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CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Residents plan human chain to protest Dresden landfill development
Opponents of a landfill that's slated to open next to the community of Dresden are planning to form a human chain on Sunday to show just how close the dump is to the community. One organizer estimates they'll need at least 400 people to do it. "It's right across the road from some of the houses, and it's also only 800 metres, I believe, from the high school," said co-organizer Jodi-Lynn Janess. She hopes the hour-long event, which starts at 1 p.m., will see people joining hands and praying for the land and for the water, she said. The human chain is the latest in a series of actions taken by community members in and around Dresden to protest the development by York1. The site, which was once a landfill, has been idled for decades. They say they're concerned about the possibility of asbestos blowing in the air, toxins leaching into Molly's Creek and the Sydenham River and heavy trucks damaging the roads around the community. Ontario over-reliant on U.S. landfills, premier says The company proposes expanding the landfill site to cover 25 hectares and receive 6,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste each day. It told CBC in a June statement it plans to use the site to turn clean wood into mulch, compost, and raw materials for particleboard and paper manufacturing; to turn mixed wood waste into alternative low-carbon fuels; and to prepare rock and rubble for use in cement and concrete production, aggregate replacement in construction, base for sports fields or running tracks and decorative use in landscaping. Premier Doug Ford says his government is committed to the project because of an over-reliance on U.S. landfills at a time of deteriorating Canada-U.S. relations. The Ford government passed Bill 5 in June, which exempts "specified activities relating to the Chatham-Kent waste disposal site" from the need for an environmental assessment. The protesters are calling for the repeal of Bill 5 and the reinstatement of the environmental assessment process for the project. "This is 6,000 tonnes of garbage coming a day from Toronto — 700 trucks, which our infrastructure cannot hold," said human chain co-organizer Luanne Deline. "We have trouble now with our farms and our tractors and wagons coming out just to get on the highway to get to the mills. … We cannot handle another 700 trucks a day, 24 hours a day, every day. And because there's not a lot of insight, and there won't be now without an environmental assessment, we don't know what's really going on there. No one knows." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks told CBC in a statement the project "will still undergo extensive environmental processes and remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements." Those, it said, include environmental compliance approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA). "Ontario exports nearly 40 per cent of its waste to the United States, and it is anticipated our landfills, as they stand, will be full within the next decade," the statement read. "The York 1 waste project, located just outside of Dresden, presented a unique opportunity to increase internal waste management capacity, ensure long-term stability, and reduce reliance on international systems - as it is an active landfill site and already has waste permissions." Asked whether the battle against the landfill is a lost cause given that the province has already passed Bill 5, human chain co-organizer Wendy Vercauteren said she's an optimist. "It is not unheard of for bills to be repealed because of public outcry," she told CBC's Windsor Morning. "Until the project is actually started, we're not giving up the fight." Deline pointed to the government's reversal on developing the Greenbelt lands near Toronto as an example of a successful public campaign. "There's no point in giving up," she said.


Toronto Star
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Doug Ford's Bill 5 raises risk more communities will be forced to take garbage, municipalities warn
Premier Doug Ford's controversial Bill 5, which will force an annual 365,000 tonnes of garbage on an inactive Dresden landfill, puts communities across Ontario at risk of similar treatment, warns the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). In a July 15 letter to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, AMO said the removal of environmental assessment requirements for the Dresden landfill — enabled by the new legislation — opens the door to the massive expansion of waste facilities in other communities even if, like the Municipality of Chatham Kent, they are firmly opposed. 'This approach sets a concerning precedent that any of the over 600 active and inactive landfills across Ontario could be similarly expanded,' wrote AMO president Robin Jones. The impact could reach far beyond numbers quoted in the letter. In addition to 600 active waste management sites, AMO staff said there are another 1,800 closed landfills owned by municipal, provincial, and private owners. While acknowledging that Ontario 'urgently needs increased landfill capacity' to meet the province's goals for a dramatic boost in housing, Jones said the ministry's reversal on Dresden's environmental assessment — replacing it with a 1980s era 'environmental compliance approval' — does not cover the full scope needed for such a massive expansion. Dresden's 'inactive' site is currently allowed to accept 75 tonnes of waste a year, according to AMO, and under new government approvals that would jump to an annual 365,000 tonnes, an increase of almost 5,000 times. All of this would be done, the letter states, without a proper assessment on agricultural land, woodlots, waterways and quality of life. In addition to possible environmental impacts, the quality of life issue is one that often goes unconsidered. Years ago, residents who dealt with hundreds of trucks carrying Toronto's excavated soil to their small towns were outraged by the impact of so many heavy trucks on their communities. In Dresden, the landfill is located 800 metres from homes and the Municipality of Chatham Kent 'is not supportive of the expansion,' Jones said. Queen's Park has said the trade war with the United States is forcing the government to look at domestic options for waste disposal. 'Ontario exports nearly 40 per cent of its waste to the United States and it is anticipated our landfills, as they stand, will be full within the next decade,' said McCarthy's spokesperson Alexandru Cioban. The Dresden landfill expansion, called the York 1 waste project, 'presented a unique opportunity, as it is the landfill that can mobilize the quickest to increase internal waste management capacity, ensure long-term stability and reduce reliance on international systems,' Cioban said. Since it is an expansion of an existing active landfill site, Cioban said it 'would not normally' require an environmental assessment. 'To be clear, Bill 5 has made no changes to approval requirements for any other landfill or waste projects in Ontario,' he said. AMO's letter follows an earlier missive that said Ontario's increased pressure for landfill space — with estimates that its capacity will run out in 10 years — will only worsen now that the government is proposing changes to the blue box system. In early June, the ministry proposed killing its plan to add blue box recycling to apartments and condos or long-term care and retirement homes that do not already have the service. And, it proposed a five-year delay to the expansion of blue box services in public spaces — a service that would have been paid for by the producers of packaging and other materials collected by the system. In her July 7 letter to McCarthy, Jones said the elimination of the planned blue box program in multi-residential buildings will create a 'fragmented 'two-tiered' system' where some Ontarians have access to recycling while others do not. Cioban said the ministry is 'currently reviewing feedback from the consultation.' In 2022, Ontario generated up to 15.5 million tonnes of nonhazardous waste, which is equivalent to 1.127 tonnes per person, according to AMO's Ontario Baseline Waste and Recycling Report. As for Ontario's shrinking landfill capacity, Jones said AMO supports the government's efforts to streamline landfill development approvals, but called for a shared approach that recognizes the needs of municipalities and the province, in a plan to expand landfill capacity. 'We continue to stress the importance of balancing these goals with strong environmental protection.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walpole Island First Nation holds protest against Dresden landfill expansion
Fire keepers from Walpole Island First Nation watched over a sacred fire near the bank of the Sydenham River over the weekend as part of a series of events in response to a planned landfill expansion in Dresden — and Ontario legislation that appear designed to expedite it. Knowledge keepers from the community stood on the shore and sang a water song in Anishinaabemowin as more than a dozen canoes and kayaks glided down the river from Dresden to Wallaceburg, praying as they paddled. "The legal protections. They were there for a reason. I'm confused on why we're going backwards and why we're not protecting our homes like we used to," said Chloe White-Deleary, one of the paddlers. "It counts on humans, all of us, to be stewards of the land. And in my culture, we think about not just us, but like what are we doing to protect the next seven generations?" Waste management company York1, is proposing to expand the landfill site, located just over a kilometre from the edge of Dresden, to cover 25 hectares and receive 6,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste each day. A spokesperson told CBC in a statement in early June that it plans to use the site to turn clean wood into mulch, compost, and raw materials for particleboard and paper manufacturing; to turn mixed wood waste into alternative low-carbon fuels; and to prepare rock and rubble for use in cement and concrete production, aggregate replacement in construction, base for sports fields or running tracks and decorative use in landscaping. But the proposal has faced significant community opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about the impact on nearby bodies of water. And that opposition has grown since the Ford government introduced Bill 5, which became law on June 5 and which exempts "specified activities relating to the Chatham-Kent waste disposal site" from Part II.3 of the Environmental Assessment Act, which requires applications for projects under the section to be accompanied by environmental assessments. Walpole Island First Nation Chief Leela Thomas told CBC Windsor Morning Tuesday she thinks the government's actions violate Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, which includes a duty to consult First Nations before making decisions that could impact their rights. It also violates the Treaty of Niagara and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, she said, which requires governments to seek free, prior and informed consent for developments on their lands. "Our family members use those waterways for hiking, fishing, harvesting and our ceremony," Thomas said. "And we have those treaty rights to protect our rights to fish, to hunt and harvest and practice our culture on our own ancestral lands and waterways." Nine First Nations are seeking an injunction to prevent government from using Bill 5 and federal Bill C-5 to fast-track infrastructure projects, arguing that both pieces of legislation authorize "the Crown to unilaterally ram through projects without meaningful or any engagement with First Nations" and "violate the constitutional obligation of the Crown to advance ... reconciliation." In response to a request for comment about the legal challenge, the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it had begun "productive conversations with First Nations who share our vision of unlocking economic opportunity and critical infrastructure in their community, and will continue these consultations throughout the summer." "These consultations will shape the regulations and criteria for new special economic zones and Indigenous-led economic zones." Thomas said she is honoured to have so many community members, especially young ones, who are vocal about the impact of Bill 5. She is also grateful for generations of community members who have been dedicated to protecting the land and water and passing those teachings on to younger generations. The goal of the fire was to create a peaceful gathering where decisions affecting future generations could be made collectively with full understanding of the consequences, said Amy White, a councillor with the First Nation. White had a powerful experience at the fire when she saw three immature eagles circling overhead in a clockwise direction, she said. "I shared that with the elder who I get [advice] from," White said. "And what she had shared was that shows the connection between the next generation, and so how important … of a role they are going to play in this movement."


CBC
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Walpole Island First Nation holds protest against Dresden landfill expansion
Fire keepers from Walpole Island First Nation watched over a sacred fire near the bank of the Sydenham River over the weekend as part of a series of events in response to a planned landfill expansion in Dresden — and Ontario legislation that appear designed to expedite it. Knowledge keepers from the community stood on the shore and sang a water song in Anishinaabemowin as more than a dozen canoes and kayaks glided down the river from Dresden to Wallaceburg, praying as they paddled. "The legal protections. They were there for a reason. I'm confused on why we're going backwards and why we're not protecting our homes like we used to," said Chloe White-Deleary, one of the paddlers. "It counts on humans, all of us, to be stewards of the land. And in my culture, we think about not just us, but like what are we doing to protect the next seven generations?" Waste management company York1, is proposing to expand the landfill site, located just over a kilometre from the edge of Dresden, to cover 25 hectares and receive 6,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste each day. A spokesperson told CBC in a statement in early June that it plans to use the site to turn clean wood into mulch, compost, and raw materials for particleboard and paper manufacturing; to turn mixed wood waste into alternative low-carbon fuels; and to prepare rock and rubble for use in cement and concrete production, aggregate replacement in construction, base for sports fields or running tracks and decorative use in landscaping. But the proposal has faced significant community opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about the impact on nearby bodies of water. And that opposition has grown since the Ford government introduced Bill 5, which became law on June 5 and which exempts "specified activities relating to the Chatham-Kent waste disposal site" from Part II.3 of the Environmental Assessment Act, which requires applications for projects under the section to be accompanied by environmental assessments. Walpole Island First Nation Chief Leela Thomas told CBC Windsor Morning Tuesday she thinks the government's actions violate Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, which includes a duty to consult First Nations before making decisions that could impact their rights. It also violates the Treaty of Niagara and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, she said, which requires governments to seek free, prior and informed consent for developments on their lands. "Our family members use those waterways for hiking, fishing, harvesting and our ceremony," Thomas said. "And we have those treaty rights to protect our rights to fish, to hunt and harvest and practice our culture on our own ancestral lands and waterways." Nine First Nations are seeking an injunction to prevent government from using Bill 5 and federal Bill C-5 to fast-track infrastructure projects, arguing that both pieces of legislation authorize "the Crown to unilaterally ram through projects without meaningful or any engagement with First Nations" and "violate the constitutional obligation of the Crown to advance ... reconciliation." In response to a request for comment about the legal challenge, the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it had begun "productive conversations with First Nations who share our vision of unlocking economic opportunity and critical infrastructure in their community, and will continue these consultations throughout the summer." "These consultations will shape the regulations and criteria for new special economic zones and Indigenous-led economic zones." Thomas said she is honoured to have so many community members, especially young ones, who are vocal about the impact of Bill 5. She is also grateful for generations of community members who have been dedicated to protecting the land and water and passing those teachings on to younger generations. The goal of the fire was to create a peaceful gathering where decisions affecting future generations could be made collectively with full understanding of the consequences, said Amy White, a councillor with the First Nation. White had a powerful experience at the fire when she saw three immature eagles circling overhead in a clockwise direction, she said. "I shared that with the elder who I get [advice] from," White said.


CTV News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘What the heck is going on?': Dresden residents upset with heavy equipment at controversial landfill property
Dresden residents are expressing their dismay as heavy equipment has been seen at a controversial landfill property. York1 Environmental Waste Solutions has started 'housekeeping and prep work' at 29831 Irish School Road, just north of the small town. One resident spotted the heavy equipment on York1 transport trucks Monday and posted it to social media. 'I thought, oh no! Here we go. It's started already,' Wendy Vercauteren told CTV News on Thursday. 'We've had periods of nothing happening and then we see this and it's just 'What the heck is going on!'' York1 spokesperson Laryssa Waler confirmed a 'small crew' is on site with heavy equipment. 'The tasks underway — grounds clean‑up, grading, removal of legacy debris, and installation of basic environmental controls — are all activities that are expressly permitted under the site's existing Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA),' Waler wrote in a statement. Just three weeks ago, the Ford government passed Bill 5 which, among other things, exempts York1 from going through a comprehensive environmental assessment for their plan to build a regenerative recycling facility on the property. 'Our goal is to stabilize and modernize this site,' Waler wrote. 'Later this year we will apply to amend the ECA for waste transfer & processing so we can transition it into a modern Regenerative Recycling Facility that will handle only non‑hazardous construction and‑demolition materials.' 'I am not done fighting this thing,' Vercauteren said. She is a co-founder of Dresden Together, one of two grassroots groups fighting the York1 development. Vercauteren said she's not specifically opposed to a recycling facility, but not this close to town. And she is worried the province will use the ongoing concerns about a lack of landfill space for residential waste to pivot the plan near Dresden. 'Who's to say that at some point the province examines the landfill crisis in the province and that they could, with Bill 5, declare this as a special economic zone and change course and change it from a regenerative recycling facility and make it into a landfill,' Vercauteren said. 'We are still here and we're still fighting,' Stefan Premdas said Thursday, co-founder of the other group called Dresden CARED (Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal). Premdas is organizing a rally for Thursday, July 3 in Dresden at Rotary Park, starting at 11:45 a.m. 'It is a show of community support and resistance that we're planning,' Premdas said. 'We spend a lot of time going to Queen's Park in small numbers. It's several hours away, and it's quite costly for our town to get there. And so, we want to do something local so that our entire community can participate.'