Aggregate fears mounting in Mono

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Published on Friday, 16 May 2014 01:32

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Things are likely to unfold differently than the mega-quarry fight did in Melancthon, but the potential for another confrontation is starting to brew in Mono.

Members of a newly formed community advocacy group, Protect Mono, are fearful an aggregate company that has acquired about 265 acres of property within the township wants to dig through Mono.

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Dufferin-Caledon voters’ choice on June 12: five candidates

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Published on Thursday, 15 May 2014 18:19

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By Bill Rea and James Matthews - Any possibility that Sylvia Jones might not be returned next month as Dufferin-Caledon’s member in the Ontario Legislature effectively vanished in recent days when four other candidates surfaced to do battle with the popular Progressive Conservative incumbent who got nearly half the votes cast in a similar battle in 2011.

In a riding that has been solidly Tory since Mavis Wilson joined a Liberal sweep in 1987, none of the other provincial parties have bothered to hold local nomination conventions and it wasn’t until this week that the Liberal, NDP and Green parties announced their candidates and the Libertarians said they’d picked the same candidate who garnered 250 votes in 2011.

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Food & water first election post cards

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Published on Sunday, 11 May 2014 01:02

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Wondering who to vote for in June’s provincial election? Food and Water First is here to help.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne called the Thursday, June 12 election last week after NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced that her party would not support the Liberal’s budget.

In a new campaign, the Food and Water First group has printed special post cards that voters can use to ask their candidates questions about the agri-food sector, water resources and farmland.

“Food and Water First is a non-partisan, grassroots organization,” said Shirley Boxem, Vice Chair of North Dufferin Agricultural Community Task Force. “This is not a Liberal issue or a Conservative issue or a Green issue. We are concerned about issues of fundamental importance for every person that all four parties should address.”

The post card highlights key messages about agri-food, water sources and farmland. It also asks residents and election hopefuls to protect and preserve the land and water that sustain us, for future generations.

Members of Food and Water First have already started distributing the post cards across Ontario. Creemore voters can find them at the 100 Mile Store, Curiosity House Books or Creemore Kitchen.
Food and Water First was formed to protest the mega-quarry that Highland Companies planned to build in Melancthon Township.

Although the Highland Companies withdrew its application for the mega-quarry in 2012, Food and Water First is still active in demanding the protection of our food and water.

To find out if you are on the voter’s list or where to vote, visit www.elections.on.ca.

By Kristi Green
Publishd in the The Creemore Echo, May 8, 2014

Thanking someone you can't stand

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Published on Friday, 02 May 2014 00:13

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Hatred is a pretty strong word, and as I get older (more mature) it’s a word I’m inclined to use less and less.

A word that I once used freely now makes me bristle. Nonetheless, one of the many things that the mega quarry battle made me acutely aware of, is how the shared loathing of an entity and often the person at the helm of that entity, has a very mobilizing effect on a community. 

There were the usual community events to get the folks of Melancthon and Mulmur together to jam once in a while, though everyone would likely agree that nothing got everyone out quite like the impending environmental disaster. Goliath was in our midst and it seemed like everyone was up in arms together. I enjoyed the outing of the head of Baupost – Seth Klarman.

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Peel Federation of Agriculture wants input on planning documents

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Published on Tuesday, 29 April 2014 19:21

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The Provincial government will soon be reviewing certain planning documents, such as the Niagara Escarpment legislation and plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine legislation, the Greenbelt plan and others.

The Peel Federation of Agriculture (PFA) wants to know how these documents are affecting rural and agriculturaldevelopment, and they want to hear from both members and non-members.

PFA is developing a response that will include illustrations of inconsistencies that challenge rural entrepreneurs when applying to expand, redevelop or otherwise modify their operations as part of the continuing evolution of the industry that supports the rural area of Peel Region.

“Duplication of regulatory authorities and overlap in jurisdiction has created a maze of bureaucracy that adds unnecessary cost through time delays, the need to hire professionals to do studies and more,” commented David Lyons, chair of PFA’s Property and Environment Committee. “The added costs will make some proposals and projects impossible to implement due to viability concerns. If Peel is to have a future as a significant contributor to the economic well-being of the region, it must have clear understandable and practical regulations that can be implemented without added cost.”

 Those who have examples of applications that have caused frustration with added cost due to delay, need for costlystudies, or outright denial of the opportunity for proposals to move forward in the rural area, PFA needs to hear those stories. The federation will protect rights to privacy if requested, or will become an advocate if possible.

People are asked to forward their thoughts to PFA by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone to PFA 

Secretary at Danette Woodworth at 905-702-8783.

(Read about the Aggregate Recycling Promotion Act, 2014, starting at page 3.)

Published in the Caledon Citizen, Apr. 27, 2014