Doug Ford spends Earth Day in backroom meeting with the gravel mining industry

April 22, 2022

TORONTO — Mike Schreiner made the following statement in response to news that the Premier is spending Earth Day in private meetings with the gravel mining industry:

“It shows you where Doug Ford’s priorities are when he’s spending Earth Day meeting with the gravel mining industry.

The biggest threat to water in Ontario is gravel mining and sprawl.

But instead of stepping up and protecting water, Doug Ford has systematically weakened regulations protecting water from gravel mining. And now we learn that, on Earth Day of all days, the Premier is in closed-door meetings with the gravel mining industry, possibly loosening regulations even more and further endangering groundwater, farmland, and wetlands.

It’s clear that Doug Ford has no interest in protecting the water we drink or the nature that protects us from climate disasters like expensive flooding.

And let’s be clear: there is a direct connection between Ford’s sprawl agenda, gravel mining and climate pollution.

That’s why I recently tabled motions calling for an immediate moratorium on all new gravel mining permits and a doubling of the Greenbelt to include a Bluebelt of protected water.

Ontario Greens are fully committed to stopping the sprawl and protecting water.”

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