Province “must ensure we have the tools and resources to respond to any unpredictable decisions” from Trump, MPP adds

Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault says he’s disappointed the province won’t require the York1 project at the Dresden dump to undergo a full Environmental Assessment. But he seems to be supporting the Ford government’s move, saying “we must ensure we have the tools and resources to respond to any unpredictable decisions from the Trump Administration.”

The province announced the complete reversal of its earlier decision to force the massive project by York1 Environmental Waste Solutions less than a kilometre from Dresden to undergo the most stringent oversight process the province has.

In February 2024, the company tried to go through the Environmental Compliance Approval process for provincial approval for its plan to revive the dump. The company planned refurbish the dump originally used for fly ash from Dresden’s waste incinerator on Irish School Road and then bring up to 6,000 tonnes of waste a day from construction and demolition sites to recycle. The company also plans to bring in soil to be washed and repurposed and to bring hazardous asbestos waste before transferring it to a secure facility, such as Clean Harbors near Brigden.

The operation, according to York1’s own plan, could mean up to 700 trucks a day would travel the roads around the site. The Dresden operation, the original proposal said, would run 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.

Pinsonneault was a Chatham-Kent councillor when residents first learned of York1’s proposal. At the time, he spoke against the project.

“This site has drains around it which feed into Molly’s Creek and into the Sydenham. This has potential for real environmental issues from leeching. The Sydenham River, where this water will end, has several species at risk and that could be detrimental,” he said during the Feb. 26 council meeting.

“With 160 trucks a day going into this site, everybody is going to feel the brunt of this through our infrastructure – our roads – I spoke to officials from Dawn-Euphemia and Lambton County and they’re concerned their roads are going to take the same beating ours are going to take.

“The community – and when I say community I mean Chatham-Kent – is not in favour of this…in order for this to go forward, we should be a willing community and we’re not.

“I suggest York1 look for a different site. I don’t think this is a good fit for anybody. Lord knows we’ve dealt with enough water well issues that this could potentially affect water wells in the area as well,” Pinsonneault concluded.

In the face of growing opposition from the Dresden community and governments in Chatham-Kent and Lambton, and just two weeks before the Ford government called a by-election in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, the then-Environment Minister announced the full Environmental Assessment for the York1 project.

“This site was established over 40 years ago, prior to Ontario’s requirement that landfills undergo an Environmental Assessment. In keeping with the process that any other landfill would be required to undergo today, I will be taking steps to require this project to complete a comprehensive Environmental Assessment under the Environmental Assessment Act” said Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Andrea Khanjin at that time. “This would require this site to address local community concerns and mitigate potential impacts before it could open.”

The EA process can take up to 10 years to complete.

Pinsonneault won the by-election May 2 and was re-elected Feb. 27 in another Ford government majority government.

Thursday, the province dumped seven new proposals under the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. One removes the requirement for the full Environmental Assessment on the Dresden dump.

In its preamble to the proposal, the posting says the province believes the “threat of US tariffs is threatening Ontario’s waste sector.”

Ontario is rapidly running out of landfill space. It’s estimated without new landfill developments, the province will be out landfill space in 7 to 10 years.

Right now, 3.3 million tonnes of Ontario waste goes to the use – the vast majority to Michigan – each year.

With the US president levying tariffs on all kinds of products, the Ford Government appears to be concerned about the possibility the waste industry could be hit by tariffs as well. The Environmental Registry of Ontario posting says the move is “to help provide additional waste capacity in Ontario due to the threat of US tariffs impacting Ontario’s waste sector.”

The April 17 posting proposes moving the project back to the Environmental Compliance Approvals process which has far less public input and requires fewer studies.

“The project will remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements including Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA),” says the posting.  

The Independent asked to interview MPP Pinsonneault about the reversal by the province; instead his staff sent a statement.

In it, Pinsonneault says “I have always made it my duty to respect and prioritize the well-being of our community and emphasize the importance of grass-root advocacy. I understand that our community is upset and am myself disappointed in this decision.”

Pinsonneault’s statement continues: “To stand up for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and our province, we must ensure we have the tools and resources to respond to any unpredictable decisions from the Trump Administration.”

Pinsonneault says he’s working with the Minister of Environment “to make sure every concern is being acknowledged and discussions are underway.”

The statement added Pinsonneault has talked both with Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff and Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Al Broad, both of whom “expressed their displeasure to me in this decision.

“I will always be here to listen to the voices of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and make it a priority to stand up for our community. I will also continue to work hand-in-hand with you as our government takes steps to fight against President Trump’s threats and deliver on our plans to protect Ontario,” the statement concludes.

Pinsonneault did not say how long he has known the province planned to renege on its promise for the Environmental Assessment on the Dresden dump.

Neighbours react

Dave and Sheri Willson live across the road from the dump. They were given the news by The Independent.

“Honestly, I’m kind of in awe. I’m in shock right now,” said Dave after hearing the news. “You know what this is? This is just the golden egg for them. I’ll be reaching out (to York1). I’m going to be a thorn in their ass. If this goes through, my property value just tanked.”

Dawn-Euphemia borders the land owned by York1 Environmental. The company’s trucks would have to travel the township’s roads to get to the site. Mayor Al Broad had no indication the government was about to change course on the York1 project adding he had not heard from the local MPP before the province posted its plans.

“I’m not a happy camper,” said Broad by text

Chatham-Kent Councillor Rhonda Jubenville, who represents Dresden.

“I’ve seen that campaign and party donors of Doug Ford and the PCs are the executives and owners of York1, so, I mean, it just reeks,” she says. “I think it’s pretty shady and very environmentally irresponsible…I think he’s using the the Trump tariff war as a guise to push this through. I think this has all been orchestrated, but I have nothing obviously to substantiate that, other than my own intuition and it’s just wrong. It’s wrong.”

CK Mayor Darrin Canniff did not respond to a request for an interview , but the municipality release a statement.

“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,” Canniff is quoted.

Residents have 30 days to respond to the proposal listed on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. You can find it here:

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0389