NDACT Discussion Forum
This is a location where North Dufferin residents can express their views to and ask questions of the NDACT Committee
The Highland Companies has demolished a number of houses and barns on
property that they own.The total is now 22 properties with a total assessment of $5,458,750. They have made an effort to clean up the sites
of destruction and have claimed that many of these homes were not
insurable but what do you think are the pros and cons of this extensive
loss of housing within our neighbourhood?
My name is Kate Armstrong. I live on a farm located north of Shelburne, Ont. in Melancthon Township. My father's name is Ralph Armstrong. He lives on the same farm north of Shelburne. My Grandfather's name was Russell Armstrong and he lived on the same farm north of Shelburne. My Great Grandfather's name was Richard Armstrong and he lived on the same farm, north of Shelburne, My Great Great Grandfather's name was Henry Armstrong and he lived on the same farm north of Shelburne. My great Great Great Great Grandfather's name was James Armstrong and he lived on the same farm. He was the original owner of this farm north of Shelburne. James obtained this land in 1853, before Canada was even a nation.
This land has provided for over 150 years and will continue to do so if we don't destroy it. I am speaking to you on behalf of a generation who hopes to continue farming some of the best farmland in Ontario that a company of international private investors known as the Highland Companies, may destroy by creating a limestone quarry.
I understand that no one wants a quarry in their backyard, but it is disgusting to even suggest putting a quarry where food can be produced for generations to come. For those who do not understand soil very well, it is important to know that not all soil is the same. The soil in this area north of Shelburne is designated as the highest grade of soil in Ontario, and is so special that it is designated as its own category as the Honeywood silt loam soil, our soil is the BMW of soil.
Part of the reason that this land is so good is that the limestone underneath it allows it to drain, whereas many farmers in other areas have to tile their land so that water does not pool and drown their crops. Take away this limestone and you will take away the soil's ability to grow high yield crops.
The Highland companies have claimed that they can restore this land after they mine the limestone, but the fact is that quarry rehabilitation is in the process of being researched. There is no guarantee that the land will be the same as it is now after it is rehabilitated. Even the Ministry of Natural Resources does not have any research on the specific agricultural capacity of the land before and after a quarry.
The Highland companies is proposing a 2,400 acre quarry that is going to be 200 feet deep and they expect us to believe that farming is going to go on as normal in this giant hole, that water is somehow miraculously going to stay out of.
I hope that nobody is this naive.
Some people have said, why not just sell this farm and buy a new one? If this is your thought line, then you are missing the point completely. People search for land that is as good as ours, land that is fertile, land that has excellent drainage in a climate and altitude that is perfect for growing crop and land that can even benefit from our strong winds and blowing snow. The combination is perfect here.
Most importantly we know that food land is a non-renewable resource. Let me say that again non-renewable. 1/3 of Canada's best farmland can be seen from the CN tower on a clear day. However 49% of central Ontario's prime farmland has been paved over in the later half of the twentieth century due to the growth of the GTA.
49%
Why destroy more prime food land, when limestone is found in many areas that can barely grow grass?
I don't want to buy potatoes from Spain and I don't want to buy my steaks from China. I want fresh local produce. What do you want on your table? My neighbors, friends and myself want to continue farming this beautiful land, so please help us to do so.
Visit the north Dufferin agriculture and community taskforce website at www.ndact.com and place a comment, sign the petition and contact your local representatives. Tell them that we want to buy local food and you don't want to prime farmland to be destroyed by a large limestone quarry.
I know it is hard not to be swayed by the Highland Companies money and their donations to "key" locations in the county, but ask yourself - are all the things they are giving worth what they are going to take away? I don't think so.
There is a saying only when the last tree has died and the last river poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can not eat money.
When my Great Great Great grandfather came to this area, I am sure that he had hopes that his land would provide food for centuries to come. The decision that we are making now will determine weather all our Great Great Great grandchildren will be trying to fix our mistakes or whether they will be enjoying the food land, water and community that we have now.
Kate Armstrong
5th generation on the same farm in Melancthon Township
Karren Wallace: This is an excellent piece of work. Kate spoke these words at NDACT's June meeting and it was very powerful. (10/11/09)
3rd line: check out this blog miningforthetruthinmelancthon.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html (10/12/09)
gary h rideout: how do companies get away with this stuff,Don,t our ministry of natural resources have any say in this.Where,s our environment although i just saw what they almost let simcoe county get away with at dumpsite41. What happened to democracy,government by the people for the people,I think mayor fawcett would have made a better farmer than a mayor .,she,s supposed to represent the people that elected her.Where is the sierra defence league or council of canadians on this matter. (12/13/09)
gary h rideout: how do companies get away with this stuff,Don,t our ministry of natural resources have any say in this.Where,s our environment although i just saw what they almost let simcoe county get away with at dumpsite41. What happened to democracy,government by the people for the people,I think mayor fawcett would have made a better farmer than a mayor .,she,s supposed to represent the people that elected her.Where is the sierra defence league or council of canadians on this matter. (12/13/09)
Beth Attwood: Well said, Kate. It appears common sense is not all that common. I was raised on a farm by Lavender , Ontario and know the farm land in that area was good. I am behind this petition 100% (12/20/09)
jan: Currently another company called Titan is attempting to acquire thousands of acres in North Carolina and in Florida "building the 4th largest coal fired Cement Plant in the nation and strip mining 1000s of acres of the adjacent wetlands for limestone" Do a search for any of these items, Titan Cement Plant Wilmington NC, Titan Cape Fear Florida, or search for "stop titan dot org" I wonder if the same principals own Titan (02/02/10)
This is where you can express your views and concerns about any topic related to the activities of the Highland Company, NDACT and local government bodies.
Karren Wallace: Flamborough has been fighting a similar threat for the last five years, when David Lowndes purchased approximately 300 acres of land. Hamilton City Councillor Margaret McCarthy took a leadership role for her Flamborough Ward immediately when trees began disappearing and a quarry was hinted at, YEARS before an aggregate application was filed. She has championed that issue by successfully lobbying provincial politicians, Hamilton City Councillors and other municipalities for support. To see all that she has done on behalf of her constituents, go to her webpage at www.margaretmccarthy.ca We need and deserve that kind of political leadership here. It should NOT be up to the ratepayers to do a job for which politicians were elected. No elected official in Melancthon or Mulmur can honestly say they haven’t heard from the majority and the majority of qualified electors are NOT in favour of an open pit mine over prime agricultural land, water and the environment. The only entity that wants this, is one company who stands to make billions of dollars off the destruction of Melancthon Township. karrenwallace@sympatico.ca (05/29/09)
chris case: It would be sinful to destroy such beautiful farmland with such an ugly quarry. (06/08/09)
Karen Knight: Is our community so disposable.What are we leaving our children? No farm land polluted water and soil and air. No food or fresh water and what is the price we will be paid? Let's all work together to stop the quarry .. (06/09/09)
Louise Marcoux Phillips: Thank you NDACT for hosting and presenting such an informative and empowering meeting on June 20, 2009 at the Honeywood Arena. Listening to the concerns of Melancthon Township's younger generation voiced by Miss Kate Armstrong reinforces what our priorities must be; to leave the legacy of prime agricultural land and abundant clean water as provided for us via the Headwaters, intact. Thank you NDACT, for representing my family and I in these issues. (06/22/09)
Lynne: For the next meeting we would like to see less time allotted to Mr Michael Daniher! Under the guise of "Question and Answer" period, Mr Daniher is allowed to take over the microphone, to give 'generalised' replies to valid questions asked by concerned residents. In the January meeting Mr Daniher could not answer many of the questions put forward, yet now he can? Far too much time is wasted on him! This results in people walking out of the meeting - either because of boredom, or lack of interest in his fluffed-up excuses, which will probably be different again next time! I suggest the Q&A section be organised in advance. People should be asked to write down their question (on pre-printed forms) and hand it in, to allow more control over question period. Also some people may not feel comfortable standing up in front of a crowd. By doing this, I feel the question period would flow more smoothly, more questions would be addressed, and there would be records for follow up information purposes. (I would be happy to organise this) (06/24/09)
Louise Marcoux Phillips: Thank you NDACT for issuing a clear and concise communication regarding what is taking place in Melancthon Township at this time. The Highland Companies' agenda has not been made clear yet which makes the distribution of clear information even more necessary. I urge all tax payers and concerned citizens to add their voices to this protest and to decry the Highland Companies' environmentally unsound agenda. Call, write or email your Member of Parliament, Premier McGuinty and let them know your concerns, your issues and your outrage! (06/25/09)
Dave Boyle: Thank you members of NDACT for providing this communication forum. If it wasn't for your efforts this community would be in the dark concerning the activities of the Highland Co. For almost a year now ratepayers have voiced concerns to council with little or no real feedback. With all the input from citizens that council is receiving I am truely amazed that they have not taken a leadership role in protecting their constituents interests. Our Mayor's comment about trying to get the best possible deal just doesn't cut it. What exactally does that mean? I think I'm talking for the majority when all I ask for is transparency concerning Highland's activities and elected officials who will fight for the interests of it's electorate. Once again. Thank you NDACT and your supporters for stepping into the fight. (07/07/09)
Murray Laufer: I am completely against the development of this quarry and urge you to take steps to ensure that these plans are stopped forever. Developing this land for a quarry is completely inappropriate and unacceptable for these lands. (08/10/09)
Cyrus Sundar Singh: I am writing to express my outrage regarding plans for this quarry. I ask that these plans be permanently cancelled. (08/10/09)
Cyrus Sundar Singh: I am writing to express my outrage regarding plans for this quarry. I ask that these plans be permanently cancelled. (08/10/09)
Mary Lapierre: I've been folllowing what NDACT has been posting and what has been written in the papers. I really would like some clarification for I'm confused and have questions. If lost of land is one of your arguments then why is that I hear no one opposing windmills. I could argue that windmills will take away from land usage as well. As well as take about from the beauty of the land. If you are going to fight a pit you should fight the windmills as well. Otherwise you are being hypocritical. Two Acres vs 200 acres should not make a difference if you are so concerned about saving farm land. So again I ask why is it that there is and has never been any mention of ndact fighting windmills even your own mission statement is to preserve and protect ... including lands, character and lifestyle. I was reading notes that one of your voices submitted to council regarding the houses that are being removed. I really like her math but... In each of these houses that she is referring to how many of them actually still had kids for recreation? How many of these people rebuilt in our township? You speak of Higher education with the hope of returning. Without an industry to return to what would they do? Besides farming. Its not like my children would farm for although we own property we are not farmers. If your plan was to be followed and these houses where not torn down. Then what? They remain empty for rats and mice to live in? You're gonna force the company to maintain them? Force them to rent them? If someone could explain to me what your plan is for that please enlighten me. Thanks Mary (08/22/09)
Karren Wallace: Mary Lapierre: please come to the video dance fundraiser on Friday August 28 at the Honeywood arena and visit NDACT's table or contact any NDACT member to ask your questions. They would be glad to explain and provide answers. Thank you for your interest. Karren (08/25/09)
Adrienne DiCastri: Once again a 'fast one' is being pulled on the people of Ontario. WAKE UP folks! This proposal is so outrageous that I am almost speechless..and those of you who know me know how unusual this is! Let's stop this CRIME. Do we not realize that water on this planet is a finite resource? Once it is gone it is gone! And with regard to our precious agricultural land.. but for the 3 to 4 inches of topsoil we have we would be a starving third world country! Add this to the fact that the US is draining Lake Huron and then imagine your province as a desert!! Step up and speak up for what is ours! Do what is right. We Canadians are far too complacent and as a consequence we are once again being taken to the cleaners. I for one am sick and tired of our 'politeness' being used against us by the unscrupulous and greedy whose vision does not extend beyond their immediate wallets. This is just one of many atrocities being perpetuated on our country by foreign money hungry investment companies!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! (09/03/09)
Ido Visentin: I support the efforts of this site to get a full explaination and understanding of the short and long term affects of the aggregate proposal. (09/04/09)
Ido Visentin: I support the efforts of this site to get a full explaination and understanding of the short and long term affects of the aggregate proposal. (09/04/09)
Dave Adeney: As a camper at Unicamp, the 50-acre Unitarian church camp near Honeywood, I support the petition. I'm concerned that the headwaters of the Grand and other rivers may be negatively affected. Has the Six Nations Council been alerted to this potential threat? Their interest in the integrity of the Grand River goes back hundreds of years. They are a very effective lobby group and may be capable of acting quickly. (09/06/09)
Dave Adeney: Here's an excerpt from an Oct 10/09 article in the Hamilton Spectator about the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario's annual report to the legislator, released this week: .............. Elsewhere in the report, he says planning rules are weighted in favour of the aggregate industry and destructive uses of land. "Municipalities have little practical authority to restrict the approval of new pits and quarries under the existing land-use planning system. They also are often reluctant to restrict new operations because of the costly possibility of facing an Ontario Municipal Board hearing. This skewed process often results in frustrated local residents feeling disenfranchised by both their local politicians and the local government." Commenting on proposals for a new quarry in Flamborough and expansion of the Nelson Quarry in Burlington, Miller identifies a conflict in the Provincial Policy Statement (on land use) between protecting both mineral aggregate and natural heritage features. He repeats a 2006-2007 recommendation that the province "reconcile its conflicting priorities between aggregate extraction and environmental protection." ....................... (10/12/09)
Claire: I feel that excavation of this land at the headwaters of these rivers that supplies water to this beautiful farmland , would be an incredibly stupid, and short sighted approach, to the usefullness that quality soil can produce.These farms ought to be producing food, if not for us then, to export to parts of this country, or others that are in need. (11/25/09)
Karren: Claire The headwaters does not just supply water to this farmland, it supplies water to more than 1 million Ontarians. It is very, very disturbing to say the least that there is a possibility that this acquifer will be cracked open and damaged, with no possibility of repair, jeapordizing our source of clean safe drinking water. (11/26/09)
Ken: NDACT held a public meeting on January 16, 2010 at the Honeywood arena. It was excellent, with the guest speakers giving messages of hope and to not give up. Please support NDACT, take out a membership. (01/17/10)
Gary Christie: As president of the Nottawasaga Steelheaders, an active group of anglers, landowners and environmentally concerned individuals involved in the preservation and conservation of the Nottawasaga River watershed for over 20 years, our group fully supports the efforts of NDACT and others to halt the progress of this quarry. We find this project environmentally and agriculturally not sound. It is destructive and motivated by financial greed directed by individuals not from the area and not appreciative of the land, its ecological sensitivity and its people. We will do what we can to assist in stopping the quarry. There is absolutely no way that Highland can confirm that that a project of this magnitude and scale will not have an ecological effect, tomorrow, next month, one year or decades from now. They can compensate farmers and landowners for lost income but who do they compensate for a lost species. The legacy we pass on to our children and generations are based on what we do now. Let us not let them down. If something does happen to our watersheds and ecology will the principles of Highland will be available for comment or accountability?? How about MOE and other government officials who side with Highland? Would they be be available for comment and accountability?? We put a challenge out to sincere politicians working on behalf of their constituents to stand up and do the right thing of integrity and stop this quarry Gary Christie President Nottawasaga Steelheaders Visit our Website www.nottawasaga.org (01/17/10)
Nikki Cosack: How can we be hypocritical by not fighting the windmills? This fight just isn't about aesthetics, windmills won't go below the water table destroying our environment, and furthermore windmills are a re-newable resource whereas an open pit mine is most definitely not. When there is no more limestone, what do you think is going to happen? (01/21/10)
Minebuster: Nikki-you are preaching to the converted. The really ironic thing about windtubines is they are a HUGE user of aggregate. So, not only do we take prime agricultural land out of use to erect windturbines, we need to take prime agricultural land out of use to mine the aggregate to BUILD the turbines. And the provincial government today just signed a deal with Samsung to provide acres and acres and acres of turbines and solar "farms". No wonder they took all the authority for the planning process related to "green energy" out of the hands of the municipalities.....they had this big "deal" in the works. (01/21/10)
Dave Adeney: Last week on CBC TV's nationally-broadcast "Power and Politics" program, host Evan Soloman interviewed Sara Harmer about mixing her role as a singer-songwriter with that of an environmental activist. Her involvement with the anti-quarry group that successfully lobbied against enlargement of the Nelson quarry on the Niagara escarpment near Burlington was very effective. Could NDACT approach her and ask for a statement of support? A simple statement of support could be useful on the website and in other communications, including submissions to regulatory bodies. (07/21/10)
This is a location where North Dufferin residents can express their views to and ask questions of the NDACT Committee
JK: I have a question: are these houses being torn down so that they can use the land for farming... or are these houses being torn down because it is where they plan to dig the open pit mine? Also, is there any more word on when the application for this quarry will be put forward? What can be done, now, to try and stop this environmental and community disaster from happening? (11/20/09)
Ken: These houses, barns outbuildings and trees are being bulldozed and burnt so Highlands can blast. These are located within the area to be mined. In addition to the 12 that are gone Highlands has applied for 7 more burn permits. The company has not filed their application yet, but the frames for the signs are up, so it will happen very soon. I hope that NDACT will post a step by step process with contact information that people can follow to object to this environmental disaster. In the meantime email a link to this blog to everyone you know, write local and provincial politicans, the media, environmental groups, attend council meetings, anything to raise the profile of this issue with the people in Ontario. In order to put a stop to this battle and in other places in Ontario fighting this same thing is to elevate this issue in the public to a point that the provincial government changes provincial policies that currently state aggregate is more important than local food sources, water or the environment. (11/20/09)
art wanders: Everyday I drive home another home or farm is being destroyed and bush being cleared. It truly is making me sick in my stomach to see this. I thought common sense would prefail , but now am truly dis-heartened by what I see and they havn't even started the pit. I disappointed with our politicians, impudent by-standers in this process. As we have all heard the term before, "follow the money". Wecome to the 'badlands" people and say goodbuy to "Honeywood" future ghost-town. Again, common sense did not prevail, I'm so disappointed (12/06/09)
Louise Marcoux Phillips: As homesteads are being bulldozed and burned all around my property I am extremely concerned about the effect this will have on our roads in terms of snow accumulations and wind havoc. As trees, houses and barns are being systematically eradicated so are the windblocks which have helped to deter massive amounts of snow from piling up on our roads. Does Melancthon Township have sufficient monies in their budget to support the obvious need for more snow plows and operators for this upcoming and future winters? Take a look at the utter wasteland that is the area of 20th Sideroad of Melancthon between the 3rd line and the 4th line. There is absolutely nothing left to stop the wind and snow from filling in 20 Sideroad and making it impassable for motorists. As more and more homes and homesteads are being destroyed I believe this community is going to feel the isolation as winter deepens ... the isolation brought on by roads that are repeatedly filled in by snow. What provisions has The Highland Companies undertaken to resolve or circumvent this very real problem? (12/06/09)
Ken: Concerned ratepayers advised Melancthon Council in an open meeting of Council months ago they had the the option of passing a bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act, which would force Highlands to obtain a building permit prior to being issued a demolition permit for each structure. Council refused to consider the request. (12/06/09)
Maggie Jordan: Just a thought. Is there anything in considering the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation east of the proposed quarry area. I do not believethe quarry is on the land designated preserve, but it is certainly right there and down water from the proposed excavations. I have just read in Maclean's that the UNESCO designation as a world heritage site has been rescinded from the Dresden Elbe Valley because they built a modern bridge in the midst of it.. Surely the biosphere preserve will be threatened by the turmoil and water table disturbance. Perhaps Unesco will not care; but if the presence of the quarry would threaten that designation, it would be a good PR tool to get attention from people in general who are not already cognizant of the proposal and its scope. Maggie (12/08/09)
gary rideout: the ogallala aquifer,the world,s largest underground lake and the key resource for an area that runs from south dakota to texas and from colorado to missouri may run dry within three decades.is this what we want to happen to the allison aquifier,and the waters surrounding the orangeville area especially if highlands is allowed to dig 200 ft below water level..wake up canada and ontario.become a major player in the global food market (12/19/09)
Karren: One more homestead, standing yesterday morning at 7 a.m., wiped from the face of the earth by noon, compliments of Highlands. I believe this makes 14. And don't forget, this is happening under the watch of our elected officials in Melancthon who had the tools to stop this. (01/21/10)
Joe Bloggs: Hey Karren - Love your blog. Cracks me up. (03/09/10)
Theri: Highlands still has to deal with First Nations as thier projects will also adversly affect aboriginal / reservation lands / water, etc. As far as I know, the Haudenosaunne Heritage Institute ("HDI") has not been contacted, nor has it received applications from Highlands for approvals to develop on any of the farming lots it purchased ... (03/25/10)