Province should back DEEP
Monday May 12 2008
It seems to us that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing stonewalling the rezoning of lands in East Luther Grand Valley to employment lands to accommodate the county’s eco-energy park (DEEP) is a classic case of government not keeping up to changing realities.
Here are some important facts to consider.
Municipalities across Ontario are facing a real garbage crisis, with landfills reaching capacity and Michigan putting a stop to importing waste.
The county has invested significant time and resources in researching various technologies such as waste into energy, hammering out an agreement for a composting facility with York and negotiating with companies to bring facilities to the county-owned property in East Luther Grand Valley.
Ontario’s economy is suffering. As traditional high-paying jobs in sectors such as automotive manufacturing are lost, new jobs in new industries are going to have to take their place. The eco-energy park could create research as well as manufacturing jobs in the community.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is balking at the county’s proposal because its policies dictate that employment lands should be located in settlement areas. Landfill lands, however, must be located in the countryside.
Although the county is not planning a landfill site on this land, it will be used as a drop-off site for waste. The province’s Ministry of the Environment has already issued a provisional certificate of approval for landfill on the property.
For the province to approve a dump but not the county’s eco-energy waste management solution shows an incredible lack of foresight. We hope that when Dufferin’s planner and lawyer make their pitch to MMAH representatives, ministry officials are quick to see the error of their initial position and back the county in its plans for the property.
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