MPs & TorontoniansTour Proposed Quarry Area

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Published on Thursday, 26 July 2012 17:22

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Report of day from Donna T.

We are hot, dusty and tired, but the tour of the proposed mega quarry area by Toronto MPs and city folks was terrific! Our yellow school bus -- decorated with Stop the Mega Quarry signs -- bounced along country roads and made several stops: a spring gushing from a hillside downstream from the proposed mega quarry site, the Pine River, Dave Vander Zaag's potato farm, the French vegetable farm, and a stunning vista of both the proposed site to the West and what seemed like the rest of the world to the East.

Visit to Vander Zaag farm

A special thanks to Dave Vander Zaag, the Armstrong and French farming families for welcoming the MPs and city folks. They provided a great tour of the rare prime farmland and its bounty. Huge thanks, as well, to Carl Cosack for being a fantastic tour guide. And, of course, thank you to MP Matthew Kellway for organizing this old-fashioned Field Trip.

Thanks to Donna T. for her submission.

Visit to French Farm

Year in Review -2011 to July 2012

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Published on Thursday, 05 July 2012 12:25

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Images from our Slide Show Presented at:

NDACT Golf Tournament July 2012

 Thanks to Volunteer, Karren W. for her making this presentation.

ARA Hearing - Carl Cosack Receives Ovation

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Published on Saturday, 19 May 2012 21:33

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"It was the first time in the 12 hours of hearings that applause broke out after a presentation. It certainly served notice to the MPPs on the committee that the fight to stop the proposed mega quarry is vigorous and vocal."

D.T.

The following is Carl's presentation, Day 4 of the ARA Review Hearing, Wednesday May 16, 2012

(more about the ARA Hearings)

(notes and government transcripts of Hearings)

NDACT Chair Carl Cosack

Presentation before the Standing Committee on General Government

Hearings to review the Aggregate Resources Act

May 16, 2012

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Carl Cosack and I am the chair of the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce, or NDACT.

 Thank you for giving me the time to speak today and to share our thoughts on the review of the Aggregate Resources Act.

NDACT was formed three years ago when the larger North Dufferin community learned about the Highland Companies plans for a massive quarry in the potato fields of Melancthon, just 90 minutes northwest of Queen’s Park. We have several hundred members and thousands of supporters actively engaged in the effort to save the land and its water. My comments today will address Agriculture and Water issues only.

While these hearings are not about the proposed Highland Companies mega quarry, it is because of the mega quarry application that we are here today. The application for the largest quarry in Canadian history in the midst of a 15,000-acre plateau of farmland hashighlighted the ongoing conflict between aggregate and agriculture. This committee has the unique opportunity to bridge those conflicts because really, aggregate operators and agriculture have much in common. We all use aggregate, we all raise children, we all eat food and we all need clean, fresh water. Non-partisan thinking will develop better policies for a better Ontario.

Representatives from the aggregate industry argue that Ontario must maintain a “close to market” approach when it comes to aggregate. That approach is part of the PPS. The PPS is a policy, not law, and it is within your mandate to improve those policies that are not working for the people of this province. In southern Ontario, “Close to Market” means “too close to prime farmland”, the very land that is extremely rare, highly productive and a major factor in the province’s economy. “Close to market” policy should not be restricted to the aggregate industry.

“Close to market” is equally important to the food producing sector of our economy.

You already know that a mere point-five percent of Canada is made of up Class 1 agricultural land. This is the finest soil in which to grow our food. Of that point-five percent, more than half of it is right here in southern Ontario. In fact, the farmland at the centre of the mega quarry controversy is Class 1 soil known as Honeywood Silt Loam. It exists nowhere else in Ontario in this contiguous manner.

Read more...

Alliston United Church Offers Collection Proceeds to NDACT - March 18, 2012

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Published on Friday, 09 March 2012 15:35

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Every year the Alliston United Church takes a collection for a worthy cause for Lent.  This year they have offered the proceeds to NDACT and asked NDACT Chair Carl Cosack, to speak.

Date: Sunday, March 18, 2012

Time: 10:30 AM

Location: St. John's United Church, 56 Victoria St. E, (Victoria St. E and Centre St.), Alliston, ON

People Power May 29, 2010

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Published on Friday, 30 December 2011 06:57

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PEOPLE POWER GATHERING
Saturday May 29, 2010

At the Shelburne Fairgrounds
1:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Featuring:

•  Petting farm & pony rides
• ATV demonstrations
•  Live entertainment during the afternoon featuring the finest in local talent
•  Food area
•  Beer garden
•  Children’s play area
•  Horse Trail Ride supporting public trails - Dundalk to Shelburne
•  Hike from Camilla to Shelburne
•  Evening concert with top Canadian Country Acts

For full details click here.

To view photo gallery click here.