First and foremost I am a…

First and foremost I am a conservative and I'm all about business. As a small business owner I am required to follow the rules of the Province of Ontario, as annoying as that can be sometimes. I had to obtain an ECA to legally operate my business just like everyone else. Amending an ECA to go from a former yard waste and fly ash dump to a full on landfill is reckless without a FULL environmental assessment. There are important waterways in the area that must be considered and protected along with people living their lives in a vibrant setting. Using the possible threat of US tariffs is insulting to Ontarians. Standing in front of the cameras and saying "We are one phone call from Trump away from not being able to export our garbage to Michigan" is poking and baiting the bear. It isn't smart and is disappointing to see and hear. The Province has known we are out of landfill capacity for decades and has done nothing to properly address it. Ramming this landfill down the throats of the people who live in and around the City of Dresden without following the rules to the letter is outrageous. Never say one thing and then do another because it makes you a lair. I don't live anywhere near this site but I know how I would feel if it was my area being forced to host a big stinking pile of garbage. Last week my brother-in-law was looking at a nice house for sale in Dresden and when I told him about this situation, he walked away. Housing values are and will be affected if this landfill is rammed through by this proposed legislation.

A Class 4 industry encroaching on sensitive land uses would require 1 km of separation to spare the residents from noise, dust, vibration and smell. A land fill is well beyond a Class 4 industry classification and should be MUCH farther away than 1 km. The wind will carry the smell far and wide. I don't know what kind of shenanigans are going on here but the speculators that bought that land in the hopes of turning it into a nice profitable landfill didn't do their due diligence and absolutely must follow ALL the rules just like everyone else in business does. Let's not have another Green Belt debacle. Look for a better more suitable location closer to the source of the garbage kilometers from the nearest population center.

Following the rules may actually show that the originally proposed processing of construction demolition material wastes to separate bricks, wood, siding and other recyclable products is a great use for this land and will not impact the environment or the community around the site. It may actually be a really good idea that removes these materials from the Michigan waste steam. What would an environmental assessment show?

By the way, I'd like to see the ring of fire developed too but not without the existing rules being followed. Streamline the approval process, don't by-pass the approval process. The process provides the data used to make an informed decision that is in the best interests of the environment and people most directly impacted by the project, not the speculators interests. Bring all the affected parties together in the same place and time and figure it out. The mandate the voters of Ontario gave to the conservatives was to fight Trump and the tariffs but not at any cost! You were not elected to ignore the environment and ruin the Town of Dresden. Don't blow it by passing this legislation!