Heather Wright/The Independent

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs is asking for public input on Cargill’s request to ban development 300 meters from its operation on Sarnia’s waterfront.

In late 2025, Cargill asked Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs to use a Ministerial Zoning Order to override plans for housing developments in the area, including the Tricar tower. Cargill’s letter to the minister said the terminal handles 35 per cent of Ontario’s export grain and is “critical” to the agricultural industry, trade and economy.

Noise, dust, odour and vibrations from Cargill’s operation would conflict with proposed residential development, the letter added.

Several Lambton communities, including St. Clair and Plympton-Wyoming, have backed the move to block development saying Cargill is important to local farmers. And, according to Lambton County committee minutes and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agribusiness is backing the request.

The company asked for the restrictions because of two major developments in the offing. In May, Sarnia city council gave approval to a 14-storey, 105 unit apartment building near the grain elevators. Representatives for builders – Tricar – told council at the time it is working with the company to make sure the development doesn’t “impact or constrain Cargill’s operation in any way.”

There is also a subdivision in the works in Point Edward on the other side of Exmouth Street.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs is now looking for public input on the issue through the Environmental Registry of Ontario. “Although not required, the ministry is providing public notice of this request for consultation,” the posting says. “To help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities, the ministry is seeking feedback on whether this request should be considered and any additional information that may help inform a decision.”

Lambton County officials have already submitted their comments on the request – saying it was only speaking to the technical aspects of the proposal. The county, officials say in the brief to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, “does not express support for or opposition to the requested MZO. The comments were provided in response to MMAH’s request for technical and planning-related comments. Consideration of the MZO rests solely with MMAH.”

Lambton County planning officials did say the MZO as drafted by the company is “unworkable” and “too onerous” to implement.

Part of the county’s concern is Cargill has not shared its data about the mill’s operation including from peak capacity.

“There is no requirement for Cargill to share its data. This is a concern as it gives Cargill control over which development proposals can advance, especially given Cargill’s unwillingness to share baseline information with respect to a noise study done for an ongoing development proposal within the proposed MZO area,” the county writes in its letter to the ministry.

Residents and groups have until July 10 to provide their input on Cargill’s request on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.

It can be found here; https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0562