Advocacy Efforts
City of Ottawa
The removal of over 55 hectares of PSW within the Goulbourn Wetland Complex came to the attention of Friends of Stittsville Wetlands last fall. These changes had already been published by Land Information Ontario, the Mapping and Information Resources Branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Despite the removal of the PSW designation through the application of the weakened Ontario Wetland Evaluation System, these wetlands are still identified as PSW in the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan. On March 22, 2024, City staff provided an initial community “heads-up” informing that the City had initiated an application to make minor amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law 2008-250 concerning the boundaries and status of existing evaluated wetlands in the rural area. Through this “heads-up” we learned that the Goulbourn Wetland Complex is not the only PSW under threat within our City.
On April 8, 2024, the Planning Department circulated the formal notification of its initiation of an Omnibus Report to make minor amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law 2008-250 concerning the boundaries and status of existing evaluated wetlands in the rural area. The deadline for comments is May 6, 2024.
A staff report will be considered by the City’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on July 4, 2024.
This will be our opportunity to deliver a compelling message to gain support from the Ottawa City Council to request the Government of Ontario to reinstate strong protection measures for wetlands across Ontario.
R. W. Tomlinson Limited – Application for a Class A Quarry below the Groundwater Table
R. W. Tomlinson Limited has submitted an application for a Class A Quarry below the Groundwater Table on the property located on the east side of the existing Tomlinson Stittsville Quarry on Jinkinson Road. This proposed activity is within the area that was recently de-complexed from the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.
Various studies have been prepared in support of the application including, but not limited to: Water Table Report, Natural Environment Report and Environmental Impact Report, Archaeological Assessments, blasting, noise, traffic, and land use planning reports.
Environmental Registry of Ontario: 019-8403
R.W Tomlinson Ltd. – Proposal for Issuance of a licence to remove over 20,000 tonnes of aggregate annually from a pit or a quarry
R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. has applied for a Class A licence, Quarry, Below Water, to excavate aggregate from a quarry of 121.7 hectares in size with an extraction area of 108.7 hectares.
This application is for an expansion to the existing ARA Licence No. 39958. It is proposed that all tonnage removed from the proposed licence and adjacent ARA Licence No. 39958 will be combined for a total annual tonnage of 3,000,000 tonnes.
Submit a Comment to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Aggregate Section by May 20, 2024
Government of Ontario’s proposed policy changes to the Conservation Act
The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands have joined voices with Ontario Nature to oppose the Government of Ontario’s proposed new regulation under the Conservation Authorities Act (ERO No. 019-8320).
The proposed regulation would enable the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to override or take over a very broad suite of permitting decisions issued by conservation authorities for activities prohibited without a permit (e.g., changing or interfering with watercourses and wetlands or undertaking development activities in hazard lands, wetlands, river valleys, shorelines and inland lakes and other areas under a conservation authority’s jurisdiction).
These new powers would apply broadly to development activities supporting “provincial interests” such as housing, community services, transportation, economic development, employment, and mixed-use development.
Saving Ontario’s Disappearing Wetlands – the Goulbourn Wetland Complex
In mid-April, Ontario Nature published a blog written by Friends of Stittsville Wetlands entitled Saving Ontario’s Disappearing Wetlands – the Goulbourn Wetland Complex. The blog was circulated to Ontario Nature’s subscribers across the province. Raise your voice with others to protect our wetlands.
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We are growing and we need your help! Together, we will be the voice to protect, restore, regenerate, and rewild our wetlands.