Scores of residents, advocates, and local leaders on Thursday staged a rally against the proposed Dresden landfill, which appears to be moving full steam ahead with the recent passage of a controversial Ontario mining law.
Bill 5 was passed by the province on June 4 and gives Premier Doug Ford’s government the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas it deems to have economic importance.
Al Kominek, a local cash-crop farmer, said he and several other farmers have their farms right along the edge of the proposed landfill.
Kominek, who describes himself as a Conservative, said he’s written to the premier to let him know he opposes Bill 5.
“I just sent a letter yesterday about just how unhappy I am about the whole thing,” he told CBC News.
“Toronto doesn’t care about our community but we do, and we should have a say and a right to complain about something that’s just thrown upon us.”
Kominek said he’s “disheartened” for the people who live closest to the proposed landfill.
“They’ve been fighting so hard to prevent this from happening and all of a sudden they just show up,” he said. “It’s disheartening for everyone who lives in the community to see this.”
Site will not be used for household waste: York1
The company responsible for the project — York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd., based just outside Toronto — says a small crew has arrived in the area and prep work is underway for the landfill.
In an emailed statement to CBC Windsor, the company said everything being done is permitted under the site’s existing environmental compliance approval.
The company also stressed that the site will not be used for household waste but for non-hazardous construction and demolition materials.
‘We’re not done fighting,’ resident says
Ashley Khouathip, another resident, says she remains optimistic that Bill 5 would be rescinded.
“I think we’re all still very hopeful. Bill 5 might have passed, but we’re not done fighting,” Khouathip said.
“There’s still a lot of little things along the way that they need to set in stone before they can go full throttle.”
Khouathip said a dump in the area is “going to affect us greatly, because the kids play out here. It’s not like being in the city, they roam free, they fish, a lot of us kayak and we’re on the water all the time.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, who is on a three-day visit to Windsor and area, was also at the protest. She joined members of Dresden C.A.R.E.D. and Chatham-Kent municipal councillors to call on the Ford government to repeal Bill 5.
“This is not a partisan issue … but what really gets me about what’s happening to Dresden is that this is a prime example of a government and a premier making another promise and commitment and breaking it,” Stiles said.
Stiles assured residents and those at the protest rally that she will keep the issue alive in the provincial legislature.
“I want you to know that back at Queen’s Park, where many of you have come to show your opposition to Bill 5, the voices of the people of Dresden and this area are echoing around the halls of Queens Park,” she said.
Lyle Gall, a representative of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said all workers in Canada should stand in opposition to Bill 5, which has sparked a fierce opposition and anger among First Nations.
“We stand in solidarity with Indigenous leaders who oppose this attack on their national sovereignty and treaty rights,” he said.
“We will not stand for this direct attack on First Nations, we will not stand for this direct attack on workers, we will not stand for this direct attack on the land. We called for an immediate repeal of Bill 5,” Lyle added.
