Mega dump plan near Ingersoll, Ont. 'on hold,' community leaders elated
A nine-year battle, by three unified communities, to stop a mega-dump is all but over.
Walker Environmental, the proponent of the 17-million tonne Ingersoll-area landfill, has sent letters to multiple politicians and interests groups advising the dump plan is “on hold."
The proposed landfill site, a former quarry bed, is located within Zorra Township.
There, Mayor Marcus Ryan is elated the nine-year fight to stop the dump has resulted in a "community” win.
“I think a clear message has been sent by the community. And, I think Walker Environmental has understood that message."
The message, passed the Thursday by Zorra Township council, basically states the community is not willing to host a landfill site.
Identical resolutions are expected to succeed next week at Ingersoll, South West Oxford and ultimately Oxford County councils.
The simple resolutions were not possible until legislative change permitted communities within 3.5 km of a dump site to challenge landfills.
Zorra Township, South West Oxford, and Ingersoll are all located within the required distance from the proposed dumpsite.
And now, without their support, Walker Environmental cannot proceed with its mega-dump plan.
Ryan says it -- finally -- allows all three communities the chance to move on.
“It’s been frankly a cloud for nine years, both in the context of people not wanting it and not wanting it to happen, but also a distraction in terms of what we wanted to be doing as a community, because it diverts a lot of your energy into that fight as opposed to what you want to be doing.”
Bryan Smith, the head of the Oxford People Against the Landfill (OPAL) agrees.
Smith says it is a time for a community celebration for a significant accomplishment.
“I don’t think Walker had any anticipation of how much push back they were going to get from this community, extraordinarily determined.”
Still, Smith contends his group will remain “at the ready” should the dump issue resurface.
“If you watch enough zombie movies, that things come back from the dead now and again, or people will just re-jig a proposal, or people will just say we won’t use this quarry, we’ll use this quarry, so our intention is to be ready if they should be so foolish as to try to dust this off.”
And while the odds would seem small now, Ryan concedes remote loopholes remain.
“There is always the possibility that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing could write a zoning order. The Ministry of the Environment always has the opportunity to write an exception and allow the landfill to happen. That’s always possible.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.