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Message From The Chair
It has been a very busy and productive summer for all of us. I am continually amazed at the Highland Companies attempts to redo their image; big billboards on their barns along with Canadian flags to show their admiration for this beautiful Country. As if anyone is fooled.
We know that Highland Companies is incorporated in Nova Scotia and that the province is famous for limiting the liability companies registered there are exposed to.
The billboard on the old Laverty storage building on County Road 124, is just as bizarre. We have a picture of the application form right in front of that building, the very application that asks for permission to blow this all up, including the building with the billboard on it! Using the Canadian Flag will not make the fact disappear that the financing hedge fund, Baupost, is from Boston. The trouble is, they just do not have a good story to tell, no sane person wants this Mega Quarry.
With the review of the Provincial Policy Statement currently underway, please check the EBR so that you can comment, the whole concept of a Mega Quarry deserves to be questioned.
The five-year review of the Provincial Policy Statement commenced on March 1, 2010 and has included extensive consultation across Ontario with members of the public, municipalities, Aboriginal communities and organizations, and stakeholders. The input, ideas and suggestions from the consultation have helped shape proposed revisions to the PPS and prompted consideration of whether to extend the legislated PPS five-year review cycle.
The Province is seeking comments on the draft policies to ensure that the PPS provides effective policy direction to protect provincial interests and input on the current 5-year review period for the Policy Statement.
This proposal has been posted for a 60 day public review and comment period starting September 24, 2012. If you have any questions, or would like to submit your comments, please do so by November 23, 2012 to the individual listed under "Contact". Additionally, you may submit your comments on-line.
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTE3NDQz&statusId=MTc1Nzgw&language=en
Monopolies, or a concentration of control, generally do not serve the public well, just look at the price of gasoline as an example of a few companies controlling the supply of a needed commodity. Limestone is needed to drive development, we all understand that.
Why would we create a policy of establishing a Mega Quarry, allowing control of that Mega Quarry to a Hedge Fund? A Hedge Fund in this case. Really! It will then hold all of us, including municipal, provincial and federal infrastructure projects ransom by controlling the price of the product. It seems smarter to have the needed supply spread around, owned by a variety of companies, who supply a regional market at competitive prices.
The nonpartisan opposition to the Mega Quarry is growing. A serious “Thank you” to our MP David Tilson and to MP Michael Chong, both federal Conservatives. They were responsible for bringing the honourable Peter Kent to this riding for a tour of the proposed Mega Quarry. The Minister was very well versed on the issues and allowed enough time for an in depth discussion. On behalf of NDACT, and all of you, a heartfelt “Thank you” not only for the Minister, but for the hard working MP’s who know who their constituents is, and is not afraid to work for them.
Another sincere “Thank you” is being offered to MP Matt Kellway, MP Peggy Nash and Craig Scott, members of the Federal NDP. They are very engaged and are asking questions in Ottawa, as well as driving awareness of this issue in their ridings. The concern in the city over availability of safe local food, protection of our clean Source Water resources is at an all-time high. Those hardworking MP’s are seeing the need for better policies to protect communities everywhere. Even though “Resources” are a provincial issue, they see the bigger picture.
MP Elizabeth May, Green Party is also working hard on our behalf and continues to raise questions and awareness in Ottawa, thank you for this. The really encouraging sign for me is that true democracy appears to be practiced here, and your voices are being heard!
NDACT has been represented at many events this summer, just to name a few: Stomp, Soupstock Media event, Anti Mega Quarry Walk in Collingwood, Paddle The Grand, Farmers Markets in Orangeville, Creemore and Sorauren, Artists Against The Mega Quarry events, a tour with the Honourable Peter Kent, MNR Ministry officials, Grey Highlands Probus Group tour (local food committee), NDP MP Tour, MP Peggy Nash Town hall meeting, Dufferin Arts Council Gala and more.
Our volunteers are out there raising awareness and funds, I am so proud of all of them for the great effort they give, and results they achieve. I also saw our “Food and Water First” sign at the entrance gate of the Outdoor Farm show and the table here at Peace Valley Ranch during the Dufferin Farm Tour was very busy.
October 21st, 2012 is “Soupstock” at Woodbine Park. http://www.soupstock.ca/ It will be a fabulous event put on by the Canadian Chef’s Congress and the David Suzuki Foundation. Plan to attend and sample delicious offerings from many Chefs, including some local musical talent. If you would like NDACT to arrange a bus, please send a note to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
so we will know how many seats we would need. Let us know by Oct 9th, departing Creemore and Shelburne.
Please check out the “Call to action” button at http://www.ndact.com/ and write your MPP asking him/her to make sure that the review of the ARA, the very legislation which allowed this crazy application, to be a meaningful review - not just a document buried in red tape. With such great input from many groups and sectors of the community and throughout the province, the review must bring serious and fundamental change to the way we plan aggregate extraction, FOOD and WATER, Life itself, must come FIRST.
Please stay strong and involved, it is because of you that we will succeed.
Have a great “Thanksgiving”, there is so much to be grateful for, and there is so much to be “Thankful” for.
Carl Cosack
Chair
NDACT.com
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Food and Water First
Food Water First
STOMP JULY 28, 2012 A GREAT SUCCESS!
Presented by: the Canadian Chefs' Council and the David Suzuki Foundation Sunday, October 21st, 2012