facebook link
twitter link
Stop Light Monitor - Green
Monitoring

Message
Centre

Have you made your annual contribution? Click the"Make a Commitment"
button below.

Make a Contribution

News Archives

Archives:
bottom

Friday, May 25, 2010 - Ontario Farmer
Company appeals quarry ruling


Multinational aggregates firm St. Marys Cement is appealing a provincial government order halting its controversial bid to build a linestone quarry in a farming area northeast of the village of Carlisle.

Read the Full Article (175 KB)


Thursday, May 13, 2010 - Flamborough Review
St. Marys launches appeal


St. Marys Cement (SMC) announced Monday it is appealing the Ontario government's zoning freeze on the proposed quarry site in northeast Flamborough. The zoning order, issued April 13 by Minister of Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Bradley, effectively put a halt to the aggregate company's plan for a 150-hectare quarry at 11 Concession Road East and Milburough Line.

Read the Full Article (31 KB)


Thursday, May 13, 2010 - Flamborough Review
FORCE set to celebrate


Provincial government intervention in the battle against the proposed Flamborough Quarry has given residents of northeast Flamborough reason to celebrate – and the festivities will begin this Sunday (May 16).

Read the Full Article (28 KB)


Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
St. Marys files appeal of order halting quarry


St. Marys Cement has announced it is appealing the province's unprecedented order halting its attempts to build a limestone quarry in Flamborough.

The Toronto-based company said it had filed an appeal yesterday with Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Bradley to have his zoning order quashing the quarry put before the Ontario Municipal Board for a hearing.

Read the Full Article (41 KB)


Thursday, April 29, 2010 - Flamborough Review
Correction


Information in the April 15 and 22 issues of the Flamborough Review about the appeal process for the government's zoning freeze on the Flamborough Quarry lands in northeast Flamborough was incorrect.

There is a 30-day window from the time of the Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) announcement until the Minister gives notice of his decision through the Ontario Gazette. Any person can request Minister Jim Bradley either revoke or amend the MZO at any time and, without waiting for the Minister's decision, can request that he refer the application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The province then has 30 days to declare a provincial interest with the final adjudication to be made by the Ontario Cabinet.

Read the Full Article (27 KB)


Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
FORCE News Ad - "Thank You"


View the Full Page Ad (181 KB)


Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator - Opinion
'The right thing:' Go away, SMC


The article by John Moroz of St. Marys Cement (SMC) in The Spectator of April 20 (Flamborough Quarry "the right thing") reads as a one-sided criticism of the Ontario government's minister's zoning order, which after six years has called time on the Flamborough quarry proposal.

His words, calling it "a grave error," reveal a chasm of thinking between the government, local councils and residents and an industry with a history of entitlement that would be the envy of a Wall Street banker.

Read the Full Article (231 KB)


Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - Ontario Farmer
Province rules against quarry plan in agricultural area.


Carlisle - Farmers, villagers and country residents are ecstatic at an unprecedented order from the Ontario governmnet to halt an application by an aggregates company trying to establish a quarry in a heavily agricultural area northeast of Carlisle.

Read the Full Article (1 MB)


Friday, April 23, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator - Opinion
St Marys should realize that application process can mean denial


Re: Flamborough quarry 'the right thing' (Opinion, April 20)

Someone needs to sit down with the folks at St. Marys Cement and explain what an application process may involve. The concept is that an application, with proper grounds, can be denied.

Read the Full Article (47 KB)


Friday, April 23, 2010 - Flamborough Review
PARLIAMENT HILL: Happy Earth Day to all


Today is Earth Day and, this year, an estimated one billion people from 175 countries are expected to take a few minutes to recognize our environment.

In the 20 years we have been celebrating Earth Day in Canada, the power of individual actions to help our environment has been a consistent message.

Read the Full Article (29 KB)


Friday, April 23, 2010 - Flamborough Review
Aggregate industry to take on province


The aggregate industry is preparing to square off with the Ontario government over last week's decision by Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), to freeze zoning on the proposed Flamborough Quarry site. The move effectively kills a proposal by St. Marys Cement (SMC) to establish a quarry at 11th Concession Road East and Milburough Line.

While SMC has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), the company announced last week it is examining "legal options" in a bid to overturn the decision. As of Tuesday this week, St. Marys hasn't determined what option to pursue, said company spokesman John Moroz, vicepresident and general manager of CBM Aggregates.

Read the Full Article (33 KB)


Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Halton Compass
Margaret McCarthy Ad


This ad was printed in the Halton Compass as well as the Flamborough Review.

View the Ad (863 KB)


Thursday, April 22, 2010 - Halton Compass
St Mary's stopped by Province


For those of you who forgot your Sunday School lessons, David did slay Goliath. He did it with an old-fashioned sling shot and ironically, a stone.

Read the Full Article (3 MB)


Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
Full Page Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO)


View the Full Page Ad (650 KB)


Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator - Opinion
Flamborough quarry 'the right thing'


Ontario consumes an average of 170 million tonnes of aggregate -- stone, sand and gravel -- annually, and this demand is growing. Due to limitations in supply and the rising cost of transportation over longer and longer distances, the cost of aggregate has been rising at 10 to 15 per cent per year. And much of this cost is being borne by taxpayers.

Last Tuesday, St. Marys Cement learned of the government's decision to issue a "minister's zoning order" which, if allowed to stand, abruptly and permanently terminates our efforts to establish an aggregates quarry in Flamborough.

Read the Full Article (129 KB)


Friday, April 16, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
Quarry decision saves Hamilton taxpayers


Re: 'How 'stop the quarry' group beat big business' (April 15)

Taxpayers in Hamilton, you just received a huge gift from the dedicated, hard-working everyday people in Flamborough.

Read the Full Article (87 KB)


Friday, April 16, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
The high price of advocacy


Protesters and placards make for good TV, but battling a multinational corporation and convincing government to take action takes professionalism, intelligence -- and money.

The evidence is in this week's astonishing decision by the provincial government to accede to the demands of a Flamborough group, called Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment, or FORCE, and stop a proposed quarry pit -- a massive 25-year gravel operation -- in Carlisle. It is also seen in the continuing fight by Oakville residents against a proposed gas-fired generating plant there, which they say is too close for safety to homes, schools and rail lines, and will worsen an already-polluted airshed. While they haven't yet won the fight, they've made politicians listen.

Read the Full Article (43 KB)


Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Flamborough Review
Province quashes quarry plan


As the Ontario government moved Tuesday to freeze the zoning on a 154-acre parcel of land in northeast Flamborough prohibiting St. Marys Cement (SMC) from using the lands for a quarry, the aggregate company responded swiftly saying it will examine legal options in a bid to overturn the government's decision.

MPP Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale) announced the landmark decision outside his constituency office in Waterdown while a small crowd of 20 people looked on. There were hugs, kisses, handshakes and even tears as area residents reacted to the news.

Read the Full Article (44 KB)


Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
How 'stop the quarry' group beat big business


They did stop the quarry.

The neighbours who opposed a massive gravel operation in Flamborough, the civic officials who supported them and the politicians who took the case forward have shut down a corporation's bid to start a major new quarry on sensitive land.

The local opponents coalesced around a simple slogan, "stop the quarry," but reaching their goal was far from simple and, until this week, still far from certain.

Read the Full Article (77 KB)


Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - Flamborough Review
EDITORIAL: David and Goliath


At first blush, Tuesday's announcement by MPP Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale) that the provincial government has implemented a zoning freeze on the proposed quarry site in northeast Flamborough – effectively quashing the multi-million dollar St. Marys Cement project – might be cited as an example of David slaying Goliath.

In fact, a victory of such mythical proportions takes a concerted effort on the part of a not inconsiderable army of passionate people.

Read the Full Article (31 KB)


Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - OSSGA Press Release
PROVINCE 'CLOSED' FOR BUSINESS


Yesterday morning the Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), issued a Minister's Zoning Order that is intended to restrict CBM St. Mary's proposed quarry in the former Town of Flamborough, ON.

Read the Full Article (345 KB)


Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
Province ends Carlisle quarry battle


Wow. Stunned. Ecstatic.

Those were among the wordsu sed by astonished community leaders when Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin announced the province had issued an unprecedented order halting St. Marys Cement's attempt to open a massive limestone quarry northeast of Carlisle.

Read the Full Article (431 KB)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - FORCE - Press Release
ST MARYS CEMENT FLAMBOROUGH QUARRY 'FROZEN OUT'


FORCE has learned that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMAH) has issued a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) effectively freezing out St Marys Cement's (SMC) plans for a proposed quarry in Northeast Flamborough, part of the City of Hamilton. Municipalities in the area, led by the City of Hamilton, have long raised concerns, and tabled specific objections as part of the aggregate license application process, for this massive open pit mine proposal. They have called on the province to act. An MZO is an instrument under the Planning Act which ensures that the current zoning is maintained – in this case, Agriculture and Conservation Management – thereby stopping the change to industrial extractive, required to obtain a quarry licence and use the properties for a quarry.

Read the Full Article (160 KB)


-->

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - The Regional Municipality of Halton
Province Halts Quarry in Response to Halton Regional Council Resolution


The province of Ontario has barred the development of a proposed quarry in the City of Hamilton, just west of the Halton Region and Town of Milton border after considering resolutions that were passed at both Halton Region and City of Hamilton Council meetings.

Last year, St. Mary's Cement Group proposed a new quarry located north-west of the intersection of Concession 11 and Milburough Line in the City of Hamilton. After a series of public consultations, Halton Regional Council and the Chief Medical Officer of Health passed a resolution stating the quarry would cause potential groundwater contamination, damage to natural features and negatively affect traffic patterns.

Read the Full Article (21 KB)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - MPP - Ted McMeekin - Press Release
Province intervenes to prevent quarry development, Responds to community concern for groundwater conservation


Today the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) under Section 47 of the Planning Act to freeze the zoning of 154 hectares of land in the former Town of Flamborough. As a result, St. Mary's Cement Inc. is prohibited from using these lands for a proposed major quarry development.

The MZO comes after concerns about the potential impact on groundwater raised by Hamilton City Council, the Halton Regional Council, local Medical officers of Health and countless citizens potentially impacted by the development.

Read the Full Article (47 KB)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Province Listens, Stops Proposed Quarry in Hamilton


Ontario is not allowing the development of a proposed quarry in the City of Hamilton.

A minister's zoning order permanently restricts the proposed quarry site in the former Town of Flamborough, now part of Hamilton, located near Milburough Town Line and 11th Concession Road East, to its current uses or ones that comply with its current zoning.

Read the Full Article (17 KB)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Toronto Star
Quarry plan killed after six-year fight


Astonished community leaders were "ecstatic" Tuesday after MPP Ted McMeekin announced the province had issued an unprecedented order halting St. Marys Cement's attempt to open a massive limestone quarry on a 15-hectare site in the former town of Flamborough.

McMeekin said the province was responding to widespread concern about potential harm to groundwater supplying wells, wetlands and streams.

Read the Full Article (139 KB)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
Province says no to Carlisle quarry - St. Mary's Cement loses escarpment bid


The provincial government has slammed the door on a plan to dig a massive quarry in Flamborough, northeast of Carlisle.

Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin announced the decision at an 11 a.m. press conference Thursday.

Read the Full Article (386 KB)


Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Flamborough Review
Quarry plans quashed


In an unprecedented move, the Ontario government moved Tuesday to freeze the zoning on a 154-acre parcel of land in northeast Flamborough, prohibiting St. Marys Cement (SMC) from using the lands for a major quarry development.

MPP Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale) made the announcement of the landmark decision outside his constituency office in Waterdown as a small crowd of 20 people looked on. There were hug, kisses, handshakes and even tears as area residents reacted to the news.

Read the Full Article (45 KB)


Thursday, March 4, 2010 - Flamborough Review
Quarry objections confirmed


At least 90 per cent of the original objectors to the St. Marys Cement (SMC) quarry application have reconfirmed their objections to the proposal.

Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment (FORCE), a grassroots community group opposed to the quarry, announced this week that it has delivered almost 900 letters opposing the proposal to establish a quarry on 11th Concession Road East and the Milburough Line. The final total is expected to be even higher as these results don't include objectors who sent reconfirmation letters directly to SMC and the Ministry of Natural Resouces (MNR).

Read the Full Article (83 KB)


Thursday, March 4, 2010 - Hamilton Spectator
Environmental Defence joins quarry battle


The national non-profit group Environmental Defence is urging the Ontario government not to allow new quarries or quarry expansions in the Greenbelt and to extend greenspace protection into the Town of Oakville and Brant County.

The quarry ban would affect both St. Marys Cement's plan for a large limestone quarry north of Carlisle in Flamborough and Nelson Quarry's bid to expand in north Burlington.

Read the Full Article (146 KB)

 


Together We Will Succeed!