Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Environmental Defence Executive Director, Tim Gray, will speak at Saturday’s “Keep the Promise – Respect Milton Rally” co-hosted in partnership with a number of local community groups. Together, the groups stand in opposition to re-opening the former Reid Road gravel pit and its conversion into a blasting quarry. The proposed quarry’s close proximity to homes is a danger to the people of Campbelleville and the local environment. It also provides an example of the destructive expansion of gravel and rock mines that will need to occur throughout the region if the proposed Highway 413 is built.
Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie, NDP leader Marit Stiles and Green Deputy Leader will be in attendance, as well as Green candidate Kyle Hutton, Liberal candidate Galen Naidoo Harris and NDP candidate Edie Strachan.
WHO: Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence
WHEN: Saturday, April 27th at 2:00pm
WHERE: Victoria Park (100 Mary St.) in Milton, Ontario
Background Information:
- In July 2020, Premier Doug Ford promised to stop the proposed Reid Road Reservoir Quarry. Instead of killing the project, the provincial government has moved the project into an environmental assessment. The Premier recently stated that he won’t intervene before the Environmental Assessment (EA) has been completed. It is Environmental Defence’s position that the EA is not enough and that the project must be cancelled.
- The site, which is within a couple of kilometres of residential neighbourhoods, poses real threats to nearby residents. James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) is proposing to convert a re-naturalized pit into a blasting quarry. Dust, explosions and possible groundwater contamination (the proposed quarry’s reach past the water table for underwater blasting) are cause for major concern.
- An initial assessment by Environmental Assessment also identified the presence of, or proximity to significant species at risk on the proposed quarry site including butternut trees and the possible presence of salamander species and the redside dace.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
– 30 –
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
