NDACT Discussion Forum

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)

Ellen Brakel: As a citizens of this area our first priority is to maintain the health of our land. When we have been given such a beautiful gift in the quality of the soil and waterways why not make the best use of them. We need to provide what we need most to sustain life, healthy food, clean water and abundant wildlife. There are not many places like this left on earth. Please help us to respect this land. (07/22/10)

joseph arcand: Do. not let go,it is important to stand united on this important issue, we are having some what of the same problem in northern ontario in cottage country which could dry up our spring fed lakes and well-spring. This company already as a aggrecate licence only to extract sand from under the water table;.denmar construction Ltd is applying for a licence 2 Category A which is to extract granite minerals from uunder the water table.see the north bay nugget and log in the following: QUARRY APPLICATION RUNS INTO FOEDS THANKS (11/09/10)

Karren: Highland Companies is up to 25 properties on which they have or plan to remove/demolish all structures. (11/15/10)

doug palmer: I have just begun reading about the Highland proposed quarry and noted the tearing down of houses. This reminds me of the "blockbusting " used in some large cities in the past. Under cover of potato farming this company is now completely eliminating any further use of this part of their land after the stone has been extracted. Where do the profits go? To millionaire shareholders around Boston? Appears to be very little long-term benefits to Melancthon or Ontario or Canada. But particilarly to anyone with an interest in the water resources of this area or to anyone buying food that could have been produced from land affected by any water problems that develop. If they do develop some or even most of the individuals who said they won't will not be around this area. (04/16/11)

Joan McKinlay: This is Earth week and will be celebrated at the schools. Have any been approached to include this issue on their agendas? (04/17/11)

Tammy Parise: Go back where you came from and don't come back here ever (04/22/11)

wayne doyle: What?The united states of america want to do what to our beautyfull land...don't go away mad just go away!...we dont want you! we dont need you! We love the fresh air we BREATH! That will be lost! We love the clean water we DRINK! That will be poisened! Show me one scar that we humans tore open on this beautyfull planet we call home to have it returned back to it,s orignal state,I bet you can't show me one yet you claim that is what you can do? The enviroment on our planet is in a sick state!keep ripping her open for the mighty dollar,Make sure you tell your children that before you pass on that you and your dollar destroyed there future! Destroy the very fabric of life for rock's! That sounds like a great plan thought up by a stupid human.. (04/22/11)

S Richard Randazzo: Please stop the Highland Company from raping and pillaging our land of rich, limited natural resources; OUR WATER. Our Government should be protecting these resources, not selling them off. Protect us by writing Laws to keep Companies from destroying our land for their own profit. The insanity of this project, to pump out mega amounts of drinking water per day for no use other than to get to our limestone, where is the common sense in this? Leave our precious farmland alone. 242 Court Street, Oshawa, ON (04/22/11)

Rachel Brock : Concerned Dufferin County resident. (04/25/11)

Josh Grisdale: Concerned Dufferin County resident. (04/25/11)

Debbie Myers: I think that we really need to be concerned about the water. It is very shocking news that something like this could happen. It was terrible how the land owners were mislead about what the land was to be sold for. Also I commute from Orangeville to Brampton the roads are busy enough right now without adding all these trucks on them that speed most of the time, and I have had a number of cracked windshields from the trucks coming from the Caledon site. We have enough traffic on the roads now without adding to it. (04/26/11)

Dyson Forbes: a video on the development on youtube for "PitStop stop the quarry" (04/26/11)

Bill Prout: Straight from our Liberal Policy book, this should help! Canadians take pride in their Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and see it as both an expression of our values, and a tool for building a more equal society. Access to justice is essential for a meaningful commitment to equality in our democracy, but the high costs of litigation can sometimes silence those whose rights are already most vulnerable. The Court Challenges Program provided financial assistance for pursuing language and equality rights under Canada’s Constitution, but the Harper government cancelled the program. A Liberal government will reinstate the Court Challenges Program in order to maintain effective access to justice, and to prevent financial barriers from blocking the pursuit of equality for all Canadians. (04/27/11)

Judith Mitton: I support the petition - best of luck stopping this disaster in the making. (04/29/11)

Norm Dickinson: I live in Toronto and only recently heard about this horrible situation which MUST BE STOPPED at all costs. I have regularly travelled through that area for over 50 years to my cottage on the Bruce Peninsula and know it well. Please put all possible pressure on our Provincial AND Federal governments to STOP THIS NOW. (05/06/11)

Deb Donkers: Save our lovely Ontario for our future. Quit digging the site. (05/12/11)

rich wolfe: stop the quarry (05/16/11)

BP: I cannot believe that our government would even think about allowing this "MEGA PIT" to be built in "PRIME FARM LAND" and in our water shield. It is just like our Liberal government to kneel down to big business like them. I hope that the people of Ontario will join together to put a STOP to this pit. (06/09/11)

Michael Bowser: I am fully in support of this petition and oppose any change in land use that would permit a limestone quarry or other aggregate extraction to occur within any prime agricultural land. (06/22/11)

Stefan & Tina Soldovieri: We fully support the petition to stop this industrial site. It is a short-sighted project that will mostly benefit investors with no connection to this land and do irreparable damage to the environment. (06/23/11)

Rick McVicar: I just emailed Dalton McGuinty and suggested that if he didn't make this issue part of his re-election platform, that I, a long time Liberal supporter would abandon him at the Polls. You've got to get them where it hurts. If he explained this issue to the rest of Ontario and acted on it by shutting them down, he might have a very good shot at staying the Premier. If Ontarians, especially The Greater Toronto Area were aware of the implications to their water supply, people would be in an uproar. Get some of the Stop the Quarry signs onto family homes in Toronto, no one seems aware of the issue here. (06/24/11)

Kat Monahan: I fully support the petition to stop the quarry. This is a ridiculous idea, the environment and preservation there-of NEEDS to be far more important than money. (07/01/11)

Eric Jelinski: I posted the message below posted on Environmental Registry: Hello; I wish to comment on this mega-quarry that has been proposed in Melancthon Township on Highway 124 just north of Shelburne. The Highland Companies (owned by a Boston hedge fund) has filed an application for a 2,400-acre aggregate mine, which would make it the largest quarry in Ontario and the second largest in North America. This precious land is the “rooftop of Ontario” running along the border of the Niagara Escarpment. For many months, the Council of Canadians has been working with local groups to stop this open pit mine because of the extraordinary impacts it will have on neighbouring communities, watersheds, Ontario’s food supply and the drinking water of more than one million people. My comment is that the Province of Ontario should not allow for this quarry to proceed. The Application must be Rejected for Environmental Reasons in the interests of the Province of Ontario. Why is it that anybody can buy perfectly good farmland and then use it for whatever they want such as a quarry? Why is it that Environmental Assessments are not required for quarries? I do not want to see a big deep hole in the ground in this location that is on top of one of the highest points of land in southern Ontario. I am very concerned that the ground water in southern Ontario will be adversely affected. I am also against the marketting of stone and gravel from Ontario, sending it to other parts of the world. This resource needs to be left for the benefit of Ontario, not for the profits of some private company. In regards to the aggregate needed for a future Darlington station; that aggregate is already available from the existing St Mary/Blue Circle Quarry at Bowmanville. Yours truly, Eric (07/07/11)

Tom G: Good luck opposing the quarry license. We, in my small forestry town, opposed development of a covered windrow composting facility to process organics diverted from Toronto landfill (lightly processed garbage). The opposition lasted several years. In the end, the company, in partnership with our municipality withdrew the proposal. The facility design failed a Min of Env wind and odor test. I noticed that the Ontario Environmental Registry EBR 011-3964 is a submission for a new Certificate of Approval for air quality and noise related to proposed operations on the quarry site. The public comment period ends 29 July. If you do comment, you preserve your rights to appeal a decision. I'd much rather be puttering in our bush lot trying to rehabilitate post logged bush than doing the opposition thing. (07/09/11)

Basil Guinane: I am opposed to the quarry on the grounds that an extraction site of this size would have a detrimental effect on the water supply and water quality that would impact communities, large and small across southern Ontario. The quarry would also place a strain on existing infrastructure, degrade the environment and take scarce farmland out of production. The size and scope of this project is shear folly. (07/11/11)

Robert Johnston: As a resident of Thornbury , I am quite concerned over this proposed industrial development. I realize that we live in an area where it is tough for families to earn a living but at what a cost to future generations. This is rich farmland where in the world today there is a shortage, in addition a pit seriously disturbs an aquifer that has been established since the last ice age. When are we going to wake up, RJ (07/12/11)

SHAWN WILSON: i live near the mouth of the Nottawasaga river. here in Wasaga beach. my family has lived in Simcoe county since the 1840's when this place was called upper Canada. my great grand father was one of the Simcoe Foresters who went west to capture Louis Riel in 1885 both my grand fathers where at Vimy . i'm just saying i can't let my ancestors down. by allowing the yanks to wreck what we have here. tricking farmers into selling there land may work in the third world but it won't stand around here. i mentioned this at the water watch meeting in Alliston a few weeks ago. first i don't understand how this fellow who bought up the farms under false pretense can not be charged with fraud. in addition to a direct confrontation with the destroyers on the quarry site ,i think a notice in a Boston news paper may do some good. what i had in mind was: fair warning ! to the investors of the Baupost hedge fund. Seth Klarman has set up a dummy corp. in Nova Scotia called highland. useing this as a front,one of his minions set about buying up farmland in ontario under the guise of forming a large vegetable growing operation, while secretly making plans to create the second largest quarry in north america with the intention of blasting down two hundred feet below the water table. this is a hideous ecological crime about to take place. the people of Ontario will not allow that to happen. a petition with over 100.000 signatures has been presented to the Ontario government in protest. resistance is wide spread and getting organized. i urge investors in the baupost group to with draw there funds before it is too late . (07/16/11)

Dave K: I suspect that another reason they're tearing them down is so they pay less in the way of taxes. (07/23/11)

Joan Cole: You are showing the size of the deposit - not the actual quarry. Stone would be extracted in SMALL quantities, rehabed before moving on to another SMALL AREA. Stop fear mongering!!! To extract the size you are showing will take 100 years. (07/25/11)

Kate & John Furlan: We are totally opposed to ANY tampering withour water. Our very existance here is dependent totally upon the purity and abundance of this natural resource. NOBODY has the right to jeopardize the safety of present and future residents, or the quality of our local agriculture. Where do we get a map of the underground river system? (08/03/11)

Wendy Sheehy: I think it's time to get our priorities straight and convince the Ontario Government to do some long term thinking for a change...what will be the impact 50 even 10 years down the road when the effects to our water and food supply become apparent. There are massively convincing arguments against the Quarry and there are other, more environmentally friendly ways of getting aggregate such as recycling existing materials. (08/12/11)

Dave Summerfeldt: I have just sent in my membership money. Keep up the fight! I would like my name to be added to your petitiion. Dave Summerfeldt 84 Potter Cres. Tottenham, Ontario L0G1W0 (08/15/11)

Ted: What a terrible waste of land and environmental resources. I cannot believe in what manner that this company has underhandedly gone about aquiring this land. Let's grow some potatoes, then, well let's just not grow potatoes anymore and dig it all up. Anyone ever driven along the Oak Ridges Morain in the Winter? It's not a pretty site, either side of the roadways are all dug up, made into open pits, without any concern for the future. Nobody wants 2400 acers of open lakes when this is all done in 60 years on some promise of restoration and rehab for conservation uses etc. Just look at the Dufferin Quary in Milton. Millions upon millions of dollars made, sensitive wetlands destroyed and ecosystms completely reworked, and they're going to sell it back to the Region when it's done for a buck. If I were the Region, I'd make their property taxes so high that they'd have to feel like they're getting robbed for the use of the land. Don't make it easy. Let's stop this destruction of our environment before it's too late. Has anyone ever seen a map of the aggregate applications currently out there just for Ontario? It's just disgusting. So within 100m of the escarpment edge there will be nothing but limestone quarries. Such a shame. (08/16/11)

Nikki: Who has put up the The Five Nations Iroquois Confederacy flag on the site of the quarry? (09/25/11)

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)

Dave Adeney: Thank you, Kate Armstrong. Powerfully and beautifully expressed. (10/12/09)

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)

Bruce Enright: This can not happen. We need to stand dtrong on this for what is right. (06/29/11)

gaille Musgrove: Beautifully written Kate Armstrong. When will we learn from our past mistakes. Caledon has been totally given over to the gravel barons. Please let us not make the same mistake again. We need food and we need to keep the headwaters of the Nottawasaga and Grand Rivers safe from harm. Water is life. (06/30/11)

gaille Musgrove: Beautifully written Kate Armstrong. When will we learn from our past mistakes. Caledon has been totally given over to the gravel barons. Please let us not make the same mistake again. We need food and we need to keep the headwaters of the Nottawasaga and Grand Rivers safe from harm. Water is life. (06/30/11)

David Fowler: I support the petition created to oppose the Highland Mine project. This will be an environmental disaster. DF (07/11/11)

Ted Moriarty: Thank-you for taking action. This land is a precious gift worth protecting. (07/12/11)

Jessica Rodgers: I support this petition. (07/22/11)

Jennifer Urbanski: Kate - your letter is so impactful. I agree 100% that people need to realize the true impact of this issue. Too much of the food supplied to us in supermarkets and big boxed stores is from faraway lands and this is not a sustainable supply. I urge you all to read "The End of Food" by Paul Roberts for a full understanding of the need for local and organic food. Hopefully that can instill some motivation to really get behind this issue and fight for these rights. I often hear people say that one person can't make a difference or that it's too late to go back and change what big business has done to our society but this is a prime example of a chance to make a real change/impact. When I visit my parents on weekends in Shelburne I am still overwhelmed by the natural beauty in the area and wonder how many city kids fully get to appreciate the power and beauty of such environments. This is real life, this are real issues and cannot be ignored, passed off as political issues or taken lightly. (08/01/11)

bob ransier: Sombody wants me to send money to an adress that I dont know a name with it. that aint gona happen. Of all the literature that I have read there has never been a name or phone # that I can call and have a personal conversation about this situation. Unless we the public see a name that we want to suport you aint gona get much help (08/01/11)

Allen Jones: I can't believe that a Government would condone this type of destruction for the sake of building Condo's in Toronto. Where do the politicians think their food comes from - the supermarket? I totally support the petition. Common Sense has to happen - it just has too! (08/15/11)

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)

Paula Armstrong-Cameron: I support NDACT! (09/02/09)

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)

Nick Visentin : We support NDACT, and oppose what Highland Companies is doing. (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)

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)

Harold Smith: Yesterday I was driving on the 2nd sideroad in Melancthon with a friend who told me about the quarry land assembly. It was quite lear that the many Stop the Quarry signs indicate that most people oppose this potential destruction of farmland. So do I. Please give me an email address so I can copy NDACT on my letter to Dalton McGuinty and my MPP Mike Colle in Toronto. Thank you, Harold Smith, 150 Hillhurst Blvd. Toronto M5N 1N8 (10/12/10)

Karren Wallace: Please email a copy of your comments to NDACT at info@ndact.com Thank you for your support. (10/30/10)

Karren Wallace: There are now 30 properties identified as having some or all the structures on them removed (or scheduled for removal) by Highlands. See the link on this site under demolition. (12/10/10)

Karren: Highlands has filed and despite people saying NDACT was fearmongering-it is worse than anything anyone imagined. 2,400 acres, 200 feet below the water table on prime ag land with 8,000 trucks a day, 24/7 operating, but no blasting on stat holidays. Good god. (03/15/11)

bob durette: i have a request more than a comment . i would like some updated information on this subject. thank you. (03/26/11)

karren: There are newsletters posted on this site, together with links to news articles, etc. If you would like more detailed information, please email me at karrenwallace@sympatico.ca (03/29/11)

Betsy Ingram: I tried printing off the printable version for this petition, only to find that I could not get a complete image of the petition. Suggestions? (04/18/11)

Maryan Tisdale: Where are the politicians who can STOP this Desecration of prime agricultural land??? The water table will affect thousands of people when it is altered..It is criminal to allow this to happen. I hope EVERYONE will stand up to these people and STOP this destruction....l (04/20/11)

Diane Baker Mason: My name is Diane Mason. This is outrageous, short-sighted, and irreversible. Please continue the fight. (04/28/11)

Fred Barnes: Count me in. I'm no tree hugger but this is ridiculous. Having been raised on a market garden just west of Toronto(Islington) I know what this sort of development can do to our valuable farmland . In our case the rich loamy topsoil was bulldozed off and sold after we sold to development ! We keep doing this and our viable agricultural land we be gone forever. (05/04/11)

karen jones: Heard about this on CBC 'As It Happens', when I saw the map, I said 'holy %^*#' My question 'is your group a registered non-profit and who can I make the cheque out to?' You need a lawyer. I cannot find a contact us button on the web site. This is a National Story. What about the Sierra Club and Greenpeace? Are they onboard yet? Karen (05/09/11)

Sheldon Lawlor: There are many clear reasons why this application should not be approved. This proposed quarry would be located in prime Southern Ontario land, in Dufferin County, in the headwaters of five major rivers – the Pine, the Grand, the Nottawasaga, the Saugeen and the Beaver, creating a giant pit 236 feet deep, over a land mass of over 2,400 acres. This pit would be well bellow the water table, destroying much needed already scarce Ontario farmland (an area comprising of 16 per cent of the province’s potato crop production), and upstream to over one million people whose water could be affected as this tract of land acts as a natural water filter for their communities' drinking water. The project is so immense that local councils and agencies can’t begin to imagine how they would be able to marshal the resources to evaluate it. There would be 16 pumps running 24/7 indefinitely, to “manage” 600 million litres of water a day (equivalent to the daily consumption of the entire province’s population). Two important resources are at stake: water and agricultural land. For the reasons mentioned above this plan should not be approved at all. Does the Ontario government take its responsibility to protect our dwindling. resources seriously? Does the proponent is the Highland Companies (who applied to the Aggregate Resources Act under the name:319574 Nova Scotia Company) have the best interests of the people of this region and the interests of Ontario's dwindling resources in mind? Highland began amassing land in Melancthon and Mulmur Townships, in north Dufferin County, about five years ago and now holds approximately 7,000 acres, to mine limestone in depths as far as 200 feet below the water an area that is acknowledged as primary source for water regeneration to 2 major Ontario water sheds. It has cleared trees and demolished homes and barns. It is the responsibility of the Government and the industry to represent the interests of it's people, and it's communities above and beyond the private interests of business. Especially when it is a business from abroad which wishes only to extract resources from other communities. The problem is that the regulatory process is biased towards a presumption of development, where applications are actually rejected, but simply amended over and over until they are finally accepted. This process is very inefficient costing taxpayers, millions of dollars in the array of governmental reviews that can drag on for up to a decade. The result of many of these applications, regardless of the number of amendments, remains practically unbenefitial for the long term interests of the region's they seek to exploit. These region's economic stability are threatened, for the natural resources that provide not only jobs but basic elements of survival are permanently diminished and jobs provided are impermanent, amassing substantial profits for often foreignly owned companies. Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller expressed concern that once proposals for new aggregate operations are initiated, they appear to be unstoppable, no matter the ecological or social cost. Miller urged the provincial government to reconcile its conflicting priorities between aggregate extraction and environmental protection. He suggested a new mechanism within the approvals process that screens out, at an early stage, proposals that conflict with identified natural heritage or source water protection. This quarry would permanently affect the water, the landscape/land value, destroying crucial agricultural land/ lively-hood of local residences, potentially cause disastrous environmental scenarios for decades, while undermining the Indigenous People's legal title to this land. The benefits do not out weigh the costs for the Ontario Communities. Thus, I am strongly shocked that this quarry is being considered at all; it demonstrates an alarming lack of for-thought for public interests in municipal and provincial Government. ACT RESPONSIBLY AND DECLINE THE APPLICATION FOR THE MELANCTHON MEGA QUARRY!!! (05/29/11)

Nancy Groshens: I agree with the petition and the comments posted on the ndact.com website. 135 George Street South, Suite 201, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4E8 (06/05/11)

Lyn Brennan: I fully support the petition to stop this and the continued destruction of our farmland and water tables. (07/02/11)

Tania Gill: I support this petition. I live in Toronto and my brother and nephews live just west of Shelbourne. my address: 49 Hepbourne St. apt.1 Toronto, ON M6H 1K2 (07/07/11)

Irene Polley : I cannot understand why the Ontario government would allow any company to ruin such precious land and water resources. Environmental assessment of the proposed mining project is an absolute must! (07/08/11)

Ethan Rigby: I have to wonder- what are our MPP's doing about this? The liberals were no where to be found- Dalton McGuinty abandoned support against the mega quarry, and now that there's an election looming, all of a sudden this Holloway person is saying she's concerned? I say we ensure we vote in the person who was concerned and there from the get go- Sylvia Jones. Pretending to be concerned and contradicting actions that your party perforrmed earlier sounds pretty untrustworthy to me. As quoted from a previous article: North Dufferin Agriculture and Community Taskforce vice-chair Carl Cosack still found it troubling that Premier Dalton McGuinty had (literally) ‘turned his back’ on NDP leader Andrea Horwath when she delivered as many as 1,300 petitions seeking the extension. The petitions had been taken to Queen’s Park by Mr. Cosack and a representative of the Council of Canadians (Ontario-Quebec organizer Mark Calzavara), who were introduced by Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones.” (08/17/11)

Gloria Ramnath: Our Canada;Our Land We are in the millions but can we see the thousands? "our votes don't count" they cry "our voices don't matter" they sigh Oh! the nation's weariness! this is what the greedy bullies count on did we help the voiceless asians south americans central/latin americans africans when "the few" plundered their lands leaving them in destitution? did we help them to help us? Now they have trekked onto our lands they want our resources "they will get it' you lament will we let them without a fight? will we let the short-term gain disguise the long-term pain? will our governments be promised palaces? will we then be controlled? divided? conquered? or will we nurture the quiet, unsure voices and shout out in unison drowning out the greed of the few? the millions must stop be bullied and ruined by the few You are brave You are strong You are many, the crooks are few (10/15/11)