Public consultation in…

Public consultation in regards to possible aggregate development is absolutely necessary to ensure good development for Ontario. Ontario's MNR Minister was only made aware that a natural spring fed lake with an existing waterfront community was adjacent to a current pit application for Thomas Cavanagh Construction through public intervention. The experts that Cavanagh hired to carry out the required studies did not take into account the impact pit operations would have on the 12 residences on Barbers Lake. Even with the processes that are currently in place to ensure proper studies are done, this did not stop Cavanagh from heavily cutting the timber on their lakefront property and using their excavator “Razor” attachment to grind down the stumps and grub a significant portion of the land. All the studies Cavanagh had done, were done after this destruction of the land, including the natural enviroment study. Even though Lanark County has a tree cutting by-law and the activity was reported, no action was taken by any governing agency. Lanark Highlands Reeve’s statement regarding Cavanagh grubbing the land at a March 14, 2023 public meeting was “it’s private land, there is nothing you can do”. So if the municipal government does not care, and Lanark County does not care, and the Provincial government does not care, and the applicant does not care, who is left to care, other than the public?

Having no limit to water taking is ludicrous. Water taking at a commercial level needs to be looked at on a case by case basis. What if there are adjacent farms and homes that rely on groundwater for crops or other purposes? In the Highland Line pit proposal by Thomas Cavanagh Construction the planner for Lanark Highlands stated in his report to the township that the lakefront property Cavanagh wants to open a pit on is part of a “significant groundwater recharge aquifer”. If Cavanagh was granted below water extraction as they are requesting, what will that do to the surrounding sugar bushes? If over time the maple trees are harmed by pit operations what actions can the Province take to restore the health of the sugar bush?

If the Aggregate industry qualified for “permit-by-rule framework” there could be catastrophic damage done to the environment in some cases. The hydrogeologist that Cavanagh hired for the Barbers Lake/Highland Line pit proposal did not provide the community any reassurance that the well documented Barbers Lake pluton (known for high levels of uranium) would not be a cause for concern once disturbed by pit operations. With these proposed changes that the province is suggesting, at what stage does something get peer reviewed? Once the uranium that is currently contained by the clay is released into the Cavanagh pit lake water, would it not be too late? Very concerning especially when the Cavanagh proposal states they will have an outlet from their pit lake into Barbers Lake.

Why did the province allow a quarry to destroy Murray Lake in Lanark Highlands? Why was there nothing in place to prevent silt from entering the lake, and killing it? How will no input from conservation authorities, the public, and the indigenous, create a process that better protects our water? Can we not build homes and also protect our water ways from uranium and other contamination? Once groundwater is contaminated and it enters Barbers Lake from Cavanagh’s outlet, what is the process to protect community members who’s drinking water comes directly from Barbers Lake? How will the Province protect the Long Sault Creek that flows out of Barbers lake into the Mississippi River which makes its way to the Ottawa river. If water treatment plants can get readings of what drugs or vaccines folks are taking, would not uranium contaminated waterways harm humans and wildlife that depend on this waterway?

Bill 23 that was passed in 2022 limits the ability of conservation authorities to be able to help guide the province in providing folks of Ontario with good development. It is reckless and shortsighted not to allow experts who understand and care about the environment be part of the conversation.

Just take a look at Thomas Cavanagh Construction Highland Line pit proposal as an example whether or not the Aggregate industry should qualify for EASR permitting.
Take a look at the studies they provided Lanark Highlands council and the public. The work the experts submitted left out large amounts of critical information for decision makers to have the whole story. Is this behaviour considered lying by omission?

Perhaps you folks would consider exploring Lanark Highlands, and counting how many gravel pits have not been exhausted or rehabilitated. I suspect even premier Ford would be shocked. If you were to spend some time researching properties currently zoned MAR-h in Lanark Highlands, you would find land containing high grade sand that is suitable for cement and septics that is not adjacent to wetlands, lakes, and creeks. I am not suggesting we need to open more pits in Lanark Highlands, I’m only trying to make a point how the Aggregate industry may not always have the environment’s best interests when they are doing their planning. I suspect Aggregate companies will try to convince government officials that the “low hanging fruit” next to waterways is the only sustainable sand left near Ottawa for cement and septics. This is not the case. Private companies directive is to make profit, and as much profit as possible. Putting the responsibility on Aggregate companies to have everyones best interest, including natures best interest is absolutely foolish. Time and time again this has failed. Should the aggregate process in Ontario be run with a conservative common sense approach or should it be governed by greed?

Why do you suppose more and more Ontario folks are saying the Ontario Conservative Party of today is not the conservatives my father voted for. Why is Premier Ford’s approach so distasteful to so many dedicated conservatives?

If the province of Ontario allows the Aggregate industry to qualify for EASR permitting there is no doubt that the Doug Ford government will be always remembered as the government that created the process for bad development.