We have to stop the Campbellville quarry

This is a guest blog from George Minakakis, president of ACTION Milton and Campbellville resident.

In the heart of Milton, a looming threat threatens the very essence of community life. The proposed Reid Road Reservoir Quarry is more than just a local issue; it is a call to protect our fundamental right to clean drinking water, fresh air and a safe living environment.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The possible approval of the quarry threatens to pollute Milton and Campbellville’s water supply and worsen our air quality. Imagine 60,000 gravel truck trips every year, kicking up dust, disrupting quiet neighborhoods and endangering the safety of everyone – schoolchildren, cyclists, pedestrians and countless commuters along Highway 401. Furthermore, explosions that occur at alarmingly short distances ( 100 meters) on the highway would lead to disastrous consequences.

Our community leaders in Milton and the region have taken a stand and formally oppose the quarry. Even Prime Minister Ford has spoken out against this quarry and emphasized its rejection during public meetings and through statements by local political representatives.

Nevertheless, the pursuit of this environmentally and socially disruptive project continues, wasting taxpayers’ money and public resources. This undermines the well-being of our community and ignores the unanimous opposition of citizens and elected officials at all levels.

We cannot stand by while the voices of Milton and Campbellville are drowned out by the agendas of a few. Send a clear message to the Ontario Legislative Assembly: end the Reid Road Reservoir Quarry project. Stop the wasteful environmental assessment, deny the permits and transform these lands into protected areas for all Ontarians to enjoy.

Sign our petition now and send it to 10 of your friends who live in Ontario. Ask them to forward it.

ACTION Milton was founded in 2018 when James Dick Construction applied for a quarry permit and boasted they would be up and running within a year. Our first major community meeting had over 350 people in attendance and over $150,000 raised. In July 2020, Premier Doug Ford promised in Milton that the proposed Reid Road Reservoir Quarry in Campbellville would not go ahead due to staunch opposition from many residents and the municipality.

Milton City Council recently unanimously passed a motion calling on Ford to make good on its promise and destroy the project, which the council has opposed since its inception, despite the project site being zoned for aggregate mining and previous activities in gravel pits.

Opponents of the project have raised concerns about dust, explosions and possible groundwater contamination, as the proposed quarry would extend beyond the water table and require underwater jetting.

Georgege is the founder of Inception Retail Group, author, consultant, keynote speaker and former CEO and country manager at multinationals in Canada, the US and China.