Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
York1 heads to court to move Dresden project forward without municipal zoning approval
November 18, 2025
Heather Wright/The Independent
York1 Environmental is going to court in a bid to avoid rezoning its Dresden property for its construction and soil recycling facility and landfill.
York1 Environmental has plans to turn the derelict dump into a construction and soil waste recycling centre and rebuild the 20-acre landfill. Up to 700 trucks a day could be headed to Irish School Road site if the project moves ahead as the Mississauga company originally planned.
The company has long disputed whether it needs to rezone the property, saying it has always been used for the purposes it plans.
While there was a dump on the site, it covered only a fraction of the 80 acre property. The company plans to completely rebuild it.
A recent letter from the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks said the Municipality of Chatham-Kent would “responsibility for Planning Act decisions, including any zoning amendments, rests with the municipality.”
While York1 is not immediately available to talk about the court application, Chatham-Kent says it was notified of the court action Nov. 14, one day before top administrators met with York1’s planners. The topic of zoning again surfaced there.
“The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has consistently told York1 that land use planning approvals are needed, including zoning and official plan changes. In the past two weeks, legal counsel for Chatham-Kent wrote to York1 to reiterate their need for these land use approvals,” writes Eric Labadie, manager of communications for the municipality. Letters released in a Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy request show Chatham-Kent and York1 were already talking about legal action in 2022.
Labadie says “will be vigorously defending the action and seeking a court order requiring York1 to seek approvals from Chatham-Kent Council.”
A hearing date has been set for March 3.
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Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
July 10, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was edited July 10 to include comments from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Two men are facing immigration and criminal charges after Lambton College tipped authorities off about a student immigration scam. College officials called the Canada Border Services Agency in February 2025, about students who had dealt with immigration consultants.
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OPP look for missing Crime Stoppers sign in Thedford
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The Independent It may not be a good sign for Crime Stoppers. Lambton OPP were called to the intersection of Highway 70 and Arkona Road after a large Crime Stoppers sign at the entrance of the community was stolen. It’s valued at $800. Police are investigating, adding if you have tip about the stolen Crime Stoppers’ sign, you can call
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Whoops: Local plowing match officials back track, confirms Brigden will host 2027 IPM after all
July 9, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent The Lambton 2027 International Plowing Match Committee says they were wrong; the 2027 event will be in Brigden. A local committee landed the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in April 2025. The group attracted hundreds of volunteers and planning was well underway. In late May, Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) officials came to Brigden, working with the
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Integrity Commissioner dismisses complaint against Dennis’ ‘woke’ art tirade
July 9, 2026
The Independent The Integrity Commissioner says a Sarnia councillor’s comments about an Indigenous mural at City Hall were “a political argument” and has dismissed the complaint. In March, Sarnia unveiled a mural depicting the relationship between Sarnia-Lambton and The Council of Three Fires Confederacy; the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi people. The project included the $5,000 mural, a new wall honouring
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