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On July 29, 2020 in Milton, Ontario after making an announcement regarding school funding, Premier Doug Ford responded to a question regarding the Campbellville (Reid) quarry proposed by James Dick Construction Limited, as follows:
“I am not in favour of that. I believe in governing for the people. And when the people don’t want something you don’t do it. It’s very simple. I know the Mayor he don’t want it, no one wants it. I don’t want it. We are going to make sure it doesn’t happen one way or another”.
Will he make the same promise to Ramara Township concerning a blasting quarry located 80 metres from a residential community and 200 metres from a designated waterfront?
We invite Mr. Ford to visit and to repeat that same promise. It will be easy for him to keep this promise given Ramara’s Mayor and Council, in 2019, voted to reject Fowler’s rezoning application for a new quarry next to their current operation, by a vote of 5-2.
Fowler Construction Limited already operates the Fleming Quarry, a granite quarry which produces a gravel product that is NOT in short supply in Ontario.
The current quarry is precariously close, approximately 80 metres, from the nearest residence in an historic, residential community. It is less than 200 metres from Lake Couchiching, a designated waterfront.
Careful analysis performed by Ramara Legacy Alliance (RLA), a local advocacy group, shows that the economic benefits of the Fleming Quarry accrue disproportionately to Fowler, not the township or residents of Ramara.
To quote Ramara Mayor Basil Clarke in a media interview following Council’s 5-2 vote: “You mined the rock you said were going to mine. We’ve honoured that deal. Goodbye.”
Yet, Fowler Construction has chosen to NOT respect the Mayor, Ramara Council and the people of Ramara who unanimously agree they do not want a new quarry on the site in question.
Fowler Construction is now taking their challenge to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). The LPAT hearing can be an expensive and drawn-out process causing undue financial and emotional hardship for the community.
In 2018, a group of concerned citizens created RLA to actively challenge Fowler’s new application. They have effectively communicated the concerns of a blasting quarry located so close to a residential neighbourhood and designated waterfront.
RLA is not against all quarries, just active blasting quarries that are so close to a thriving community and environmentally-sensitive waterfront.
RLA invites Mr. Ford to repeat his strong commitment of listening to the people. Why? Because if the new quarry is approved by LPAT, Fowler claims they will continue blast mining for another 76 years.
This prospect is completely unacceptable to the residents of Ramara.
Ramara Legacy Alliance
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