Subject: Formal Opposition…

Subject: Formal Opposition to Proposed Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for GFL Stoney Creek (ERO #025-1000)

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally and unequivocally oppose the proposed Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for GFL Stoney Creek (ERO #025-1000).
https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1000

For more than three years, residents of Stoney Creek, including myself, have endured relentless and severe odour emissions from this facility. I have filed 13 official complaints (reference numbers available upon request), with 7 of those submitted between April and September 2025 alone. The odours—most often resembling a combination of rotten eggs, leachate, and toxic chemical fumes—are so intense that they routinely cause nausea, throat irritation, and respiratory difficulty. These are not occasional disturbances; they are persistent public health risks.

Since the beginning of the school year in September 2025, the situation has become even more alarming. Children waiting for school buses are regularly subjected to overwhelming odours during the morning hours, exposing them to harmful environmental conditions before the start of their school day. Families attempting to enjoy outdoor activities in the afternoon and seniors taking evening walks face the same exposures. These ongoing circumstances make it impossible for residents to carry out normal daily routines without jeopardizing their health. This represents not only the operator’s failure to mitigate impacts, but also a systemic breakdown of regulatory oversight.

While the proposed ECA makes mention of air emissions, it is gravely deficient in several respects:

1. Odour Control – Existing measures are wholly inadequate, as the continued stream of complaints clearly demonstrates.

2. Transparency and Reporting – Responses to resident complaints rely almost exclusively on generic, dismissive template language. Despite repeated claims of “investigations,” no staff have ever engaged with me or my household in person, raising serious doubts about the integrity of the process.

3. Community Engagement – There is no genuine mechanism for residents to be informed or consulted in real time. This absence of engagement erodes public trust, undermines accountability, and appears to be a deliberate avoidance of scrutiny.

Equally concerning is the failure of political representation on this issue. MPP Donna Skelly has shown complete indifference to the suffering of her constituents. Despite repeated complaints, calls, and appeals for her direct involvement, she has never once visited the affected area or meaningfully advocated for residents. Her unwillingness to act in the face of a clear environmental and public health crisis is unacceptable. By ignoring repeated pleas from the community, she has abdicated her responsibilities as an elected official, neglected her duty of care, and displayed blatant disregard for the people she represents. This dereliction of duty undermines public confidence in her office and raises serious questions about her fitness to hold elected office.

Furthermore, the Ministry and the operator must be reminded of their legal obligations. Allowing these conditions to persist may constitute negligence and a breach of the government’s duty of care to protect residents from foreseeable harm. Prolonged exposure to harmful air contaminants interferes with residents’ constitutional right to security of the person under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Continued inaction exposes both the operator and public authorities to potential liability should health impacts be proven to result from these emissions.

Given the severity of these issues, I strongly urge the Ministry to impose the following conditions without exception:

Installation of continuous air monitoring stations on all boundaries of the landfill, with real-time monitoring of nitrogen oxides, ammonia, particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), total reduced sulfur (TRS), and ozone.

Mandatory public reporting of air monitoring results, updated in real time, with the Ministry responsible for oversight and enforcement.

Enforceable odour and emission control standards, with strict penalties for non-compliance.

Formal, documented community consultation processes to ensure residents are included in oversight and decision-making.

The residents of Stoney Creek deserve the fundamental right to breathe clean air and live without constant exposure to noxious odours. To approve this ECA without robust, enforceable safeguards would represent not only a failure of environmental governance but also a breach of public responsibility and trust.

I request that this submission be formally recorded as part of the review process, and I am prepared to provide all relevant complaint reference numbers and supporting documentation to assist in the Ministry’s assessment.