Ontario's quarry conundrum
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- Published on Thursday, 28 June 2012 10:37
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There are plenty of opportunities to mine aggregate without destroying farmland, Ron Lehman informed the all-party committee of MPPs.
“Stay away from farmland. No quarries, period,” he said. “There is lots of rock elsewhere, this farmland is unique.”
Carl Cosack, chair of the North Dufferin Agricultural Community Task Force (NDACT), requested numerous alterations to the ARA, stating, “The aggregate industry can no longer be prioritized at the cost of every other industry.”
Farmer David Vander Zaag, who hosted Foodstock last fall, told the committee the farmland in Melancthon is irreplaceable.
“It’s the best in the world without exaggeration,” Vander Zaag said.
During his testimony, Vander Zaag invited the committee to visit Melancthon. Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell told The Banner the committee would tour the town following the meeting.
“You owe it to yourself to see it first hand,” Vander Zaag said. “You owe it to Ontarians.”
Posted in the "Orangeville Banner", June 28, 2012
By Bill Tremblay