I am writing to voice my…

I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the proposal in ERO #025-0389, which seeks to remove the requirement for a comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed York1 Waste Disposal Site near Dresden, Ontario.

1. MECP’s Reversal Undermines Public Trust

What is most alarming is that this same Ministry—the MECP—previously concluded that a full Environmental Assessment was necessary for this landfill project. That decision was based on its potential to cause significant harm to the environment and surrounding communities. To now reverse that position and exempt the proposal from a full EA, without a credible scientific explanation, signals to the public that the Ministry’s decisions are being driven by political expediency, not environmental safety or public well-being.

This kind of abrupt reversal erodes trust in Ontario’s environmental oversight processes. If the MECP once believed a full EA was needed to properly assess risks, how can residents now believe the site is safe without one?

2. The Proposal Endangers Community Health and Safety

The proposed site is located barely 800 metres from residential areas in Dresden and is near farms, schools, and businesses. Residents will be exposed to risks from odour, noise, contaminated runoff, and a daily influx of up to 700 trucks, 24 hours a day. This is not just an environmental issue—it is a public health and safety concern.

3. The Community Has Spoken—and Is Being Ignored

Chatham-Kent council has unanimously opposed the proposal. Hundreds of local residents have turned out at public meetings to express outrage and concern. Despite this, the Province appears poised to force through the landfill over the objections of the very people it will most impact. This violates the spirit of public consultation and suggests that community voices—and even municipal leadership—are being deliberately sidelined.

4. Risk of Perceived Conflict of Interest

Reports indicating possible links between the company proposing the landfill and individuals connected to the governing party only intensify public concern. Even if no wrongdoing exists, the optics of deregulating a politically connected project after previously requiring full environmental oversight are damaging.

I urge the Ministry to:
    •    Reinstate the requirement for a full Environmental Assessment.
    •    Respect and prioritize the health, safety, and trust of the Dresden and Chatham-Kent communities.
    •    Demonstrate that Ontario’s environmental laws are not subject to reversal at the whim of politics or private interests.

Without transparency and consistency, the public loses confidence—not just in this decision, but in the entire environmental regulatory framework of our province.