Residents, Ont. NDP leader rally against Dresden landfill

CTV News

a day ago

Residents continue to fight against a proposed Dresden landfill. CTV Windsor's Robert Lothian has an update.
A community effort to keep a landfill out of Dresden was met with support on Thursday by the leader of the Ontario NDP.
Marit Stiles backed the cause at a rally against the landfill and the provincial government's passing of Bill 5.
'This is a prime example of a government and a premier making another promise and commitment and breaking it,' Stiles told those at the rally in Dresden.
Led by Stiles, a crowd of more than 100 people chanted 'kill Bill 5,' which paved the way for a long-dormant landfill to be revived without the need for an Environmental Assessment.
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Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles met with Dresden residents and stakeholders against the revival of the dump site. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
The Ford Government pushed through the 'Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,' at the tail end of the spring sitting.
On Thursday, representatives from Walpole Island First Nation, the Kent Federation of Agriculture and PSAC spoke openly against the legislation.
'You are going about this in bad faith, and you are not proving to us that you are a trusted proponent,' said Leela Thomas, Chief of Walpole Island First Nation.
York1 Environmental Solutions is seeking to revive an old landfill site on Irish School Road on the northern tip of Dresden, supposedly for a construction and demolition materials recycling facility.
Rhonda Jubenville, the area representative for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent said they have had little correspondence with York1.
'They haven't applied for any zoning applications or anything, so we've heard zero, nil, nothing,' Jubenville said.
In recent weeks, construction equipment was dropped off at the landfill site. Chatham-Kent has instructed by-law officers to monitor the site for any potential infractions.
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Chatham-Kent residents Wendy Lewis, left, and Dawn Ostler attended a rally in Dresden against a proposed landfill. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
'I do worry for the people of Dresden and the surrounding area, along with the impact of the land and farms, the tributaries like the Sydenham and Molly's Creek and the air and all of the wildlife who call these places their home,' Jubenville noted.
Absent from the crowd was Steve Pinsonneault, the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP, who represents Dresden.
Pinsonneault has previously spoken out against the proposed landfill on social media but has faced backlash for his frequent silence since the Ford government's reversal .
He chose to abstain from voting on Bill 5 rather than casting a vote against it.
'Steve Pinsonneault, show up and do your job buddy, we're waiting,' yelled Stefan Premdas of Dresden C.A.R.E.D, standing beside Stiles.
A spokesperson for the MPP's office told CTV News in an emailed statement Pinsonneault had funding announcements and scheduled committee meetings in London.
'While he was not able to be there in person, MPP Pinsonneault remains engaged with the concerns raised by the community and continues to monitor the situation closely,' said Michelle Dwyer, his executive assistant.
While the legislation has passed, Stiles encouraged residents to continue their fight against the landfill until it is permanently stopped.
'[Doug Ford] introduces a bill, he lies, he lies again, and then we build the public pressure, and he repeals the bill, so this is what we've got to do again,' Stiles said.