The Orangeville Banner reports, “The Highland Companies’ plan to quarry 2,316 acres in Melancthon has ruffled the feathers of some local youth… (After reading about the quarry), Grade 9 Orangeville District Secondary School student Matteo Zamaria felt the need to take action. …With help from (his school’s) environmental club, and fellow students, the 15-year-old drafted a petition opposing The Highland Companies’ plan and circulated it around the local high school.”
“So far, he has collected 507 signatures — more than 430 from students — which he plans to send to Queen’s Park through Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones.”
“Although the petition specifically requests the province to bring a halt to the development of the Melancthon quarry, Zamaria hopes it might influence the government to launch an environmental assessment (EA).”
“Jones has publicly supported MP David Tilson and MP Michael Chong’s calls for a federal EA, but remains unsure whether one should be done at the provincial level. (Though this explanation is unclear), Jones continues to struggle with whether the protocol for an EA, rather than procedures laid out by the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA), might compromise the Ministry of Natural Resources’ review of the quarry application.”
“The Highland Companies doesn’t believe a federal EA is needed, or required, for its plans in Melancthon. Nor does the company foresee the provincial government undertaking one instead of following regular processes required under Ontario’s ARA and Planning Act. Under current legislation, quarries are exempt from an EA.”
The Council of Canadians supports the call for both a provincial and federal environmental assessment of the quarry proposal to expose its evident hazards.
The full article is at http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1036042–highland-s-quarry-plan-draws-ire-of-local-youth.
