[All] FW: ARA review

Thu Jul 5 13:31:10 EDT 2012

Dear Mr. Taylor,  

Thank you for contacting me regarding the review of the Aggregate Resources
Act (ARA) and the current public consultations that are taking place. 

As promised in March 2012, our government initiated a review of the
Aggregate Resources Act through the all-party Standing Committee on General
Government. As you may recall, I supported the call last summer by my former
colleague, Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, for a provincial
review of the ARA. 

The review will look at how we balance environmental, community and economic
concerns within the current policy framework. Our government would to like
thank all the stakeholders and Ontarians who have participated in committee
hearings over the last couple of weeks. As this process unfolds, our
government continues to listen to what people have to say in the management
of this vital resource. 

As you may be aware, all committee travel requests are considered together
by the House Leaders of the three parties. As part of a recent unanimous
agreement between all three House Leaders, the Committee has been authorized
to meet up to 4 days during June/July, on dates and in locations in Ontario
established by the Committee. The Committee has already held hearings in
Orangeville last week and is scheduled to meet in Kitchener on July 9th, in
Ottawa on July 16th and in Sudbury on July 17th. 

Please note that you may follow the committee's activities online, including
any invitation for public input, on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's
website. I include the link here for your information
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committees_detail.do?locale
=en
<http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committees_detail.do?local
e=en&detailPage=business&ID=145> &detailPage=business&ID=145

Once again, I wish to assure you that our government is committed to
reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act to achieve an appropriate balance that
meets our need for aggregate while protecting other key assets like water,
natural heritage and agricultural resources.

I would like to thank you for writing and sharing your thoughts on this
important matter.  

Sincerely,

John Milloy

Government House Leader

  _____  

From: Neil E Taylor [mailto:neiletaylor at sympatico.ca]
<mailto:%5bmailto:neiletaylor at sympatico.ca%5d>  
Sent: May 16, 2012 10:24 AM
To: milloy.mpp at liberal.ola.org
Cc: Milloy_John-MPP-CO
Subject: ARA review
Importance: High

Dear Mr. Milloy,

I am most disappointed in you and your government.a government that is fast
losing the confidence of many of us who have supported you for years.

Last week, MPP Laurie Scott asked in the Legislature to extend the public
consultation for the review of the Aggregate Resources Act, and to allow the
committee to travel to several aggregate producing areas of the province to
visit sites and seek public input.

Liberal House Leader John Milloy told Ms. Scott that the Conservatives
"can't have it both ways" - that they want the review committee to be
independent of the legislature, and to conduct the review in the manner they
see fit, but that they want the government to mandate an extension and
travel to several locations to gather input.

Later in the week, the review committee UNANIMOUSLY passed a motion to
request an extension of the public input process, and to add a travel
program. Now, just one day before the public input period is set to expire,
there has been no response from the house.

By omission and inaction, the legislature, led by the Liberal party, is
effectively interfering in the process, by not approving the committee's
request.

Both BridgeKeepers and the Conestogo Winterbourne Residents' Association
requested delegation status before the committee in Toronto. They were both
denied. 

Mr. Milloy, you can't "have it both ways".  Either you allow the committee
to proceed as it wishes, or undemocratically impose the will of the
government on what is purported to be a process independent of politics.

Respectfully submitted,

Neil E. Taylor

Please check my Birdathon porgress at:

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1914
<http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1914&AID=1845&PID=256458
> &AID=1845&PID=256458

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come." - Chinese
Proverb

You must have the bird in your heart before you can find it in the bush" -
John Burroughs (1908) essay: Art of Seeing Things

For Nature! For now! Forever!

neiletaylor at sympatico.ca

Use the Slide Show app for best viewing of my photos at:

 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/costa_rica_birds2012/>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/costa_rica_birds2012/

Neil E. Taylor

1016 Wilson Ave.

Kitchener ON 

N2C 1J2

Tel. 519-893-6469

"In the end, we conserve only what we love, we will love only what we
understand and we will understand only what we are taught." -- Baba Dioum

"I have a room all to myself; it is Nature. It is a place beyond the
jurisdiction of human government." - (Author unknown)

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803-1882)

"The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration." -
Claude Monet

Life Member - Bird Studies Canada (BSC)

Life Member - Ontario Nature (ON)

Life Member - Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO)

Honorary Life Member - (2008) Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists (KWFN)

Conservation Award - (2008) Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists (KWFN)

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