By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault has taken to social media to say he does not support the York1 Dresden landfill project.
In a video message posted May 16, Pinsonneault said he has expressed his displeasure about the plan to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and other ministers.
“I’ve personally spoken to the premier. I’ve personally spoken to the ministers. I’ve told them of the concerns of this landfill and I’ve told them how I’m opposed to it,” Pinsonneault stated.
The former Chatham-Kent councillor’s comments come on the heels of an announcement by the province April 17 of plans to remove the environmental assessment designation from the York1 proposal. Under Bill 5 – Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act 2025 – the government is looking at fast-tracking the Dresden project, along with other developments. Ford has stressed that approval for the Dresden landfill is needed to safeguard against the Trump administration that could potentially place tariffs on Ontario garbage. Currently, the province exports 40 per cent of its waste to Michigan and New York.
The possibility of rolling back the EA is the latest wrinkle in a 15-month saga that has triggered an outpouring of protest against the York1 plan. Residents are alarmed by the prospect of a mega-dump to be located within one kilometre of the town. York1 is looking to accept 6,000 tonnes of construction waste per day, 24-7, with an estimated 700 trucks travelling daily to the site.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has joined the fight, with Mayor Darrin Canniff speaking directly to the Ontario legislature May 22.
Walpole Island First Nation Bkejwanong Territory is also vehemently opposed, with Chief Leela Peters travelling to Toronto twice to speak against Bill 5.
When addressing the legislature, Canniff didn’t mince words.
“We will not stand by while our community is put at risk,” the mayor said. “This proposal threatens Chatham-Kent’s environment, water, and the well-being of our residents. This injustice goes beyond Chatham-Kent now; this could affect all rural municipalities and Indigenous communities throughout Ontario with dormant landfill sites on their doorsteps. We are all united in opposition to this proposal.”
Bill 5 has passed second reading in the Ontario legislature at the hearing stage, and is expected to come back for a final vote in June.
Pinsonneault, a long-time East Kent councillor, said he’s fielded thousands of phone calls, hundreds of emails and in-person visits about the issue.
“People are angry and quite frankly so am I,” he said, noting that when he was a municipal councillor, he publicly opposed the Dresden landfill.
In the statement, Pinsonneault admitted he had been silent on the matter “for far too long.”
“I have been beat up pretty bad here on social media in the last three weeks,” he said. “And due to my silence, I guess that’s fair. But when my integrity comes into question, I feel it’s time to speak out.”
Pinsonneault stressed that he is but one of 80 votes and his vote won’t make a difference.
“No matter how I vote, it’s not going to change the outcome,” Pinsonneault said. Recently re-elected, the MPP has been named deputy government whip and parliamentary assistant to both the minister of rural affairs and the minister of emergency preparedness.
In his run-up to being elected L-K-M MPP in 2024, Pinsonneault said he would push for an EA for the project.
But if Bill 5 passes, Pinsonneault said, he’ll ensure the York1 project meets all environmental compliance regulations “to the letter of the law.”
In response to Pinsonneault’s statement, the chair of Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal said the MPP needs to “do his job.”
Stefan Premdas said that Pinsonneault’s claim his vote won’t make a difference is “disrespectful of every voter out there.”
Premdas said he was able to “whip up” 47 opposition votes in the legislature, noting he’s merely a retiree from Dresden.
