I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed removal of environmental assessment requirements for the York1 Waste Disposal Site Project. As someone whose hometown is Chatham-Kent, where my family still lives, I am deeply concerned about the potential environmental and health impacts of this project on the community I care about.

Ontarians expect and deserve responsible environmental oversight. Environmental Assessments are in place for a reason: to ensure that projects with significant ecological and public health risks are properly studied, transparently reviewed, and subjected to public input before proceeding. Skipping this step for a major landfill expansion is not only irresponsible, it’s unacceptable.

The York1 project would reopen a long-dormant landfill site under outdated approvals from the 1980s. It has never undergone a modern environmental assessment, despite now proposing to accept 1.6 million cubic metres of waste. The site lies in a floodplain and near Molly’s Creek, which supports several species at risk including the Spiny Softshell Turtle and the Salamander Mussel. These are not minor risks, they are serious and warrant thorough environmental review.

Local residents, the municipal council, and the mayor of Chatham-Kent have all raised clear and well-founded concerns about this proposal. Ignoring those voices and removing the EA requirement, would be a betrayal of both environmental responsibility and community trust. In light of these concerns, I urge the Ontario government to:

• Maintain the requirement for a comprehensive environmental assessment for the York1 Waste Disposal Site Project.
• Ensure thorough evaluation of all potential environmental and health impacts before proceeding with any approvals.
• Uphold the rights of local communities to be fully informed and involved in decisions that affect their environment and well-being.