A Chatham-Kent Councillor is encouraging the community to unite, after the Ministry of the Environment announced on Friday they are removing the environmental assessment requirements for the proposed York1 dump site near Dresden.
“Dresden, Chatham-Kent and fellow neighbours now is the time to come together once again and let the Province know we are not ok with this,” North Kent Councillor Jamie McGrail said on social media on Thursday.
“We have until May 17 to put our comments in.”
McGrail added on Friday: “Commenting on the ERO for the Proposed lifting of the Environmental Assessment for York 1 is very important. All of Chatham-Kent and neighbouring communities need to get involved, Dresden and area are depending on your help.”
McGrail also provided some points about the issue to “help get the conversation started” and allow residents to use when creating their comment.
“Let’s show the provincial government we will not back down respectfully,” McGrail added.
Here are some of the points provided by McGrail:
– Dresden is a historic town with a great sense of community.
– This landfill would be just over 800 metres from the town.
– The noise, odour, dust, and traffic of this waste facility would be unbearable.
– The Province’s proposed legislation would cut out the voices of the people who are most impacted.
– There are schools very close to this proposed waste facility and the school board has raised serious concerns.
– Air quality, noise and odor would have significant negative impacts on these students
– The heavy trucks would go by schools in Dresden and Thamesville, where kids often walk to school. This is a major risk to the safety of those kids.
The public comment period opened on April 17, 2025 and will be open for 30 days until May 30, 2025.
To provide a comment, click here.
Municipality of Chatham-Kent officials said on Thursday while the full details and impacts of the legislation are still unknown, the Municipality is providing as much information as it has about the matter to the public.
Municipal officials say Mayor Darrin Canniff and Council have unanimously opposed the waste facility proposal and passed a motion in February of 2024 directing staff to make submissions to the Province to require a full Environmental Assessment for any Waste Facility on that property.
Through several submissions to the Province, and due in part to the strong community opposition to this proposal, the Provincial Minister of the Environment approved a regulation (Ontario Regulation 284/24) that required a full Environmental Assessment for this property.
As a result of that decision, any use for a waste facility would have required thorough environmental assessment, including detailed opportunities for public comment.
It appears that the Province is now changing course on this waste facility proposal, Municipal officials added.
The legislation tabled would revoke Ontario Regulation 284/24 and remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the proposal to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the property.
Mayor Canniff, Council and municipal administration are prepared to fight this waste facility proposal, Municipal officials said, adding expert lawyers and engineers are already retained and are working to develop a strategy to oppose this waste facility proposal.
“We are extremely concerned about the recently announced direction the Province is considering regarding environmental assessments,” Mayor Darrin Canniff stated, in a media release.
“I would like to make it very clear: myself, Council, and the community of Chatham-Kent will continue fight with every tool available to us against both the new legislative direction and the proposed waste facility.”
As the situation develops, Municipal officials say they will provide regular updates and information through the existing Let’s Talk page at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/dresden-waste-processing-site-and-landfill.
Our original story, which includes comments from the Ministry can be read, here.
