Dear environmental minister,…

Dear environmental minister,
I’m writing today to share my story why I
Opposed the landfill and why we need to ensure the environmental assessment is required.
I share my story. But I’m certain I’m writing on behalf of 3000 others in the Dresden area who all could share similar stories and have the same opinion. These events are what makes Dresden home and why I am so proud to call Dresden my home.
We have started our family here. I grew up close by, attending school here, playing hockey here, got my first job here, and enjoyed what Dresden has to offer.
A quiet town, where the community cares for each other, and makes you feel like family.
Where kids bike down the road.
Walk to the store.
Gather with friends in the park.
Go to school.
Attend day care.
Go fishing.
Go boating, kayaking, and canoeing.
They learn to farm.

This is what drawn me to Dresden. It’s home. It’s where I swam in the Sydenham. Would boat out to lake st Clair. Catch walleye to eat. In the winter it’s an escape to go skate. A nice frozen river walk with the dogs and family. A place to ice fish. The pollutions and harmful chemicals running off from this landfill would take this all away. The numerous endangered species, they need this environmental assessment before they are wiped out.

This is what brought me to raise my family in Dresden.

A community welcoming and growing. We have the president of Ontario Home Building Association live right here in Dresden. Expanding Dresden, building homes and parks when we have a housing crisis in Ontario. Why make this an undesirable place to live? Especially when it has so much to offer.

Every Thursday there music in the park. Brings the community together outside. Enjoyment for all ages.
Home of two of the biggest markets.
The Christmas market, putting Dresden on the map as Ontario’s Christmas town and the summer market that shuts down all of downtown bringing vendors and spenders from all over.

Two schools. Both within 2 kms of this landfill. With the science and proof of the dangers of building a landfill 5km from a town. This is not acceptable. How are we supposed to let our kids enjoy recess, running around with harmful pollution in the air and exposure to Asbestos strands.

The rich farm land. The back bone of the community. With Conagra less than 2kms away as well. Jackson seeds, with soy bean contracts grown right next to this proposed landfill. As well as the meat packers just down the road, who would want food process, grown, or butchered next this landfill proposal.

The roads will be full of tractors and combines. With 700 trucks a day on the roads as well, it will make everyone’s commute a lot longer. Let alone the added safety concern. Especially with the buses needed to bring our rural students safely to school.

The wear and tear on our roads. A project the community opposes but one we will pay for with addiction taxes to keep up the roads and bridges.

Our house values declining. In such an ideal place to call home. It’s sad to see such a little haven being eliminated for the profit of a company.

The business near by. In the back corner of the project lies a camp site. Where you can go off grid and enjoy the quiet this area has to offer. Now to be neighboured by a large landfill?

In rural Ontario where people depend on their well water. The potential contamination making families sick.

A landfill that this land is not zoned for. An environmental assessment never has been done. In a flood zone. Surrounded by water with endangered species. Trying to get this by passes on permits that have been outdated for 40 years. For wood chips and tile. On a tiny section of this property.

The effects this landfill could have can be catastrophic. If the proposal does not have an environmental assessment and something happens, who would be liable? Who would be accountable for allowing these changes? Making expansion of something that never existed. Not to this extent. With the knowledge we have of landfills and the detriment having them close to town can have and bills in place to not allow them. To over ride these bills without proper assessment? The impact on eliminating species and contaminating water and food sources. Who could sign off on this?

A potential Wheatley situation.
Potentially worse. We need an environment assessment to keep the environment safe, to keep us all safe.

I share my voice. One of 3000.

Listen to our concerns. We know the area. The impact.

We want to keep Dresden our home. Safe. Quiet. Clean.