PERL Mission and Objectives
1. To protect and enhance Burlington’s Niagara Escarpment and rural land in the Region of Halton by:
o Preserving vital ecosystems and natural habitats
o Protecting Endangered and Threatened animal and plant species
o Safeguarding rural water tables, wells, Provincially and Regionally
Significant Wetlands and watercourses
o Creating a Mount Nemo Natural Heritage System (NHS) and Cultural
Heritage Landform area to be permanently preserved
2. To preserve and enhance quality of life in Ontario, with special
focus on the Niagara Escarpment area by:
o Advocating for sustainable aggregate resource legislation for
Ontario
o Advocating for Green Gravel Standards and Green Gravel Certification (GGC) using market initiatives to reduce our ecological footprint, and increase environmental sustainability
o Assisting in the development of comprehensive Provincial and
Regional planning for aggregate extraction in Ontario using sustainability
principles, including the planning for appropriate siting of future
aggregate extraction/production sites
o Supporting enforcement of aggregate production regulations, laws and
standards
o Promoting construction material recycling, mandated use of Green
Gravel material and other conservation measures and technologies
3. To prevent the licensing of a new quarry on the Niagara Escarpment
in Burlington Ontario.
4. To ensure that the spirit of the continuous natural corridor is
upheld in the Niagara Escarpment's UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
designation.
PERL OBJECTIVES:
1. Help create an Ontario Sustainable Aggregate Resources Act to ensure
that quarrying provides the highest degree of environmental protection
possible and embraces the Ontario Environment Commissioner’s recommendations
for reform
2. Help devise and implement Green Gravel Standards for aggregate
production, and implement in the Building Codes and Standards, Official
Plans, Provincial Policy Statement and all future urban and rural planning.
The standard will be based on the experience with lumbering standards i.e.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and should permeate development all the way
down to governmental, construction industry and retail procurement
3. Advocate banning future and specific current aggregate operations in
the Natural Heritage System areas of the Ontario Greenbelt; and designating
areas of the Niagara Escarpment as Greenbelt NHS, through an updated Niagara
Escarpment Plan, and maps to appropriately identify significant
environmental features. Ensure emphasis on Source Water protection and
Species at Risk protection.
4. Draft and implement a Mount Nemo Natural Heritage System and Cultural
Heritage Landform area to be permanently protected from un-sustainable human activity including future aggregate extraction / production as part of the Greenbelt NHS ban on aggregates.
5. Continue to engage the Joint Agency Review Team (JART) and the ARA
processes; influence ministries, agencies and Councils; and work for denial
of the Nelson Aggregate permit for extraction
6. Spearhead the creation of a new vision for Mt Nemo - a 100 year plan for sustainability, quality of life, ecological and economic health
PERL will win back the protection that this area deserves
Begin the process of a return to a naturalized area and
Permanently protect it from invasive industrial proposals
Together we will create a new vision for Mt Nemo!!
Additional Reading and Documentation |
Jefferson Salamander (Source: )
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