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)