[All] Submission regarding Aggregate Act & Waterloo Region

Thu Jul 5 22:42:16 EDT 2012

Hi folks

The ARA committee meeting in Kitchener is an extremely important meeting if you care about source water, farming or economic sustainability for our Region. It's scheduled to take place Monday July 9th at the Holiday Inn Conference Centre located at 30 Fairway Road South starting at 1:30. Format is 15 minute presentation with 5 min. Q & A. The more folks who can make it the better. 

The ARA is essentially functioning as a committee to review public concerns regarding the revision of the Aggregate Act but the process thus far has not been without flaws. Bias was called with the lack of initial public disclosure about the ARA hearings to begin with. This meeting in Kitchener also reflected the same issue. 

May 15th I sent an email to MP Milloy requesting that the ARA committee meet with affected communities to allow residents to speak on the ARA issues. Mr. Milloy's response only arrived to me today, two days AFTER the deadline to register as delegate. Below is the letter he provided me as of this morning along with my email to extend the ARA hearing process.

I called to register as delegate today and was declined because the deadline passed. Note the fact Mr. Milloy made no mention of the deadlines at all. It's so frustrating. I've been working on this issue for 12 years. Thank God I was able to at least file written submission prior to the July 17th deadline. Comments can be emailed to: tamara_pomanski at ontla.ola.org

For more info contact  416-325-3515.

The power point I submitted is online at: http://www.slideshare.net/Waterloomoriane/ara-submission-lanteigne-aggregate-risks-gdp-impacts

All facts are easily verifiable. Bottom line: Aggregates employ 35,000 people in Ontario.
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1388452--safety-blitz-at-quarry-construction-sites-underway#.T_YSBiJGtAo.twitter

Agriculture employs 100,000 people in Ontario for 2001 while mixed farming, animal production and crop production employed a further 81,000 people. (This doesn't even include restaurant sectors, distribution etc.) Nation Wide it provides for 8.3 percent of GDP (2000) and employs 2.2 million workers.  http://www.ledc.com/index.php/ledc/menu_link/industry-sectors/manufacturing/agri-food-processing/sector-profile/

Fact is, agriculture is a renewable resources whereas aggregates aren't. There is not one single case example of a quarry being restored for A1 Farmland. 

In the age of climate change, drought in a world heading towards over population, to destroy prime farmland for aggregates is morally and ethically reprehensible. 

NOW is the time we must take a stand to show the government that we care about the future of farming and our water supply. We need to take a strong stance to support life systems. 

Lulu

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Milloy_John-MPP <jmilloy.mpp at liberal.ola.org>
To: "'butterflybluelu at rogers.com'" <butterflybluelu at rogers.com> 
Sent: Thursday, July 5, 2012 11:38:03 AM
Subject: RE: Please allow SCGG Travel Request re: ARA

Dear Ms. Lanteigne,   

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&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: Louisette Lanteigne [mailto:butterflybluelu at rogers.com] 
Sent: May 15, 2012 9:03 PM
To: gbisson at ndp.on.ca; Milloy_John-MPP-CO; john.yakabuski at pc.ola.org
Cc: tamara_pomanski at ontla.ola.org; Meghan Stenson; Orazietti_David-MPP; sylvia.jones at pc.ola.org
Subject: Please allow SCGG Travel Request re: ARA

Dear Ministers

I was very disappointed to see the House Leaders have not yet agreed to the Standing Committee on General Government's (SCGG) request to travel in regard to the Aggregate Resource Act (ARA) Review.  I am a Resident and Taxpayer of Ontario and I've been working on source water protection legislation for the last 12 years.  I would like to see the SCGG visit communities that are or will be impacted by aggregate operations including Melancthon and Waterloo Region.  I would also like to see the SCGG accept and consider further public input beyond the last scheduled ARA Review hearing tomorrow.  

Please answer "Yes" to the SCGG's travel request.  Thank you.

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2
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