I adamantly reject this…

I adamantly reject this proposal.

This facility is situated close to Lake Ontario, residential areas and schools, and other protected land. This facility will more than double the number of large trucks daily going through our residential neighbourhoods, and will add over 200 truck trips per day (24/7).

The biogas waste plant and transportation of waste directly conflicts with the residential landscape and schools, the nearby protected Rouge National Urban Park, and ongoing projects in the area such as the new Clean Tech Facility (Canada’s first net-zero vertical farm initiated by UofT and Centennial College). Centennial College, UofT, The Toronto Zoo, the Pan Am Centre, and more will be affected both environmentally and economically, not to mention my own neighbourhood. This is an inappropriate location on all levels. Proper and timely community consultation was not sought and does not meet best practices. The biogas waste plant is a reckless development for our community and does not adhere to Ontario’s future environmental ambitions.

The current proposal will add significant dangerous emissions to a vulnerable part of Scarborough that is already one of the most heavily toxic parts of Toronto (according to a City of Toronto report in 2017). It will add trucks 24/7 when we currently have peace and tranquillity in our sleeping hours. Of note, there were similar proposals in the past that were rejected, for similar reasons. This proposal should be no exception.

Both Mayor John Tory and Jennifer McKelvie, the local councillor, recently told Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek that local residents oppose the plan and they hope he will “ultimately deny this application when a decision is required.” They are standing up for the people of Scarborough. I urge you to respect our community the same and cease the development of this proposal. Thank you.