Latest news with #ChathamKent
CTV News
19 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Dresden landfill fight: What options are left if Bill 5 becomes law?
Dresden residents hope to halt the reactivation and expansion of a long dormant landfill just north of town. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) With a controversial provincial bill expected to pass at Queen's Park this week, residents of Dresden and municipal officials in Chatham-Kent are doubling down on their opposition to a landfill proposal tied to the legislation. Bill 5, the 'Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,' would allow Ontario to exempt select infrastructure projects from full environmental assessments. Among them is a dormant landfill site on Irish School Road in Dresden that York1 Environmental Solutions hopes to revive as a construction and demolition materials recycling facility. The community has long pushed back against the plan, and as the bill inches toward becoming law, many are now asking: what options are left? 'There's not a whole lot that the municipality can do from a legal perspective,' said Windsor-based municipal consultant Melinda Munro. 'But they seem to be doing a lot of useful things from a political perspective.' Munro said the key now is sustained pressure — not just from Chatham-Kent council, but from residents and aligned groups across the region. 'Keep up the political pressure,' she said. 'Join up with communities of interest. There are others besides the municipality — the community itself, local businesses and First Nations — who may be like-minded and have different legal tools available to them.' York1 maintains the project has been mischaracterized. The company says the site would not be a traditional landfill and would only accept non-hazardous construction materials, adding it has been transparent and previously received municipal support — a claim Chatham-Kent officials firmly deny. A statement from Mayor Darrin Canniff last week said the municipality 'does not support this project' and accused York1 of attempting to 'dress it up' under a new brand, Sustainable Dresden, without addressing prior concerns. 'We will continue to fight to ensure Dresden is not used as a dumping ground,' Canniff said. Wendy Vercauteren, a leading voice among residents opposed to the project, said there's still hope Queen's Park will revise the bill to remove the landfill clause entirely. 'I guess you could say the way I'm feeling right now is hopeful — that we've sent a strong enough message to Queen's Park,' she said. 'I'm hoping they'll use their conscience and vote no to Bill 5 — or at least yes to amendments that remove our schedule from it.' Vercauteren said she's reached out to provincial and federal officials, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Environment. 'We will not give up,' she said. If the bill passes, Munro said the next phase is about close scrutiny and constant pushback. 'One of my favourite law professors said, 'Make it sporting for them,'' she explained. 'Every time the province takes an action, make sure they're dotting their Is and crossing their Ts — and challenge them on every single minor flaw.' She said even if the bill becomes law, it's not a done deal. 'That landfill still has to get built. The minister has promised a thorough environmental review based on the previous assessment. The MPPs in the region are saying, 'We're going to hold you to that,'' Munro said. Munro also noted that political overreach in Ontario has sometimes been walked back when public resistance becomes too strong. 'We've seen this before,' she said. 'They make very aggressive moves and then pull back because they overshot or overestimated the community support.' For now, the community of Dresden is leaning on unity — and resolve. 'This one situation has pulled everybody together,' said Vercauteren. 'Different political views, different walks of life, all on the same page saying this cannot happen. That's amazing, especially for a small community like this.'
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Drivers warned to obey collision road closure signs
The Chatham-Kent Police Service is warning drivers to always obey road closure signs and barricades at scenes of collisions. Police said this is dangerous behaviour that affects the response of emergency crews, while also putting everyone involved in danger. 'In recent incidents, individuals have chosen to ignore clearly marked road closures, driving through active crash investigation scenes and endangering those working to secure the area,' read a news release. 'These actions are not only illegal, but potentially deadly.' Officers issued multiple offence notices were issued in recent events. Detours should always be followed, obey road signs, and respect work done at scenes of incidents.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
88-year-old man airlifted to hospital after weekend collision
Two drivers have been hurt following a collision in Chatham over the weekend. On Saturday just before 7:30 a.m., emergency crews were called to a serious incident between an SUV and vintage car at the intersection of Bloomfield Road and Richmond Street. According to the Chatham-Kent Police Service, the SUV was going westbound on Richmond, as the vintage car was coming westbound on Bloomfield. The vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection. A 27-year-old woman from Windsor, who was the driver of the SUV, sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The 88-year-old man from Chatham, who was driving the vintage car, was airlifted to hospital. The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Brandon McKeen at brandonmc@ or 519-355-1092.
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Two-vehicle crash in Thamesville sends one to the hospital with serious injuries
An investigation is underway following a two-vehicle crash in Thamesville that left one person with serious injuries. Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Chatham-Kent Police Service officers were called to a crash involving an SUV and a pickup truck at the intersection of Selton Line and Victoria Road. An investigation revealed that the SUV was travelling westbound on the Selton Line, while the pickup truck was travelling southbound on Victoria Road when the two vehicles collided in the center of the intersection. Police said the driver of the SUV, a 28-year-old Windsor man, and two other passengers were not injured. The driver of the pickup truck, a 32-year-old man from Thamesville, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The CKPS is currently investigating the collision. Anyone with information is asked to contact Constable Brandon McKeen at brandonmc@ or 519-355-1092. - Written by Rusty Thomson/AM800 News.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Chatham-Kent man barred from owning animals after convicted of PAWS violation
A Chatham-Kent man has been barred from owning, having custody of, or caring for animals for two years following a court finding him guilty of caring for an animal under the (Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act. The PAWS act is used to enforce animal welfare and safety. On May 7, a court found him guilty of failing to comply with an order to follow a veterinarian's recommendations for the care of an animal. As of April 2025, Ontario's Animal Welfare Services have issued more than 15,000 distress orders, laid over 1,800 charges for offences under PAWS, and removed 11,800 animals from situations of distress.
