As a long-time resident of…

As a long-time resident of Caledon — and as someone who has worked in the real estate field across both the private and public sectors for over 25 years — I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal to fill Swan Lake with construction debris, without proper environmental testing, monitoring, or public accountability.

Swan Lake is a provincially significant wetland, and the surrounding lands have already been rehabilitated from a former quarry — a process that was costly, deliberate, and meant to restore ecological value. Now, that restored land is at risk of being permanently damaged by a proposal that is not about agriculture, but about using the site as a dumping ground for construction and demolition waste, with little to no oversight and the possibility of future housing on potentially contaminated land.

This sets a dangerous precedent. If this is allowed to proceed, it sends a message that any restored or protected natural area in Ontario can be reversed, filled in, and exploited, regardless of ecological significance or community impact. That’s not planning — that’s opportunism at the expense of public and environmental health.

From my professional experience, I know how critical it is to uphold land use integrity and to prevent development on compromised sites. Without rigorous testing and controls, the risk of toxic leachate contaminating groundwater is real — and in a community like Caledon, where many rely on private wells, this represents a direct threat to drinking water and long-term health.

In addition, the proposal would require a massive influx of heavy truck traffic, transporting fill through narrow, rural roads that are not built for industrial volumes. This raises serious public safety concerns for local residents, farmers, and vulnerable road users.

There are other, more appropriate land options in Ontario for waste disposal and development. Swan Lake is not one of them.

This proposal:

Jeopardizes safe drinking water and public health;

Destroys a significant and already-restored wetland ecosystem;

Creates dangerous traffic conditions on rural roads;

Sets a precedent that undermines trust in environmental protection and land use planning.

I strongly urge the Ministry to say no to this proposal. It is short-sighted, unsafe, and not in the public interest.

Thank you for considering this comment and for your commitment to protecting Ontario’s natural heritage and communities.