K-W RECORD: "DON'T RUBBERSTAMP THIS GRAVEL PIT"

Today's Waterloo Region Record's Editorial spells it out clearly. Even the title sends a shot at the province of Ontario and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Forestry and whatever else the flavour of the month currently is (MNRF). The word RUBBERSTAMP in the title says it all. Drunk drivers, anti-vaxxers and bigots are the bogeymen whereas provincial law and control over gravel pits being situated just about anywhere they please is a never ending local disaster compounded by long term environmental damage. Damage that includes water quality and quantity effects, air quality, soil degradation, noise, dust, traffic and reductions in prime farmland. What's not to hate regarding gravel pits? ............................................................................................................................ Here's part of the kicker. Provincial law says that market need for the gravel can not be discussed or used as an argument against a proposed new pit! Secondly municipalities can not use cumulative effects of far too many gravel pits, far too close together as an argument or objection. That is outrageous. It is also a reason why informed citizens often have very little respect for the law when it is so blatantly self-serving. The gravel lobby (aggregate producers - Ontario Sand & Stone ...?) is a powerful well connected lobby and has been so for many decades in Ontario. They are connected of course by politics and money. Essentially for all intents and purposes they own the MNRF. Here and elsewhere it is death by a thousand cuts. Just follow the Grand River by small plane and look at all the gravel pits along its' riverbanks. Eventually the aggregate will be gone but long before then so will our air, water and food; not to provide a necessary building requirement (gravel) but to further enrich the already wealthy and powerful.