GRAVEL PITS ARE ONE OF THE SACRED COWS IN ONTARIO

No surprise here as Conservative Premier Doug Ford continues his dismantling of both environmental and private citizen protections in Ontario. The Waterloo Region Record carried an article titled "Wilmot residents get letters from applicant of controversial gravel pit". This gravel pit, known as the Hallman Pit is near Shingletown on the west side of Kitchener. The letters from the applicant addressed various concerns of citizen neighbours and objectors to the gravel pit. While citizens do have legislated rights to the enjoyment of their own properties those "rights" are often contravened when gravel pits move into the neighbourhood. Noise, dust, visual impacts, greater road traffic and also groundwater contamination issues all can negatively impact the environment, nearby property values and neighbours enjoyment of their properties. ............................................................................................................. The letter fromt he IBI Group, representing the proponent of the gravel pit, advise objectors that recent legislative changes (May 2020) have reduced the pertinent legal oversight to only the Aggregate Resources Act which many consider a rubber stamp in favour of aggregate producers. There are various studies involved which of course the consultants doing the studies are hired by and paid for the proponents of the gravel pit. The Region of Waterloo, to date, are not yet satisfied with those studies but likely after a little tweaking, they will be. What a great system for the gravel and sand producers in Ontario. This is what justifies expensive lobbying of provincial governments by the lobby group possibly known as the Ontario Sand And Gravel Association (OSGA?).