Open Letter to new Minister of Environment re: the landfill proposal

July 31, 2017

 Hon. Chris Ballard

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Ferguson Block 11th Flr, 77 Wellesley St W,

Toronto, ON M7A 2T5

OPEN LETTER

Dear Minister Ballard,

Congratulations on becoming Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

I’m sure that you have heard me speak in the Legislature about the concerns that my community and I have about the landfill proposal in my riding.

The proposed site is in a former Carmeuse Lime quarry in Beachville which is located close to both the Thames River and one of the Town of Ingersoll’s main wells. As a result we believe that putting a landfill in this location would be a risk to our water. 

The community has sent thousands and thousands of letters to your Ministry to share their concerns with this proposal. We ask that you listen to our concerns and ensure that our water is protected by turning down this application at the first opportunity.

I would be happy to further explain our concerns about this site or arrange meetings for you with local Mayors or volunteers that have been involved in researching and raising concerns about the landfill proposal.

Again, my congratulations on your new position. I look forward to working with you in this role to ensure that our water in Oxford is protected.

 Sincerely,

Ernie Hardeman, MPP

Oxford