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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Environmental Defence welcomes New Ontario Cabinet and Seeks Early Action on Environment Challenges, including aggregate developments and clean water

Environmental Defence Canada (EDC), one of the leaders of the coalition of environment groups in the last election (http://www.greenprosperity.ca/), heralded the swearing in of an experienced group of Ontario Cabinet Ministers in key ministries like Environment, Energy, Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure, Municipal Affairs, and Transportation, as the McGuinty government's mandate begins. The appointments speak to the promise of reducing the province's ecological footprint and capacity to make early informed decisions. EDC called for action on environmental challenges including:

Read the full press release (87 KB) for more information.


Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Community Must Hold McGuinty Government Accountable as New Mandate Begins

The McGuinty government's Speech from the Throne (SFT) will be read on Thursday November 29, 2007. It will lay out the government's plans in broadbrush strokes. As we read the SFT, analyze its content, and monitor follow-up initiatives, we as a Community need to be ever vigilant in our battle against the St Marys proposed Flamborough quarry and to hold the government accountable for both its past policies and for its most recent election commitments. Certainly, the proposed development appears to fly in the face of the government's source water protection and Greenbelt policy legacies.

The Liberal government ran on its record, positioning itself as a "leader on the environment".

Key citations included:

Key election commitments to remember include:

For more information on the government's self-described record and platform, visit www.ontarioliberal.ca and choose Our Agenda from the upper menu.


Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Hamilton/Halton Source Protection Committee Announced

The Halton Source Protection Authority, in consultation with the Hamilton Source Protection Authority, has selected the Source Protection Committee for the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region. Establishment of the Committee is a requirement under the Ontario Clean Water Act, 2006 and associated regulations, which came into force in July 2007.

The role of the Source Protection Committee is to guide the development of the source protection plan and to ensure that all relevant information is being taken into account when protecting our sources of drinking water. The Source Protection Committee will be responsible for developing three pieces of documentation that will complete the source protection planning process: 1) a Terms of Reference, 2) an Assessment Report and 3) a Source Protection Plan.

The Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee will be chaired by Doug Cuthbert, who was appointed by the Province of Ontario in August 2007. Mr. Cuthbert's experience includes 4 years with the International Joint Commission and 33 years with Environment Canada.

The Committee itself has 15 members and ensures representation from a variety of groups. FORCE is pleased to have our local councillor and champion, Margaret McCarthy, as one of the committee members. The full membership consists of:

Member Sector Group Represented
Doug Cuthbert (Burlington)   Chair
Chair Barry Lee (Councillor, Town of Milton)

Mary Lou Tanner (Director of Planning and Transportation Services, Region of Halton)
Municipal Region of Halton
City of Burlington
Town of Milton
Town of Oakville
Town of Halton Hills
Region of Peel
City of Mississauga
Margaret McCarthy
(Councillor, City of Hamilton)

Dave Kerr
(Senior Project Manager, Source Protection Planning)
Municipal City of Hamilton
Region of Niagara
Town of Grimsby
Sue Fielding
(Councillor, Township of Puslinch)
Municipal County of Wellington
Township of Puslinch
Nick DiGirolamo
(Georgetown)
Agriculture/Industrial/Commercial Agriculture
Gavin Smuk
(Dundas)
Agriculture/Industrial/Commercial Agriculture
Melanie Horton
(Puslinch)
Agriculture/Industrial/Commercial Aggregate
Peter Ashenhurst
(Hamilton)
Agriculture/Industrial/Commercial Home Builder
Teri Yamada
(Oakville)
Agriculture/Industrial/Commercial Recreation
Betty Hansen
(Oakville)
General Environment
Gail Krantzberg
(Hamilton)
General Environment
Dave Braden
(Puslinch)
General Member-at-Large
Adam Kuehnbaum
(Burlington)
General Member-at-Large
Glenn Powell
(Oakville)
General Member-at-Large

For more information on the Source Protection Committee, its meeting dates, agenda and minutes, please visit www.protectingwater.ca.


Tuesday, November 26, 2007
FORCE submits comments to City of Hamilton on St Marys latest Hydrogeology Work Plan

On Monday November 26th, FORCE submitted comments, on behalf of our Communities, to the City of Hamilton and the Combined Aggregate Resource Team (CART) regarding St Marys latest Hydrogeology Work Plan. Government agencies have been requesting a comprehensive hydrogeology plan from the proponent for some 2 years.

In its cover letter (71 KB), FORCE continues to argue that it is incumbent on the City of Hamilton and Ministry of the Environment to exercise their regulatory duty to ensure public health and to provide our groundwater-based drinking supply with the highest levels of protection. The letter is supported by a hydrogeology report (77 KB) from our expert team which documents the great difficulty and potential hazards of undertaking both the pilot scale GRS and of implementing such a system to full quarry scale. Should there be a determination to proceed with the pilot test, at some level, the community's hydrogeologist makes specific recommendations regarding updating the groundwater flow model, identifying at risk wells, determining numerical trigger values and corresponding response actions, assessing the safety of dye tracers, and involving stakeholders - beyond the proponent - in field test monitoring. To read more on our community's submissions regarding the Hydrogeology Work Plan and Permit to Take Water (PTTW) application, please visit the November 30, 2006 Latest News Archives.

An electronic version of the latest Hydrogeology Work Plan is still not available from the proponent - it will be posted as soon as it is. FORCE will continue to monitor the application and will inform the Community of any developments.


Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - Canadian Champion
Big turnout expected for Nov. 29 quarry meeting

Draft alternative haul routes for the proposed Flamborough Quarry will be revealed November 29 at a Public Information Centre (PIC) hosted by St. Marys Cement.

The meeting will be held in the Carlisle Golf and Country Club at 523 Carlisle Rd., just a few kilometres south of the quarry site at 11th Concession Road East and Milburough Line (the border between Flamborough and Milton).

Read the Canadian Champion article... (96 KB)
Read the Flamborough Review article... (106 KB)


Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Call to Action - St Marys Cement (CBM) holds second Public Information Center (PIC 2)

Time To Show St Marys Our United Opposition!

On Thursday November 29th, 2007 St Marys Cement CBM is holding a second Public Information Centre Meeting regarding their ongoing Haul Route Study for the proposed Flamborough Quarry. The meeting will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Carlisle Golf and Country Club, a presentation is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Whether you come early or late, we suggest you try to attend the presentation at 7:00 p.m.

View the FORCE Call to Action Flyer (264 KB)
View the St. Marys Notice (455 KB)


Thursday, September 13, 2007 - Halton Compass
FORCE wants 'green gravel' policies in place

Political parties in the upcoming Provincial election might find concerns about aggregate applications in the Greenbelt being FORCE-fed to them.

FORCE (Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment), the group fighting the St Mary's quarry applications in Flamborough, recently released a five-point priority paper, pushing their views on "green gravel."

Read the Full Article (496 KB)


Monday, September 10, 2007
Region of Halton Planning and Works Department Committee receives update on St Marys Cement PIC#1

On August 29, 2007, Halton Region Commissioner of Planning and Public Works, Peter Crocker, provided an update report to the Planning and Public Works Committee regarding St Marys Cement's first of four Public information Centres.

Commission Crocker noted in the update that the report supported Halton Regions Strategic Plan, 2007-2110, Theme 2: "Protect and Enhance our Natural Environment". Theme 2 includes eight goals to protect and enhance the Regions natural environment including a "Made in Halton" aggregate management strategy.

Read the update report (83 KB)
View the report graphic (42 KB)
Read Halton Regions Strategic Plan, 2007-2110(32 KB) -Theme 2 can be found on page 4


Friday, September 7, 2007 - Flamborough Review
FORCE calls for Greenbelt legislation reform

An anti-quarry group in Flamborough has joined more than 80 organizations in the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to endorse significant changes in legislation governing the approval process, regulation and operation of quarries.

In launching its Green Gravel Campaign last week, the Alliance, which includes Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment (FORCE) in Flamborough, urged the Ontario government to adopt sweeping changes in the governance of the aggregate industry. The Greenbelt priorities paper issued by the group calls for changes to The Aggregate Resources Act, the Planning Act, the Greenbelt Act, the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and the Oak Ridges Conservation Act.

Read the Full Article (155 KB)


Friday, September 7, 2007 - Flamborough Review
Joining FORCES for bike rally

Local cyclists, headed up by Gwen Todd of Carlisle, are gearing up for the second annual Tour de FORCE Bicycle Rally this weekend - and Flamborough riders are encouraged to join the fun.

The event, which last year attracted 200 cyclists from Burlington, Brampton, Hamilton and Oakville, aims to raise awareness of the route surrounding the proposed St. Marys quarry site in northeast Flamborough that includes rolling hills, winding roads and the Niagara Escarpment as a backdrop. Designated as a provincial Natural Heritage Site, the area regularly attracts cyclists.

Read the Full Article (389 KB)


Thursday, September 6, 2007 - Halton Compass
FORCE pedals up fundraiser

It wouldn't seem that 10-speeds and quarry applications have all that much in common but on September 9, the local anti-quarry group will be hosting their now-annual Tour de Force.

The bike-a-thon, hosted by FORCE (Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment), is one of two major fundraisers for the group opposing the St. Mary's quarry application at 11th Concession East and Milburough Line.

Read the Full Article (643 KB)

 


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