Ontario Government Opening Vulnerable Habitats to Sand and Gravel Operators

The Ontario government plans to open habitat of endangered and threatened species to destructive aggregate extractions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GCH).

Ontario Nature has uncovered this change (hidden in dry technical text) and has stated in a letter to the ministry:

“Your ministry is now proposing to undermine this higher level of protection by removing the Growth Plan policy that prohibits aggregate operations and wayside pits and quarries in the habitat of endangered and threatened species throughout the Natural Heritage System (4.2.8.2 a) ii).”

This change will put vulnerable habitats at risk, so please speak out by commenting on the Environmental Registry.

Learn more:

Take Action:

We all have the right to comment on the proposed changes. The deadline for comments is July 31st.

  • Submit your comments with the Environmental Registry
  • What you might want to say:
    “I very strongly disagree with your ministry’s proposal to allow aggregate pits and quarries in the habitat of threatened and endangered species throughout the region’s Natural Heritage System.Under existing rules, aggregates operations can already occur elsewhere in the Natural Heritage System, but not in the habitat of threatened or endangered species. Since the purpose of the Natural Heritage System is to protect biodiversity, the province must protect these lands from being dug up for pits and quarries.”

Toronto Field Naturalists wishes to acknowledge this Land through which we walk. For thousands of years, the Land has been shared by the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe. Toronto is situated on the Land within the Toronto Purchase, Treaty 13, the traditional and treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is also part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum, a covenant agreement between Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Wendat peoples and allied nations to peaceably share the land and all its resources. Today, the Land is home to peoples of numerous nations. We are all grateful to have the opportunity to continue to care for and share the beauty of this Land.