Ontario Liberal MPP Ted Hsu is set to meet with residents in Dresden and Walpole Island on Friday as community opposition continues to mount against a proposed landfill expansion in the area.
Hsu, the party’s critic for agriculture and rural affairs, will host a meet-and-greet at the Walpole Island Governance Building from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by an evening event at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Czech Hall in Dresden. Organizers say the gatherings are meant to give residents an opportunity to share concerns about the landfill, known locally as the Dresden Dump, and to discuss the impact of Bill 5, provincial legislation that reshaped Ontario’s approach to waste approvals.
Local advocacy group Dresden Cared, which opposes the landfill, said Hsu has been a strong supporter of their efforts. “Ted has been a staunch opponent of Bill 5 and has asked the Integrity Commissioner to investigate the broken promise made to Dresden about the dump and the political ties between York1 and Doug Ford,” the group said in a statement promoting the event.
Hsu’s visit comes days after Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner declined to investigate whether Premier Doug Ford and his ministers acted improperly in halting the landfill expansion. In her ruling, Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell said Hsu’s submission did not provide reasonable and probable grounds to believe the Members’ Integrity Act had been breached.
Motherwell noted the complaint relied heavily on two media reports that did not substantiate the allegations, and said her office has no mandate to weigh in on the merits of government policy decisions. “While I understand and respect the sincerity of Mr. Hsu’s concerns, the information provided does not meet the threshold required for me to launch an inquiry,” she wrote.
Hsu called the decision disappointing but said he intends to continue pushing for accountability. “The owner of the landfill is going to have to update their Environmental Compliance Approval, and we’ll look at that very closely,” he said. “This issue goes beyond Dresden — it speaks to how rural communities are treated when it comes to environmental protections.”
Local organizers said the commissioner’s ruling has not dampened community resolve. Dresden Together, another advocacy group, said residents remain firmly opposed to the landfill. “The fight is not over,” the group said. “We are deeply disappointed that the commissioner will not be investigating how this decision was made, but our commitment to protecting our land, water and future remains unchanged.”
The group thanked Hsu for bringing the complaint forward, calling community involvement a “powerful force” in pressing for transparency. “This decision highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards to ensure communities like Dresden are not sidelined when it comes to landfill approvals,” the group said.
Both Dresden Cared and Walpole Island First Nation say they expect strong turnout for Friday’s meetings, which will include opportunities for residents to ask questions, voice concerns and connect directly with Hsu.
