By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
When it comes to the proposed York 1 dump project at Dresden, municipal officials hope the federal government is listening.
To that end, Chatham-Kent has submitted additional information to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), clarifying information put forward by York1 with regard to the controversial proposal.
Along with reaffirming the municipality’s opposition, the letter from its external legal counsel states the project would require several planning approvals under Ontario’s Planning Act, including changes to zoning and the Official Plan.
The letter, outlining Chatham-Kent’s position, also states Ontario’s processes do not provide a full or adequate review of potential impacts on the environment or Indigenous rights, noting C-K continues to support a federal assessment under the Impact Assessment Act.
Plus, the statement contends information put forward by York1 Environmental Waste Solutions “incorrectly” suggests C-K supports the proposal and that Indigenous First Nation people have not raised concerns.
“Our residents and impacted Indigenous nations have raised serious concerns about the potential environmental and community impacts of this proposal,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “We believe the federal review process is the right step to ensure those concerns are properly addressed and that the community has a transparent and fair say in this matter. Our role is to make sure the facts are clear and that the community’s interests are protected.”
However, in a response to the response on Oct. 17 – two days after the municipality’s press release, York1’s public relations firm said Chatham-Kent’s statement contains “several inaccuracies” about engagement with the municipality and local Indigenous communities.
In an email message, Laryssa Waler of Henley Strategies countered the municipality’s stance that York1 has “no meaningful consultation” since the company submitted its proposal.
“We have engaged the municipality repeatedly since 2021 – including meets and calls with the mayor, councillors and senior staff throughout 2022 and 2023,” Waler wrote, adding they have requested a meeting with Chatham-Kent and are waiting to hear back.
Waler also spoke to the Indigenous piece, stating the company met with WIFN officers in-person on June 6, 2024, after being contacted by them in May.
“We continue to invite dialogue with WIFN and other Indigenous communities,” Waler said.
In the statement, Waler also said the Dresden site is being upgraded to “modern standards,” stressing the site will be accepting non-hazardous construction and demolition materials – not household garbage.
Chatham-Kent’s response to the IACC comes on the heels of a request from the IAAC for more information after the federal body was approached to place a comprehensive environmental assessment on the Dresden project. Originally, the province had agreed to place an EA on the landfill expansion, however, the Ford government reversed its decision.
Before the Ontario Legislature paused for summer break, the province passed Bill 5 in which the York1 Dresden project was specifically named. The bill removed the EA, with Premier Doug Ford publicly stating the Dresden dump needed to go ahead in order to maintain Ontario’s landfill capacity, saying it could be curtailed by U.S. President Donald Trump if he closes the border to garbage. Currently, Ontario exports a substantial amount of waste to Michigan and New York.
Other issues clarified in the C-K submission include the fact that municipal council formally opposed the project in Feb. 24 and has not changed its position.
The legal letter also states no meaningful consultation has taken place between York1 and the municipality; and York1 has not even contacted the municipality since submitting its proposal to the province.
As well, several Indigenous communities, including Walpole Island First Nation and the Delaware Nation Council (Moravian on the Thames), have publicly expressed concerns about the project’s potential impacts.
The municipality has asked the federal government to designate the proposed facility for review under section 9(1) of the Impact Assessment Act, which would ensure that potential environmental and Indigenous concerns are carefully and independently assessed.
The letter from Chatham-Kent to the IAAC is the latest wrinkle in the fight by the community and municipality to have the project undergo a fulsome EA prior to approval.
York1 has plans to build a regenerative waste and recycling facility at 29831 Irish School Rd., including soil washing, as well as an eight-hectare landfill.
If approved, the landfill will run 14 hours a day Monday to Saturday, accepting non-hazardous construction and demolition waste.
In its application, York1 has estimated that 700 trucks could travel to the site each day. It’s located less than a kilometre from the town limit and 1.3 kilometres from Dresden’s high school.
