"Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin on climate change and the U.S. position to opt out of the Kyoto protocal.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, opening Wednesday's high-level phase of the conference, addressed the American economic argument.
"Surely we realize by now that a greater cost will be exacted if we lack the will or tenacity to change," he said to loud applause
" Reuters
Niagara Escarpment Commission Wants Protection of Mount Nemo
Commission votes 13 - 1 to send Nelson Quarry re-designation request to Provincial Cabinet Georgetown, Ontario -- Commissioners of the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) voted nearly unanimously last Thursday to support "the protection of the Mount Nemo Plateau", an environmentally-sensitive area located on the Niagara Escarpment in Burlington, Ontario.
Speaking in favour of the motion were Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (PERL), Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson, and Burlington Ward 3 Councillor John Taylor. Mayor Jackson had previously moved a Halton Region amendment calling on the McGuinty government to stop a proposed Joint Board hearing and put the rightful designations on this ecological area. That motion carried 18-1, and was approved by all four of Halton's Mayors (Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills).
The Joint Board hearing, so called because it includes both the Ontario Municipal Board and the Environmental Review Tribunal, is scheduled to start in September 2010. "For over 100 years, Mount Nemo has served as a primary source of aggregate for the Greater Toronto Area; it's time to let Mother Nature heal herself," said Mayor Jackson, speaking to the NEC. "This decision from the Commission is the latest in a long line of support to protect Mount Nemo from future quarries. Now, the Ontario Cabinet should follow suit," said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. Mount Nemo is under threat from a proposed quarry. The Nelson Aggregates quarry license application falls squarely within one of the most sensitive parts of the Greenbelt, in a headwaters area that contains Provincially Significant Wetlands, Regionally Significant Woodlands and the habitat of the provincially and nationally threatened Jefferson salamander.
There are only 27 known locations of this critical indicator species left in all of Canada. In supporting the motion, Councillor Taylor recited the NEC Staff Report that states, "some lands on the Mount Nemo Plateau do contain Escarpment slopes and related landforms, either existing or proposed to be designated as environmentally sensitive by the municipalities in their official plans which may, after further review, fit the Escarpment Natural Area or Escarpment Protection area designations in the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP)." Both the "Natural" and "Protection" area designations prohibit quarries.
PERL legal counsel David Donnelly presented the case for re-designation to the Commissioners. "Nelson pleaded guilty to the serious offence of altering a watercourse without permit on November 26, 2007 thereby waiving any expectation it may have had to have its new quarry application assessed against a decades old land use designation," Donnelly told the Commission. "There is precedence for Cabinet to re-designate the proposed quarry site, for example the Milton Outlier, and other areas like North Leslie, Boyd Park and the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve. Mount Nemo should be added to this protected list." Conservation Halton, Region of Halton, the City of Burlington and the Niagara Escarpment Commission have all voted against the quarry application, citing serious concerns relating to the loss of provincially significant wetlands and significant woodlands, species at risk (the Jefferson salamander and the Butternut), and changes in flow contribution to downstream watercourses.
"The serious fear is that the millions of dollars that are needed to restore Mount Nemo will be spent on a hearing that should not take place," said Sarah Harmer, Co-Founder of PERL. "After Mount Nemo's 100 years of service to the aggregate industry, Premier McGuinty and the Ontario Cabinet must stand with PERL, Burlington, Halton, the Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Conservation Authority, and dozens of local and national environmental groups to act, so that nature can reclaim this exceptional area."
Update
Dec 21 2010
NEC supports staff report to Deny Quarry - recommends ruling on Mt Nemo re-classification in Jan
UPDATE: The Niagara Escarpment commission voted with a resounding majority (one dissenting vote) against the proposal for a quarry on Mt Nemo.
In a separate matter before the board, they asked staff to produce a report and recommendation on the request by the city and region to re-designate and re-classify the Mt Nemo plateau. The re-designation would see lands currently classified as "Escarpment rural" re-classified to either "Escarpment Protected" or "Escarpment Natural" depending on the science behind the re-classification.
"The Mt Nemo plateau is just full of environmentally sensitive areas, species at risk and important features such as the headwaters of streams, significant forests, important wetlands and agricultural uses" Said Dan Lyons of PERL. "It just makes good planning sense to get the land uses right before plowing ahead with further development on the plateau" Said Lyons. "As of right now, the city and PERL's data suggest that the vast majority of the plateau (once buffers for species at risk are included and setbacks from wetlands etc) will be included in one of the two higher order designations. The city of Burlington and Region of Halton both support this thinking, so it makes sense to go forward with this now - in advance of further large scale development. Re-designating the plateau will not interfere with existing uses - e.g. agriculture or existing legal businesses - it will simply ensure that future developments are compatible with a healthy ecosystem".
PERL looks forward to the NEC board doing the right thing and supporting the immediate re-classification of the Mt Nemo plateau - thereby correcting a long standing deficiency in the outdated land use classifications on the plateau
For Immediate Release:
November 12, 2009
Burlington Council asks Province to Save Mount Nemo:
BurlingtonCity Council votes 5 – 2 in favour of denying Nelson Quarry and protecting Escarpment
Burlington— It’s official. All three local public agencies charged with protecting MountNemo voted to oppose the Nelson Aggregate quarry license application in Burlington, Ontario. Burlington City Council voted down the license application Monday night.Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson stated without reservations,“The Mount Nemo plateau has had to endure the burden of over 60 years of quarrying… It is time for Mother Nature to heal itself. It is time to let the plateau restore itself to its natural beauty not just for ourfuture generations but forever.
”Conservation Halton, Halton Regional Council and the City of Burlington have voted overwhelmingly to deny the Nelson Aggregate new quarry application. Yesterday, the Niagara Escarpment Commission (“NEC”)released its much anticipated Staff Report also recommending to the NEC to ‘not support’ the quarry application.
The NEC, which meets November 18, will consider the Nelson Aggregate application at 2:00 p.m. Furthermore, the NEC staff report stated that they will consider the expanded Mount Nemo Resolutions from Burlington Council and Halton Regional Council calling on the McGuinty government to protect MountNemo and the Escarpment before proceeding to a lengthy hearing that Nelson threatens may last up to one year.
Just last Monday, the City of Burlington passed in a vote (5-2) a resolution calling on the Province of Ontario to update the Niagara Escarpment Plan designations on Mount Nemo to accurately reflect the ecological conditions on the Nelson Aggregate subject property and adjacent land. A similar resolution was passed by Halton Regional Council on October 28. All four of Halton’s Mayors voted for the resolution, as did the Regional Chair Gary Carr.
Both Councils moved amendments calling on the McGuinty Government to impose new, updated ecological designations on the MountNemo lands studied extensively by the Joint Agency Review Team (“JART”).
Part of Burlington’s Mount Nemo plateau resolution says – “many of the provincially and regionally significant natural heritage features of the Mount Nemo plateau have been evaluated and mapped, but as yet have not been designated and protected in the Niagara Escarpment Plan”, and “the extraction of aggregate will permanently disrupt the fragile balance of ecology, rural land use and community of the Mount Nemo plateau and supporting area”“
We asked for environmental leadership from Mayor Jackson and members of Burlington and Halton Councils, and the people of Burlington got it,” said Roger Goulet, Executive Director of ProtectingEscarpmentRuralLand (“PERL”). Nelson Aggregate President Norm Elmhirst still maintains a significant claim for costs against the City of Burlington, who moved the Joint Board Motion.Burlington Councillor John Taylor (Ward 3) has been a vocal advocate for environmental stewardship, insisting that Nelson Aggregate must meet the highest standards of environmental protection, and it is his belief the quarry did not meet the highest standards of environmental protection and would likely impact the community.Both amendments call on the province and the Niagara Escarpment Commission to re-designate the Mount Nemo plateau lands as either Escarpment ‘Natural’ or ‘Protected’ thereby prohibiting a new quarry on the Mount Nemo part of the Escarpment, before the resumption of the Joint Board hearings.
The staffs from Conservation Halton, Region of Halton, and the City of Burlington and Niagara Escarpment Commission have all expressed serious concerns relating to the loss of provincially significant wetlands and significant woodlands; species at risk (the Jefferson Salamander and the Butternut); changes in flow contribution to downstream watercourses and associated impacts on fisheries; uncertainty relating to assurance of long term flow contribution to the downstream watercourses; protection of private wells; the adequacy of the Adaptive Management Plans; and issues related to climate change and the rehabilitation plan.
“Halton Region and the City of Burlington made history being the first municipalities to call for a stop to new aggregate operations in the most sensitive areas of the Niagara Escarpment, one of Canada’s precious UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves,” said David Donnelly, counsel to PERL and Environmental Defence.
“We need the community to imagine a new future for MountNemo, one that will be a source of pride for generations to come,” said Sarah Harmer. “MountNemo is truly a precious pearl that deserves to be cherished and enjoyed by all.”
The Mount Nemo Declaration, released September 15, 2009 and signed by over 25 national and local organizations and hundreds of citizens, calls for the creation of a 7-generation vision for this area, but the process must start with the denial of the Nelson Aggregate license application, and updating of the Niagara Escarpment Plan for this area.
October 29, 2009
** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
Big Win for Mount Nemo Escarpment at Region and City Provincial Government now Key to Saving Mount Nemo
Halton Council Votes 17 – 2 in favour of denying Nelson Quarry and Protecting Escarpment
Burlington—Halton Regional Council passed a Resolution yesterday calling on the Province of Ontario to update the decades old Niagara Escarpment Plan designations on Mount Nemo to accurately reflect the ecological conditions on the Nelson Aggregate subject property and adjacent land. This is a necessary first measure in turning down the Nelson Aggregate Quarry proposal for Mount Nemo in Burlington, Ontario. Council voted 17-2 in favour of the Resolution, which also endorsed Planning Staff’s recommendation that Halton oppose the quarry at the upcoming Joint Board OMB hearing. All four of Halton’s Mayors voted for the Resolution, as did the Regional Chair Gary Carr.
Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson moved an amendment calling on the McGuinty Government to impose new, updated ecological designations on the Mount Nemo lands studied extensively by the Joint Agency Review Team (“JART”).
Mayor Cam Jackson stated without reservations,”The Mount Nemo plateau has had to endure the burden of over 60 years of quarrying… It is time for Mother Nature to heal itself. It is time to let the plateau restore itself to its natural beauty not just for our future generations but forever.”
“We asked for environmental leadership from Mayor Jackson and members of Halton Regional Council, and the people of Burlington got it today”, said Roger Goulet, Executive Director of Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (“PERL”).
“The science is in; dozens of experts have diligently reviewed the Nelson Aggregate application and recommended denial of the application. Mount Nemo is the wrong place for a new quarry,” Goulet added.
Nelson Aggregate President Norm Elmhirst came in for tough questions from Council, particularly after advising Council that the costly Joint Board OMB hearing could last one full year. Mayor Burton of Oakville and others were particularly critical of Nelson for coming to Council with a request to “mediate” while at the same time Nelson maintains a significant claim for costs against Burlington, Halton, the Niagara Escarpment Commission and PERL.
“What kind of discussion would that be?”, the Mayor Burton asked.
Later the same day, Burlington Councillor John Taylor (Ward 3) moved adoption of the Burlington staff recommendation at the Burlington Community Development Committee, making special mention of his belief the quarry did not meet the highest standards of environmental protection and would likely impact the community; and also moved the amendment.
Both amendments call on the province and the Niagara Escarpment Commission to re-designate the Mount Nemo plateau lands as either Escarpment Natural or Protected thereby prohibiting a new quarry on the Mount Nemo part of the Escarpment, before the resumption of the Joint Board hearings.
** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
Big Win for Mount Nemo Escarpment at Region and City Provincial Government now Key to Saving Mount Nemo
Halton Council Votes 17 – 2 in favour of denying Nelson Quarry and Protecting Escarpment
Burlington—Halton Regional Council passed a Resolution yesterday calling on the Province of Ontario to update the decades old Niagara Escarpment Plan designations on Mount Nemo to accurately reflect the ecological conditions on the Nelson Aggregate subject property and adjacent land. This is a necessary first measure in turning down the Nelson Aggregate Quarry proposal for Mount Nemo in Burlington, Ontario. Council voted 17-2 in favour of the Resolution, which also endorsed Planning Staff’s recommendation that Halton oppose the quarry at the upcoming Joint Board OMB hearing. All four of Halton’s Mayors voted for the Resolution, as did the Regional Chair Gary Carr.
Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson moved an amendment calling on the McGuinty Government to impose new, updated ecological designations on the Mount Nemo lands studied extensively by the Joint Agency Review Team (“JART”).
Mayor Cam Jackson stated without reservations,”The Mount Nemo plateau has had to endure the burden of over 60 years of quarrying… It is time for Mother Nature to heal itself. It is time to let the plateau restore itself to its natural beauty not just for our future generations but forever.”
“We asked for environmental leadership from Mayor Jackson and members of Halton Regional Council, and the people of Burlington got it today”, said Roger Goulet, Executive Director of Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (“PERL”).
“The science is in; dozens of experts have diligently reviewed the Nelson Aggregate application and recommended denial of the application. Mount Nemo is the wrong place for a new quarry,” Goulet added.
Nelson Aggregate President Norm Elmhirst came in for tough questions from Council, particularly after advising Council that the costly Joint Board OMB hearing could last one full year. Mayor Burton of Oakville and others were particularly critical of Nelson for coming to Council with a request to “mediate” while at the same time Nelson maintains a significant claim for costs against Burlington, Halton, the Niagara Escarpment Commission and PERL.
“What kind of discussion would that be?”, the Mayor Burton asked.
Later the same day, Burlington Councillor John Taylor (Ward 3) moved adoption of the Burlington staff recommendation at the Burlington Community Development Committee, making special mention of his belief the quarry did not meet the highest standards of environmental protection and would likely impact the community; and also moved the amendment.
Both amendments call on the province and the Niagara Escarpment Commission to re-designate the Mount Nemo plateau lands as either Escarpment Natural or Protected thereby prohibiting a new quarry on the Mount Nemo part of the Escarpment, before the resumption of the Joint Board hearings.
“The decision to oppose Nelson and update the Niagara Escarpment Plan validates the years of research and careful review by the Joint Agency Review Team and PERL, who supplied JART with crucial new science on the site,” said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director, Environmental Defence.
The staffs from Conservation Halton, Region of Halton and the City of Burlington have all expressed serious concerns relating to the loss of provincially significant wetlands and significant woodlands; species at risk (the Jefferson Salamander and the Butternut); changes in flow contribution to downstream watercourses and associated impacts on fisheries; uncertainty relating to assurance of long term flow contribution to the downstream watercourses; protection of private wells; the adequacy of the Adaptive Management Plans; and issues related to climate change and the rehabilitation plan.
“Halton Region and the City of Burlington made history being the first municipalities to call for a stop to new aggregate operations in the most sensitive areas of the Niagara Escarpment, one of Canada’s precious UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves,” said David Donnelly, counsel to PERL and Environmental Defence.
“The decision to deny this license application is now in the hands of the McGuinty government and the scientists and planners of the Niagara Escarpment Commission” Donnelly added.
“We need the community to imagine a new future for Mount Nemo, one that will be a source of pride for generations to come,” said Sarah Harmer. “Mount Nemo is truly a precious pearl that deserves to be cherished and enjoyed by all.”
The Mount Nemo Declaration, released September 15th and signed by over 25 national and local organizations and hundreds of citizens, calls for the creation of a 7-generation vision for this area, but the process must start with the denial of the Nelson Aggregate license application, and updating of the Niagara Escarpment Plan for this area.
October 6, 2009 Conservation Halton Votes Against MountNemo Quarry
Unanimous resolution released recommending denial of Nelson Aggregate licence
Burlington— Conservation Halton released late yesterday its Resolution recommending denial of the Nelson Aggregate Quarry licence application.
The Resolution has been forwarded to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Region of Halton, City of Burlington and the Niagra Escarpment Commission.
A brief and forbidden round of applause greeted the unanimous vote by the Board of Directors of the Halton Conservation Authority last Thursday to recommend a denial of the Nelson Aggregate Quarry licence application. Burlington Councillor John Taylor (Ward 3) moved adoption
of the Conservation Authority staff recommendation, making special mention
of his belief the quarry did not meet the highest standards of environmental protection and would likely impact the community. Citing the need to respect the Provincial Policy Statement, and to protect wetlands and significant woodlots on the development site, every delegation, with the exception of the lawyer representing Nelson Aggregate, asked the Board to vote against the licence application. The Board took less than five minutes to debate the comprehensive staff report reviewing the application. “The science is in, the Conservation Authority has voted, Mount Nemo is the wrong place for a new quarry,” said a beaming Roger Goulet, Executive Director of Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (“PERL”). “When Nelson Aggregate decided to prematurely trigger the Aggregate Resources Act process in 2006, they by-passed public agencies, thus triggering such a strong objection. Mount Nemo has been quarried for 120 years. Now, we can see on the horizon an end to its blasting." “The decision to oppose Nelson validates the years of research and careful review by the Joint Agency Review Team and PERL, who supplied JART with crucial new science on the site,” said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director, Environmental Defence. “Ontario has an embarrassing low aggregate recycling rate and embarrassingly high aggregate licence approval rate – this decision should help reverse both.” “Those who live on or at the base of Mount Nemo depend on it to supply their families with a pure and constant supply of drinking water,” wrote Kurt Koster, President of the Burlington Green Environmental Association in a written statement to the Board. “However, if the quarry extension application is approved, their wells could fail.” he added. Conservation Halton staff expressed serious concerns relating to the loss of provincially significant wetlands and significant woodlands; species at risk (the Jefferson Salamander and the Butternut); changes in flow contribution to downstream watercourses and associated impacts on fisheries; uncertainty relating to assurance of long term flow contribution to the downstream watercourses; protection of private wells; the adequacy of the Adaptive Management Plans; and issues related to climate change and the rehabilitation plan. In addition to their other recommendations, Conservation Halton staff recommended that it be directed to present its position before the Consolidated Hearing Board dealing with the Nelson Aggregate Co. matter. “Halton Region and the City of Burlington are poised to make history by being the first municipalities to successfully oppose an aggregate quarry in the Niagara Escarpment, one of Canada’s precious UNESCO Biosphere Reserves,” said David Donnelly, counsel to PERL and Environmental Defence. “This
decision is the first domino to fall, cascading all the way up to the McGuinty government expanding the Greenbelt’s Natural Heritage System across Mount Nemo. Jefferson Airplane had a #1 hit the last time the land use designations were reviewed on this part of the Escarpment – it’s time for an update.”
“We need the community to imagine a new future for Mount Nemo,
one that will be a source of pride for generations to come,” said Sarah
Harmer. “Mount Nemo is truly a precious pearl that deserves to be
cherished and enjoyed by all.” The Mount Nemo Declaration, released September 15th and signed by 25 organizations, calls for the creation of a 7-generation vision for this area, but the process must start with the denial of the Nelson Aggregate licence application, and updating of the Niagara Escarpment Plan for this area.[TJA1]
-30- For more information contact, or to arrange interviews, please contact: Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, (416) 323.9521 ext. 232; (647) 280-9521 (cell)
For Immediate Release:
PERL Launches Mount Nemo Declaration Local environmental group and community leaders working to create a sustainable Vision for Mount Nemo Burlington, ON
(September 17, 2009) — Emma’s Back Porch hosted the launch of the Mount Nemo Declaration this week. Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (PERL) developed the Declaration to help create an ecologically sustainable vision for Mount Nemo, the jewel of Burlington, ON. PERL, community leaders and supporting environmental groups gathered to officially sign and endorse the Mount Nemo Declaration. It was then presented to Burlington and Halton Region political leaders, garnering their support for a long-term ecologically sustainable vision for Mount Nemo. “I have signed the Mount Nemo Declaration willingly, openly and happily. We cannot rely on age-old legislation; we have to modernize our legislation to protect Mount Nemo for the next 100 years,” said Cam Jackson, Mayor of Burlington. “We will be at PERL’s side, and we will not rest until those things we hold dear to our hearts are protected – our families, our cities and our environment.”
National, regional and local environmental groups have endorsed the Declaration. Together, they have formed a coalition to support the City of Burlington and a Motion to require Nelson Aggregate to update its new quarry license application before proceeding to Joint Board hearings. “PERL and the Mount Nemo Declaration have received a huge outpouring of support from community and environmental leaders,” says Roger Goulet, Executive Director of PERL. “It is clear that to protect Mount Nemo and the Niagara Escarpment for future generations, we need an ecologically sustainable, long-term vision for the area. If not, we stand to lose a treasured piece of Ontario, and Canada for that matter.”The Mount Nemo Declaration calls on governments to establish an ecologically sustainable Natural Heritage System across Mount Nemo and re-designate the area to Niagara Escarpment ‘Protected’, from Escarpment ‘Rural’. “Nelson Aggregate is proposing to open a new quarry and ignore the concerns and wishes of the community. The endorsing environmental groups represent tens of thousands of individuals in the local community and neighbouring regions,” says Sarah Harmer, Co-Founder of PERL. “Coalition and community leaders agree with the City, Mount Nemo should be protected and developed into a sustainable area. The Joint Board application hearing should be about one integrated site, with a comprehensive and modern set of regulations and standards, not dated ones.”Attendees on hand to sign and endorse the Declaration included the Mayor of Burlington, Cam Jackson; Regional Chair, Gary Carr; Councillors John Taylor and Keith Bird; Lake Ontario Waterkeeper; Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment; Citizens Opposed to Paving the Escarpment; the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance; and David Donnelly, counsel to PERL and Environmental Defence."PERL is helping to lead the province-wide battle to establish a Green Gravel standard, a campaign to inform consumers about making better choices in sourcing aggregate, and to harmonize Niagara Escarpment Plan with the Greenbelt", said David Donnelly. "Ontario prevents urban sprawl in our most protected places. The Mount Nemo Declaration represents the first step in protecting these same areas from blasting and digging of new aggregates."
___________________________________________________________________
