<br><br><div id="ymail_android_signature"><a id="ymail_android_signature_link" href="https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature">Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android</a></div> <br> <blockquote style="margin: 0 0 20px 0;"> <div style="padding: 10px 0 0 20px; margin: 10px 0 0 0; border-left: 1px solid #6D00F6;"> <div style="font-family:Roboto, sans-serif; color:#6D00F6;"> <div>----- Forwarded Message -----</div> <div><b>From:</b> "Kieran Alkerton" <kalkerton@environmentaldefence.ca></div> <div><b>To:</b> "Not for Sale campaign list" <notforsale@glcserve.com></div> <div style="display:none"><b>Cc:</b> </div> <div><b>Sent:</b> Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 2:43 PM</div> <div><b>Subject:</b> [Notforsale] NEWS RELEASE: Ontario Government bows to the ag</div> </div> <div id="yiv8054569044"><div dir="ltr"><div class="yiv8054569044gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif;">
<p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Hi all,</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Please see the news release below about the changes to the Aggregate Resources Act. <br></span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">For immediate release: November 12, 2019</span></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Ontario Government bows to the aggregate industry, moves to block municipal efforts to protect groundwater</span></strong></p><p><em><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Groups
say the Ontario Government is putting the aggregate industry ahead of
people. The province needs to go back to the drawing table, and consult
with communities and environmental groups, rather than give industry
free rein </span></em></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Toronto,
Ont. – With the introduction of Bill 132, the Ontario Government is
rolling a boulder in front of municipal efforts to control groundwater
impacts from aggregate pits and quarries and taking aggregates policy in
the wrong direction.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Proposed changes to the <em><span style="">Aggregate Resources Act</span></em>
(ARA) will prevent municipalities from addressing the impacts of pits
and quarries on groundwater by outlawing the use of municipal zoning
bylaws to prevent aggregate operations from digging beneath the water
table. This change poses a dangerous threat to local groundwater
supplies and quality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">The
provincial government is also proposing to stop municipalities from
implementing zoning restrictions on aggregate development on Crown Land
within their boundaries. This change impacts many communities across
Ontario. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Meanwhile,
the government’s proposed amendments would make it easier for aggregate
operators to make changes to their operations with a poorly defined
“permit by rule” system that allows changes for unspecified “low risk”
activities. It would also prevent consideration of road damage from
haulage in deciding on license approvals.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">The
government needs to remove schedule 16 from Bill 132 and consult with
communities that live near aggregate producing areas and environmental
groups before proceeding with any changes to the <em><span style="">Aggregates Resources Act</span></em>.
Aggregate producers cannot be allowed destroy Ontario’s natural
heritage, disrupt communities, or endanger municipalities’ ability to
protect the fresh water their citizens depend on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">The changes to the <em><span style="">Aggregate Resources Act</span></em>
are only one of the many environmentally-damaging elements of Bill 132.
Upcoming media releases from environmental groups will outline other
harmful impacts of this bill. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">QUOTES</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">“Stripping
away the ability of municipalities to protect local groundwater
supplies so we can build more roads and subdivisions with virgin
materials is a recipe for conflict and environmental damage. The
government has proposed these changes after consulting almost
exclusively with the aggregates industry. It’s unacceptable. Ontario is
not for sale,” says Keith Brooks, Programs Director of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/">Environmental Defence</a>. “The government needs to press pause on this, and go back to the drawing table.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">“When
you combine these changes with the changes proposed for the Provincial
Policy Statement (PPS), you have a recipe for disaster. The PPS changes
would permit aggregates extraction in all significant natural
features outside the Greenbelt that are currently protected under the
PPS, including provincially significant wetlands outside of southern
Ontario, provincially significant woodlands, valley lands, wildlife
habitat, significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, fish
habitat and the habitat of threatened and endangered species,” says
Caroline Schultz, Executive Director of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ontarionature.org/">Ontario Nature</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">“The
proposed changes to the Act that will allow more pits to open with
fewer constraints are coming on far too quickly, without the necessary
public input or ability for oversight from municipalities. Wellington
Water Watchers is calling for a pause on any new changes to the ARA and
for a moratorium on any new permits to take water for quarrying
operations until cumulative impacts can be assessed and until there is a
requirement for a full Environmental Assessment on each proposed new
quarry,” says Arlene Slocombe, Executive Director of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://wellingtonwaterwatchers.nationbuilder.com/">Wellington Water Watchers</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">“This
is a proposal in search of a problem. There is no shortage of
aggregates in Ontario, and too few options available to communities that
take issue with these operations. And now the government wants to make
it even harder for citizens and municipal government to protect their
communities. The government needs to stop digging a deeper hole in our
environmental protection rules and rethink its approach to aggregates,”
says Graham Flint, President of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://gravelwatch.org/">Gravel Watch Ontario</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">– 30 –</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">For more information or to arrange and interview, please contact Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:abraude@environmentaldefence.ca" target="_blank" href="mailto:abraude@environmentaldefence.ca">abraude@environmentaldefence.ca</a>, cell: 416-356-2587</span></p><p><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">About ONTARIO NOT FOR SALE (<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ontarionotforsale.ca/">ontarionotforsale.ca</a>):
Ontario Not For Sale is a movement of people dedicated to protecting
clean water, farmland, biodiversity, a safe climate and healthy
communities.</span></p><p><img id="yiv8054569044gmail-m_-752353316770679885_x0000_i1025" src="https://aaf1a18515da0e792f78-c27fdabe952dfc357fe25ebf5c8897ee.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/2098/not+for+sale+half+size.png?v=1573552390000" class="yiv8054569044gmail-CToWUd" border="0"></p><p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;"></span></p>
</div><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="yiv8054569044gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:9.5pt;color:black;"><b>Kieran Alkerton<br></b>Senior Engagement Coordinator</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:New;"></span><span style="font-size:8pt;color:black;"><br><img src="https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ED-LOGO-NO-TAGLINE-FINAL-50-per-cent.png" id="ymail_ctr_id_-931039-3"><br>116 Spadina Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2K6<br></span><span style="font-size:8pt;color:black;">Tel: 416.323.9521 x258 | Cell: 647.456.6361</span><span style="font-size:8pt;"> <span style="color:black;">| <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://environmentaldefence.ca/">environmentaldefence.ca</a><br></span></span><span style="font-size:8pt;color:black;">TW: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/envirodefence">@envirodefence</a> | FB: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalDefenceCanada">EnvironmentalDefenceCanada</a></span><b><span style="font-size:8pt;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:8pt;"><br><br>Defending clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.</span></b><b><span style="font-size:8pt;color:rgb(31,73,125);"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:8pt;color:rgb(31,73,125);"><br>Our work would not be possible without you. Please <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/34341/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=signature">donate</a> today.</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>-- <br>Notforsale mailing list<br><a ymailto="mailto:Notforsale@glcserve.com" href="mailto:Notforsale@glcserve.com">Notforsale@glcserve.com</a><br><a href="http://glcserve.com/mailman/listinfo/notforsale_glcserve.com" target="_blank">http://glcserve.com/mailman/listinfo/notforsale_glcserve.com</a><br> </div> </blockquote>