The Ford government…

The Ford government continues to reassure citizens that the Dresden landfill will still have environmental restrictions. I’m concerned that they are not being truthful with what the differences are under bill 5.

An environmental assessment (EA) is a comprehensive review that evaluates the potential environmental impacts of a project before it moves forward. It typically includes:

Public consultations to gather community input.
Scientific studies on air, water, and soil contamination risks.
Alternative site evaluations to determine if a project can be relocated or redesigned to minimize harm.
Mitigation strategies to reduce environmental damage.

However, Bill 5, officially titled the Protect Ontario By Unleashing Our Economy Act, removes the requirement for a full EA for the Dresden landfill project. Instead, the project will only need to meet Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act. Critics argue this fast-tracks development while bypassing crucial environmental safeguards.

An Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) is a regulatory requirement in Ontario that allows businesses and municipalities to operate facilities while ensuring environmental protections are met. Under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA), an ECA is required for activities that may impact air, noise, waste, or water quality.

For the Dresden landfill, an ECA would likely cover:
Waste management: Ensuring proper handling, transportation, and disposal of waste materials.
Air and noise emissions: Monitoring and controlling pollutants released into the atmosphere.
Water protection: Managing sewage and stormwater runoff to prevent contamination of nearby water sources, including Molly’s Creek and the Sydenham River.

Unlike a full Environmental Assessment (EA), which involves extensive studies and public consultations, an ECA is a streamlined approval process that sets operational conditions but does not require a comprehensive review of environmental impacts. Critics argue that this fast-tracked approach under Bill 5 could weaken environmental safeguards for the Dresden landfill.

Local advocacy groups and Walpole Island First Nation have strongly opposed the bill, warning that it undermines protections for endangered species and threatens water quality in the Sydenham River. The landfill site is located near Molly’s Creek, home to 88 species listed under the Species at Risk Act.