Protest against proposed blasting quarry draws large crowd

Forks of the Credit Preservation Group holds protest at proposed quarry site

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A large group of people gathered to protest a proposed blasting quarry in Caledon last Saturday. 

On June 8, the Forks of the Credit Preservation Group (FCPG) held a protest against a proposed blasting quarry it says will have devastating impacts on the environment and local residents.

The protest began in the hamlet of Cataract, where people gathered to listen to speeches and get signs and t-shirts. Demonstrators then marched to the intersection of Main Street and Charleston Sideroad to make their message known to passing traffic.

CBM Aggregates (a division of St. Marys Cement Canada), whose parent company is Brazilian conglomerate Votorantim Cimentos, wants to build an approximately 800-acre below-water table blasting quarry south of Alton.

FCPG president David Sylvester said the fight against the quarry has been going on for over three years and it will likely continue for another three years.

“For CBM aggregates, to some extent, it's a battle of attrition and that's their style, they're hoping that we will give up and go home,” said Sylvester. “But I can assure you folks, we are not going to be doing that.”

The FCPG's rally was held as part of a larger day of action hosted by the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition, which mobilized people across Ontario to demand a moratorium on all new aggregate approvals. 

Sylvester said he is thankful for all the volunteers who have helped in the fight against the proposed blasting quarry, and for everyone that came out to the protest.

“Thank you for being here. It's the numbers that count, and we're all here to make the world a better place,” said Sylvester.

Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner attended the June 8 protest.

“It's vitally important to stand up to protect water, people and communities,” said Schreiner. “This mega quarry is absolutely unnecessary; we have plenty of aggregate right now in Ontario… I'm opposed to new and expanded quarry applications until we have a transparent study of how much aggregate we actually need in Ontario.”

Schreiner said seeing so many people out at the protest was great, and that it showed just how much people care about their community and the environment.

“We have to fix the Aggregate Resources Act to put people, communities and the environment first,” said Schreiner. “... I'm absolutely committed to working across party lines to strengthen the rules to protect farmland and protect the health and well-being of communities and our water.”