-ranging questions raised by the staff in the aggregate section of the MNRF, as well as a response from Cambium, one of Cavanagh’s consultants. This report deals with the Natural Environment, Water Studies 1 and 2, the Water Table and the Site Plan.
WE NEED EVERYONE’S VOICE TO BE HEARD.
LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE THINK!