PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

"We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of all Members of Parliament to the following: Whereas the proposed mega-quarry in Melancthon Township in Dufferin County, Ontario would be the largest open-pit quarry in Canada at over 900 hectares (2300 acres); Whereas the proposed mega-quarry would delve more than 60 meters (200 feet) deep, well below the water table; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry would threaten the headwaters of the Nottawasaga, Grand and Saugeen watershed systems and the Mad, Noisy, Pine and Boyne River sub-watersheds, consequently detrimentally and permanently affecting the aquifers in the area of the proposed mega-quarry; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry would put at risk the drinking water of over one million Canadians; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry threatens freshwater fish species, particularly in the Pine River, and will further harm freshwater fish species and their regeneration affecting Georgian Bay and Lake Huron; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry would remove from production some of Ontario’s best farmland; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry threatens the Grand and Nottawasaga River watersheds, including various freshwater fish species; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry threatens local flora and fauna, including species at risk like the Bobolink, a small endangered blackbird; Whereas the proposed mega-quarry would initially have 150 truckloads per hour of aggregates leave the quarry heading south and 150 empty truckloads returning to the quarry, and other trucks transporting 52 tons of explosives to the quarry per day, on local roadways not designed to carry such traffic; And Whereas, based on the proposed mega-quarry application, there are distinct issues relating to the use of water operations based on NAFTA considerations which may have a very substantially negative financial implication federally and provincially; THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to conduct an environmental assessment under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act on the proposed Highland Companies’ mega-quarry development." PLEASE NOTE: This petition was originally written by David Tilson, MP, Ottawa, ON and was quoted for the online petition purpose.