Sydney Goodreau/The Independent

Hundreds of people – some from as far as Port Glasgow, Grande Pointe, and Dutton – formed a human chain in protest of the proposed York1 landfill saying if the provincial government can allow York1 to redevelop an old dump without an Environmental Assessment, it can happen anywhere.

Angie Richards was one of the organizers of the event where several hundred people lined Irish School Road and St. George Street Sunday. Several local farmers supported the human chain by parking farm equipment in the field across from the proposed site. 

“I’m very well known for my passion for children and our farmland, so I thought this was the biggest thing we could do to show our opposition,” says Richard. “We’re doing it for our kids. That is why we wanted to start here and go through town past both of our schools to show that they need protection, and our water needs protection…I hope our kids and our people see that what we’re fighting for is important. We have to continue pushing through without stopping.”

In 2024, York1’s plans for a construction and soil waste recycling facility and 20-acre landfill came to light. The Mississauga company had filed its plans with the Environmental Compliance Approval branch of the Ministry of the Environment.

Residents were shocked and began protesting. Within months, Premier Doug Ford’s government had agreed to force the project to go through an Environmental Assessment – the strictest approval process the province has.

But in April, the Ford government introduced Bill 5. Part of the bill allowed the York1 process to move ahead, without that Environmental Assessment. Since the bill passed in early June, community groups, environmental organizations and politicians have been urging the province to reverse course. The need to reverse Bill 5 was a refrained echoed Sunday by everyone from First Nation Leaders, union representatives and citizens from across southern Ontario.

“It is an attack on the lands and the waters, and we stand in solidarity with this community and all communities who are opposing Bill 5. We stand in solidarity with the First Nations in their opposition to Bill 5 and its attack on their sovereignty and treaty rights,” said Lyle Gall, the Southwest District representative of the Canada Employment and Immigration Union.

Norma Shortt, a Sarnia native, joined the human chain because she believes what the government and York1 are doing is wrong: “They need to do an environmental assessment and listen to the people in the area.”

Anne Morrisey drove from Dutton to protest because, she said, “If it hits this small community, it’ll hit ours eventually down the road.”

Dave Willson and Sheri Northcott live directly across from the proposed York1 facility. They gladly joined the protest. “We’re here to support getting rid of Bill 5. We’re here to support the community and the community is here to support us. We need landfills, don’t get me wrong, but not this close to town. That’s why I want to stop it. Hopefully, the elected officials that we put in office…do something.”

“All around here, it’s always been blue,” says Willson referring to the riding’s history of voting Progressive Conservative. “But now everybody’s seeing red and it’s not the Liberals we’re seeing. We’re pissed. If it can happen here, it can happen in anyone’s backyard.”

Richards encourages Dresden residents saying “Don’t give up. Just because the bill is passed doesn’t mean we can’t have it repealled.” Richards wants to get an injunction on the property to stop York1’s progress and turn the fight into a legal battle.

“An environmental study was already ordered. So if that were to be put in place, we wouldn’t even have to worry about this stuff because it wouldn’t pass. That is why Bill 5 needs to be repealled,” Richards says.

“We need to unite everyone together to work together in solidarity and unity to save our land, our water, our air, and our children’s health and safety.”