NDACT

(North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce, Inc.)

We are an incorporated, not for profit, entity which was formed in January 2009 by concerned citizens from Melancthon and Mulmur Townships.

The NDACT executive board was formed by a group of volunteers nominated by community members.

At the inaugural meeting, members of the community gathered to voice their concerns and to find out more about The Highland Companies plans regarding the more than 6,000 acres of prime agricultural land that they had amassed as of that date. Up to that point in time, and for a lengthy period of time afterwards, Highland reiterated to the community that they had been acquiring large tracts of agricultural land solely with a view to creating a world class farming operation, but residents were highly skeptical.

By the date of the meeting, there was a growing suspicion in the area that other plans were afoot, although the applicant would not clearly admit so. There was significant evidence that the applicant was undertaking activities that were inconsistent with its stated intentions (of just being interested in potato farming) including well testing and drilling, archaeological studies, woodlot and fence row clearing and the demolition of homesteads. Highland stated that these activities were merely to improve their farming operations.

www.ndact.ca

MPs & TorontoniansTour Proposed Quarry Area

On Wednesday July 25th NDACT hosted a bus tour organized by MP Matthew Kellway of the Federal NDP party.

The bus tour:
  • started at 11:00 AM from NDACT Chair Carl Cosack's ranch 
  •  had lunch at Provincial Fisheries on River Road
  • proceeded to tour the span of the proposal
  •  then off to Wallington in Hornings Mills
  •  then to Vander Zagg's, walked over to French's farm
  • about 3 p.m. the bus headed back down to the city.          

Report of day from Donna T.

dave vander zaag city mega quarry tour july 25We 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.

bill french mega quarry tour july 25 2012

Thanks to Donna T. for her submission.

Visit to French Farm