7/31/2019 Melancthon: Farmers Left Standing as MPPs to a Drive-By

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Melancthon Farmers left standing as MPPs to a drive by

AWARE Simcoe June 30 2012

Melancthon residents asked an all-party committee of MPPs who were holding a

hearing on the Aggregate Resources Act review in Orangeville on Wednesday to

visit the proposed mega-quarry area. At the 11th hour, they agreed. Local

farmers scrambled to be ready to greet them and were waiting in a group by the

side of the road when the MPPs' bus arrived. And drove past them. And headed

up the road, turned round and drove right past them again.

The MPPs were not interested in talking to the residents, not interested in

getting off the bus to experience the fertile and beautiful land that's to be

devastated by the mage-quarry. But earlier in the day, the MPPs visited four

quarry sites. People in Melancthon are infurated by the lack of respect. Thefollowing is an account by a volunteer with Friends of NDACT (not a member of

NDACT) who asked not to be named, with a link to a CTV news report of the

hearing. (A link to the transcript of the hearing wil be posted when available.)

When is a tour a tour?

We have gathered more details about last night's rather odd "tour" of the

proposed mega quarry site by the MPPs reviewing the Aggregate Resources Act.

After announcing to applause at the Orangeville hearings that the Committee

would tour the site once the session ended at 6:30pm, it was understood the

MPPs would visit the rare farmland which sparked the review. When the hearings

concluded, the chairman MPP David Orazietti, was asked where the committee

was going to stop. It had been expected the MPPs were going to accept an offer

to visit one of the large farms adjacent to the proposed site.

To everyone's surprise, Mr. Orazietti replied that they would not be stopping in

the area but were going to see the site. When asked how they would know the

location of the mega quarry site as there are no signs, he said "We know people,

who know people."

Meanwhile, a small group of farmers and residents gathered at the side of theroad in front of the farm, thinking the bus might stop for directions and they could

meet the MPPs. Standing with them was a TV crew from CTV Barrie. They all

watched as the bus carrying the MPPs drove past them heading north on

Highway 124, turned around up the road and then passsed them again heading

south. True to their word, the Committee didn't stop. Their "tour" lasted minutes.

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The MPPs missed an opportunity to visit a farm at the epicentre of the most

controversial quarry application in Ontario history. CTV Barrie captured the bus

driving by.

This was not a proper tour by any standard. Earlier in the day, the Committee

visited four quarry sites -- some operating, some rehabilitated. If the MPPs can

visit four quarry sites they should be able to find the time to visit one farm. The

review of the ARA has focused on the ongoing conflict between aggregate and

agriculture. To, once again, ignore the agricultural side of this debate is

unacceptable.

So, the following questions need to be asked of the MPPs on the Committee:

Why drive by the very farmland at the centre of this controversy and not stop?

Why visit four quarry sites and not visit at least one of the farms adjacent to the

site of the largest proposed quarry in Canadian history?When will a proper, on-the-ground tour be conducted of this farmland? The

review of the ARA will not be complete or comprehensive without a clear

understanding of the potential impact on prime farmland, water resources and

the surrounding environment.

Below is the CTV Barrie report from the hearings. The footage of the MPPs bus

driving up the highway and back aired at 11pm last night, but we don't have it on

a newscast.http://ctvnewsbarrie.ca/videos/894/wednesday-june-27,-2012-ctv-news-at-6-

webcast

http://ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committees_detail_members.do?locale=en&detailPage=members&ID=145http://ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committees_detail_members.do?locale=en&detailPage=members&ID=145