By Pepper Parr
May 21st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
There were two delegation on the Nelson Quarry this morning. Gord Pinard representing Conserving Our Rural Ecosystems (CORE); an incorporated public interest group with 1200 active supporters, that has been opposed to the Quarry.
Gord Pinard representing Conserving Our Rural Ecosystems (CORE)
Pinard was speaking to a Motion that had been put forward and send the province a resolution asking that the province stop the Nelson aggregate expansion plans once and for all
He was there to share some additional information “that we will we hope will help to secure your support for this resolution.”
“There is a long list of technical issues that are the basis for the case being adjudicated at the Ontario Land Tribunal. And we sincerely appreciate the City of Burlington.
Unfortunately, the Ontario land Tribunal has no mechanism to stop Nelson from making future applications for this expansion after this one is denied. Despite the unanimous Joint Board decision in 2012, denying the application for this reason CORE Burlington is supportive of a Niagara Escarpment plan amendment to expand the already existing designations of escarpment, natural and escarpment protection, which would prevent future applications for extraction.
A project of this magnitude requires a much more robust assessment than that provided in the application studies. Limiting the study areas to just the license boundaries, as was done in the Nelson studies does not adequately assess the impacts. Identifying natural heritage features is tough work, and it requires technical expertise, dedication, perseverance, and a will to find these features. We’ve talked about the Jefferson salamanders previously, their elusive nature and the narrow window when they can be found in breeding ponds. It’s easy to miss the window or to look in the wrong ponds and conclude that they don’t exist.
But in Mt Nemo, we know they exist; three new regulated habitats were recently added because of the perseverance of CORE Burlington and our technical experts. But the story is bigger than just Jefferson salamanders, the ecologist retained by CORE Burlington continue to find information not included in the Nelson studies.
You can find all kinds of Jefferson Salamanders if you look in the right ponds at the right time.
They found new and expanded provincially significant wetlands and woodlands. They found more habitats confirmed and potential and more species than were reported in the Nelson studies. The bottom line is that the ecologists are finding provincially significant areas of natural and scientific interest. One of the criteria for re designation to escarpment natural and escarpment protection and the more they look, the more they find.
Pinard: “We’ve talked about the Jefferson salamanders previously, their elusive nature makes it difficult to track where they are and what they are doing. But they are there..
In Milton and 2020 Premier Ford made a commitment to government for the people. And he said if the community doesn’t want it and the city council doesn’t want it, it won’t happen. Well in Burlington the community doesn’t want the Nelson quarry expansion City Council’s voted against it. So it’s time to make sure it doesn’t happen.
On May 2, Zee Hameed was elected as the new MPP for Milton. In his previous role as a regional Councillor, he voted against the Nelson expansion and during his campaign, when he met with us he committed to stop the Nelson expansion.
Your motion asking the province of Ontario to protect Mt Nemo and stop the Nelson aggregate expansion plans once and for all is a powerful message of support to the community.
Councillor Nisan asked: Do you have any other requests from us beyond this after we approve this.
Pinard said: “This quarry expansion does not just affect the people who are neighbours of the quarry. It affects all of Burlington, the people who use the area, it’s the air quality, it’s the water; and we think it is important to bring additional voices to the conversation to raise their awareness and ask for their support.
During the Council debate it was pointed out that a 60 day hearing is planned for the Nelson aggregate issue and as as the delegates have said quite eloquently today, the Premier said if people don’t want these, they don’t have to have them. Well, it’s not just the people it’s really the environment that’s calling for this. This is Niagara Escarpment land.
The Resolution was a request for the province of Ontario to deny Nelson aggregates expansion into Mount Nemo. The Council vote was unanimous.
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