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Page 1 of 2 July 15, 2010 Georgetown, NEC Meeting Mr Larry Bilksztio Requested a Development Permit for a pond in a provincially significant wetland. The Pond was either created and or expanded in 2008. The Pond violation was sited in May 2, 2008 and Charges were laid in November 2009 and it will be before the courts in August of this year. The application was refused because it does not conform to the objectives of the Escarpment Natural area. NEC heard a recommendation by the Bruce Trail Conservancy to change and Harmonize the Niagara Escarpment Plan with the Planning Act to provide for an exemption to subdivision control to allow conservation agencies Like the BTC to acquire or dispose of land for conservation purposes where the land is being acquired or disposed of in a manner consistent with the Niagara Escarpment Plan NEP NEC commissioners voted to support the BTC and to have section 50(3) of the planning act amended at the government's first opportunity. June 17, 2010 Georgetown NEC Meeting. NEC Gave approval in principal to allowing the use of Burlington City Park for soccer at the Pan Am Games in 2015. The approval was to allow 1500 permanent seats and an additional 3500 temporary seats. It was approved unanimously. NEC Commissioners Heard a delegation from MTO regarding the status of the planning for the Niagara to Greater Toronto corridor and the GTA west corridor. The Commissioners voted only to accept the presentation and that NEC staff have more discussion with MTO staff and Report back on the status at the September meeting. NEC expressed that " many commissioners were very disappointed" The Minutes are being kind because I remember several commissioners reflected that " this MTO presentation put back planning back in Niagara to the thinking of the 1930's". NEC Heard two applications for Development permits at Hunter's Point North Bruce Peninsula. The first was for Alton Hunter to build a residence on Lot 2 plan3M-117 The residence was approved with a string of conditions however the drive way to the lake shore was refused. The second was for Robert Freestone Lot1 Plan 3M-117 to build a retaining wall,. This was refused because it did not comply with 5 separate sections of the Niagara Escarpment plan. June 15, 2010 Toronto CONE Board attended the 25th Anniversary celebration for the Niagara Escarpment Commission Held at Queens Park Former Ontario Premiere Bill Davis was the guest speaker and he recalled numerous humorous milestones to the establishment of the commission. The event was sponsored by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and Moreen Miller a Niagara Escarpment Commissioner was the MC. Sarah Harmer sang two songs Escarpment Blues and Light This Match from her new album Oh Little Fire. The room was full the food was good and the Ontario VQA wines were great. A very appropriate celebration and a good start for the next 25 years of protecting the Niagara Escarpment and its diversity of plant and animal species that were required for its UNESCO World Biosphere Designation. May 12, 2010 Hamilton Honorable Dalton McGuinty May 12, 2010 Premier of Ontario Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto ON M7A 1A1 Re Friends Of The Eramosa Karst and ORC Lands Dear Honorable Sir; I am writing to encourage you to support the Friends Of The Eramosa Karst in their bid to have the 80 acres adjacent to the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area in Hamilton transferred to the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The 80 acres of land is currently owned by Ontario through the Ontario Reality Corporation and is abutting the Conservation Area. The Land has been designated an ANSI by the Ministry of Natural Resources because it is a wetland and the collection source of the water flowing through the Eramosa Karst features becoming Felker’s Creek and flowing over the Niagara Escarpment as Felker’s Falls. ORC has designated this land assembly as suited to development and has proposed the creation of a pond in the wettest portion of the property. A pond is not the right solution for this Karst topography. Karst features have been created by carbonic acidified water over the past 16 to 12 thousand years. They are crevices, underground streams and caves that collect water purify it and protect it underground from evaporation. In order to develop on Karst features they have to be filled in. Filling them in destroys the water collection, purification and underground protection from evaporation. Development of this land will reduce the water collection, purification, and flow through the Eramosa Karst Features and the water level in Felker’s Creek and over Felker’s Falls. Creating the pond does nothing but increase evaporation of the water being collected. The artificial pond bottom will stop the flow of the water through the Eramosa Karst features. This will eventually destroy the features that we are attempting to protect through the Hamilton Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. The best use of these 80 acres is to allow them to continue to collect the waters flowing over Felker’s Falls. I urge you to have these 80 acres transferred to Hamilton Conservation Authority and added to the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. Thank You Robert Patrick President, Coalition On the Niagara Escarpment Cc. Brad Gautreau, Brad Clark May 8, 2010 Nature Walk, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington CONE is sponsoring Josh Gordon to Walk for Nature in support of environment groups in the Hamilton area. The walk takes place at the Royal Botanical Gardens starting at the Nature Centre, 16 Old Guelph Rd. (arboretum section of the RBG). Please help CONE support Josh. You may walk with Josh. This is a family activity. There are two walking trails a 5km and a 10 km. The 10km trail will go to Borer's falls. There will be raptors to see as well as fun activities for children at the Nature Centre. May 5, 2010 Hamilton CONE welcomes FOTEK Friends Of The Eramosa Karst to be the newest member group to the Coalition On the Niagara Escarpment advocating for protection of Eramosa Karst features that contribute to the water course that becomes Felker's Creek and flows over the Niagara Escarpment as Felker's Falls. Felker's Falls is a ribbon falls 22meters/72 feet high that flows year round. CONE is joining with FOTEK to request Ontario to donate the 80 acre Ontario Realty Corporation held parcel of land to the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. The 80acre parcel is an ANSI that is the head water collector for the creek. May 4 and 5 2010 Hamilton Mc Master University and Highland Secondary school Hamilton are holding a symposium for youth to encourage and to teach youth how they may make a positive environmental difference. Envirovision is part of Highland's GLOBAL CONNECT focus and the theme is INSPIRATION to INTEGRATION a multi - school symposium on how youth may channel their inspired thought so that it is integrated into our society. CONE will be at this event to help the youth learn how to be heard and to encourage youth to participate and guide their energy so that their contribution will make a difference. April 27 2010 Mountain Equipment Company Coop. Burlington CONE will be on hand for a one night out door and hiker customer appreciation sale. Mountain Equipment Company has invited Environment friends to join them for the evening. CONE will have its display on hand and Robert Patrick will be on hand to answer questions on how you may assist in protecting the Niagara Escarpment. The Sale is from 7:00pm until 9:00pm April 27, 1030 Brant Street Burlington. April 19,20, and 22 Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington CONE is at the Hamilton Eco Festival and Bus loads of youngster are being bussed in from surrounding schools. CONE will present to the elementary school students how the escarpment was formed. April 17 and 18 CONE is at Halton ECO Fest, Oakville CONE president Robert Patrick, has the CONE display and is prepared to answer your questions on how you may assist in protecting the Niagara Escarpment. April 12,2010 Collingwood CONE through Norm Wingrove of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust Commented on an Official Plan Amendment to allow a residential development: Mr Don Kerr presented a summary of items that could be and needed to be addressed in order for this development to live up to its developer's own stated goal of being environmentally friendly and sustainable. April 12, 2010, Caledon CONE through Monte Dennis Vice President expressed CONE's Comments and observation in respect to the James Dick quarry application. The OMB official record of our presentation follow: ROCKFORT QUARRY, OMB HEARING PUBLIC SESSION Monday April 12, 2010 While the Coalition On the Niagara Escarpment CONE is concerned with, & agrees with opposition to issues such as the large size of quarry & long time line, deep extraction below the water table, large experimental damn & haul routes. I will leave these issues for others to speak to. RESOURCE WASTE The highest & best use for limestone is in the manufacturing of cement & the making of concrete. Using Limestone as road/rail bed, backfill, bank retention etc. is a waste of a valuable natural resource. For these uses there exist many other sources. These sources would cost a little more for transportation, however cost is relative, & when it is compared to further destruction of the Escarpment, these sources become very inexpensive. These other sources could come from mining slag, Marmora granite boulders removed to gain access to minerals, recycled materials etc. If we as a society would have allocated our resources responsibly we would not be here to-day. To allow further quarrying of the Escarpment is to condone past, wasteful behaviour. The world has seen recently the potential destruction of another UNESCO designated area with the oil spill in Australia & the Great Barrier Reef. That spill may have been an accident, the quarrying destruction of this UNESCO area is no accident. I encourage this OMB to deny this application. Monte Dennis, for CONE Burlington, ON. March 27, 2010, Hamilton CONE Held a Niagara Escarpment Celebration Day to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Ontario portion being designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1990. CONE combined this with its own AGM. Although this was a departure from past practice we received positive feed back from those who attended. Children in attendance at this family event were captivated by the Conservation Halton Mounstberg Red-Tailed hawk and the presentation of the rapture program by the hawk's keeper. There was also an arts and crafts room for the children to capture their experiences. The adults were treated to a presentation by Dr Bob Henderson of the rustic and rugged outdoor vacations enjoyed by many Norwegians in," Nature First Outdoor Life the Friluftsliv Way" Bob's photo presentation was followed by an opportunity for those who wished to chat with and purchase an autographed copy of his latest book. Two Niagara Escarpment Staff Karen Caruthers and Mathew Williamson gave us a new insight into the work of the Niagara Commission and the new enforcement options and challenges faced by Mathew as he encourages those living on the Escarpment to obey the rules expressed in the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and regulations. Many commented positively to this presentation and to learn about the commission and enforcement of the commission's rulings. March 18, 2010, Georgetown Niagara Escarpment Commission today voted to advise both the Town of Niagara- on- the- Lake and the Region of Niagara that it supports the Queenston Quarry Reclamation Company (QQRC) initial applications to amend their Official Plans to change the boundary of the Minor Urban Center of St David's. The focus of this decision is an area of the Minor Urban Center approved by the OMB that is less than 12 ha (30 acres). The requested amendment will result in a net reduction to the Minor Urban center of roughly a half acre. The applicant successfully argued that a Regional Official Plan Amendment and / or a Town Official Sub Plan Amendment that reduces the size of a Minor Urban Center does not require a Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment. The Niagara Escarpment Commission did not accept the staff report recommendation that this application needs to be addressed through a Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment during the plan review slated to start in 2015. The commissioners felt the proposal had merit and needed to be allowed to proceed through the Municipal Planning Act process. CONE believes the proposal represents the best rehabilitative use of this Former Queenston Quarry site and CONE is very pleased by the depth of discussion and the decision reached by the Commission as a result. CONE HAS A NEW PHONE NUMBER: 905-257-4585 March 8 2010, Hamilton INVITATION To CONE Members and Guests Enclosed is your invitation to join us and celebrate
the Niagara Escarpment. This event will be held in Hamilton at the Parks Canada Discovery Centre on Saturday,
March 27th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We’d also like you to bring along younger escarpment
explorers (students, children and grandchildren) so that they to can become
familiar with the Niagara Escarpment through interactive activities, presentations
and local conservation groups. We’re also happy to present a variety of guest speakers
for the adults – keynote speaker, Mathew
Williamson, Compliance and Enforcement Officer and Karen Carruthers, Communications Officer of the Niagara Parks
Commission and Bob Henderson,
Outdoor Educator and Author of Nature
First: Outdoor Life the Friluftsliv Way. _____________________________________________________________________________ For CONE
Members, we will be holding our Annual General Meeting at approximately
2:30 p.m. The Board of Director’s is looking for new board
members and would welcome the opportunity to talk with you prior to the meeting.
Also, we are looking for volunteers and ambassadors to assist in upcoming
activities and events. Contact CONE President, Bob Patrick via email at
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March 8 2010, Hamilton March 5 2010 Niagara, Fort Erie ***************Urgent Action
Bulletin**************** One of the most dangerous assault’s on the mosaic of farmlands
and forests of Carolinian Canada is underway in Fort Erie to facilitate
the approval of the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway, a NASCAR like
amusement racing track. This would involve the re-designation of 827 acres
of land in the Fort Erie and Niagara Region Official Plans which are
currently designated "Good General Agricultural Land", to a new
designation of "Special Policy Area." Unless the province appeals
this re-designation of agricultural land to the Ontario Municipal Board by
March 15th, it is likely to be approved.
In opposing the
motorway there are three points to stress. 1. Fort Erie has
one of the best preserved Carolinian habitats in Canada, comparable in
extent to only the Walpole Island and Six Nations native communities. Half
of the town is in natural habitat, predominately swamp forests. Taking out
such a large swath of habitat, will harm many rare and diverse Carolinian
species. 2. The motorway
proposal would result in the urbanization and subsequent degradation of a
Provincially Significant Class One Fish habitat Miller Creek. The creek
provides habitat for endangered Grass Pickerel and Wood Turtle. The
creek’s mouth near the Niagara River is also an important muskie breeding
habitat. 3. The
re-designation of 827 acres of Good General Agricultural Land is the
biggest loss of farmland in Niagara since the introduction of regional
planning. It represents some of the best land for farming in south east
Niagara. A third of it has been carefully reforested by conservation
minded farmers over the last half century. Several area farmers have
spoken out against the proposal, because of expected problems of vandalism
associated with similar motorways in the United States. It would violate
Ontario’s Growth Management Plan, which should prohibit all urban boundary
expansions in Niagara. The persons who
will ultimately make the decision to whether or not to appeal the Speedway
to the OMB are the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Minister of
Energy and Public Infrastructure. They are Jim Bradley and Brad Duguid.
Please
email Jim Bradley-
Minister of Municipal Affairs
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.org Brad
Duguid-Minister of Energy, Public Infrastructure Renewal
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.org February 23,2010 Hamilton , Ontario CONE Escarpment Celebration Day and AGM to be held Saturday March 27,2010, 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Parks Canada Discovery Center,57 Discovery Drive Hamilton Ontario Free Admission February 23, 2010, HAMILTON, Ontario CONE President and Vice President attended the CONE booth at the UPWIND DOWNWIND Conference CONE was in attendance at the UPWIND DOWNWIND Air Quality Conference held February 21, and 22 at the Hamilton Convention Center. It was a very successful conference with good traffic to the booth and positive interest shown in CONE's challenges to protect the Niagara Escarpment and educate the general citizen on the beauty and diversity of plants and animals species living on the Niagara Escarpment. CONE fielded many complaints by Hamilton residents about an increase in truck traffic on the Kennelworth access and the resultant deterioration of the escarpment face and the trees from both exhaust fumes and vibration injury to the tree roots adjacent to the road way. CONE learned that this Kennelworth access was recently designated a truck route although the Red Hill Express way was intended to take trucks off this access. CONE will be requesting both the City of Hamilton and the Niagara Escarpment Commission to investigate. February 19,2010 NEC Georgetown, Ontario Designating Mount Nemo plateau for Protection The Niagara Escarpment Commission received a delegated presentation from Roger Goulet, Executive Director PERL, David Donnelly, Environmental Defense, John Taylor Halton Regional Councilor, and Cam Jackson, City of the City of Burington urging the NEC to support the designation of portions of the Mount Nemo plateau to Escarpment Protection and Escarpment Natural areas based on the latest scientific evidence of the areas environmental significance fro water recharge and an endangered species habitat. Nelson Aggregate was represented through a presentation by Brian Zeman planner. The NEC RESponded with a motion by Commissioner Allan Elgar to endorse the Redesignation of a portion of the Mount Nemo plateau for which the scientific research indicates that it should be either Escarpment protected or Escarpment Natural and that the matter be referred directly to Honorable Linda Jeffery, Minister of Natural Resources for consideration. CONE considers this a very significant breakthrough toward the proper designation of Mount Nemo and its protection for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. The journey is far from over we need you to let the Honorable Minister and the Premier know that this re-designation is important to you. Please write to Honorable Minister Linda Jeffery,
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and Premier Dalton McGuinty
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and tell her in your own words what Mount Nemo means to you and your family. Thank you Robert Patrick, President, CONE January 29, 2010 Hopeness Environment Board Tribunal up held the NEC refusal of an application for a development permit made by Warren Stewart (H/F/98-99/238) to construct (and, after its construction, dedicate to the Municipality) a road approximately +/- 450 m (1500 ft) in length from the terminus of Georgian Drive in the Hunter’s Point subdivision, across the applicant’s +/- 28 ha (68 ac) private lot in Township Lot 8, with construction continuing for a further +/- 450 m(1500 ft) in Township Lot 9, the construction area being located in Part Lots 8 and 9, Concession 14 EBR (formerly Eastnor Township), in the municipality of North Bruce Peninsula. CONE President made a presentation to the Hearing held in Owen Sound, September 30, October 1, 2 and 15, 2009. "Mr. Patrick presented CONE’s position, which is that the proposed road is not in the public interest. CONE supports the NEC Staff Report findings, that the road cannot be considered CONE’s position is that a cottage lot development, which the road is intended to make possible, would be highly unlikely to conform to the primary objective of the ENA designation. CONE believes that, as the proposed road is intended to permit cottage lot development, the two components of the proposed development cannot and should not be January 18,2010 Oakville CONE President, Robert Patrick, made a SKYPE enabled presentation On the Niagara Escarpment to an American Corps Youth Conference held at a Community Center in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, yesterday afternoon. The Conference was to celebrate the start of many events to commemorate 2010 being the year of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. 2010 is the 20th Anniversary of the Ontario Section of the Niagara Escarpment receiving the UNESCO World Biosphere Designation. The American Corps Leader, Ms. Sue Peterson, sent Mr. Patrick, 20 questions that the youth wanted answers to. The Youth Corps wishes the Wisconsin Section of the Niagara Escarpment to also be considered for a UNESCO World Biosphere Designation some time in the future. Some of their questions centered on this goal and the criteria that must be satisfied to obtain a UNESCO World Biosphere designation. They wanted to know what the designation has meant to us, Ontario residents, and to CONE with respect to our continued effort to protect the Niagara Escarpment from harm. This was CONE's and Mr. Patrick's first experience with the SKYPE technology and it worked amazingly well as a video conferencing tool. CONE will be using it often in the future. We encourage those of you who have the applicable computer technology to down load the program create your account so that we can better communicate with you. Equipment required is a Computer with a video camera and speakers. The least costly solution is a laptop with the built in camera and speakers. Yesterday, Mr. Patrick used his laptop while the Community center end appeared to have a laptop connected to a video projector. September 20, 2009 TOBERMORY CONE was represented with our member group the Bruce Trail Conservancy's AGM and Outdoor Festival September 18-20, 2009. i was pleased to meet so many of our CONE friends and many new to the work of CONE who I met at our display Friday evening. About 300 gathered in the Tobermory Community Centre to join in the many activities offered over the weekend. Friday evening Sean Liipere, Communications Officer with Parks Canada and Chair of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association presented us with why the Niagara Escarpment is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and why the Bruce Peninsula is a living Laboratory for sustainability. Sean gave presentation twice back to back at 7:00pm and 8:30pm. i went on an Insect hike conducted by Professor Steve Marshall of the University of Guelph at Singing Sands. Steve has a captivating enthusiasm for our six legged friends. In the afternoon I went to fossil Find with Peter Russell curator of the Earth Science Museum at the University of Waterloo. We learned the "we all live on a layer cake" song. It is about the rock formation layers place down over the 450 Million years as the the Niagara Escarpment evolved to how we find it today. we went on an hour cruise into Fathom Five on the Chi-Cheemaun and along the north coast of Tobermory shore to the Grotto and back to her dock. Many stayed and joined in one of two hikes planned to start at 10:00 am Boundary Bluffs Side Trail 5.5 km the newest trail adjacent to the Cape Croker Reserve and campground or the Rush Cove Loop through the Chris Walker Nature Reserve 8.8km. It was a great, active weekend and very pleasant spending time with our members. Katherine and I are members of the event's host,the Peninsula Bruce Trail club. Don McIlraith, President was certainly a busy fellow and should be congratulated on a very well planned and executed weekend. Robert Patrick, President,CONE September 14, 2009 CONE'S MONTE DENNIS AND TERRI DING WILL BE AT THE JAMES DICK QUARRY OMBAPPEAL HEARING TOMORROW BEING HELD IN CALEDON EAST cone WILL SEEK PARTICIPANT STATUS AT THIS HEARING THAT IS BEING SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. THIS NEW QUARRY HAS BEEN FURIOUSLY OPPOSED BY THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 11 YEARS. CONE'S BIGGEST WORRY WITH THIS PROPOSED QUARRY IS WATER! THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING MITIGATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN FEASIBLE. IT IS AN EXPERIMENT THAT COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL AND FAR REACHING WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY. ROBERT PATRICK, CONE SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 PERL AND PERL'S PARTNERS, AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDS TO SIGN THE MOUNT NEMO DECLARATION SEPTEMBER 15, 2009. CONE WILL BE SIGNING THE MOUNT NEMO DECLARATION TOMORROW EVENING AT EMMAS BACK DOOR IN BURLINGTON. ROBERT PATRICK, CONE SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 CONE WAS AT THE BRUCE PENINSULA BIRD OBSERVATORY OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12,2009 IT IS THE SINGLE DAY EACH YEAR THAT THE PUBLIC MAY ENTER THE CENTRE WHICH IS OFF LIMITS DUE TO THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THE ALVAR LAND FORMATION ON WHICH THE OBSERVATORY IS SITUATED. THE TURN OUT TO THIS EVENT WAS VERY GOOD. THERE WERE BIRD BANDING DEMONSTRATIONS AND A GUIDED TOUR OF THE PROPERTY. GREAT PLACE AND WORK. ROBERT P[ATRICK, CONE August 31, 2009 SITE 41 MORATORIUM, A VICTORY FOR CLEAN WATER. The 25 year battle to oppose the dump over the cleanest aquifer in the country came to a head August 25, 2009 when her worship Peggy Breckenridge Mayor of Tiny Township, lead the the anti-dump forces on the Simcoe County Council. Ms. Breckenridge had been swamped by hundreds of e-mails opposed to the dump site. Hundreds of protesters crowded the public gallery while hundreds more waited outside. "Shame, shame" was shouted by the protesters to county warden Tony Guergis. A fearless Maude Barlow sat in the front row, when Peggy Breckenridge presented Maude's motion for a one year moratorium on the construction at Site 41, to the Simcoe County Council. The turning point came when the the Mayor of Wasaga Beach, a long term hold out, stood in support of the moratorium. The motion was passed with a 22 to 10 victory. Warden Guergis was quoted as saying "it is time to move on and forget about Site 41 entirely'. The Canadian Flag was turned right side up and the opponents gathered to wave goodbye to the construction equipment as it rolled away from Site 41. We hope to see the final chapter on this close at the next council meeting when this site should be axed permanently. For more details please see August 29, 2009 edition of the Globe and Mail, Globe T.O. section front page and M 4. CONE wishes to thank the citizens of Tiny Township and their council for taking up Maude Barlow's motion for the moratorium on construction of the landfill at Site 41. You have helped save one of Canada's most important clean water sources. Palma per ardua. Success through endeavor. Robert Patrick, President, CONE August 6, 2009 ***
FOR Immediate RELEASE
***
Unprecedented Coalition Opposes Narrow Nelson Aggregate License Application Burlington, ON (August 6, 2009)—An unprecedented coalition of community organizations has rallied in support of the City of Burlington and a Motion to require Nelson Aggregate to update its license application to open a new quarry before proceeding to hearing. Coalition members include Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (PERL), Environmental Defence, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and the Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment. Burlington’s Motion heard in late July is also supported by Halton Region, the Halton Region Conservation Authority and the Niagara Escarpment Commission. Nelson Aggregate outright opposes it. “The application process is still in its early stages, a date for the hearing hasn’t even been set. This is the perfect opportunity, and with good reason, to get important environmental approvals in place and update the application,” said Roger Goulet, Executive Director of PERL. “Nelson Aggregate has adjusted this project several times. I don’t see how adjusting the approvals regime in the license application isn’t in the best interest of the community and long term decision making on the Niagara Escarpment.” “Nelson is not only proposing to open a new quarry, but to process the new aggregate on the old quarry site. This will significantly delay the rehabilitation of the 600-acre industrial site, which has been operating since 1953,” says Sarah Harmer, Co-Founder of PERL. “PERL and the coalition agree with the City, it’s just common sense. This hearing should be about one integrated site, with a comprehensive set of regulations and standards.” Nelson Aggregate prefers its project to be assessed under outdated policies, some over a decade old such as the 1997 Provincial Policy Statement, instead of the 2005 version. The City of Burlington contends the license application is incomplete, the issues for the hearing are scoped improperly and that a number of outstanding permit approvals (such as the Ontario Water Resources Act, Environmental Protection Act and Federal Fisheries Act) must be included in the application prior to the hearing. If not, the result may be a lengthy and possibly incomplete hearing or costly appeals process. And with local Council adopting a Motion on March 9th, 2009 stating that “no party spends valuable resources or wastes precious time addressing incomplete policies or standards”, there is even greater cause to update the application. As Harmer said, ‘it’s just common sense’. Nelson also filed a request for Costs against the Parties to the three-day Motion hearing, but did not address the Board. A decision in the complex Motion is expected by the end of summer. *** For more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it About PERL (www.perlofburlington.org) PERL is involved in a number of initiatives to help protect the Niagara Escarpment for future generations. By far the biggest threat to the ongoing viability of the ecosystems and cultural heritage on the Mt Nemo Plateau is a proposal to open a new 150 acre (82 hectare) open pit mine south of the existing 600 acre quarry. PERL retained Order of Canada architect Douglas Cardinal to help it devise a “Vision for Mount Nemo” that would allow Nemo’s industrial past to be transformed into a sustainable, ecological future. About Environmental Defence (www.environmentladefence.ca) Environmental Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions. We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to bring a halt to Canada's contribution to climate change. July 24,2009 CONE is preparing for the Sutherland Keppel Quarry expansion OMB pre-hearing The OMB pre-hearing will be held at the Georgian Bluff's Council Chambers July 30 at 10:30 a.m. CONE will be present to request participant status at the OMB Hearing. CONE is firmly opposed to the expansion of this quarry due solely to the negative impacts that it will have on the water courses all the way across the Niagara Peninsula to Sauble Beach. This case is all about money being more important than the environment including water quality and river and wetlands being able to recharge and to remain viable. Hay Grey/Sauble, Where is the ground source water protection team when we need them?! Let's see a ground water impact study related to this quarry expansion! The Municipalities backing this expansion for their pennies per extracted tonne are being very near sighted at the expense of their own future safe water supply. To view the WEB site on this expansion proposal go to: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/6000046_zj4H8#383977083_jZv29You may help CONE greatly by donating to us. Simply click on the DONATE button. Thank you . Robert Patrick President,CONE July 21,2009 CONE Comments on the Green Energy and Green Economy Act Regulations EBR 010 6516 and EBR 010 6708 CONE Stated the following: The Coalition On the Niagara Escarpment Monitors The Niagara Escarpment
July 20, 2009 Nelson Aggregate Joint Board Pre Hearing July 16,17 and 20 I have spent the last three days at the pre-hearing for the Nelson Aggregate Mount Nemo Quarry Expansion. The bottom line goal for this round is to have the legislative terms determined for this hearing up front before it starts. This will reduce haggling during the hearing over what may or may not be submitted as evidence. This is not a quick process. Robert Patrick
July 14,2009 Dump Site Site 41, Clean water Catastrophe about to happen From: "Robert Patrick,
President" <
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>
July 13, 2009 Residents of Tiny Township protest a dump site that poses a danger to their water. CONE thanks Martin Mittelstaedt and the Globe and Mail for publishing the article Green crusaders recycle protest tactics of old pageA3in the July 13, 2009 issue of the Globe and Mail. This article draws attention to the residents' last ditch efforts to avert an environmental catastrophe. Simcoe County is preparing to establish a dump in an environmentally sensitive area over an extremely pure water supply. To date the County has ignored many positive recommendations to resolve this issue in favor of continuing with this option only. CONE's Dr. John Bacher was involved in an attempt earlier this year, to no avail. The residents are rightfully concerned that the dump contents will contaminate the water. The water at this location was tested as the purest in Ontario and maybe Canada. The University of Heidelberg found it to be as clean as the purest water drawn from glaciers in the Canadian Arctic. County Warden Tony Guergis has been quoted in the article as saying the community needs the dump. 'We've,gone to extensive lengths to try and find any other alternatives and I can tell you with all certainty there is no other alternative". County Warden sir Please release to us all the alternatives considered and show us how this site is the least environmentally dangerous to the water supply and public health of this community. Thank you Robert Patrick, President, CONE July 7,2009 NELSON Quarry Expansion proposal Mount Nemo Pre-Hearing meetings July 16 and 17 I will be at the Joint Board Hearing for the Nelson Aggregate expansion proposal being held at the Region of Halton July 16 and July 17. CONE is a participant at this hearing. CONE is supporting PERL against this quarry expansion proposal. The area that is proposed for expansion is simply too sensitive with endangered species of both animals and plants, let alone the potential environmental danger this could be to the water courses and water supply recharge of the local regional rivers. Some neighboring wells have already had to be re-dug at an alternate location due to the current quarry operation impact. Mount Nemo is a water collector that has had its function as such compromised. We are facing very serious water quantity and quality issues here. The quarry expansion in this location could lead to a catastrophe. Bob Patrick, President. CONE
May 29, 2009 Residents win noise battle against Jet Boats activity on the Niagara River Last week Mr. justice Joseph Quinn of the Ontario Superior Court slapped the Town council for allowing a noisy private enterprise to "Commandeer" public property meant to be park land. Judge Quinn left little room for interpretation in his 37 page decision to grant the resident's coalition request to quash the town's decision last year to extend Whirpool's monopoly on the dock. The arrangement "was both non-conforming and illegal"" It violated the town's own planning policies and those of the upper tier Niagara Region". This is a separate court action to the one we have been following. It was simply of interest because both affect the nesting habitat of the black-crowned Night Heron. Robert Patrick President, CONE
May 28,2009 The Green Energy Act Bill 150 was amended before third reading to not be applied to the Niagara Escarpment Plan nor the Niagara Escarpment Commission's Processes in place for approval of development and building permits. Any green Energy proposals will be presented first to the niagara Escarpment Commission for review and approval in respect to their current protection criteria in place.if the proposal is rejected by the NEC it will not be considered for approval under Green Energy Act. The Standing Committee and EBR process worked for CONE and our friends who presented a strong case for the continued protection for this World Biosphere Reserve. CONE thanks the Standing Committee for taking this course to continue to protect the Niagara Escarpment from potential danger. Robert Patrick, President, CONE.
May 19, 2009 the Green Energy Act Bill150 Third Reading and Royal Assent May 14, 2009 An amended version of Bill150 passed Third Reading and was given Royal Assent May 14,2009. The final version is positive for the amendments to it.The citizens were listened to during the presentations to the standing committee and through the EBR processes. I believe we will have some very good alternative power proposals submitted and projects approved and established through this piece of legislation. The amendments added public participation into the planning process and conditions that a project may be disallowed if there is threat to human health and or harm to plant and animal species. The objector must prove the probable threats and harm exist to an arbitration panel. The Green Energy Act does not shirt environmental protection as originally feared by CONE. I will comment on its affect on the Niagara Escarpment Plan at a later date. Robert Patrick, President, CONE
May 15, 2009 EBR 010-6105 CONE Comments on Healthy Great Lakes, Strong Ontario
May10. 2009 - Lion's Head Ontario. The Peninsula Bruce Trail Club is opening a new loop of the Rush Cove side trail and dedicating the whole nature reserve to the memory of Chris Walker this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The new side trail is to complete a loop that will start at the parking lot and follow an old logging road east past one of two areas that was originally cleared for log storage and then it winds through the bush above a portion of the wetland to the second clearing. The side trail continues east on the logging road and then cuts left into the forest and on to the main trail close to the western ladder. This new loop was created to allow hikers an option of seeing more of the inland portion of this wonderful property. Chris Walker was a dedicated Bruce Trail developer who we lost to cancer in October 2007. Bob Patrick, Hopeness, May 10, 2009
ENV1283MC-2009-1134
Dear Mr. Patrick: Thank you for your e-mail of March 10, 2009 with regard to Bill 150, the proposed Green Energy and Green Economy Act. As Minister of the Environment, I recognize the concerns that are being expressed by Ontarians about this proposed legislation. Our government is committed to developing renewable energy while ensuring that human health and the environment are protected. Provincial requirements and standards will be set, such as for set-back allowances for wind turbines, they will be based on scientific and technical evidence and expert advice. Provincial requirements will also include community consultation requirements. These requirements will be designed to ensure human health, safety and the environment are protected.. These requirements, once determined, would be set out in regulation, and would apply to all renewable energy projects within the province. Bill 150 would integrate processes that exist today – environmental concerns currently addressed in local land use planning - into a single provincial approval process called a Renewable Energy Approval. Our aim is to provide clear rules, based in science, which would create a transparent review of renewable energy projects. I understand that you have already conveyed your concerns about this matter to Premier McGuinty and the Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, as his ministry is taking the lead on this Bill. Comments will be taken into consideration as Bill 150 goes through the committee process. Thank you, again, for bringing your concerns to our attention. Sincerely, John Gerretsen Minister
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