The fight against the Dresden dump expansion has gained the support of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO.)
North Kent Coun. Jamie McGrail, raised the issue with the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) where she is a board member, and in turn the request went to AMO.
In a municipal media release, the councillor expressed her gratitude.
“I sincerely appreciate AMO for standing with Dresden and, more broadly, with rural Ontario, on this important issue,” said McGrail. “With AMO’s support, I strongly believe it is time for the provincial government to take a step back and re-evaluate its position – considering the real and lasting impacts this decision could have on small-town and rural communities across the province. There is a better solution out there, and together we can find it.”
AMO recently sent a letter to the province, urging a more balanced and responsible approach to environmental approvals – particularly those affecting waste disposal infrastructure. AMO's letter raises significant concerns about the precedent set by Bill 5, which removes the requirement for a comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) for the Dresden project, despite the site's proximity to residential areas, agricultural land and sensitive natural habitats.
As a member of AMO, Chatham-Kent continues to voice staunch opposition to the implications of Bill 5 and the York1 landfill project, as well as the municipality's commitment to environmental protection and community well-being.
Rhonda Jubenville, North Kent's other councillor, expressed her support for McGrail's actions.
"This only demonstrates that there continues to be many organizations and citizens throughout Ontario who are against Bill 5, and specifically, bringing a landfill to Dresden without a comprehensive environmental assessment completed,” said Jubenville. “I, along with all of Chatham-Kent council, continue to advocate for Dresden and surrounding areas to oppose Bill 5. I continue to respectfully offer an invitation to Premier Doug Ford to visit Dresden and the potential landfill site.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff reiterated the municipality is not supportive of the Dresden landfill expansion.
"This project would dramatically increase the landfill’s capacity and introduce new industrial activities less than a kilometre from homes, farms, and water systems, all without the full environmental review that such a proposal would normally require,” the mayor said. “While Chatham-Kent recognizes the need to increase Ontario’s landfill capacity to support growth, the municipality, AMO, and many other concerned organizations stress the importance of proper environmental and community review processes to prevent long-term negative impacts."
AMO’s position echoes the municipality’s concerns that relying on outdated Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs) fails to account for the scale and complexity of today’s proposed projects. The municipality supports AMO’s call for a modernized, risk-based landfill approval process that maintains strong environmental protections while facilitating responsible growth.
