[All] FW: An e-mail from the Premier of Ontario

[Gregory C. Michalenko]

I found a brilliant investigative report on the quarry by free-lance environmental journalist Tim Shuff.  You can find it on his web site at http://timshuff.com/in-the-hills-fall-2009/

Susan K., you may be interested in the following bit of information from Shuff's article:

Daniher's [the developer's public relations officer] business partner is Paul Curley, a former advisor to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and other Progressive Conservative party leaders.  He shares an office with two other agencies, Counsel Public Relations and Counsel Public Affairs.  The latter's president, Philip Dewar, previously the most senior political advisor to Premier Dalton McGuinty, is one of two lobbyists registered to work at Queen's Park on behalf of The Highland Companies [the proponent of the project] on issues of "agriculture, economic development and trade, energy, environment, transportation and natural resources." 

I've heard of politicians and developers getting into bed together, but this case sounds like a real group-grope!

Lulu, you should read the article before you go talk to the Waterloo Citizens' group.  There are some really significant issues outlined that you don't mention in your list.  Suggest that the Waterloo citizens members read it too.  It's a beautiful example of what really lies behind some of these developments, and will show them what political analysis can accomplish.

- Greg Michalenko  
________________________________________
From: all-bounces at gren.ca [all-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Susan Koswan [susankoswan at execulink.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 5:18 PM
To: 'gren'
Subject: [All] FW: An e-mail from the Premier of Ontario

FYI - the response from Dalton re Highlands Quarry.
Susan K

-----Original Message-----
From: dmcguinty at premier.gov.on.ca [mailto:dmcguinty at premier.gov.on.ca]
Sent: May-17-11 4:29 PM
Subject: An e-mail from the Premier of Ontario

This e-mail account is not monitored. Please do not reply directly to
this e-mail.
For further inquiries, direct your online message through
http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/default.asp.

*********************

Thank you for your online message regarding an aggregate license
application by The Highland Companies to develop a quarry in Melancthon
Township. I have heard from many people about the proposed quarry, and I
welcome the opportunity to respond to the concerns that have been
raised.

My colleagues and I believe that all Ontarians deserve to live and work
in clean, safe communities - communities in which the environment
contributes to our overall health and well-being. With respect to the
proposed quarry, our government's goal is to ensure an open and
transparent process for the application. We are still in the early
stages of the licensing application process, and no approval has yet
been given for a quarry to proceed in Melancthon Township.

You may be interested to know that the Aggregate Resources Act provides
for a full review of the potential impact of such a development on the
local environment. The proposed quarry will also require approval under
other legislation, including the Planning Act, the Environmental
Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act.

As set out by the Aggregate Resources Act, groups or individuals had 45
days - until April 26, 2011 - to register official objections to the
proposed quarry. In response to the significant level of interest from
the community, the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural
Resources, extended the comment period on the Environmental Bill of
Rights Registry for this proposal until July 11, 2011 - bringing the
total comment period to 122 days. If you have not already done so, I
encourage you to submit your comments for consideration through the
registry's website at www.ebr.gov.on.ca, citing EBR number
011-2864, before the July 11 deadline.

The company has up to two years to resolve the objections raised. If
there are still unresolved objections to the license application, the
Ministry of Natural Resources can refer the application to the Ontario
Municipal Board for a hearing.

As you may know, Minister Jeffrey has posted a message addressing this
issue on her ministry's website. You may wish to visit www.mnr.gov.on to
view the minister's message.

Thanks again for contacting me and for bringing your concerns to my
attention. Please accept my best wishes.


Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario

*********************

Confidentiality Warning: This e-mail contains information intended only
for the use of the individual named above. If you have received this
e-mail in error, we would appreciate it if you could advise us through
the Premier's website at
http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/default.asp and destroy all copies
of this message. Thank you.




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