TORONTO – In just a matter of days, over 119,000 people have rallied and signed a petition opposing the building of a mega-quarry in southern Ontario.
International civic organization Avaaz.org launched a petition urging Canadians to voice their concern to Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey. An extended period of public discussion on the project ended Monday, and Jeffrey will now consider the quarry proposal submitted by Highland Companies.
Avaaz’s campaigners are joined by hundreds of local farmers and residents, environmental groups including the David Suzuki Foundation, Wellington Water Watchers, Citizens’ Alliance for a Sustainable Environment, and the Council of Canadians in opposing the massive operation.
Highland Companies, backed by Boston-based hedge fund Baupost Group, has submitted an application to Jeffrey to build a limestone quarry that would have potentially devastating effects on the local community and environment.
The quarry would stretch over 2,300 acres in Melancthon Township, a rural community 110 km northeast of Toronto, ON. The quarry would be deeper than Niagara Falls, plunging down 200 feet. 600 million litres of water would be pumped out of the quarry every day, and thousands of 40-tonne trucks would travel on local roads every day, 24 hours a day.
In 2006, John Lowndes began buying up farmland for Highland Companies. Lowndes approached local farmers, offering upwards of $8,000 per acre for their property, a number well above market value. He told local farmers of a vision of becoming Ontario’s largest potato grower. Lowndes achieved that feat after purchasing over 8,000 acres of land, including the area’s two largest potato farms – Downey Potato Farms and Wilson Farms.
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Local residents eventually grew suspicious of Highland’s plan for the land. In 2009 Highland held a public meeting where it laid out the company’s proposal for digging a 2,300 acre quarry.
The proposed mega-quarry is a threat to all Canadians, says Emma Ruby-Sachs, a campaign director for Avaaz. Four major river systems would be affected by the quarry, threatening the fresh water used by one million Canadians.
Beyond that, local roads would have to accommodate anywhere from 3,500 to 7,000 trucks shipping limestone every day, upping carbon emissions and destroying the natural habitat of hundreds of animal species, says Ruby-Sachs. She continues that if this quarry were built, the land would be destroyed forever.
“Many residents we’ve spoken to say they never would have sold their land if they knew what it was to be used for,” says Ruby-Sachs.
The proposed site falls within the region known as Hills of Headwaters. It is currently home to some of Canada’s richest soil. The countryside attracts hundreds of tourists and cottagers every year. “The city-sized pit would scar the land long after the mining was finished,” says a statement on Avaaz.org.
The Highland application states that the quarry would create 465 jobs, and over $140 million in annual local spending.
But critics say the application does not take into account the number of jobs that could be lost.
“Tourism and our natural environment go hand in hand in the Hills of Headwaters, and support the growth and sustainability of our rural communities. The proposed mega quarry in Melancthon Township will likely have a significant impact on an industry that is vital to our regional economic development, and the livelihood of not only our farmers, but also up to 1400 people who are employed in the regional tourism industry,” says Harris.
In January, Highland released an agricultural impact assessment, which concluded that the quarry would not have a negative impact on Melancthon Township. Among the conclusions in the assessment were, that after the mining ended soil quality would be restored to match “prime agricultural areas,” and the proposed quarry wouldn’t cause any significant negative impacts on the agricultural resources of Melancthon.
Politicians from across the floor have joined local residents, farmers, and environmental groups in voicing their opposition to the quarry.
On June 15, 2011, Conservative MP Michael Chong opposed the quarry proposal in Canada’s House of Commons.
“This is an environmental disaster in the making,” said Chong. “We need a federal environmental assessment…These American hedge funds destroyed Wall Street three years ago. Now they want to come to Canada and destroy a beautiful piece of southwestern Ontario. They must be stopped.”
Last week Liberal MP Frank Valeriote joined the swell of opposition, stating in a news release that Highland’s quarry application is “inadequate and deficient.” Valeriote says the project would “seriously jeopardize” the water and wildlife in the region.
Jeffrey is to consider Highland’s application for the quarry beginning on Monday, following the closing of an extended public comment period. If she decides to approve Highland’s application the Premier of Ontario would have the ability to step in. Politicians and other advocacy groups are currently urging the federal government to order an environmental assessment of the project.
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