February 2025
BURLINGTON, ON — For six years, there has been a battle in North Burlington over the Nelson Quarry’s plan to expand. In March, the fight goes before the Ontario Land Tribunal. This situation is unusual because it’s the city spending millions fighting on behalf of about 100 people against a project that could benefit everyone else in Burlington.
The 50-year-old quarry wants to expand onto land that is now a small golf course and unused fields. It has already had sign-off by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans, the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Niagara Escarpment Commission and Conservation Halton. Yet, the City of Burlington continues to oppose it, mainly because about 100 local homeowners don’t want it.
This opposition has cost taxpayers millions in legal fees. Instead of thinking about what’s best for the whole community, the city seems focused on protecting a small, privileged group. The expansion wouldn’t just provide important building materials, but it would also lead to the creation of a massive 1,000-acre park once the quarry is done—something Burlington badly needs. It would also bring jobs, tax revenue, and cheaper infrastructure costs by keeping materials local.
However, city officials argue against the expansion and against the consensus of half a dozen agencies, siding with a small group of homeowners who don’t want change in their neighborhood. If the quarry doesn’t expand, Burlington could lose major environmental and economic benefits. Even the natural water systems, which the quarry helps support, could dry up, affecting local streams and fish habitats.
This issue raises a bigger question about how decisions are made. When local governments prioritize the wishes of a small, privileged group over the needs of the majority, is that really fair?
Ironically, in trying to protect a few, the city and region are working against the larger community. This debate over the Nelson Quarry is a reminder that sometimes, efforts to protect a few can come at a big cost to everyone else. It’s time for Council to remember that it was voted in by the majority to work for the majority, not to cater to special interests.
