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Dec 3, 2024
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January 22, 2024
Ontario Auditor General's damning report on aggregate industry confirms local concerns.
A quarry in Puslinch on Thursday, January4th - Mathew McCarthy
Story in the Kitchener Record News
The value for money audit found there isn't enough oversight of the aggregate industry by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and that pit operators often don't follow the rules
By Paige Desmond Reporter Friday, January 5, 2024
A damning report on the aggregate industry released by Ontario's Auditor General in December confirms what many local politicians and residents have been saying for years — the industry is operating without enough oversight and pit operators often skirt the rules.
The value for money audit was conducted between January and August 2023 and involved a comprehensive review of data on the aggregate industry including files at the four district Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry branches and data from The Ontario Aggregate Resource Corporation.
Read More
December 19, 2023
A just-released Auditor General’s report gives a stinging indictment of Ontario's unbridled aggregate sector, and the failure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to monitor the industry.
Inspections are not done, fines are not collected, and rules are not enforced, says the Auditor General
At the same time, our local concerns around aggregate development on The Highland Line have been shared recently with both Lanark Highlands Township and the County of Lanark. We have pointed out the threat to human health if uniquely high levels of uranium along the Highland Line are disturbed. We have also put the spotlight on the dangers of fine particle sediment washing from pit sites and choking the unevaluated wetlands in the Long Sault Creek Watershed, and adjacent Barbers Lake.
Press Release from the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition - Dec. 18 / 23
Statement from the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition - Dec. 14 / 23
Fact Sheet: The Auditor General’s Report on Gravel Mining in Ontario - Dec. 14 / 23
Value for Money Audit : Management of Aggregate Resources - Dec. 6 / 23 (Auditor General of Ontario - 59 pgs.)
More details to follow in the New Year…..
December 4, 2023
Friends of Lanark Highlands sent a delegation on Tuesday, November 28th 2023 to Lanark Highlands Council, to make a presentation to the Committee of the Whole
We covered four main topics:
the environmental threat posed by the much higher than average uranium content under the sand and gravel on the Highland Line
the threat to all life in Barbers Lake, surrounding wetlands and Long Sault Creek, if fine particle sediment is washed from the aggregate without being captured in a water treatment plant
the shortcomings in the Natural Environment Studies, as detailed by Mark Heaton, the ecologist hired by FoLH
the fact that the Aggregate Inventory mapping for Lanark County, done by the Ontario Geological Survey, acknowledges that less than 35% of the primary resource aggregate deposits the OGS mapped can be developed because of physical, environmental and cultural constraints.
In response to the presentation, Mr. Symon. Township Planner, agreed to forward any material we provide him to officials at Lanark County and the appropriate Ministries. He was sent an extensive resource list the next day.
If you want to see the text of the presentation made to the Committee of the Whole as well as the list of background materials, click on the link below:
Doug Ford’s latest threat to environmental protections & Ontario’s natural water systems
Thu, October 19, 2023 at 1:53 p.m. · 8 min read
Among the suite of legislative actions taken by the ruling PCs to expedite development projects, changes to the way Ontario handles storm management could create dire environmental consequences in the future.
Currently, four proposals sit on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) that, if passed, would streamline the approval process for certain waste management, stormwater management and water systems by exempting them from licensing requirements.
The move could have a profound impact on Ontario’s water systems.
October 19, 2023
URGENT!
The Ontario Government is planning to CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT
They propose to CUT LANDOWNERS & THE PUBLIC OUT OF COMMENTING ON GRANTING LICENCES FOR AGGREGATE PITS
The Government is currently seeking to pass legislation to “streamline” and speed up pit licences, as well as other industrial land uses including water taking and water management on industrial sites.
Make your voice heard NOW! Public input is being accepted until October 30th on the Environmental Registry of Ontario
copy your comments to John Jordan MPP John.Jordan@pc.ola.org
Oct. 11, 2023
Reporting by Emma Paling at the Breach
Ford PCs took $60K from donors linked to company pushing giant gravel mine
Major construction firm’s executive donated thousands to Ford government, benefitted from PC’s rollback of environmental laws
Complete story with pictures at the Breach