I’m writing to object in the…

I’m writing to object in the strongest way possible to the government’s reversal of a promise to the people of Dresden, Chatham-Kent, adjacent municipalities, and communities downstream along the Sydenham River, for a full environmental assessment prior to approval of the York1 proposal to vastly expand the Dresden Landfill. The proposal threatens the region and town and its already endangered environment, the watershed and over 88 endangered species at risk, and will have potentially damaging impacts on the Sydenham River, including downstream to Wallaceburg and Walpole Island First Nation (Bkejwanong Territory). The area surrounding the landfill site is rich agricultural land, some of which has already been purchased by York1 as buffer zone, which takes its project to the town site line. In addition to endangering agricultural produce, the Con Agra manufacturing plant in Dresden will be at risk and most certainly lose the ”organic” designation of its soybean products.

The proposal has already been rejected by the people of Dresden, the Municipal Council of Chatham-Kent, and the Municipalities of Dawn-Euphemia and Lambton County, as well as the council of Walpole Island First Nation and Southwestern Council of Chiefs. First Nations and all the municipalities of SW Ontario would lose the right to consultation if the EA is exempted. ECAs have far fewer requirements than a full EA, including consultation with residents and their elected local representatives.

The pretext contained in the title of Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy, is bogus. For one thing Chatham-Kent already has a large landfill and it is far from at capacity. For another, not only is environmental protection NOT red tape, the notion that waste cannot be taken across the border due to the current tariff threats of the Trump government is also a cynical misrepresentation. Yes, we need a solution to waste management in Ontario, but this proposal for a landfill expansion is in the WRONG PLACE. What Ontario needs to do in the long term is seek out alternative means of waste disposal and recycling, using the model of places like Sweden.

Please revoke Bill 5 in its entirety. Please follow through on the promises made to the people of SW Ontario and retain the requirement that York1’s Dresden project undergo a full environmental assessment.

Thank you.