I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the removal of Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements for the York1 Waste Disposal Site project. Environmental assessments are a fundamental tool for protecting public health, ecosystems, and the long-term sustainability of our communities. Eliminating this requirement raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and environmental stewardship.

The potential impacts of a waste disposal site—including groundwater contamination, air and noise pollution, and effects on nearby residents and wildlife—warrant thorough investigation and public input. Skipping this critical step undermines trust in the process and puts both the environment and community well-being at risk.

Additionally, the significant increase in heavy truck traffic associated with this project is a major concern for the largely rural area surrounding the site. Rural roads are often not designed to accommodate high volumes of industrial traffic, leading to faster road deterioration, increased maintenance costs for local municipalities, and heightened safety risks for residents, school buses, cyclists, and agricultural vehicles. The rise in traffic could also negatively impact the rural character and quality of life in these communities—an aspect that would be fully examined during a proper EA process.

I urge decision-makers to uphold the environmental assessment process and ensure that any development of this scale is subject to rigorous environmental and community impact oversight.